Sunday, February 22, 2009

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 2-22-09

Priesthood Opening
Mosiah 2:16
16 Behold, I say unto you that because I said unto you that I had spent my days in your service, I do not desire to boast, for I have only been in the service of God.

The bishop expressed that you cannot be offended by another person. No one can offend you. No one can "make" you mad. You have your choice. You have control over your own emotions and reactions.

The bishop asked us to pray for Godly love for our families that we home teach.

Elders' Quorum
The lesson was based on a talk by President Henry B. Eyring "Our Hearts Knit as One" from last conference.

Unity increases family strength, congregational strength, and community strength.

People struggle to figure out social issues that the gospel already explains to us.

What would it be like to try to find a church that fits us every time we move or visit somewhere? Do we like the preacher? Do they teach what I believe?

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we have family no matter where we go. The members of the church there will be teaching the same doctrine and have for the most part similar ideas on social issues.

We have been taught processes to help those in need (job loss, house fire, natural disaster) mostly by just being taught to serve one another and seeing how that is done by those around us in the Church. Our people know how to organize in a disaster situation. We have an organization, a priesthood chain (home teachers, elders' quorum president, bishop, stake president) and a strong women's organization (the relief society).

Elder Eyring shared this, "A second principle to guide our progress to become one is to be humble. Pride is the great enemy of unity. You have seen and felt its terrible effects. Just days ago I watched as two people—good people—began with a mild disagreement. It started as a discussion of what was true but became a contest about who was right. Voices become gradually louder. Faces became a little more flushed. Instead of talking about the issue, people began talking about themselves, giving evidence why their view, given their great ability and background, was more likely to be right."

Sunday School
Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Lesson 8: The Restoration of the Priesthood 41
Keys unlock things whether it is a code like on a map or a puzzle or something that is encrypted whether it is something that has a physical that you have to remove to open a door or that must be unlocked to engaged the power of a vehicle.

Priesthood keys unlock the mysteries and powers of heaven.

Joseph and Oliver were reading about baptism and had questions. They went and prayed for answers. As a result of that John the baptist came to them and gave them the Aaronic Priesthood.
D&C 13: 1
1 Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I aconfer the bPriesthood of Aaron, which holds the ckeys of the ministering of dangels, and of the gospel of erepentance, and of fbaptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of gLevi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in hrighteousness.

Sacrament Service
Prepare for the second coming temporally and spiritually.  Temporally for disasters that will come before.  Spiritually that we may not be shaken by the temporal things to come.  Spiritually that we may be able to assist in his work before and also after he arrives.

Doctrine and Covenants 29:34
  34 Wherefore, verily I say unto you that all things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a alaw which was btemporal; neither any man, nor the children of men; neither Adam, your father, whom I created.

Even our work is spiritual, even though it is necessary for temporal needs.  We should approach everything we do spiritually.  We should also choose an honorable career and jobs within that career that honor our spirits.

Preparations

  • Education
  • Live Within Our Income
  • Save Some Money, Food, and Water for Times of Trial
  • Avoid Unnecessary Debt

“We have a great welfare program with facilities for such things as grain storage in various areas. It is important that we do this. But the best place to have some food set aside is within our homes, together with a little money in savings. The best welfare program is our own welfare program. Five or six cans of wheat in the home are better than a bushel in the welfare granary.” (President Gordon B. Hinckley, “To Men of the Priesthood”, October 2002 General Conference)

Many find food storage so overwhelming that they do nothing.  Do something even if it is just a little.  Start with enough for several weeks.  Once you have reached that goal, build on it to a month’s storage and so on.

“Many more people could ride out the storm-tossed waves in their economic lives if they had their year’s supply of food … and were debt-free. Today we find that many have followed this counsel in reverse: they have at least a year’s supply of debt and are food-free.” (Thomas S. Monson, “That Noble Gift—Love at Home,” Church News, May 12, 2001, 7)

From the Bulletin:
"Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to “prepare every needful thing” so that, should adversity come, we may care for ourselves and our neighbors and support bishops as they care for others.

We encourage Church members worldwide to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings.

We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your savings. Do not go to extremes; it is not prudent, for example, to go into debt to establish your food storage all at once. With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve." - The First Presidency, All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage, Feb. 2007, 1.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 2-15-09

Priesthood Opening
1 Nephi 3:7
7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I awill go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no bcommandments unto the children of men, save he shall cprepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

Elders' Quorum
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith Chapter 27: Beware the Bitter Fruits of Apostasy 315–26
We may be tempted to think of what others are doing in apostasy, which is perhaps good to be aware of, but we should also be aware of things that we ourselves where our actions and ideas are not in tune with true doctrine.

The manual states, "Losing confidence in Church leaders, criticizing them, and neglecting any duty required by God lead to apostasy."
A couple of things to remember with this quote.
-Neglecting our duty can lead to apostasy. Selfishness breeds apostasy.
-Not criticizing our leaders doesn't mean we don't pray about what they tell us and gain our own testimony of what they say. Those who blindly follow are easily swayed this way and that. Those who pray and get a testimony are strong within themselves. They continue to build on their foundation and less easily swayed by ideas that come by that are not of God.
-Complaining in general tends to make a negative atmosphere and make us negative people. It chases away the spirit in any aspect of our life.

Putting our own knowledge about the Lord's also leads to apostasy.

Sunday School
Lesson 7: “The First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel” 35
Sinning is like writing with your eyes closed. You lose where you are at and you have trouble making sense of what you are doing and communicating.

"If we place any condition on our willingness to serve the Lord with all our hearts, we diminish our faith." ("Lord, Increase Our Faith", Elder John K. Carmack, Ensign March 2002)

Faith is trust. Faith is action. Hebrews 11:1 talks of the ability to follow through, even when we haven't seen everything.
1 Now afaith is the bsubstance of things choped for, the devidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 12:2
2 Looking unto Jesus the aauthor and bfinisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him cendured the cross, despising the dshame, and is set down at the right hand of the ethrone of God.

He authors our faith and then finishes it after we do our best.
2 Nephi 25:23
23 For we labor diligently to write, to apersuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by bgrace that we are saved, after all we can cdo.

D&C 58: 26
26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is acompelled in all things, the same is a bslothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

Don't look for the reward. Look for the next thing the Lord would require of us.

True repentance involves a change of heart and not just a change of behavior (see Alma 5:13)” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 71).

Sacrament Service
Missionary Work
The 40 day fast for missionary work was presented. This was for missionary efforts in our ward and in our lives. It was also for opening up missionary work where the work is currently not allowed to happen.

Charity
Moroni 7:47
47 But acharity is the pure blove of Christ, and it endureth cforever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

Matthew 22:36-39
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt alove the Lord thy God with all thy bheart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy cmind.
38 This is the first and great acommandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt alove thy neighbour as thyself.

Charitable Contributions
One speaker talked of paying tithing, helping the poor through a generous fast offering, and supporting the missionary effort throughout the world through donations to the missionary fund.

From the Bulletin
"Tithing is a principle that is fundamental to the personal happiness and well-being of the Church members worldwide, both rich and poor. Tithing is a principle of sacrifice and a key to the opening of the windows of heaven. In Primary I memorized the tithing poem, 'What is tithing ? I will tell you every time. Ten cents from a dollar, and a penny from a dime.' But I did not understand it fully until it was taught by Grandfather and President Henry D. Moyle.

The law of tithing is simple: we pay one-tenth of our individual increase annually. Increase has been interpreted by the First Presidency to mean income. What amounts to 10 percent of our individual income is between each of us and our Maker. There are no legalistic rules. As a convert in Korea once said: 'With tithing, it doesn't matter whether you are rich or poor. You pay 10 percent, and you don't have to be ashamed if you haven't earned very much. If you make lots of money, you pay 10 percent. If you make very little, you still pay 10 percent. Heavenly Father will love you for it. You can hold your head up proud.'

Some may feel that they cannot afford to pay tithing, but the Lord has promised that He would prepare a way for us to keep all of His commandments. To pay tithing takes a leap of faith in the beginning, but as Jesus said, 'If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine.' We learn about tithing by paying it. Indeed, I believe it is possible to break out of poverty by having the faith to give back to the Lord part of what little we have.

Members of the Church who do not tithe do not lose their membership, they only lose blessings. Through Malachi the Lord asks, 'Will a man rob God?...But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.' If we will trust in the Lord, He will open the windows of heaven to us as we give back to Him the one-tenth He asks of us.

The ultimate offering was that offered by the Savior Himself in giving His very life. It causes each of us to wonder, 'How many drop of blood were shed for me?' "(President James E. Faust, General Conference, 1998)

Sunday, February 08, 2009

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

Priesthood Opening
1 John 4:16-21
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that adwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he ais, so are we in this world.
18 There is no afear in blove; but perfect clove casteth out fear: because fear hath dtorment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We alove him, because he first loved us.
20 If a man say, I love God, and ahateth his bbrother, he is a cliar: for he that loveth not his dbrother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not eseen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who aloveth God love his brother also.

Elder's Quorum
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith
Chapter 26: Elijah and the Restoration of the Sealing Keys 306–14
Elijah appeared in the Kirtland temple restoring the sealing keys, fulfilling the prophecy of Malachi.

Malachi 4:5-6
5 ¶ Behold, I will asend you bElijah the prophet cbefore the coming of the dgreat and dreadful eday of the Lord:
6 And he shall aturn the bheart of the cfathers to the dchildren, and the heart of the echildren to their fathers, lest I come and fsmite the gearth with a hcurse.

Some refer to Matthew 17:10-13 as stating that Elijah has already returned.
10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?
11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, aElias truly shall first come, and brestore all things.
12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they alisted. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
Yet, in verse 11 Jesus states that he "shall first come" indicating a future event. He then follows with stating that John had come and was also a forerunner to the coming of Christ. There are things in Malachi's prophecy that John did not fulfill.

Just as John prepared the way of Christ during his first coming to earth, Elijah has come to prepare the way for his second coming.

Sunday School
Lesson 6: “I Will Tell You in Your Mind and in Your Heart, by the Holy Ghost” 29
The Holy Ghost is how we receive revelation. In order to receive revelation we have to prepare, ask,sincerely, listen, continue to ponder and research. Through research and pondering we may get an answer in something we read or in a stupor of thought or in a burning or warm feeling inside you or in someone we talk to. In some cases it can be as intense as a vision. Sometimes we don't get everything all at once. Sometimes he gives us a little piece to chew on and gives us more later. Are we living our lives in a way that we can hear the spirit? Are we ready act on and accept what God has given us?

In order to make sense of impressions write them down.

Sacrament Service
Someone spoke on reaching our full potential. President Gordon B. Hinckley stated, "Just do the best you can, but be sure it is your very best." (“A Challenging Time—a Wonderful Time” (An Evening with President Gordon B. Hinckley, Feb. 7, 2003), 5)

Someone spoke on justice and mercy.

The bishop stated that we often get casual in our thoughts, words, deeds, prayers, and scripture study. He counseled us to be more deliberate and diligent.

From the Bulletin
"Despite our uniqueness, we all have some things in common. We are all in the probationary test of mortality. And, wherever we live, that test will become increasingly difficult. We are in the last dispensation of time. God’s prophets have seen these times for millennia. They saw that wonderful things were to happen. There was to be a restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The true Church was to be brought back with prophets and apostles. The gospel was to be taken to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. Most marvelous of all, the true Church and its members were to become worthy for the coming of the Savior to His Church and to His purified disciples.

But the true prophets also saw that in the last days Satan would rage. There would be wars and rumors of wars, which would inspire fear. The courage of many would fail. There would be great wickedness. Satan would deceive many.

Yet, happily, many would not be overcome. And many would not be deceived." (Gifts of the Spirit for Hard Times, Elder Henry B. Eyring, Ensign June 2007)

Sunday, February 01, 2009

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 2-1-09

Priesthood Opening
John 7:18
17 If any man will ado his bwill, he shall cknow of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

Elders' Quorum
Home Teaching
Dropping by and having a brief conversation on the doorstep of the families you teach is good, but people will not open up to someone who just pops in on them briefly each month, so it makes it hard to know if there is anything they need your help with. You have to build a relationship of trust with them first.

A better way is to plan before you go visit. Pray, prepare a lesson, and think of things you can invite them to do (like studying some scriptures you have shared with them in your lesson).

At your next visit follow-up on those things you talked about last time and anything you may have invited them to do.

Sunday School
Lesson 5: “This Is the Spirit of Revelation” 24
Doctrine and Covenants 6, 8, 9
The Bible Dictionary states, "Without revelation, all would be guesswork, darkness, and confusion. "

Write down every impression you receive and see how involved the Lord is in your life. Perhaps we would recognize revelation more.

Doctrine and Covenants 9:8
8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must astudy it out in your bmind; then you must cask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your dbosom shall eburn within you; therefore, you shall ffeel that it is right.

By studying, making a decision, and asking God if it is right we learn. We learn in life how to make good decisions on our own, rather than having God do everything for us, much like we do with our own children.

Most of the revelations recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants were received when someone was pondering the scriptures.

Elder Boyd K. Packer said, “No message appears in scripture more times, in more ways than ‘Ask, and ye shall receive’ ” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, 26; or Ensign, Nov. 1991, 21).

From the Bulletin
  • Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together. (Vincent van Gogh 1853-1890)
  • By small and simple things, great things are brought to pass. (Alma 37:6, 7)
10 Husband -Wife Relationship Tips:
  1. Seek Help Early - Average couples wait six years before seeking help.
  2. Edit Yourself - Avoid saying every critical thought.
  3. Eliminate Demands. Make Gentle Requests - Humbly ask him/her, "Would you be willing to..."
  4. Soften "Start Up" - Bring up problems gently and without blame.
  5. Accept Influence - How well are you accepting sudden changes?
  6. Have High Standard - ...but have a level of tolerance for bad behavior.
  7. Repair and Exit Arguments - Happy couples know how to repair the situation before an argument gets completely out of control.
  8. The Bright Side - Say positive statements to and about each other in public and in private situations.
  9. Making Changes in the Other Person - Start with yourself. You cannot change anyone else.
  10. "Where love is, there is God also."