Sunday, November 8, 2015

Youth Lesson - How can I become spiritually self-reliant?

How can I become spiritually self-reliant?


What do you think it means to be self reliant? What does it mean to be spiritually self reliant?


Who has the Come Follow Me lessons on their device? Your all can look at these on the church's Web site or on your device if your want to see what we are going to talk about throughout the month or if you want to read more about what we have talked about. Often the lessons have links to videos you can watch and scriptures and talks you can listen to. Did you know the gospel library would read the scriptures and conference talks and new era magazine to you? If you don't have a device the Web site has ways to listen to those things as well.


From the manual:
“Spiritual self-reliance is essential to our eternal well-being. When we are spiritually self-reliant, our testimonies do not depend on the testimonies of others. We seek our own spiritual experiences through praying daily, studying the scriptures, and exercising faith in Jesus Christ. We turn to our Heavenly Father for His help to resolve our own difficult problems. We are also able to strengthen others in their times of spiritual need.”


Being spiritually self reliant means not having a reflex action when we hear things on the news or online, but going to God and finding out for ourselves what his plan is.


Spiritual self reliance means finding out for ourselves how life works by getting an answer from God for ourselves when our friends tell us things.


Spiritual self reliance means obeying your parents, but finding out from God the type of person you should be even when parents aren't around.


Matthew 25:1–13
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.


Who are the ten virgins? Who are the foolish? Who are the wise? What is the wedding feast?


Elder oaks said,
“The arithmetic of this parable is chilling. The ten virgins obviously represent members of Christ’s Church, for all were invited to the wedding feast and all knew what was required to be admitted when the bridegroom came. But only half were ready when he came.”


When he returns he will need church members who have their own strong testimonies who are ready to help him with the work. I think we are already seeing the beginnings of this with raising the bar for missionaries. The brethren have been teaching that the Lord wants missionaries that already have a strong testimony and not those that go on a mission to get one.


Are we ready for him to return and doing the things that will make us strong of our own choice or are we being drug along by our parents and teachers?  Do you want to be at church to learn how to be like father or are you just at church because that's what happens on Sunday?


Think to yourself about why you are at church today.  Is it to be strong like Heavenly Father? Is it to fill your lamp with oil to prepare to be with the savior or are you just here because of someone else?


Dnc 58
26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.
27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward


In order for the work to move forward he needs us to dig in on our own and use our agency for good and actively seek the things of God and not just when we go to church or when our parents call us for prayer or family home evening or whatever.


Dnc 130
18 Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.
19 And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.


If we work hard to seek the things of God on our own he will expand our minds and spirits. This life will make more sense. We will understand this life better. We will understand eternity better.


President Thomas S. Monson: “In order for us to be strong and to withstand all the forces pulling us in the wrong direction or all the voices encouraging us to take the wrong path, we must have our own testimony. Whether you are 12 or 112—or anywhere in between—you can know for yourself that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true”


New era article, it's your call
“The Lord often calls those who are in their teenage years to be engaged in His work of salvation, like Joseph Smith, Mormon, and Samuel. He doesn’t seem to be as concerned with how old a person is as He is with his or her heart (see 1 Samuel 16:7). He sees the potential each person has, no matter his or her age.”


What can youth today do to be more spiritually self reliant?   What can they do to help with the Lord's work? What can they do to be in the group of the wise and not in the group of the foolish?

What questions do you have about how to have a strong testimony?

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