Sunday March 2, 2008 - Sunday Services Cumberland Ward

Sunday School
Book of Mormon Lesson 8
“O How Great the Goodness of Our God”
2 Nephi 9 and 10
Jacob is the one now writing.

It was expressed by a class member that the atonement is a natural law just like gravity.

Another expressed that everything that comes before us is a choice and that if we do not look at it that way then we may be wasting our probation. We need to learn to make correct choices. Many more things than we think about is a choice that matters. Perhaps not the choice itself, but maybe the process of considering the choice. 2 Nephi 9:27 - "But wo unto him that has the law given, yea, that has all the commandments of God, like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation, for awful is his state!" also talks about wasting our probation."

2 Nephi 9:5-7 -

" 5 Yea, I know that ye know that in the body he shall show himself unto those at Jerusalem, from whence we came; for it is expedient that it should be among them; for it behooveth the great Creator that he suffereth himself to become subject unto man in the flesh, and die for all men, that all men might become subject unto him.

6 For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfil the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection, and the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the fall; and the fall came by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen they were cut off from the presence of the Lord.

7 Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement—save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration. And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more."

No matter how they lived their life everyone will be resurrected because of the atonement. Many look at death as a horrible, permanent separation from our loved ones.

Death is physical death. Hell is spiritual death or the separation from God permanently.

Priesthood
Cleanliness
If we are not clean it makes us ill. It can draw bugs. Bugs lay eggs and they can be transmitted on people. Those bugs can be then transferred to other people's homes or the church.

It was talked about that uncleanliness can impede the spirit. It can also take up time trying to deal with the clutter that many times accompanies or causes uncleanliness.

At the end of class the missionaries followed up on the message they gave a few weeks ago on doing missionary work.

Doctrine and Covenants 11: 3-4, 27 -

3 Behold, the field is white already to harvest; therefore, whoso desireth to reap let him thrust in his sickle with his might, and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God.

4 Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God.

27 Behold, I speak unto all who have good desires, and have thrust in their sickle to reap.

Rev. 14: 6 - "And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe."

Saturday March 31, 2007 - Priesthood Session of General Conference

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin - Apostle (Text)
Life's Lessons Learned
Early like experiences made him who he is. Without them he would've been a different person. They shaped his character.

Act with honor and never take your eye off the ball.
"Priesthood means service; bearing the priesthood, I will serve."

Elder Robert D. Hales - Apostle (Text)
To the Aaronic Priesthood: Preparing for the Decade of Decision
His chose not to prepare on the flight simulator and died in a fighter crash. The copilot had prepared and parachuted to safety. "For behold, this ^alife is the time for men to ^bprepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of ^cthis life is the day for men to perform their ^dlabors." (Alma 34: 32)

What type of friends do you want? Are you that type of friend? What type of spouse do you want? Are you that type of person?

Our 20s are the decade of decision.

Bishop Keith B. McMullin - 2nd Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric (Text)
Lay Up in Store
"if ye are prepared ye shall not fear." (D&C 38:30)

Bishop McMullin quoted Paul and then each of the first presidency:

"A cardinal principle of the gospel is to prepare for the day of scarcity. Work, industry, frugality are part of the royal order of life. Remember these words from Paul: "If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."¹³

"Seated before us are the three presiding high priests who constitute the First Presidency of the Church.

"From President James E. Faust, Second Counselor, we hear: "Every father and mother are the family's storekeepers. They should store whatever their own family would like to have in the case of an emergency . . . [and] God will sustain us through our trials."¹⁴

"From President Thomas S. Monson, First Counselor, we hear: "Many more people could ride out the storm-tossed waves in their economic lives if they had their year's supply of food . . . and were debt-free. Today we find that many have followed this counsel in reverse: they have at least a year's supply of debt and are food-free."¹⁵

"From President Gordon B. Hinckley, the Lord's prophet, we hear:

""The best place to have some food set aside is within our homes. . . .

""We can begin ever so modestly. We can begin with a one week's food supply and gradually build it to a month, and then to three months. . . . I fear that so many feel that a long-term food supply is so far beyond their reach that they make no effort at all.

""Begin in a small way, . . . and gradually build toward a reasonable objective."^16"

President James E. Faust - 2nd Counselor to the prophet (Text)
Message to My Grandsons
"Priesthood is the authority delegated to man to minister in the name of God. It is a power that no one can assume on his own initiative. As Paul said, "No man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." (Hebrews 5:4.) It is an authority beyond all human power to create."

"All you young men who hold the priesthood have the duty to respect womanhood. As you date the lovely young women of the Church, you have a duty to protect their physical safety and virtue. "

President Thomas S. Monson - 1st Counselor to the prophet (Text)
The Priesthood—a Sacred Gift
"My brethren, the priesthood is a gift which brings with it not only special blessings but also solemn responsibilities. It is our responsibility to conduct our lives so that we are ever worthy of the priesthood we bear. We live in a time when we are surrounded by much that is intended to entice us into paths which may lead to our destruction. To avoid such paths requires determination and courage."

President Gordon B. Hinckley - Prophet (Text)
"I Am Clean"
"I regret that I am so old at a time when life is increasingly exciting."

He recounted statistics of things that have happened since he was called as a general authority.

"In a world that wallows in filth, be clean—in language, in thought, in body, in dress.

"To each of you I say, be clean in your language. There is so much of filthy, sleazy talk these days"