Opinions

I would like everyone's opinion- I am thinking about making a second blog where we can explore the RS and SS lessons in more depth, I would post the lesson numbers, some of the scripture references, and some questions from each lesson, and we would be able to further explore what we talk about on Sundays. Here are my questions for everyone:
1. would you be interested in having this type of blog?
2. would you rather me post things from the upcoming lesson the week before, or would you rather me post it after we have had the lesson- as kind-of a follow-up?

My other questions are about this blog. . . since everyone seems to think it is a good idea, and yet I am not getting too much feedback in the way of comments on this blog like I would have hoped, I was wondering what you think I should do better. So here are the questions pertaining to this blog:
1. Is there a way you think would be better for posting comments?
2. Would you rather I picked topics, or specific scriptures to explore?
3. Would you be interested in having a different person pick a topic and blog about it each week?
4. Whatever else you think I should ask.

Please give me some feedback via comments or e-mail me at either BanannaBat@gmail.com or lp1rsliteracy@gmail.com (which is what I prefer since it is the e-mail I set up specifically for this)

Hardships

As our first study topic I have chosen something I know we all have, hardships. I don't know about you, but I know for me life is a constant struggle, and that many times I feel as though I am drowning and have only a moment to come up for a breath before another wave crashes down upon me. I do know that the Lord is there and we need to recognize that though we may feel like we have only a moment at the surface before we are pushed down again by the trials and hardships of this life, he is the one who lifts us up and allows us to take that oh so necessary breath before that next wave hits. The Lord is there, and will not let us drown.

Here are some links to things I found helpful:
"Hope Ya Know, We Had a Hard Time" by Elder Quentin L. Cook: Talk Youtube Video
"The Ministry of Angels" by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: Talk
"Come What May, and Love It" by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin: Talk
Topical Guide: Hardship
Scriptures to think about:
Alma 14:10-11- reason for suffering (sometimes)
Alma 14:18-28- I love this one because you can actually see the outcome of Alma and Amulek's faith in their trials.
Ether 6:3- the Lord never leaves us without what we need.
Ether 6:5-12- think about how the trials they seemed to be undergoing (the waves, and tempests, etc.) were actually propelling them toward their goal.

As always: please feel free to e-mail me with other scripture references or links you found so I can post them, or just leave them in your comments.

Feedback

So, I am trying to start this blog as a way of reading the scriptures and studying together as a RS. If there are other people like me, sometimes you just need a little help deciding what to study, or you want to know what other people think about a certain topic or scripture. I have decided to post topics for discussion, with some supporting quotes and scripture references (hopefully I will be able to do this weekly). If you have any specific topic you think would be good to talk about, or any suggestions about making the blog better please feel free to e-mail LP1RSLiteracy@gmail.com and I will see what I can do. All the comments made on the blog will be posted to the blog (after I have ok'd them- just in case)- feel free to either write your name after your post, or remain anonymous. So I welcome your feedback, and I hope this can be a helpful tool in building and strengthening our RS.
-Catherine Evans