Every lesson of the restoration brings an opportunity to contemplate the blessings the gospel in its fullness brings to our lives. In class we discussed the blessing of the gift of the Holy Ghost to guide us as we teach, in our callings, and in our roles in life. The crowning event of the restoration was the restoration of the sealing power. Just as Joseph Smith felt great urgency in building temples for the progression of the Saints, so too have recent prophets admonished us as members to get a temple recommend, live worth of attending the temple, and attend. At great cost and sacrifice we have been blessed with temples dotting the earth, and our Boston temple within a close drive. We encourage each of you to attend the temple before Thanksgiving in the spirit of gratitude for the restoration of the sealing power and temple ordinances that bring strength, clarity, and light to our souls. We are indebted to our Saviour, to the prophet, Joseph Smith, and those who have sacrificed so much before us to bring a temple in our midst. Our gratitude is best expressed by attending the temple often.
Sara emphasized that we all have a part in the restoration! As the lesson stated, Jesus Christ himself is our co-worker in this great work of building up the Kingdom of God. We shouted for joy at the opportunity to follow our Saviour, Jesus Christ's Plan of Salvation, and now that we are here faced with choices and opportunities to actively participate in the restoration, we can feel strength and purpose because Christ is the author and "co-worker" in this great work. We are not alone. Sara shared that in all of the countless lessons she has taught in church, without fail the Spirit has taught her and guided her in her preparations. The same can be said of our roles in our families and as daughters of God. He will always be there to lead us in righteousness.
“The heavenly Priesthood will unite with the earthly, to bring about those great purposes; and whilst we are thus united in the one common cause, to roll forth the kingdom of God, the heavenly Priesthood are not idle spectators, the Spirit of God will be showered down from above, and it will dwell in our midst. The blessings of the Most High will rest upon our tabernacles, and our name will be handed down to future ages; our children will rise up and call us blessed; and generations yet unborn will dwell with peculiar delight upon the scenes that we have passed through, the privations that we have endured, the untiring zeal that we have manifested, the all but insurmountable difficulties that we have overcome in laying the foundation of a work that brought about the glory and blessing which they will realize; a work that God and angels have contemplated with delight for generations past; that fired the souls of the ancient patriarchs and prophets; a work that is destined to bring about the destruction of the powers of darkness, the renovation of the earth, the glory of God, and the salvation of the human family.” -History of the Church, 4:609–10; punctuation modernized; paragraph divisions altered; from “The Temple,” an editorial published in Times and Seasons, May 2, 1842, p. 776; Joseph Smith was the editor of the periodical.
Thank you, Sara, for your beautiful lesson; for your unique perspective, and how obviously thoughtful you are in your preparations. We are blessed to learn from you each month.
Have a wonderful week, sisters!
With much love,
Sheryl, Jan, Rebecca & Tammy
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