Teachings of George Albert Smith, Chapter 12: An Enthusiastic Desire to Share the Gospel
The scariest time, generally, for missionaries worldwide to bring people to church is fast Sunday. In most wards you go to there are people getting up and expounding overly deep doctrine or even things that are not doctrine. There are also generally people that gets up and tells a long uncomfortable story about their life. Sometimes this is confessing sins or taking care of some sort of private business publicly.
A testimony is short and to the point. It testifies and gets out of the way for the spirit to carry that testimony to the heart of those that hear it. For further discussion on this topic see my post on Testimony (http://scripturetopics.blogspot.com/2012/04/testimony.html)
“Our Father’s children everywhere are anxious to know what they should do, but, by reason of the evil influences that have pervaded the earth, they have been deceived; honorable men of the earth are blinded to the truth. … The adversary is at work, and the only power that can neutralize his influence is the gospel of Jesus Christ.” (George Albert Smith, In Conference Report, Apr. 1922, 53)
“And Philip answered, “Why, he came from Nazareth.” And then the good man said, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said, “Come and see.” (See John 1:43–46.)
Nathanael had been taught to believe that no good could come from Nazareth, and yet he was the man whom the Savior later referred to as an Israelite without guile—a good man, but deceived because of the stories that he had heard.” (George Albert Smith, In Conference Report, Oct. 1945, 120)
Do we fail to listen to true messages we hear because of who said it? Do we feel we have to avoid living in a certain place or move because of the reputation of that place?
The Lord loves us enough to allow us to be crushed, at times, with trials to make us want to reach for something better.
Sunday School
Alma 8-12
The class member study guide had this chart in it comparing the teachings of Alma and Amulek:
| Doctrine | Amulek’s Witness | Alma’s Witness |
| The Atonement | Alma 11:40 | Alma 12:33–34 |
| Repentance | Alma 11:40 | Alma 12:24 |
| Judgment | Alma 11:41 | Alma 12:14 |
| Resurrection | Alma 11:41–42 | Alma 12:24–25 |
The cities of Melek and Amonihah were three days apart.
Alma is chased out of the city and spit upon. After he leave an angel appears to him and tells him to rejoice. He's got to be feeling very poorly, but the angel says to rejoice. He tells him to rejoice because he has been faithful. Additionally, he needs to rejoice because the lord is sending him a companion with whom to preach the gospel.
Why do missionaries generally go in pairs like Alma and Amulek? Safety, compensate for each others' weaknesses, give more than one witness of the message.
Zeezrum takes Amulek’s words out of context and tries to use them against him.
God saves us from our sins, not in our sins.
If we continue in our sins we make the atonement of null effect, other than that we will be resurrected.
In chapter 12 Zeezrom changes in that now he asks questions he actually wants answers to rather just to trip him up.
Sacrament Service
One speaker spoke on helping our families stand in holy places.
Three focuses on standing in holy places are temple, home, and church
“We unavoidably stand in so many unholy places and are subjected to so much that is vulgar, profane, and destructive of the Spirit of the Lord that I encourage our Saints all over the world, wherever possible, to strive to stand more often in holy places. Our most holy places are our sacred temples. Within them is a feeling of sacred comfort. We should seek to be worthy to take our families to the temple to be sealed together for eternity. We should also search for the records of our kindred dead so that they too can be sealed to us in one of the temples.” (James E Faust, Standing in Holy Places, April 2005 General Conference)
We solidify our relationship with our spouse by attending the temple together.
“I encourage you to establish your own goal of how frequently you will avail yourself of the ordinances offered in our operating temples. What is there that is more important than attending and participating in the ordinances of the temple? What activity could have a greater impact and provide more joy and profound happiness for a couple than worshipping together in the temple?” (Elder RIchard G Scott, Temple Worship: The Source of Strength and Power in Times of Need, April 2009 General Conference)
“If every man in this church who has been ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood were to qualify himself to hold a temple recommend, and then were to go to the house of the Lord and renew his covenants in solemnity before God and witnesses, we would be a better people. There would be little or no infidelity among us. Divorce would almost entirely disappear. So much of heartache and heartbreak would be avoided. There would be a greater measure of peace and love and happiness in our homes. There would be fewer weeping wives and weeping children. There would be a greater measure of appreciation and of mutual respect among us. And I am confident the Lord would smile with greater favor upon us.” (President Gordon B Hinckley, Ensign, Nov. 1995, 53)
“In the peace of these lovely temples, sometimes we find solutions to the serious problems of life. Under the influence of the Spirit, sometimes pure knowledge flows to us there. Temples are places of personal revelation. When I have been weighed down by a problem or a difficulty, I have gone to the House of the Lord with a prayer in my heart for answers. These answers have come in clear and unmistakable ways.” (President Ezra Taft Benson, “What I Hope You Will Teach Your Children about the Temple”, Ensign Aug 1985)
“Our chapels are dedicated to the Lord as holy places. We are told we should go to the house of prayer and offer up our sacraments upon His holy day. 11 Partaking of the sacrament is a solemn and sacred privilege. In our chapels we are instructed in principles of the gospel, children are blessed, members are confirmed and given the gift of the Holy Ghost, and testimonies of the truthfulness of the gospel are borne. A convert in Texas said, when she walked through the chapel door, there was a feeling of holiness that she had never before experienced in her life.
“We must try harder to be a holy people. We live in the fulness of times. So much has been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. This places upon us a special relationship to the Lord. We are the beneficiaries, guardians, and caretakers of these responsibilities under the delegation, authority, and direction of President Hinckley, who holds all the keys. As children of the Lord we should strive every day to rise to a higher level of personal righteousness in all of our actions. We need to guard constantly against all of Satan’s influences.” (President James E Faust, Standing In Holy Places, April 2005 General Conference)
Help children be reminded of family birthdays and other important dates.
Another speaker spoke on father.
The dictionary defines father as "male parent". A father is much more than a male parent, just as a mother does not just mean a female parent. One can operate in a father role without having children and one can operate as a father with regard to children that are not our children by law or by blood.
Make our conduct that which will allow us to be guided in our decisions and lives by the spirit of the Lord.
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