A member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, who was baptized in our stake building 40 years ago, and her husband spoke to us. In Indiana we didn't ever run into any members of The Choir.
First Speaker
She quoted Mosiah 5:15, which I think she said it the youth's theme for the year.
15 Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in agood works, that Christ, the bLord God Omnipotent, may cseal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who dcreated all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen.
She said that before she moved to Utah she hadn't heard of Mormons, but once she did she envisioned the Amish. Which maybe be do to our pioneer history.
She shared stories about Mormon kids being rude to her when she moved to Utah and when they found out that she wasn't a member of the Church. It reminded me a bit of the story my dad often tells about coming to Utah as a kid and visiting Mormon relatives when he was Catholic.
The speaker expressed to the youth that she couldn't share much with them because the youth of the Church already know the standards of the Church. She said they know because they have been taught and when they don't live the standards they can feel it.
She shared a story about missing several flights on one trip due to many many problems. They, after much frustration, finally ended up in a terminal waiting for the flight that eventually went through for them. Behind them they could hear a man going on to another man about negatives things that he "knew" about the Mormons. They realized that after everything that had happened to them, they ended up exactly where they needed to be. Her husband stood up and walked over to them. He let them both know that he was a bishop and he assured them that he would answer any questions about the Church that they might have and that if they wanted to know if any principle of the Church was true that their Heavenly Father would tell them if they prayed and asked Him.
Second Speaker
He talked of someone that came up to him when he was in a restaurant between meetings when he was away on business. The guy asked if he could sit with him. He then asked if he was a Mormon. He told the guy that he was. The man then said, "Well you aren't a question then are you?" He then asked the man what a Christian was. The man listed off several things that he felt Christians believed. He confirmed to the man that he believed most of that as well. The man then said that Christians believed that they are saved by grace. He told the man that we also believed in grace, but that we also had obey God and follow the Savior.
He shared another story with us about how he was in Paris on September 11, 2001 when the planes crashed into the World Trade Center. He said that those outside the United States had no idea the extent of what was going on here. He didn't know what he would find when he got home.
He talked of protecting ourselves from temptations. He said that even at his age he is tempted dozens of times a day to do something wicked. He says that sometimes he says "no" verbally and sometimes just to his own mind. He said no matter who you are you must determine to always say no to wickedness, because Satan is actively seeking to destroy us and the more we say no the easier it gets. When we do not say no it is harder to say no the next time.
Stake President
He talked of texting on cell phones during church. He stated that it is rude and inappropriate to do it in Sacrament Meeting or Sunday School or any Church meeting. He said that there are missionaries that are being sent home because they can't stand to be out of contact with their friends by texting. They don't focus on the work and they are being consumed by texting.
He talked about MP3 players. He said that we should be careful not to always have ear phones on. He said that it locks you out of the rest of the world and is rude. He also counseled to be cautious of what we put on those MP3 players.
He talked of pornography being a real problem. He called it the plague of the 21st century. He said that pornography is more addictive than cocaine. He said that drugs eventually leave your body, but those pictures can be drawn up by your mind at any time.
Showing posts with label Christians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christians. Show all posts
Monday, September 15, 2008
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Sunday April 1, 2007 - Afternoon Session of General Conference
The Message of the Restoration
The restoration of the gospel cleared up many misconceptions and points of contention among religious sects. One of them being the nature of God. When God and Jesus appeared to Joseph Smith this event revealed that God the Father and Jesus Christ were two separate beings and they each had "a body of flesh and bones that is glorified and perfected".
Elder Perry quoted from the Doctrine and Covenants about the bring forth of the Book of Mormon, "Proving to the world that the holy scriptures are true, and that God does inspire men and call them to his holy work in this age and generation, as well as in generations of old" (D&C 20:7–11).
The restoration of the gospel cleared up many misconceptions and points of contention among religious sects. One of them being the nature of God. When God and Jesus appeared to Joseph Smith this event revealed that God the Father and Jesus Christ were two separate beings and they each had "a body of flesh and bones that is glorified and perfected".
Elder Perry quoted from the Doctrine and Covenants about the bring forth of the Book of Mormon, "Proving to the world that the holy scriptures are true, and that God does inspire men and call them to his holy work in this age and generation, as well as in generations of old" (D&C 20:7–11).
Someday means not today. "Someday I will repent." "Someday I will forgive him." "Someday I will speak to my friend about the Church." "Someday I will start to pay tithing." "Someday I will return to the temple." "Someday. . . . "
He talked of the purpose of creation was for us to prove ourselves. When we lived with God before we were born we chose to come here. "Hard as we knew the test would be, we felt joy because we had confidence that we could pass it. Our confidence came from knowing that Jesus Christ would come into the world as our Savior. He would overcome death. He would make it possible for us to be cleansed of our sins by qualifying for the effects of His Atonement."
He talked of the purpose of creation was for us to prove ourselves. When we lived with God before we were born we chose to come here. "Hard as we knew the test would be, we felt joy because we had confidence that we could pass it. Our confidence came from knowing that Jesus Christ would come into the world as our Savior. He would overcome death. He would make it possible for us to be cleansed of our sins by qualifying for the effects of His Atonement."
Elder Gary J. Coleman - Seventy (Audio, Text)
"Mom, Are We Christians?"
He starts off his talk with the story of a girl that is scoffed at in school by those claiming that Latter-day Saints are not Christians.
Elder Coleman did not get into this in his talk, but I get to thinking about this every so often. So many lash out at the Church and most time at the members of the Church because some leader in the their church has told them that we are not Christians. It is interesting how they pick and choose who they label. Within protestantism there are churches that believe that God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost are the same person. There are other protestant churches that believe that they are individuals with a single purpose. One of these doctrines would have to be non biblical, yet I rarely hear protestants calling other protestants or protestant churches out as being a cult or nonChristian. On the other hand, I have heard it frequently from others that I am not a Christian. Not because my actions don't represent what a follower of Christ would do, but because I am a Latter-day Saint.
The definition of a Christian has become so blurred that I sometimes wonder if that is even a title that I should try to claim. Does Christian mean follower of Christ or does it just mean someone that only uses parts of the New and Old Testaments in their sermons?
"Mom, Are We Christians?"
He starts off his talk with the story of a girl that is scoffed at in school by those claiming that Latter-day Saints are not Christians.
Elder Coleman did not get into this in his talk, but I get to thinking about this every so often. So many lash out at the Church and most time at the members of the Church because some leader in the their church has told them that we are not Christians. It is interesting how they pick and choose who they label. Within protestantism there are churches that believe that God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost are the same person. There are other protestant churches that believe that they are individuals with a single purpose. One of these doctrines would have to be non biblical, yet I rarely hear protestants calling other protestants or protestant churches out as being a cult or nonChristian. On the other hand, I have heard it frequently from others that I am not a Christian. Not because my actions don't represent what a follower of Christ would do, but because I am a Latter-day Saint.
The definition of a Christian has become so blurred that I sometimes wonder if that is even a title that I should try to claim. Does Christian mean follower of Christ or does it just mean someone that only uses parts of the New and Old Testaments in their sermons?
Who's on the Lord's side?
He quoted the words of a young pioneer which is now part of one of our hymns:
Who's on the Lord's side? Who?
Now is the time to show.
We ask it fearlessly:
Who's on the Lord's side? Who?
("Who’s on the Lord's Side?" Hymns, no. 260)
He talked of David fighting Goliath and his response contrasted with the other young men of Israel. "Their response to the question "Who's on the Lord side?" was not "I am!" but rather "Who me?""
He also gave some good thoughts on resisting temptations and becoming stronger people.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf - Apostle (Audio, Text)
Point of Safe Return
Elder Uchtdorf often pulls from his experience as a pilot to relate that to the gospel. He did so again this time. He talked of how in piloting there is a point of safe return sometimes referred to as the point of no return. Before this point you have enough fuel to return safely to where you started. He said that Satan tries to convince us that we are pasted the point of safe return. He does this in our individual lives, our marriages, our families, and in our sorrows.
Closing Remarks
He summarized the conference and dismissed everyone. He cautioned everyone to be safe when leaving the conference. He counseled that we should use the May Ensign magazine, which will contain this weekends proceedings, in our family home evening to teach our families. He closed with telling wife's and husbands to be decent and supportive of each other and to their children.
He quoted the words of a young pioneer which is now part of one of our hymns:
Who's on the Lord's side? Who?
Now is the time to show.
We ask it fearlessly:
Who's on the Lord's side? Who?
("Who’s on the Lord's Side?" Hymns, no. 260)
He talked of David fighting Goliath and his response contrasted with the other young men of Israel. "Their response to the question "Who's on the Lord side?" was not "I am!" but rather "Who me?""
He also gave some good thoughts on resisting temptations and becoming stronger people.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf - Apostle (Audio, Text)
Point of Safe Return
Elder Uchtdorf often pulls from his experience as a pilot to relate that to the gospel. He did so again this time. He talked of how in piloting there is a point of safe return sometimes referred to as the point of no return. Before this point you have enough fuel to return safely to where you started. He said that Satan tries to convince us that we are pasted the point of safe return. He does this in our individual lives, our marriages, our families, and in our sorrows.
Repentance and Conversion
His talk seemed to build on the points Elder Uchtdorf made on there being hope. Elder Nelson went on to describe the steps of repentance and the urgency of doing so.
His talk seemed to build on the points Elder Uchtdorf made on there being hope. Elder Nelson went on to describe the steps of repentance and the urgency of doing so.
He summarized the conference and dismissed everyone. He cautioned everyone to be safe when leaving the conference. He counseled that we should use the May Ensign magazine, which will contain this weekends proceedings, in our family home evening to teach our families. He closed with telling wife's and husbands to be decent and supportive of each other and to their children.
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