By Miriam

Miriam is a PhD candidate in Prevention Science at the University of Oregon, mother of 3 girls, and striving to teach her girls that their voices matter.

This lesson is meant to be used for family scripture study in 3-7 minute segments of time – for families that don’t read scriptures any longer than that (my family sure doesn’t).

Segment: The Creation is a Story of Love

• Read however much of Genesis 1 or Moses 2 you’d like to just to get the idea that God created this earth and everything in it (you can probably skim this quickly or skip it entirely).
• Susan H. Porter (1^st Counselor in the Primary General Presidency) said of God’s creations “God’s light and love permeate all [Their] creations”
  • Do you agree with Sister Porter? Why or why not? Are there examples you can share of how you’ve seen God’s love and light permeating creation?
• Referring to Lehi’s vision in the Book of Mormon (quick recap if you haven’t read it: a story of people holding onto an iron rod – symbolizing the word of God – that led to a tree with delicious fruit – symbolizing God’s love), she said, “Sometimes we mistakenly think that we can feel God’s love only after we have followed the iron rod and partaken of the fruit. God’s love, however, not only is received by those who come to the tree but is the very power that motivates us to seek that tree.”
  • God wants us to feel loved every day. How have you felt God’s love today?

Segment: Continuing the Love Story

• Susan H. Porter continued her talk by telling us that when we feel God’s love (which is the very essence of the Creation), we will be more full of love for others. Here are a couple specific points she makes and questions to ask ourselves as we read them:
  • Telling a story about a man who had real and hard questions about the church and stopped going, she said that he shared with her, “I felt a spiritual impression that told me I could return to church and express this love of God in what I do there.” Whether or not we go to church is a personal decision between us and God. For this man, he felt he should go for the specific reason of sharing God’s love with others at church – which love is really the crux of the gospel.
    • Where and how have you been able to share God’s love? Where and how have you felt others share God’s love with you?
  • She said “God’s love is not found in the circumstances of our lives but in [Their] presence in our lives. We know of [Their] love when we receive strength beyond our own and when [Their] Spirit brings peace, comfort, and direction. At times it may be difficult to feel [Their] love. We can pray to have our eyes opened to see [Their] hand in our lives and to see [Their] love in the beauty of [Their] creations.”
    • When have you felt God’s love most strongly? How can you seek to feel God’s love more often and more strongly? The answer to this will likely be different for every person and maybe you’re not sure the answer right now– but, as Sister Porter suggests – God can help us figure it out if we pray and ask.

Segment: God Created Us In His Own Image

• Genesis 1:27 So God created man [and woman] in [their] own image, in the image of God created [they] [them]; male and female created [they] them. 28 And God blessed them
  • Why might it be important to know that we’re created in God’s image?
• Sister Rosemary M. Wixom (Primary General President in October 2015) said, “Heavenly Father generously shares a portion of His divinity within us. That divine nature comes as a gift from Him with a love that only a parent can feel. We come to this earth to nurture and discover the seeds of divine nature that are within us.”
  • How does having this gift of divine nature impact us?
  • How does knowing of our divine nature impact us?

Segment: Divine Nature Continued

• Sister Jean B. Bingham (Relief Society General President) said, “From the darkest parts of Earth, the naked human eye can see about 5,000 stars; from a brightly-lit city street, only about 100 stars are visible. A few years ago, astronomers in Australia used some of the world’s most powerful instruments to calculate how many stars are actually in the entire visible universe. From their measurements, they concluded that there are 70 sextillion stars—or 7 followed by 22 zeroes—and some scientists say the actual count could be much, much bigger still. Does that make you feel small? Contemplating that incredible number fills me with a humble yet exhilarating realization that, among all that vastness, our Father in Heaven knows not only where I am but who I am and what I am thinking and doing and struggling with. And He knows everything about you, too, and loves you more than you can even comprehend. God’s capacity for knowledge and love is infinite; His interest is personal and intimate and real. You are valued by Heavenly Parents because you are Their offspring—Their reason for joy. Their purpose is our progress. After all, Their work and glory is to bring about our immortality and eternal life. Each individual is not only valued but essential in God’s plan of happiness.”
  • Have you felt this humble yet exhilarating realization that she describes? How has it impacted you?

Segment: The Sabbath Day

• Genesis 2: 1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God ended [their] work which [they] had made; and [they] rested on the seventh day from all [their] work which [they] had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it [they] had rested from all [their] work which God created and made.
  • What brings you closer to God and feel rested on the Sabbath?
• Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson (former Young Women General President) said, “Because partaking of the sacrament is a weekly event, it is easy to take it for granted and not give it the focus and attention it deserves. Sundays are busy days with many things going on and it is easy to get “caught up in the thick of thin things” and miss the main event. It takes great self-discipline to keep our minds focused on the sacred symbols of the sacrament and remember what they represent. The broken bread and small cup of water should take our minds to the physical and spiritual suffering of the Savior Jesus Christ and remind us of the great gifts of the Atonement and of the Resurrection in our lives… How can we as individuals and families make the sacred ordinance of the sacrament central to our Sabbath worship and keep it in the place it deserves to be?”
  • How can the Sacrament help us feel rested and sanctified?