June 3–9 John 13–17 “Continue Ye in My Love”
This episode focuses on the Last Super, things the Lord suggests that bring us happiness, the roles of the Holy Ghost and how to more fully abide in the Savior’s love.
I start the podcast by telling about my trip to Kansas and experience with the youth conference this weekend.
Then I talk more about the last supper, how Judas must have felt and how the Savior told us that serving others brings us happiness. I looked up happy in the topical guide and told about the things the Lord has specifically told us will bring us happiness in the scriptures.
Happy is he that will have Him be their god
Happy is he who have God to help them
Happy is the man who God corrects
Happy is the man who findeth wisdom (figure something out)
We will not be happy standing before God at the last day feeling all of our guilt if we do not repent.
Happy are those that stand continually before Christ and hear wisdom
Happy if you work hard
Happy if you have a quiver of kids
Happy if you have mercy on the poor
Happy who die in the faith of Christ
Happy which endure and have patience
Laman and Lemuel – “We would have been happy if we didn’t have to leave all our STUFF” Don’t love your stuff!!
Happy if you keep the commandments
Then I talk about loving others and shared a quote by President Thomas S. Monson.
“In today’s world, nowhere is that bedrock foundation of love needed more than in the home. And nowhere should the world find a better example of that foundation than in the homes of Latter-day Saints who have made love the heart of their family life. … Love is the very essence of the gospel, the noblest attribute of the human soul” (“As I Have Loved You,”) Ensign or Liahona, Feb. 2017, 4–5).
There was another quote I attributed to Mother Teresa, but on further research, I found it’s a totally vague and dumbed down version of something she said, but the quote is good nonetheless, “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.”
(Don’t believe any quote on the internet until you research it a little!)
I talk about the roles of the Holy Ghost and how they have influenced my life.
- Comfort us
- Acts like a conscience
- Teach us all things
- Bring things to our remembrance
- Mosiah 3:19 and Moroni 8:26 talk about character traits the Lord can help us develop through the help and guidance of the Holy Ghost
If you look up Holy Ghost in the Gospel topics you find this beautiful description, ” As the soothing voice of a loving parent can quiet a crying child, the whisperings of the Spirit can calm our fears, hush the nagging worries of our life, and comfort us when we grieve. The Holy Ghost can fill us “with hope and perfect love” and “teach [us] the peaceable things of the kingdom.” (We need to look more things up in Gospel Topics!)
We also need to never forget that the Holy Ghost does not act independently from the Father and Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost carries their messages to us. So as we feel the Holy Ghost lead and direct and comfort us, we need to give the praise and gratitude to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ who sent that message to us. We can be so grateful for the Holy Ghost’s role, but never forget who is sending the love. Does that make sense? Perfect.
Last, John 15:1-8 talks about abiding in the Lord’s love. It is interesting to look at the definition, synonyms and antomyms of the word abide.
Abide: to remain; continue; stay:
to remain steadfast or faithful to; keep:
Synonyms: obey, observe, follow, keep to, hold to, conform to, adhere to, stick to, stand by, act in accordance with, uphold, heed, pay attention to, agree to, agree with, consent to, accede to, accept, acquiesce in, go along with, acknowledge, respect, defer to
Antonyms: disallow, avoid, disagree, discontinue, dodge, fight, refuse, reject, depart, despise, dispute, go, leave, move, pass, quit, resist, shun, stop
It’s so interesting to me that abide doesn’t just mean to stay and the opposite isn’t just leave! So cool!
Elder D. Todd Christofferson says, “To “continue in” or “abide in” the Savior’s love means to receive His grace and be perfected by it. To receive His grace, we must have faith in Jesus Christ and keep His commandments, including repenting of our sins, being baptized for the remission of sins, receiving the Holy Ghost, and continuing in the path of obedience.”
“D. Todd Christofferson, “Abide in My Love,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 48–51.
Thanks for your podcast. I just got called as the Laurel adviser and I get so nervous about teaching. I needed a resource that would help me make the lesson more accessible for young girls and loved listening to your podcast to help me prepare. I feel a little better now!