Taught by Claudine Snyder
Sister Snyder started her talk by posing the question, "If someone asked you about the gospel to see if they would want it in their life what would you tell them?" Sisters called out answers which Sister Snyder ended up putting in categories of what and why:
What:
Eternal Families
Prophet
Understand God and Son
True Identity
Why:
Peace and Security
Joy
Direction/to return
Purpose of life
Sister Snyder then asked which we felt was a more powerful motivator--making a case that in her opinion why was the much stronger motivator because it drives behavior. She then shared from Sister Oscarson's talk:
We have a knowledge of these things, but do we believe them? If these things are true, then we have the greatest message of hope and help that the world has ever known. Believing them is a matter of eternal significance for us and for those we love.
Then Sister Snyder shared a story from the talk:
On March 30, just one year ago, little two-year-old Ethan Carnesecca, from American Fork, Utah, was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia and fluid around his lungs. Two days later, his condition had become so serious that he needed to be flown by helicopter to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. His worried mother, Michele, was allowed to ride in the front seat and accompany her son. She was given a headset so she could communicate with the others in the helicopter. She could hear the medics working on her sick little boy, and being a pediatric nurse herself, Michele knew enough to understand that Ethan was in serious trouble.
In this critical moment, Michele noticed they were flying directly over the Draper Utah Temple. From the air, she looked out across the valley and could also see the Jordan River Temple, the Oquirrh Mountain Temple, and even the Salt Lake Temple in the distance. The thought came into her mind: “Do you believe it or not?”
She says of this experience:
“I had learned about the blessings of the temple and [that] ‘families are forever’ in Primary and in Young Women. I shared the message on families to the good people of Mexico on my mission. I was sealed to my eternal companion for time and all eternity in the temple. I taught lessons about families as a Young Women leader, and I shared stories about forever families with my children in family home evening. I KNEW it, but did I BELIEVE it? My answer came as quickly as the question popped into my head: the Spirit confirmed to my heart and mind the answer I already knew—I DID believe it!
“At that moment I poured out my heart in prayer to my Heavenly Father, thanking Him for the knowledge and belief I had that families truly are forever. I thanked Him for His Son, Jesus Christ, who made it all possible. I thanked Him for my son, and I let my Heavenly Father know if He needed to bring my little Ethan to His heavenly home, it was OK. I trusted in my Heavenly Father completely, and I knew I would see Ethan again. I was so grateful that in a crisis moment, I had the knowledge AND the belief that the gospel was true. I had peace."
Sister Snyder then asked if we believe because we know it all or do we know it all because we believe.
She shared the following quotes from Elder Holland's talk "Lord,I Believe":
In moments of fear or doubt or troubling times, hold the ground you have already won, even if that ground is limited. In the growth we all have to experience in mortality, the spiritual equivalent of this boy’s affliction or this parent’s desperation is going to come to all of us. When those moments come and issues surface, the resolution of which is not immediately forthcoming, hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes.
The size of your faith or the degree of your knowledge is not the issue—it is the integrity you demonstrate toward the faith you do have and the truth you already know.
Brothers and sisters, this is a divine work in process, with the manifestations and blessings of it abounding in every direction, so please don’t hyperventilate if from time to time issues arise that need to be examined, understood, and resolved. They do and they will. In this Church, what we know will always trump what we do not know. And remember, in this world, everyone is to walk by faith.
Sister Snyder talked about how faith is going to be what gets us through when we have challenges in our lives
She shared a quote from Elder Boyd K. Packer's talk, "Little Children":
True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior.The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.
Sister Snyder talked about taken the spirit for granted in our lives--that sometimes we may get so used to having it that we can get complacent about it. She talked to us about being humble enough to ask for help from the Spirit when we need it.
She then had us read 1 Nephi 8:24-28:
24 And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree.
25 And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed.
26 And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great and spaciousbuilding; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth.
27 And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mockingand pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit.
28 And after they had tasted of the fruit they wereashamed, because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost.
Then she had us read Matthew 13:20-21:
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
Followed by verse 23:
She asked us how these scriptures tied together everything that we had been talking about She talked about how none of us are perfect, and how we can always take the steps to get back on track. She reminded us that even if we are struggling Heavenly Father knows where our heart lies. She then shared another quote from Sister Oscarson that reminded us that, "We need only to keep feasting."
Sister Snyder then shared with us the words of Katy Perry's song "Rise" (The Olympic version)--which she encouraged us to watch on YouTube:
Oh, ye of so little faith
Don't doubt it, don't doubt it
Victory is in my veins
I know it, I know it
And I will not negotiate
I'll fight it, I'll fight it
I will transform
Don't doubt it, don't doubt it
Victory is in my veins
I know it, I know it
And I will not negotiate
I'll fight it, I'll fight it
I will transform
She ended her lesson by sharing her testimony--including that she know we our His beautiful children right now, right as we are--and we can become even more--which is the beauty in His plan for us.
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