May 1st Lesson Recap

 April 2011 General Conference by Elder Dallin H. Oaks:  Desire.




In this talk he asks each of us to search our hearts for our true desires.  

We are asked to think about our basic human desires and how we overcome them. 


Here is a list from the class discussion:


        Desire                       How we can over come it (sometimes with a greater desire)

• Food                    
• fasting to overcome our desire for food by a greater desire of clarity

• Shelter           
• Elder Oaks gives an example of camping and a desire to get a merit badge 

• Sleep       
•  " As a young soldier in the Utah National Guard, I learned an example of this from a combat-seasoned officer.In the early months of the Korean War, a Richfield Utah National Guard field artillery battery was called into active service. This battery, commanded by Captain Ray Cox, consisted of about 40 Mormon men. After additional training and reinforcement by reservists from elsewhere, they were sent to Korea, where they experienced some of the fiercest combat of that war. In one battle they had to repel a direct assault by hundreds of enemy infantry, the kind of attack that overran and destroyed other field artillery batteries.
  What does this have to do with overcoming the desire for sleep? During one critical night, when enemy infantry had poured through the front lines and into the rear areas occupied by the artillery, the captain had the field telephone lines wired into his tent and ordered his numerous perimeter guards to phone him personally each hour on the hour all night long. This kept the guards awake, but it also meant that Captain Cox had scores of interruptions to his sleep. “How could you do that?” I asked him. His answer shows the power of an overriding desire." 

• Chastity before marriage
• Long term desire for a Temple Marriage and keeping the commandments.

• Parenting and sacrifice self
• We can see the long term benefits of our family and children for all eternity. 

Other comments about our basic desires:


Enos was told that his sins were forgiven and became concerned for his brethren.  He had a desire to save them from sin and prayed on their behalf.

Faith can begin with no more than a desire. 

Readjusting our priorities for eternal nature. Reprioritize.  Asking the lord to change your heart. 

Choices determine our actions. Search our hearts and be honest to ourselves. 

We are imperfect but Heavenly Father can make something of our desire. 

Moment by moment for the eternal perspective. Am I in tune with him to be present?