Stake Conference Adult Session
Patriarchal Blessings
A stake patriarch spoke and gave us some history of the area. He talked about in the 70s there being a Weber College stake.
He said that he gave a patriarchal blessing to someone that was of the tribe of Juda. They ended up tracing their genealogy back to the English royal family, which traces back to the tribe of Judah.
Most in the church are from the line of Ephraim.
“[A patriarchal blessing], given in the spirit of a father’s love, and sealed upon us in the authority of the Priesthood, becomes a power in our lives; a comfort to our days. It is a message which if read and honored aright, will become an anchor in stormy days, our encouragement in cloudy days. It states our certain destination here and hereafter, if we live by the law; and as life goes on, it strengthens our faith and leads us into truth.” ( John A Widtsoe, “Evidences and Reconciliations”, 1:74–75.)
Church Public Affairs
A couple that are called to do Church public affairs spoke. This is not a proselyting call, but baptisms do happen.
Some of their responsibilities are to get Church services approved for hospitals, temple sites approved, and so forth.
Joy
The dictionary defines joy as the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying;
Christ has given us the plan of happiness or the good news that we might have joy.
What do we pursue to find happiness? Joy comes from happiness for something of exceptional greatness. Are the things we pursue of exceptional greatness?
Because we are in enemy territory, we must be very cautious about what we do and say.
We need to exercise our faith. What does it mean to exercise? When we exercise our body, we are not at rest. We are exerting ourselves. We are stretching our boundaries of comfort and ability.
Our testimonies need to be spiritual testimonies and not just intellectual testimonies.
3 Nephi 11: 3
3 And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn.
In contrast Satan tries to get to us with noise.
We all know we should pray, read scriptures, do genealogy, and so on. Each of these can help us learn the gospel, but they also provide opportunities for us to have quiet moments to hear the spirit.
It takes a while to tune our ear to understand someone speaking a foreign language, even when you know the language. The same is true of learning to understand the spirit, even though we may know parts of the gospel in our mind.
"Stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come" (D&C 87:8).
Love
The dictionary defines love as “a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.”
John 3:16 - Even though he loved us so much, he still requires us to do something to be saved.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Moroni 10: 32
32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
What is all might, all mind, and all strength?
To be a successful missionary, you have to learn to love everyone. This is also true for being a successful human.
Use appropriate pronouns when addressing heavenly father (thee, thy, thou, thine).
Sunday Morning Session
Elder Marlin K. Jensen, of the Seventy
He said that he was the first president of the Huntsville stake.
Is having the holy ghost's guidance our greatest desire?
Jacob 4:13
13 Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him prophesy to the understanding of men; for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls. But behold, we are not witnesses alone in these things; for God also spake them unto prophets of old.
We perceive lots of things in out lives that aren't entirely accurate. The holy ghost can help us see things are they really are.
Alma 5:47
47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.
Doctrine and Covenants 68:31
31 Now, I, the Lord, am not well pleased with the inhabitants of Zion, for there are idlers among them; and their children are also growing up in wickedness; they also seek not earnestly the riches of eternity, but their eyes are full of greediness.
Elder Neal L Anderson
Proverbs 3: 5
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Never let your youth be an excuse.
“Had I but served my God with half the zeal I served my King, He would not in mine age have left me naked to mine enemies.” - Shakespeare's Henry VIII
President Thomas s Monson
Ephesians 2:19
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
People return because they see the potential in returning.
People return because they feel the love of those in the church.
Leopards can't change their spots. We don't work with leopards. We work with men who have the power of agency.
Patriarchal Blessings
A stake patriarch spoke and gave us some history of the area. He talked about in the 70s there being a Weber College stake.
He said that he gave a patriarchal blessing to someone that was of the tribe of Juda. They ended up tracing their genealogy back to the English royal family, which traces back to the tribe of Judah.
Most in the church are from the line of Ephraim.
“[A patriarchal blessing], given in the spirit of a father’s love, and sealed upon us in the authority of the Priesthood, becomes a power in our lives; a comfort to our days. It is a message which if read and honored aright, will become an anchor in stormy days, our encouragement in cloudy days. It states our certain destination here and hereafter, if we live by the law; and as life goes on, it strengthens our faith and leads us into truth.” ( John A Widtsoe, “Evidences and Reconciliations”, 1:74–75.)
Church Public Affairs
A couple that are called to do Church public affairs spoke. This is not a proselyting call, but baptisms do happen.
Some of their responsibilities are to get Church services approved for hospitals, temple sites approved, and so forth.
Joy
The dictionary defines joy as the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying;
Christ has given us the plan of happiness or the good news that we might have joy.
What do we pursue to find happiness? Joy comes from happiness for something of exceptional greatness. Are the things we pursue of exceptional greatness?
“...you young people are being raised in enemy territory.” (President Boyd K Packer, Counsel to Youth - Ensign Nov. 2011)
Because we are in enemy territory, we must be very cautious about what we do and say.
We need to exercise our faith. What does it mean to exercise? When we exercise our body, we are not at rest. We are exerting ourselves. We are stretching our boundaries of comfort and ability.
Our testimonies need to be spiritual testimonies and not just intellectual testimonies.
3 Nephi 11: 3
3 And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn.
In contrast Satan tries to get to us with noise.
We all know we should pray, read scriptures, do genealogy, and so on. Each of these can help us learn the gospel, but they also provide opportunities for us to have quiet moments to hear the spirit.
It takes a while to tune our ear to understand someone speaking a foreign language, even when you know the language. The same is true of learning to understand the spirit, even though we may know parts of the gospel in our mind.
"Stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come" (D&C 87:8).
Love
The dictionary defines love as “a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.”
John 3:16 - Even though he loved us so much, he still requires us to do something to be saved.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Moroni 10: 32
32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
What is all might, all mind, and all strength?
To be a successful missionary, you have to learn to love everyone. This is also true for being a successful human.
Use appropriate pronouns when addressing heavenly father (thee, thy, thou, thine).
Sunday Morning Session
Elder Marlin K. Jensen, of the Seventy
He said that he was the first president of the Huntsville stake.
Is having the holy ghost's guidance our greatest desire?
Jacob 4:13
13 Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him prophesy to the understanding of men; for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls. But behold, we are not witnesses alone in these things; for God also spake them unto prophets of old.
We perceive lots of things in out lives that aren't entirely accurate. The holy ghost can help us see things are they really are.
John 14: 26
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.Sister Rosemary M. Wixom, Primary General President
We must do more than physically provide and manage our children. If we do not teach our children, the world will.Alma 5:47
47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.
Doctrine and Covenants 68:31
31 Now, I, the Lord, am not well pleased with the inhabitants of Zion, for there are idlers among them; and their children are also growing up in wickedness; they also seek not earnestly the riches of eternity, but their eyes are full of greediness.
Elder Neal L Anderson
Proverbs 3: 5
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Never let your youth be an excuse.
“Had I but served my God with half the zeal I served my King, He would not in mine age have left me naked to mine enemies.” - Shakespeare's Henry VIII
"We must learn to separate need from greed." (President Thomas S Monson, Peace, Be Still, General Conference October 2002)
President Thomas s Monson
Ephesians 2:19
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
People return because they see the potential in returning.
People return because they feel the love of those in the church.
Leopards can't change their spots. We don't work with leopards. We work with men who have the power of agency.
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