We had the privilege of John Lee offering to accompany our opening song this morning. It was so nice to have piano music. We sang "A Poor Way Faring Man Of Grief", picked by Taylor Kofford. It was a tender mercy for me personally to hear this beautiful song again. This song helped me gain my personal testimony of Joseph Smith and will always have a special place in my heart. Thank you to John and Taylor for a great start to the day!!!
Next we heard great news from Drake Taylor! He announced that he received his mission call and will be serving in the California, Arcadia Mission. Sound familiar McCoy???? So exciting. He will leave for the Mexico MTC to learn spanish July 9th. Drake bore his testimony of the Savior, the book of mormon, Joseph Smith and missionary work. We felt the spirit bear witness that the Gospel message he will share will change lives for good! Congratulations Drake.
Next we discussed what you discovered in chapter 5 of PMG. "What Is the Role of the Book of Mormon"?
Keep discovering please and read the scriptures that go along with each section. This will give you greater light as you prepare to share the Book of Mormon with others.
To understand what the Book of Mormon can do for us. Simon read
The Story of Two
Lamps by Dr. James E. Talmage
Among the material
things of the past—things that I treasure for sweet memory’s sake and because
of pleasant association in bygone days—is a lamp. …
The lamp of which I
speak, the student lamp of my school and college days, was one of the best of
its kind. I had bought it with hard-earned savings; it was counted among my
most cherished possessions. …
One summer evening I
sat musing studiously and withal restfully in the open air outside the door of
the room in which I lodged and studied. A stranger approached. I noticed that
he carried a satchel. He was affable and entertaining. I brought another chair
from within, and we chatted together till the twilight had deepened into dusk,
the dusk into darkness.
Then he said: “You are
a student and doubtless have much work to do of nights. What kind of lamp do
you use?” And without waiting for a reply, he continued, “I have a superior
kind of lamp I should like to show you, a lamp designed and constructed
according to the latest achievements of applied science, far surpassing
anything heretofore produced as a means of artificial lighting.”
I replied with
confidence, and I confess, not without some exultation: “My friend, I have a
lamp, one that has been tested and proved. It has been to me a companion
through many a long night. It is an Argand lamp, and one of the best. I have
trimmed and cleaned it today; it is ready for the lighting. Step inside; I will
show you my lamp; then you may tell me whether yours can possibly be better.”
We entered my study
room, and with a feeling which I assume is akin to that of the athlete about to
enter a contest with one whom he regards as a pitiably inferior opponent, I put
the match to my well-trimmed Argand.
My visitor was voluble
in his praise. It was the best lamp of its kind, he said. He averred that he
had never seen a lamp in better trim. He turned the wick up and down and
pronounced the adjustment perfect. He declared that never before had he
realized how satisfactory a student lamp could be.
I liked the man; he
seemed to me wise, and he assuredly was ingratiating. “Love me, love my lamp,”
I thought, mentally paraphrasing a common expression of the period.
“Now,” said he, “with
your permission I’ll light my lamp.” He took from his satchel a lamp then known
as the “Rochester.” It had a chimney which, compared with mine, was as a
factory smokestack alongside a house flue. Its hollow wick was wide enough to
admit my four fingers. Its light made bright the remotest corner of my room. In
its brilliant blaze my own little Argand wick burned a weak, pale yellow. Until
that moment of convincing demonstration, I had never known the dim obscurity in
which I had lived and labored, studied and struggled.
“I’ll buy your lamp,”
said I; “you need neither explain nor argue further.” I took my new acquisition
to the laboratory that same night and determined its capacity. It turned at
over 48 candlepower—fully four times the intensity of my student lamp.
Two days after
purchasing, I met the lamp peddler on the street about noontime. To my inquiry
he replied that business was good; the demand for his lamps was greater than
the factory supply. “But,” said I, “you are not working today?” His rejoinder
was a lesson. “Do you think that I would be so foolish as to go around trying
to sell lamps in the daytime? Would you have bought one if I had lighted it for
you when the sun was shining? I chose the time to show the superiority of my
lamp over yours, and you were eager to own the better one I offered, were you
not?”
Such is the story. Now
consider the application of a part, a very small part, thereof.
“Let your light so
shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father
which is in heaven” [Matt. 5:16].
The man who would sell
me a lamp did not disparage mine. He placed his greater light alongside my
feebler flame, and I hasted to obtain the better.
The missionary
servants of the Church of Jesus Christ today are sent forth, not to
assail or ridicule the beliefs of men, but to set before the world a superior
light, by which the smoky dimness of the flickering flames of man-made creeds
shall be apparent. The work of the Church is constructive, not destructive.
As to the further
meaning of the parable, let him that hath eyes and a heart see and understand.
Ensign, Feb 2003, 8 (Published in the Improvement Era, Sept. 1914, 1008-9)
So how does this relate to sharing the Book of Mormon? Talk with your family about how this applies to missionary work.
The class noticed that the salesman complimented the students lamp first. But wanted to show how to get more light.
The gospel will illuminate all the room...(the fullness)
With companionships you need to see more ways to get along. As you do you will have more meaningful experiences together.
To the best of his knowledge, he had the best light. Until he was shown something better. As soon as he could see the light it produced we wanted it. He recognized the need for it immediately.
Our opportunity is to share the most valuable gift we have with the world. The Book of Mormon. As we practice telling others about the book, share your feelings with enthusiasm and personal testimony. Help them recognize the greater light you have to offer them! Teach with excitement!
And so we practice, practice, practice. As we do we learn what works and what we can do better.
Spencer, John, Jack and Krista
Sawyer, Hayden, Jacob, Preston
Zenos, Brandon, Ashley and Sarah
Taylor, Berkley, Jackson- Welcome :-) Tanner and Drake
We practiced introducing the Book of Mormon by using the introduction. Have the investigator read the first paragraph, and the last two paragraphs and ask questions about what they have read.
As you practice over the next 3 weeks in your families, also try having them read the first 12 verses of 1 Nephi Chapter 1 and explain difficult words and have them understand this is a story really about them and how they can come to know God and keep His commandments.
Assignments:
We will not be meeting the next two weeks due to mothers day next sunday, and stake conference the week after that. So we will see you on May 25th. We also will be tracting that sunday as well at 4:30 and be sharing the Book of Mormon with families in our stake. We invite you to continue reading chapter 5 of PMG. Also, if you have not started yet, start reading the Book of Mormon for yourself! Its not too late to start, or start again! As you read it, you will be able to explain and testify with power and conviction to others how this book can change your life!
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