Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 01-24-10

Luke 6:46

  46 ¶ And why ^acall ye me, ^bLord, Lord, and ^cdo not the things which I say?

Elder Tad R. Callister's Conference talk, Joseph Smith—Prophet of the Restoration

4 truths Joseph Smith learned.

1. God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, are two separate, distinct beings.
2. The Father and the Son have glorified bodies of flesh and bones.
3. God still speaks to man today.
4. The full and complete Church of Jesus Christ was not then upon the earth.

John 3:16

  16 ¶ For ^aGod so ^bloved the ^cworld, that he ^dgave his ^eonly begotten ^fSon, that whosoever ^gbelieveth in him should not perish, but have ^heverlasting ⁱlife.

What is so special about John 3:16 if we believe those that would tell us that His only begotten Son was himself.

Abraham offering up Isaac was in similitude of Heavenly Father offering up Christ.

"The scriptures give further evidence of this great truth: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16). A father offering up his only son is the supreme demonstration of love that the human mind and heart can conceive and feel. It is symbolized by the touching story of Abraham and Isaac (see Genesis 22). But if the Father is the same being as the Son, then this sacrifice of all sacrifices is lost, and Abraham is no longer offering up Isaac—Abraham is now offering up Abraham." - Elder Callister

"One need but ask three questions, once proposed by President Hugh B. Brown, to arrive at that conclusion (see “The Profile of a Prophet,” Liahona, June 2006, 13; Ensign, June 2006, 37). First, does God love us as much today as He loved the people to whom He spoke in New Testament times? Second, does God have the same power today as He did then? And third, do we need Him as much today as they needed Him anciently? If the answers to those questions are yes and if God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, as the scriptures so declare (see Mormon 9:9), then there is little doubt: God does speak to man today exactly as Joseph Smith testified." - Elder Callister

Some call the Bible the authority, but who is it that has the authority to interpret that document?

Isaiah 28:10-13

  10 For precept must be upon precept, ^aprecept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

  11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

  12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

  13 But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, ^aprecept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and ^bfall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

Had God appeared to man 100 years sooner, the man may have been killed sooner.  Look at the reformers and the Salem witch trials.  People were readily called heretics or witches by those that were scared of them.

Transgression is a problem because prohibited.  Driving fast is against the law, but not inherently wrong in and of itself.  Sin is something that is wrong/bad.  This is the difference between "thou shall" and "you may choose for thyself".

Eve was the wife of Michael the Arch Angel and was his equal.

My daughter gave a talk today and below is the text of it.

"My talk is on gratitude.  What is gratitude?  Gratitude is a feeling of thanks for a blessing or benefit you have received.  Grateful people are quick to acknowledge the kindness or help they have received from our Heavenly Father and others.  

"The For the Strength of Youth book says...

"I know that if we have the spirit of gratitude we will be happier and we will make others happier."

Being spiritually prepared.

If your testimony is not fresh in your mind, it does you little good as a defense.

Doctrine and Covenants 38:30

  30 I tell you these things because of your prayers; wherefore, ^atreasure up ^bwisdom in your bosoms, lest the wickedness of men reveal these things unto you by their wickedness, in a manner which shall speak in your ears with a voice louder than that which shall shake the earth; but if ye are prepared ye shall not fear.

Doctrine and Covenants 82:10

  10 I, the Lord, am ^abound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no ^bpromise.