Sunday, July 17, 2011

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah July 7-17-2011

Elders Quorum/High Priest Group
Eternal Marriage
Doctrine and Covenants 131:1-3
1 In the celestial glory there are three  heavens or degrees;
2 And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage];
3 And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.

Just like with baptism, one must be married by one with the authority to do so or it does not continue after this life.

Doctrine and Covenants 132
26 Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man marry a wife according to my word, and they are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, according to mine appointment, and he or she shall commit any sin or transgression of the new and everlasting covenant whatever, and all manner of blasphemies, and if they commit no murder wherein they shed innocent blood, yet they shall come forth in the first resurrection, and enter into their exaltation; but they shall be destroyed in the flesh, and shall be delivered unto the buffetings of Satan unto the day of redemption, saith the Lord God.

The highest blessings of the celestial kingdom come only to those who are married and they both qualify for that kingdom.

Marriage is a serious and sacred thing and it should be worked hard on to get it and to keep it.

By serving and blessing others, we serve and bless ourselves.

Sunday School
1 Corinthians 15:4-6
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

Cephus is Peter and he was appeared to first because he was either the head of the church and prophet or head of the 12 apostles.  Did he appear to Peter and then the 12 apostles or did he appear to people and the rest of the 12?  Was the 12 just called that because it is the group of apostles that should be 12 or were there actually 12 at that time?

As the savior walks with the apostles on the road, he allowed them to grow and process everything while reasoning it out and feeling the spirit on their own.

Luke 24:39-43
39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43 And he took it, and did eat before them.

The Lord eats after being resurrected.  People touched the savior.  He said that he was of flesh and bone.  Resurrected beings are tangible, made of flesh and bones, and can eat.

We see Thomas doubting, but we don't know the reaction of the other apostles who hadn't seen him.

Jesus keeps appearing and leaving until the apostles start to get it.

Sacrament Service
Missionary that recently returned from the Korea Seoul mission spoke to us.

My daughter told me that the returned missionary's brother was in her seminary class and the returned missionary came and spoke to her seminary class as well.
“To the man or woman who goes through the temple, with open eyes, heeding the symbols and the covenants, and making a steady, continuous effort to understand the full meaning, God speaks His word, and revelations come. The endowment is so richly symbolic that only a fool would attempt to describe it; it is so packed full of revelations to those who exercise their strength to seek and see, that no human words can explain or make clear the possibilities that reside in temple service. The endowment which was given by revelation can best be understood by revelation; and to those who seek most vigorously, with pure hearts, will the revelation be greatest.” (John A. Widtsoe, “Symbolism in the Temples,” 168)

From the Bulletin:
"We face many challenges in the world today, but I assure you that our Heavenly Father is mindful of us. He loves each of us and will bless us as we seek Him through prayer and strive to keep His commandments." President Thomas S. Monson, At Parting, General Conference, April 2011.

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