Sister Noren gave a great lesson from President Uchtdorf's October conference talk (did anyone catch that the lesson was not actually on the one I sent out in the blog post earlier this week? Oops!)
President Uchtdorf led his talk with Moses' vision on the mountain when he talked face to face with God. Moses took several things from his vision. That no man can stay on earth and behold his glory completely, that God had a mission for him, that people were as many as the sand of the seas, worlds without end has God created and finally, after his vision ended and his strength returned after many hours, it occurred to him "that man is nothing".
How many worlds have been created?
Moses 7:30 says "And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations; and thy curtains are stretched out still; and yet thou art there, and thy bosom is there; and also thou are just; thou art merciful and kind forever;"
President Uchtdorf says, "but even though man is nothing, it fills me with wonder and awe to think that the worth of souls is great in the sight of God. And while we may look at the vast expanse of the universe and say, "What is man in comparison to the glory of creation?" God himself said we are the reason He created the universe!" Compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God.
Moses 1:37-39 "And the Lord God spake unto Moses, saying: The heavens, they are many, and they cannot be numbered unto man; but they are numbered unto me, for they are mine. And as one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof even so shall another come; and there is no end to my works, neither to my words. For behold, this is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
One sister commented on Verse 40 where the Lord called Moses his son and the importance of the Lord saying "Moses my son, though art my son". He is showing him only a portion of his glory. He speaks to him and calls him his son. He can't show Moses everything because he has a work for him to do.
Men are just not part of his many creations. His creations are for the purpose of his work. And for men to grow to bring to pass his work.
How do you feel when you are one person in a crowd? Do we sometimes feel that there is no way God can know us individually with the millions of people there are in the world?
It doesn't matter how vast gods creation. He has created us and to him we are everything.
One of Satan's most successful tools is to appeal to the extreme of his paradise. Through feeling like nothing or using pride to feel like we are more. As disciples of Jesus Christ that we know a persons value has little to do with what the world holds in high esteem. It doesn't matter your status, money or job in life. He knows who we are no matter how humble our circumstances are. The message is that at times if we feel like nothing we are everything to him. You matter to him...therefore...we are not forgotten we are not invisible to him.
Do we sometimes ask ourselves, how can I ask him for the little thing I need when I am one of millions? That is how Satan discourages us.
If the world is so big, is it not amazing and awesome that we are not forgotten?
What specific things can we do to feel his love? There are many of us who feel like we don't feel God's love at times. One sister commented that He does have the time and power. We need to give him the credit that he can do it. Just because our minds can't comprehend how He can, doesn't me he can't. Another sister used the example of a fish in water. We swim around doing the same thing day in and day out but, if we step back and look we can see His hand in everything. Our testimonies of His power strengthen every time we have a prayer answered.
If the love of God is the tree of life why do we have to go to it?
One sister replied that if we have a particle of desire, we can then let that light work in us. For some it comes easy, some have to struggle and strive for that. When we have a trial it is the perfect time to go to God. We realize that we are something and he does care. But we need that particle of desire. If we are only walking towards him we will feel his love.
What else can we do? One response was prayer.
Do we feel like we are praying to a wall or do we feel like someone is there, listening? One sister commented that when you are going through a trial and kneel down in prayer, at times you feel arms around you. That is his love.
Sister Noren told us of a question asked by her son who is serving a mission, "How have you been blessed by having a missionary?" She thought a little and then replied, "I rely one hundred percent on Heavenly Father to take care of you. My prayers are more intent for your safety."
Along with prayer is the relationship we have with God. One sister read from the Bible dictionary the definition of prayer. "As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God, then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings."
Another sister said service is how she feels closer to God. Sister Noren pointed out that we are a blessed ward, "fancy" people. We dress nice have beautiful homes, we drive cars and have technology. We should not have any excuse not to feel his love.
Sister Noren showed us some pictures of times and places in the world that have had challenges that many of us have not had to face.
How easy is it to feel his love when you don't have the convenience of the things we are blessed with?
How easy is it to feel that love when you live during a time of political unrest?
President Uchtdorf also talked about how we are His hands. He can't be here to feed someone or clothe someone. Missionaries are an example of His hands by bringing the gospel to the world.
One sister said she feels the Lord's love through gratitude and a story her mom used to share with her as a child and how when a child was given a coat and thanked the mom she said, thank the tailor. When he thanked the tailor he said, thank the sheep. When he thanked the sheep he said, thank our Heavenly Father. Look at the things we do have and we are blessed with.
Fast offerings and tithing are such a basic way to show our love and appreciation to our Heavenly Father. People need our help and when they receive the help through our tithing they will feel the love.
When we see someone in need. Say a prayer but also help.
One sister spoke about Jacob 5 when the lord planted the trees in the vineyard. Some trees were planted in poor land and the Lord nourished them constantly. God is mindful and reaches out to those in need in ways we don't comprehend.
President Uchtdorf said "God sees you not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season--he sees you as His child. He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become. He wants you to know that you matter to Him."
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