Sacrament Meeting
My brother and his family were in town for a long weekend, so we attended church in my parents' ward where we had grown up.
A young boy sung. I believe he was the son of the sister of my friend Chris Miller, who I grew up in that ward with. He felt like he messed up a couple of times and had the pianist restart. He was a very small boy and Chris' sister tried to keep him moving. It was nice to see a young boy learning experience of contributing in church.
Chris's brother spoke. He is going to the MTC. He spoke of the resurrection being a free gift whether it be good or bad. He talked of the difference between Imortanlity, which is living forever, and Eternal Life, which is living forever with God. Chris's sister also spoke.
It was good to be at church with my brother. We missed seeing more of our old friends.
Sunday School
We talked of Miriam receiving Lepracy. We talked of why she was stricken and not Aaron. Some thought that perhaps she was the instigator in the who thing.
Priesthood
My son, Jason, was scared to go to class, so he went to priesthood with me. He needs to be in class, but it was nice to have him there with me.
The lesson was on the atonement.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Sunday April 30, 2006
Sacrament Meeting
One sister spoke of being born again and how it is sometimes misunderstood. She talked of someone stating that they were born again since they had stated that they believed in Christ.
The sister speaking today talked of being born again being born of the water and the spirit. She talked of this meaning baptism and the gift of the holy ghost. She said that believing in Christ was faith, which drives one to being born again.
She talked of being born again also comes from the death of our old lifestyle.
A brother spoke and he based his talk on a talk by M Russle Ballard. He spoke of the doctrines of Inclusion and Exclusion. He said that we needed to reject the doctrine of exclusion and embrace the doctrine of inclusion.
Exclusion
This has to do with not associating with those not of our faith or not of our race.
Inclusion
This is about knowing who our neighbors are. It also has to do with socializing with other no matter their race or religion. I believe this to be true, but what about those who beliefs bring bad things to our families. Is it possible to expect that we can be with them and not be negatively impacted by their ways?
Sunday School
We talked of the children of Israel wondering in the wilderness because of their lack of faith when they got to the promise land.
We talked of continuing to pray for things after the Lord has said no. An experience was shared about a lady that had prayed to marry a man. She felt that she had been told no and then she continued to pray and was told no. She finally got a yes answer and she ended up marrying him and had a horrible seven month marriage.
This discussion was prompted by talking about Balaam and his asking the Lord over and over again if it was okay to curse the chilren of Irael.
Joint Priesthood and Relief Society
We watched a video on the guy who found the Book of Mormon and the title page was gone, so he had no idea what the book was and how he spent his life looking for the church that it belonged to.
During the last fifteen minutes we had to excuse ourselves and got to help Jason with his talk. I went up and read a poem from the Friend in his ear and he recited it. He was violently against giving the talk when we went to church, but got up readily when it was his turn.
Alison gave the closing prayer.
One sister spoke of being born again and how it is sometimes misunderstood. She talked of someone stating that they were born again since they had stated that they believed in Christ.
The sister speaking today talked of being born again being born of the water and the spirit. She talked of this meaning baptism and the gift of the holy ghost. She said that believing in Christ was faith, which drives one to being born again.
She talked of being born again also comes from the death of our old lifestyle.
A brother spoke and he based his talk on a talk by M Russle Ballard. He spoke of the doctrines of Inclusion and Exclusion. He said that we needed to reject the doctrine of exclusion and embrace the doctrine of inclusion.
Exclusion
This has to do with not associating with those not of our faith or not of our race.
Inclusion
This is about knowing who our neighbors are. It also has to do with socializing with other no matter their race or religion. I believe this to be true, but what about those who beliefs bring bad things to our families. Is it possible to expect that we can be with them and not be negatively impacted by their ways?
Sunday School
We talked of the children of Israel wondering in the wilderness because of their lack of faith when they got to the promise land.
We talked of continuing to pray for things after the Lord has said no. An experience was shared about a lady that had prayed to marry a man. She felt that she had been told no and then she continued to pray and was told no. She finally got a yes answer and she ended up marrying him and had a horrible seven month marriage.
This discussion was prompted by talking about Balaam and his asking the Lord over and over again if it was okay to curse the chilren of Irael.
Joint Priesthood and Relief Society
We watched a video on the guy who found the Book of Mormon and the title page was gone, so he had no idea what the book was and how he spent his life looking for the church that it belonged to.
During the last fifteen minutes we had to excuse ourselves and got to help Jason with his talk. I went up and read a poem from the Friend in his ear and he recited it. He was violently against giving the talk when we went to church, but got up readily when it was his turn.
Alison gave the closing prayer.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Sunday April 23, 2006
Sacrament Meeting
Anthony Cool is leaving on his mission to the West Virginia Charleston Mission. Him, his mom, and his sister spoke.
He talked of trying not to fix everything about yourself all at once. He said that you can get very frustrated and discouraged with yourself.
Sunday School
We had the same lesson this week that we had at my parents' ward last week.
We talked of Israel moving toward the promise land, but continually looking back to what they had in Egypt. That kept them from being able to have faith in what was coming in the promised land.
Manna mean "What is this?"
Someone asked if the seven leaders called by Moses were the beginnings of the presidency of the seventy.
The point of the lesson seemed to be to support our leaders and not overstep our stewardship.
At one point we got off on a little bit of a tangent. The question was asked that if we want our families to be strong what are we doing about it? Do we fast and pray or yell to try to set things straight?
Relationships are strengthened by service. This includes work, church, and family relationships. Something interesting to think about as we get frustrated with those around us.
Priesthood
The lesson was based on a talk by Dallin H. Oaks. I think the subject was leading righteously. It was the one where he talked about being raised by his mother and what a strong woman she was and how it frustrated her to see men leading their homes unrighteously.
We touched on the need to have personal interviews with our children.
We also talked of the need for children to see that conflict and discipline can be resolved without anger.
Priesthood can't be used to serve ourselves. The gospel points us to the importance of serving others.
We get released from callings in the church, but not from are callings to be part of families. I think this speaks to just waiting for children to get out of the house. I think it also speaks to people that disown their family members because they make a bad choice or a choice that we perceive as bad.
Anthony Cool is leaving on his mission to the West Virginia Charleston Mission. Him, his mom, and his sister spoke.
He talked of trying not to fix everything about yourself all at once. He said that you can get very frustrated and discouraged with yourself.
Sunday School
We had the same lesson this week that we had at my parents' ward last week.
We talked of Israel moving toward the promise land, but continually looking back to what they had in Egypt. That kept them from being able to have faith in what was coming in the promised land.
Manna mean "What is this?"
Someone asked if the seven leaders called by Moses were the beginnings of the presidency of the seventy.
The point of the lesson seemed to be to support our leaders and not overstep our stewardship.
At one point we got off on a little bit of a tangent. The question was asked that if we want our families to be strong what are we doing about it? Do we fast and pray or yell to try to set things straight?
Relationships are strengthened by service. This includes work, church, and family relationships. Something interesting to think about as we get frustrated with those around us.
Priesthood
The lesson was based on a talk by Dallin H. Oaks. I think the subject was leading righteously. It was the one where he talked about being raised by his mother and what a strong woman she was and how it frustrated her to see men leading their homes unrighteously.
We touched on the need to have personal interviews with our children.
We also talked of the need for children to see that conflict and discipline can be resolved without anger.
Priesthood can't be used to serve ourselves. The gospel points us to the importance of serving others.
We get released from callings in the church, but not from are callings to be part of families. I think this speaks to just waiting for children to get out of the house. I think it also speaks to people that disown their family members because they make a bad choice or a choice that we perceive as bad.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Sunday April 9, 2006
Sacrament Meeting
It was fast Sunday again. There was a lot of publicly thanking and being gratful.
Sunday School
We talked about the calling of Moses. I found myself getting confused between scripture and tradition.
We talked about Moses' speaking problem. It was interesting to me that as I read the scriptures I found that Aaron was not just the spokesman, but that he was actually mostly functioning in the roles that we normally think of Moses functioning in, especially when we see the Chalton Heston performance.
Priesthood
What matters most lasts the longest.
Someone talked about a mother not wanting her child to read something that was offensive to them in school. She ended up taking her kid out of school and home schooling them. It got me thinking, why don't people who don't have kids in school raise a stink about these things. Their tax money pays for those books.
It was fast Sunday again. There was a lot of publicly thanking and being gratful.
Sunday School
We talked about the calling of Moses. I found myself getting confused between scripture and tradition.
We talked about Moses' speaking problem. It was interesting to me that as I read the scriptures I found that Aaron was not just the spokesman, but that he was actually mostly functioning in the roles that we normally think of Moses functioning in, especially when we see the Chalton Heston performance.
Priesthood
What matters most lasts the longest.
Someone talked about a mother not wanting her child to read something that was offensive to them in school. She ended up taking her kid out of school and home schooling them. It got me thinking, why don't people who don't have kids in school raise a stink about these things. Their tax money pays for those books.
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Sunday April 2, 2006
General Conference
We have now passed 12.5 million.
Elder Hales talked about Agency. He quoted something President Kimball said to him, "Robert, the adversary can never have joy unless you and I sin." Elder Hales then cited 3 Ne 9:2 "Wo, wo, wo unto this people; wo unto the inhabitants of the whole earth except they shall repent; for the devil laugheth, and his angels rejoice, because of the slain of the fair sons and daughters of my people." and pointed out that, "It is our sins that make the devil laugh, our sorrow that brings him counterfeit joy." He also talked about, as the scriptures say, acting for ourselves instead of being acted upon.
President Monson talked about things that like fishing lures to us. We grab after them without thinking about the consequences.
President Faust gave a talk in the priesthood session. He is an interesting paragraph from it:
I would like to say a word about the ministering of angels. In ancient and modern times angels have appeared and given instruction, warnings, and direction, which benefited the people they visited. We do not consciously realize the extent to which ministering angels affect our lives. President Joseph F. Smith said, "In like manner our fathers and mothers, brothers, sisters and friends who have passed away from this earth, having been faithful, and worthy to enjoy these rights and privileges, may have a mission given them to visit their relatives and friends upon the earth again, bringing from the divine Presence messages of love, of warning, or reproof and instruction, to those whom they had learned to love in the flesh."6 Many of us feel that we have had this experience. Their ministry has been and is an important part of the gospel. Angels ministered to Joseph Smith as he reestablished the gospel in its fulness.
Elder Uchtdorf talked in the priesthood session about seeing the End from the Beginning. We have trouble seeing what we are going through at the moment as being for our god. He told about when he was eleven and had to peddle this old bike around town delivering laundry to help his family make money. It was intense work for him. Years later he went in for a physical to enter the air force that he had had a lung disease in his early teenage years. Had he not worked his lungs so hard delivering that laundry he might have not overcome the disease and not have had his dream come true of becoming a pilot.
We complain about our trials or we make choices for immediate gratification and don't think about the future.
We have now passed 12.5 million.
Elder Hales talked about Agency. He quoted something President Kimball said to him, "Robert, the adversary can never have joy unless you and I sin." Elder Hales then cited 3 Ne 9:2 "Wo, wo, wo unto this people; wo unto the inhabitants of the whole earth except they shall repent; for the devil laugheth, and his angels rejoice, because of the slain of the fair sons and daughters of my people." and pointed out that, "It is our sins that make the devil laugh, our sorrow that brings him counterfeit joy." He also talked about, as the scriptures say, acting for ourselves instead of being acted upon.
President Monson talked about things that like fishing lures to us. We grab after them without thinking about the consequences.
President Faust gave a talk in the priesthood session. He is an interesting paragraph from it:
I would like to say a word about the ministering of angels. In ancient and modern times angels have appeared and given instruction, warnings, and direction, which benefited the people they visited. We do not consciously realize the extent to which ministering angels affect our lives. President Joseph F. Smith said, "In like manner our fathers and mothers, brothers, sisters and friends who have passed away from this earth, having been faithful, and worthy to enjoy these rights and privileges, may have a mission given them to visit their relatives and friends upon the earth again, bringing from the divine Presence messages of love, of warning, or reproof and instruction, to those whom they had learned to love in the flesh."6 Many of us feel that we have had this experience. Their ministry has been and is an important part of the gospel. Angels ministered to Joseph Smith as he reestablished the gospel in its fulness.
Elder Uchtdorf talked in the priesthood session about seeing the End from the Beginning. We have trouble seeing what we are going through at the moment as being for our god. He told about when he was eleven and had to peddle this old bike around town delivering laundry to help his family make money. It was intense work for him. Years later he went in for a physical to enter the air force that he had had a lung disease in his early teenage years. Had he not worked his lungs so hard delivering that laundry he might have not overcome the disease and not have had his dream come true of becoming a pilot.
We complain about our trials or we make choices for immediate gratification and don't think about the future.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)