Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah January 1-30-2011

Happiness in the Family

“Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World )

Faith

• First principle.
• Based on hope, truth, power, and action.
• Faith is a seed and it does not grow without some work.  It needs to be nourished and watered and heated.
• Alma 32:21
   21 And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true. 
• Our faith can be nourished, but it takes work, just as our bodies can receive nourishment, but we have to daily pit food in our mouth.

Prayer

• An earnest request
• Moroni 10:3-4
   3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. 4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. 
• We have the right to ask.

Repentance

• A change toward perfection through Christ.
• Alma 36:16-21
  16 And now, for three days and for three nights was I racked, even with the pains of a damned soul.
  17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.
  18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.
  19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.
  20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!
  21Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.
• If our children see us rationalizing our bad choices they will learn to create loop holes in the commandments for themselves. They should see our remorse and our repentance when we make mistakes.

Forgiveness

• It is mostly to unburden ourselves.
• When you push someone down a hill you get a little closer to the bottom yourself.

Respect

Love

Compassion

Work/recreation


Nicodemus was a religious leader among the Jews.  He was part of the Sanhedrin.  Possibly similar to a general authority.

Born again - an event that starts a process.

• Baptism
• Covenant
• Repentance
• No more disposition to do evil
• Desire to do good continually
• Mighty change of heart

"...all mortals have been saved from the permanence of death through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22). "(Dallin H Oaks, Conference Talk April 1998)

The scriptures indicate being saved is a future event.  -Find scripture references about that

Mark 13:13
13And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Romans 5:9-10
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
*It says that we SHALL be saved, not that we are saved.

John 15:10
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.  

Matthew 24:13
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Luke 6:37
  37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

One is saved by accepting Christ's atonement and we have to accept it everyday through our actions, not just once.


Missionary that recently returned from Guatemala spoke to us.

In the gospel and this life it is better to be a marathon runner rather than a sprinter.

From the Bulletin
The holy scriptures and the spoken word of the living prophets give emphasis to the fundamental principles and doctrines of the gospel. The reason we return to these foundational principles, to the pure doctrines, is because they are the gateway to truths of profound meaning. They are the door to experiences of sublime importance that would otherwise be beyond our capacity to comprehend. These simple, basic principles are the key to living in harmony with God and man. They are the keys to opening the windows of heaven. They lead us to the peace, joy, and understanding that Heavenly Father has promised to His children who hear and obey Him
My dear brothers and sisters, we would do well to slow down a little, proceed at the optimum speed for our circumstances, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most. Let us be mindful of the foundational precepts our Heavenly Father has given to His children that will establish the basis of a rich and fruitful mortal life with promises of eternal happiness, They will teach us to do "all these things ... in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that [we] should run faster than [we have] strength. [But] it is expedient that [we] should be diligent, [and] thereby ... win the prize." President DIETER F. UCHTDORF

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah January 1-23-2011

The lesson was based Elder M Russell Ballard’s October 2010 General Conference talk, O That Cunning Plan of the Evil One.
Temptation/Addiction
Just like with fly finishing, each person, each circumstance, and each instant are very different and Satan carefully craft the bait for each one of us, each circumstance, and each instance.

Satan makes evil look good and good look evil.  There are many counterfeits that he sets up to make the truth look ridiculous.

• Ancestor worship vs Genealogy and temple work
• Genealogy and temple work appear to some as ancestor worship, which is practiced by some cultures.  Sometimes this is in place of or side by side with worshipping God.  Genealogy and temple work does not include worshiping ancestors.  It shows concern and respect for our ancestors, but they are not to be worshipped.
• Communism vs Law of Consecration
• Communism is defined by dictionary.com  as, “a system of social organazation in which all economic and social activity is controlled by a totalitarian state dominated by a single and self-perpetuating political party.”
• Communism has often been tied to oppression of the people from whom the goods, services, and money are collected and whom they are supposed to be distributed back to as needed.
• Due to the horrible atrocities that have been perpetrated by many who have implemented Communism, many as very suspicious when a system of pooling resources and leveling the chasm between rich and poor is spoken of.
• It should be remembered that The Law of Consecration is not a system of giving hand outs to anyone, rich or poor.  It is a system of everyone giving 100% for everyone.
• Waco, Jim Jones, and “Fundamentalists” vs The Law of Consecration and a people of common beliefs living in communities together and voting the same on social issues.
• Much of the same issues as with communism are common with Waco, Jim Jones, and “Fundamentalists”, further making the law of consecration be perceived as evil.
• Due to the evils that have been done by radical groups, when it is spoken of by people of common faith moving into communities together and voting out things they do not want in their community people often think of the members of the community as mindless followers.  This sentiment is expressed, even if those in the community are highly educated and put lots of thought into what they are doing.
• Discrimination vs Decency
• Sacrificing virgins vs the ancient law of sacrificing animals as a symbol of Christ 
• In your face religion vs teaching correct principles and that god is real
• Fantasy wizardry vs the priesthood
• Gaudy rituals vs the ordinances of the gospel
• Environmental extremists and animal abusers vs using the planet and being good stewards of it.
• The earth and everything on it have been given for the use of man.  Not to abuse them.  It has been given to us to use animals to help us and even to eat them.  Animals have not been given to us to kill for sport.  Animals have not been given to us to eat with every meal every day in large quantities to the point that we have large factory farms that are an abuse of the animal and to the point that humans are morbidly obese.

2 Nephi 28:22
22 And behold, others he aflattereth away, and telleth them there is no bhell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful cchains, from whence there is no deliverance.

We have become a pleasure driven society.  The following are some examples.

• Skipping church or other responsibilities on the sabbath to watching the game, going boating, hunting, or skiing.
• Living to eat instead of eating to live.  Having the pleasure of the food be our primary driving force rather than the nutritional value.
• Spending too much of our income on pleasurable food rather than focusing on what is nutritious.
• Spending time watching TV rather than doing our duty.
• Spending money, or worse, using credit to buy things to give us pleasure (big TV, cars, boats, electronics) rather than saving for a rainy day or retirement or helping the poor.  Do we buy what we need or do we go into excess?
• Justifying premarital sex to make sure spouses are compatible sexually before getting married.  As if sex is critical to the success of a marriage.  As in most things in marriage, you grow together.

Isaiah 40

Esais is the Greek equivalent of Isaiah.

Luke states that the savior will bring salvation to the heathen nations - wiki Gentiles/missionary work

Isaiah 40:4
4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:

Isaiah could be speaking metaphorically about people.  The savior’s genealogy was that of royalty and yet He was a carpenter.  He was a carpenter and yet he was the Son of God.

Matthew 10:7
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

At hand means it has come.

Eating locust was not uncommon in John the Baptist's day, but it was generally eaten by the poor.  The point was brought forth that maybe his diet was much like missionaries eating ramen in our day.

Matthew 3:10
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Fruits are works.  Those who do not produce good works are cast off.

Just because one is a child of Abraham, or of Israel, or that one has confessed that Christ is ones savior one will be cast off if one does not produce fruits meet for repentance.

Fruits meet for repentance - you display what is important to you in your actions.  They are indicators that your character has changed.  Wiki repentance/character


The Family: A Proclamation to the World

Moses 6:5-6
5 And a book of remembrance was kept, in the which was recorded, in the language of Adam, for it was given unto as many as called upon God to write by the spirit of inspiration;
6 And by them their children were taught to read and write, having a language which was pure and undefiled.

“...it is good advice to slow down a little, steady the course, and focus on the essentials when experiencing adverse conditions.” (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Of Things That Matter Most”, October 2010 General Conference)

President Hinckly gave the following introduction to “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”.
“With so much of sophistry that is passed off as truth, with so much of deception concerning standards and values, with so much of allurement and enticement to take on the slow stain of the world, we have felt to warn and forewarn. In furtherance of this we of the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles now issue a proclamation to the Church and to the world as a declaration and reaffirmation of standards, doctrines, and practices relative to the family which the prophets, seers, and revelators of this church have repeatedly stated throughout its history. I now take the opportunity of reading to you this proclamation:” (President Gordon B. Hinckley, “Stand Strong against the Wiles of the World,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 98)

Heavenly Father generally refers to us as his children and not as inhabitants of the earth.

“All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

“In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World )

Realize means to make it happen.

The proclamation is a road map on how to be a husband, wife, father, mother, child of God.

President Hinckley followed the proclamation with, “We commend to all a careful, thoughtful, and prayerful reading of this proclamation. The strength of any nation is rooted within the walls of its homes. We urge our people everywhere to strengthen their families in conformity with these time-honored values.” (President Gordon B. Hinckley, “Stand Strong against the Wiles of the World,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 98)

From the Bulletin
"If we will hold fast to the Church's proclamation on the family, we will see that we hold the jewels, as it were, that can enrich so many other things. Let the world go its own way on the family. It appears to be determined to do that. But we do not have that option. Our doctrines and teachings on the family are very, very powerful, and they are full of implications for all the people on this planet." Elder Neal A. Maxwell, "Insights from My Life," Ensign, August 2000, 7.

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah January 1-16-2011

Sacrifice
Why do we sacrifice our time or our means?

• It is our duty.
• We gain blessings.
• It is who we are.

I don't know if the first two are telestial characteristics or terrestrial characteristics, but I do know that doing it because that is simply who we are is our goal and a celestial characteristic.

We offer the Lord a broken heart and a contrite spirit instead of animal sacrifice.  It isn't something we do.  It is something we become.

The goal of this life is about what we are to become and not empty actions.  We may think things we have to do is pointless, but the actions the Lord requires are to enhance our character and at times to change our character.

What is the one thing that the savior would tell us we personally lack.

Luke 18:18-23
18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit aeternal life?
19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is agood, save one, that is, God.
20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit aadultery, Do not bkill, Do not steal, Do not bear cfalse witness, dHonour thy father and thy mother.
21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the apoor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

What is the “one thing” that the savior would tell us we personally lack.


What are the key phrases you notice from the Christmas story in Luke chapter 2?

I can only learn so much in one scripture study session, so I better have lots of scripture study sessions.  I can only teach my kids so much in a family home evening, so I better have many family home evenings.  I can only absorb and learn so much  each time I go to the temple, so I should go to the temple a lot.

Luke 2:46 reads like this in the King James Version:
46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the atemple, sitting in the midst of the bdoctors, cboth hearing them, and dasking them questions.

Joseph Smith translated it as, "they were hearing him, and asking him questions"


The speakers were assigned to speak on a hero from The Book of Mormon.  One spoke on Teancum, one on Nephi, the son of Lehi and brother of Lamen, and one spoke on Captain Moroni.

From the Bulletin
"The Book of Mormon is a book that testifies that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world. Great prophets throughout the Book of Mormon have borne solemn witness that Jesus Christ is the Creator of the earth, the Redeemer of mankind, the Only Begotten of the Father. These Book of Mormon prophets knew Him, as Abraham and Moses did, and received and taught His everlasting gospel. As we read and study their words, we gain a deeper understanding of the Savior's matchless love, His perfect life and example, and the blessings of His great atoning sacrifice." Elder Craig C. Christensen, "A Book with a Promise," Ensign, May 2008