Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah Nov 24, 2024

Sacrament Service

First Speaker

Ephesians 1:15:16

15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

The Lord’s daily miracles have not ceased.  Why should we stop giving thanks?

Alma 37:36-37

36 Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.

37 Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

Next Speaker

“Perhaps focusing on what we are grateful for is the wrong approach. It is difficult to develop a spirit of gratitude if our thankfulness is only proportional to the number of blessings we can count. True, it is important to frequently “count our blessings”—and anyone who has tried this knows there are many—but I don’t believe the Lord expects us to be less thankful in times of trial than in times of abundance and ease. In fact, most of the scriptural references do not speak of gratitude for things but rather suggest an overall spirit or attitude of gratitude.” (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Grateful in Any Circumstances”, April 2014 General Conference)

Many are miserable because they have no gratitude.

Doctrine and Covenants 46

7 But ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all holiness of heart, walking uprightly before me, considering the end of your salvation, doing all things with prayer and thanksgiving, that ye may not be seduced by evil spirits, or doctrines of devils, or the commandments of men; for some are of men, and others of devils.

Gratitude helps us look beyond our everyday problems.

Next Speaker

“I think she may have meant that every life has peaks and shadows and times when it seems that the birds don’t sing and bells don’t ring. Yet in spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser, and happier as a result.” 

...

“How can we love days that are filled with sorrow? We can’t—at least not in the moment. I don’t think my mother was suggesting that we suppress discouragement or deny the reality of pain. I don’t think she was suggesting that we smother unpleasant truths beneath a cloak of pretended happiness. But I do believe that the way we react to adversity can be a major factor in how happy and successful we can be in life.”

(Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Come What May, and Love It”, October 2008 General Conference)

“Joy is powerful, and focusing on joy brings God’s power into our lives. As in all things, Jesus Christ is our ultimate exemplar, ‘who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross.’ Think of that! In order for Him to endure the most excruciating experience ever endured on earth, our Savior focused on joy!” (President Russell M. Nelson, “Joy and Spiritual Survival”, October 2016)

Grateful people are generally more successful at life.

Mosiah 24

14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

Elders Quorum

The lesson was based on the talk from last General Conference, Holiness to the Lord in Everyday Life - Gerrit W Gong

God only wants what's best for us. 

Your covenants are not with those who harm you. You should not let them bind you. Your binding covenants are with God. 

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah Nov 17, 2024

Sacrament Service 

First Speaker

Work to build charity.

Remember to pray, repent, and never give up.

Please share your testimonies.

Next Speaker

“no identifier should displace, replace, or take priority over these three enduring designations:

“Child of God

“Child of the covenant

“Disciple of Jesus Christ

“Any identifier that is not compatible with those three basic designations will ultimately let you down.” - President Nelson on Facebook

“My tears of sorrow have flowed along with wishes that I could have done more for our daughter and for our President. If I had the power of resurrection, I would have been tempted to bring them back. Though one of the ordained Apostles, each of whom is entrusted with all the keys of the kingdom of God, I do not hold keys of the Resurrection. Jesus Christ holds those keys and will use them for Emily, for President Hunter, and for all people in the Lord’s own time.” (Elder Russell M Nelson, “Children of the Covenant”, April 1995 General Conference)

Pay attention to things in the Book of Mormon that are happening today.

“My dear brothers and sisters, the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.” (President Russell M. Nelson, “Joy and Spiritual Survival”, October 2016 General Conference)

Sunday School 

Why call him the brother of Jared?  Maybe because his name was long, but perhaps also because Jared was a leader in the community. Perhaps the brother of Jared was also a leader, but had a different stewardship.

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah Nov 10, 2024

Sacrament Service 
Primary Program
Elders Quorum 
The lesson was based on the talk from last General Conference, Sacred Scriptures—the Foundations of Faith - David A. Bednar
Have faith and keep going. Things will work out. Generally many will work out in this life, if we have faith, but everything will work out after this life if we have faith. 

The Book of Mormon is written for our day. Our day began with the translating of the BOM in the 1800s and continues on through all of the latter days.

Church Services This Week at Devotional for Young Adults at BYU Idaho Nov 3, 2024

Elder David A Bednar, “Things are They Really Are 2.0”

“An important aspect of the fulness that is available to us today is a miraculous progression of innovations and inventions that have enabled and accelerated God’s work of salvation and exaltation: from trains to telegraphs to radios to automobiles to airplanes to telephones to transistors to televisions to computers to satellite transmissions to the internet to artificial intelligence—and to an almost endless list of technologies and tools that bless our lives. All of these advancements are part of the Lord hastening His work in the latter days.”

“Every discovery in science and art, that is really true and useful to mankind, has been given by direct revelation from God, though but few acknowledge it. It has been given with a view to prepare the way for the ultimate triumph of truth, and the redemption of the earth from the power of sin and Satan. We should take advantage of all these great discoveries, the accumulated wisdom of ages, and give to our children the benefit of every branch of useful knowledge, to prepare them to step forward and efficiently do their part in the great work.” (Brigham Young, in Journal of Discourses, 9:369.)

“In 1966, President David O. McKay prophesied scientific discoveries that “stagger the imagination” would make possible the preaching of the gospel to every kindred, tongue, and people. And further: ‘Discoveries latent with such potent power, either for the blessing or the destruction of human beings as to make men’s responsibility in controlling them the most gigantic ever placed in human hands. … This age is fraught with limitless perils, as well as untold possibilities.’”

“Does the use of various technologies and media invite or impede the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost in your life?

“Does the time you spend using various technologies and media enlarge or restrict your capacity to live, to love, and to serve in meaningful ways?” (David A. Bednar, “Things as They Really Are,” Ensign, June 2010.)

“AI also has the potential to obscure our true identity as sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father, distract us from the eternal truths and righteous work necessary for spiritual growth, engender pride and a diminished acknowledgment of our dependence upon God, and distort or replace meaningful human interaction.”

“When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.

“But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.” (2 Nephi 9:28–29.)

“I invite you to review and study the AI guiding principles developed and distributed by the Church earlier this year.”

“We have not been blessed with moral agency to do whatever we want whenever we will. Rather, according to the Father’s plan, we have received moral agency to seek after and act in accordance with eternal truth.”

“[Lucifer’s] intent was that all of Heavenly Father’s children become objects that could only be acted upon.”

“The very purpose of the Creation and of our mortal existence is to see if you and I will choose and act to become what the Lord invites us to become.”

“Now beware. The ease of use, perceived accuracy, and rapid response time that characterize artificial intelligence can create a potentially beguiling, addictive, and suffocating influence on the exercise of our moral agency.”

“Therefore, faithful disciples of Christ are workers anxiously engaged because ‘the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves.’”

“work is essential for our spiritual progression.”

“Ours is a gospel of work—purposeful, unselfish and rendered in the spirit of the true love of Christ. Only thus may we grow in godly attributes. Only thus may we become worthy instruments in the hands of the Lord.” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson (2014), 266–67.)

“I wonder how many sacrament meeting messages and Sunday School, priesthood, and Relief Society lessons next Sunday will have been generated from AI. A simple command spoken into your digital device, wait a few seconds or minutes, and you have what you need. But do you really have what you need?”

“We undoubtedly can generate and produce fabulous content for a sacrament meeting talk with AI. But the objective is not merely producing or presenting impressive content; rather, it is working and becoming what God intends and yearns for us to become.”

“The law of the harvest is true—yesterday, today, and forever.”

“We must strive to become agents who exercise faith in the Savior and act and shun becoming objects that merely are acted upon.”

“To be clear, we do not earn or qualify for God’s blessings solely by or through our individual works. God’s will and timing determine how and when we receive His tender mercies. But you and I have the spiritual obligation to work, create, and learn for ourselves.”

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah Nov 3, 2024

Sacrament Service

Testimonies

Are we more concerned with obeying to avoid consequences that obeying to avoid becoming something we would not want to be.  Similar to Dr Jeckel.

Our testimony of Christ can bridge all of our differences.

4 Nephi 1

15 And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.

16 And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.

17 There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God.

Sunday School 

What does it mean that Mormon was a sober child?  What does it mean that he was quick to observe? 

We as humans can't miraculously feed 5000,but we can bring a little bread and fish. God can take those bread and fish and feed a multitude.

Church Services This Week at Layton Utah 4th Ward Layton Utah Nov 3, 2024

Sacrament Service 

Testimonies

One speaker said, “Declare the Word of God, you don’t have to defend it.”

My thoughts
{

I like this thought, since I have often gone on the offensive in the past when someone would question my beliefs.  You have to get to the point where you can tell people what your beliefs are, but not have to debate them or justify them to someone.

That being said, one must defend their faith, but I think that generally that does not mean contention.  It is worth pondering what it does mean to defend your faith.
}

It was mentioned that the Gospel is not a placebo.  It doesn’t make us 

God does not condemn you for not being further down the covenant path.  He will work with you as you choose to move forward, but he does not force us to keep moving forward.

We have to learn to utilize the atonement.  We also have to help others to use it.

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah Oct 27, 2024

Sacrament Service 

First Speaker

“every activity, every lesson, all we do in the Church, point to the Lord and His holy house. Our efforts to proclaim the gospel, perfect the Saints, and redeem the dead all lead to the temple. Each holy temple stands as a symbol of our membership in the Church, as a sign of our faith in life after death, and as a sacred step toward eternal glory for us and our families” (President Russell M. Nelson, “Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings,” Ensign, May 2001, 32; Liahona, July 2001, 37).

Isaiah 2:2

2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

What are the hills it is exalted above?  Could it be the things and philosophies of the world that try to show that they are important and lofty, but really are a little hill compared to the mountain of the Lord?

Moroni 7

13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.

John 21

15 ¶ So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

The speaker suggested that we can put God first by giving up time with our false Gods in order to serve others.

Matthew 16

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Next Speaker

Exodus 20:2-5

2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

“feeling. I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him? It seems to me that missionaries and mission leaders have to spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane. Missionaries and mission leaders have to take at least a step or two toward the summit of Calvary.” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Missionary Work and the Atonement”, Provo (Utah) Missionary Training Center on 20 June 2000.)

“There are reasons for your commitment to be made now, for as the rush of hours, days, and months grows stronger, the will to commit grows weaker. Events to transpire soon on this planet will dry up the options for the lukewarm, for the issues raised by Jesus are irrepressible issues!”

...

“Do not, if you have been offended, recall that while you may have been bumped by an ecclesiastical elbow, the chip was on your shoulder long before the elbow appeared.” (Elder Neal A. Maxwell, “Why Not Now?, October 1974 General Conference)

Elders Quorum 

The lesson was based on “Foreordained to Serve” - Steven R. Bangerter and “God’s Intent Is to Bring You Home” - Patrick Kearon

Alma 13:1-2

1 And again, my brethren, I would cite your minds forward to the time when the Lord God gave these commandments unto his children; and I would that ye should remember that the Lord God ordained priests, after his holy order, which was after the order of his Son, to teach these things unto the people.

2 And those priests were ordained after the order of his Son, in a manner that thereby the people might know in what manner to look forward to his Son for redemption.

The role of a priest is to bring God's children home through preparatory redemption. 

Alma 13:11-12

11 Therefore they were called after this holy order, and were sanctified, and their garments were washed white through the blood of the Lamb.

12 Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God, could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence; and there were many, exceedingly great many, who were made pure and entered into the rest of the Lord their God.

“Steve, I’d like to share something with you that’s very important to me. I’ve prayed that our Heavenly Father will cause what I say now to be indelibly imprinted in your mind and on your soul so that you’ll never forget.  Son, protect the private times of your life.”

Indelibly means in a way that cannot be removed or forgotten.

DnC 19 - A revelation on repentance.

“My young brothers and sisters, as you protect the private times of your life with wholesome recreation; listening to uplifting music; reading the scriptures; having regular, meaningful prayer; and making efforts to receive and ponder your patriarchal blessing, you will receive revelation.”

Protect the times when you are alone. Also protect your private thoughts. Protect your times to pray. 

Moroni 7:48

48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

Moroni's testimony was not based on the circumstances of his life.

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah Oct 20, 2024

Sacrament Service 

First Speaker

A sister that recently returned from serving a mission in the Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission spoke to us.  She said that her last area was the only one that was in Louisiana.  She said that she spent most of her mission in Arkansas and Mississippi.

She referenced the talk “Tithing Opening the Windows of Heaven”.

Malachi 3

10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.

Look closely at your life and identify where tithing has blessed you.

Next Speaker

“One little piece of bread may not make much of difference, but Jesus can bless bread, a few loafs to feed thousands, and surely He can bless the bread that we partake of week after week and weakness after weakness to bless and to nourish us as well.” (Brad Wilcox, Education Week, 31 July 2015)

Proverbs 26

11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

“I [asked President Hugh B Brown], ‘Why … was Abraham commanded to go to Mount Moriah and offer his only hope of posterity?’

“It was clear that this man, nearly ninety, had thought and prayed and wept over that question before. He finally said, ‘Abraham needed to learn something about Abraham’” (Five Classics by Truman G. Madsen [2001], 232).

Sunday School 

Tithing builds us through building temples and meeting houses. We then grow and learn to serve more effectively physically and financially and bless the kindreds of the earth as the scripture says. We can bless those that may never join the church as well as members. 

Tithing helps us bless the past kindreds of the earth through paying to build and maintain temples. 

One reason we go through hard times is to learn empathy for others that might be misbehaving due to their trials. 

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah Oct 13, 2024

Sacrament Service

First Speaker

The speaker said that he received his patriarchal blessing from his grandfather.

He saw in his blessing general blessings for him and blessings that were contingent on his righteousness and work.

It is ok not to know with a surety all the things of God and still be building our testimony on this or that.  Build on what one knows and take a few steps into the unknown.

He stated that he has too much going for him to not have faith and keep working on what he doesn’t understand.  That includes things in the Church, but also the directions his life takes him.

Next Speaker

The patriarch does not assign your lineage in the house of Israel.  It is determined by revelation.  It is also not necessarily assigned by blood line.

“The purpose of patriarchal blessings is to reveal to us, the eternal children of God, the purpose of the Almighty for our lives.” (LeGrand Richards, “Patriarchal Blessings”, BYU Speeches May 27, 1953)

Elders Quorum

I was out sick.