Ward Council
From Handbook 2
“17.1 Where Uniformity Is Required
“To know which adaptations might be appropriate, leaders must first
understand the doctrines, ordinances, and practices that are
established by the scriptures and the teachings of latter-day prophets
and apostles. These are to be uniform throughout the Church.
“Stake presidents, bishops, and other local leaders have a sacred
obligation to maintain the uniformity and purity of the Church in all
of the categories outlined below. This need for uniformity is based on
the scriptural principle of ‘one Lord, one faith, one baptism’
(Ephesians 4:5; see also Mosiah 18:21).”
Ephesians 4
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one
hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
We maintain unity in the church not because we are mindless followers, but because it binds us together. If we are wise we will cling first to our identity as Saints and not by what school we went to, what ailments we have, what our race is, what our profession is, or anything that is less than the identity of being a member of the Lord's household.
Elders Quorum
Reading the Scriptures
Reading scriptures with kids is a great way to teach them to read.
At different stages of life we get different things out of different parts of the scriptures.
“We may not possess a library of two or three thousand volumes, but we may possess at small cost a priceless library that has cost the best blood that has ever been in this world.” (President George Albert Smith, In Conference Report, Oct. 1917, 43)
Sunday School
Mosiah 18-24
We make covenants with God through ordinances.
How did Alma know how to baptize and how did he get his authority? Was he around before Noah was king? Was the church in place, while corrupted somewhat by the priests? Is there more to Abinadi's speech or ministry that we do not have in the Book of Mormon?
Sacrament Service
Mosiah 2:9
9 And these are the words which he spake and caused to be written, saying: My brethren, all ye that have assembled yourselves together, you that can hear my words which I shall speak unto you this day; for I have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which I shall speak, but that you should hearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view.
Mosiah 18:8-10
8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?
Our (men) most important callings in life are in this order:
1. Husband (if you are given this calling)
2. Father (if you are given this opportunity)
3. Home teacher
John 10 - parable of the good shepherd.
1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
We should put God first in our lives. We should help our spouses to put God first in their lives.
From the Bulletin
President Wilford Woodruff (1807 — 1898), who served as President of the Church during some of its most difficult times, taught this about the importance of the Holy Ghost: "Every man or woman that has ever entered into the church of God, and been baptized for the remission of sins
[and received the gift of the Holy Ghost] has a right to revelation, a right to the Spirit of God, to assist them in their labors."
President Woodruff explained that "this Spirit reveals, day by day, to every man who has faith, those things which are for his benefit." This is the gift God has given to sustain us in our difficult journey through mortality when we walk by faith.
If we are to have this precious guidance, we must keep the commandments. President Woodruff taught: "The Holy Ghost will not dwell in an unholy tabernacle. If you would enjoy the full powers and gifts of your religion, you must be pure. If you are guilty of weakness, follies and sins, you must repent of them.”
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