This week we have a lesson from Lisa Thomas on "Deep in our Heart" by Douglas D. Holmes, from April general conference.

 

Do you ever wonder what God is thinking? 

 

 I do...

 

What is He wanting us, as a people to understand?

 

Your thoughts?

 

Let those questions land for a moment while you read today’s lesson

 

Deep Into Their Hearts” by Elder Douglas D. Holmes

 

He speaks about the youth program. It is in outline format for easy skimming 

 

What is God wanting to bring about for all humanity is applicable to us, even if we don’t have children,

 or if they are grown. 

 

 So, keep reading...

 

Summary points:

• Our personal recognition and work in this effort is of equal importance because this is also about us changing ourselves, acquiring needed Christlike qualities.

• The new Children and Youth initiative is guided by gospel-centered principles such as relationships, revelation, agency, repentance, engagement, and sacrifice.

• The gospel-centered relationships championed by the initiative offer strength to resist the world’s ever-increasing secular forces.

• The youth of the Church will find joy by engaging in and sacrificing for the cause of Christ.

 

Talk summary: 

The new Children and Youth initiative remains anchored to principles that help place the gospel of Jesus Christ “deep in the hearts” of children and youth.

“As we come to see these principles more clearly, we will recognize this as more than a program for members ages 8 to 18. We will see how the Lord is trying to help us — all of us — get His gospel deeper in our heart.”

The initiative’s first principle is relationships.

“We are not expected to find or walk the covenant path alone. We need love and support from parents, other family members, friends and leaders who are also walking the path.”

Loving relationships are needed to counter the pull of ever-increasing secular forces. Never forget the purpose of activities and meetings is to build uniting relationships that bring the gospel closer to the heart.

Revelation, agency, and repentance also connect Latter-day Saint youth with heaven.

Are you still with me?

“To connect our hearts with heaven, we need individual spiritual experiences. 

Those experiences come as the Holy Ghost carries the word and love of God to our mind and heart.”

We need to practice doing precisely what we profess we want to be able to do in the next life. 

 

How do we accept and remain grateful for the experiences we have received (Alma) and yet feel worthy to seek and even ask for more (Brother of Jared, Enos, Abraham, See Gospel Dictionary, “Prayer”)

9 quotes from prophets and apostles about the capacity of youth

 

The Children and Youth initiative is defined by a central invitation: Choose to become more like the Savior by seeking the guidance of the Holy Ghost and allowing Christ to “change us into the best version of ourselves.”

Placing the gospel “deep in our hearts” also requires engagement and sacrifice.

“The Children and Youth program focuses on empowering the youth. They choose their own goals. Quorum and class presidencies are placed in their proper role. The ward youth council, just like the ward council, focuses on the work of salvation and exaltation. And quorums and classes begin their meetings by counseling about how to do the work God has given them.”

Each of us should come to a different conclusion as to what this talk means to us, based upon specific personal revelation through the Holy Ghost.

For me….

                  When I wonder what God it thinking, I imagine He is thinking of ways to bring bloodlines together, and deepen connections with the ones we love.

…and what I imagine He is wanting us to understand is – He is trying to teach us that it is our microscopic actions that bring us unto the Savior

My life has been eternally changed by angels on both sides of the veil. Those earthly mortal angels have been the people who were prefect examples of the Children and Youth Program is all about. They mentored and helped plant deep into my heart the love of Heavenly Father for me.

Paraphrasing Elder Hales’ inspired counsel, “this the time to do what matters most.”

Have you noticed?

Sending you lots of love, 

Lisa Thomas

PS: Here are some quotes:

“We sometimes forget the importance of relationships in our ongoing journey to Christ. We are not expected to find or walk the covenant path alone. We need love and support from parents, other family members, friends and leaders who are also walking the path.”

 

“Seeing others as God does is a gift. I invite all of us to seek for this gift. As our eyes are opened to see, we will also be able to help others see themselves as God does.”

 

“The Children and Youth program focuses on empowering the youth.”