Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 9-20-09

I was sick and not at church today, so this is all I was able to gather:

From the Bulletin:

"I testify to you that our promised blessings are beyond measure. Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments. There will be nothing in this world that can defeat us.

My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith." President Thomas S. Monson, "Be of Good Cheer", Ensign, May 2009, 80 — 92.

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 9-13-09

Share with our wives the challenges we are having to give them the opportunity to fill their role as our help meet and support. Allow her to share the same with you that you may also fulfill your role. Listen to her. Listening while driving, reading a book, watching TV, or working on the internet do not always count as having listened. Often you must look directly in her eyes engaging her so she feels you have taken in what she has said and not just heard it. Trying to fix what she is sharing should be only as prompted by the spirit or by her.

• Honor the Priesthood and Use It Well - Richard G. Scott Ensign > November 2008
• Nurturing Marriage - Russell M. Nelson Ensign > May 2006
• Daughter of God - Yoshihiko Kikuchi Ensign > May 1988
• Marriage and Divorce - David B. Haight Ensign > May 1984
• Thou Shalt Love Thy Wife with All Thy Heart - Henry D. Taylor Ensign > January 1974
• Daughters of God - M. Russell Ballard Ensign > May 2008

From Elder Ballards's talk:

"What more can a husband do to support his wife, the mother of their children?

"First, show extra appreciation and give more validation for what your wife does every day. Notice things and say thank you—often. Schedule some evenings together, just the two of you.

"Second, have a regular time to talk with your wife about each child’s needs and what you can do to help.

"Third, give your wife a “day away” now and then. Just take over the household and give your wife a break from her daily responsibilities. Taking over for a while will greatly enhance your appreciation of what your wife does. You may do a lot of lifting, twisting, and bending!

"Fourth, come home from work and take an active role with your family. Don’t put work, friends, or sports ahead of listening to, playing with, and teaching your children."

Our mortal lives are a journey to the promised land and all other treks to a promised land are in similitude of that journey.

People led to a promised land

• Israelites
• Jaredites
• Lehi and his family
• The pioneers
• The pilgrims

DnC 136:19

19 And if any man shall seek to build up himself, and seeketh not my ^acounsel, he shall have no power, and his ^bfolly shall be made manifest.

Our selfishness take our power, even if we are not striving for office or power over a large group.

DnC 136:27

27 Thou shalt be ^adiligent in ^bpreserving what thou hast, that thou mayest be a wise ^csteward; for it is the free gift of the Lord thy God, and thou art his steward.

Second witness of this is Pres Hinckley, “Our pioneer forebears lived by the adage, ‘Fix it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without’ ” (“I Believe,” Ensign, Aug. 1992, 6)

“I believe one of the gravest dangers plaguing modern American culture is fiscal irresponsibility. Never before have so many had so much stuff and so little freedom. Debt is forcing us to work more and more, stealing from us our precious time as well as our happiness. Money problems are breaking our marriages, our homes and health, and are a prime motivating factor for crime and domestic abuse. Even the destruction of our environment can be linked to our over consumption. For millions debt is turning the American dream into a nightmare.” - The 5 Lessons a Millionaire Taught Me - Preface

Doctrine and Covenants 104:78

78 And again, verily I say unto you, concerning your debts—behold it is my will that you shall ^apay all your ^bdebts.

From the Bulletin:

"We welcome you to the Sabbath Day. Today, we take time to ponder what we are doing, thinking, saying, and feeling. Among other things, we renew our promises with God to live our lives better this coming week. Let us celebrate our victories and build on them. Let us be honest with ourselves and make simple course corrections so that the Lord may abundantly shower us with blessings.

"This earth life is the time for us to prepare to meet God. Let's not procrastinate. Let us focus on the basics so that our lives may be anchored and not tossed around by every challenge that comes our way. Please seek a personal connection to God and Jesus daily. Please study his scriptures. Pray earnestly, honestly, openly. Fast.

"The Lord has said, 'If ye are prepared ye shall not fear' (D&C 38:30).

"Foolishness is doing the same wrong things over and over again expecting different results. To experience true happiness, we must learn and follow correct principles.

We are children and apprentices of a Heavenly heritage. As we follow THEIR ways, we will experience THEIR success. There is no other way."

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 9-6-09

Doctrine and Covenants 20

46 The ^apriest’s duty is to preach, ^bteach, expound, exhort, and baptize, and administer the sacrament,

47 And visit the house of each member, and exhort them to ^apray ^bvocally and in secret and attend to all ^cfamily duties.

The duties of a priest are also the duties in every priesthood office beyond priest, thus they all have the duty stated in DnC 20 46-47.

Good, Better, Best - Elder Dalin H. Oaks October 2007 General Conference talk.

We should not let our hobbies or internet get in the way of our Church or family duties. We should not let our hobbies or internet get in the way of our employment. If we are pursuing hobbies on company time it can jeopardize our employment or cause us to have to work longer hours to make up for the time we used on other things. Those longer hours then get in the way of us doing our family and Church responsibilities.

“No man of himself can lead this church. It is the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ; he is at the head. …

“He chooses men and calls them to be instruments in his hands to accomplish his purposes, and he guides and directs them in their labors. But men are only instruments in the Lord’s hands, and the honor and glory for all that his servants accomplish is and should be ascribed unto him forever.

“If this were the work of man, it would fail, but it is the work of the Lord, and he does not fail” (President Joseph Fielding Smith, in Conference Report, Apr. 1970, 113; orImprovement Era, June 1970, 26).

Doctrine and Covenants 107

22 Of the ^aMelchizedek Priesthood, three ^bPresiding High Priests, chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and ^cupheldby the confidence, faith, and prayer of the church, form a quorum of the Presidency of the Church.

23 The ^atwelve traveling councilors are called to be the Twelve ^bApostles, or special ^cwitnesses of the name of Christ in all the world—thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling.

24 And they form a quorum, ^aequal in authority and power to the three presidents previously mentioned.

Every decision the 12 make as a body is unanimous. Think of how hard it is to get 12 men to agree on anything. Most other bodies only require a majority of one type or another for the vote to be "won".

Things look more clear when looking through the glasses of the gospel.

"Someone once said, 'The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot.' Please let's invest our time usage among chief priorities and let things that are not eternally significant find room on dusty shelves of 'interesting but not important.' We have covenanted with God to be dutiful, valiant and faithful. He is anxious to bless us. Elder Maxwell, former member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, said this about our faith (paraphrasing), 'To wonder if our faith is strong enough is natural. The father of Elder Bruce R. McConkie, in a situation of stress years ago, prayed for adequacy — the capacity and abilities of Enoch.

The answer to his prayer was Enoch's faith came through personal righteousness. We are reminded in D&C 121 that we cannot CONTROL the powers of heaven except upon the principles of righteousness.'

Elder Maxwell ends with, 'If you and I want to be more effective, we must be more righteous. If we want to have more faith we must be more righteous, and we might just as well face that reality.' (Elder Neal A. Maxwell, "Insights from My Life," 26 October 1886. The Inexhaustible Gospel.)

As we invest our time learning and applying truth, repenting, seeking to be more righteous and devoted each day, our lives will become centered, peaceful, confident, and fulfilled even in the face of great stress. I bear witness that this is so.

What can you (I) do today to take 'nice words' and turn them to action?"

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 8-30-09

The primary responsibility of a bishop or any leader is to teach.

One of the greatest fears of men is that they are inadequate.

Romans 8:17

17 And if children, then heirs; ^aheirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we ^bsuffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

We should be careful comparing ourselves to others. Being members of the Church we have a different measuring stick to measure ourselves by, due to the covenants we have made. We should be careful not to judge others by our standards. We should keep our standards and teach others, but we should not be judgmental of those that are not keeping our standards who do not understand and have covenanted to keep those standards.

Perfection equals and increase in quantity and quality.

We are apprentices here on earth. Masters train their apprentices to be their replacement or competition. God is eternal and there is no competition for the job of God, but he is training us to have all he has. All knowledge. All love. All power.

An oath is the highest form of a guarantee.

We make an oath every time we raise our hands to sustain our leaders.

Doctrine and Covenants 84:33-44

33 For whoso is ^afaithful unto the obtaining these two ^bpriesthoods of which I have spoken, and the ^cmagnifying their calling, are^dsanctified by the Spirit unto the ^erenewing of their bodies.

34 They become the ^asons of Moses and of Aaron and the ^bseed of ^cAbraham, and the church and kingdom, and the ^delect of God.

35 And also all they who receive this priesthood ^areceive me, saith the Lord;

36 For he that receiveth my servants ^areceiveth me;

37 And he that ^areceiveth me receiveth my Father;

38 And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s ^akingdom; therefore ^ball that my Father hath shall be given unto him.

39 And this is according to the ^aoath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood.

40 Therefore, all those who receive the ^apriesthood, receive this ^boath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved.

41 But whoso breaketh this ^acovenant after he hath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, shall ^bnot have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come.

42 And wo unto all those who come not unto this priesthood which ye have received, which I now confirm upon you who are present this day, by mine own voice out of the heavens; and even I have given the heavenly hosts and mine angels ^acharge concerning you.

43 And I now give unto you a commandment to beware concerning yourselves, to give ^adiligent ^bheed to the words of eternal life.

44 For you shall ^alive by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God.

None of us are losers. We are all designed to be like God.

Our wives want the three Ps. To be Pursued. To have Passion. To be Protected.

One difference between a divine covenant and a legal contract of man's making is that with a divine covenant only you can break it. God will not.

The priesthood is not a cloak we can put on and take off

The following story travels around in various different forms and I don't know the author.

"A man went to a fair where several young men had gathered to look for work. He interviewed the boys and asked them what their skills were. One young man said, 'I can buck hay really well.' Another said, 'I'm good with animals.' One boy said, 'I can sleep when the wind blows.' The man didn't know what to make of that answer, but it intrigued him. After talking to all the applicants, he decided to take the boy with the peculiar answer home with him.

They did all the chores around the farm and then went to bed. Later that night, a huge storm picked up. The farmer dashed around to secure all the doors and windows, to find that they were already secure. The Animals had enough hay and weren't nervous. Everything was put to order, and the farmer went back to bed, able to relax. His new helper had never awakened at all, and the farmer finally understood what the boy meant when he said, 'I can sleep when the wind blows.' He knew he had already taken care of everything, so there was no reason to get up and madly dash around to set things to rights - they already were right." - Author Unknown

If we have done everything to prepare, when trials come we can have peace.

"True disciples of Jesus Christ have always been concerned for the one. Jesus Christ is our greatest example. He was surrounded by multitudes and spoke to thousands, yet He always had concern for the one. “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost,”¹ He said. “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?”²

This instruction applies to all who follow Him. We are commanded to seek out those who are lost. We are to be our brother’s keeper. We cannot neglect this commission given by our Savior. We must be concerned for the one.

Today I would like to talk about those who are lost—some because they are different, some because they are weary, and some because they have strayed." (Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, April 2008 General Conference, Concern for the One)

Doctrine and Covenants 88:81
81 Behold, I sent you out to ^atestify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to ^bwarn his neighbor.

“ ‘There are many who struggle and climb and finally reach the top of the ladder, only to find that it is leaning against the wrong wall’ ” (“The Arts and the Spirit of the Lord,” 1976 Devotional Speeches of the Year, Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University, pp. 266–67)

"When we invite the Holy Ghost to fill our minds with light and knowledge, He 'quickens" us, that is to say, enlightens and enlivens the inner man or woman. As a result we notice a measurable difference in our soul. We feel strengthened, filled with peace and joy. We possess spiritual energy and enthusiasm, both of which enhance our natural abilities. We can accomplish more that we otherwise could do on our own. We yearn to become a holier person." (Elder Keith K. Hilbig, "Quench Not the Spirit Which Quickens the Inner Man", October General Conference 2007)

John 14:26

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 15:26

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 8-16-09

Is the importance and elegance of womanhood at times lost under the fluff that the world sells them on. Excessive jewelry, makeup, fashions, and frills rather than substance?

“Sisters of the society, shall there be strife among you? I will not have it. You must repent, and get the love of God. Away with self-righteousness." (History of the Church, 5:24–25; paragraph divisions altered; from a discourse given by Joseph Smith on June 9, 1842, in Nauvoo, Illinois; reported by Eliza R. Snow.)

Speak not that which ought not be true.

Don't complain. Half the people don't care and the other half are glad it is happening to you.

A closed mouth gathers no feet

"Those saints who neglect it in behalf of their deceased relatives, do it at the peril of their own salvation." (History of the Church, 4:231)

Check our spiritual dipsticks to make sure our engines don't burn out due to lack of the stuff that keeps them lubricated.

Is there sufficient evidence to convict you of being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ?

Prayers for Those We Serve

"Do those we serve hear us pray for them with faith and sincerity? If those we love and serve have not heard and felt the influence of our earnest prayers in their behalf, then the time to repent is now. As we emulate the example of the Savior, our prayers truly will become more meaningful." (Elder David A. Bednar, "Pray Always," Ensign, November 2008, 44.)

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 8-9-09

The prophet Joseph Smith had a 3rd grade education and yet he was a mayor, a judge, a military leader, and an editor all at the same time.

"I found that there was a great clash in religious sentiment; if I went to one society they referred me to one plan, and another to another; each one pointing to his own particular creed as the summum bonum of perfection. Considering that all could not be right, and that God could not be the author of so much confusion, I determined to investigate the subject more fully, believing that if God had a Church it would not be split up into factions, and that if He taught one society to worship one way, and administer in one set of ordinances, He would not teach another, principles which were diametrically opposed." (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church Joseph Smith p.438 first paragraph)

In the early days they sold the Book of Mormon to cover the price of printing. How awkward is missionary work today at times when we give the Book of Mormon away for free? How much more awkward would it be to ask for money for it.

"Although persecution may rage against the Church, nothing can stop the progress of truth." (Teaching of the Presidents of the Church Joseph Smith p.441 Last Heading) Do we hold as true in our lives? Does trial make us waver? Does life beat upon us and yet nothing can stop us from clinging to and living the truth?

“Be fiercely loyal one to another” (President Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, Feb. 1999, 4)

Helaman 5:12

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the ^arock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your ^bfoundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty ^cstorm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Just like with icebergs, we often can only see a small part of the dangers in choices we have in life. This is why Father has given us a detailed plan to help us avoid problems.

D&C 88:15-16

15 And the ^aspirit and the ^bbody are the ^csoul of man.
16 And the ^aresurrection from the dead is the redemption of the soul.

I gave a talk, which I have included here below.

"One of my favorite scriptures from the life of the Savior is a conversation Jesus had with Peter after many people were leaving the Savior because of being offended by the truths that he shared with them. It is found in John 6:60,66-68.

"Verse 60 starts it off with, "Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?" He told them there was more revealed by God than the law of Moses.

"Many today are offended when we say we have living apostles and priesthood authority and that there is more revealed by God than what is in the Bible.

"Larry Hiller said his June Ensign article, Hope: The Misunderstood Sister, 'For me, things I don’t understand about the gospel are like pieces of a larger puzzle I’m working on. If I don’t see where they fit, I put them aside and work on other parts of the picture. From time to time I pick them up and look at them. If I still don’t see how they fit, I put them aside again. I have already received a witness that the whole picture—the restored gospel—is true and complete, so I don’t worry about the pieces that haven’t come together for me yet. They will.'

"There are things that confuse me at times, but show me another church that has continuing revelation, the same structure as the church Christ established, and that holds me accountable when I do things that are wrong.

"Verses 66-69 continues, "66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God."

"If I believe the critics of the Church or cave to my own weaknesses and I left the Church where else would I go? The Lord has already given me the words of eternal life.

"I joined the Church when I was 14 with my 9 year old brother and my parents. The only thing I knew when I was baptized was that I did not want to be baptized by myself later if I figured out it was true, so I go baptized with the rest of my family.

"When I joined the Church I did not know if it was true. I know now. We have been given the words of eternal life."

{End of My Talk}

Obedience Brings the Lord's Promises "Becoming unspotted from the world is a promise to those who keep the Sabbath holy (see D&C 59:9; Exodus 31:13). Divine guidance and inspiration are promised to those who 'feast upon the words of Christ' (2 Nephi 32:3) and who 'liken all scriptures' unto themselves (1 Nephi 19:23).

"The Lord also promised that 'whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you' (3 Nephi 18:20). We are promised that the Holy Ghost will be our constant companion when we 'let virtue garnish [our] thoughts unceasingly' (see D&C 121:45,46). We can claim the spiritually liberating promise of fasting, which will 'loose the bands of wickedness,' unto our 'heavy burdens,' and 'break every yoke' (Isaiah 58:6)."

Elder Spencer J. Condie, "Claim the Exceeding Great and Precious Promises," Ensign, Nov. 2007, 16.

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 8-2-09

Alma 7:23

23 And now I would that ye should be ^ahumble, and be ^bsubmissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.

Be Your Best Self - Conference talk President Monson

Challenges today - Degredation of values, debt.

Helps we have - revelation, the temple(if you are worthy you avoid many pitfalls that lead to challenges), tithes and offerings (gives us perspective and faith), Family Home Evening (To keep family close and teach kids when young), those who went before/pioneers. To get revelation pray and read.

After battle warriors take off armor. We live in a time that we are constantly in battle and can not take off our spiritual armor.

"Let us never despair, for the work in which we are engaged is the work of the Lord. It has been said, 'The Lord shapes the back to bear the burden placed upon it.'" - From President Monson's talk.

Nauvoo - name is of hebrew origin. Means to be beautiful.

Commandments always have a blessing or blessings tied to obedience to that commandment.