TFOT Follow-Up

The Merciful Obtain Mercy – Pres. D. Uchtdorf – Follow up to TFOT lesson on August 26, 2012

In our class discussion and afterwards, sisters shared the following  ideas:

1.     Mercy can be described as being tenderhearted, loving, forgiving, kind. (see Ephesians 4:51,52)

2.     Obstacles to mercy stem from the natural man: impatience, hard-heartedness, holding grudges, vindictiveness, and false perceptions. Without trying to be close-minded, we may have been taught to evaluate the world around us in narrow, inflexible ways.

3.     Withholding forgiveness from another can hinder the other person’s growth, even cause him to sin, and at the very least, cuts him off from the possibility of feeling the Lord’s love through us; we can hinder the Lord’s ability to bless many others’ lives through us as well because we don’t have His love in our own hearts.  This is especially true when we don’t forgive ourselves and our unhappiness affects those around us or holds us back from being able to give. 

4.     Our ability to express mercy can be even more challenged when we feel we have been hurt by  someone in our church family, by relatives, by friends, or when we realize that someone has mistreated one we love.

5.     Mercy is best given and received when the giver is filled with God’s love, humble and sincere.

6.     Receiving mercy (forgiveness) is two-fold:  a) receiving a cleansing from sins; and b) becoming strengthened/receiving a change of heart that helps us avoid sin. (Psalms 24:23).   Pres. Dallin Oaks said we have been promised that in our journey to be like the Savior the Lord is always with us to help us every step of the way (our promise at baptism is that we will be given the Holy Spirit).  Therefore, we are not alone as we seek mercy for ourselves, and as we seek to be merciful and forgiving.

7.      We invite the Lord’s love into our lives to strengthen us and change our hearts through: praying (with real intent), reading the scriptures, praying, fasting, more prayer, attending our meetings/going to the temple (it may mean meeting the one who needs our mercy), still more prayer, putting positive values and images in our lives, prayer, and repentance. 

Related scriptures: Alma 9:28, Ether 12:27, Jacob 4:7. Phil 2:13-14, John 15:5; 13th Article of Faith

                                                                                        

Related Resource :  “Jesus Knows I Am a Christian,” CD talk by John Bytheway (track 2, For Elder Oaks’ analogy used to explain concepts in # 6 above and numerous helpful scriptures.)

The following related items can be accessed by clicking on this link: http://naedwards.wordpress.com

Teacher Musing: Satan Must Love Bowling   

Resource:  “How Do we Obtain Charity? – Dave” (story referred to in class, from Ann  Chillson’s sacrament talk)

Additional reading: “The Connection Between Forgiveness And Freedom” by Darla Jackson in Meridian Magazine.  Especially touching for those profoundly hurt.