Elders Quorum
The lesson was on President Eyring’s conference talk, Where Is the Pavilion?
Doctrine and Covenants 121:4-6
4 O Lord God Almighty, maker of heaven, earth, and seas, and of all things that in them are, and who controllest and subjectest the devil, and the dark and benighted dominion of Sheol—stretch forth thy hand; let thine eye pierce; let thy pavilion be taken up; let thy hiding place no longer be covered; let thine ear be inclined; let thine heart be softened, and thy bowels moved with compassion toward us.
5 Let thine anger be kindled against our enemies; and, in the fury of thine heart, with thy sword avenge us of our wrongs.
6 Remember thy suffering saints, O our God; and thy servants will rejoice in thy name forever.
Elder Eyring said, “By the world’s standards, I had achieved success. But I was given by the Church the chance to leave California and go to Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. My lifetime professional objectives might have been a pavilion dividing me from a loving Father who knew better than I did what my future could hold. But I was blessed to know that whatever success I had in my career and family life to that point was a gift from God. And so, like a child, I knelt in prayer to ask what I should do. I was able to hear a quiet voice in my mind that said, ‘It’s my school.’ There was no pavilion shielding me from God. In faith and humility, I submitted my will to His and felt His care and closeness.”
This goes well with the thoughts from previous weeks on adjusting our expectations to be able to partake of what the Lord has planned for us. The missionary from last week, who said he he had planned to go to a foreign country for his mission and speak a foreign language and had to adjust his expectations for the Lord to give him the blessing of the mission he had planned for him in California. The sister in stake conference that talked of people needing to reconcile what they should do and what they had planned to do. That one more vacation now cut short due the lowered age requirement for full time missionary service.
The only thing that gets in our way is our own distractions.
Sunday School
Mormon 1-6, Moroni 9
What does it mean to be a sober child? Not a smart alec. Quick to observe. Trustworthy.
Mormon is given instruction at 10 years old for something to do when he is 24. My kids often can't remember something I told them to do five minutes ago, let alone for 14 years.
Mormon 2:13
13 But behold this my joy was vain, for their sorrowing was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God; but it was rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin.
Moroni 9: 4
4 Behold, I am laboring with them continually; and when I speak the word of God with sharpness they tremble and anger against me; and when I use no sharpness they harden their hearts against it; wherefore, I fear lest the Spirit of the Lord hath ceased striving with them.
Sharpness can mean harsh, but it can also mean to the point or precise.
Sacrament Service
John 14: 6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me
It is not easy to let our children fail, but it may be the lesson they need to learn.
“the most important … work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own homes” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee [2000], 134)
"When we make and keep gospel covenants and receive the ordinances of salvation, our children will see and be influenced to seek the blessings of this kind of obedience. We teach them principles of honesty and integrity by being honest, truthful, trustworthy, and dependable. We teach them the virtues of responsibility and accountability by being doers, not doubters, by accepting opportunities to participate and to serve, by making our word our bond."
When Nephi built the boat he had to make his tools, trim the lumber, and make nails or whatever fasteners they needed to hold the boat together.
We desire people to come to or come back to church because this is home much like when we want family to be with us at the holidays and do not want them to be away, even if we have differences.
“Clearly, those of us who have been entrusted with precious children have been given a sacred, noble stewardship, for we are the ones God has appointed to encircle today’s children with love and the fire of faith and an understanding of who they are” (M Russell Ballard, “Great Shall Be the Peace of Thy Children,” Ensign, Apr. 1994, 60)
“The Savior cherished His relationships and interactions with children. As we seek to view our children as He does, we can be filled with charity toward them. The insights we receive through prayer will help us respond appropriately to their needs and challenges. It helps to remember that parenting is a fluid, dynamic process. It can take time to see the results of our efforts. What works today may not work next year or even tomorrow. And no parent handles every situation perfectly. When we fall short, it is important to apologize and try to do better. After all, parents are growing and learning too. With the Lord’s help, parents can provide appropriate love, limits, and latitude that will enable their children to reach their full potential as sons and daughters of God.” (Love, Limits, and Latitude, Ensign August 2008)
”Every member of the Church is important to us. Indeed, every person—member or not—is important to us, but surely among the most significant of all our responsibilities is the responsibility to protect and nurture the children of the Church. . . . We care so much about you and about the children you are teaching. Prepare well to bless these little ones. Give it your best effort“ (Elder Jeffrey R Holland, ”Anchoring Children in the Scriptures,“ Primary training video)
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 18 November 2012
Ward Council
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith Chapter 2"I have only good will in my heart for mankind. I haven’t any animosity in my heart toward any living human being. I know some that I wish would behave themselves a little better than they do, but that is their loss, not mine. If I can get my arm around them and help them back on the highway of happiness by teaching them the gospel of Jesus Christ, my happiness will be increased thereby. … You cannot drive people to do things which are right, but you can love them into doing them, if your example is of such a character that they can see you mean what you say."
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith Chapter 14"How I pray that we as the servants of the Lord may have charity for mankind, may have patience with those who err, and in kindness and love go forward teaching the simple principles of the gospel of our Lord to the blessing of every soul with whom we come in contact."
This does not mean that we coddle people to the point that we are afraid to teach true principles, but I find that often I try to teachpeople a lesson, rather than a principle.
I found President Smith's word instructive for me.
Elders Quorum
Teaching of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith chapter 22Our kids learn by watching us, so we need to be very deliberate about making our behavior that belongs to the type of people we want our children to become.
Parents have the primary responsibility to teach their children the gospel.
"Call your families about you, and if you have failed in the past to give them an understanding of the purposes of life and a knowledge of the Gospel of our Lord, do it now, for I say to you as a servant of the Lord, they need it now and they will need it from now on." (In Conference Report, Apr. 1937, 36)
If we create an environment where our kids can absorb good things and turn off bad things they will be stronger people when they grow up.
A class member expressed that he was considering not going to church one day and his little son told him, "but Dad, I need to go learn about Jesus."
Sunday School
3 Nephi 27-4 Nephi3 Nephi 27:1 1 And it came to pass that as the disciples of Jesus were journeying and were preaching the things which they had both heard and seen, and were baptizing in the name of Jesus, it came to pass that the disciples were gathered together and were united in mighty prayer and fasting.
3 Nephi 27:5 5 Have they not read the scriptures, which say ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name? For by this name shall ye be called at the last day;
"After an encounter with the living Son of the living God, nothing is ever again to be as it was before. The Crucifixion, Atonement, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ mark the beginning of a Christian life, not the end of it." (Elder Jeffrey R Holland, The First Great Commandment, General Conference October 2012)
200 years after the savior pride enters into the Nephite people. Costly apparel and such and they no longer had all things in common.
4 Nephi 1:29 29 And again, there was another church which denied the Christ; and they did persecute the true church of Christ, because of their humility and their belief in Christ; and they did despise them because of the many miracles which were wrought among them.
The people divide into tribes or races again (ites)
Sacrament Service"“The more often we see the things around us—even the beautiful and wonderful things—the more they become invisible to us." (“Live in Thanksgiving Daily,” 11)
Missionary that recently returned from the California Sacramento mission spoke to us.
Moroni 7:47 47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
Charity is the never ending search for another person's happiness.
John 16:23-24 23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
The missionary stated that he had all sorts of ideas of exotic places he wanted to go on his mission and other languages he wanted to speak. He said that he had big plans and none of them had to do with Sacramento California or the English language. Afterward he says it was the best two years of his life.
Just like the talk in stake conference this missionary's talk was somewhat about adjusting our wants and expectations to open ourselves up to the blessings the lord has for us.
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith Chapter 2"I have only good will in my heart for mankind. I haven’t any animosity in my heart toward any living human being. I know some that I wish would behave themselves a little better than they do, but that is their loss, not mine. If I can get my arm around them and help them back on the highway of happiness by teaching them the gospel of Jesus Christ, my happiness will be increased thereby. … You cannot drive people to do things which are right, but you can love them into doing them, if your example is of such a character that they can see you mean what you say."
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith Chapter 14"How I pray that we as the servants of the Lord may have charity for mankind, may have patience with those who err, and in kindness and love go forward teaching the simple principles of the gospel of our Lord to the blessing of every soul with whom we come in contact."
This does not mean that we coddle people to the point that we are afraid to teach true principles, but I find that often I try to teachpeople a lesson, rather than a principle.
I found President Smith's word instructive for me.
Elders Quorum
Teaching of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith chapter 22Our kids learn by watching us, so we need to be very deliberate about making our behavior that belongs to the type of people we want our children to become.
Parents have the primary responsibility to teach their children the gospel.
"Call your families about you, and if you have failed in the past to give them an understanding of the purposes of life and a knowledge of the Gospel of our Lord, do it now, for I say to you as a servant of the Lord, they need it now and they will need it from now on." (In Conference Report, Apr. 1937, 36)
If we create an environment where our kids can absorb good things and turn off bad things they will be stronger people when they grow up.
A class member expressed that he was considering not going to church one day and his little son told him, "but Dad, I need to go learn about Jesus."
Sunday School
3 Nephi 27-4 Nephi3 Nephi 27:1 1 And it came to pass that as the disciples of Jesus were journeying and were preaching the things which they had both heard and seen, and were baptizing in the name of Jesus, it came to pass that the disciples were gathered together and were united in mighty prayer and fasting.
3 Nephi 27:5 5 Have they not read the scriptures, which say ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name? For by this name shall ye be called at the last day;
"After an encounter with the living Son of the living God, nothing is ever again to be as it was before. The Crucifixion, Atonement, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ mark the beginning of a Christian life, not the end of it." (Elder Jeffrey R Holland, The First Great Commandment, General Conference October 2012)
200 years after the savior pride enters into the Nephite people. Costly apparel and such and they no longer had all things in common.
4 Nephi 1:29 29 And again, there was another church which denied the Christ; and they did persecute the true church of Christ, because of their humility and their belief in Christ; and they did despise them because of the many miracles which were wrought among them.
The people divide into tribes or races again (ites)
Sacrament Service"“The more often we see the things around us—even the beautiful and wonderful things—the more they become invisible to us." (“Live in Thanksgiving Daily,” 11)
Missionary that recently returned from the California Sacramento mission spoke to us.
Moroni 7:47 47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
Charity is the never ending search for another person's happiness.
John 16:23-24 23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
The missionary stated that he had all sorts of ideas of exotic places he wanted to go on his mission and other languages he wanted to speak. He said that he had big plans and none of them had to do with Sacramento California or the English language. Afterward he says it was the best two years of his life.
Just like the talk in stake conference this missionary's talk was somewhat about adjusting our wants and expectations to open ourselves up to the blessings the lord has for us.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 11 November 2012
Elders Quorum
George Albert Smith Manual Chapter 21
It is easy to react angrily to an angry child, but it is more effective to respond with patience and kindness. Take the time to pause and get down on their level and not hover over them. Try to remember what it was like when we were kids.
Sunday School
3 Nephi 22-26Isaiah 54: 2. 2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;
"The prophets likened latter-day Zion to a great tent encompassing the earth. That tent was supported by cords fastened to stakes. Those stakes, of course, are various geographical organizations spread out over the earth. Presently, Israel is being gathered to the various stakes of Zion." (President Ezra Taft Benson, “Strengthen Thy Stakes”, Ensign January 1991)
The savior often quoted prophets to reinforce his message.
3 Nephi 22:16 16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
Do we really feast on the scriptures or do we just try to get through it. Are the scriptures a treasure to us? “I have had many people ask me through the years, ‘When do you think we will get the balance of the Book of Mormon records?’ And I have said, ‘How many in the congregation would like to read the sealed portion of the plates?’ And almost always there is a 100-percent response. And then I ask the same congregation, ‘How many of you have read the part that has been opened to us?’ And there are many who have not read the Book of Mormon, the unsealed portion. We are quite often looking for the spectacular, the unobtainable. I have found many people who want to live the higher laws when they do not live the lower laws” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982], 531–32)
William Tyndale was put to death for translating the Bible into English.
“Consider the magnitude of our blessing to have the Holy Bible and some 900 additional pages of scripture, including the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. Then consider that, in addition, the words of prophets spoken as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost in settings such as this, which the Lord calls scripture (see D&C 68:2–4), flow to us almost constantly by television, radio, Internet, satellite, CD, DVD, and in print. I suppose that never in history has a people been blessed with such a quantity of holy writ. And not only that, but every man, woman, and child may possess and study his or her own personal copy of these sacred texts, most in his or her own language. How incredible such a thing would have seemed to the people of William Tyndale’s day and to the Saints of earlier dispensations! Surely with this blessing the Lord is telling us that our need for constant recourse to the scriptures is greater than in any previous time. May we feast continuously on the words of Christ that will tell us all things we should do.” (Elder D Todd Christofferson, "The Blessing of Scripture", General Conference April 2010) "Scriptures...greater than at any other time" - Elder christianson - wiki a bible a bible, why do we have more scriptures
Sacrament Service
"Satan uses media to deceive you by making what is wrong and evil look normal, humorous, or exciting. He tries to mislead you into thinking that breaking God’s commandments is acceptable and has no negative consequences for you or others." (“For the Strength of Youth”)
Doctrine and Covenants 121:45
45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.
2 Nephi 28:20-21
20 For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good. 21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnalsecurity, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.
From the Bulletin
Moral discipline is learned at home. While we cannot control what others may or may not do, [we] can certainly stand with those who demonstrate virtue in their own lives and inculcate virtue in the rising generation.…We must declare the essential need to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before Him...Each must be persuaded that service and sacrifice for the well-being and happiness of others are far superior to making one’s own comfort and possessions the highest priority.(D Todd Christofferson, “Moral Discipline,” General Conference October 2009)
Fireside
Yeah Samake, mayor of Ouelessebougou, Mali, Africa spoke to us. It was a very interesting talk. My two oldest kids and I shook his hand.
George Albert Smith Manual Chapter 21
It is easy to react angrily to an angry child, but it is more effective to respond with patience and kindness. Take the time to pause and get down on their level and not hover over them. Try to remember what it was like when we were kids.
Sunday School
3 Nephi 22-26Isaiah 54: 2. 2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;
"The prophets likened latter-day Zion to a great tent encompassing the earth. That tent was supported by cords fastened to stakes. Those stakes, of course, are various geographical organizations spread out over the earth. Presently, Israel is being gathered to the various stakes of Zion." (President Ezra Taft Benson, “Strengthen Thy Stakes”, Ensign January 1991)
The savior often quoted prophets to reinforce his message.
3 Nephi 22:16 16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
Do we really feast on the scriptures or do we just try to get through it. Are the scriptures a treasure to us? “I have had many people ask me through the years, ‘When do you think we will get the balance of the Book of Mormon records?’ And I have said, ‘How many in the congregation would like to read the sealed portion of the plates?’ And almost always there is a 100-percent response. And then I ask the same congregation, ‘How many of you have read the part that has been opened to us?’ And there are many who have not read the Book of Mormon, the unsealed portion. We are quite often looking for the spectacular, the unobtainable. I have found many people who want to live the higher laws when they do not live the lower laws” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982], 531–32)
William Tyndale was put to death for translating the Bible into English.
“Consider the magnitude of our blessing to have the Holy Bible and some 900 additional pages of scripture, including the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. Then consider that, in addition, the words of prophets spoken as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost in settings such as this, which the Lord calls scripture (see D&C 68:2–4), flow to us almost constantly by television, radio, Internet, satellite, CD, DVD, and in print. I suppose that never in history has a people been blessed with such a quantity of holy writ. And not only that, but every man, woman, and child may possess and study his or her own personal copy of these sacred texts, most in his or her own language. How incredible such a thing would have seemed to the people of William Tyndale’s day and to the Saints of earlier dispensations! Surely with this blessing the Lord is telling us that our need for constant recourse to the scriptures is greater than in any previous time. May we feast continuously on the words of Christ that will tell us all things we should do.” (Elder D Todd Christofferson, "The Blessing of Scripture", General Conference April 2010) "Scriptures...greater than at any other time" - Elder christianson - wiki a bible a bible, why do we have more scriptures
Sacrament Service
"Satan uses media to deceive you by making what is wrong and evil look normal, humorous, or exciting. He tries to mislead you into thinking that breaking God’s commandments is acceptable and has no negative consequences for you or others." (“For the Strength of Youth”)
Doctrine and Covenants 121:45
45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.
2 Nephi 28:20-21
20 For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good. 21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnalsecurity, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.
From the Bulletin
Moral discipline is learned at home. While we cannot control what others may or may not do, [we] can certainly stand with those who demonstrate virtue in their own lives and inculcate virtue in the rising generation.…We must declare the essential need to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before Him...Each must be persuaded that service and sacrifice for the well-being and happiness of others are far superior to making one’s own comfort and possessions the highest priority.(D Todd Christofferson, “Moral Discipline,” General Conference October 2009)
Fireside
Yeah Samake, mayor of Ouelessebougou, Mali, Africa spoke to us. It was a very interesting talk. My two oldest kids and I shook his hand.
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