Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 12-07-08

Announcements

-In January Sunday meetings will start at 9AM.

-Ward conference is January 11.
-Starting on January 7 (Wednesday) evening at 7:00PM there will be a "Strengthening Marriage" class. The class will be about 90 minutes once a week for around six weeks.

Priesthood Opening

Mosiah 2:41

41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and ahappy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are bblessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out cfaithful to the end they are received into dheaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

We were reminded that in the last general conference President Monson asked us to pray for areas of the world that are not open for missionary work.

Elders' Quorum

What does it mean to be a saint?

-Consistent - We can be counted on. Dependable.

-Concise - Take the assignment and get it done without procrastinating and dragging it out.

-Caring - Knowing your home teaching families and neighbors.

-Charitable - We have covenanted to give of our time and our substance to help others.

-Complete - Being the whole package (work, home, and church).

-Consecrated - Given completely to the Lord.

Sunday School

Lesson 45: “Never Has Man Believed in Me As Thou Hast” 198
What is faith?

-Acting on something you believe.

-Ether 12:6

6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that afaith is things which are bhoped for and cnot seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no dwitness until after the etrial of your faith.

-Faith can eliminate fear.

What can you do with faith? Anything if that faith is on the foundation of Jesus Christ.

What have we done with our faith?

We talked of the brother of Jared.

“While residing in Kirtland Elder Reynolds Cahoon had a son born to him. One day when President Joseph Smith was passing his door, he called the Prophet in and asked him to bless and name the baby. Joseph did so and gave the boy the name of Mahonri Moriancumer. When he had finished the blessing he laid the child on the bed, and turning to Elder Cahoon he said, ‘The name I have given your son is the name of the brother of Jared; the Lord has just shown [or revealed] it to me.’ Elder William F. Cahoon … heard the Prophet make this statement to his father; and this was the first time the name of the brother of Jared was known in the Church in this dispensation” (George Reynolds, “The Jaredites,” Juvenile Instructor, 1 May 1892, 282).

Someone in the class said they were related to Reynolds Cahoon.

The brother of Jared was a large and mighty man.

The Lord answered him because he was persistent.

Ether 2: 8-10
8 And he had sworn in his wrath unto the brother of Jared, that whoso should possess this land of promise, from that time henceforth and forever, should ^aserve him, the true and only God, or they should be ^bswept off when the fulness of his wrath should come upon them.
9 And now, we can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that it is a land of promise; and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall serve God, or they shall be ^aswept off when the fulness of his ^bwrath shall come upon them. And the fulness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are ^cripened in iniquity.
10 For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be ^aswept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God. And it is not until the ^bfulness of iniquity among the children of the land, that they are ^cswept off.

Bring ideas to the Lord and get his approval and ask for his help. There may be more than one solution and the Lord may not care which one you choose as long as you keep him involved.

Doctrine and Covenants 58:26-27

26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is ^acompelled in all things, the same is a ^bslothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

27 Verily I say, men should be ^aanxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

From the Bulletin:
I believe in the second mile. I have come to know that the first mile of simple obedience and its attending blessings are critical, but it is in our freely giving the second mile where one freely stretches the giving in time and resources that they Lord hands out amazing blessings and miracles. NO one that I know who pays a full tithe and FREELY GIVES a generous fast offering goes without. No one. We eventually reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7).

Additionally, there is not such thing as a free lunch. Little by little, often imperceptibly in the decoy-filled world, our minds become conditioned to getting the things we want with as little effort as possible. Elder F. Burton Howard said in that "We guard our giving, that we may have more time for getting. Many seek grades without effort, athletic attainment without training, musical excellence without practice. They try to lose weight without diet and to be free without being responsible. Others become more concerned with finding the right person than they are with being the right right person." ("On Giving and Getting," New Era, 10/85)

the strait and narrow road to true joy and eventual exaltation is a toll road. the tariff is gratitude, reverence, prayer and pondering, studying, planning and discipline, hard work, empathetic service, and love in action. It is paying the price for everything we get and then giving it away. those who travel the strait road are never the same. What may seem as unpleasant -- initially -- turns out to be the sweetest and most desired road of all. What we GIVE OURSELVES TO is what brings meaning, joy and purpose to our lives, not what we get or gain. - The Bishop