So! I am now officially not going to church in the family ward anymore, I like to go to sacrament meeting with them and really that's my only chance to say hi to my church friends in passing after sacrament as I walk back out the door so that's always nice, but I am now a member of the Three Rivers YSA Branch. Like, they extended a calling my first week there. Not a whole lot of transition time. But, it's been a month now so I'm getting used to it, and I like the people, the other people in the branch are great and I officially decided a few weeks ago that I'm really going to like being a part of this branch =P
Part of my new calling as 2nd counselor in the RS Presidency (funny that my mom and I got kinda similar callings at the same time, except mine is 110% easier on me because a. I'm a counselor and b. it's a small YSA branch, mom's pretty much just amazing at life, I'm getting there, I'll almost catch up to her someday maybe (: ) is getting to teach every once and a while, and I got to teach about... *drum roll* the importance of being honest! It just happened to be the lesson from the Howard W. Hunter manual on the Sunday I was asked to be a backup teacher.
So some thoughts from my lesson:
1. Man, do I mess this honesty thing up a lot.
2. I am trying really hard though
3. It would be good to think of ways ahead of time to be more honest in "white-lie" situations yet still be tactful. Because yes, it is possible.
4. I loved this quote I found glued into my scriptures - "We are all familiar with the saying, “Honesty is the best policy.” For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, honesty is the only policy." - Sheldon F. Child
5. There are countless ways to be honest and dishonest, besides the common ones that immediately come to mind, and it's important to grow and learn to recognize and be honest in each and every one.
In conclusion, there was a lot of good discussion and I felt like I was able to help bring the spirit into the class, which is good because I'd prayed about that - a lot - beforehand. I just really wanted to make this lesson something that I and the girls would learn from, and it was very fulfilling knowing that God cared about my goal and helped me to lead the discussion with the sisters attending. I had a lot of insightful comments from the girls, and I have been revitalized in my efforts to be more honest. I recognized a mistake I made a few days after that and I have been more conscious in seeing those small variances from complete integrity, and I think seeing those little problems is the first step to being able to change, because I want to be better but if I had remained desensitized to the importance of being honest in all the little things and being careful about the words that just seem to slip out of my mouth sometimes, I would not be able to make changes. I'm working! And that's what counts. Keep going ya'll. I know no one really reads this but even if it's just me, remember how important this is! Honesty and integrity is the behavior of covenant keepers and ultimately the people who will be able to reach the celestial kingdom and live with our Father in Heaven again. That is not a goal I want to lose sight of so I must be ever reminding myself of these small steps. Thank goodness for my savior and the restored gospel.
Part of my new calling as 2nd counselor in the RS Presidency (funny that my mom and I got kinda similar callings at the same time, except mine is 110% easier on me because a. I'm a counselor and b. it's a small YSA branch, mom's pretty much just amazing at life, I'm getting there, I'll almost catch up to her someday maybe (: ) is getting to teach every once and a while, and I got to teach about... *drum roll* the importance of being honest! It just happened to be the lesson from the Howard W. Hunter manual on the Sunday I was asked to be a backup teacher.
So some thoughts from my lesson:
1. Man, do I mess this honesty thing up a lot.
2. I am trying really hard though
3. It would be good to think of ways ahead of time to be more honest in "white-lie" situations yet still be tactful. Because yes, it is possible.
4. I loved this quote I found glued into my scriptures - "We are all familiar with the saying, “Honesty is the best policy.” For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, honesty is the only policy." - Sheldon F. Child
5. There are countless ways to be honest and dishonest, besides the common ones that immediately come to mind, and it's important to grow and learn to recognize and be honest in each and every one.
In conclusion, there was a lot of good discussion and I felt like I was able to help bring the spirit into the class, which is good because I'd prayed about that - a lot - beforehand. I just really wanted to make this lesson something that I and the girls would learn from, and it was very fulfilling knowing that God cared about my goal and helped me to lead the discussion with the sisters attending. I had a lot of insightful comments from the girls, and I have been revitalized in my efforts to be more honest. I recognized a mistake I made a few days after that and I have been more conscious in seeing those small variances from complete integrity, and I think seeing those little problems is the first step to being able to change, because I want to be better but if I had remained desensitized to the importance of being honest in all the little things and being careful about the words that just seem to slip out of my mouth sometimes, I would not be able to make changes. I'm working! And that's what counts. Keep going ya'll. I know no one really reads this but even if it's just me, remember how important this is! Honesty and integrity is the behavior of covenant keepers and ultimately the people who will be able to reach the celestial kingdom and live with our Father in Heaven again. That is not a goal I want to lose sight of so I must be ever reminding myself of these small steps. Thank goodness for my savior and the restored gospel.
