8/3/2014 Review

Important Dates

• Aug 9: Tri-Stake youth dance, 7pm
• Aug 10: YM/YW Choir Rehearsal for Stake Conference
• Aug 15: Stake Single Adult BBQ, 7pm
• Aug 17: YM/YW Choir Rehearsal for Stake Conference
• Aug 23-24: Stake Conference

Aug 2014 Lesson Schedule

• Aug 10: Chapter 15: Eternal Marriage
• Aug 17: Chapter 16: Bringing Up Children in Light and Truth
• Aug 24: Stake Conference
• Aug 31: Fifth Sunday Lesson

Lesson Review

Consider the painting Washington Crossing the Delaware.

What feelings come to mind when you view this painting?  Your response might include: majesty, bravery, patriotism, honor, valor, heroism, sacrifice, freedom, the Lord’s hand in preparing our country for the restoration of the gospel, etc.

About the painting:  The artist, Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze, was a German born immigrant who loved America.  He painted this picture in 1851, and it now hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.  With the possible exceptions of DaVinci’s Mona Lisa and Last Supper, this is perhaps the most universally recognized image in the entire history of art (at least for Americans).  It is also an image that art critics and historians love to hate.

Some of the criticisms include:

-          George Washington is standing in the row boat.  The boat would have capsized.

-          There are twelve men in the boat.  The boat could not have launched from shore, let alone stayed afloat with that many men in it.

-          The Delaware River is a shallow river and in most places it freezes over in the winter.

-          Washington’s actual crossing was done on foot, not by boat.

-          The actual crossing was done in the dead of night, during a driving snowstorm and was complete by 3:00 a.m.

-          The ice floes seen here in this picture are modeled after the Rhine River in Europe, where ice tends to form in jagged chunks as pictured.  The Delaware River freezes over in broad sheets.

-          Historians say that the flag depicted is the original flag of the United States (with “Stars & Stripes), the design which did not exist at the time of Washington’s crossing.  The historically accurate flag would have been the Grand Union Flag.

-          Etc.

Question to ponder:  After reviewing all of the criticisms, will you ever look at this painting again and only see or feel those things that came to mind when you first looked at it?  Most likely you will forever look at this picture and notice all the mistakes and blunders.  The next time you see this painting in the presence of someone else, how likely are you to point out the inaccuracies to that person?

Point to ponder:  The result is the same on a personal level when we do not guard our tongues concerning other people and point out what we see as their faults or say something unflattering about them.  We forever taint the way someone looks at the person we have criticized.

Last month, Sister Jenkins asked this question:  Are we seed planters or are we seed killers? That lesson was about how our actions might leave an impression on non-members and potential investigators.  However, each of us started out as a seed, whether we were baptized when we were 8 or whether we joined the church later.  Each of us as taken root at a different pace; we are all still growing.  Are we seed nurturers or are we seed squashers?

Consider this article written in the April 1973 New Era entitled, And Jesus Wept, by Helen Selee.   

The opposite of this sentiment is also true.  When we are kindly towards each other, the Lord is pleased. Matthew25:35-40

In his February 1985 Ensign address entitled, Strengthening Each Other, President Gordon B. Hinckley said the following:

 “There is a sad tendency in our world today for persons to cut one another down. Did you ever realize that it does not take very much in the way of brainpower to make remarks that may wound another? Try the opposite of that. Try handing out compliments.”

He goes on to relate an experience he had:

“For a number of years, while I had responsibility for the work in Asia, I interviewed each missionary one-on-one. I asked each what virtue he or she saw in his or her companion and would like to put into his or her own life.

“When I raised that question, almost invariably the missionary, an elder for example, would stop with a surprised look on his face. He had never thought of his companion that way before. He had seen his faults and weaknesses but had not seen his virtues. I would tell him to pause and think about it for a minute. Then the answers would begin to come. Such answers as, ‘He’s a hard worker.’ ‘He gets up in the morning.’ ‘He dresses neatly.’ ‘He doesn’t complain.’

“It was a remarkable thing, really. These young men and women, for the most part, had been oblivious to the virtues of their companions, although they were well aware of their companions’ faults, and often felt discouraged because of them. But when they began to turn their attitudes around, remarkable things began to happen.”

Questions to ponder:  In what ways can we strengthen each other here in our ward, in our Relief Society? What can we do so that no sister feels like she’s standing alone?

Also see Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson’s (Young Women’s General President) address at the 2014 Women’s Broadcast entitled, Sisterhood: Oh, How We Need Each Other.