“Do you realize that the restored Church was 98 years old before it had 100 stakes? But less than 30 years later, the Church had organized its second 100 stakes. And only eight years after that the Church had more than 300 stakes. Today we are more than 3,000 stakes strong.
“Why is this growth taking place at an accelerated rate? Is it because we are better known? Is it because we have lovely chapels?
“These things are important, but the reason the Church is growing today is that the Lord indicated it would. In the Doctrine and Covenants, He said, ‘Behold, I will hasten my work in its time.’
“We, as spirit children of our Heavenly Father, were sent to earth at this time that we might participate in hastening this great work.” (Thomas S Monson, Hastening the Work, June 2014 Ensign)
Sacrament Service - Ward Conference
One of the speakers referenced “Profile of a Prophet” by Hugh B Brown, Ensign June 2006
The wise men truly were wise. They studied and understood the signs of the Savior’s coming in their day. Thus they were able to act exactly on time.
Growth happens one testimony, one act of service at a time.
The Lord is sending more and more people to the boundaries of the Utah Ogden Mission for us to influence.
“There are three things all members can do to help share the gospel, regardless of the circumstances in which they live and work. All of us should do all of these.
“First, we can all pray for desire to help with this vital part of the work of salvation. All efforts begin with desire.
“Second, we can keep the commandments ourselves. Faithful, obedient members are the most persuasive witnesses of the truth and value of the restored gospel. Even more important, faithful members will always have the Savior’s Spirit to be with them to guide them as they seek to participate in the great work of sharing the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
“Third, we can pray for inspiration on what we can do in our individual circumstances to share the gospel with others. This is different than praying for the missionaries or praying for what others can do. We should pray for what we can do personally. When we pray, we should remember that prayers for this kind of inspiration will be answered if accompanied by a commitment—something the scriptures call “real intent” or “full purpose of heart.” Pray with a commitment to act upon the inspiration you receive, promising the Lord that if He will inspire you to speak to someone about the gospel, you will do it.” (Dallin H Oaks, Sharing the Restored Gospel, October 2016 General Conference)
Sunday School
Church history lesson 7
Faith - Bible Dictionary
Have you done anything yet today that required faith?
Doctrine and Covenants 8:10
10 Remember that without faith you can do nothing; therefore ask in faith. Trifle not with these things; do not ask for that which you ought not.
“...by faith one obtains a remission of sins and eventually can stand in the presence of God.“ (Faith - Bible Dictionary )
Doctrine and Covenants 128:21
21 And again, the voice of God in the chamber of old Father Whitmer, in Fayette, Seneca county, and at sundry times, and in divers places through all the travels and tribulations of this Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! And the voice of Michael, the archangel; the voice of Gabriel, and of Raphael, and of divers angels, from Michael or Adam down to the present time, all declaring their dispensation, their rights, their keys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the power of their priesthood; giving line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, and there a little; giving us consolation by holding forth that which is to come, confirming our hope!
Doctrine and Covenants 19:23
23 Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.
Alma 32:27
27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.
Dnc 27:16-17
16 Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, which I have sent mine angels to commit unto you;
17 Taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked;
Joint High Priest / Elders Quorum Meeting
Leviticus 26:2-6, 9
2 ¶ Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord.
3 ¶ If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;
4 Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
5 And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.
6 And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.
9 For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.
This scripture can be easily translated to our day. Even though it is in the Old Testament, it has not been done away with. The sabbath law is still fully in force.
We can not be true to the sabbath by mere observance. We must turn our heart to the Lord.
Throughout the week we can prepare for the sabbath.
Doctrine and Covenants 59:2
21 And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.
“In a recent regional training meeting for priesthood leaders, President Gordon B. Hinckley expressed concern that members of the Church may have a tendency to take on the ways of the world. He said: ‘We don’t adopt them immediately, but we slowly take them on, unfortunately. I wish I had the power to convert this whole Church to the observance of the Sabbath. I know our people would be more richly blessed of the Lord if they would walk in faithfulness in the observance of the Sabbath.’” (Elder Earl C. Tingey, “The Sabbath Day and Sunday Shopping”, April 1996 General Conference)
“I invite all of us to consider five ways to increase the impact and power of our regular participation in the sacred ordinance of the sacrament, an ordinance that can help us become holy.
Prepare in advance
Arrive Early
Sing and Learn from the Words of the Sacrament Hymn
Spiritually Participate in the Sacrament Prayers (See Moroni 4–5)
Ponder and Remember Him as the Sacrament Emblems Are Passed” (Elder Peter F. Meurs, “The Sacrament Can Help Us Become Holy”, October 2016 General Conference)
Mosiah 3:19
19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
While the sacrament is being passed, this is not the time for transmission of conversations.
“While of these emblems we partake
In Jesus' name and for his sake,
Let us remember and be sure
Our hearts and hands are clean and pure.” (Hymn 174, “While of The Emblems We Partake”)
“The ordinance of the sacrament is a holy and repeated invitation to repent sincerely and to be renewed spiritually. The act of partaking of the sacrament, in and of itself, does not remit sins. But as we prepare conscientiously and participate in this holy ordinance with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then the promise is that we may always have the Spirit of the Lord to be with us. And by the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost as our constant companion, we can always retain a remission of our sins.” (David A. Bednar, “Always Retain a Remission of Your Sins,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2016, 61–62.)
