Lesson Recaps

Elders Quorum Lesson Recap August 26th, 2018

New ward member Bro. Alex Boone: Has moved into the Poulsen’s basement. Married 2 years. Welcome Alex!

Bro. Phil Richards: Has moved into the Brostrom’s previous home. Welcome Phil & Family!

Mark Stevens: Moved in with his family into one of the new construction homes. Married to Kendal. Married 13 years. Played soccer in high school. Has caught thousands of brown trout in the Provo River, loves trail running, hunting. Wife is a hair stylist. Favorite cereal Captn Crunch peanut butter crunch. 2002-04 served in Ukraine. Russian speaking. Works in HR for Adobe and is leading the discussion.

Topic of discussion: Helping those we minister to to grow spiritually.

In the movie, A Christmas Story, Ralphie gets a pink bunny suit for Christmas from his Aunt. He hates it. Have you ever received a gift that wasn’t what you needed or wanted?

Sam Dahl: Got a backpacking back pack. Hated it at first. Later in life, loved it.  

Patrick Oborn: 12 years old had a party and got rocks for his birthday. He cried...but then got an aquarium and fish to go with it.

Will marriott: Socks and ties

Alex Boone: Pilot fur lined vinyl exterior hat for ice fishing. They weren’t even warm. Never wore it.

Ministers focus on the needs of others.

Have you received a gift from someone who clearly knew what you needed and wanted? How did that feel?  Bro. Stevens shared when he moved in, our ward provided man power to help him move in. He was so grateful.

Alex Boone: Grandma gave a set of coasters. He learned more about it and found out they were owned by his Grandpa. He was really close to his Grandpa who had passed away. The coasters felt like a piece of his grandpa. It meant a great deal to him.

Mike Alder: His ward from when he was married. 5 children under 10. Had just started a new company. His wife had cancer. Every night at 5pm the ward provided dinner for 3 months. It was the greatest gift he had ever received.

Example from Elder Uchtdorf:

A single mother of 2 small children came down with chicken pox. The task of caring for herself and little ones was almost too much. Her house became messy. While she was struggling with children her visiting teachers came. They could hear and see the distress of the sister, the situation of the house, that she needed help. They went to work to help. Why? To love god and fellow man.

Mark Stevens: The sisters took ownership. They saw what was needed and came in and helped.

Bro. Eric Larsen: Elder Holland’s talk. Flooded basement...Home teachers said, call us if you need us. Maybe sometime we’re like that.

Bro. Jerry Brown: Lived in Boston for 30 years. If someone got sick they would get chicken broccoli casserole. It became the ward joke. The ward became a big family. The need for service.

Bro. Will Marriott: It can be awkward and difficult to walk into someone’s home to show up and see and fill a need. A certain relationship is required. It takes trust in order to allow someone to receive it.

Bro. Joe Riggs: How do we get to that point to be able to help? Joe feels like we’re all willing to hep. Part of the issue is recognizing that need.

Tracy Burnham: During Ellcy's last heart operation Sister Bowen came to the Burnhams and with a list of things she'd like to do to help out..."This is what I'd like to do to help..." Michelle turned her down a few times but after gentle persistence from Ann Bowen, Michelle accepted.

Joey Ekstrom:

Pay attention. I like not knowing what’s going on win other people’s lives but really when we pay attention we can identify what it is they need.

Joe Willis:

As a presidency, as we have been performing ministering interviews it is becoming clear that we are running into a problem. When our ministers ask how the family would like to be ministered to, the family says they're good and they don't need anything. Then it puts our ministers in a tricky position of wanting to minister but not having the family's encouragement or approval. We as a quorum must learn how to receive help in our lives. Everyone here is willing to minister however very few of us allow ourselves to be ministered to. Few are willing to raise their hands and ask for help and share what they need. Because we are so willing to give and help, it just might be that for our quorum we could benefit more from receiving help than from giving.

Thank you Bro. Stevens for leading the discussion and for all of the participation.

Elders Quorum Lesson Recap August 19th, 2018

Pure Love: The True Sign of Every True Disciple of Jesus Christ
By Elder Massimo De Feo Of the Quorum of the Seventy

Watched a video on love in our marriages:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkOnH36S_pY&feature=youtu.be

How does service make you feel?

What does it mean to be a true disciple of christ?

How do we do a better job of forgiving?

When we forgive someone it’s something we do for ourselves. Holding a grudge is drinking poison and hoping the other person will die.

Bro. Hafen:

    His brother sent him a talk..."Be 100% Responsible."

    Write down all your problems on half the piece of paper. Then on the other half write down your responses. Rip it in half and just keep the side of how you react. That’s all you have control over.

Dave Wirthlin:

    Perspective. Ask yourself. Why does that bother me so much? Will that bother me in 10 days? If not then let it go. If it will then you need to address it.

Jake Carter:

    The concept of fairness in his household and the idea that the world has to be just. He sat down with his family and discussed how Christ handled fairness.  Was it fair for him? Then he asked them to think about where do you live, what you eat, what you have, we have so so much that really we don’t have the right to talk about fairness. We are blessed beyond measure.

Bro. Clyde:

    As you struggle to forgive someone you backslide. You find you have to forgive over and over again.

“True disciples love to submit themselves to the Lord with humble heart…” Quote from the talk. True disciples know it’s not always what we want but rather what the Lord wants for us.

Pure love Is the true sign of every disciple of Jesus Christ….story of his mother dying and praying for his son. (In the talk)

Mike Alder:

Went on his mission without a testimony. But praying for others with all his heart...the spirit was poured down upon him...the spirit said “finally you have figured it out. I want you to love others, not yourself.”

Great discussion, Troy! Thank you for your preparation and testimony.





Elders Quorum Lesson August 12th, 2018

Lead by Bro. Hafen

Topic: Revelation For The Church, Revelation For Our Lives by Pres. Nelson

"In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost." - Pres. Nelson

Discussion: What do we need to provide our youth in order to survive the coming days? How do we help them gain the influence of the Holy Ghost in their lives? How do we prepare them spiritually?

• One on one time with our children
• Personal Priesthood Interviews
• Listen to their prayers and you will know if they have a relationship with Heavenly Father
• Bless your children
• Feast upon the scriptures
• Build YOUR relationship with Heavenly Father and your children will feel and follow

“Each of these blessings have come from seeking and heeding the prompting of the Holy Ghost...This is the grand privilege of every Latter-day Saint … that it is our right to have the manifestations of the Spirit every day of our lives.”4 - pres. Lorenzo Snow

“The privilege of receiving revelation is one of the greatest gifts of God to His children.”

Discussion Question: What is the purpose of personal revelation?

Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will “grow into the principle of revelation.”9

Discussion Question: Why does it seem so hard to receive revelation sometimes?

What kind of time and effort are we putting into our relationship with our Heavenly Father? 

Sometimes do we miss the revelation because we didn't get the answer we were looking for? 

To be sure, there may be times when you feel as though the heavens are closed. But I promise that as you continue to be obedient, expressing gratitude for every blessing the Lord gives you, and as you patiently honor the Lord’s timetable, you will be given the knowledge and understanding you seek. Every blessing the Lord has for you—even miracles—will follow. That is what personal revelation will do for you.

Bro. Hafen shared a personal story about his Dad.

His father was diagnosed with a disease when bro Hafen was 14. Dan was sick of his Dad’s sickness...right before his mission...sat him down for a blessing with every intention to heal him...as he began to give him a blessing it became very clear that his Dad was not meant to be healed.  Revelation is not what you want...it’s what God wants and his will…You are just the mouthpiece...The words came, his dad is not going to be healed. Dan realized at that time that his Dad was going to die. That there’s a bigger plan.

‘Through the manifestation of the HG the Lord will assists us with our righteous pursuits.”

“If we truly receive the Holy Ghost”. What does it mean to “truly” receive the Holy Ghost?

Bro. Hafen shared another great story: 

Bro Hafen's Dad was living in Minnesota. One winter a pipe burst in one of the church buildings (I think it was a church building). Frantic to shut off the water to avoid greater damage his Dad was running everywhere trying to find the water shut off valve. In his frantic state he said several flippant prayers asking for help. While searching for the shut off valve, he realized that his flippant prayers was not the way to approach the Lord. He repented, found a quiet place and asked for help. While praying he had a clear view as to what to do and where to go to find the water shut off valve. He got up and went directly to the spot and turned it off.

We had great participation and it was a wonderful lesson. Please share what thoughts and impressions you had during the lesson.




Elders Quorum Lesson
July 8th, 2018
Discussion Leader: Dan Hafen

Topic:  Meek and Lowly of Heart by David A. Bednar

Link to the talk: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2018/04/meek-and-lowly-of-heart?lang=eng

Bro. Hafen shared a story of a recent fishing trip to Alaska. His nephew(?) was catching all the halibut the first day and the nephew bragged and bragged about it even though there’s no skill in halibut fishing. The next day they went fly fishing for Salmon which takes much more skill. Within six hours everyone had reached their limit except for the nephew who was frustrated and red faced and hadn’t caught a single fish. Bro. Hafen turned to another family member and asked...”Should we teach him how to do it?” The family member, remembering yesterday’s boasting said, “No, let’s wait a little longer.”

“Meekness is a defining attribute of the redeemer.” We can choose to be meek or we can be compelled to be meek.

What’s the difference between meekness vs. weakness?

Responses from quorum members:

They are different. If you’re meek you do what you’re supposed to do.

Meekness is a decision to be that way.

You have to work at being meek. You have to have control overyourself to be meek. If you’re not in control, you lose that meekness.

We are commanded to overcome the natural man. It takes a strong and meek person to overcome anger and pain and difficulties and to appreciate the good amidst the bombardment of anger.

Meekness has a strong element of confidence. Just like the Savior.

”Be men of integrity.” Being meek is the essence of becoming a man. 

Someone who can be measured in the face of difficulty. Someone willing to learn and be guided and taught.

  

Referencing the story of the rich man from the talk, Bro. Hafen asked, “Why didn’t the rich man accept the Lord’s invitation and give up his money and follow the Lord? He would have eternal life. What prevented him from doing it?

Responses front the quorum:

Worldy concerns prevented him.

Pres. Bradburn...We all have our own weaknesses or weapons of rebellion. For the rich man it was his riches. For us it may be something different. What is our weapon of rebellion? What is preventing us from following the Savior completely with all of our hearts? What are we being asked to foresake? What are we willing to foresake? These are personal questions that we must ask ourselves.

Meekness is often times driven by faith. Do we have faith in Christ? If he’s asking us to give up all that we have, do we have the faith needed to do that?

 You must evaluate your own heart. It’s an ongoing process, gradually changing us over time.

We covenant to pledge all that we have to the lord. We are asked the rich man’s question every time.

Meekness is the principle protection front prideful prominence that comes from high positions and wealth. - Bednar

Christ is the ultimate example of meekness.

When guards take Christ to crucify him...Peter cuts the guard’s ear off….The Savior heals the guard’s ear. The meekness it takes to love your enemy...powerful. 

Moroni...meekness is what will help you inherent eternal life.

Bro. Hafen’s testimony….The Savior’s love for us, his meekness, the gift it is to become like him...so we can inherit eternal life.

Elders Quourum Lesson
May 27th, 2018
Discussion Leader: Mike Alder

Topic: Ministering

When the church stopped keeping track of temple attendance did temple attendance go down?  When the missionaries stopped giving memorized discussions and changed to Preach My Gospel did the missionary work falter? No, it all got better. Ministering...we are being asked to make a change...so we can get better.

Matthew 25
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Bro.Alder shared that a common reason why members of other churches stop going to their church...”Nobody cares about me.”

What is the greatest need of a Bishop to function effectively in his call?...Information....To know the needs of a his ward.  We must take ownership of the families that we minister to so the Bishop can know the needs of his ward members. The Bishop can’t do it all. We must help.

Jake Carter shared his experience visiting Israel and several Jewish Kibbutz where they’re essentially living the United Order. They lived simply and gave of what they had. They spent their time with their families and helping one another. If we were to look at our to do list and calendars, are they full of the activities we will be doing if we were living the United Order? Would it be full of ministering activities, time with family and those we care for? Can we improve how we schedule and use our time? Can we make a conscious effort to minister more proactively?

Troy Walker shared that “Ministering should only be motivated by the pure love of Christ.

CHALLENGE:  Spend 15 minutes this week thinking of the needs of others...Your wife, your kids, your neighbors, your friends, your family, those you minister to. Ask in prayer for guidance and the ability to see what is needed. Then do it.

Thank you Bro. Alder for a wondrerful discussion!




Elders Quourum Lesson
May 20th, 2018
Discussion Leader: Troy Walker
Topic: Small & Simple Things by President Oaks April 2018 Gen. Conference Talk

Lesson Notes:

Will Marriott shared an experience he had with his Dad who has been a mission president, stake president, temple sealer (?)...

Will’s Dad said...”I need to repent.”  Will said...”OF WHAT!?!”  Will thought to himself,  If Dad feels like he needs to repent, there’s no hope for the rest of us.”   Will’s Dad said, “of laziness.”
Repentance changes us. Like a rough stone rolling, we repent and change a little at a time. We may need to repent of something significant at first, then something else, then something else constantly improving until we’re working on small imperfections becoming more and more like Christ.  The small and simple things, as we work on them we become something great over time...we become like Christ.

The small and simple can change us for the good, OR for the bad.  We change little by little one direction or the other.

How do we create the “desire” to change?

Bro. Alder says, Heavenly Father will help us when we set a worthy goal. As we do things correctly, we will be blessed with what we stand in need of and it becomes part of our nature.

D&C 64:33 Be not weary in well doing for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. Out of small things proceedeth that which is great.


Spirituality ebbs and flows and we don’t necessarily see ourselves changing which can be discouraging. We must continue to press forward and have faith that we are changing even if we don’t see it...the effect over time is what’s powerful.

Action Item:

What can I do today to make a difference? Do I spend more time worrying abut success of my company than the success of my family?

Those “seemingly insignificant” private decisions include how we use our time, what we view on television and the internet, what we read, the art and music with which we surround ourselves at work and at home, what we seek for entertainment, and how we apply our commitment to be honest and truthful. Another seemingly small and simple thing is being civil and cheerful in our personal interactions...-Oaks