Sunday August 26, 2007

Sacrament Meeting
There is a family history fair coming up on September 15.

The first speaker talking about judging others. (Matthew 7:1-2)

The bishop was the last speaker. It is interesting that the bishop spoke next since is he called to be a judge in his role to lead a congregation.

The bishop talked about the law of the fast. He reviewed that we fast for two consecutive meals once a month. On that fast Sunday we are to attended our testimony meeting and contribute at least the cost of the two meals that we did not eat to the poor. He said that in our ward we are not doing a very good job of taking care of our needy. He said that our fast offering fund in in the hole and that other congregations in the Church are having to pitch in to take care of our members.

He remind us that when we fast we should fast with a purpose and not just go hungry. He shared a couple of examples of fasting from the scriptures.

I didn't catch the reference of the first one, but I think he said that Alma was teaching in a city and the people were not responding to him. He left the city and fasted. He then returned to the city and came across a man, Amulek I think, that said that he had been shown in a vision that Alma would come and teach him.

The second example he gave was in Luke 4 when the Savior was tempted he fasted. He then closed with the words from one of our hymns:
Because I have been given much, I too must give;
Because of thy great bounty, Lord, each day I live
I shall divide my gifts from thee
With ev’ry brother that I see
Who has the need of help from me
(“Because I Have Been Given Much,” Hymns, 1985, no. 219)

Sunday School
Paul and Silas cast out devils from a woman. She was employed by someone and after that she was worthless to them and they had Paul and Silas arrested for doing this. We see that Paul used this adversity for them to convert this jailer, who had been prepared.

They ended up in Athens. The Athenians replaced revelation with reason and learning. They were distracted by always wanting some new thing.

We watched a short video presentaion on the second coming. It was exerpts from talks from a couple of apostles reiterating that no man knoweth the day of the second coming. We should not fret, nor should we give up because we think the time is so close.

PriesthoodChapter 16 - Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball - The Sabbath a Delight
The sabbath is not a day for business or recreation.

Businesses will not be open on that sacred day if they are not patronized.

Don'ts
Golf
Sporting events
Family Picnics
Shows
Swimming
Boating
Fishing
Hunting
Conventions
Business as usual
Harvesting/Planting
Traveling for Vacation

There is a season for everything. There is a time for playing. There is a time for worship.
Some people must work on the sabbath and some are truly necessary, but it is our motives that are the most important consideration.

Dos
Worship
Meditation
Man is temporarily released from the injuction, "By the sweat of thy brow..."
Prayer
Preparing lessons
Visiting sick
Church meetings
Letters to missionaries
Proper Courting
Rest