Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 1-25-09

Priesthood Opening
Matthew 6:24
24 ¶ ^aNo man can ^bserve two ^cmasters: for either he will ^dhate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and ^emammon.

Elders’ Quorum
Temples
-Who builds them? We do.
-Who goes? Worthy members of the Church.
-How are they built? With tithing funds. At times local members paid or supplied labor and materials in addition to their tithing responsibilities.
-Why are they built? So we have a place to go home to.
-What are they for? To Fulfill the plan of God to give everyone the opportunity to enter @ the gate, even when they had no opportunity on earth to hear the gospel.
-What temples are in the bible? The portable temple of Moses. The temple of Solomon.
-When are they built? When they are enough worthy members.

We discussed points from the pamphlet Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple, which is based on President Boyd K. Packer's book "The Holy Temple".

2 Nephi 12:2
2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, ^awhen the ^bmountain of the Lord’s ^chouse shall be established in the top of the ^dmountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it.

People flow to the temple to be taught. Worthy members of the Church after they are dedicated, but also people who are not members of the Church come to open houses before their dedication to learn about temple and about the Church.

We are taught by symbols in the temple. If we prepare we can understand more of those symbols. Christ also taught with symbols through the use parables. Those who had not prepared did not understand.

Sunday School
Lesson 4: “Remember the New Covenant, Even the Book of Mormon” 16
The Lord can see the whole picture. We often get caught in the moment and what is happening right now. Often we don't care about the blessing around the corner.

Sacrament Service
The testimonies of three witnesses are at the beginning of the Book of Mormon states, "

Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come: That we, through the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people of Jared, who came from the tower of which hath been spoken. And we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true. And we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates; and they have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man. And we declare with words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear record that these things are true. And it is marvelous in our eyes. Nevertheless, the voice of the Lord commanded us that we should bear record of it; wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments of God, we bear testimony of these things. And we know that if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be found spotless before the judgment-seat of Christ, and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.

Oliver Cowdery
David Whitmer
Martin Harris"

The Encyclopedia of Mormonism states referring to David Whitmer's witness of the Book of Mormon, "Shortly before his death, Whitmer repeated once more, for the Richmond Conservator, what he had written in the Address: "I have never at any time denied that testimony or any part thereof, which has so long since been published with that Book, as one of the three witnesses. Those who know me best, well know that I have always adhered to that testimony." He died in Richmond, Missouri, on January 25, 1888, bearing testimony again on his deathbed of the authenticity of the Book of Mormon."

From the Bulletin
The Book of Mormon

"There are three great reasons why Latter-day Saints should make the study of the Book of Mormon a lifetime pursuit.

The first is that the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion. This was the Prophet Joseph Smith's statement. He testified that 'the Book of Mormon was the more correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion.' (Introduction to the Book of Mormon) A keystone is the central stone in an arch. It holds all the other stones in place, and if removed, the arch crumbles."

"The second great reason why we must make the Book of Mormon a center focus of study is that it was written for our day."

"The third reason that the Book of Mormon is of such value to Latter-day Saints is given in the same statement by the Prophet Joseph Smith cited previously. He said, 'I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.' (Introduction to the Book of Mormon.) That is the third reason for studying the book. It helps us draw nearer to God. Is there not something deep in our hearts that longs to draw nearer to God, to be more like Him in our daily walk, to feel His presence with us constantly? If so, then the Book of Mormon will help us do so more than any other book. (Ezra Taft Benson, "The Keystone of Our Religion," Ensign, Jan 1992, 2.)

In Moroni 10:4-5 we find the Promise of the Book of Mormon.
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ^aask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not ^btrue; and if ye shall ask with a ^csincere heart, with ^dreal intent, having ^efaith in Christ, he will ^fmanifest the ^gtruth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may ^aknow the ^btruth of all things.

Moroni promises us that if you will ask God to know if the Book of Mormon is true He will give us an answer.