Weakness Is Not a Sin, So Give Yourself a Break!

Erma Bombeck described guilt as "the gift that keeps on giving,” and most of us know just what she meant. If you tend to be too hard on yourself about your mistakes and failings (and who isn't?) join me this week for an hour that will help you look at life in a new way. Our guest teacher was Wendy Ulrich, PhD, therapist, motivational speaker and author of several wonderful books, including her latest, "Weakness is Not a Sin."

Through her books and seminars Wendy has helped thousands of people let go of unnecessary guilt and open themselves up to the love that God is anxious to have them feel. We are very fortunate that she is in the area for a few weeks, and has agreed to be our guest teacher at SIS this Wednesday. I love Wendy's books - she has taught me a lot about how the atonement can be a part of my daily life in an enabling and positive way - and this lesson inspired us all. 

Revelation 201: Hearing the Voice of God, Part 2

The subject of revelation seems central to the book of Samuel, and it is such an important topic that I feel it deserves two sessions. Samuel’s story begins with a remarkable manifestation from God to a little boy, and throughout his life Samuel as known as one who receives communications from God. The scriptures say of this great man: "The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.” 1 Samuel 3:19

 Do you feel like most of your words fall to the ground? I certainly do! How do we become people who know how to receive and follow the voice of the Lord?As Samuel’s story progresses we learn more about the principle of revelation. Joseph Smith describe this process as a set of skills that can be cultivated with practice:

“A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; (i.e.) those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith)

Join some of our most inspired class members for insights on how they have learned to hear the voice of the Lord.

Should You Listen To That Voice in Your Head?

Hushed was the evening hymn,

The temple courts were dark,

The lamp was burning dim,

Before the sacred ark:

When suddenly a voice divine

Rang through the silence of the shrine 

The story of the boy Samuel, awakened in the night by the voice of God, is one of the sweetest and most moving tales in the Old Testament. It also introduces one of the most interesting topics in theology, namely, how do we discern the voice of God from the other other voices that clamor for our attention?

We did a close reading of the first few chapters of 1st Samuel, and examined the (sometimes subtle) differences between inspiration, hallucination, divination, and revelation. 

As a special treat, we were privileged to have Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, PhD, professor of history at Harvard and winner of the Pulitzer Prize, as a part of this lesson. Dr. Ulrich’s latest book, A House Full of Females, is a study of polygamy in the early church, and I asked Dr. Ulrich to share some experiences from the lives of these early pioneer sisters, many of whom testified that they were guided by the voice of God.

What Does a Prophet Do?

Each week we film our lesson and it appears on my YouTube channel, Marilyn Green Faulkner.

Elijah: What Does a Prophet Do? 

This lesson looks at several stories in 1 and 2 Kings. Elijah and his protege  Elisha have some remarkable experiences that have much to teach us about how the Lord works through his servants on the earth. From causing a drought to raising the dead, they have a tremendous impact.  (I’m still not quite sure what to think about the thing with the bears. Apparently you don’t want to get them mad at you…) 

What does it profit us to have a prophet in our midst? In addition to our Old Testament favorites, I studied the lives of our modern-day prophets in preparation for this lesson, and I have a new appreciation of the benefits of prophetic power in our lives. 

The subject of revelation seems central to the book of Samuel, and it is such an important topic that I feel it deserves two sessions. Samuel’s story begins with a remarkable manifestation from God to a little boy, and throughout his life Samuel as known as one who receives communications from God. The scriptures say of this great man: "The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.” 1 Samuel 3:19

 Do you feel like most of your words fall to the ground? I certainly do! How do we become people who know how to receive and follow the voice of the Lord?As Samuel’s story progresses we learn more about the principle of revelation. Joseph Smith describe this process as a set of skills that can be cultivated with practice:

“A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; (i.e.) those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith)

Join some of our most inspired class members for insights on how they have learned to hear the voice of the Lord.