Women, the Priesthood and Questions

I finished Wendy Watson Nelson's Change Your Questions, Change Your Life book a short while ago.  In her book she says we would get better answers to our prayerful questions if we asked better questions.  

Example: Rather than asking, "why can't I ever learn not to make stupid mistakes?" ask, "what has the Lord given me which will help me make better choices?"   

Sister Nelson gives many "spiritually strengthening questions" in her book. Just a few are:

How can this situation benefit me?

What growth and new understandings will come to me out of this situation?

How will it turn to my good?

What is already happening that is good, that I have been overlooking?

How will this situation turn to the good of those I love?

What can I do so that this situation will turn to the good for those I love? 

The September 2014 Ensign has an article taken from a talk Elder Ballard gave at BYU.  He said:  

In our Heavenly Father’s great priesthood-endowed plan, men have the unique responsibility to administer the priesthood, but they are not the priesthood. Men and women have different but equally valued roles...

Men and women are equal in God’s eyes and in the eyes of the Church, but equal does not mean the same. The responsibilities and divine gifts of men and women differ in their nature but not in their importance or influence. God does not regard either gender as better or more important than the other...

Women come to earth with unique spiritual gifts and propensities. This is particularly true when it comes to children and families and the well-being and nurturing of others...

So often, even though it is not always worded this way, the question I hear is, "Why don't women have the priesthood?"  

As I read Elder Ballard's quotes above, perhaps inspired by the question book sitting beside me, my first question was, 

"What are the unique gifts and 

responsibilities of women?" 

Isn't that the big question? 

What would happen if we asked Heavenly Father this question while we listen to conference? What if we asked Sisters Nelson's questions listed above as they concern women and the priesthood?

That question may not be answered for awhile, but answers will come. In the mean time there are questions I can ask as a daughter of Heavenly Parents.

What is my unique responsibility as a daughter of God?

What can I do to find my mission in life?

What talents and responsibilities have I been given to find my mission?

How can I get further understanding of the uniqueness of women?

What am I doing now that is helping me gain that understanding?

Chapter 43: Signs of the Second Coming

The information in these lessons come straight from chapter 43 of the Gospel Principles manual.

Purpose: To help family members understand we should learn about the signs of Christ’s coming because He loves us and knowing them will help us.


Preparation:

Prayerfully study the lesson in Gospel Principles chapter 43 and the scriptures given in the lesson.

Color tree brown or print on brown paper and cut out.  Print leaves and cut out.

Gather graham crackers, frosting and candy (optional) for treat.


Song: Now Let Us Rejoice, hymn #3


Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:22-24


Followup on challenge: Share how the challenge went for you and ask for the experiences of the others in the family.


Lesson:

Share: signs that came before an experience or happening in your life.  Then explain how by seeing the signs you were able to prepare for it.  Examples: Signs that you would be losing your job and how saving money and building a food storage helped you when you lost it. Seeing “green sky” and taking cover before a tornado hit.  Seeing signs of depression in a loved one and helping them find help.

Explain:  before the second coming there will be signs given such as trials and storms.  Because Heavenly Father loves us he wants us to be prepared both physically and spiritually and he ward of the signs to remind us to do that preparation. Those that follow Jesus will know the signs and will watch for them. The scriptures tell of both scary and positive signs.

Gospel Principles quote: (Jesus) taught this with the parable of the fig tree. He said that when we see a fig tree putting forth leaves, we can tell that summer will soon come. Likewise, when we see the signs described in the scriptures, we can know that His coming is near.

Activity: Signs Tree (When using this activity family members will be learning by sight, sound and touch)

Pass out the leaves.  Have family members read or summarize the scripture. Discuss whether the sign has already happened, is in the process or hasn't happened yet.  If it has happened the leaf should be put on the tree.  If it hasn't happened yet it should be put to the side of the paper.  If it is in the process let him put the leaf wherever he thinks best.    

Signs that might make one afraid
D&C 29:16 - great hailstorm
D&C 29:18 - flies upon the earth
D&C 45:23-24 - Israel scattered
D&C 45:27 -  “The love of men shall wax cold, and iniquity shall abound”
D&C 45:42 - sun darkened...”
D&C 88:90 - “sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds”
D&C 88:91 - “all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men’s hearts shall fail them”
D&C 88:92 - angels fly warning people
Matthew 24:6 - wars and rumors of wars
Matthew 24:7 - famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes
Daniel 12:1 - time of trouble such as the earth has never known

Signs that bring us joy
D&C 45:28 - restoration of the gospel
D&C 49:24 - “ ...the Lamanites shall blossom as the rose”
D&C 84:2-3 - building of New Jerusalem in Missouri
D&C 90:11 - all people will hear the gospel in their own language
Revelation 14:6-7 - gospel restored by an angel
Matthew 24:14 - gospel preached to all the world
Isaiah 29:4-18 - coming forth of the Book of Mormon
Malachi 4:5-6 - the prophet Elijah would be sent to the earth. He would restore the sealing powers. The prophet Elijah came to Joseph Smith in April 1836.
3 Nephi 21: 23-25 - gathering of Israel

Signs that could go either way
D&C 88:93 - great sign in heaven
1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 - people will say, “peace and safety”

Discuss:  things your family could be doing to get better prepared.

Conclusion: We can remain calm even those some signs are scary by:

Gospel Principles: 

1)  prepare for them

2)  look forward to the coming of the Savior and be glad. The Lord said, “Be not troubled, for, when all these things [the signs] shall come to pass, ye may know that the promises which have been made unto you shall be fulfilled” (D&C 45:35).

3) (know) He said those who are righteous when He comes will not be destroyed “but shall abide the day. And the earth shall be given unto them for an inheritance; … and their children shall grow up without sin. … For the Lord shall be in their midst, and his glory shall be upon them, and he will be their king and their lawgiver” (D&C 45:57–59).

Bear Testimony:  Heavenly Fathers love for each of us so He warns us


Challenge: Find one sign of the second coming of Christ in the scriptures that we didn’t discuss tonight.


Song: The Wise Man and the Foolish Man from Children’s Songbook page 281

Treat:   Houses made of graham crackers and frosting.  (Candy optional) Let each family member build their own house and decorate it.  Explain that when we build upon the rock we are preparing for things to come.

PDF links
Lesson Part 1
Lesson Part 2
Lesson Part 3
Leaves
Tree Top
Tree Trunk

FHE Lessons from the Gospel Principles Manual

Several years ago I went to BYU Education Week and took classes from Randall Wright about finding and achieving your mission in life. During the class he talked about goals. I'd never been big on goals, but he said something that clicked inside of me and suddenly I was greatly interested in making them.  He asked us to create a list of goals - not goals we made for ourselves, but to ask Heavenly Father what goals we should have.  Little by little, that list has grown for me and I've accomplished several of them.

One of my goals was to create Family Home Evening lessons from the Gospel Principles manual.  A couple of weeks ago I was called to be a ward missionary.  I've been thinking and praying about what I should be doing in this calling. One morning the Spirit whispered that it was now time to work on this goal.  Each week in Gospel Essentials class we go over a lesson in the Gospel Principles manual.  My hope is to create a FHE lesson that goes along with the lesson being taught in my ward that week.  

I've just finished the 1st lesson and was surprised how easy it was to make a FHE lesson to go with it.  The lessons are simple and easily adaptable to having them for FHE.  Basically, I am just adding the activities, songs, treats, pictures etc. to go along with the lesson as it is written in the manual. 

I will post the lesson on this blog and then post links to a pdf version of the lesson. Occasionally I may post other things that relate to Family Home Evening or Gospel Principles.  Hope it helps you!