Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 3-29-09

Combined Priesthood/Relief Society Meeting

Become more deliberate in your life. Become men and women of God. Intertwine the two together

Unity-Being one.

What's the difference between 211° 212°?

• 1°.
• 211 is hot-water.
• 212 is boiling water.
• 211 cooks an egg.
• 212 moves a train.
• If you are off the mark by 1° it can make a big difference. On a course that is wrong by 1° can get you lost or crash a plane.

The bishop handed out three booklets:

• Providing in the Lord's Way: A Leader's Guide
• All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage
• All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Finances

Sunday School
Lesson 12: “The Gathering of My People” 63
The gathering of Israel started with the restoration and sending forth of missionaries.

Spiritual gathering-missionary work. Someone proposed the sealing ordinance was part of the spiritual gathering.

Physical gathering-setting up stakes of Zion. Someone proposed the setting up of Israel as a nation was also part of the physical gathering. I have thought of that as part of the physical gathering also, but maybe that is a red herring.

When people come together there is strength in numbers. Be unified in spirit, but also physically.

Members of the church have to be a people people. They need to be those who reach out. Today we have all the entertainment in our homes, so perhaps there is more of a tendency to draw within ourselves.

April 3, 1836-the keys of the gathering of Israel is restored by Moses.

Doctrine and Covenants 38:27
27 Behold, this I have given unto you as a parable, and it is even as I am. I say unto you, be ^aone; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.

We can't get through life successfully on our own.

From the Bulletin
Can I get to where I want to go spiritually, intellectually, physically sitting right where I am?

In the process of "becoming" as our Savior is, we must INTENTIONALLY and DAILY evaluate where we are and DO what it takes to get to where we want to be. (Please re-read that.) That is the CRITICAL PIECE of faith that so many people miss.

Unless we study what and where our targets are and make necessary course corrections along the way, we may be off by a degree... and miss our desired short-term and eternal goals. God is very ordered and very deliberate in what He does. If we wish eventually to be where He is and do what He does, we must exert our best efforts to do similarly here... in our probation, or in our "test drive." There is no other time in the eternities designated for this. The time is NOW.

Specific plans of action must be set, acted upon, reviewed, evaluated, adjusted, acted upon again and again. Truly, BECOMING as they are will not happen without focused intentions, purpose, action, evaluation, adjusting, more action, repentance and so forth.(The bishop)

"There is a danger in the word someday when what it means is 'not this day.' '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 …'

The scriptures make the danger of delay clear. It is that we may discover that we have run out of time. The God who gives us each day as a treasure will require an accounting. We will weep, and He will weep, if we have intended to repent and to serve Him in tomorrows which never came or have dreamt of yesterdays where the opportunity to act was past. This day is a precious gift of God. The thought “Someday I will” can be a thief of the opportunities of time and the blessings of eternity."(This Day, Henry B. Eyring, General Conference April 2007)

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 2-22-09

Priesthood Opening
Mosiah 2:16
16 Behold, I say unto you that because I said unto you that I had spent my days in your service, I do not desire to boast, for I have only been in the service of God.

The bishop expressed that you cannot be offended by another person. No one can offend you. No one can "make" you mad. You have your choice. You have control over your own emotions and reactions.

The bishop asked us to pray for Godly love for our families that we home teach.

Elders' Quorum
The lesson was based on a talk by President Henry B. Eyring "Our Hearts Knit as One" from last conference.

Unity increases family strength, congregational strength, and community strength.

People struggle to figure out social issues that the gospel already explains to us.

What would it be like to try to find a church that fits us every time we move or visit somewhere? Do we like the preacher? Do they teach what I believe?

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we have family no matter where we go. The members of the church there will be teaching the same doctrine and have for the most part similar ideas on social issues.

We have been taught processes to help those in need (job loss, house fire, natural disaster) mostly by just being taught to serve one another and seeing how that is done by those around us in the Church. Our people know how to organize in a disaster situation. We have an organization, a priesthood chain (home teachers, elders' quorum president, bishop, stake president) and a strong women's organization (the relief society).

Elder Eyring shared this, "A second principle to guide our progress to become one is to be humble. Pride is the great enemy of unity. You have seen and felt its terrible effects. Just days ago I watched as two people—good people—began with a mild disagreement. It started as a discussion of what was true but became a contest about who was right. Voices become gradually louder. Faces became a little more flushed. Instead of talking about the issue, people began talking about themselves, giving evidence why their view, given their great ability and background, was more likely to be right."

Sunday School
Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Lesson 8: The Restoration of the Priesthood 41
Keys unlock things whether it is a code like on a map or a puzzle or something that is encrypted whether it is something that has a physical that you have to remove to open a door or that must be unlocked to engaged the power of a vehicle.

Priesthood keys unlock the mysteries and powers of heaven.

Joseph and Oliver were reading about baptism and had questions. They went and prayed for answers. As a result of that John the baptist came to them and gave them the Aaronic Priesthood.
D&C 13: 1
1 Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I ^aconfer the ^bPriesthood of Aaron, which holds the ^ckeys of the ministering of ^dangels, and of the gospel of ^erepentance, and of ^fbaptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of ^gLevi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in ^hrighteousness.

Sacrament Service
Prepare for the second coming temporally and spiritually.  Temporally for disasters that will come before.  Spiritually that we may not be shaken by the temporal things to come.  Spiritually that we may be able to assist in his work before and also after he arrives.

Doctrine and Covenants 29:34
  34 Wherefore, verily I say unto you that all things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a ^alaw which was ^btemporal; neither any man, nor the children of men; neither Adam, your father, whom I created.

Even our work is spiritual, even though it is necessary for temporal needs.  We should approach everything we do spiritually.  We should also choose an honorable career and jobs within that career that honor our spirits.

Preparations

• Education
• Live Within Our Income
• Save Some Money, Food, and Water for Times of Trial
• Avoid Unnecessary Debt

“We have a great welfare program with facilities for such things as grain storage in various areas. It is important that we do this. But the best place to have some food set aside is within our homes, together with a little money in savings. The best welfare program is our own welfare program. Five or six cans of wheat in the home are better than a bushel in the welfare granary.” (President Gordon B. Hinckley, “To Men of the Priesthood”, October 2002 General Conference)

Many find food storage so overwhelming that they do nothing.  Do something even if it is just a little.  Start with enough for several weeks.  Once you have reached that goal, build on it to a month’s storage and so on.

“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.” (Thomas S. Monson, “That Noble Gift—Love at Home,” Church News, May 12, 2001, 7)

From the Bulletin:
"Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to “prepare every needful thing” so that, should adversity come, we may care for ourselves and our neighbors and support bishops as they care for others.

We encourage Church members worldwide to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings.

We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your savings. Do not go to extremes; it is not prudent, for example, to go into debt to establish your food storage all at once. With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve." - The First Presidency, All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage, Feb. 2007, 1.

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 12-28-08

Priesthood Opening
Alma 7:9-11

9 But behold, the Spirit hath said this much unto me, saying: Cry unto this people, saying—^aRepent ye, and prepare the way of the Lord, and walk in his paths, which are straight; for behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and the Son of God ^bcometh upon the face of the earth.

10 And behold, he shall be ^aborn of Mary, at ^bJerusalem which is the ^cland of our forefathers, she being a ^dvirgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and ^econceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and ^aafflictions and ^btemptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will ^ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

Elders' Quorum
We talked about President Uchtdorf's talk "The Infinite Power of Hope", General Conference October 2008

What is hope? President Uchtdorf stated, "Hope is a gift of the Spirit."

Faith gives us hope.

President Uchtdorf also stated in his talk, "Hope is one leg of a three-legged stool, together with faith and charity. These three stabilize our lives regardless of the rough or uneven surfaces we might encounter at the time. The scriptures are clear and certain about the importance of hope. The Apostle Paul taught that the scriptures were written to the end that we 'might have hope.'¹

Sunday School
What is the purpose of the Book of Mormon?

• "Convincing of the Jew and Gentile"
  
  • 1 Ne. 13: 39
    39 And after it had come forth unto them I beheld ^aother ^bbooks, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto the ^cconvincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are ^dtrue.
  • 2 Ne. 26: 12
    12 And as I spake concerning the ^aconvincing of the ^bJews, that Jesus is the ^cvery Christ, it must needs be that the Gentiles be convinced also that Jesus is the Christ, the ^dEternal ^eGod;
• Testify of Christ
• Reinforce the Bible
  
• Remember God
  
  • Moroni 10:3
    3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how ^amerciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ^bponder it in your ^chearts.

Moroni 10:2-3

2 And I ^aseal up ^bthese records, after I have spoken a few words by way of exhortation unto you.

3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how ^amerciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ^bponder it in your ^chearts.

What does exhort mean? Dictionary.com give these definitions

1.	to urge, advise, or caution earnestly; admonish urgently.

–verb (used without object)

2.	to give urgent advice, recommendations, or warnings.

Sacrament Service
How do we forget selfish ambition?

Within every soul is a rose. Many times we only see the thorns on us and fail to water our soul that the rose may bloom.

People that share a sense of direction travel more quickly like a flock of geese flying in formation. Geese also honk to encourage each other. When one goose falls ill two geese follow it to the ground and stay with it until it dies or can fly. After that they fly together to catch up to the flock.

If we change the words to one of our hymns slightly we get these words:
Have I done any good in the WARD today. Have I helped anyone in need? (Hymn 223)

From the Bulletin:
"As we come to the close of this year I feel that we all need to look at the decisions that we are making for our New Years resolutions.

The decisions we make and the way we behave are what ultimately shape our character. Charles A. Hall aptly describes that process in these lines: 'We sow our thoughts, and we reap our actions; we sow our actions, and we reap our habits; we sow our habits, and we reap our destiny'" (Ensign November 2001 "Our Actions Determine Our Character" Elder Wayne S. Peterson).

Let's all strive to make and keep New Years resolutions that will bring us closer to our Heavenly Father."

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The most important meeting of the week is this Sacrament Service. Please keep the chapel reverent before, during, and after meetings so we may all enjoy the full influence of the Holy Ghost. Thank you so very much.

General Conference Sunday Morning Session 10-5-08

President Henry B. Eyring - First Councilor in the First Presidency (Audio, Video)
Our Hearts Knit as One
He spoke of unity.

He watched recently a conflict where two people started contending about what was true and it turned into contending about who was right.

He stated that the children of God have more in common than they have differences.

He talked of being judgmental. He said we are often asked what we think of a person. He say that most time the admonition of our mothers are probably best. If you can't saying anything nice then don't say anything at all.

He talked of the way that our people reach out in times of disaster. He receives praise from people on how organized the Church is. He says that it is the hearts of the people that are most helpful in being organized.

Elder Robert D. Hales - Apostle (Audio, Video)
Christian Courage: The Price of Discipleship
He talked about how to respond when we are attacked for our beliefs. He asked us to reflect on how Christ responded to his accusers. At times he was silent. At times he bore his testimony.

True disciples of Christ see opportunities in the midst of opposition.

What sort of image does it give of the Church when we respond in an unChristlike way?

We should teach the principles of the Gospel and not debate them. Our heart felt testimonies are our most powerful teaching tool.

Some encounters with opposers can do nothing but bring us harm personally and it is best to walk away from such confrontations.

Bishop Keith B. McMullin - Second Councilor in the Presiding Bishopric (Audio, Video)
God placed in Adam and Eve the ability to create children in their image.

We would do well to not speak of the Savior as if He is the friend next door.

Elaine S. Dalton - Young Women General President (Audio, Video)
A Return to Virtue
Perhaps it was important for the saints to finish the Nauvoo temple and have their temple work done before they left since they were going to be many that would die in the trek. Perhaps the people needed the strength of having their families with them forever.

Lohanti was coaxed out of his high strong hold and then poisoned by degree. Are we being coaxed away from our standards and poisoned by degree.

She talked of women being enticed to be focused on themselves and their clothes and appearance rather than the things of God. Men being enticed to focus on themselves through pornography rather than the things of God.

Now is the time to become more fit for the kingdom.
D&C 121: 45
45 Let thy ^abowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let ^bvirtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy ^cconfidence wax strong in the ^dpresence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the ^edews from heaven.

Elder M. Russle Ballard - Apostle (Audio, Video)
The Truth of God Shall Go Forth
“The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done” (History of the Church, 4:540).

He detailed some of the points of the growth of the Church since it was organized. In 2004 we reached one million members in Mexico.

Today Brazil has over one million members.

We have had over one million missionaries called since the Church we organized.

President Thomas S. Monson - Prophet (Audio, Video)
Finding Joy in the Journey
He reflected on how he joined the quorum of the twelve when there were 14 men more senior to him. One by one they returned home and when President Hinckly died he found that he had become the senior apostle.

He talked about doing our best with today and not procrastinating.

"You pile up enough tomorrow's, and you will find you've collected a lot of empty yesterdays" - Professor Harold Hill - The Music Man

He encouraged us to expressed gratitude.

Sunday November 4, 2007 - Sunday Services Cumberland Ward

Sunday School
Lesson 40
In Philippians 2:2-3 Paul counseled the Philippians to be of one mind and not do anything through strife or vainglory.

One Minded
The Church does not tell us who to vote for, but generally people in the church generally vote a similar way. Also, the curriculum is the same no matter which congregation one would attend throughout the Church.

Service Without Strife or Vainglory
We must be careful of our motives and where our heart is at as we serve.

We should avoid vain ambitions.
13th article of faith - We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Priesthood
Work life/spiritual life balance
The instructor broke down the hours in a week to illustrate how we have to manage our time.
168 hours in a week less 24 for Sunday less 44 for sleep less 50 for work less 6 hour commute less 12 hours family time. That leaves 52. I left to listen to my daughter's talk in primary, so I didn't get to find out where the instructor was going. That gets you started, but you will have to use your imagination a little.

What happened with you this week at church?