RS Lesson 1/17/10

OUR HEAVENLY FAMILY - Chapter 2

How amazing it is to know where we came from. What a blessing to know that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us and knows us and wants us to return. Three important points were made in this lesson; 1) We Are Children of Our Heavenly Father, 2) We Developed Personalities and Talents While We Lived in Heaven, and 3)Our Heavenly Father Presented a Plan for Us to Become Like Him.

First, we know that we are literally children of our Heavenly Father and because of this we have inherited the potential to develop His divine qualities. Because of the beautiful gift of the Atonement, we can become like our Father and receive a fulness of joy.

Second, we developed talents before we came to earth. We were prepared before we came to earth. "He has chosen the time and place for each of us to be born so we can learn the lessons we personally need and do the most good with our individual talents and personalities". Think of the talents and abilities of others that have blessed your life. I shared during my lesson the opportunity that my daughter, Madeline had to perform in the play "Music Man". Three sweet moms took their talents and used them to bless many children by putting together this production. They put in so much hard work such as casting, practices, costuming and everything else that goes along with putting on a performance like that. It turned out absolutely wonderful. This is a talent I do not have, but I was so grateful to these moms for sharing their talents so that my daughter could try something that she has never done before. We all have talents to bless others and I am grateful to those who share theirs with me.

Third, there was a plan presented to us. Our Father wanted us to be able to progress and in order to do this, we had to come to earth to receive a body and be tested. "We learned that if we placed our faith in Him, obeying His word and following His example, we would be exalted and become like our Heavenly Father. We would receive a fulness of joy." We knew there would be trials, but these trials could help us if we allowed them to. We have a choice to turn towards our Savior and allow Him to help us through them and allow them to teach us patience and charity. Or we can turn away and become bitter and angry. We just need to remember that there is nothing that we have gone through or will go through that the Savior doesn't understand. He knows it all and thus knows how to carry us through, but He won't force us, we have to ask Him.

It is a beautiful plan. We just need to keep our eye on the eternal goal ahead.

Elisha