Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 7-26-09

Juliet gave a talk in Primary today. I helped her deliver material from Sabbath Day Observance section of the For the Strength of Youth Pamphlet.

"The Lord has given the Sabbath day for your benefit... Observing the Sabbath will bring you closer to the Lord and to your family.

Your dress before, during, and after church meetings should show respect for the Sabbath.

Sunday is not a holiday or a day for recreation or athletic events. Do not seek entertainment or spend money on this day. Let your friends know what your standards are so they will not try to persuade you to participate in activities that are not appropriate for the Sabbath."

End of Juliet's talk.

Genesis 2:2-3
2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had ^amade; and he ^brested on the seventh day from all his ^cwork which he had made.
3 And God blessed the ^aseventh day, and ^bsanctified it: because that in it he had ^crested from all his work which God ^dcreated and made.

It doesn't say that he played. It doesn't say he had a feast. It says he rested.

On Sunday we do special things we don't do on other days or do other special things more than what we do on other days, since other days are filled with non-sabbath things.

Exodus 20:8
8 Remember the ^asabbath day, to keep it ^bholy.
Is a football game a holy activity?

Saturday

by Rita S. Robinson and Chester W. Hill Arr. Margaret C. Richards

Saturday is a special day, it’s the day we get ready for Sunday; We clean the house and we shop at the store, so we won’t have to work until Monday; We brush our clothes and we shine our shoes, and we call it our “get-the-work-done” day; Then we trim our nails and we shampoo our hair, so we can be ready for Sunday!

We must guard against individual apostasy. Recognize the deceptions of Satan to get us to leave the truth in any degree. Be on the look out of rationalizations we devise for ourselves to do wrong.

Husbands do something special for your wives every day. Wives praise your husband for something each day. This needs to tailored to your spouse. Some people respond to acts of service, some respond to words of affirmation or praise, some to touch, some to spending quality time with them, and some to gifts, no matter if they are a man or a woman (See The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman).

There are natural laws that if they cease to work the way they do, things would go wrong and there would be chaos. The same is true for the spiritual laws. When followed things work. When they are not followed there is confusion and chaos. One of the statements we have on how things work is the proclamation on the family.

"While standards generally may totter, we of the Church are without excuse if we drift in the same manner. We have standards — sure, tested, and effective. To the extent that we observe them, we shall hinder our own progress and bring embarrassment to the work of the Lord. These standards have come from Him. Some of them may appear a little out-of-date in our society, but this does not detract from their validity nor diminish the virtue of their application. The subtle reasoning of men, no matter how clever, no matter how plausible it may sound, cannot abridge the declared wisdom of God." President Gordon B. Hinckley, "Pursue the Steady Course", Ensign, January 2005, 5.

Interfaith Fireside at the Ogden Tabernacle 7-19-09

Alan Osmond, Suzanne Osmond, and some of their sons spoke and sang at an interfaith fireside at the Ogden Tabernacle next to the Ogden temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Alan's sons perform as The Osmonds Second Generation.

A Methodist minister gave the opening prayer. She unfolded a piece of paper and laid it out in front of her before she started and it sounded like she was reading it. It was strange to me since we do not prepare and read prayers. The only thing close we have is the sacrament prayer and that is the same every time.

Another thing that was strange was the clapping after songs and the calling out from the audience. I'm use to church meetings being held in that meeting where clapping and audience participation is inappropriate.

David Osmond - Talked about that we sometimes sing the hymns in the hymn book and forget to listen to the words and meaning and truth contained in them. He then sang "How Great Thou Art".

Alan Osmond - He said that success is spelled W O R K.

He talked of having bunk beds and Donnie bouncing from bunk to bunk to bunk.

He also shared some about his deaf older brothers from when they were kids. He said that he taught them sign language and that came in very useful in the recording industry. He said they were all able to communicate with each other even when they were recording by using sign language.

He said that the two things that his parents heard most often were either that the kids were good, but not that good or that they shouldn't put them in a business with all those fast women and such.

When they were looking to move to California the prophet told them always choose that which will bring you closer to your Father in Heaven.

They set up a studio in Utah when the Donny and Marie show was picked up by ABC for a second season.

He talked about how heavily he has relied on Jesus to keep him going through MS and he has gotten some of his functionality of his body back.

David sang and Alex played the guitar and on "I No That My Redeemer Lives"

Suzanne Osman - She and Alan didn't see each other their entire engagement, because he was performing in Vegas. She announced at a family reunion that they were engaged and her grandma informed her that they were cousins. It was second step cousins, so grandma said it was okay.

She talked about all the interesting stories she knows about her ancestors and the only reason she knows is because someone wrote them down.

Another son spoke, but I did not catch his name. He talked about how when they were younger they did not think their dad was cool. One day they were at some event and saw Steven Tyler standing near by. Steven then turned and saw their dad and called out, "Alan". They then realized that Steven Tyler knew their dad and thought he was cool.

That son, David, and I think David's wife sang "Listen to His Heart Beat".

David spoke some more. He stated that pain is part of life, but suffering is optional. If you are going through hard times it will change. If you are going through good times, it will change.

David also spoke a little about his experience on American Idol.

He shared some scriptures.

1. Alma 34: 32
   32 For behold, this ^alife is the time for men to ^bprepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of ^cthis life is the day for men to perform their ^dlabors.
2. Helaman 5:6-7
   6 Behold, my sons, I desire that ye should remember to keep the commandments of God; and I would that ye should declare unto the people these words. Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first ^aparents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were ^bgood.
   7 Therefore, my sons, I would that ye should do that which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them.

He talked fo President Thomas S. Monson speaking at his grandfather's funeral. I didn't catch the quote exactly, but he said that President Monson said something like this, 'This life was a great example. What are you going to do with it?"

David went on to talk about having the name of Osmond, which was his grandpa's name and what there was to live up to with that. He also said that when he was eight years old he took on another name as well. When he was baptized he took on the name of the savior.

He said that people often times say, "I know exactly how you feel." He said that there is some who really does always know exactly how we feel. The Jesus has literally taken on our sins and our pains and our afflictions. He knows exactly what we feel like.

He sang "He Walked a Mile in My Shoes from the CD on Joseph Smith that he did with a guy from Diamond Rio.

He talked a little bit of being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis like his father.

He quoted Dr. Seuss, “I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!”

He also quoted Socrates, "If all misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own and depart."

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 7-19-09

Priesthood Opening
Matthew 5:41
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

The person sharing the scripture told of how a Roman could come by a Jew and command them to carry their stuff. They didn't schedule a time with them they just came and basically said, "You take this and come with me."

It was expressed that this is what the scripture was referring to. If someone made you carry their stuff for a mile, be cordial to them and offer to go another mile with them.

Elders' Quorum
Chapter 37: Charity, the Pure Love of Christ 423–34
“The Holy Spirit … shall be poured out at all times upon your heads, when you are exercised with those principles of righteousness that are agreeable to the mind of God, and are properly affected one toward another, and are careful by all means to remember those who are in bondage, and in heaviness, and in deep affliction for your sakes. And if there are any among you who aspire after their own aggrandizement, and seek their own opulence, while their brethren are groaning in poverty, and are under sore trials and temptations, they cannot be benefited by the intercession of the Holy Spirit, which maketh intercession for us day and night with groanings that cannot be uttered [see Romans 8:26].

The Holy Spirit sanctifies us when we repent. If we are not caring for others then the Holy Ghost will not be with us to sanctify us.

Alma 60:7-8

7 Can you think to sit upon your thrones in a state of thoughtless ^astupor, while your enemies are spreading the work of death around you? Yea, while they are murdering thousands of your brethren—

8 Yea, even they who have looked up to you for protection, yea, have placed you in a situation that ye might have succored them, yea, ye might have sent armies unto them, to have strengthened them, and have saved thousands of them from falling by the sword.

Does the above scripture describe our inaction in be valiant in the Gospel?

Sunday School
Lesson 27: “They Must Needs Be Chastened and Tried, Even as Abraham” 150
They must be chastened and tried, even as Abraham? What does that mean for our lives? Do we have to be tried? Abraham was tried. Or do we have to be tried to the level that Abraham was tried?

Big rewards and responsibilities require big learning experiences and big tests. Life will become more challenging as we get better at it and yet at the same time our burdens will feel lighter.

From the manual, "President Hugh B. Brown said that God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac because “Abraham needed to learn something about Abraham” (in Truman G. Madsen, The Highest in Us [1978], 49). What might Abraham have learned about himself from this experience? What have you learned from your trials? "

Doctrine and Covenants 95:1
1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I ^alove I also chasten that their sins may be ^bforgiven, for with the ^cchastisement I prepare a way for their ^ddeliverance in all things out of ^etemptation, and I have loved you—

Doctrine and Covenants 105:6
6 And my people must needs be ^achastened until they learn ^bobedience, if it must needs be, by the things which they ^csuffer.

Sacrament Service
A missionary that just returned from Germany and Austria spoke to us. He said the area had been badly battered by religion. Some of it due to the government telling them what to believe. He said that wards are very small and spread out there.

From the Bulletin

"Joseph Smith encountered intense persecution after [the first vision] had become public knowledge. He wrote:

"I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me, and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while [abusers] were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely do so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision, I know it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it, at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation" (JS — H 1:25).

"We regard that theophany — which we designate as the First Vision — and subsequent communications of heavenly beings with the Prophet Joseph Smith to be as real as my conversation with you now. These and other visitations relating to the promised restitution of the Church are well documented." Elder Russell M. Nelson, "Combating Spiritual Drift — Our Global Pandemic," Ensign, November 1993, 104 — 5.

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 7-12-09

Stake Priesthood Meeting
The Second Coming

• Doctrine and Covenants 45
• Matthew 24 and 25
• Joseph Smith Translation of Matthew 24 and 25

" Judah must return, Jerusalem must be rebuilt, and the temple, and water come out from under the temple, and the waters of the Dead Sea be healed. It will take some time to rebuild the walls of the city and the temple, &c.; and all this must be done before the Son of Man will make His appearance, There will be wars and rumors of wars, signs in the heavens above and on the earth beneath, the sun turned into darkness and the moon to blood, earthquakes in divers places, the seas heaving beyond their bounds; then will appear one grand sign of the Son of Man in heaven. But what will the world do? They will say it is a planet, a comet, &c. But the
Son of Man will come as the sign of the coming of the Son of Man, which will be as the light of the morning cometh out of the east." (History of the Church Volume 5)

Alma 12:9
9 And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to ^aknow the ^bmysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart ^conly according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him.

Ward Priesthood Opening
Enos 1:2-10

2 And I will tell you of the ^awrestle which I had before God, before I received a ^bremission of my sins.

3 Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the ^ajoy of the saints, ^bsunk deep into my heart.

4 And my soul ^ahungered; and I ^bkneeled down before my Maker, and I ^ccried unto him in mighty ^dprayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.

5 And there came a ^avoice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are ^bforgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.

6 And I, Enos, knew that God ^acould not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.

7 And I said: Lord, how is it done?

8 And he said unto me: ^aBecause of thy ^bfaith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee ^cwhole.

9 Now, it came to pass that when I had heard these words I began to feel a ^adesire for the ^bwelfare of my brethren, the Nephites; wherefore, I did ^cpour out my whole soul unto God for them.

10 And while I was thus struggling in the spirit, behold, the voice of the Lord came into my ^amind again, saying: I will visit thy brethren according to their diligence in keeping my commandments. I have ^bgiven unto them this land, and it is a holy land; and I ^ccurse it not save it be for the cause of iniquity; wherefore, I will visit thy brethren according as I have said; and their ^dtransgressions will I bring down with sorrow upon their own heads.

Elders' Quorum
Chapter 36: Receiving the Ordinances and Blessings of the Temple 412–22
It was proposed by a class member today that the temple is a perfectly designed school. Everyone can learn at the level they are at.

“Could we read and comprehend all that has been written from the days of Adam, on the relation of man to God and angels in a future state, we should know very little about it. Reading the experience of others, or the revelation given to them, can never give us a comprehensive view of our condition and true relation to God. Knowledge of these things can only be obtained by experience through the ordinances of God set forth for that purpose. Could you gaze into heaven five minutes, you would know more than you would by reading all that ever was written on the subject. … I assure the Saints that truth … can and may be known through the revelations of God in the way of His ordinances, and in answer to prayer. (History of the Church, 6:50–51; paragraph divisions altered; from a discourse given by Joseph Smith on Oct. 9, 1843, in Nauvoo, Illinois; reported by Willard Richards and Times and Seasons, Sept. 15, 1843, p. 331; this issue of the Times and Seasons was published late.)

Sunday School
Lesson 26: “Go Ye into All the World, and Preach My Gospel” 145

“Discouraged at being unable to secure a place to preach, Parley decided to leave Toronto. Before going he stopped at the Taylors to get some of his luggage and to say goodbye. While he was there, Leonora Taylor told her friend Mrs. Isabella Walton about Parley’s problem and said she was sorry he was leaving. ‘He may be a man of God,’ she said. Mrs. Walton replied that she had been inspired by the Spirit to visit the Taylors that morning because she was willing to let Elder Pratt stay at her home and preach. He did so and was eventually invited to attend a meeting of John Taylor’s group, in which John read the New Testament account of Philip’s preaching in Samaria. ‘Now,’ said he, ‘where is our Philip? Where is our receiving the Word with joy, and being baptized when we believed? Where is our Peter and John? Our apostles? Where is our Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands? …’ When Parley was invited to speak, he declared that he had answers to John Taylor’s questions.

“For three weeks John Taylor attended Elder Pratt’s meetings, making detailed notes of his sermons and carefully comparing them with the scriptures. Gradually he became convinced that the true gospel of Jesus Christ was restored. He and his wife, Leonora, were baptized on 9 May 1836” (Church History in the Fulness of Times [Church Educational System manual, 1993], 157; see also Parley P. Pratt, Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt [1975], 134–40, 151).

Sacrament Service
Some of the youth and leaders reported on youth conference.

During part of youth conference they pulled handcarts to learn part of what it was like for the pioneers. They noted that their hands and feet were not frost bitten, it wasn't cold outside, and their bodies were not malnourished and fatigued, yet it was still hard. They imagined what it would be like to have a task so hard and have all of those other ailments as well.

At one point the women and girls took the carts alone while the men watched, since some of the pioneer women had to go it alone when their husbands and sons died.

Standards and Lifestyle
Do we find that many who state that the LDS lifestyle is too controlling and restrictive are ones that are bound by their own lifestyles and addictions and are generally not free to easily change the course they are on. Whether it be addictions they have bound themselves with or tattoos that they are not free to remove without great expense or single parenting or diseases or poverty. The last few things I listed can come upon a person just through life in general, but many times these trial happen through what we have chosen.

We are free to choose to do what we want, but are not free to choose the consequences of our choices.

From the Bulletin
Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As I think about his great country that we live in I am very grateful for all of the time and planning the Lord took in preparing this land for the restoration of His church in these latter days.

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord and the people whom He hath chosen for his own inheritance." (Psalms 33:12). As the Lord states in Psalms we are blessed individually and as a nation when we follow his commandments and remember him. It is my prayer that we remember this great land we live in and all of the people that have helped to prepare this land for us.

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 7-05-09

Announcements

• Next Sunday 7:15am priesthood meeting at Sullivan Hollow ward building.
• July 18th 5pm ward activity to plays games at the Sullivan Hollow ward building.
  

Priesthood Opening
James 1

Elders' Quorum
Priesthood Responsibilities, Elder Claudio R. M. Costa, General Conference April 2009

“Each of us has a fourfold responsibility. First, we have a responsibility to our families. Second, we have a responsibility to our employers. Third, we have a responsibility to the Lord’s work. Fourth, we have a responsibility to ourselves.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “Rejoicing in the Privilege to Serve,” Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting, June 21, 2003, 22)

Doctrine and Covenants 20:38-45 - Some of the duties of an elder.
38 The ^aduty of the elders, priests, teachers, deacons, and members of the church of Christ—An ^bapostle is an ^celder, and it is his calling to ^dbaptize;

39 And to ^aordain other elders, priests, teachers, and deacons;

40 And to administer ^abread and wine—the ^bemblems of the flesh and blood of Christ—

41 And to ^aconfirm those who are baptized into the church, by the laying on of ^bhands for the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, according to the scriptures;

42 And to teach, expound, exhort, baptize, and watch over the church;

43 And to confirm the church by the laying on of the hands, and the giving of the Holy Ghost;

44 And to take the ^alead of all meetings.

45 The elders are to ^aconduct the ^bmeetings as they are ^cled by the Holy Ghost, according to the commandments and revelations of God.

• Baptize
• Ordain
• Administer the sacrament
• Confirmation of the Holy Ghost
• Watch over the Church with teaching and expoundings

When running a race one should put in a consistent effort throughout the race. The same is true for life. We will be better people with that consistent effort.

Sunday School
Lesson 25: Priesthood: “The Power of Godliness” 140
Reasons to be grateful to be members of the Church:

• Temple blessings
• Community/fellowship
• Direction/revelation
• Knowledge

The priesthood was restored in roughly this order:

• Aaronic priesthood
• Melchizedek priesthood
• Bishops
• Apostles
• 70s
• Area authorities

“Sometimes, unintentionally, even certain extracurricular Church activities, insensitively administered, can hamper family life. Instructively, after the resurrected Jesus taught the Nephites, He said, ‘Go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said,’ and pray and prepare ‘for the morrow’ (3 Nephi 17:3). Jesus did not say go to your civic clubs, town meetings, or even stake centers!” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1994, 120; or Ensign, May 1994, 89).

“Those who hold the priesthood must never forget that they have no right to wield priesthood authority like a club over the heads of others in the family or in Church callings. … Any man who … seeks to use the priesthood in any degree of unrighteousness in the Church or in the home simply does not understand the nature of his authority. Priesthood is for service, not servitude; compassion, not compulsion; caring, not control” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1993, 105; or Ensign, Nov. 1993, 78).

From the Bulletin
"We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." (Declaration of Independence)

A major THEME of the Book of Mormon "... they shall prosper upon the face of this land and they shall be kept from all other nations, that they may possess this land unto themselves. And IF it so be that they shall keep HIS commandments they shall be blessed upon the face of this land, and there shall be none to molest them, nor to take away the land of their inheritance; and they shall dwell safely forever." (2 Nephi 1:9 among many others.)