Doctrine and Covenants 81-84 - On Priesthood Power and Helping Our Neighbor

I'd like to share a few questions and quotes that I used in my lesson today. This are not all of the slides but I did want to highlight the most significant ones:

Doctrine and Covenants 84:17-28

How would your life be different without the priesthood of God?

In October 1995, "Blessings of the Priesthood," Elder Robert D. Hales said:

Why are you grateful for the priesthood? What experiences have you had with priesthood power - in your families, callings, or personal lives?

M. Russell Ballard spoke at a BYU Devotional in August 2013, called "Let Us Think Straight." He said:

How do we gain access to the power of the priesthood?

Linda K. Burton, the 16th General President of the Relief Society from 2012-2017 spoke in June 2014, in a talk called, "Priesthood Power - Available to All." She said:

The Come Follow Me manual for Sunday School emphasizes that EVERYONE works with priesthood power. This snippet is from when we studied Doctrine and Covenants 20:38-60.

We also learn that the Lord sustains all those who serve him.

In the scripture above, what might the phrase "feeble knees" mean? How can we "strengthen" those with feeble knees?

Elder Ashton, in the talk, "Strengthen the Feeble Knees," goes on to say, 

"In March of 1832 when this section was revealed, Church members had reason to be fearful. In Hiram, Ohio, where the Prophet Joseph Smith was living, there was a rising tide of hostility against the Saints. Joseph and Sidney Rigdon were brutally attacked by a mob of fifty men.

Those who would destroy at the present time no longer use tar and feathers; they taunt and fault.

Today, almost 160 years later, there is no doubt in my mind that the admonition to strengthen feeble knees is more apropos than ever.

Who among us has not experienced feeble knees or fear and uncertainty over the responsibilities we encounter in this mortal existence?"

- Strengthen the Feeble Knees, Marvin J. Ashton, General Conference October 1991

Here are some videos that I didn't have time to share in class today that I highly recommend:

Works of God - 4 minutes

Teachings of Thomas S. Monson: Rescuing Those in Need - 6 minutes

Leaders Labor with their Own Hands

I love being able to read about the history of the descendants of Nephi and some of the qualities that made them good and righteous leaders to their people and to their children. I learn so much from these great examples, and many of the leaders that we read about in the scriptures share similar sentiments.

In Mosiah 1:3, it says of King Benjamin, "And he also taught them concerning the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, saying, 'My sons, I would that ye should remember that were it not for these plates, which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God."

Then, similar to the advice that our modern-day prophet President Thomas S. Monson in his last public address, King Benjamin says in Mosiah 1:7, "And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to search them diligently, that ye may profit thereby; and I would that ye should keep the commandments of God, that ye may prosper in the land according to the promises which the Lord made unto our fathers."

You can click to enlarge the below chart. I've put together three examples of great leadership from recent scriptures, from three great leaders. Note that in each example, the leaders worked for what they had, and for the common good. I love that King Mosiah, the son of King Benjamin, had learned from his father that it was important to serve others and become "not burdensome to his people,"

Notes from Relief Society today - Learning to sail our ships

In Relief Society today we focused on "Knowing, Loving, and Growing," by Elder Hans T. Boom, a talk from October 2019 General Conference that I have quoted in the past, when we were studying Ephesians in the Bible and learning about how to Strengthen Families. In addition, we studied "The Second Great Commandment," by President Russell M. Nelson, from October 2019 General Conference.

We had a great discussion, and I was mostly focused on just listening to it but I did jot down a quote, and another quote that I found as a result of the lesson. Lastly, I drew a little picture showing a girl who was inspired to bring a watermelon to a woman she barely knew, but it was exactly what the pregnant, lonely woman was craving. Listen to the Lord, and follow promptings to help others in need.

In the above referenced talk, President Nelson stated:

Latter-day Saints, as with other followers of Jesus Christ, are always looking for ways to help, to lift, and to love others. They who are willing to be called the Lord’s people “are willing to bear one another’s burdens, … to mourn with those that mourn; … and [to] comfort those that stand in need of comfort.”³

They truly seek to live the first and second great commandments. When we love God with all our hearts, He turns our hearts to the well-being of others in a beautiful, virtuous cycle.

"In Knowing, Loving, and Growing," Elder Hans T. Boom says:

We all know where we can do better. There is no need to repeatedly remind each other, but there is a need to love and minister to each other and, in doing so, provide a climate of willingness to change.

Give Said the Little Stream

I've been thinking about 2 Corinthians 9:7, when Paul said, "for God loveth a cheerful giver." I am teaching some 6/7 year olds on Sunday about this topic, which resonates so strongly with me, especially for this age, where they start to do harder chores (than just putting their toys away), and when they are still learning to find joy in plain old, boring chores. I also see this being a great focus for a Primary Chorister activity, especially for a Primary Program song review.

We often talk about giving and charity in a separate context as cheerfully having a good attitude as we do life's boring chores, and I think they are closely related.

"Give Said the Little Stream" is a great way to talk about this lesson, whether taught at home in the family setting, by choristers on Sunday, or in small classes, like the one that I will be teaching.

Some thoughts on different ways to incorporate the song (which, by the way, was one of President Thomas S. Monson's favorite songs):

1. First of all, consider either singing "Give Said the Little Stream" together or watching this video that puts visuals with the song together.
> Whenever I sing this song with kids, I have them get up and spin or stand up and sit down whenever they sing the words "give" or words that start with "s" for bigger kids that know their letters.

2. Second, talk about what this song means:
> What are streams like? Are they still and quiet, or do they seem to dance and quietly go on their way? (the stream is "cheerful" ... and "God loveth a cheerful giver")
> How do streams bless the ground around it? (talk about the plants that grow, the animals that drink from it, etc.)

3. Ask the class to share examples of how we can give cheerfully

> You can make this into a fun activity by having children build something as they volunteer ideas. For example, it took me about a minute to cut out this flower in front of a meadow and stream. (The stream is feeding the flower.) Each child can put a petal on the flower as they share an example of one they can give cheerfully, or they can draw a petal that has something written on it already, and either have an opportunity to read it (with some help depending on the age) or elaborate on it.

> Older children can decorate and write instructions on petals to take home, so that they can build their own flower at home as they think about how they can cheerfully give. You can print out some examples or questions to give them ideas for what to write on the pedals:
- What chore does Mom or Dad have you do that you don't enjoy that you can do cheerfully this week?
- Can you say a prayer in the morning and have a prayer in your heart about having an opportunity to cheerfully give service?

> Choristers can put one song they are reviewing on each petal, briefly talk about what this song teaches, and talk about how as they are sharing their testimony through music during the Primary Program, they are giving as the stream gives. They can do this cheerfully with joy in their hearts about being missionaries preaching the gospel from their children's choir.

You can read more on my thoughts about what it means to be a cheerful giver here.