Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs at Dee Events Center at Weber State University on July 15th. Tickets are free and available for ages 8 and up. Limit six per family.
3 Nephi 11:5-11
5 And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did aopen their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came.
8 And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they asaw a Man bdescending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them.
Elders' Quorum
The instructor referenced a talk by Elder Richard G. Scott from April 2009 General Conference, Temple Worship: The Source of Strength and Power in Times of Need.
"I strive to participate in all the different ordinances available in the temple." (Elder Scott)
Here are some bullet points Elder Scott shared in his talk (emphasis added):
- Understand the doctrine related to temple ordinances, especially the significance of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.1
- While participating in temple ordinances, consider your relationship to Jesus Christ and His relationship to our Heavenly Father. This simple act will lead to greater understanding of the supernal nature of the temple ordinances.
- Always prayerfully express gratitude for the incomparable blessings that flow from temple ordinances. Live each day so as to give evidence to Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son of how very much those blessings mean to you.
- Schedule regular visits to the temple.
- Leave sufficient time to be unhurried within the temple walls.
- Rotate activities so that you can participate in all of the ordinances of the temple.
- Remove your watch when you enter a house of the Lord.
- Listen carefully to the presentation of each element of the ordinance with an open mind and heart.
- Be mindful of the individual for whom you are performing the vicarious ordinance. At times pray that he or she will recognize the vital importance of the ordinances and be worthy or prepare to be worthy to benefit from them.
- Recognize that much of the majesty of the sealing ordinance cannot be understood and remembered with one live experience. Substantial subsequent vicarious work permits one to understand much more of what is communicated in the live ordinances.
- Realize that a sealing ordinance is not enduring until after it is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise. Both individuals must be worthy and want the sealing to be eternal.
There are musts, coulds, and shoulds. If we don't set conscious priorities the coulds and shoulds will take the time from the musts.
Sunday School
Lesson 20: The Kingdoms of Glory 110
John 5:28-29
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the agraves shall bhear his voice,
29 And shall acome forth; they that have done good, unto the bresurrection of life; and they that have done cevil, unto the resurrection of ddamnation.
Joseph Smith was translating the Bible and he had some questions.
The teacher passed out the following talks:
- Consecrate Thy Performance, Elder Neal A. Maxwell, General Conference April 2002
- "These remarks are addressed to the imperfect but still striving in the household of faith. As always, my immediate audience is myself."
- "Spiritual submissiveness is not accomplished in an instant, but by the incremental improvements and by the successive use of stepping-stones. Stepping-stones are meant to be taken one at a time anyway."
- "We may, for instance, have a specific set of skills which we mistakenly come to think we somehow own. If we continue to cling to those more than to God, we are flinching in the face of the consecrating first commandment. Since God lends us "breath . . . from one moment to another," hyperventilating over these distractions is not recommended! (Mosiah 2:21)."
- "But if we lack proportion, the next few yards can seem so formidable. Though aware of how God blessed ancient Israel to escape from mighty Pharaoh and his hosts, myopic Laman and Lemuel still lacked faith in God to help them with a mere local Laban."
- Be Valiant in the Fight of FaithElder Bruce R. McConkie, General Conference October 1974
- "Members of the Church who have testimonies and who live clean and upright lives, but who are not courageous and valiant, do not gain the celestial kingdom. Theirs is a terrestrial inheritance. Of them the revelation says, 'These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God.' (D&C 76:79.)
As Jesus said, 'No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.' (Luke 9:62.)"
Celestial is to be one with Christ as he is one with the Father. Vote how he would vote. Do what he would do. Say what he would say.
Those who are not valiant and do not do their duty to the fullest are like a soldier that does not do all of his duty. For example, if a soldier's duty is to guard the camp and he doesn't do all of his duty he could be killed and perhaps jeopardize others. A soldier like that will not be given more responsibilities or rewards and will likely be disciplined.
Sacrament Service
Mosiah 2:16-18
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.
18 Behold, ye have called me your king; and if I, whom ye call your king, do labor to aserve you, then ought not ye to labor to serve one another?
"Those who serve will strive to ennoble, build, and lift their fellowmen; therefore, they will find the good in others, and they will not find reason or have time to become offended. They develop the virtue of praying for those who criticize. They don’t expect recognition or reward. They possess the love of Christ." (Elder Carlos A. Amado, Service, a Divine Quality, General Conference April 2008)
Alma 53:20
20 And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for acourage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.
The Lord knows who will be faithful, but often we have to learn about ourselves.
The Terrestrial kingdom includes lukewarm members of the Church. Those who were not valiant in their testimony. Those that know, but don't do.
From the Bulletin
"In October 1856, during a general conference, President Young learned that two hand-cart companies, the Martin company and the Willie company, were traveling late in the season and would face harsh winter weather on the plains of the western United States. He stood at the pulpit as a prophet of God and declared: 'Many of our brethren and sister are on the plains with handcarts.... And they must be brought here, we must send assistance to them...This community is to send for them and bring them in...'
'That is my religion; that is the dictation of the Holy Ghost that I possess, it is to save people... I will tell you all that your faith, religion, and profession of religion, will never save one should of you in the celestial kingdom of our God, unless you carry out just such principles as I am now teaching you. Go and bring in those people now on the plains.'
As a result of President Young's call to action, wagons with teams of mules, men to drive them and flour and other supplies were immediately sent to rescue the people stranded on the plains." Bishop Richard Edgley, "This Is Your Phone Call", Ensign April 2009, 53 — 55
As we hear council from our church leaders, we need to remember that any request large or small is a call, not from the person giving the council, but from God. Sustaining our leaders means following council we are given by them after praying to know the truthfulness of the things they teach us. This is particularly relevant when it comes to fundamentals such as daily scripture study, daily prayer and family home evening. Your salvation will be largely determined by the things you are doing when only our Heavenly Father is watching.
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