Elders Quorum
The lesson was based on “The Vision of Prophets regarding Relief Society: Faith, Family, Relief”, Julie B Beck, April 2012 General Conference
“I will organize the women under the priesthood after the pattern of the priesthood. … The Church was never perfectly organized until the women were thus organized.” (Quoted in Sarah Granger Kimball, “Auto-biography,” Woman’s Exponent, Sept. 1, 1883, p. 51)
The title "relief" society is instructive to its purpose.
We as fathers need to show our daughters that being a mother is a sacred thing. Not just raising children, but being a nurturer in their communities, even if they do not have children. When we hear doctrines of the world as to what women should be, especially those that conflict with motherhood, we need to we need to testify of the truth to them.
The relief society was not created as busy work. It was created because there is a real need.
Sunday School
“Now it came to pass that there were many of the rising generation that could not understand the words of king Benjamin, being little children at the time he spake unto his people; and they did not believe the tradition of their fathers” (Mosiah 26:1)
Mosiah 26:25-26
25 And it shall come to pass that when the second trump shall sound then shall they that never knew me come forth and shall stand before me.
26 And then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, that I am their Redeemer; but they would not be redeemed.
-Tthe second trump starts the second resurrection
We as humans love to have authority, but we hate to have responsibility. Thus, we love to pass judgement on others, but dread to be called to positions of responsibility in the church.
70 times 7 is an expression from Hebrew that basically means infinity plus one or to forgive completely and entirely.
Holding a grudge is like drinking poison in order to harm the person we have a grudge against
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Disciplinary actions of the church have 3 purposes. 1 - To help a person repent. 2 - To protect the innocent. 3 - To protect the good name of the church.
Sacrament Service
Alma 5:11-14
11 Behold, I can tell you—did not my father Alma believe in the words which were delivered by the mouth of Abinadi? And was he not a holy prophet? Did he not speak the words of God, and my father Alma believe them?
12 And according to his faith there was a mighty change wrought in his heart. Behold I say unto you that this is all true.
13 And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God. And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore they were saved.
14 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?
Doctrine and Covenants 59:4
4 And they shall also be crowned with blessings from above, yea, and with commandments not a few, and with revelations in their time—they that are faithful and diligent before me.
This scriptures seems to be tieing blessings to commandments. People generally equal restrictiveness and having something taken away from them when they are given commandments and guidelines, rather than being given more and gaining freedom.
Doctrine and Covenants 59:9-11
9 And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;
10 For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;
11 Nevertheless thy vows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times;
It says we should keep our covenants everyday, but Sunday more so. This scripture says that on the sabbath we should go to the house of pray and offer up our sacraments. Additionally it says the DAY is to rest from OUR labors and pay devotion unto the most high. The entire day to rest and the entire day to pay devotion to God. Not just for the time we are in church services, but all day. Not go to church and then go play with your family, but all day pay devotions to the Most High.
How can we make the most out of the lord's day?
Sometimes we think of resting from our labors as merely letting the hay baler stand idle in the field or putting a Closed sign on the business door. Yet in today’s world, labor includes the everyday work of our lives. This could mean business activities we may accomplish from home, athletic competitions, and other pursuits that take us away from Sabbath day worship and the opportunity to minister to others. (Elder L Tom Perry, The Sabbath and the Sacrament, April 2011 General Conference)
Moroni 7:48
48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.
The sabbath is a day of rest. Rest does not equal recreation.
“Whether at home or in church, your thoughts and your conduct should be always in harmony with the spirit and purpose of the Sabbath. Places of amusement and recreation, while at proper times may serve a needed end, are not conducive of spiritual growth and such places will not keep you ‘unspotted from the world’ but will rather deny you the ‘fullness of the earth’ promised to those who comply with the law of the Sabbath. You who make the violation of the Sabbath a habit, by your failure to ‘keep it holy,’ are losing a soul full of joy in return for a thimble full of pleasure.” (Harold B Lee, Decisions for Successful Living, pp. 147–48.)
“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!” (“Saturday:, Primary Children’s Song Book)
“We do not go to Sabbath meetings to be entertained or even solely to be instructed. We go to worship the Lord. It is an individual responsibility, and regardless of what is said from the pulpit, if one wishes to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth, he may do so by attending his meetings, partaking of the sacrament, and contemplating the beauties of the gospel. If the service is a failure to you, you have failed. No one can worship for you; you must do your own waiting upon the Lord.” (Spencer W Kimball, Ensign, Jan. 1978, 4–5)
“I have noticed that an increasing number of our leaders and members do not sing the congregational songs. Perhaps they do not know them or there are not enough hymnbooks. We should sing the songs of Zion—they are an essential part of our worship.” (Elder Boyd K Packer, “Reverence Invites Revelation”, October 1991 General Conference)
“I believe He also desires us to dress appropriately. Our youth may think the old saying “Sunday best” is outdated. Still, we know that when Sunday dress deteriorates to everyday attire, attitudes and actions follow. Of course, it may not be necessary for our children to wear formal Sunday attire until the sun goes down. However, by the clothing we encourage them to wear and the activities we plan, we help them prepare for the sacrament and enjoy its blessings throughout the day.” (Elder L Tom Perry, “The Sabbath and the Sacrament”, General Conference April 2011)
People seem to get caught up in the part about “may not be necessary for our children to wear formal attire until the sun goes down.” They miss the phrase “formal Sunday attire”. Elder Perry didn’t say they should not stay in Sunday attire, he said it didn’t have to be formal. I interpret that to mean ties, suit coats, and perhaps stockings. The rest of the quote seems to indicate that The entire day should be Sunday attire. After all it is Sunday attire and it is Sunday.
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