Sunday Report

The lesson for this week was the TFOT given by Julee Schneider, who graciously agreed to substitute on this busy weekend.  Using the talk entitled You Matter to Him, given by President Uchtdorf, she had us consider the seemingly contradictory reality that we are less than we suppose and at the same time greater than we suppose. 

When we consider the vastness of the known universe, and the mysteries that it still holds despite the great scientific strides that have been made, we realize that we cannot  begin to grasp with our mortal minds the glorious vastness of God's creations. How small and insignificant we each seem by comparison.  And yet we have been told by modern revelation that he worth of souls is great in the sight of God.  We are the object of Hs work and His glory as all his creations exist to bring about the immortality and eternal life of each one of us. President Uchtdorf  called it  the paradox of man:  compared to God we are nothing; yet we are everything to God.

Satan uses this paradox in his efforts to lead the children of God astray.  He appeals to the pride of some to convince them that they are sufficient unto themselves,  better than most because of birth, status or ability, set apart and therefore above the rules and needs of the ordinary.  They lack the humility that will be necessary to succeed in the really important aspects of this mortal experience.  Others he attacks through discouragement, underscoring the insignificance so that we doubt that we are of any worth to anyone.  We are forgotten, even by God, Satan would have us believe. 

The balance of the paradox comes when we learn, as disciples of Jesus Christ that the values of this world have little to do with the value of the next. As we seek to become teachable, like little children, and to emulate the example of the Savior,  through love and service, we come to know that God is aware of us, of our needs, our sorrows, our righteous desires, and the things with which we struggle.  He has not forgotten or forsaken us.

Several sisters shared times in their lives when they came to know  that Heavenly Father had not forgotten them, was aware of their needs and ministered to them in the manner that best aided and reassured them of their worth and true identity as beloved daughters of a loving Father.  Finding the balance between humility and an awareness of our infinite self worth helps us to navigate the mortality which prepares us for our eternal destiny.

The Relief Society Presidency