Sunday, March 27, 2011

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah March 3-27-2011

We got a new set of couple missionaries.  It was announced that we had acquired them.  I tried to make a play on the word acquire and the fact that we have been bombarded with March Madness.  So I chimed in and made a comment.  Not only has that joke been done to death over the years, but I entirely train wrecked it, to the point that it may have been offensive to the people we were trying to welcome.  I was preoccupied with and saddened by my statement the rest of the day.  It was very hard to overcome it and concentrate


Charity is often narrowly defined as giving stuff to the poor, but charity is an attitude.  A person with a charitable attitude is less likely to be offended.

We need to go from all the things that we do to be like Christ to doing what Christ would do in all things.

The Relief Society motto: “‘Charity Never Faileth’ stems from the first Relief Society meeting. The sisters were asked by the Prophet Joseph Smith to assist the brethren ‘in looking to the wants of the poor—searching after objects of charity, and in administering to their wants.’ The sisters took this call to heart and became a society devoted to seeking out the poor and needy. “(See Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 452.)

Home and visiting teaching should be charity.  Not in the sense of giving them money or food, but in giving them the love of Christ.


John 5:8-11,15-20, 37-39
 8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
 9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
 10 ¶ The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
 11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
--The guy who was healed gets lectured by the leaders for carrying his bed
 15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
 16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
 17 ¶ But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
 18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
 19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
 20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
 37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
 38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
 39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Joshua 1:8
 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Matthew 14:19-21
 19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
 20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
 21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
--Does the lord often gives us all the blessings were can handle and yet have baskets more that he wants to give us.

The savior gave thanks for the loaves and fishes before feeding the people.  We often get caught up in "blessing" the food that we fail to focus on giving thanks.

“I think also of that night when Christ rushed to the aid of His frightened disciples, walking as He did on the water to get to them, calling out, ‘It is I; be not afraid.’ Peter exclaimed, ‘Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.’ Christ's answer to him was as it always is every time: ‘Come,’ He said. Instantly, as was his nature, Peter sprang over the vessel's side and into the troubled waters. While his eyes were fixed upon the Lord, the wind could toss his hair and the spray could drench his robes, but all was well—he was coming to Christ. It was only when his faith wavered and fear took control, only when he removed his glance from the Master to look at the furious waves and the ominous black gulf beneath, only then did he begin to sink into the sea. In newer terror he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’
Undoubtedly with some sadness, the Master over every problem and fear, He who is the solution to every discouragement and disappointment, stretched out His hand and grasped the drowning disciple with the gentle rebuke, ’O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?’" (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Broken Things to Mend, General Conference April 2006)


“My brothers and sisters, we are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness—be they family members, friends, acquaintances, or strangers. We are the Lord’s hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us.” (Thomas S. Monson, “What Have I Done for Someone Today?Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2009, 86.)

Visiting teaching and home teaching is never done.  We are to strengthen always.

Mosiah 2:27
 27 Therefore, as I said unto you that I had served you, walking with a clear conscience before God, even so I at this time have caused that ye should assemble yourselves together, that I might be found blameless, and that your blood should not come upon me, when I shall stand to be judged of God of the things whereof he hath commanded me concerning you.

Jacob 1:19
 19 And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not cteach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day.

“Brethren, home teaching is not just another program. It is the priesthood way of watching over the Saints and accomplishing the mission of the Church. Home teaching is not just an assignment. It is a sacred calling.
Home teaching is not to be undertaken casually. A home teaching call is to be accepted as if extended to you personally by the Lord Jesus Christ.” (President Ezra Taft Beson, "To the Home Teachers of the Church," Ensign, May 1987, 48)


From the Bulletin

"'The teachers duty is to watch over the church always, and be with and strengthen them' (D&C20:53). This is the mandate of the Lord. I hop;that home teachers and visiting teachers will
experience two things; first, the challenge of the responsibility that is in their great calling, and second, the sweetness of results from their work, particularly with those among us who are less active. I hope that these teachers will get on their knees and pray for direction, and then go to work... If home and visiting teachers respond to this challenge, I honestly believe that they will taste the sweet and wonderful feeling which comes of being an instrument in the hands of the Lord..." President Gordon B. Hinckley, "Instruments of the Lord'', Ensign March 1997, 27-39.

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