Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 30 Dec 2018

Bulletin

“Nothing is more crucial to your eternal life than your own conversion.” - President Russell M Nelson

Sacrament Service 

First Speaker

We are part of our families, but we are also part of a bigger family.  The family of God.

1 Nephi 2:2-3

2 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even in a dream, that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness.

3 And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him.

Next Speaker

The new year is bad news and good news.  The good news is a clean slate.  The bad news is we are a year older and have less time to fix the things we need to work on.

“A second gift the Savior offers you is the ability to forgive. Through His infinite Atonement, you can forgive those who have hurt you and who may never accept responsibility for their cruelty to you.

“It is usually easy to forgive one who sincerely and humbly seeks your forgiveness. But the Savior will grant you the ability to forgive anyone who has mistreated you in any way. Then their hurtful acts can no longer canker your soul.” (President Russell M. Nelson, “Four Gifts That Jesus Christ Offers to You”, 2018 Christmas Devotional)

The speaker was an older brother and he said that we all have learning and improving to do, no matter our age.

Next Speaker

Moroni 7

40 And again, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you concerning hope. How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope?

Ether 12

4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.

We brought our preexisting condition of being spiritual beings and had added responsibility added onto us by gaining a body.

Job 38

7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Mosiah 4

1 And now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had made an end of speaking the words which had been delivered unto him by the angel of the Lord, that he cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and behold they had fallen to the earth, for the fear of the Lord had come upon them.

Ether 12:26-27

26 And when I had said this, the Lord spake unto me, saying: Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness;

27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

John 1

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

DnC 93

18 And it shall come to pass, that if you are faithful you shall receive the fulness of the record of John.

Repentance - change or growth that comes by confessing and forsaking.

Sunday School 

Why do Old Testament prophets give us so much on the second coming, rather than the first? 

Zechariah 12:2-3,8-9

2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.

3 ¶ And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

8 In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them.

9 ¶ And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Zechariah 14

8 And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.

Malachi 4:5-6

5 ¶ Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Dnc 110:13-16 - at the door was almost two centuries ago. If it was at the door then, where is it now? Inside the door? We see that the church block is being shortened by an hour and that time is being shifted to the home. Is that inside the door? 

13 After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said:

14 Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come—

15 To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse—

16 Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors.

Joint RS / Priesthood Meeting

People do not change completely by hearing or seeing. People don't change completely until it is in their heart. 

"’Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.

All the king's horses and all the king's men

Couldn't put Humpty Dumpty together again.’

“But the King could, and the King can, and the King will. If you've done something terribly wrong or made a mistake, He can put you back together again.” (Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone, Devotional at Ensign College February 23, 2000)

DnC 115:4

4 For thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

John 2

1 Nephi 8

The dark and dreary wilderness is what we make of it. Just like TV, music, the internet, the world, and so forth. 

Next Speaker

Doctrine and Covenants 88:6–10

6 He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth;

7 Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made.

8 As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made;

9 As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made;

10 And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand.

Our calendars should never be so packed that we don’t have time to show love to those around us.

Sunday School

Obedience

Why do we obey the commandments?

DnC 58:26

26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

1 Nephi 3:7

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

We received instruction on Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families.

Is it better to have others tell us about scripture study or do it ourselves?

3 Nephi 17:3

3 Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again.

Acts 17:11

11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Deut 6:6-7

6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Study the scripture on our own to be prepared to talk to our families or to participate in lessons or to use them in life.

“I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation, for the Lord has promised that ‘if thou shalt [seek], thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.’

“Oh, there is so much more that your Father in Heaven wants you to know.” (President Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives”, April 2018 General Conference)

“Obedience brings success; exact obedience brings miracles.” (Russell M. Nelson, in R. Scott Lloyd, “Elder Nelson Delivers Spiritual Thanksgiving Feast to MTCs,” Church News section of LDS.org, Dec. 4, 2013, news.lds.org.)

Elders Quorum

Resources available to aid study.

• Gospel Topics and Essays on the Church’s website and in the Gospel Library app.

• The Come, Follow Me manual.

• Guide to the Scriptures on the Church’s website and in the Gospel Library app.

• Kind of like the Bible Dictionary, but for all the scriptures and more expansive.

• Preach My Gospel

• General Conference archives on the Church’s website and in the Gospel Library app.

• Institute Manuals

• The Joseph Smith Papers.

• Books

• Website

• Scriptures.byu.edu

• A searchable database of all scripture references in all General Conference talks.

• Scripture footnotes

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 23 Dec 2018

Sacrament Service

Bulletin

Luke 2:7

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

First Speaker

Why Christmas?  Why Jesus Christ?

Christ dispels the darkness.  The darkness of ignorance.  The darkness of illness, sadness, and depression.

Next Speaker

The story of the soldiers in 1914 in WWI on Christmas Eve.

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 16 Dec 2018

Sacrament Service

First Speaker

Mark 5

25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

She positioned herself in an appropriate position to receive the blessing.  We should position ourselves in places where we can be blessed.

Next Speaker

A missionary that recently returned from the Washington Tacoma and Vancouver missions spoke to us.

“Hope is not knowledge, but rather the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promise to us.” (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Infinite Power of Hope”, October 2008 General Conference)

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 9 Dec 2018

Sacrament Service 

Bulletin

Dnc 135:3

3 Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!

First Speaker

“Obedience brings success; exact obedience brings miracles.” (Russell M. Nelson, in R. Scott Lloyd, “Elder Nelson Delivers Spiritual Thanksgiving Feast to MTCs,” Church News section of LDS.org, Dec. 4, 2013, news.lds.org.)

“No other success can compensate for failure in the home. The poorest shack in which love prevails over a united family is of greater value to God and future humanity than any other riches. In such a home God can work miracles and will work miracles.”

“These are some of the miracles that happen when families ‘talk of Christ’ in the home so ‘that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins’ (2 Nephi 25:26).

“This is what home-centered, Church-supported living will look like. We meet the challenges of life optimistically, as well as the successes and the miracles through the consistency of holy habits in the home—habits that are supported at Church. We work on these holy habits as beginners or fresh starters.” (Elder Taniela B. Wakolo, “Creating Christ-Centered Lives That Are Home-Centered and Church-Supported”, ph.churchofjesuschrist.org)

“Your practical challenge is to know whom to nurture, how, and when. You need the Lord’s help. He knows others’ hearts, and He knows when they are ready to accept your nurturing. Your prayer of faith will be your key to success. You can depend upon receiving His guidance.” (President Henry B. Eyring, “Women and Gospel Learning in the Home”, October 2018 General Conference)

“When the family gathers to read scriptures aloud, you will already have read them and prayed over them to prepare yourself. You will have found moments to pray for the Spirit to enlighten your mind. Then, when it is your turn to read, family members will feel your love for God and for His word. They will be nurtured by Him and by His Spirit … It may take effort and time, but it will bring miracles. …Each of you, equally yoked with sons of God, will be a major part of a miracle of gospel learning and living that will hasten the gathering of Israel and will prepare God’s family for the glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ” (President Henry B Eyring, “Women and Gospel Learning,” Ensign, Nov. 2018)

“Have I frightened you parents? I hope not. This emphasis on teaching, learning, and living at home is not meant to be an added burden for individuals and families. Quite the opposite, actually—we hope that by acknowledging and supporting your efforts at home, we can in some way lighten the burden you carry there.” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Making Your Life a Soul-Stirring Journey of Personal Growth”, Ensign December 2018)

“Even though the eternal roles of men and women differ, as we indicated to you a year ago, this leaves much to be done by way of parallel personal development—for both men and women. In this connection, I stress again the deep need each woman has to study the scriptures. We want our homes to be blessed with sister scriptorians—whether you are single or married, young or old, widowed or living in a family.

“Regardless of your particular circumstances, as you become more and more familiar with the truths of the scriptures, you will be more and more effective in keeping the second great commandment, to love your neighbor as yourself. Become scholars of the scriptures—not to put others down, but to lift them up! After all, who has any greater need to “treasure up” the truths of the gospel (on which they may call in their moments of need) than do women and mothers who do so much nurturing and teaching?” (President Spencer W. Kimball, “The Role of Righteous Women”, October 1979 General Conference)

“Years ago a friend of mine spoke of his grandmother. She had lived a full life, always faithful to the Lord and to His Church. Yet one of her grandsons chose a life of crime. He was finally sentenced to prison. My friend recalled that his grandmother, as she drove along a highway to visit her grandson in prison, had tears in her eyes as she prayed with anguish, ‘I’ve tried to live a good life. Why, why do I have this tragedy of a grandson who seems to have destroyed his life?’

The answer came to her mind in these words: ‘I gave him to you because I knew you could and would love him no matter what he did.’” (President Henry B. Eyring, “To My Grandchildren”, October 2013 General Conference)

Next Speaker

Mark 12

“From the open courts Jesus moved over toward the colonnaded treasury of the temple, and there He sat, seemingly absorbed in a revery of sorrow. Within that space were thirteen chests, each provided with a trumpet-shaped receptacle; and into these the people dropped their contributions for the several purposes indicated by inscriptions on the boxes. Looking up, Jesus observed the lines of donors, of all ranks and degrees of affluence and poverty, Some depositing their gifts with evident devoutness and sincerity of purpose, others ostentatiously casting in great sums of silver and gold, primarily to be seen of men. Among the many was a poor widow, who with probable effort to escape observation dropped into one of the treasure-chests two small bronze coins known as mites; her contribution amounted to less than half a cent in American money. The Lord called His disciples about Him, directed their attention to the poverty-stricken widow and her deed, and said: ‘Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.’ (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ (1916), 561.)

“The Lord’s hand is guiding you. By “divine design,” He is in the small details of your life as well as the major milestones. As it says in Proverbs, ‘Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; … and he shall direct thy paths.’” (Elder Ronald A. Rasband, “By Divine Design”, October 2017 General Conference)

“My dear young sisters, because of your knowledge of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, you are unique. Your knowledge will enable you to endure and overcome the difficulties of growing up. From a young age, you have participated in projects and programs that have developed your talents, such as writing, speaking, and planning. You have learned responsible behavior and how to resist temptations to lie, cheat, steal, or use alcohol or drugs.” (President Dallin H. Oaks. “Parents and Children”, October 2018 General Conference)

“We, your brethren, need your strength, your conversion, your conviction, your ability to lead, your wisdom, and your voices. The kingdom of God is not and cannot be complete without women who make sacred covenants and then keep them, women who can speak with the power and authority of God!” (President Russell M. Nelson, “A Plea to My Sisters)

“People wonder what we do for our women. I will tell you what we do. We get out of their way, and look with wonder at what they are accomplishing.” (President Gordon B Hinckley, National Press Club, Wednesday March 8, 2000)

Next Speaker

“Covenant-keeping women come in all sizes and shapes; their families, their life experiences, and their circumstances vary.” (Michelle D. Craig, “Divine Discontent”, October 2018 General Conference)

Sunday School 

Charity

Moroni 7

42 Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.

43 And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.

44 If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.

45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

1 Corinthians 13

Charity is the greatest of all virtues. 

2 Nephi 32

8 And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray, ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray.

9 But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.

2 Nephi 31:13

13 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.

DnC 121

45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.

Ether 12

Elders Quorum

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 2 Dec 2018

Sacrament Service 

Bulletin

Isaiah 9:6

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Sunday School 

Ezekiel 18,34,37

Jesus is the shepherd, but he is also the sheepfold. There is safety within his boundaries. 

Ezekiel 34:1-6

1 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?

3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.

4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.

5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.

6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.

Alma 34:28-29 

28 And now behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, do not suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need—I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith.

29 Therefore, if ye do not remember to be charitable, ye are as dross, which the refiners do cast out, (it being of no worth) and is trodden under foot of men.

Ezekiel 18:21-22, 29,31

21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.

29 Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?

30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

31 ¶ Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Alma 5:7,12-14

7 Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word; yea, they were encircled about by the bands of death, and the chains of hell, and an everlasting destruction did await them.

12 And according to his faith there was a mighty change wrought in his heart. Behold I say unto you that this is all true.

13 And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God. And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore they were saved.

14 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

Elders Quorum 

The basic prayer pattern. Address heavenly father. Thank him. Ask him. Close in the name of Christ. 

During the ask part of the prayer we should repent and forgive. 

Dnc 44:3

3 And it shall come to pass that they shall go forth into the regions round about, and preach repentance unto the people.

Are we repenting of everything we do wrong? 

Have we forgiven everyone or are we holding grudges? 

First Presidency Christmas Devotional

Sister Sharon Eubank, “Silent Night, Love’s Pure Light”

“They were simply teaching little children how to sing and how to understand the gospel. What could be more mundane? Except it wasn’t.”

“Because of the birth, the Atonement, and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we can all ‘sleep in heavenly peace.’”

Elder Terence M Vinson, “A Gift from Father: Accepted or Rejected”

“During a time in which Joseph Smith could have been consumed with anger, having been innocently incarcerated in Liberty Jail for months over the Christmas of 1838, the Lord revealed section 121 of the Doctrine and Covenants. In this revelation the Lord helps Joseph to overcome the feelings of frustration evident at the start of this section and teaches the Prophet that kindness, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, and love unfeigned are Christlike qualities that are essential for discipleship.”

“… The irony of the Atonement is that it is infinite and eternal, yet it is applied individually, one person at a time. …

“Brothers and sisters, never, never underestimate how precious is the one.” (M. Russell Ballard, “The Atonement and the Value of One Soul,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 86–87.)

“If you think you are too small to make a difference, then you’ve never spent a night with a mosquito.”

Elder Gary E Stevenson, “Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room”

“The scriptures are replete with descriptions that can help us evaluate the condition of our heart. Some verses include words like “pure,” “meek,” “lowly,” “broken,” and “contrite.” These words, and many others throughout scripture, give us insight into the Savior’s heart. In order to receive Him into our hearts, surely our hearts must be pure and humble like His.”

President Russell M Nelson, “Four Gifts That Jesus Christ Offers to You”

“Simply stated, true followers of Jesus Christ have the privilege of experiencing unspeakable joy forever.”

“Desire is important in this season of gift giving, when we are particularly mindful of the desires of those whom we love. During this season, I invite you to consider your own desires. What are your deepest desires? What do you really want to experience and accomplish in this life? Do you really want to become more and more like Jesus Christ? Do you really want to live with Heavenly Father and with your family forever and live as He lives?”

“First, He gave you and me an unlimited capacity to love. That includes the capacity to love the unlovable and those who not only do not love you but presently persecute and despitefully use you.”

“A second gift the Savior offers you is the ability to forgive. Through His infinite Atonement, you can forgive those who have hurt you and who may never accept responsibility for their cruelty to you.

“It is usually easy to forgive one who sincerely and humbly seeks your forgiveness. But the Savior will grant you the ability to forgive anyone who has mistreated you in any way. Then their hurtful acts can no longer canker your soul.”

“A third gift from the Savior is that of repentance. This gift is not always well understood.”

“True repentance is not an event. It is a never-ending privilege. It is fundamental to progression and having peace of mind, comfort, and joy.”

“A fourth gift from our Savior is actually a promise—a promise of life everlasting. This does not mean simply living for a really, really, really long time. Everyone will live forever after death, regardless of the kingdom or glory for which they may qualify. Everyone will be resurrected and experience immortality. But eternal life is so much more than a designation of time. Eternal life is the kind and quality of life that Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son live.”

“With our thoughts and feelings so focused on the Savior of the world, what, then, do we need to do to receive these gifts offered to us so willingly by Jesus Christ? What is the key to loving as He loves, forgiving as He forgives, repenting to become more like Him, and ultimately living with Him and our Heavenly Father?”