Exponent II's Blog, page 254

Relief Society Lesson Plan: The Worth of Souls is Great in the Sight of God

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When I was 10, I heard that missionaries had all studied the scriptures for four years at seminary and learnt 100 scriptures by heart. When I asked one of the perfectly lovely Elders who was at our home for dinner that night, if I could please have the list so I could get started memorising, I was surprised that he’d have to go home and check a list. I judged him pretty harshly for failing in his simple duty, which any ten year old could understand.

Of course, when I got to the third year of seminary, and my school study load increased, and I was working a couple of shifts a week, and I had to rely on rides to early-morning seminary, I realised that life has a way of making scripture mastery seem less important, in the thick of things, than it seemed to my 10-year-old budding-scriptorian self.

I taught my baby brother (nine years my junior) two scriptures, while I was still active in seminary. John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” and Doctrine and Covenants 18:10, “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God”.

Let’s look at Doctrine and Covenants Section 18:10-16 now, switching the genders a little, so it’s easier to apply to ourselves as a Relief Society:

10 Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;

11 For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all women, that all women might repent and come unto him.

12 And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all women unto him, on conditions of repentance.

13 And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth!

14 Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people.

15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with her in the kingdom of my Father and Mother!

16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Mother and Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

What stands out to you in these verses? Does it give a reason that souls are valued so highly? Or the opposite, does it suggest consequences or repercussions that come from the worth of souls being so great?

Why is this connected to missionary work? What does that tell us about the way we view or could view missionary work?

This scripture always reminds me of the Janice Kapp Perry song connecting this scripture to John 21:15-17:

After Jesus had risen, He came to the sea.

Asking three times of Peter “Lovest thou me?”

“Yea Lord,” he answered, “thou knowest I love thee.”

Then Jesus commanded him, “Feed my sheep”

Which immediately sends my thoughts to another scripture mastery scripture. Can you guess which one?

John 10:16 (But let’s look at 14-16)

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Do you think there’s a comparison here between Jesus knowing us and knowing the Father? Is this laying down of life a consequence of either or both of these “knowings”?

Is this idea of having one fold and one shepherd, this pull towards unity, connected to the knowing, or the valuing, or both? What are the relationships between these ideas, that the worth of your soul is great, that Jesus knows you, that Jesus lays down his life for you?

(Stay with this discussion for as long as is fruitful with your ward.)

Let’s jump off again, to something that the sheep idea reminds me of. We talk often about how this “other sheep” refers to the people of the Book of Mormon. Which person or people in the Book of Mormon are famous – at least among us Mormons – because of sheep?

Mosiah 27:34-37

34 And four of them were the sons of Mosiah; and their names were Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner, and Himni; these were the names of the sons of Mosiah.

35 And they traveled throughout all the land of Zarahemla, and among all the people who were under the reign of king Mosiah, zealously striving to repair all the injuries which they had done to the church, confessing all their sins, and publishing all the things which they had seen, and explaining the prophecies and the scriptures to all who desired to hear them.

36 And thus they were instruments in the hands of God in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth, yea, to the knowledge of their Redeemer.

37 And how blessed are they! For they did publish peace; they did publish good tidings of good; and they did declare unto the people that the Lord reigneth.

Are they valuing souls here? Do they know the people? How can we tell that they do or don’t? (If this helps the women in your class, write their answers on the board, or provide printouts and pencils to mark up the page with their observations)

Mosiah 28:3

3 Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble.

Is this a selfish or selfless drive? How can we tell? Do we ever participate in missionary work from selfishness? Does it matter?

And let’s look at the wider culture they were living in:

Alma 26:23-25

23 Now do ye remember, my brethren, that we said unto our brethren in the land of Zarahemla, we go up to the land of Nephi, to preach unto our brethren, the Lamanites, and they laughed us to scorn?

24 For they said unto us: Do ye suppose that ye can bring the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth? Do ye suppose that ye can convince the Lamanites of the incorrectness of the traditions of their fathers, as stiffnecked a people as they are; whose hearts delight in the shedding of blood; whose days have been spent in the grossest iniquity; whose ways have been the ways of a transgressor from the beginning? Now my brethren, ye remember that this was their language.

25 And moreover they did say: Let us take up arms against them, that we destroy them and their iniquity out of the land, lest they overrun us and destroy us.

(Compare this text to the previously studied verses, and ask the same prompting questions, and any others you feel are important, including writing on the board or marking up photocopies): Are they valuing souls here? Do they know the people? How can we tell that they do or don’t?

And now we come to the really hard questions in this lesson, and it’s okay to take some time and dig deep here. It’s probably going to be uncomfortable to think about, but that’s because we’re not Jesus, and we need to repent. Repentance is many things, but I wouldn’t call it comfortable. (Allowing some quiet time – silence or quiet music – with the questions on the board or a handout can help if the women in your class need time to formulate answers they’re happy to share.)

What does it mean to be “transgressors from the beginning”? Whose cultures do we frame that way, or see through that lens?

Who in our communities do we feel like might overrun us and destroy us? How can we tell when we’re reacting to people from fear and not love? What can we do against that, or to repent when we notice ourselves in the middle of that dynamic? Is there anything we can do, or is it useless to try?

How can we become people who quake at the idea of any soul in torment, even those people that we decide come from wicked or stiff-necked or ignorant cultures?

These scriptures are again connected deeply to missionary work. Do we truly respect the worth of souls if we can only love people who will convert to our religion? How can we be more like Jesus, and try to truly know other people?

Brené Brown teaches that “true belonging is the spiritual practice of believing in and belonging to yourself so deeply that you can share your most authentic self with the world and find sacredness in both being a part of something and standing alone in the wilderness. True belonging doesn’t require you to change who you are; it requires you to be who you are.”

This sounds to me like a way to respect the worth of souls. Not to value anybody else’s more than my own, not to place myself above anybody else, but to know myself – to believe in and belong to myself – so that I can truly connect with others, and develop a meaningful unity.

The one thing I’m pretty convinced of in this crazy journey I’ve been on so far, is that our Heavenly Parents want us back. All of us. No matter how many mistakes we make, no matter how serious they are. I know that that means they also love all the other people who are following the wrong paths and causing pain, and value their souls as highly. That’s scary and wonderful. We can’t do anything to earn or lose the love God has for us. We can only try to accept that that’s how it is, and become more like them.

Relief Society Lesson Plan: “With One Accord” by Reyna Aburto

[image error]I like this topic – I think there’s something very uplifting in the idea of people, in all their diversity, coming together to act for good in the world.  This is the theme of Reyna Aburto’s talk, “With One Accord.”

Introduction

Start out the lesson with an easy question that relates to the theme of the talk.

What are your favorite examples of unity in the scriptures? Any scriptural stories of deep loyalty or friendship that you have found compelling or meaningful? Why?

Naomi and Ruth
Jonathan and David
Elizabeth and Mary

I’d personally mention Ruth and Naomi because that story of unity and devotion reminds me of my own mom and her mother-in-law. After my dad died when I was a baby, my mom would have liked to move back to her home town to be closer to her mom and sister, but she stayed where she was,  a few blocks away from her in-laws, because we were their only grandchildren and she couldn’t bear to take us away from them. My mom took care of my father’s parents until they died in their 80s and 90s.

I might also comment on Elizabeth and Mary: I found a comment on the blog that nicely captures the dynamic of unity that Elizabeth and Mary shared when they were both pregnant and came together. “Mary turns to her for refuge. Elizabeth recognizes Mary’s distinct mission. Even their children-in-utero seem united. Mary, in this circle of acceptance, then speaks the gorgeous poem/prophecy (the magnificat). After the loneliness that must have accompanied her initial vision, Mary must have felt — upon meeting her “sister” — “‘How Good and how pleasant it is . . . to dwell together in unity.'”

 

Part I: Coming Together to do Good

Aburto begins by by talking about the remarkable journey of butterflies, as they fly from Mexico to Canada and back to Mexico. At night cluster together on trees for protection from predators and cold. She uses the monarch butterly as a central metaphor about the importance of unity as we all undergo our mortal journey.

 

A group of butterflies is called a kaleidoscope.4 Isn’t that a beautiful image? Each butterfly in a kaleidoscope is unique and different, yet these seemingly fragile creatures have been designed by a loving Creator with the ability to survive, travel, multiply, and disseminate life as they go from one flower to the next, spreading pollen. And although each butterfly is different, they work together to make the world a more beautiful and fruitful place.

Like the monarch butterflies, we are on a journey back to our heavenly home, where we will reunite with our Heavenly Parents.5 Like the butterflies, we have been given divine attributes that allow us to navigate through life, in order to “[fill] the measure of [our] creation.”6Like them, if we knit our hearts together,7 the Lord will protect us “as a hen [gathers] her chickens under her wings”8 and will make us into a beautiful kaleidoscope.

Girls and boys, young women and young men, sisters and brothers, we are on this journey together. In order to reach our sublime destiny, we need each other, and we need to be unified. The Lord has commanded us, “Be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.”9

 

She discusses a few examples of LDS people coming together with their communities to help in times of great need. During the floods in Houston last year, an Elders Quorum president sent out a plea for boats to come and help stranded people, and ultimately got 77 boats from members and non members to come and help people and give them rides to where they needed to go. In Chile a Relief Society president wanted to help Haitian immigrants that were arriving, so she and other leaders organized Spanish classes to help them integrate.

Do you have any stories of people coming together in unity to help out in times of crisis? These could be stories from newspapers or from your own lives. Maybe you’ve seen some these kinds of projects in your own church experience?

I might mention this story of unity — of people working together for good — that I thought was pretty neat. A year or two ago a family was caught in a rip tide off the coast of Florida and they couldn’t swim back to shore. Strangers on the beach saw what was happening and formed a human chain of 70 people to rescue the family.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/...

For a Mormon example, I really liked this story about a ward in Utah that came together to makeover a house for a refugee from Rwanda, with ward members donating  their various expertise to fix up the house. This is a great example of people working together to do something awesome that they couldn’t have done alone.

https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640976/Beautiful-partnership-provides-home-makeover-for-refugee-mom-and-kids.htmlF

Part II: Creating Unity and Honoring Diversity

I like the idea of people coming together to work for good, but I do not like the idea of unity meaning we all look alike, think alike, act alike, speak alike. I’m completely uninterested in being in that kind of community. I like diversity. I like different perspectives. My favorite thing about these lessons is when people have different types of wisdom to share – it’s such a richer experience.

Does unity imply conformity to you?  Why or why not? How do we honor diversity at the same time we create unity? Can we do both at the same time?

I would comment on what I think is one of the best scriptural discussions of the way diversity and unity come together to work for the common good — the body of Christ metaphor in the New Testament. 1 Corinthians 12: 12-27

2 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[a] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it,25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

What are your thoughts about this passage? Does this resonate with your sense of how people — all different colors, backgrounds, ethnicities, ideologies, ages, education, etc.- can come together and find a place in the church? Or do you think this is far harder to achieve in reality than it is in theory. Why?

 

Part III: Creating Unity Within Diversity in our Relief Societies

I like these quotes from Relief Society leaders, who have wrestled with this issue of creating a unity that embraces diversity.

“It is a new time, it is a change of direction, it is a time to heal, a time to bond women to women and women to men. We can have unity in diversity and diversity in unity. We don’t have to be like one another to enjoy sisterhood. One of the important things we must do is to help the daughters of God know who they are and that they have had an important part in building his kingdom throughout all generations of time. Another of the most important things we can do is to learn to be accepting of one another and overcome judging one another, to learn to love aech other and build each other more. “ — Barbara Winder “Faith Hope and charity: inspiration from the lives of General Relief Society presidents.

 

“I am not typical of the ideal of Latter-day Saint womanhood. For example, I teach at a Catholic girls’ school; I was single until was thirty-eight years old; I have no children of my own… But paradoxically, I serve an important purpose by not fitting the traditional image. It would be difficult for someone in my stake to look me in the eye and say, “I just don’t think I fit the Relief Society mold!” I’m a daily reminder to our stake, for the time I’m serving in my present calling [as Stake Relief Society president], that the umbrella of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is large and welcoming. It is not made to shelter one kind of woman only. I may lack some of the usual powers, but I may have some that are unique to me. There’s room for all of us, and what happiness we can find as we use our individual powers to teach, bless, and strengthen one another!” — Karen Lynn Davidson, 1990 Women’s Conference Address is “Women and the Power Within”

I think these two quotes give us some good ideas on how to create a more unified Relief Society. What are your ideas? What concrete practical ideas do you have for how we can come together, appreciate each other’s strengths, and welcome the diverse talents and perspectives that we all have?

Conclusion:

End with this thought from Sister Aburto.

Like the monarch butterflies, let us continue on our journey together in purpose, each of us with our own attributes and contributions, working to make this a more beautiful and fruitful world—one small step at a time and in harmony with God’s commandments.

 

Relief Society Lesson Plan: The Saviour is our Perfect Example of Ministering

“Let our hearts and hands be stretched out in compassion toward others, for everyone is walking his or her own difficult path.”

-Dieter F. Uchtdorf

 

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To give your Relief Society opportunity to speak on relevant and familiar themes, you may consider looking to the examples of the Saviour ministering to women.

 

He healed the sick

It has been theorised that the woman with an “issue of blood” was suffering from prolonged menstruation. Given this, she would have been considered unclean for 12 years of her life. As stated, she had searched for help from physicians, but that seemed to make her problem much worse.

From Luke 8:

“47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.”

How can we minister in the Saviour’s way?

Research has shown that women’s health complaints are often seen as trivial, and as such, many women have had poor experiences with professionals. Sisters can support each other with belief, and validation. Where appropriate, sisters may also be able to attend appointments with the individual or simply check in with her.

We can be vocal supporters of women’s rights to proper care. We can also speak openly about trickier health issues to remove any damaging stigmas. This is particularly helpful with “hidden” illnesses, such as chronic pain, or depression.

Sickness can be lonely. A text or email may be appreciated by someone stuck at home, or in the hospital. When wanted, sisters can visit and help around the home, or bring a meal. Childminding may also be useful.

When the sister is away from church, she may appreciate being updated on what she’s missing. She also may appreciate a thoughtful spiritual message.

The individual may also appreciate some pampering. As always, ministering should be about what the sister needs.

 

He ministered to the grieving

Jesus wept with Mary and Martha. Jesus loved their brother, Lazarus. Many interpretations exist, but I like to think that Christ had empathy for the pain of these sisters.

“There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love.”

-Washington Irving

How can we minister in the Saviour’s way?

There are many ways a person may grieve. Someone they love could have passed away, or perhaps all their children have moved out of home. I had a period of grieving when I knew I shouldn’t have any more children.

Sisters can minister by choosing appropriate language around the one in grief. This may include discussion about eternal life, but for many, this could be the very last thing they want to hear. It’s important to gauge what would be helpful to the individual.

Sisters can promote privacy by dropping off meals, flowers, or other thoughtful gifts on the doorstep, rather than have the one in grief worry about entertaining.

Where the individual needs company, sisters can simply sit with the sister, or watch a movie with them.

Remember anniversaries of loss. This is a particularly painful time.

Ultimately, it’s about empathy. It’s hard to know what to say or do when someone is suffering, but the best thing is to be honest. Try: “I don’t know what to say, but I love you.”

 

These are just two examples of women Jesus Christ ministered to. Hopefully, it will give you some ideas.

Happy teaching!

The Saviour is our Perfect Example of Ministering

“Let our hearts and hands be stretched out in compassion toward others, for everyone is walking his or her own difficult path.”

-Dieter F. Uchtdorf

 

[image error]

To give your Relief Society opportunity to speak on relevant and familiar themes, you may consider looking to the examples of the Saviour ministering to women.

 

He healed the sick

It has been theorised that the woman with an “issue of blood” was suffering from prolonged menstruation. Given this, she would have been considered unclean for 12 years of her life. As stated, she had searched for help from physicians, but that seemed to make her problem much worse.

From Luke 8:

“47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.”

How can we minister in the Saviour’s way?

Research has shown that women’s health complaints are often seen as trivial, and as such, many women have had poor experiences with professionals. Sisters can support each other with belief, and validation. Where appropriate, sisters may also be able to attend appointments with the individual or simply check in with her.

We can be vocal supporters of women’s rights to proper care. We can also speak openly about trickier health issues to remove any damaging stigmas. This is particularly helpful with “hidden” illnesses, such as chronic pain, or depression.

Sickness can be lonely. A text or email may be appreciated by someone stuck at home, or in the hospital. When wanted, sisters can visit and help around the home, or bring a meal. Childminding may also be useful.

When the sister is away from church, she may appreciate being updated on what she’s missing. She also may appreciate a thoughtful spiritual message.

The individual may also appreciate some pampering. As always, ministering should be about what the sister needs.

 

He ministered to the grieving

Jesus wept with Mary and Martha. Jesus loved their brother, Lazarus. Many interpretations exist, but I like to think that Christ had empathy for the pain of these sisters.

“There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love.”

-Washington Irving

How can we minister in the Saviour’s way?

There are many ways a person may grieve. Someone they love could have passed away, or perhaps all their children have moved out of home. I had a period of grieving when I knew I shouldn’t have any more children.

Sisters can minister by choosing appropriate language around the one in grief. This may include discussion about eternal life, but for many, this could be the very last thing they want to hear. It’s important to gauge what would be helpful to the individual.

Sisters can promote privacy by dropping off meals, flowers, or other thoughtful gifts on the doorstep, rather than have the one in grief worry about entertaining.

Where the individual needs company, sisters can simply sit with the sister, or watch a movie with them.

Remember anniversaries of loss. This is a particularly painful time.

Ultimately, it’s about empathy. It’s hard to know what to say or do when someone is suffering, but the best thing is to be honest. Try: “I don’t know what to say, but I love you.”

 

These are just two examples of women Jesus Christ ministered to. Hopefully, it will give you some ideas.

Happy teaching!

The #LDS Church has announced that it will discontinue sponsorship of Scouts BSA

[image error]Just one week after Boy Scouts changed to a gender-inclusive name to accommodate accepting girls into the program, the LDS Church has announced that it is severing its 105-year partnership with the organization.

Mormon Church severs all ties with Boy Scouts

Guest Post: The Warmth of Loneliness

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“Lonely Journey” by Hans Hofmann

by Gemma

Today I’m not sure where I fit into the world. I’m not sure if I’ve ever felt like I fit into the world. Not that I’m different or special or unique, but each day I wake up and wonder if I’ll ever feel comfortable. Am I supposed to feel comfortable? Am I supposed to want to feel comfortable?

The first breath of each morning is filled with excitement. I’ve been given another day in my blessed human form. I ride the train for two hours each morning, excited for class. The closer I move towards feeling God through the bliss of numbers and algorithms, the further I slip away from the beliefs I used to hold dear. Believe me, this is not the life I ever thought I would live. A returned Mormon missionary, someone who was married in the Helsinki temple. “What did you stop doing? What did you start doing?” Is my favorite response. I guess I started living genuinely. I spent so many years of my life trying to fit in. I loved growing up in the Mormon community, I loved the idea of my faith, but as I got older I realized how much guilt I harbored for not genuinely sharing these beliefs, although I tried for so long.

I hate weekends, I hate halting my acquisition of knowledge to perform ordinary tasks like washing dishes and organizing my home. I hate the pressure I feel to make a firm decision on my beliefs every Sunday. I’m a g*ddamn 24-year-old, what 24-year-old has all the answers? My greatest depth of loneliness is felt when I attend church. This is the place I feel the craziest, but sitting in my home as my husband sits alone on a pew is the worst feeling in the world. So I go. I slip on my normal people underwear, a normal people dress and listen to the talks and lessons. I love sitting in on the third hour, a room full of women sharing their life experiences. But I can’t help but feel lonely in that room. As they talk about temple rituals and eternal marriage, flashbacks of that first night of peeling off my garments and laying in bed next to my husband as he held me as I sobbed – they fill my mind. I want to run away. But I live in Utah Valley, my husband attends BYU. I can’t just pick up and leave.

How did I get involved in computer science? Why am I so passionate about something that seems like and often feels like torture? Perhaps the loneliest subject in many people’s minds. 10 hours of silence, running tests on a computer probably sounds like a nightmare to many – It is my remedy. It is the only thing in this world that I know is true. Logic, math, are basic truths I can always fall back on. I feel so happy as I create the magic. I don’t feel like an accident. The pieces are all here, and I’m dying to put them all together. Perhaps one day I will finally understand why I exist, where I really fit into the universe. A Sikh Army veteran coding on my right, a Catholic immigrant keying away on my left, an Indian who was the only Hindu at his high school sits directly in front of me. We are all there for answers. The beautiful, loneliness warms the room as a bunch of oddballs perform their rituals. The clicking of keys, a sacred chant. The changing screen, a vision. I am content, I am smiling, I am spiritual again.

 

 Gemma is a 24-year-old computer science student at the University of Utah. Being a female in computer science has been somewhat of a lonely endeavor, but she also lives in Provo and her beliefs have shifted which feels like a uniquely solitary journey. Perhaps this piece of her life might help another woman out there who feels similarly.

I Was in Prison and Ye Came Unto Me

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:…I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, “Lord, when saw we thee … in prison, and came unto thee?” 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 [sisters], ye have done it unto me.” Matthew 25:34-40[image error]

About a year ago, I wrote a guest post discussing my call to minister to inmates at the county jail. I didn’t have much to add at that point because I had just started. Now that I have some experience under my belt, here’s an update.

When people hear about my volunteer work, I get one of two reactions: People either think I’m some sort of extra super-duper holy person, or they worry for my safety. I don’t really think I’m any holier than any other person with a teaching calling at church. Some people are called to teach Sunday school. I happen to have been called to teach jail inmates. I also don’t worry about my safety at the jail. It’s considered socially unacceptable among the inmates to mess with or harm any clergy person who comes to the jail. I’m probably safer there than I am walking down the street.

Several years ago, I had an opportunity to minister to inmates in a men’s prison. Now I minister in a women’s jail. A common question I get is whether it’s different ministering to women vs men. I’ve found in my experience that it isn’t. People are people, and sin, repentance, and forgiveness are universal human concerns. The biggest difference is between a prison and a jail. When I ministered in a prison setting, the people I worked with were serving life sentences, so their problems generally involved adjusting to the new reality of the rest of their lives knowing they were never returning to society. The concerns we discussed in class were things like how to make their cells a home, how to progress in the gospel when they can’t receive ordinances, how to handle a permanent separation from their families, etc. In a jail setting, about half of the people I work with will be going to prison for a number of years (but not forever), and the other half will be returning to society. The concerns we discuss in class are how to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, how to mend broken relationships, how to reintegrate successfully into society, etc.

In both settings, how to access and apply the grace of Jesus Christ is front and center.

When I taught at the prison, we spent one week per month on the church’s 12-step program, two weeks on the Teachings of the Presidents of the Church manual, and one week on scripture study. It was a good, balanced diet of gospel study. The prison I volunteered at had a very small LDS population – 6-12 people regularly came to services and there were maybe a dozen others who were unable to attend but would have if they had been able to. (They were visited one on one by one of my colleagues.) By contrast, the jail has a large LDS population. The county I’m in has about half a dozen jails, and there are enough inmates that the jails are organized into a branch, complete with a branch president. All the LDS teachers report to the branch president, though our records remain in our respective wards, and we attend our wards in addition to the services we lead at the jail. I do one on one visits and teach at one of the jails, though occasionally I get asked to help out by doing one on one visits with inmates at other jails. At the jail I teach at, there are 4-6 LDS classes in English and 2 in Spanish, and each class has attendance ranging from 20-30. I’ve heard that at the other jails, attendance is as high as 50-70.

Because there are so many different classes going on, the classes specialize. I’m responsible for facilitating, with a co-instructor, the church’s 12-step program. Other people teach scripture study classes. Leading the 12-step program was outside my comfort zone when I started because I felt wholly unqualified to teach the class. While I’ve seen loved ones suffer from addiction, I’ve never personally experienced it, so I didn’t really feel that I would have anything useful to add. My co-instructor, when I expressed that concern to her, said that really when it gets down to it, the course is a course on how to apply the Atonement. When I reconsidered it in that light, I felt better about my ability to teach it.

It’s been challenging to balance the demands of work with my ministry at the jail, but it’s been so worth it. True to the promise in Matthew 25, I found God in the jail. When I visit the inmates, I am visiting Jesus. I’m walking on holy ground when I’m teaching my class. Jesus promises “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20. And He is. I’ve seen miracles. I’ve watched people be cleansed of their sins and healed of their broken hearts. I’ve seen prayers answered and hearts softened.

Our society treats people accused of committing crimes as profoundly “other”. There’s “us” and “them”. They even have to wear special clothes advertising their sin – a sort of orange jump-suited version of a scarlet “A”. God, on the other hand, just sees beloved children. We’re no better than they are. “[A]ll have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. Yes, the people I teach are sinners. But so are you. And so am I. And God loves us anyway and shows us how to be cleansed and healed by the marvelous grace of Jesus Christ.

I don’t know why God gave me this call, and I don’t know how long God will need me to continue in it, but I’m glad I’ve had the opportunity to bring His love to people who so desperately need it and to feel that love myself in the process.

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Image Credit: By Officer Bimblebury – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...

Church to improve safety for sister missionaries

Church establishes Sister Safety Committee, and develops follow-up procedure to support sisters after incidents.

https://www.sltrib.com/news/2018/05/0...[image error]

November Young Women Lesson: How do I know if I am becoming converted?

[image error]Conversion is a big topic, and I think we all wonder sometimes what it means and question our own conversion. This lesson can provide a good opportunity to reassure the young women that it is ok to be unsure or to have questions. This lesson outline is quite a departure from the lesson manual. It seemed to me that the lesson from the church manual was focused on being converted to the Church; here the aim is to discuss conversion to Christ.

Begin by asking the class to think of conversion stories they have heard, from the scriptures or from people they know. Some examples may be:

Saul/Paul: Act 9 (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/act...)

Alma the Elder: Mosiah 17 (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/17.1-2?lang=eng#p1)

Alma the Younger: Mosiah 27 (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/27.8?lang=eng#7)

Once you have discussed a few examples, as the class to brainstorm some commonalities across them. Some key points to bring out out include each gained a belief in Christ, and that each individual changed in important ways subsequent to their experiences.

From there, you might encourage the class to develop a definition of conversion as a group. It is difficult, after all, to know if something is happening if you don’t know what ‘it’ is. You might use Alma 5 for an additional reference, and encourage your class to think about what it means to be changed in our hearts.

You may also want to have students read from True to the Faith on conversion (https://www.lds.org/languages/eng/content/manual/true-to-the-faith/conversion), especially this section:

“Conversion is a process, not an event. You become converted as a result of your righteous efforts to follow the Savior. These efforts include exercising faith in Jesus Christ, repenting of sin, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end in faith.

Although conversion is miraculous and life changing, it is a quiet miracle. Angelic visitations and other spectacular occurrences do not bring conversion. Even Alma, who saw an angel, became converted only after he “fasted and prayed many days” for a witness of the truth (Alma 5:46). And Paul, who saw the resurrected Savior, taught that “no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” (1 Corinthians 12:3).

Because conversion is a quiet, constant process, you may be converted now and not realize it. You could be like the Lamanites who, “because of their faith in [Christ] at the time ​of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not” (3 Nephi 9:20). Your continuing efforts to exercise faith and follow the Savior will lead to greater conversion.”

I really like the idea of conversion as a process. Most of the stories we have of conversion (including the examples from scripture listed above) are a singular,  extreme event. True conversion takes a life time. It takes practice and hard work and patience and developing a relationship with Christ.

I feel it is important to point out, especially to teen-aged girls,  that one sign of true conversion is a desire to try again. Being converted does not mean we are always perfect and loving. It does mean that when we can’t be, we learn and repent and try again. 

Knowing, Believing, and Hoping: Going Beyond the Usual Testimony Words

[image error]A couple of weeks ago, in our awesome Gospel Principles 2 class, we talked about the first chapter in the manual which focused on the existence of Heavenly Father. Gospel Principles 2 is a class our ward constructed to give people who were at different places in their faith journeys a place to openly and honestly discuss their questions. We are about 15 classes in, and I am loving it.

We went around the class and each discussed where we were on that issue of knowing that there is a God. Being the closest person to the teacher, I kicked off the discussion by mentioning that I had no knowledge there is a God. God has not revealed him/herself to me. God has not spoken to me. Nor have I had the warm feelings of comfort confirming God’s presence to me when I pray.  Did I believe there was a God? I was uncomfortable even saying that, given my lack of experience with confirmation. I did however say that I hoped there was a just God, that I love the idea of being with my family forever and that I desperately hope that there is a just and loving divine presence in the universe.

Other people in the class mostly avoided the “know” word and spoke about their beliefs in God, their experiences of feeling God’s love, though a couple people likewise talked about hope rather than knowledge or belief.

While I was clearly in the minority in my unwillingness to use the “believe” or “know” words, I loved that there was space in this little class for me to be totally honest like that. That’s a rare occurrence for me at church.

As a Relief Society teacher, I walk something of a tight rope. I want to be authentic and honest, but I have to speak very carefully in order to not derail things or upset people. This means that I can’t authentically testify of many things. I can’t say “I know God lives and Jesus loves us.” I can’t say “I’m grateful we have a prophet on earth today who speaks for God.” The list goes on and on.

But what I can do, that I think works reasonably well, is talk about things I find loving or compelling or thoughtful or poignant. When I conclude a lesson I talk a lot about how this scripture verse resonates with my sense of what is just and good. I talk about how I find this quote or this story compelling because of its emphasis on xyz. I talk about how grateful I am for a community with which to discuss these important ideas. By using language of “resonating” “compelling” and “insightful” or “profound” I avoid having to use those testimony words that don’t feel authentic to me.

What testimony words are you comfortable with? Do you have words other than “know,” “believe” and “hope” that you use in order to meaningfully contribute to church discussions?