Last Week’s Invitation Start bringing a notebook/journal to this

class to record personal insights and inspirations (both in class and during the week)

Think about the different relationships you are involved in. Start envisioning what those relationships would/could be like if Christ was more centered in them.

BUILDING CHRIST CENTERED RELATIONSHIPS

Today’s Purpose To better understand and feel the love that

God has for you.

To ponder ways you can better accept that love.

Discuss improving the way we communicate with God.

A relationship needs good communication: “Someone has said that we live in a day in which God, if there be a God, chooses to be silent, but The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints proclaims to the world that neither the Father nor the Son is silent. They are vocal…and constantly express a willingness, indeed an eagerness, to maintain communication with men”

- Faith Precedes the

PresidentSpencer W. Kimball

Why Does God Love Us?

What is it about true love that touches every heart? Why does the simple phrase “I love you” evoke such universal joy? Men give various reasons, but the real reason is that every person who comes to earth is a spirit son or daughter of God. Since all love emanates from God, we are born with the capacity and the desire to love and to be loved.

Elder John H. Groberg

One of the strongest connections we have with our pre-mortal life is how much our Father and Jesus loved us and how much we loved Them. Even though a veil was drawn over our memory, whenever we sense true love, it awakens a longing that cannot be denied. Responding to true love is part of our very being. We innately desire to reconnect here with the love we felt there. Only as we feel God’s love and fill our hearts with His love can we be truly happy.

“The Power of

Elder John H. Groberg

What examples of God’s Love Have You Seen in Your Life?

Why Should We Love God?

The Real Power of Prayer

It matters not our circumstance, be we humble or arrogant, poor or rich, free or enslaved, learned or ignorant, loved or forsaken, we can address Him. We need no appointment. Our supplication can be brief or can occupy all the time needed. It can be an extended expression of love and gratitude or an urgent plea for help. He has created numberless cosmos and populated them with worlds, yet you and I can talk with Him personally, and He will ever answer.

“Using the Supernal Gift

Elder Richard G. ScottQuorum of the Twelve Apostles

As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7: 7-11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship.

Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings. – Bible Dictionary

Specifics Yield Specifics  3 Nephi 14: 9-11 Or what man is there of you, who, if

his son ask bread, will give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Satan’s Quest “Satan is extremely good at blocking spiritual

communication by inducing individuals, through temptation, to violate the laws upon which spiritual communication is founded. With some, he is able to convince them that they are not able to receive such guidance from the Lord.”

“To Acquire Spiritual Guidance”

-Elder Richard G. Scott

Moses 4:4

Sister Daisy Ogando Pay close attention to what is said, rather

than what is seen

How did she show her Love to God?

How did God show His love for Her?

Why is Love the Great Commandment?

There is no greater evidence of the infinite power and perfection of God’s love than is declared by the Apostle John: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16).

“Love and Law”

Elder Dallin H. OaksQuorum of the Twelve Apostles

This Week’s Invitation

Write down in your Journals when you recognize God’s hand or His love.

Pick one or two ways to improve the sincerity of your prayers. Start practicing those improvements.

Resources

“Opening Our Hearts” Gerald N. Lund

“The Love of God” President Uchtdorf

“The Power of God’s Love” Elder John H. Groberg