Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 18 December 2022

Sacrament Meeting

First Speaker

A young man that recently returned from a mission to Brazil spoke to us.

Matthew 5:6-7

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Matthew 5:13

13 ¶ Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

“The word savor (s-a-v-o-r) denotes taste, pleasing flavor, interesting quality, and high repute.

“The salt in container A, which I am holding in my right hand, has savor. That is, it is clean, pure, uncontaminated, and useful. In this state or condition, salt will preserve, flavor, heal, and perform other useful functions.

“The salt in container B, however, is salt that has lost its savor. It has lost its savor because it has been mixed with things of bad taste. In fact, it has taken on some of the color and appearance of other substances.” (Elder Carlos E. Asay, “Salt of the Earth: Savor of Men and Saviors of Men”, April 1980 General Conference)

Next Speaker 

“Most of us clearly understand that the Atonement is for sinners. I am not so sure, however, that we know and understand that the Atonement is also for saints—for good men and women who are obedient and worthy and conscientious and who are striving to become better and serve more faithfully. I frankly do not think many of us “get it” concerning this enabling and strengthening aspect of the Atonement, and I wonder if we mistakenly believe we must make the journey from good to better and become a saint all by ourselves through sheer grit, willpower, and discipline, and with our obviously limited capacities.” (President David A Bednar (President of BYU Idaho, “In the Strength of the Lord”, BYU Devotional 23 October 2001)

Romans 14:17

17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

1 Corinthians 6:19

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

John 14:23-24

23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

2 Nephi 25:23 

23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.

Sunday School 

How do we put God first with all of our responsibilities?  Sweep and pray.  While we are doing our daily labors, pray.  Talk with God.

Zechariah 14:20-21

20 ¶ In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the Lord’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar.

21 Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts.

 

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 11 December 2022

Sacrament Meeting

First Speaker

Finding Joy in Christ section of For the Strength of Youth

“Choices matter. Choices based on gospel teachings are steps that lead you closer to your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Jesus said, ‘These things have I spoken unto you, … that your joy might be full’ (John 15:11). With each step toward Him, you will feel closer to the Spirit and your covenant relationship with God will become stronger.

“But that doesn’t mean the path will be problem free. And since no one walks a perfectly straight line, constantly check your direction and honor God’s commandments. Keep your covenants with God, and prepare to make more. Covenants connect you to Heavenly Father and the Savior. They increase God’s power in your life and prepare you to receive eternal life.

“Of all possible choices, the one that matters most is the choice to follow Jesus Christ. He is the strength of youth. His gospel is the joyful way back to your Heavenly Father.”

2 Nephi 2:24-25

24 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.

25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

Keeping the commandments is not hard.  What is hard is wanting to keep the commandments.

“And the conflict in the human mind is not between good and evil. The real conflict is between the truth and lies. Good and evil are just the result of that conflict. Believing in lies creates all of the injustice, all of the violence, abuse, and suffering, not only in society but also in the individual.” - Don Miguel Ruiz

Next Speaker

Can we see miracles everywhere we look?

Psalms 40:17

17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

Joel 2:32

32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.

Next Speaker

Life and wife have a tendency to slap us out of complacency.

The best gift we can give each other is the gift of hope.

Teacher Council

Teaching Doctrine 

John 7:15-17

15 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?

16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

Alma 31:5

5 And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.

 

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 4 December 2022

Sacrament Meeting

Mary and Joseph knew who their new born son was, but I wonder how much they understood about his mission at that time.  The following scriptures show that they knew who he was.

Luke 2

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

Luke 1

30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

Matthew 1

20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Scripture study changes our character and our testimony.

If we pay attention, we can see joy where we couldn’t see it before, especially in our trials.

As you sustain a teacher or speaker that is difficult for you, you will receive great knowledge and testimony.

We as humans sometimes dawdle and don’t make where we are going a priority, so we are late.  Do we sometimes dawdle in our ministering or in our family duties or in our testimony?

Sunday School

We discussed the books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah today.

Nahum preached to Nineveh a few generations after Jonah preached to that city. The people had fallen away. 

“Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings.” (Bible Dictionary, “Prayer”)

We must be cautious that we don't use people as property. Those that serve us in business and those in our congregations and those in our family. 

If you are thankful, you can't be covetous. That includes being thankful or happy for others that get something that you don't have.