WEBVTT 00:00:07.439 --> 00:00:09.660 Welcome to Closer to Christ through General Conference, 00:00:09.900 --> 00:00:12.060 where two friends who love Jesus share our own 00:00:12.060 --> 00:00:13.939 approach to studying the most recent General 00:00:13.939 --> 00:00:16.879 Conference talks. This is Abbey and Amy. Let's 00:00:16.879 --> 00:00:27.730 jump into it. Today we're talking about the love 00:00:27.730 --> 00:00:30.769 of God, and this is by Elder Benjamin M. Z. Tai 00:00:30.769 --> 00:00:34.810 of the Seventy. This is, we just finished our 00:00:34.810 --> 00:00:37.789 hundredth episode, and we're so happy that you 00:00:37.789 --> 00:00:40.130 have been with us for this ride. Abby, thanks 00:00:40.130 --> 00:00:41.829 for being here. It's good to be here. Thanks 00:00:41.829 --> 00:00:46.759 for having me. Elder Tai talked about an analogy. 00:00:46.920 --> 00:00:49.219 He said that we all have the experience of looking 00:00:49.219 --> 00:00:51.600 up in the night sky and seeing a myriad of stars. 00:00:51.799 --> 00:00:54.380 So they're fixed. They're predictable. Those 00:00:54.380 --> 00:00:56.479 same stars seen from a quiet camping spot in 00:00:56.479 --> 00:00:58.280 the woods are far different from what you would 00:00:58.280 --> 00:01:00.939 see if you were looking at that same sky in the 00:01:00.939 --> 00:01:03.979 city or at night from a balcony on a high rise. 00:01:04.280 --> 00:01:07.959 Did they disappear? Absolutely not. Are they 00:01:07.959 --> 00:01:12.859 harder to see? Ty uses this analogy to draw on 00:01:12.859 --> 00:01:16.019 the truth that God loves us always, despite the 00:01:16.019 --> 00:01:18.420 terrestrial temptations that cloud our spiritual 00:01:18.420 --> 00:01:21.920 vision. I love that he used a scripture so quick 00:01:21.920 --> 00:01:24.859 into this introduction. He said, faith is a substance 00:01:24.859 --> 00:01:27.079 of things hoped for, the evidence of things not 00:01:27.079 --> 00:01:30.299 seen. Isn't it amazing to think, you know, two 00:01:30.299 --> 00:01:32.379 people looking at the same stars in those two 00:01:32.379 --> 00:01:34.939 different locations at the same time would in 00:01:34.939 --> 00:01:38.400 theory know that those stars are there just because 00:01:38.400 --> 00:01:44.810 they can't see them? kind of led into knowing 00:01:44.810 --> 00:01:46.829 exactly what Elder Tai was going to be talking 00:01:46.829 --> 00:01:49.689 about. And he helps us with that star analogy 00:01:49.689 --> 00:01:53.709 to draw a clear visual of the stars in the sky 00:01:53.709 --> 00:01:56.010 and how they are. We have at times in our lives 00:01:56.010 --> 00:01:58.629 when we fill that block and we don't see evidences 00:01:58.629 --> 00:02:01.549 of God loves, but maybe in the past we have seen 00:02:01.549 --> 00:02:04.689 it. And so we can recall, well, I know that they're 00:02:04.689 --> 00:02:06.670 there just because I'm not seeing them right 00:02:06.670 --> 00:02:10.840 in this moment. But he used that. phrasing terrestrial 00:02:10.840 --> 00:02:13.360 clouds or, you know, some of us know light pollution, 00:02:13.560 --> 00:02:16.659 get in the way of us filling God's love and light 00:02:16.659 --> 00:02:19.060 in our own lives, despite the fact that it is 00:02:19.060 --> 00:02:21.800 always there. Yes, I love that. Both of those. 00:02:22.300 --> 00:02:24.159 Early in the Book of Mormon and the Tree of Life 00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:26.939 vision, we learned that the tree represents the 00:02:26.939 --> 00:02:29.319 love of God, and then that the fruit of that 00:02:29.319 --> 00:02:31.419 tree provided all that was necessary to make 00:02:31.419 --> 00:02:34.919 someone happy. When Lehi tasted the fruit of 00:02:34.919 --> 00:02:37.340 that tree, he was filled with joy, and his greatest 00:02:37.340 --> 00:02:39.840 desire at that point was that his family should 00:02:39.840 --> 00:02:42.379 have this same fruit and the same joy. Because 00:02:42.379 --> 00:02:44.580 Christ embodies the love of God, He is the fruit 00:02:44.580 --> 00:02:46.419 that we should desire to bring into our lives 00:02:46.419 --> 00:02:49.699 more fully. And then also, just like Lehi, invite 00:02:49.699 --> 00:02:54.599 our family to come to Jesus Christ as well. Most 00:02:54.599 --> 00:02:56.419 of us haven't had the experience where we see 00:02:56.419 --> 00:02:58.580 the Father and Son with our physical eyes, but 00:02:58.580 --> 00:03:00.419 we're asked to exercise faith in God and His 00:03:00.419 --> 00:03:03.159 Son, Jesus Christ. Faith precedes miracles, and 00:03:03.159 --> 00:03:05.479 it's in the action of acting on this faith that 00:03:05.479 --> 00:03:08.219 we receive clear assurance of their reality and 00:03:08.219 --> 00:03:11.560 their concern for us. Absolutely. Okay, Abby, 00:03:11.639 --> 00:03:14.099 let's list some evidences of how Jesus Christ 00:03:14.099 --> 00:03:18.909 embodies the love of God. His great atoning sacrifice, 00:03:19.430 --> 00:03:23.110 taking upon Himself our sins and was bruised 00:03:23.110 --> 00:03:25.969 for our iniquities. He has personally borne our 00:03:25.969 --> 00:03:29.509 griefs, carried our sorrows, taken upon Himself 00:03:29.509 --> 00:03:32.490 our pains and sicknesses. And then He sends the 00:03:32.490 --> 00:03:34.930 Holy Ghost to comfort us. And the fruits of the 00:03:34.930 --> 00:03:38.349 Spirit include joy, peace, and faith, which fill 00:03:38.349 --> 00:03:40.969 us with hope and love. These gifts are designed 00:03:40.969 --> 00:03:43.229 for every one of us, every child of God to have 00:03:43.229 --> 00:03:45.789 access to. And, you know, there's some that search 00:03:45.789 --> 00:03:48.520 for it. others that want it but turn away from 00:03:48.520 --> 00:03:50.740 it because they have that idea that somehow they 00:03:50.740 --> 00:03:53.280 aren't deserving of it, while others are desperately 00:03:53.280 --> 00:03:57.460 trying their hardest to hang on to it. I mean, 00:03:57.500 --> 00:03:59.159 and I think different phases of life we might 00:03:59.159 --> 00:04:01.360 find ourselves in one of those multiple scenarios. 00:04:01.479 --> 00:04:04.819 For sure. It's not enough to taste the fruit 00:04:04.819 --> 00:04:07.099 and be satisfied with just one taste of it. The 00:04:07.099 --> 00:04:09.460 scriptures and the Lord's prophet teach us that 00:04:09.460 --> 00:04:12.770 we consistently can experience god's love and 00:04:12.770 --> 00:04:14.490 the longer we go without feeling that love the 00:04:14.490 --> 00:04:16.970 easier it is for the terrestrial clouds to block 00:04:16.970 --> 00:04:19.910 our view from seeing and feeling that love The 00:04:19.910 --> 00:04:22.670 key to feeling love daily is to turn daily to 00:04:22.670 --> 00:04:25.490 the Savior. I think that's the part of the, you 00:04:25.490 --> 00:04:27.509 know, the consistency is that we just need to 00:04:27.509 --> 00:04:30.050 keep doing it. Daily repentance, daily prayer, 00:04:30.170 --> 00:04:32.870 daily scripture study, forgiving others as we 00:04:32.870 --> 00:04:35.810 have been forgiven, and to frankly forgive like 00:04:35.810 --> 00:04:39.069 Joseph Smith did. I love it too. To strive to 00:04:39.069 --> 00:04:41.230 keep the commandments and then also to selflessly 00:04:41.230 --> 00:04:44.480 serve others are the keys. to daily feel of God's 00:04:44.480 --> 00:04:48.240 love for ourselves. I like the emphasis on the 00:04:48.240 --> 00:04:50.639 word strive because I think that's a problem 00:04:50.639 --> 00:04:53.319 where people don't feel the worthiness to even 00:04:53.319 --> 00:04:58.439 have God's love is because they have this erroneous 00:04:58.439 --> 00:05:00.600 idea that you have to be perfect in order to 00:05:00.600 --> 00:05:04.339 earn that. He just wants to see us striving. 00:05:04.889 --> 00:05:06.810 to try to keep His commandments. And as we do 00:05:06.810 --> 00:05:08.850 that, we strive. I think it does get a little 00:05:08.850 --> 00:05:10.670 bit better each time. But I think part of that 00:05:10.670 --> 00:05:13.649 is because we allow His love to cover the difference 00:05:13.649 --> 00:05:16.389 that we can't make on our own. Yes, we ask for 00:05:16.389 --> 00:05:18.430 the atonement in our lives, right? It makes a 00:05:18.430 --> 00:05:21.350 lot of sense that there are things that we do 00:05:21.350 --> 00:05:23.870 daily to help us feel God's love. And it's just 00:05:23.870 --> 00:05:27.050 as easy to not do the little things daily. And 00:05:27.050 --> 00:05:30.180 that causes a block. or blockage of feeling that 00:05:30.180 --> 00:05:33.120 love. I would say it's not disappearing, but 00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:35.540 it's just harder to see and harder to feel. So 00:05:35.540 --> 00:05:37.699 things like being prideful, contentious, and 00:05:37.699 --> 00:05:40.079 rebellion are three such attributes. For sure. 00:05:40.279 --> 00:05:41.879 You know, what if those things are prevalent 00:05:41.879 --> 00:05:44.220 in our lives? Could we possibly do as the prophet 00:05:44.220 --> 00:05:46.579 has invited us and remove with the Savior's help 00:05:46.579 --> 00:05:49.300 the old debris in our lives? As the talk says, 00:05:49.480 --> 00:05:52.319 lay aside bitterness. He's encouraged us to bolster 00:05:52.319 --> 00:05:54.439 our spiritual foundation through centering our 00:05:54.439 --> 00:05:56.660 lives on the Savior and the ordinances and covenants 00:05:56.660 --> 00:05:59.750 of His temple. The word centering stands out 00:05:59.750 --> 00:06:03.709 to me here, meaning if he is our focal point, 00:06:03.810 --> 00:06:08.670 he is our intended destination, it's harder to 00:06:08.670 --> 00:06:13.089 let things in the periphery block our direct 00:06:13.089 --> 00:06:14.829 communication with him, our direct line to him, 00:06:14.850 --> 00:06:16.990 where we're trying to get to. I love it, too, 00:06:17.050 --> 00:06:19.290 because it reminds us, you know, as far as he's 00:06:19.290 --> 00:06:22.589 talking about the block, right, whether it's 00:06:22.589 --> 00:06:27.259 the clouds or whether it's the light. I love 00:06:27.259 --> 00:06:29.620 that he's reminding us that it's always there, 00:06:29.699 --> 00:06:32.699 meaning God's love, Christ's atonement is always 00:06:32.699 --> 00:06:34.779 there, regardless of whether we're feeling it. 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:36.879 You know what I mean? It's just a good reminder 00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:38.800 that I really like the analogy that he used there. 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:44.680 Especially if you struggle with a mental illness 00:06:44.680 --> 00:06:46.959 or whatever. Yes, or a season of it, right? That's 00:06:46.959 --> 00:06:49.800 what I was going to say. It's a great thing to 00:06:49.800 --> 00:06:52.060 get a testimony of when things happen to be going, 00:06:52.379 --> 00:06:55.720 like the medications are working. well and life 00:06:55.720 --> 00:06:59.040 experiences aren't making that a very difficult 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:01.060 thing to fill God's love. You cannot necessarily 00:07:01.060 --> 00:07:03.160 bottle it up. You're going to need that continuous, 00:07:03.519 --> 00:07:05.879 like we were saying, continuously partaking of 00:07:05.879 --> 00:07:08.360 that fruit. But I do think it's a truth that 00:07:08.360 --> 00:07:10.660 it once gained a testimony of when you hit a 00:07:10.660 --> 00:07:13.660 period of sadness or darkness that you can tell 00:07:13.660 --> 00:07:16.089 yourself. though I can't feel it now, it is on 00:07:16.089 --> 00:07:18.069 the horizon because I know that it hasn't left 00:07:18.069 --> 00:07:20.029 me. I'm just having a hard time feeling it. And 00:07:20.029 --> 00:07:21.910 it will come back again. Like I will feel it 00:07:21.910 --> 00:07:23.949 again because I felt it before and I know it's 00:07:23.949 --> 00:07:25.870 always there. And what that is, is expanding 00:07:25.870 --> 00:07:29.509 our hope because of the faith that we have, because 00:07:29.509 --> 00:07:32.199 we have. felt it before. Yes, I love that, Abby. 00:07:32.959 --> 00:07:35.480 Also, temple attendance. I feel like that maybe 00:07:35.480 --> 00:07:37.620 could have made the list that we made above. 00:07:37.839 --> 00:07:40.579 The prophet promised that as we keep our temple 00:07:40.579 --> 00:07:43.720 covenants, we gain greater access to the Lord's 00:07:43.720 --> 00:07:46.199 strengthening power. We experience the pure love 00:07:46.199 --> 00:07:48.939 of Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father in great 00:07:48.939 --> 00:07:52.199 abundance. I'd love to encourage all of our listeners 00:07:52.199 --> 00:07:55.379 to make your next date with the Lord in the temple, 00:07:55.500 --> 00:07:58.759 and then use that time there to ask to feel God's 00:07:58.759 --> 00:08:01.879 love for you. Whether in doubt or not, make it 00:08:01.879 --> 00:08:04.339 to one of His temples, sit in the outside space 00:08:04.339 --> 00:08:06.939 or in any room of the temple, and free yourself 00:08:06.939 --> 00:08:09.920 of every other distraction and just open communication 00:08:09.920 --> 00:08:12.879 with the Lord. And then let Him have the opportunity 00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:16.500 to let you know just what He thinks of you. That 00:08:16.500 --> 00:08:20.180 kind of goes back to that centering our lives 00:08:20.180 --> 00:08:22.759 on the Savior. What a great way to do that. When 00:08:22.759 --> 00:08:25.910 I was like, picturing out and about centering 00:08:25.910 --> 00:08:28.769 myself and and focusing on him but your suggestion 00:08:28.769 --> 00:08:31.910 of attending the temple clearing our mind space 00:08:31.910 --> 00:08:34.470 and being in that zone in that moment what what 00:08:34.470 --> 00:08:36.889 a neat opportunity yeah and also sister runia's 00:08:36.889 --> 00:08:38.570 it's kind of like that was one of her invitations 00:08:38.570 --> 00:08:41.450 to us and it's doing that in the temple so i 00:08:41.450 --> 00:08:44.389 like combining both of those um does executing 00:08:44.389 --> 00:08:46.809 this list of ideas remove burdens from our life 00:08:47.240 --> 00:08:50.159 It hasn't happened for me. But as Elder Tice 00:08:50.159 --> 00:08:52.559 suggested, when we experience the love of God, 00:08:52.659 --> 00:08:54.779 we can bear up our burdens with ease and submit 00:08:54.779 --> 00:08:56.799 patiently and cheerfully to His will. We have 00:08:56.799 --> 00:08:58.940 confidence that God will remember His covenants 00:08:58.940 --> 00:09:00.720 with us, visit us in our afflictions, and deliver 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:06.960 us from bondage. What a neat reminder when those 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:09.519 hard times come, which they undoubtedly will 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:12.789 for each of us, that we know. you know, that 00:09:12.789 --> 00:09:14.769 season will pass and that we're not doing it 00:09:14.769 --> 00:09:17.149 alone. When we experience trials and know that 00:09:17.149 --> 00:09:19.190 a loving God is with us and looking out for us, 00:09:19.230 --> 00:09:21.649 maybe sending angelic or earthly angels, our 00:09:21.649 --> 00:09:24.769 trials just don't feel the same. And when we 00:09:24.769 --> 00:09:27.129 erroneously assume our trials are a result of 00:09:27.129 --> 00:09:31.350 God punishing us, we've missed the message. They 00:09:31.350 --> 00:09:33.929 happen because that's what this earthly experience 00:09:33.929 --> 00:09:36.169 is going to have. It's got to have its opposites. 00:09:36.169 --> 00:09:39.190 And it is the opportunity to come to know the 00:09:39.190 --> 00:09:42.809 Father and the Son better or not. But that's 00:09:42.809 --> 00:09:45.070 the intended goal. Yeah. Not because He wants 00:09:45.070 --> 00:09:48.029 to punish us. And that's the thing, too, is there 00:09:48.029 --> 00:09:51.009 will always be affliction. There will always 00:09:51.009 --> 00:09:53.929 be trials. And there will always be God's hand 00:09:53.929 --> 00:09:58.509 and tender mercies intermixed and mingled. I've 00:09:58.509 --> 00:10:00.750 heard people say before, man, I can't wait till 00:10:00.750 --> 00:10:03.929 X and X is over. And I'm thinking, I'm not sure 00:10:03.929 --> 00:10:06.429 if that's going to be over ever. I mean, when 00:10:06.429 --> 00:10:08.090 this one's done, guess what? There's going to 00:10:08.090 --> 00:10:09.529 be something else that's going to fill its space. 00:10:09.610 --> 00:10:12.389 That's just... part of eternal progression. There's 00:10:12.389 --> 00:10:14.809 always that, what is it, the effectual struggle 00:10:14.809 --> 00:10:17.769 that we talk about, that that's just how we grow. 00:10:17.870 --> 00:10:27.370 We don't grow in our comfort zone. Okay. So just 00:10:27.370 --> 00:10:29.750 like the story of Lehi mentioned above, when 00:10:29.750 --> 00:10:32.190 we've tasted of God's love, we have a great desire 00:10:32.190 --> 00:10:35.110 for our family to also experience that. Our family 00:10:35.110 --> 00:10:37.129 can use their agency to partake of the fruit 00:10:37.129 --> 00:10:40.740 or not, but inviting in a loving way and caring 00:10:40.740 --> 00:10:44.440 way is what is most acceptable when a loved one 00:10:44.440 --> 00:10:47.080 rejects the message or inclination may turn to 00:10:47.080 --> 00:10:51.279 force or anger but those send the fruits of the 00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:53.419 spirit that they aren't the way that it's just 00:10:53.419 --> 00:10:56.179 not the way that that god would would do this 00:10:56.179 --> 00:10:58.700 pulling from a suggestion above our best option 00:10:58.700 --> 00:11:01.340 in this situation is to find more ways to serve 00:11:01.340 --> 00:11:03.960 the ones that we love it may or may not change 00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:06.509 them but it will certainly change us And when 00:11:06.509 --> 00:11:08.570 we're better at experiencing God's love, we have 00:11:08.570 --> 00:11:10.809 a better chance of then duplicating that and 00:11:10.809 --> 00:11:13.470 emanating that love. And it feels like a good 00:11:13.470 --> 00:11:15.929 starting point for these loved ones, despite 00:11:15.929 --> 00:11:18.110 not feeling worthy or maybe willing to work to 00:11:18.110 --> 00:11:21.250 feel God's love. Maybe you, the person right 00:11:21.250 --> 00:11:24.049 in front of you, over time will be the key to 00:11:24.049 --> 00:11:26.210 helping this person remove some of those terrestrial 00:11:26.210 --> 00:11:30.070 clouds and then feeling God's love for themselves. 00:11:30.929 --> 00:11:33.330 We can't choose what they do with the things 00:11:33.330 --> 00:11:36.639 that we say, but if they're done in love, we 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:38.620 definitely keep that communication open with 00:11:38.620 --> 00:11:40.279 God and we can fill the love for them that they're 00:11:40.279 --> 00:11:42.519 not able or willing to fill for themselves. And 00:11:42.519 --> 00:11:44.840 in that way, we know that God loves us too. Yes. 00:11:44.860 --> 00:11:48.259 And inviting and coming from a place of love 00:11:48.259 --> 00:11:51.399 is number one. Right from the talk, it says, 00:11:51.460 --> 00:11:53.620 to help others fill God's love, we need to cultivate 00:11:53.620 --> 00:11:55.759 in ourselves Christlike attributes. These include 00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:57.840 humility, charity, compassion, and patience. 00:11:58.669 --> 00:12:00.750 and help turn others towards the Savior through 00:12:00.750 --> 00:12:02.730 following the two great commandments of loving 00:12:02.730 --> 00:12:05.090 God and loving our fellow men. Elder Tai used 00:12:05.090 --> 00:12:06.769 a personal experience that highlighted this. 00:12:06.850 --> 00:12:09.169 He was talking about his teenage son who was 00:12:09.169 --> 00:12:13.169 struggling with self -esteem. And so the inspiration 00:12:13.169 --> 00:12:17.429 came to have he and his son join together in 00:12:17.429 --> 00:12:19.830 serving a woman who was experiencing some health 00:12:19.830 --> 00:12:21.710 challenges in their work. I love this story. 00:12:21.889 --> 00:12:25.669 At first, he was unsure that this would be that 00:12:25.669 --> 00:12:29.669 helpful. And noticed in his son there, he soon 00:12:29.669 --> 00:12:31.289 found a lot of joy bringing the sacrament and 00:12:31.289 --> 00:12:33.470 helping with her needs, you know, week to week. 00:12:33.629 --> 00:12:38.049 One week, Elder Tai was out of town. And so the 00:12:38.049 --> 00:12:40.409 son was responsible for this on his own. And 00:12:40.409 --> 00:12:43.149 he reported back to his dad that he kind of did 00:12:43.149 --> 00:12:45.129 some internet search. He fixed that video player 00:12:45.129 --> 00:12:48.789 and brightened his day, brightened her day. And 00:12:48.789 --> 00:12:51.850 for a fact, this opportunity to serve helped 00:12:51.850 --> 00:12:54.620 made him feel useful, trusted. It made him feel 00:12:54.620 --> 00:12:57.039 loved by God when he was able to share the love 00:12:57.039 --> 00:12:59.679 of God with, you know, another one of God's children. 00:12:59.879 --> 00:13:01.759 And good for him, too, for going when his dad 00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:03.720 wasn't there. You know what I mean? Maybe one 00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:05.460 of the most impactful. For sure. Yeah, because 00:13:05.460 --> 00:13:07.659 he got that inspiration on his own. And because 00:13:07.659 --> 00:13:10.100 he'd been kind of tutored and brought up by having 00:13:10.100 --> 00:13:12.019 experiences with his dad, then he was able to 00:13:12.019 --> 00:13:14.700 continue and carry on in that service on his 00:13:14.700 --> 00:13:17.440 own. Yes, I love that. If you would like to feel 00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:19.460 the love of God more abundantly in your life, 00:13:19.559 --> 00:13:22.059 may I invite you to consider the following. First. 00:13:22.519 --> 00:13:24.799 Pause frequently to remember that you are a child 00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:27.120 of God and think of the things that you're grateful 00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:31.019 for. Gratitude always invites revelation. Second, 00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:33.379 pray daily, asking Heavenly Father to help you 00:13:33.379 --> 00:13:36.179 know who around you needs to feel His love. And 00:13:36.179 --> 00:13:38.080 then third, ask sincerely what you can do to 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:40.000 help that individual to feel the love of God. 00:13:40.259 --> 00:13:43.179 Fourth, act promptly on the inspiration that 00:13:43.179 --> 00:13:46.860 you receive. I was working on... studying this 00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:50.220 talk, preparing for it, and went to bed last 00:13:50.220 --> 00:13:52.720 night, woke up in the early hours of the morning 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:56.960 thinking of this handout that Amy and I received 00:13:56.960 --> 00:13:58.820 a couple weeks ago in a teacher training. We 00:13:58.820 --> 00:14:00.720 met on the stage after sacrament meeting, and 00:14:00.720 --> 00:14:03.840 we didn't have a lot of time with the other primary 00:14:03.840 --> 00:14:07.580 teachers, but our Sunday school president introduced 00:14:07.580 --> 00:14:12.259 us to this diorama, diagram, whatever, and it's 00:14:12.259 --> 00:14:16.429 titled Principles of Christlike Teaching. Teaching 00:14:16.429 --> 00:14:20.049 in the Savior's way. Yeah, in the manual teaching 00:14:20.049 --> 00:14:24.090 in the Savior's way. So what it is, is like a 00:14:24.090 --> 00:14:27.330 Venn diagram, and it's got the ideas. The three 00:14:27.330 --> 00:14:29.470 things you need to have a successful lesson is 00:14:29.470 --> 00:14:31.509 to focus on Jesus Christ, teach the doctrine, 00:14:31.549 --> 00:14:34.330 and invite diligent learning. If any one of those 00:14:34.330 --> 00:14:38.929 things doesn't exist, we don't reach that center. 00:14:40.519 --> 00:14:43.799 That central point or the idea of when all three 00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:48.299 of those things converge, that we help with conversion 00:14:48.299 --> 00:14:51.700 to Jesus Christ, our end goal. But encompassing 00:14:51.700 --> 00:14:55.519 those three things requires us to love those 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:58.019 we teach and to teach by the Spirit. So it just 00:14:58.019 --> 00:15:02.980 came to mind for me, obviously in reference to 00:15:02.980 --> 00:15:07.399 being a primary teacher, how my love for them 00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:11.129 affects. The way I prepare, the way I think about 00:15:11.129 --> 00:15:13.809 them, the way that I pray for them. And I was 00:15:13.809 --> 00:15:17.509 thinking, you know, what do I remember from primary? 00:15:18.289 --> 00:15:21.330 Maybe nothing specific, but I remember teachers 00:15:21.330 --> 00:15:24.309 that loved me. For sure. Public school memories. 00:15:25.049 --> 00:15:27.950 I don't necessarily remember any lessons that 00:15:27.950 --> 00:15:31.710 were to be had there, but definitely remember 00:15:31.710 --> 00:15:35.240 those teachers that kind of... exhibited love 00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:37.220 in whatever way that was. They noticed you having 00:15:37.220 --> 00:15:41.340 a bad day or play with you at recess or, you 00:15:41.340 --> 00:15:45.039 know, like I can't pinpoint exact things that 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:46.600 they did, but I mean, there was a, there was 00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:48.759 a year of my life that I confused my teacher's 00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:50.600 name with my mom's and my mom's with my grandma's. 00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:54.299 I mean, like more people to love you. And I think 00:15:54.299 --> 00:15:57.700 that was a piece of it. I homeschool with my 00:15:57.700 --> 00:16:00.360 sisters in multiple states and usually get to 00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:02.440 do like the fifth grade English language arts. 00:16:03.200 --> 00:16:05.820 And not a lesson ends without me saying how much 00:16:05.820 --> 00:16:09.360 I love, you know, my kid and my nephews that 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:12.860 I'm teaching. And they tell me that they love 00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:15.759 me back. And I just think like, yeah, we're learning 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:20.919 about prepositional phrases and conjugating verbs. 00:16:21.059 --> 00:16:23.159 I don't know. And love is still important. These 00:16:23.159 --> 00:16:25.379 things happen, but I'm like, they probably won't 00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:26.879 remember that. And it probably won't be that 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:30.000 useful in their life. But if at the end of the 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:33.620 day that they know how much I love them. we've 00:16:33.620 --> 00:16:35.759 definitely succeeded in what I'm hoping for, 00:16:35.779 --> 00:16:38.460 further education. Any thoughts? You were in 00:16:38.460 --> 00:16:40.480 that same training. Any thoughts come to your 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:45.279 mind from that and how it ties to, you know, 00:16:45.299 --> 00:16:47.379 wanting others to feel that love of God? Just 00:16:47.379 --> 00:16:51.279 such a good, number one, I love how simple that 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:55.059 diagram is. And it was easier this week when 00:16:55.059 --> 00:16:57.500 I taught to just keep that in mind and to remember 00:16:57.500 --> 00:17:00.190 to just include. each of the three of those, 00:17:00.269 --> 00:17:02.450 you know? And if we're not inviting those that 00:17:02.450 --> 00:17:06.190 we're teaching to act, then it doesn't, you know, 00:17:06.190 --> 00:17:08.529 we need to act on what we know. And that's when 00:17:08.529 --> 00:17:10.569 the Spirit works in us. That's when Heavenly 00:17:10.569 --> 00:17:15.029 Father can reach us and we can put everything 00:17:15.029 --> 00:17:16.990 that we've learned into practice. I feel like 00:17:16.990 --> 00:17:20.390 before that, there's not really a place for it 00:17:20.390 --> 00:17:23.789 to land. Right. And we're falling short of the... 00:17:24.299 --> 00:17:26.240 expectations that our father has for us because 00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:28.420 he's basically like, you know, you could live 00:17:28.420 --> 00:17:29.859 without church, but since you're going anyway, 00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:33.460 let's help him make the mark. Point people to 00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:36.200 my son, help them to become more like me. And 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:38.220 when you're kind of thinking of all of those 00:17:38.220 --> 00:17:41.799 things combined in church classes, that's great. 00:17:41.960 --> 00:17:44.599 As you know, we're both raising children right 00:17:44.599 --> 00:17:47.480 now. We may be reaching the years of, you know, 00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:49.299 grandparents, like whatever phase you're on in 00:17:49.299 --> 00:17:51.140 your life, maybe you're the auntie, whatever. 00:17:52.279 --> 00:17:54.619 That as you're thinking, whatever you have to 00:17:54.619 --> 00:18:00.420 say and teach, if it's done with love, that might 00:18:00.420 --> 00:18:04.240 be the best start for these people around us 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:06.559 to want to partake of that tree and come to the 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:09.200 tree and partake of that fruit. For sure. We 00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:11.599 listen to people we love, right? We trust, we 00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:14.819 love, we do things for them. Any final thoughts 00:18:14.819 --> 00:18:17.660 from you? Did you say what you wanted to say? 00:18:17.859 --> 00:18:19.740 I think that was it. Okay. Let me close with 00:18:19.740 --> 00:18:22.160 this testimony. It says, Dear friends, as one 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:24.680 who has experienced God's love, I joyfully witness 00:18:24.680 --> 00:18:27.460 that the Savior Jesus Christ is the love of God. 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:30.019 His love for us is perfect, personal, and perpetual. 00:18:30.380 --> 00:18:32.740 As we faithfully follow Him, may we be filled 00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:34.859 with His love and may we be a lighthouse that 00:18:34.859 --> 00:18:37.559 guides others to His love. And He says that in 00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:41.460 the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. This will 00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:45.259 be our last broadcast before conference. We thought 00:18:45.259 --> 00:18:48.130 we would just wrap up with just a few pointers 00:18:48.130 --> 00:18:50.589 for preparing for conference? Yeah, just some 00:18:50.589 --> 00:18:53.250 ideas. So something I've loved is it's actually 00:18:53.250 --> 00:18:55.450 my sister. She did a coloring book. It's called 00:18:55.450 --> 00:18:58.960 Light. It's a coloring journal and it's an inspirational 00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:01.819 coloring book to experience God's word. And definitely 00:19:01.819 --> 00:19:04.700 my daughter and I have done this during conference 00:19:04.700 --> 00:19:07.279 and there are places to like write inspirations 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:09.680 or what was something that was a key point or, 00:19:09.740 --> 00:19:12.880 you know, what songs you love. They're just a 00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:14.460 bunch of different things. And it's just, it's 00:19:14.460 --> 00:19:17.140 a fun thing for teens and for adults. I'm going 00:19:17.140 --> 00:19:19.279 to link that to the show notes. And then also 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:21.299 the markers, we're going to link those as well 00:19:21.299 --> 00:19:24.349 because they're just. really great markers are 00:19:24.349 --> 00:19:26.529 kind of like watercolor ones and they're pretty 00:19:26.529 --> 00:19:29.349 inexpensive and you could definitely have them 00:19:29.349 --> 00:19:31.490 here in time because it's an Amazon link. So 00:19:31.490 --> 00:19:33.170 you'll have them for conference. I've doodled 00:19:33.170 --> 00:19:35.509 in this coloring book. It's not like so specific 00:19:35.509 --> 00:19:38.269 to just a particular conference. No, it's not. 00:19:38.329 --> 00:19:40.490 Cause it can also be like, if you're going to 00:19:40.490 --> 00:19:42.730 church, like if some, if another religion, we're 00:19:42.730 --> 00:19:44.130 going to church or something like that, it's 00:19:44.130 --> 00:19:47.609 just you writing down your thoughts during worship. 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:50.019 you know, of Jesus Christ. So that's what it 00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:51.940 is. You never know when somebody's going to like 00:19:51.940 --> 00:19:53.480 come upon this and be like, oh man, I'm too late 00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:55.619 for that. But this is one, like I've come to 00:19:55.619 --> 00:19:56.920 your house and you've had the coloring out and 00:19:56.920 --> 00:19:59.059 I've sat down and colored for my friend, Amy. 00:19:59.400 --> 00:20:01.940 And it's just, it's just fun because it's sort 00:20:01.940 --> 00:20:03.799 of just a meditative way. And then I can just 00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:06.559 see adding different inspiration and thoughts 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:08.539 into those side notes. Anything else you have? 00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:12.880 That is all. I would say what I love is those 00:20:12.880 --> 00:20:15.579 initial impressions that come as I'm like first 00:20:15.579 --> 00:20:17.500 off listening to conference. They're the things 00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:20.140 that I need in that moment. As I studied the 00:20:20.140 --> 00:20:21.880 general conference over the next six months, 00:20:22.039 --> 00:20:24.880 I'm like, where was I when that was said? It 00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:28.000 definitely escaped my ears or seeing the connection, 00:20:28.220 --> 00:20:30.500 seeing the pattern, seeing this last session. 00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:34.420 It is so stacked with being children of God. 00:20:34.859 --> 00:20:36.359 feeling that love of God, that being the most 00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:38.220 important thing we do every day to circle back 00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:41.259 to that, leading into the prophet's final message 00:20:41.259 --> 00:20:43.599 at the conference session. So what I would say 00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:46.119 is there's so much power, whatever you can grab 00:20:46.119 --> 00:20:49.980 on this first conference weekend. So hold that 00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:53.240 dear and special. Ask the question. Come to conference 00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:55.339 with the question. Prepare for that question 00:20:55.339 --> 00:20:58.079 to be answered. And then enjoy opportunities 00:20:58.079 --> 00:21:01.339 on walks or in your Relief Society activities, 00:21:01.599 --> 00:21:03.319 the Elder's Quorum, if you're able to go there. 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:07.539 Maybe sacrament talks are kind of centered around 00:21:07.539 --> 00:21:11.559 the last chunk of conference. Pair what inspiration 00:21:11.559 --> 00:21:13.660 they got with it with the things that you've 00:21:13.660 --> 00:21:18.049 heard. Podcasts are always helpful. I laugh, 00:21:18.150 --> 00:21:19.990 like sometimes I listen back to these podcasts 00:21:19.990 --> 00:21:21.630 that we do and I'm like, I didn't even think 00:21:21.630 --> 00:21:24.150 of that when we were preparing for it, when we 00:21:24.150 --> 00:21:26.470 were recording, like the emotions of recording, 00:21:26.609 --> 00:21:28.150 like worrying about messing up. You're kind of 00:21:28.150 --> 00:21:30.890 like, meh, whatever. And then I listen back like 00:21:30.890 --> 00:21:32.809 on a calm Sunday morning and I'm like, oh, and 00:21:32.809 --> 00:21:34.450 it makes me think of something completely different. 00:21:34.769 --> 00:21:39.619 That is power in. In the words themselves. I'm 00:21:39.619 --> 00:21:42.019 always like, go back to the words. Like, podcasts 00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:45.380 are great. It'll spark some thoughts. But at 00:21:45.380 --> 00:21:47.500 different seasons of your life, these talks could 00:21:47.500 --> 00:21:49.660 mean a lot more than they do right in this moment. 00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:52.960 They're always there for us to enjoy and get 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:55.319 the revelation that we need for the question 00:21:55.319 --> 00:21:57.440 that's pertinent to us in that moment. Absolutely. 00:21:57.980 --> 00:22:01.619 All right. We will catch you on season four. 00:22:01.940 --> 00:22:03.259 We'll see you next time.