A Women's Relief Society Lesson based on a conference talk by Elder Oaks

I used this as part of a lesson I gave last Sunday. The basis for this Relief Society Lesson given in Monticello Branch October 27, 2013 by Sister Wadsworth is a Talk by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, given in April General Conference 2013. Titeled; “NO OTHER GODS, - Are we serving priorities or gods ahead of the God we profess to worship?” “WHAT IS OUR ULTIMATE PRIORITY ?” “ If we love the Lord we will keep his commandments!” “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3) “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:36) “Thus we offend God when we 'serve' other gods- when we have other first priorities. (Elder Oakes, see Exodus 20:4-6 and footnote b, Doctrine and Covenants 124: 84 ) “What other priorities are being “served”ahead of God by persons- even religious persons of our day?” Here are some areas that can be taken to extreems which take us away from our Heavenly Father. How might someone be lead away in these areas and how can they stay close to God in these areas? 1. Cultural & Family traditions __________________________________________________ 2. Political correctness ________________________________________________________ 3. Career asprirations _________________________________________________________ 4. Material possessions _______________________________________________________ 5. Recreational pursuits _______________________________________________________ 6. Power, prominence and prestige ______________________________________________ God has given commandments from the beginning to Adam and Eve in marriage, to multiply, and other commandments to not misuse procreative powers outside of marriage (Exodus 20:14, 1 Thess 4:3) God gives us commandments that if we obey, we will be happier than if we break them. “...neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 1 Cor 11:11 The restoration of the gospel teaches us that we dwelt as spirits with Our Father in Heaven before we were born on Earth and when we die, our spirits return to the world of Spirits (either Paradise or Spirit Prison depending on how we live) where we can have some time to be taught as the Savior taught, which is told about in 1 Peter 1:19-20, before we are resurrected. Also restored is the sealing power that was given to Peter, that what he sealed on Earth would be sealed in Heaven. What is it that can be sealed in Heaven? Families! Which then makes sense of Malichi 4:5-6 about turning the hearts of the fathers to the children and children to their fathers. The pattern of God is Families- Eph. 3:15 “… of whom all the family in heaven and earth are named” as also on the earth, a spirit comes to a body created by the union of a male and female and is best protected and nutured if that couple are in, and stay in, a committed, righteous marriage. Cohabitation (living together without marriage) is no longer illegal in many countries, and some countries have authorized same gender marriages. Abortain has been legal in the US for decades. These things have been destroying families. “ Our twelfth Article of Faith states our belief in being subject to civil authoity and 'in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.' But man's laws cannot make moral what God has declared immoral.” “ May God help us to understand this priority and to be understood by others as we seek to pursue it in a wise and loving way, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”