Joint Priesthood/Relief Society Meeting
There is a big push to hasten the work of the Lord right now.
What is the spirit of Elijah?
The people's hearts turning to their father's and to their children. Through this desire the redemptive work for the dead is done.
Family history consultants and the high priest group leader help people get started with family history.
Sunday School
Zion
There are many different and accurate definitions of Zion. Sometimes one meaning and sometimes more than one meaning at the same time
- One heart and mind.
- Gathering place of the saints of God.
- All the saints of God everywhere.
- Jackson county Missouri.
- Jerusalem
- A community of the saints of God obeying the law of consecration.
Doctrine and Covenants 105:6-13 - The saints had contentions and could not establish Zion in the sense of one heart and one mind.
We can try to establish Zion in our homes even if our communities or congregations are not there yet. the process starts with individual families.
Doctrine and Covenants 52:14-15
14 And again, I will give unto you a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived; for Satan is abroad in the land, and he goeth forth deceiving the nations—
15 Wherefore he that prayeth, whose spirit is contrite, the same is accepted of me if he obey mine ordinances.
15 Wherefore he that prayeth, whose spirit is contrite, the same is accepted of me if he obey mine ordinances.
He shows us a pattern to not be deceived. As Satan goes deceiving all people in all nations, the only way to understand what is real is to pray with a contrite spirit.
"Lesson number one for the establishment of Zion in the 21st century: You never ‘check your religion at the door.’ Not ever.
“My young friends, that kind of discipleship cannot be—it is not discipleship at all. As the prophet Alma has taught the young women of the Church to declare every week in their Young Women theme, we are ‘to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in,’ 13 not just some of the time, in a few places, or when our team has a big lead." (Elder Jeffrey R Holland, Israel, Israel, God Is Calling, 10 SEPTEMBER 2012)
Doctrine and Covenants 97:21
21 Therefore, verily, thus saith the Lord, let Zion rejoice, for this is Zion—the pure in heart; therefore, let Zion rejoice, while all the wicked shall mourn.
Doctrine and Covenants 64:34
34 Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.
The Lord has given us instructions on how to be successful. If we are obedient to the instructions he has given we will have be happy and have all we need.
Doctrine and Covenants 105:3
3 But behold, they have not learned to be obedient to the things which I required at their hands, but are full of all manner of evil, and do not impart of their substance, as becometh saints, to the poor and afflicted among them;
Zion is a happy place. Zion is a safe place.
Sacrament Service
Moroni 7:33
33 And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.
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.
“It is only when we love God and Christ with all of our hearts, souls, and minds that we are able to share this love with our neighbors through acts of kindness and service—the way that the Savior would love and serve all of us if He were among us today.”(Elder M Russell Ballard, Finding Joy Through Loving Service, April 2011 General Conference)
John 13:34-35
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
“First, charity begins at home. The single most important principle that should govern every home is to practice the Golden Rule—the Lord’s admonition that “all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12). Take a moment and imagine how you would feel if you were on the receiving end of thoughtless words or actions. By our example, let us teach our family members to have love one for another.” (Elder M Russell Ballard, Finding Joy Through Loving Service, April 2011 General Conference)
“If we say that early death is a calamity, disaster, or tragedy, would it not be saying that mortality is preferable to earlier entrance into the spirit world and to eventual salvation and exaltation? If mortality be the perfect state, then death would be a frustration, but the gospel teaches us there is no tragedy in death, but only in sin. ‘… blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. …’ (See D&C 63:49.)” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball, (2006); also Faith Precedes the Miracle, 100, 101, 102)
“... that the supreme sacrifice of His Son might be as complete as it was voluntary and solitary, the Father briefly withdrew from Jesus the comfort of His Spirit, the support of His personal presence. It was required, indeed it was central to the significance of the Atonement, that this perfect Son who had never spoken ill nor done wrong nor touched an unclean thing had to know how the rest of humankind—us, all of us—would feel when we did commit such sins. For His Atonement to be infinite and eternal, He had to feel what it was like to die not only physically but spiritually, to sense what it was like to have the divine Spirit withdraw, leaving one feeling totally, abjectly, hopelessly alone.” (Elder Jeffrey R Holland, “None Were With Him”, April 2009 General Conference)
