Sacrament Service
Moses 4:30
30 For as I, the Lord God, liveth, even so my words cannot return void, for as they go forth out of my mouth they must be fulfilled.
“The Holy Ghost doesn’t tell us to improve everything at once. If He did, we would become discouraged and give up. The Spirit works with us at our own speed, one step at a time, or as the Lord has taught, ‘line upon line, precept upon precept, … and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, … for unto him that receiveth I will give more.’6 For example, if the Holy Ghost has been prompting you to say ‘thank you’ more often, and you respond to that prompting, then He may feel it’s time for you to move on to something more challenging—like learning to say, ‘I’m sorry; that was my fault.’” (Elder Larry R Lawrence, “What Lack I Yet”, October 2105 General Conference)
“With childlike humility and willingness to focus on our Father in Heaven and our Savior, we take steps toward Them, never giving up hope, even if we fall. Our loving Heavenly Father rejoices in each and every faithful step, and if we fall, He rejoices in each effort to get back up and try again.” (Elder Randall K Bennett, “Your Next Step”, October 2105 General Conference)
Things that give us pleasure are not necessarily things that will bring us happiness.
A missionary that recently returned from his mission in the Philippines spoke to us.
“Subjects for general conference talks are assigned—not by mortal authority but by the impressions of the Spirit. Many subjects would address the mortal concerns we all share. But just as Jesus did not teach how to overcome the mortal challenges or political oppression of His day, He usually inspires His modern servants to speak about what we must do to reform our personal lives to prepare us to return to our heavenly home. On this Easter weekend I have felt impressed to talk about the precious and timeless teachings in one of the parables of Jesus.” (Elder Dallin H Oaks, “The Parable of the Sower”, April 2015 General Conference)
Personal reformation starts with a change of heart.
“The verb convert means ‘to turn from one belief or course to another,’ [and] conversion is ‘a spiritual and moral change attending a change of belief with conviction.’ As used in the scriptures, converted generally implies not merely mental acceptance of Jesus and his teachings, but also a motivating faith in him and in his gospel, a faith which works a transformation, an actual change in one’s understanding of life’s meaning and in one’s allegiance to God—in interest, in thought, and in conduct. While conversion may be accomplished in stages, one is not really converted in the full sense of the term unless and until he is at heart a new person” (President Marion G Romney, in Conference Report, Oct. 1975, 107–8; or Ensign, Nov. 1975, 71).
Mosiah 3:19
19 And out of the ground I, the Lord God, formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and commanded that they should come unto Adam, to see what he would call them; and they were also living souls; for I, God, breathed into them the breath of life, and commanded that whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that should be the name thereof.
“The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment.” (Marion G Romney, in Conference Report, Oct. 1985, 4–6; or Ensign, Nov. 1985, 5–7)
Doctrine and Covenants 122:7
7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
1 Peter 1:7
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Our trials are more precious than gold.
“Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come. Of that I personally attest.”(Elder Jeffrey R Holland, “An High Priest of Good Things to Come”, October 1999 General Conference)
10 Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works.
As we change our perspective in our trials we will be blessed.
2 Nephi 2: 27
27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.
Hymn - count your many blessings.
Memorize scripture and ponder on what you have memorized.
Helaman 3:35
35 Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.
“The Holy Ghost will help identify the personal changes you need to make for full conversion.” (Elder Richard G Scott, “Full Conversion Brings Happiness”, April 2002 General Conference)
Sunday School
My lesson on temporal self-reliance
Elders Quorum
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson chapter 22
The way that we attain Zion in the church we need to attain Zion in our family then in our ward then in our stake and region and so forth.
2 Tim 1:7
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
How do we make Zion at home?
Watch your communication. Remember your please and thank yous. Be cautious with sarcasm. It has been said that how we speak to our children is what becomes their internal dialog.
Moses 7:18
18 And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.
When Joseph Smith prayed on what church to join Satan bound his tongue and he had to exert great effort to break free of that. Satan would like to bind all of our tongues that we do not share the gospel with our family, our neighborhood, and the world. It takes great effort to overcome that.
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