These chapters are what we are living today! So many family members whom I would never ever think would struggle with the Gospel have walked away. I am constantly reminded to just keep moving forward and keep my faith strong. I love the reminder of “How often” this short statement is what keeps me going. I know I can repent and be forgiven and that I am loved!
This lesson was so perfectly timed. My son just came to me last week saying he wanted a break from church. Didn’t know if he believed it if he even believed in God. It is so gut wrenching to hear that and I have been praying and pondering how best to help.
I am so sorry you are going through that. I know how you feel, All three of my older kids 20, 18 and 17 have distanced themselves from the church as well. They are such good kids, but it absolutely is gut wrenching to know that if they continue, that they are choosing to move through life’s challenges without the divine help that comes with living in a covenant relationship. My heart aches for them, and I feel powerless to persuade them. I pray everyday that Heavenly Father will put people in their path that will be able to reach into their hearts.
I went through this for 17 years, and what ever I said only made things worse. My child knew me, he knew my heart and he remembered my teachings without my insistent pushing. I was guided to just love him and have all the family just love him. Welcomed him with open arms at every family gathering, no matter how he came. So we kept our mouths shut and continued living the gospel and loving him. The Lord did put people in his path and after 17 years he hit bottom and a slow repentance process started. Have faith and let the Lord do His job. My love and heart is with your family. This is so hard.
Thank you for sharing. I don’t know what that conversation was like, but I imagine if your child was willing to talk to you about it, was able to open up to you and say out loud what he’d been harboring so carefully in his heart, he must love and trust you very much. Encircle him about in arms of grace and love. Nothing will ever be more important to him than the love and devotion of his parents.
Dear David and Grace: This lesson has been especially poignant to me; it has answered a prayer that I've had for a long time. Thank you for your inspired insights and the HOPE that you give. And yes, David, thank you for the timelines! They really help me sort things out in my head for greater understanding. Sometimes it just really helps to see a picture (timeline) to put it all together. Thank you for all of the time and effort that you both put in to this class. I appreciate it so much.
Hey Grace, thanks for just being you! I think your fashion sense is great and helps more people to feel like they can belong to the restored gospel. Keep going!
You guys are simply the best and most wonderful. "Don't Miss This" has changed my life for the better in so many ways. I've been here since the beginning and I can't thank you enough for what you do. You have helped me to love the scriptures more and more and you'd helped me to come to know Jesus better. I am so grateful.
Amen Sister! Before you condemn or judge ask why or be interested in knowing someone else’s story. Understanding what they have been through and where have they had to go in their life’s journey helps us better understand that all of our experiences have an effect on our faith, our hope and even our rebellion.
"I was one way, and now I am completely different. And the thing that happened in between...was Him." (Mary Magdelene, The Chosen) Also, P.S., you two are the best! I love my scripture study time with you in the mornings :)
My concept of “as often as you repent, I will forgive you freely” can be encapsulated in the idea about how we build identity out of our habits. The idea is this: every choice we make, thing we do, word we say casts a vote for the type of person we are. So if I am often be beset by sin “X”, emotionally I am casting a vote that says I am the type of person that does “X”. If I stopped there, that’s the type of person I am. But if I feel guilt because of my sin, then I am casting a vote to be the type of person who recognizes wrong and is not apathetic about it. And to go a step further as often as I do sin “X”, and I turn to Christ for forgiveness, I am casting the vote to be the kind of person that turns to Christ in times of hardship, or distress. I cannot overcome sin alone, but as long as I keep casting votes to be the type of person who turns to Christ, I may be a sinner, but at least I haven’t given up.
You know, I am blessed to have the constant companionship of the Lord's spirit. Even if I am in a room filled with people who disagree with me, I never feel alone. I choose to live in a way that those who don't have this gift will be touched by the Lord.
Thank you both so much for all of these amazing lessons!!! You teach from such great understanding of each persons perspectives even Heavenly Father's perspective! It helps so much to see them as just like us, just like others in our lives! And Grace, your understanding of the gospel in all of these experiences in the scriptures astounds me!! You must have been given a great talent of seeing deeply other's thoughts/perspectives! You are a GREAT missionary! And David you and Emily are the same! You all have helped me and thousands of others know Heavenly Father and ourselves so much better!!! Thank you forever for your great lessons💖💖💖🙏🙏🙏
This is so interesting because we have just had a change in our ward boundaries & members from 4 different wards are now put together & we now have the opportunity to come together as one rather than being 4 different groups
Thank you both for this reminder that we have proof in the Book of Mormon that once wicked people can change for the better. This lesson reminded me of the song “For Good” from the play Wicked. How appropriate is the name of that play and that song? It says, “Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better? But because I knew you, I have been changed for the better.” When we know God and how much he loves us, we can change for the better because we know Him.
Very interesting perspective that we can relate to. For example, my husband and I LOVE President Hinckley because he was the prophet when we were youth. We share memories and experiences from our youth to our children, but they can't fully relate. They enjoy the stories and feel our love, but they are having their own experiences with the current prophet and leaders.
I am adding my vote for the timeline! I teach Gospel Essentials in my ward and the friends and new members have benefited greatly from the visual. It really helps to understand how the various stories connect.
I was best friends with a sister in my ward. She left the church after letting her critical tendencies get the best of her. Several relationships broke down, including ours when my family died during Covid. She refused to be ministered to, to have the sacrament, to be humble and teachable, to accept her faults as well as our own. We miss her, but we can’t minister to someone who doesn’t want it, who won’t repent, and who won’t come back to the covenant path. The Mosiah chapters have an elevated meaning after the trial with this sister.
I love you guys and I love hearing about the Book Of Mormon. Grace, your dress last week was so cute and you look great in it. This week, I am so distracted by your outfit. I am old fashioned and I probaby don't know what the fashions are. Either, keep both sides of your shirt in or both out. It looks rediculous to have a shirt half tucked in and the other half out.
First let me start by saying that my wife and I are very impressed with your knowledge and gospel presentations. Having retired from business ownership and having completed 4 missions, 3 with my wife, I find your knowledge and articulation skills exceptional. Grace, we are impressed with your depth of knowledge and insight for someone so young. Now, by way of a suggestion, we all seek counsel from time to time for many things. May we suggest your wardrobe could really use some help. We love the lessons, but find it difficult not to comment on how much your image could be enhanced through improved wardrobe choices. Clothes make the man as they say. Of course that's the physical/social side of things. You're already exceptional on the spiritual side. Keep up the good work.
I LOVED your reading about President Heber J Grant not knowing about the divinity of the work when he was ordained a stake president and then keeping the word of wisdom since right now. Would you please share that reference?
David! I specifically came to watch the video because I started getting confused reading the first few verse, and came to watch your timeline to sort it out! 😅
Time 21:10 - I think Grace maybe is missing a different way of looking at this part. Maybe they did give them experiences, maybe those kids did have experiences also but chose to walk away. I have 2 of my children I see in these verses. They have had those experiences, I have witnessed them, and they still chose to walk away. And the voices of those who have left get louder in their ears and make them forget all that they knew. So, these verses are very tender to my heart, I feel the pain of the parent. And when they were put before Alma it wasn’t because of unbelief, it was because of sin.
100%! I have experienced the same thing! All three of my kids have walked away. I have shared my testimony, I have done everything to lead by example, and provide places and opportunities to experience a relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I am sure there are things that I could have done better, and through all of this I have shared that with my kids, but I know that I have done these things, and still they chose to distance themselves, not from me or family, but from activity in the church, and I feel powerless to persuade/influence them now. I pray everyday that the lord will put someone in their path that can reach their hearts in the way that they need!!
Loved this lesson! Gave me such hope for those I'm praying for. David, is there a reference for the Madsen quote about Heber J. Grant? I love that story and wanted to share it with someone who "doesn't know that he knows".
Two thoughts: 1). I suspect a great reason to try to destroy the church secretly is they were also hiding from MOM! :). 2). So, to David's point at 45:09, "How did you merit an angelic visit?" and subsequent points regarding Paul in the same circumstances. Looking back when Angels visited Lamen and Lemuel, and contrasting that with the Lord's recent blessing of Alma and his people (Mosiah 26:15-16) a better statement may be, "Bet you wish you hadn't merited an angelic visit." The Lord tells Alma that he is blessed for believing Abinadi's words "alone" and his people for believing Alma's "words alone." No angel needed. No compelling to be humble here. THAT lack-of-angels/compelling humility seems to be the true tipping point for amazing blessings. In other words, it's possible that at least sometimes an angelic visit MAY be the last recourse at a time when prayerful parents or leaders are completely out of ammo. There's a lot more to unpack here; because then parents like me say, "Hey, I've been praying for my kid a long time and he didn't get an angel and he wasn't even destroying the church much!?" But leaving that alone for now, I think in his writings, Alma actually privileges those who DON'T need angels to begin with. Hope that made sense. Looking back on things, I think Alma may have wished he'd NOT seen an angel.
They may not have been boys . Alma the younger may have been much older as Alma was 82 when he died which was only 3 or 4 years after Alma the younger’s conversion.
You know, I am blessed to have the constant companionship of the Lord's spirit. Even if I am in a room filled with people who disagree with me, I never feel alone. I choose to live in a way that those who don't have this gift will be touched by the Lord.
These chapters are what we are living today! So many family members whom I would never ever think would struggle with the Gospel have walked away. I am constantly reminded to just keep moving forward and keep my faith strong. I love the reminder of “How often” this short statement is what keeps me going. I know I can repent and be forgiven and that I am loved!
This lesson was so perfectly timed. My son just came to me last week saying he wanted a break from church. Didn’t know if he believed it if he even believed in God. It is so gut wrenching to hear that and I have been praying and pondering how best to help.
You are not alone! I and many parents close to me are experiencing this. But I have felt hope in having patience and trust in the Lord!
I am so sorry you are going through that. I know how you feel, All three of my older kids 20, 18 and 17 have distanced themselves from the church as well. They are such good kids, but it absolutely is gut wrenching to know that if they continue, that they are choosing to move through life’s challenges without the divine help that comes with living in a covenant relationship. My heart aches for them, and I feel powerless to persuade them. I pray everyday that Heavenly Father will put people in their path that will be able to reach into their hearts.
I went through this for 17 years, and what ever I said only made things worse. My child knew me, he knew my heart and he remembered my teachings without my insistent pushing. I was guided to just love him and have all the family just love him. Welcomed him with open arms at every family gathering, no matter how he came. So we kept our mouths shut and continued living the gospel and loving him. The Lord did put people in his path and after 17 years he hit bottom and a slow repentance process started. Have faith and let the Lord do His job. My love and heart is with your family. This is so hard.
Thank you for sharing. I don’t know what that conversation was like, but I imagine if your child was willing to talk to you about it, was able to open up to you and say out loud what he’d been harboring so carefully in his heart, he must love and trust you very much. Encircle him about in arms of grace and love. Nothing will ever be more important to him than the love and devotion of his parents.
I totally understand what you’re going through. Several of my children have walked away despite missions and temple marriages. See Jeremiah 31: 16-17.
Dear David and Grace: This lesson has been especially poignant to me; it has answered a prayer that I've had for a long time. Thank you for your inspired insights and the HOPE that you give. And yes, David, thank you for the timelines! They really help me sort things out in my head for greater understanding. Sometimes it just really helps to see a picture (timeline) to put it all together. Thank you for all of the time and effort that you both put in to this class. I appreciate it so much.
Hey Grace, thanks for just being you! I think your fashion sense is great and helps more people to feel like they can belong to the restored gospel. Keep going!
You guys are simply the best and most wonderful. "Don't Miss This" has changed my life for the better in so many ways. I've been here since the beginning and I can't thank you enough for what you do. You have helped me to love the scriptures more and more and you'd helped me to come to know Jesus better. I am so grateful.
Amen Sister! Before you condemn or judge ask why or be interested in knowing someone else’s story. Understanding what they have been through and where have they had to go in their life’s journey helps us better understand that all of our experiences have an effect on our faith, our hope and even our rebellion.
"I was one way, and now I am completely different. And the thing that happened in between...was Him." (Mary Magdelene, The Chosen)
Also, P.S., you two are the best! I love my scripture study time with you in the mornings :)
My concept of “as often as you repent, I will forgive you freely” can be encapsulated in the idea about how we build identity out of our habits.
The idea is this: every choice we make, thing we do, word we say casts a vote for the type of person we are. So if I am often be beset by sin “X”, emotionally I am casting a vote that says I am the type of person that does “X”. If I stopped there, that’s the type of person I am. But if I feel guilt because of my sin, then I am casting a vote to be the type of person who recognizes wrong and is not apathetic about it. And to go a step further as often as I do sin “X”, and I turn to Christ for forgiveness, I am casting the vote to be the kind of person that turns to Christ in times of hardship, or distress.
I cannot overcome sin alone, but as long as I keep casting votes to be the type of person who turns to Christ, I may be a sinner, but at least I haven’t given up.
You know, I am blessed to have the constant companionship of the Lord's spirit. Even if I am in a room filled with people who disagree with me, I never feel alone. I choose to live in a way that those who don't have this gift will be touched by the Lord.
Thank you both so much for all of these amazing lessons!!! You teach from such great understanding of each persons perspectives even Heavenly Father's perspective! It helps so much to see them as just like us, just like others in our lives! And Grace, your understanding of the gospel in all of these experiences in the scriptures astounds me!! You must have been given a great talent of seeing deeply other's thoughts/perspectives! You are a GREAT missionary! And David you and Emily are the same! You all have helped me and thousands of others know Heavenly Father and ourselves so much better!!! Thank you forever for your great lessons💖💖💖🙏🙏🙏
This is so interesting because we have just had a change in our ward boundaries & members from 4 different wards are now put together & we now have the opportunity to come together as one rather than being 4 different groups
Thank you both for this reminder that we have proof in the Book of Mormon that once wicked people can change for the better. This lesson reminded me of the song “For Good” from the play Wicked. How appropriate is the name of that play and that song? It says, “Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better? But because I knew you, I have been changed for the better.” When we know God and how much he loves us, we can change for the better because we know Him.
Very interesting perspective that we can relate to. For example, my husband and I LOVE President Hinckley because he was the prophet when we were youth. We share memories and experiences from our youth to our children, but they can't fully relate. They enjoy the stories and feel our love, but they are having their own experiences with the current prophet and leaders.
I have learned a great lesson on how to pray for my children and even though I mess up once in awhile if I continue to repent I am forgiven wow❤❤❤❤
The timelines so totally ROCK! Don’t stop doing them😊
"Get up one more time than you fall and you will always succeed." Paul H. Dunn 😊
I am adding my vote for the timeline! I teach Gospel Essentials in my ward and the friends and new members have benefited greatly from the visual. It really helps to understand how the various stories connect.
I've read the Book of Mormon many times but the timelines made this part so much more clear! Thanks for drawing the timeline!!
I was best friends with a sister in my ward. She left the church after letting her critical tendencies get the best of her. Several relationships broke down, including ours when my family died during Covid. She refused to be ministered to, to have the sacrament, to be humble and teachable, to accept her faults as well as our own. We miss her, but we can’t minister to someone who doesn’t want it, who won’t repent, and who won’t come back to the covenant path. The Mosiah chapters have an elevated meaning after the trial with this sister.
Good morning! It’s always a great way to start my week
I love you guys and I love hearing about the Book Of Mormon. Grace, your dress last week was so cute and you look great in it. This week, I am so distracted by your outfit. I am old fashioned and I probaby don't know what the fashions are. Either, keep both sides of your shirt in or both out. It looks rediculous to have a shirt half tucked in and the other half out.
Another great lesson. Loved all the side doors you find in the gospel studies that enrich.
My most favorite lesson EVER... thank you two so very much!❤
Love the time frame. I was just talking to my son about how much it helps. Thank you so much 🥰🥰
First let me start by saying that my wife and I are very impressed with your knowledge and gospel presentations. Having retired from business ownership and having completed 4 missions, 3 with my wife, I find your knowledge and articulation skills exceptional. Grace, we are impressed with your depth of knowledge and insight for someone so young. Now, by way of a suggestion, we all seek counsel from time to time for many things. May we suggest your wardrobe could really use some help. We love the lessons, but find it difficult not to comment on how much your image could be enhanced through improved wardrobe choices. Clothes make the man as they say. Of course that's the physical/social side of things. You're already exceptional on the spiritual side. Keep up the good work.
“Humanity has trespasses” Amen!
i love the conversation on Mosiah 26:1-20. As a bishop, this has been my experience in too many cases. I love the discussion
I LOVED your reading about President Heber J Grant not knowing about the divinity of the work when he was ordained a stake president and then keeping the word of wisdom since right now. Would you please share that reference?
I'd love to know too.
David! I specifically came to watch the video because I started getting confused reading the first few verse, and came to watch your timeline to sort it out! 😅
Time 21:10 - I think Grace maybe is missing a different way of looking at this part. Maybe they did give them experiences, maybe those kids did have experiences also but chose to walk away. I have 2 of my children I see in these verses. They have had those experiences, I have witnessed them, and they still chose to walk away. And the voices of those who have left get louder in their ears and make them forget all that they knew. So, these verses are very tender to my heart, I feel the pain of the parent.
And when they were put before Alma it wasn’t because of unbelief, it was because of sin.
100%! I have experienced the same thing! All three of my kids have walked away. I have shared my testimony, I have done everything to lead by example, and provide places and opportunities to experience a relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I am sure there are things that I could have done better, and through all of this I have shared that with my kids, but I know that I have done these things, and still they chose to distance themselves, not from me or family, but from activity in the church, and I feel powerless to persuade/influence them now. I pray everyday that the lord will put someone in their path that can reach their hearts in the way that they need!!
Timelines! Timelines! Timelines!
The crowd chanted… begging for an encore of more timelines.
Anticipation... the word was on the board. Love you
51:39 “It’s been our story all along”❤️
I wish you could know what this podcast has done for my testimony of the scriptures!!! Priceless❤❤❤ Thank you for all you do!!!
Thank you!
Absolutely loved this lesson! ❤️
This we so perfect for me right now:() thank you for opening my eyes
❤ thank you for another amazing lesson ❤
Thank you guys so much, I really needed to hear this 💕
Thanks for sharing the quotes.
Loved this lesson! Gave me such hope for those I'm praying for. David, is there a reference for the Madsen quote about Heber J. Grant? I love that story and wanted to share it with someone who "doesn't know that he knows".
Timelines get my vote too!!!
I love the timeline too 😄
Two thoughts: 1). I suspect a great reason to try to destroy the church secretly is they were also hiding from MOM! :). 2). So, to David's point at 45:09, "How did you merit an angelic visit?" and subsequent points regarding Paul in the same circumstances. Looking back when Angels visited Lamen and Lemuel, and contrasting that with the Lord's recent blessing of Alma and his people (Mosiah 26:15-16) a better statement may be, "Bet you wish you hadn't merited an angelic visit." The Lord tells Alma that he is blessed for believing Abinadi's words "alone" and his people for believing Alma's "words alone." No angel needed. No compelling to be humble here. THAT lack-of-angels/compelling humility seems to be the true tipping point for amazing blessings. In other words, it's possible that at least sometimes an angelic visit MAY be the last recourse at a time when prayerful parents or leaders are completely out of ammo. There's a lot more to unpack here; because then parents like me say, "Hey, I've been praying for my kid a long time and he didn't get an angel and he wasn't even destroying the church much!?" But leaving that alone for now, I think in his writings, Alma actually privileges those who DON'T need angels to begin with. Hope that made sense. Looking back on things, I think Alma may have wished he'd NOT seen an angel.
They may not have been boys . Alma the younger may have been much older as Alma was 82 when he died which was only 3 or 4 years after Alma the younger’s conversion.
Do you have a resource to where you found this “family lore” story about Heber and the Word of Wisdom? I’d love to read it. I love this message.
I would love to share the quote from Madsen but cannot find it. (The lore as well) Please post a link. ❤❤❤
❤ 16:41
❤ 31:41
❤
Where is this weeks newsletter!!!where is this weeks newsletter???
Grace, make up your mind kid! HA!
What's up with the shirt??
It's a younger person trend. Don't focus on that. Her words are wonderful!
My husband and I said the same thing. Lol. I have never seen this style but I guess somewhere it is the style.
For all who don’t care to keep up with fashion trends: My 19-yr old confirms this is definitely one!
It’s the newest style. Look at the young adults around you.
Utah fashion trend?
You know, I am blessed to have the constant companionship of the Lord's spirit. Even if I am in a room filled with people who disagree with me, I never feel alone. I choose to live in a way that those who don't have this gift will be touched by the Lord.
❤ 26:46
❤ 46:48