Lesson Notes

Today we studied President Packer's talk from General Conference titled "Prayer and Promptings". President Packer reminded us that when we left our pre-earth life to come to earth, our Heavenly Father did not send us here without guidance. "Every child of our Father sent to earth is provided with the Spirit of Christ, or the Light of Christ. We are, none of us, left here without guidance and hope of redemption."

After baptism into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there comes the ordinance of "Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Articles of Faith 1:4) The Holy Ghost communicates with out spirits mostly through our thoughts and feelings. President Packer said, 'The Lord has many ways of pouring knowledge into our minds to prompt us, to guide us, to teach us, to correct us, to warn us. the Lord said, 'I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.' (D&C 8:2)"

Our teacher, Sister Stevens, taught us of four ways that we can be worthy to have the Spirit prompting us.

1. Desire to have the Holy Ghost. If we have a desire to feel the closeness of the spirit it will lead us to seek his companionship.

2. Invite the Holy Ghost into our lives through sincere worship in our homes, our churches and the temple.

3. Heed the simple promptings. When the spirit moves us to act then we must do so even at those times when they don't seem important.

4. Heed quickly. take action quickly when prompted to do so. If we are quick to act when the Lord calls us He will have more confidence in us. If we fail to act then He will be slow to call on us.

President Packer counseled "Learn to pray. Pray often. Pray in your mind, in your heart. Pray on your knees. Prayer is your personal key to heaven. the lock is on your side of the veil. And I have learned to conclude all my prayers with 'Thy will be done.'"

Experiences of promptings and prayer are part of the revelation our Heavenly Father has provided for us. We pray to him and he answers through promptings of the Holy Ghost.

NEXT WEEK: RS Presidency message

lesson Notes

Todays lesson was "Jesus Christ Our Chosen Leader and Savior". When we lived in the pre-earth life with our Heavenly Father he presented his plan for us. His plan was for us to come to earth where we could learn to live by faith. Father knew that while we were away from Him some of us would sin and some of us would lose our way. He loved us so much that He provided a way for us to return. The plan called for a Savior who would pay for our sins and teach us how to return to our Heavenly Father.

Our Father asked "Who shallI send?" Jesus Christ, who was called Jehovah, said, "Here am I, send me." (Abraham 3:27) Jesus was willing to come to earth, give His life for us, and take upon Himself our sins. satan, who was called Lucifer, also came, saying "Behold, here am I, send me, and I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor." (Moses 4:1) Lucifer wanted to force us all to do his will. Under his plan we would not be allowed to choose.

After hearing both sons speak, Heavenly Father said, "I will send the first." (Abraham 3:27)

Jesus Christ was chosen and foreordained to be our Savior. Lucifer was not happy and a war was waged in heaven. Satan and his followers fought against Jesus and His followers. The Savior's followers "overcame [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony." (Revelation 12:11)

A third part of the hosts of heaven chose to follow Satan and were cast out of heaven. They were denied the right to have a mortal body. Because we are here on earth we know that we chose to follow Christ.

The Lord said, "this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39) The Lord's work is to get us to eternal life. Our work is to keep the commandments and follow Him in faith.

Satan is still fighting the war begun to Heaven. Satan and his followers are here on earth, but as spirits. They have not forgotten who we are, and they are around us daily, tempting us and enticing us to do things that are not pleasing to our Heavenly Father. Christ is always with us also, still freeing us from satan's grasp.

By following Christ's teachings, we can inherit a place in the celestial kingdom. He did His part to help us return to our heavenly home. It is now up to each of us to do our part and become worthy of exaltation.

NEXT WEEKS LESSON: President Boyd K. Packer's address from October General Conference, "Prayer and Promptings". November Ensign, p. 43

Lesson Notes

Today we discussed "Our Heavenly Family". God is not only our creator; He is our Heavenly Father. All men and women are literally the sons and daughters of heavenly parents. We lived with our Heavenly Father before we came to earth. There He taught us about His plan for us and prepared us for our life here on earth.

In pre-earth life we all had certain talents and abilities that we brought with us when we came here to earth. Our challenge here is to learn how to use these God-given gifts to help us find a way back to Him.

We could not progress beyond a certain point unless we left the presence of our Father and came to earth to get a body and be tried and tested.

A veil covers our memories of our premortal life. This is necessary so we can exercise our agency to choose good or evil without being influenced by the memory of living with our Heavenly Father. Thus we can obey Him because of our faith in Him, not because of our knowledge or memory of Him. If we had a knowledge of God and could remember all He taught us then this life wouldn't be a test. We must prove ourselves worthy to be in His presence by passing through the trials and tests of this life by relying on His guidance and counsel.

If we place our faith in Him, obey His word and follow His example, we can be exalted and become like our Heavenly Father. We can receive a fulness of joy.

Next Week's Lesson: Gospel Principles Lesson 3 "Jesus Christ, Our Chosen Leader and Savior"

Lesson Notes

The pathway we are traveling in this life is strewn with many boulders. Obstacles in our way that make our climb more challenging. Some are troubles we bring on ourselves by the choices that we make, some are thrown at us by other people because of things they do and some seems to appear out of nowhere to keep us off balance.

But we are also given tools that will help us to navigate around the boulders and find higher ground. Some of these tools are:

• Finding the Lord's peace. The world would have us believe that peace comes from wordly wealth or the "things" we have. The Lord's peace come from within. The Lord said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you." (John 14:27)

• Trust in the Lord. He will always lead us in the right way. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths."

• Forgive an enemy. Grudges we hold are an unnecessary weight which will keep us from progressing on the path.

• Give thanks. "...live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you." (Alma 34:38)

• Feed his lambs. Three times the Lord asked Peter "... lovest thou me?" and three times when Peter answered "Yea Lord, thou knowest that I love thee" He was told "Feed my lambs." (John 21:15-17) We are to help others along the path also that they may navigate through the boulders.

We are not lost in the darkness. We have been given the tools to find our way back to Christ, standing on higher ground with Him.

Our closing song expressed it very well:

How Firm a Foundation

How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord.

Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!

What more can he say than to you he hath said,

Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

In every condition - in sickness and health,

In poverty's vale or abounding in wealth,

At home or abroad on the land or the sea,

As thy days may demand, so Thy succor shall be.

Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,

ForI am thy God and will still give thee aid.

I'll strengthen thee, help thee and cause thee to stand,

Upheld by my righteous omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,

The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o'erflow,

For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,

And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,

My grace all sufficient, shall by thy supply.

The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design

Thy dross to consume and thy gold tro refine.

E'en down to old age, all my people shall prove

My sov'reign, eternal, unchangeable love,

And then, when gray hair shall their temples adorn

Like lambs shall they still in my bosom be borne.

The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose

I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;

That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,

I'll never, no never, no never forsake!

NEXT WEEK'S LESSON: Gospel Principles lesson 2 "Our Heavenly Family"