Sunday Report

Sister Nicole Hill presented this month's Teaching for Our Time Lesson featuring Love and Law by Elder Oaks.  His message is that the love of God does not supersede His laws and His commandments, and the effects of God's laws and commandments does not diminish the purpose and effect of His love for His children.  There are many who would contend that a truly loving Heavenly Father would not allow suffering and expect so much of us.  As parents we often find ourselves in similar circumstances as children sometimes choose to reject the standards they have been taught and live in such a way as to defy God's laws and parental teachings. Or they contend that parents should not require of them things that they really do not want to do.  Parents who really loved them would accept their choices and allow them to make their own decisions.  Parental love and the love of God both rise above the level of just making sure that the child is "happy" and unencumbered by requirements that he doesn't want to bother with.  God's love for His children is an eternal reality and it is reflected in the truth that He requires us to obey His commandments because He knows that only through obedience to His laws can we become perfect, as He is.  This is His ultimate work and glory: bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of His children.  It is also the ultimate desire of each parent for his or her children.  God's choicest blessings are  contingent upon obedience to God's laws and commandments (see D&C 130 20&21)  As parents we can benefit from following the pattern of Heavenly Father in dealing with our children.  We must stand firm in our commitment to righteousness and teach our children that if they choose reject righteousness for the ways of the world we will not alter our standards or expectations of them and how they live.  At the same time we will never stop loving and praying for them and will always welcome them, even if we cannot accept the choices that they are making.  They are always welcome but are expected to accept the standards of behavior dictated for our homes, and when they decide that they once more desire to embrace the laws and commandments of God in their own lives, great will be the joy and rejoicing.  
Next week will be the Visiting Teaching Seminar,  The next week  on February 7th Sister Jennifer Walker will be giving the third lesson in the Gospel Principles Manual.

Have a great week!

The Relief Society Presidency