Our lesson in Relief Society this week came from two conference talks based on the plan of salvation. The plan of salvation, though simple, answers the questions that we at times wonder; where did I come from?, why am I here? and what will happen to me after death? The answers to these questions cannot be answered elsewhere. President Thomas S. Monson in his talk, “The Perfect Path to Happiness” shared that there are people throughout the world who recognize the truths of the Gospel and choose to change their lives because of it. They have come to know that the Gospel path will lead them safely back to live with God again.
President Monson said, “Essential to the plan is our Savior, Jesus Christ. Without His atoning sacrifice, all would be lost. It is not enough, however, merely to believe in Him and His mission. We need to work and learn, search and pray, repent and improve. We need to know God’s laws and live them. We need to receive His saving ordinances. Only by so doing will we obtain true, eternal happiness.
“We are blessed to have the truth…It is the one perfect path to peace and happiness both here and in the world to come.”
In President Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s talk, “O How Great the Plan of Our God!” he shares how we need to be careful not to take for granted the Plan of Salvation. He said, “It seems to be human nature: as we become more familiar with something, even something miraculous and awe-inspiring, we lose our sense of awe and treat it as commonplace…
” In the Church of Jesus Christ, we have been given so much. We are surrounded by such an astonishing wealth of light and truth that I wonder if we truly appreciate what we have.”
President Uchtdorf invites us to think back to a time when we really knew we were a child of God and understood that the atonement was for us. It was a time of awe and gratitude. We need to keep these feelings alive and continue to look forward to church meetings and scripture study. We must not let ourselves become past feeling, for in time that will lead to a loss of testimony.
The teacher explained that if we are feeling less excited about Gospel learning and truths than we used to, we should practice being obedient, for often obedience brings the Spirit and brings those feelings of gratitude. We must beware of falling into carnal security as the Nephites did at times, thinking we don’t need God or the Gospel because we are self-sufficient. We need to make the effort and personal responsibility to feel the Spirit. As we do our part, we will show Heavenly Father that we are not taking the Gospel for granted.
In closing, President Uchtdorf invited each of us to consider what we can give Heavenly Father in return for all the Gospel blessings we receive. Our Father asks in return that we live the Gospel, trust the Spirit, and share the plan of happiness with others because of the love we have for them.
- Karen
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