7/28/13 Review

Important Reminders
-Swapportunity Aug 2nd-3rd

Lesson Review

Being Accepted of the Lord By Elder ErichW. Kopischke Of the Seventy
The Hope of God’s Light by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Second Counselor in the First Presidency

The feeling of being accepted by someone we love is a basic human need. Being accepted by good people motivates us.

Questions- What is our motivation for acceptance? Do we seek out the motivation that will lead us to spiritual success?

What is our gauge for our hearts?

This pattern consists of three simple steps:

1. Know that our hearts are honest and broken.

• Self-reflection- Do we examine ourselves to see if our hearts are broken.
• Screen ourselves- Do we ensure all the impurities of our lives are taken away?
• Ask “What is my motives?”
• Ask “What are my desires?”
  A broken heart is a soft, an open, and a receptive heart. We can know if our hearts are broken and honest if we are more responsive to the Spirit's invitations, more accepting of God’s will, and be willing to receive gentle correction.

2. Know that our spirits are contrite. Defining the word contrite means desire for atonement. Do we have the desire to let the atonement work in our lives to help us become new and clean? As we become contrite the following attributes become a part of our beings-

A- willingness and determination to act for our Savior and Heavenly Father.

B-willing to be humble

C-willing to repent

D-willing to learn

E-and willing to change.

3. Be willing to observe our covenants by sacrifice, as commanded by the Lord. This is referring to the day-to day activities in our lives

• living day-to-day as a true disciple of Christ

• worthily partaking of the sacrament each week
• accepting and faithfully serving in Church callings
• serve those who need to be spiritually rescued
• giving silent service
• finding and doing temple work of our ancestors
• simply striving for righteousness
• listening to the promptings of the Spirit as we live our daily lives
• standing firmly faithful

By following this counsel, the blessing waiting include an increased knowledge of the good and eternal, greater confidence, we will be lead and directed for good. We will feel his tender mercies. He will help us to deal with everything in our lives. Our faith will increase. We will have success and peace.

In our lives during moments of darkness, do we seek out the hope of God's Light? The could-haves of wrongs and abuses that come into our lives can make us become vindictive, angry and bitter or we can seek out the light that will lift and heal us. There may be some among you who feel darkness encroaching upon you. You may feel burdened by worry, fear, or doubt. To you and to all of us, I repeat a wonderful and certain truth: God’s light is real. It is available to all! It gives life to all things. It has the power to soften the sting of the deepest wound. It can be a healing balm for the loneliness and sickness of our souls. In the furrows of despair, it can plant the seeds of a brighter hope. It can enlighten the deepest valleys of sorrow. It can illuminate the path before us and lead us through the darkest night into the promise of a new dawn. It takes an act of faith to open our eyes to the Light of Christ. Spiritual light cannot be discerned by carnal eyes. So how do we open our eyes to the hope of God’s light?

First, start where you are. We don’t have to wait to cross the finish line to receive God’s blessings. In fact, the heavens begin to part and the blessings of heaven begin to distill upon us with the very first steps we take toward the light.

Second, turn your heart toward the Lord. Lift up your soul in prayer and pour out your heart and gratitude. Plead with Him in Christ’s name for strength and support.

Third, walk in the light. Your Heavenly Father knows that you will make mistakes. He knows that you will stumble—perhaps many times. This saddens Him, but He loves you. He does not wish to break your spirit. On the contrary, He desires that you rise up and become the person you were designed to be.

To that end, He sent His Son to this earth to illuminate the way and show us how to safely cross the stumbling blocks placed in our path. He has given us the gospel, which teaches the way of the disciple. It teaches us the things we must know, do, and be to walk in His light, following in the footsteps of His Beloved Son, our Savior.

As we seek to increase our love for God and strive to love our neighbor, the light of the gospel will surround and uplift us. The darkness will surely fade, because it cannot exist in the presence of light.

Yes, from time to time our lives may seem to be touched by, or even wrapped in, darkness. Sometimes the night that surrounds us will appear oppressive, disheartening, and frightening. Nevertheless, I bear witness that our living hope is in Christ Jesus! He is the true, pure, and powerful entrance to divine enlightenment.

I testify that with Christ, darkness cannot succeed. Darkness will not gain victory over the light of Christ. Even after the darkest night, the Savior of the world will lead you to a gradual, sweet, and bright dawn that will assuredly rise within you.

Next Week (8/4/13): First Sunday lesson to be taught by one of the RS Presidency