September 26

As you can tell I just discovered the text background color button.  It was one of those "well, duh" moments.  Dare I go back and fix the other posts in this blog?  I have long felt that my blog looked boring.  Hopefully by the time I am finished with this mission, I will have figured out all the bells and whistles and it will not be boring anymore.

Tonight the lesson in Preparing for an Eternal Marriage was on the differences between woman and men; how each gender should be proud of the differences and accepting of the other gender's differences; and how these differences came with us from our previous home with God.  The way it was written in the manuel was so boring.  Read this quote and discuss it.  Read this next quote and discuss it.  Read...  You get the idea.  I so wanted it to be fun, informative and spiritual.  

I am a witness that Heavenly Father loves the young adults in our class.  I wrote a lesson and read it to Scott who kindly pointed out that it was not much better than the one in the manuel.  We brainstormed ideas and came up with a more interesting lesson.  I was so grateful to Scott and Heavenly Father for helping me.  However, Heavenly Father was not done.  I got into the lesson and as we were discussing different points, words I had not planned and had not given much thought to came out of my mouth.  The spirit was so strong.  I found myself testifying that I would not trade carrying a living soul and giving that soul life for one minute of holding the priesthood with all its power, and that I felt sorry for men who would never have that experience and the resulting bond that gave me with my children.  It was obvious that several of the young men and woman had never realized the great honor and blessing it is to be a mother.  Heavenly Father taught us all a wonderful lesson.

After the lesson we were taking one of the students and her friend from Tonga (returned missionary) back to her home.  As we got into the van the young missionary gave me a hug and said, "Sister Tennis, that was the best lesson I have ever had in the church."  I told him to thank Heavenly Father because it was not me teaching.   All glory goes to Him whose work I am doing.