Sacrament Service
First Speaker
Eph 6:10-12
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
This life is about opposition and we must use all of our might, mind, and strength to succeed.
Next Speaker
The purpose of life is to grow.
The use of our agency will determine where and how we live through eternity.
“Mortality is a master class in learning to choose the things of greatest eternal import. Far too many people live as though this life is all there is. However, your choices today will determine three things: where you will live throughout all eternity, the kind of body with which you will be resurrected, and those with whom you will live forever.” (President Russell M. Nelson, “Think Celestial!”, October 2023 General Conference)
Abraham 3
25 And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;
26 And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.
27 And the Lord said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here am I, send me. And another answered and said: Here am I, send me. And the Lord said: I will send the first.
28 And the second was angry, and kept not his first estate; and, at that day, many followed after him.
Don't decrease your load, increase your capacity
“My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation. … Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly.” (President Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 96; emphasis added.)
“Sadly, my friend went too far along the snowy road. As he steered the truck off of the road at the place he had determined to cut wood, he got stuck. All four of the wheels on the new truck spun in the snow. He readily recognized that he did not know what to do to extricate himself from this dangerous situation. He was embarrassed and worried.
“My friend decided, ‘Well, I will not just sit here.’ He climbed out of the vehicle and started cutting wood. He completely filled the back of the truck with the heavy load. And then my friend determined he would try driving out of the snow one more time. As he put the pickup into gear and applied power, he started to inch forward. Slowly the truck moved out of the snow and back onto the road. He finally was free to go home, a happy and humbled man.”
...
“load. It was the load of wood that provided the traction necessary for him to get out of the snow, to get back on the road, and to move forward. It was the load that enabled him to return to his family and his home.
“Each of us also carries a load. Our individual load is comprised of demands and opportunities, obligations and privileges, afflictions and blessings, and options and constraints. Two guiding questions can be helpful as we periodically and prayerfully assess our load: ‘Is the load I am carrying producing the spiritual traction that will enable me to press forward with faith in Christ on the strait and narrow path and avoid getting stuck? Is the load I am carrying creating sufficient spiritual traction so I ultimately can return home to Heavenly Father?’”
“[In Mosiah 24:15,] The challenges and difficulties were not immediately removed from the people. But Alma and his followers were strengthened, and their increased capacity made the burdens lighter.” (Elder David A. Bednar, “Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease”, April 2014 General Conference)
Effort is what grows our self worth.
Beware of self fulfilling prophecies of doom.
Satan wants to take away our ability to choose and our ability to grow.
“When used in a manner consistent with moral truths, agency looks like a blessing, while agency used in a manner that rejects moral truths looks like a curse” (Elder D. Todd Christofferson, BYU commencement exercises held in the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, April 27, 2023.)
“While I was serving as the president of Brigham Young University–Idaho, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland came to the campus in December 1998 to speak in one of our weekly devotionals. Susan and I invited a group of students to meet and visit with Elder Holland before he delivered his message. As our time together was drawing to a close, I asked Elder Holland, ‘If you could teach these students just one thing, what would it be?’
“He answered:
“‘We are witnessing an ever greater movement toward polarity. The middle-ground options will be removed from us as Latter-day Saints. The middle of the road will be withdrawn.
“‘If you are treading water in the current of a river, you will go somewhere. You simply will go wherever the current takes you. Going with the stream, following the tide, drifting in the current will not do.
“‘Choices have to be made. Not making a choice is a choice. Learn to choose now.’” (Elder David A. Bednar, “We Will Prove Them Herewith”, October 2020 General Conference)
“It would be easy for Heavenly Father to simply give you all that He has. His desire is to help you become all that He is. Thus, your commitments demand more of you because that is how God is making more of you.” (Bradley R. Wilcox, “O Youth of the Noble Birthright”, October 2024 General Conference)
“Now is the time for us to make our discipleship our highest priority.” (President Russell M. Nelson, “The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again”, October 2024 General Conference)
Elders Quorum
Lesson was based on talks from the October 2024 General Conference:
Dale G. Renlund “This Is My Gospel”—“This Is My Church” and L. Todd Budge - Seek Him with All Your Heart
I was sick today and was not in class.
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