Svithe: Lessons learned

Today I taught my first lesson in Relief Society. I'm technically the 3rd Sunday teacher, but our Stake Conference two weeks ago threw off the schedule. I was all excited when I got my calling; I read last week's lesson pretty much every day from when I found out I was teaching until a few days prior to the lesson. Then I got the call that I needed to teach today instead because of the Stake Conference mix up. That was fine with me because it gave me something else to study with "eyes of understanding. " I read the scriptures and talks differently when I know I will be accountable for my knowledge of a subject when I teach. Too bad I don't do that all the time.

It was weird having totally prepared a lesson and then listening to someone else's version of the same lesson. Last week's lesson couldn't have been more different than the one I prepared, even if we had tried. She spoke almost the entire time on a section I would have given only 1-2 min., but that's the beauty of the gospel. We are touched by different things.

This week's lesson touched on some fairly heavy gospel doctrine. It was based on Elder Holland's talk from the October General Conference. It talked why many Christian sects don't consider us Christian, and explained where our beliefs on the Godhead originate. It's a great read for anyone interested (just click the link above). Here are a few things that stuck out to me while preparing.

Trinity vs. Godhead
Trinitarians believe that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are all one substance/being and was solidified as "Church Doctrine" (i.e. Catholic) when Constantine called a conference in 325 AD with all the "big wigs" of church and state. As Holland explained, "[The Nicene and other creeds] declared the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost to be abstract, absolute, transcendent, immanent, consubstantial, coeternal, and unknowable, without body, parts, or passions and dwelling outside space and time."

Honestly, I was quite surprised, when I started doing some research, at how few Christian religions don't accept the Trinity as church doctrine. I really thought that Protestants didn't, but I was wrong. Apparently it's mainly we (members of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--a.k.a. Mormons), Jehovah's Witnesses, and Unitarians who diverge from that notion. Most Christians believe us to be heretical and un-Christian because of it.

We don't believe in the concept or definition of the "Trinity in Unity", however, we do believe in the Father, Son and Holy Ghost (a.k.a the Godhead). Holland sums it up nicely when he says,

"Our first and foremost article of faith in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is 'We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.' We believe these three divine persons constituting a single Godhead are united in purpose, in manner, in testimony, in mission. We believe Them to be filled with the same godly sense of mercy and love, justice and grace, patience, forgiveness, and redemption. I think it is accurate to say we believe They are one in every significant and eternal aspect imaginable except believing Them to be three persons combined in one substance, a Trinitarian notion never set forth in the scriptures because it is not true."

In his talk he gives examples from the New Testament to support our belief in their separateness of being.

Honestly, the majority of my lesson comes straight from the talk, so here's what we additionally talked about.

1. It is important to understand the true nature of the Godhead because

• God has commanded us as church members "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me" (John 17:18-21). Are we supposed to also become of one substance with the Father? No, of course not. We are supposed to be "of one heart and one mind and dwell in righteousness." (Moses 7:18) When we do that, we become one with God's will and will come to know Him more fully.
  
• concerning our marriages he said, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." (Gen. 2:24)
• "this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
  

2. We can strive for unity in the church by

• sustaining and supporting church leadership.
• paying tithing and fast offerings so that no one is lacking.
• serving those who are in need.
• abstaining from harsh words or criticism. In the same vein, avoid taking offense whether or not it is intended. Forgive
  
• cultivating charity.
  

3. We can strive for unity in our homes by

• going to the temple.
• reading our scriptures, both individually and as a family.
• praying individually, as a couple, and as a family.
• communicating clearly, honestly, and kindly.
• humbling ourselves and letting go of our pride and stubbornness.
• serving and supporting each other both in the priesthood and in the home.
  
• cultivating charity.
  

4. The Spirit of the Lord is a member of the Godhead we can invite into our families and marriages; He will guide us in our quest to understanding and becoming One, like the Godhead is One. We invite the spirit in our homes by

• disallowing bad things (pornography, bad movies/tv/music, immodest clothing, contention, swearing, alcohol, etc.)
  
• promoting good and wholesome recreation, dress, talk, word of wisdom, etc.