Sunday Lesson: Jan 10th

The lesson today was given from Chapter 1 of our new Howard W. Hunter manual, Jesus Christ - Our Only Way to Hope and Joy. The lesson was started by a powerful and bold testimony by Pres. Hunter: "As an ordained Apostle and special witness of Christ, I give to you my solemn witness that Jesus Christ is in fact the Son of God. He is the Messiah prophetically anticipated by Old Testament prophets. He is the Hope of Israel, for whose coming the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had prayed during the long centuries of prescribed worship." Pres. Hunter also taught, "Christ's way is not only the right way, but ultimately the only way."

We sang Hymn # 315 Jesus the Very Thought of Thee to begin our meeting. The first verse of the the hymn goes like this:

Jesus, the very thought of thee

With sweetness fills my breast;

But sweeter far thy face to see

And in thy presence rest....

How often do we think of the Savior? Pres. Hunter counsels us that we must know Christ better than we know Him and remember Him more often than we remember Him. "Surely life would be more peaceful, surely marriages and families would be stronger, certainly neighborhoods and nations would be safer and kinder and more constructive if more of the gospel of Jesus Christ 'with sweetness' could fill our breasts."

The 3rd verse of Hymn #315 is as follows:

O hope of ev'ry contrite heart, 

O joy of all the meek,

To those who fall, how kind thou art!

How good to those who seek!

We are reminded that Jesus is our only true source of hope and lasting joy. Everyone, no matter their walk of life, needs hope and seeks for joy. Pres. Hunter says, "Sooner or later....everyone will acknowledge that Christ's way is not only the right way, but ultimately the only way to hope and joy." He also pleads with us, "May we be more devoted and disciplined followers of Christ. May we cherish him in our thoughts and speak his name with love. May we kneel before him with meekness and mercy. May we bless and serve others that they may do the same."

Joseph Smith, when incarcerated in Liberty Jail, wrote to the struggling Saints and left a promise from our Savior to them. This promise, found in D&C 123:17, is for us as well:

Fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail...

Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.

Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven.