Relief Society Lesson -- The Divine Gift of Repentance

I tried to keep my overheads to a minimum this time. So here they are. Along with a story I used in my lesson.

The Divine Gift of Repentance
Elder D. Todd Christofferson
October 2011 General Conference

Without repentance, there is no real progress or improvement in life.

Repentance exists as an option only because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. [Read story here]

1. The invitation to repent is an expression of love.

2. Repentance means striving to change.

3. Repentance means not only abandoning sin but also committing to obedience.

4. Repentance requires a seriousness of purpose and a willingness to persevere, even through pain.

5. Whatever the cost of repentance, it is swallowed up in the joy of forgiveness.

Story I used in my lesson: Elder Jay E. Jensen, November 1999 ENSIGN, Do You Know How to Repent?

“A little over a year ago, I had the privilege of interviewing a young man to go on a mission. Because he had committed a major transgression, it was necessary for him under then-existing policy to be interviewed by a General Authority. When the young man came in, I said, ‘Apparently there’s been a major transgression in your life, and that has necessitated this interview. Would you mind telling me what the problem was? What did you do?’ “He laughed and said, ‘Well, there isn’t anything I haven’t done.’ I said, ‘Well, let’s be more specific then. Have you … ?’ And then this General Authority began to probe with some very specific questions. The young man laughed again and said, ‘I told you, I’ve done everything.’ “I said, ‘How many times have you …’ He said very sarcastically, ‘Do you think I numbered them?’ I said, ‘I would to God you could if you can’t.’ He said, again quite sarcastically, ‘Well, I can’t.’ “I said, ‘How about …’ And then the General Authority probed in another direction. He said, ‘I told you. I’ve done everything.’ I said, ‘Drugs?’ He said, ‘Yes,’ in a very haughty attitude. I said, ‘What makes you think you’re going on a mission then?’ He said, ‘I know I’m going. My patriarchal blessing says I’ll go on a mission, and I’ve repented. I haven’t done any of those things for this past year. I have repented, and I know I’m going on a mission.’ “I said, ‘My dear friend, I’m sorry but you are not going on a mission. Do you think we could send you out with those clean, wholesome young men who have never violated the code? Do you think we could have you go out and boast and brag about your past? You haven’t repented; you have just stopped doing something. “‘Sometime in your life you need to visit Gethsemane; and when you have been there, you’ll understand what repentance is. Only after you have suffered in some small degree as the Savior suffered in Gethsemane will you know what repentance is. The Savior has suffered in a way none of us understands for every transgression committed. How dare you laugh and jest and have a haughty attitude about your repentance? I’m sorry, you are not going on a mission.’ “He started to cry, and he cried for several minutes. I didn’t say a word. Finally, he said, ‘I guess that’s the first time I have cried since I was five years old.’ I said, ‘If you had cried like that the first time you were tempted to violate the moral code, you possibly would be going on a mission.’ “He left the office, and I think he felt I was really cruel. I explained to the bishop and the stake president that the boy could not go on a mission.” About six months later the same General Authority returned to that city to speak in a lecture series held in the evening. When he finished, many young adults lined up to shake hands with him. As he shook hands, one by one, he looked up and saw the young man that he had previously interviewed standing in the line about four back. The General Authority relates the following: “My mind quickly flashed back to our interview. I recalled his laughing and haughty attitude. I remembered how sarcastic he was. Pretty soon he was right in front of me. I was on the stand bending over, and as I reached down to shake his hand, I noticed a great change had taken place. He had tears in his eyes. He had almost a holy glow about his countenance. He took my hand in his and said, ‘I’ve been there; I’ve been to Gethsemane and back.’ I said, ‘I know. It shows in your face.’ We can be forgiven for our transgressions, but we must understand that just to stop doing something is not repentance. If it had not been for the Savior and the miracle of forgiveness, this young man would have carried his transgressions throughout all eternity. We ought to love the Savior and serve Him for this reason and this reason alone” (Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone, Sweden Area Conference, Youth Session, Aug. 1974).

Sorry about the run-on story. Apparently the new format of blogger does not put spaces between paragraphs. Even if they are already there when I copy and paste from Microsoft Works word processor. I already fixed the overheads/outline and I don’t feel like fixing the story. I’m just too lazy. The old blogger was much better. At least for me composing posts.

Success or Failure?

I watched a heartwarming show last night on BYU TV. It was an episode of Inspiring Lives about McKay Christensen. I actually had never heard of McKay Christensen. So in case you haven’t either, let me tell you a little bit about him.

He was a star high school football/baseball player in Clovis California, near Fresno. In fact, he was so good that all 28 major-league baseball teams recruited him right out of high school.

The story goes that he was going to be one of the first players picked in the draft. But there was one minor problem, he hadn’t served his mission yet. Now, let me back up a little bit. McKay suffered a knee injury, ACL tear, in high school and had to miss his junior year of football. And maybe baseball too I don’t remember.

One night, he knelt in prayer and made a covenant with Heavenly Father that if he would heal him to 100% that he would serve a mission.

Well, his knee did eventually heal and he had an outstanding senior year. Major league baseball people recruited him heavily. He told them he wanted to serve a mission before starting his baseball career. They were quite baffled by this. He was told that he was one of the top recruits to be drafted that year. They offered him a $1 million signing bonus if he would skip his mission. They told him two years was a long time to put his career on hold and he would never have this opportunity again.

As strong as McKay was, he began doubting his covenant. He began to rationalize that he could do missionary work by being a good example as a major-league baseball player. It seems like a lot of talented athletes have the same modus operandi. I won’t mention any names but I’m sure you can think of a few. But I don’t know anywhere in the commandment that every young man should serve a mission that it says except if you are a star/talented athlete then you are exempt.

No, every worthy young man is commanded to serve a mission. In fact, it’s a privilege to serve. And not everyone is worthy or able to serve a mission. There was a quote in the show from Pres. Hinckley. I was going to paraphrase it but I looked it up. This is the longer version.

“Think of all the great and marvelous things you have—your very life, your health, your parents, your home, the girl you love. Are they not all gifts from a generous Heavenly Father? Did you really earn them alone, independent of His blessing? No, the lives of all of us are in His hands. All of the precious things that are ours come from Him who is the giver of every good gift.
I am not suggesting that He will withdraw His blessings and leave you bereft if you do not go on a mission. But I am saying that out of a spirit of appreciation and gratitude, and a sense of duty, you ought to make whatever adjustment is necessary to give a little of your time consecrating your strength, your means, your talents to the work of sharing with others the gospel, which is the source of so much of the good that you have.

I promise that if you will do so, you will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice will prove instead to be the greatest investment that you will ever make. …Of course your time is precious, and you may feel you cannot afford two years. But I promise you that the time you spend in the mission field, if those years are spent in dedicated service, will yield a greater return on investment than any other two years of your lives.

…What a tremendous foundation all of this will become for you in your later educational efforts and your life’s work. Two years will not be time lost. It will be skills gained.”

--October 2002 Ensign, Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley, Words of the Prophet: Forget Yourself and Go

McKay, and countless others, may have felt that his serving a mission was a huge sacrifice, and I’m sure most people thought it was a big mistake. Who in their right mind would throw away a major league baseball career, and millions of dollars, to serve a two-year mission for their church?

One ball club even tried to persuade him to go to Australia where he wouldn’t be under media scrutiny as much, and they would allow him to preach to the players in the dugout, as his mission. They even asked his father to talk to church headquarters about that. His father laughed at them and told them that would not fly.

Well, McKay decided to honor his covenant, and keep the commandment given to all young men, to serve a mission. He told the Major League baseball people that he would be serving a two-year mission and his mind was made up. He sent a letter to all 28 teams.

Even after that, he got a call from a team asking him if he would reconsider for a $1 million signing bonus. He told them that his mission was not for sale. He told them they could draft him but he wouldn’t be able to play for them until after his mission.

If my memory serves me correctly he was drafted number six by the California Angels. Which was unprecedented. As part of his agreement he had to sign a certain number of baseball cards every week during his mission. Which, he served in Tokyo Japan.

Before his mission was over he was traded to the Chicago White Sox. I think he ended up playing a few years with several different teams before deciding that baseball wasn’t the lifestyle he wanted. Now he works as a real estate developer.

To many, McKay Christensen is a failure. He “threw away” a career in Major League baseball, millions of dollars, and fame.

But, in reality, McKay Christensen is very successful. He kept his covenant with the Lord. He served an honorable two-year mission. He married and has three children. He made the choice to raise a righteous family and obey the Commandments. As Pres. Hinckley said, serving mission is not a sacrifice because you gain much more out of it than you are giving up. In the eternal perspective of things, McKay Christensen is successful.

It doesn’t really matter what you do for a living. As long as you make an honest living and support your family. Granted, McKay is not making the millions of dollars he would have made in baseball. Nor does he have the fame of being a major-league baseball star. But money and fame are not what makes you successful. Contrary to what the world teaches.

True success is measured by how you live your life. By how well you follow the commandments and live the teachings of Jesus Christ. That is true success.

That’s my two cents.

Chewy Granola Bars

We had some leftover raisin filling that we made for raisin filled cookies. I wanted to use it for something else so I decided to put it in granola bars. So, I found this recipe online. You can use whatever dried fruits or nuts you like. All we had on hand was dried papaya, chocolate chips, and almonds. If we didn’t use the raisin filling I would have just put raisins in it also.

Anyway, I think it turned out excellent. So I wanted to share the recipe with everybody. I think they taste better than cookies. Very moist and chewy and sweet. I think if all you had was chocolate chips and raisins it would still taste just as good. I wanted to put some coconut in it also but we didn’t find in our pantry.

We didn’t want to bother with grinding the oats in the food processor to use as oat flour so we just used Scottish oats instead. It seems to have worked out well.

It’s fairly easy to make, so give it try.

Chewy Granola Bars

3 1/3 cups quick rolled oats
1 1/2 cups sugar
2/3 cup oat flour (grind oats in food processor to make oat flour)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 to 6 cups dried fruits and nuts* [we used 2 cups dried papaya, 2 cups chocolate chips, 1 cup whole almonds]
2/3 cup peanut butter or almond butter (optional)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 sticks (¾ cup) melted butter
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup light corn syrup
2 Tablespoons water

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a large 10 x 14 glass pan with parchment paper.

Stir together all the dry ingredients, including the fruit and nuts. In a separate bowl, melt butter with peanut butter in microwave remove from microwave and add honey, corn syrup, water, and vanilla. Stir together well.
Toss the wet ingredients with the dry until the mixture is evenly crumbly. Spread in the prepared pan, pressing them in firmly to ensure they are molded to the shape of the pan. (A piece of plastic wrap can help with this, as you press down on the back of it.) [we spread half of the mixture in pan and pressed down then topped with raisin filling mixture which we had left over from making raisin filled cookies, then topped with the rest of the mixture and pressed down.]

Bake the bars for 30 to 40 minutes, until they’re brown around the edges — don’t be afraid to get a little color on the tops too. They’ll still seem soft and almost underbaked when you press into the center of the pan but do not worry, they’ll set completely once completely cool.

Cool the bars in their pan completely on a cooling rack. (Alternately, after about 20 minutes you can use your parchment “sling” to lift and remove the bars, and place them in their paper on the rack to cool the rest of the way. This can speed the process up.)

Once cool, use a serrated knife to cut the bars into squares. If bars seem crumbly, chill them in the pan in the fridge for 30 minutes which will fully set the “glue”, then cut them cold. To store, wrap the bars individually in plastic or stack them in an airtight container. In humid weather, it’s best to store bars in the refrigerator. They also freeze well.

*Suggestions: Dried cherries, blueberries, papaya, cranberries, apricots, pecans, peanuts, coconut, almonds, raisins, dried apples or even chocolate chips.

If anyone is interested in recipe for raisin filling, I will post it. But I think adding raisins would be easier and taste just as good.

Raisin Filling
4 ½ cups (1 ½ lbs) raisins
2 cups sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups water
½ cup flour

Directions
Raisin Mixture:
1. Soak raisins in hot water.
2. When plump and soft, drain water and grind.
3. Put in saucepan and add sugar, salt, and water.
4. Mix the flour with just enough water to make smooth paste, then add to raisin mixture.
5. Let come to boil, then set off to cool.

If you use this recipe for raisin filling you would probably want to half it or quarter it.

Kudos Kirk Cameron

I read something refreshing the other day. A famous actor in Hollywood actually has morals, and defends them. Kirk Cameron, of "Growing Pains" fame was being interviewed by Piers Morgan and said the following:

Kirk Cameron on Gay Marriage

Kirk's original quote:

"I think that it's ... unnatural. I think that it's detrimental, and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization."

Apparently there was a backlash to his remarks from a bunch of Hollywood people, who are blinded by the craftiness of men, including his old cast mates from growing pains, Alan Thicke and Tracey Gold. Who spoke out against Kirk.

Kirk's response after the firestorm:
"During the CNN interview, I was asked to express my views about homosexuality, gay marriage, and abortion. While that was not the agreed-upon purpose of the interview, I was pleased to answer Piers' questions as honestly as I could.
"To some, my responses were not sufficiently 'loving' toward the gay community. I can only say that it is my life's mission to love all people, and I expressed the same views clearly and emphatically expressed throughout Judeo-Christian scriptures."
"As a Bible believing Christian, I could not have answered any other way."
"I've been encouraged by the support of many friends (including gay friends, incidentally) in the wake of condemnation by some political advocacy groups."
"In the case of one of my gay friends, we regularly talk and have healthy and respectful debate. We learn from each other, and serve others alongside one another."
"I thank God for all of my friends... even when they hold very different views on issues of faith and morality. I do not, however, believe that the right way to advance our views is to resort to name-calling and personal attacks, as some have done to me."
"I also believe that freedom of speech and freedom of religion go hand-in-hand in America. I should be able to express moral views on social issues - especially those that have been the underpinning of Western civilization for 2,000 years - without being slandered, accused of hate speech, and told from those who preach 'tolerance' that I need to either bend my beliefs to their moral standards or be silent when I'm in the public square."
"I hope more than a few people could see the large volume of secularist morality being imposed on me. In any society that is governed by the rule of law, some form of morality is always imposed. It's inescapable."
"But it is also a complicated subject, and that is why I believe we need to learn how to debate these things with greater love and respect."

Well said Kirk! I was happy to read that there are still people who are willing to stand up for what they believe in, regardless of the consequences. Even though we don't belong to the same religion, I'm happy to call Kirk Cameron a brother in Christianity.

Along the same lines but on the opposite end of the spectrum, here's what I read in the Deseret news today.

From the Deseret News:
Hollywood elite target Prop. 8 with new gay-friendly play
By Jamshid Ghazi Askar, Deseret News
Published: Monday, March 5, 2012

If any doubt remained about just how fully Hollywood's elite supports same-sex marriage, all uncertainty about the issue evaporated Saturday at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles.

Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Martin Sheen, Jamie Lee Curtis and Kevin Bacon were among the Hollywood A-listers who participated Saturday in a one-night-only reading of "8," the new play by Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black ("Milk") that glorifies the ongoing legal fight to invalidate the Proposition 8 voter initiative that California voters passed in 2008.

"With George Clooney and Brad Pitt leading the charge, the gay-marriage play '8' had its L.A. debut Saturday in a splashy event that was part activist theater, part Hollywood in-party," the Los Angeles Times' Culture Monster blog reported. "The sky-high celebrity factor no doubt … made '8' feel something like 'Ocean's Eight.'"

I personally don't know why people idolize Hollywood actors. To me, they are just a bunch of lost souls who are blinded by the craftiness of men. I would even go so far as to say that many of them are Satan's helpers.

This play, "8", is just another example of Satan's influence on people through the media. Most movies, television shows, even news media including newspapers, push Satan's agenda. It's no wonder people are so blinded to the truth.

All I can say is, I'm so thankful that I have the Gospel of Jesus Christ to guide me in my life.

It's nice to hear, once in a while, stories about people like Kirk Cameron, who have morals and defend what is right. Kudos to you Kirk Cameron!

That's my two cents.

CES Fireside Today

Today at 5:00 PM Pacific Standard Time BYU TV will broadcast a CES fireside. Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles will be the speaker. Set your DVRs!