Lesson Notes 11/23

Hello sisters! Here's an update about what happened in Relief Society on Sunday. :)

Good news moment:

Heather - received a Willow Nativity Set as an early birthday present from her mom

Erin - found out they're having a girl

Elise - baby Porter was born a week ago Wednesday

Amber - husband got an internship in Wisconsin and her parents are planning on visiting them there

Michaelle - found an office for their agency (and they're expecting!)

Lesson by Keiko: Elder Hales' Conference Talk

http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-947-22,00.html

Why doesn't the church defend itself more actively when accusations are made?

Answers from the class:

People who have already formed an opinion probably aren't going to be convinced by argument.

The Church wants to let its actions speak for themselves.

We're not overly concerned with criticism because we know it's true.

But they do make their positions on the issues clear.

What opportunities have you had to respond to accusations in Christ-like ways?

Bethany had a supervisor in Washington with the last name of "Mormon." When she introduced herself to the group, she explained that, despite the last name, she believed in Christ. Bethany raised her hand, identified herself as a Mormon, and explained that Mormons did believe in Christ. The supervisor mentioned afterwards that she was grateful for the clarification.

What is "the only power that can subdue the adversary and answer our accusers without accusing them in return?"

Sara - We don't have to teach children to fight. They're born that way. The natural man is born to fight. To be able to maintain the Spirit is the hard thing to do. (Shared a story from the mission about people who wanted to argue about the Gospel - not a terribly common occurrence in Argentina. She felt the Spirit saying, "If you want to stick around here, that's fine, but I'm gone.")

Michaelle told about attending a Catholic school in Haiti. Many of the Protestant girls at the school would get into arguments with the Catholics about "not being saved." Michaelle found that the other girls were more receptive to her because she wasn't bashing. She was more effective just by being a good example.