Why do we fast?

Hey guess what?!?1 I'm finally doing a study guide...and this time I'm going to publish it. Whoops!! :)

This is the study guide for Sept 28th

How would you explain to a friend why we as members of the church fast?

What is fasting?
Doctrine and Covenants 59:12-14

What constitutes a proper fast?
Isaiah 58:3-12
Matthew  6:16-18

What kind of things can we fast for?
Alma 17:1-3, 9
Alma 6:6
Alma 5:45-46

What are the benefits of fasting?
Helaman 3:35

What experiences have you had with fasting?

General Conference Talk
"The Blessings of a Proper Fast" By Carl B Pratt from the October 2004 Conference

How can a patriarchal blessing help me?

What is a patriarchal blessing? How is it different than other blessings?

How would having a patriarchal blessing help you?

How do you know when you are ready to get a patriarchal blessing?

What do you need to do to prepare for the blessing?

General Conference Talk
"You have a Noble Birthright" By Julie B Beck General YW president

Why do we need the Book of Mormon

What would you tell a friend or an acquaintance who asks this question of you?

What is the importance of the Book of Mormon?
1 Nephi 13:40
2 Nephi 3:12

General conference talk:
"The Book of Mormon- a Book from God" by Elder Ted F Callister presidency of the Seventy

What are some scriptures from the Book of Mormon that have helped you during a trial or helped you  to answer a question that you had?

Powerful testimony from an Apostle of God about the Book of Mormon!
"Safety for the Soul" By Elder Jeffery R Holland Oct 2009

How can repentance help me every day?

The last few lessons have made me wonder if we might need to just get to the basics of the Atonement so that you have a foundation to build upon.  I plan to begin the lesson this next week doing this. Does this sound good?

But now for this weeks lesson...

What is repentance?
Alma 19:33
Doctrine & Covenants 58:42-43

Why do we need it?
Romans 3:23
Doctrine & Covenants 95:1
Isaiah 1:18

What sins do we need  repentance for?
How often do we need to repent?
How do we know when we've fully repented?

General Confrenece talks
"Divine Gift of Repentance" by D.Todd Christopherson from October 2011

LOOK AT THIS!!!
Again I'm going to post the talk by Br Brad Wilcox "His Grace is sufficient" (Video)
And if you are more of a reader than a watcher Here is the link to the written talk

It really explains a lot of this stuff soooo well!

How can the Atonement help me during my trials?

*For the Miamaids who were wondering about that talk here's the link!!*

"His Grace is Sufficient" By Brad Wilcox ( this is the link to the video)
It's seriously amazing!! :)

Study guide for lesson to be given March 2, 2014

What trials do you face right now?

If we were sent to Earth by a Heavenly Father who loves us, why do we have trials in our life?
     Mosiah 23:21-22
     Abraham 3:25
     Ether 12:27

Where do the trials we have come from?

Adversity comes from different sources. You may at times face trials as a consequence of your own pride and dis- obedience. These trials can be avoided through righteous liv- ing. Other trials are simply a natural part of life and may come at times when you are living righteously. For example, you may experience trials in times of sickness or uncertainty or at the deaths of loved ones. Adversity may sometimes come because of others’ poor choices and hurtful words and actions.
                                                       From  "Adversity" in  True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference

How can the Atonement help us during our trials?

     Knowing HE understands, and knows how to help us
         Alma 7:11-13
         Isaiah 53:3-5

"The Savior has suffered not just for our iniquities but also for the inequality, the unfairness, the pain, the anguish, and the emotional distresses that so frequently beset us. There is no physical pain, no anguish of soul, no suffering of spirit, no infirmity or weakness that you or I ever experience during our mortal journey that the Savior did not experience first. You and I in a moment of weakness may cry out, “No one understands. No one knows.” No human being, perhaps, knows. But the Son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He felt and bore our burdens before we ever did. And because He paid the ultimate price and bore that burden, He has perfect empathy and can extend to us His arm of mercy in so many phases of our life. He can reach out, touch, succor—literally run to us—and strengthen us to be more than we could ever be and help us to do that which we could never do through relying upon only our own power."
                                                From "The Atonement and The Journey of Mortality" by David A Bendnar

     Enabling power of the Atonement
        Matthew 11:28-30
        Philipians 4:13
        1 Nephi 17:3
        Helaman 5:12

     Examples in the scriptures
        Mosiah 24:8-17

Excellent talks:
"The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality" By Elder David A Bednar
"Personal Peace: The Reward of Righteousness" By Elder Quintin L Cook

What is Grace?

Hi Guys,
This is Megan and here's my study guide for next Sunday. (2/23/14)

What is Grace?

Here's some scriptures that will help:

Ephesians 2:8–9; 2 Nephi 25:23 (By grace we are saved)

Philippians 4:13; Jacob 4:6–7 (The grace of Jesus Christ gives us strength)

Moroni 10:32–33 (Grace can make us perfect in Christ)

Here's some more tools:

Bible Dictionary, “Grace”

David A. Bednar, “In the Strength of the Lord,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2004, 76–78

“Grace,” True to the Faith (2004), 77–78 (This is my personal favorite explanation)

When have you seen the Lord's Grace in your life?

Are there any people in the scriptures who have received grace? (Hint: Think Alma the Younger, Joseph Smith)

Feel free to leave questions or comments and I will try to answer them in the lesson. :D

How can I find comfort when someone I care about dies?

How could knowing the plan of salvation help?

Alma 40:11-14
1 Corinthians 15:22

Is it bad to be sad when someone dies?

Doctrine & Covenants 42:45-46
Alma 28:12

What is our responsibility to those who mourn?

Mosiah 18:8-10

General Conference talks

"Doors of Death" by Russell M Nelson  April 1992 General Conference
"Because I live, ye shall live also" by Elder Shane M Bowen Oct 2012 General Conference

What questions do you have about death?  Leave comments and I will do my best to find answers.

How can I know my Heavenly Father?

Study guide for the lesson to be given on Jan 12, 2014

How can we come to know what Heavenly Father is like?

First paragraph in "The Grandeur of God" by Jeffery R Holland General Conference Oct 2003

Why is it important for us to know Him?

Second paragraph in "The Grandeur of God" by Jeffrey R Holland General Confrerence Oct 2003 (Honestly…if you do NOTHING else for this lesson prep. READ THIS TALK!!! It is incredibly profound and absolutely true.)

John 17:3

What are some of the tools we have been given to come to know Him?

1 John 4:7-8
Mosiah 5:13
Doctrine & Covenants 93:1
"Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer" by Richard G Scott General Conference Apr 2007 (first three paragraphs-but the whole thing is good! :) of course!)

Personal Progress Goal:
Individual Worth value experience #1 ( I would add reading (or watching!!) "The Grandeur of God" to this- it's not mandatory ( of course) but highly recommended …by me!)

1. 1 .  You are a daughter of Heavenly Father, who knows you and loves you . Read Psalm 8:4–6; Jeremiah 1:5; John 13:34; Doctrine and Covenants 18:10; Abraham 3:22–23; and Joseph Smith—History 1:1–20 . Write in your journal how these scriptures teach you that Heavenly Father knows you, loves you, and is mindful of you .