Woodland Hills Ward Relief Society

January 10 Lesson Recap

Links to Lesson -

Intro - https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-howard-w-hunter/the-life-and-ministry-of-howard-w-hunter?lang=eng

Lesson 1 - https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-howard-w-hunter/chapter-1-jesus-christ-our-only-way-to-hope-and-joy?lang=eng

Recap

President Hunter was born in Boise, Idaho in 1907, but moved to Southern California in 1928. In the Los Angeles area he not only found a career, but also met his sweetheart and had extensive opportunities to serve in the church. He would call the LA area home for more than 30 years before being called to be a member of the Quorum of the Twelve in 1959.

During his career in Southern California, he was a successful lawyer. He was known for his integrity, precise thinking, clear communications, and sense of fairness. He was also known as a “people lawyer”—someone who “always seemed to have time and the interest to help people with their problems.”  One attorney said that Howard “was much more concerned about seeing that people got the help they needed than that he got compensated for it.”

Some of the church projects and initiatives that he was involved with -

- As Stake president, he felt strongly about Family Home Evening and encouraged his stake members to abide by setting aside Monday nights for FHE

- As Stake president, met with Quorum of the Twelve to discuss establishing an early morning seminary program - Sister Pat Neser commented that she was actually a member of the first early morning seminary class in Los Angeles.

- Encouraged his stake members to contribute generously to building the Los Angeles temple (more than $1.5 million was raised in six months)

- Served as president of the church's genealogical society for eight years

- President and Chairman of the Board of the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, Hawaii - became one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hawaii under his leadership

- Oversaw planning and construction of the BYU Jerusalem Center

Some of his teachings about Christ (from Lesson 1) - A prominent theme in President Howard W. Hunter’s teachings is that true peace, healing, and happiness come only as a person strives to know and follow Jesus Christ. President Hunter taught that “Christ’s way is not only the right way, but ultimately the only way to hope and joy.”

"We must know Christ better than we know Him and remember Him more often than we remember Him."