Stake Conference
From the Bulletin
“I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives.”(President Thomas S. Monson, “The Power of the Book of Mormon”, April 2017 General Conference)
The visiting General Authority was Elder James J Hamula.
Adult Session of Stake Conference
Stake President
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.
We need to take the hastening of the work as top priority.
Include in our daily prayers those that are not with us at church.
Let it be said of us that we are “the best neighbors our neighbors have even encountered. “
Stake Relief Society President
“When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation, which President Thomas S. Monson just taught us, and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him.“ (President Russell M Nelson, “Joy and Spiritual Survival”, October 2016 General Conference)
“Over time, simple habits of belief lead to miraculous results. They transform our faith from a seedling into a dynamic power for good in our lives. Then, when challenges come our way, our rootedness in Christ provides steadfastness for our souls. God shores up our weaknesses, increases our joys, and causes ‘all things [to] work together for [our] good.’
“A few years ago, I spoke with a young bishop who was spending hours each week counseling with members of his ward. He made a striking observation. The problems that members of his ward faced, he said, were those faced by Church members everywhere—issues such as how to establish a happy marriage; struggles with balancing work, family, and Church duties; challenges with the Word of Wisdom, with employment, or with pornography; or trouble gaining peace about a Church policy or historical question they didn’t understand.
“His counsel to ward members very often included getting back to simple practices of faith, such as studying the Book of Mormon—as we were counseled by President Thomas S. Monson to do—paying tithing, and serving in the Church with devotion. Frequently, however, their response to him was one of skepticism: ‘I don’t agree with you, Bishop. We all know those are good things to do. We talk about those things all the time in the Church. But I’m not sure you’re understanding me. What does doing any of those things have to do with the issues I’m facing?’
“It’s a fair question. Over time, that young bishop and I have observed that those who are deliberate about doing the ‘small and simple things’—obeying in seemingly little ways—are blessed with faith and strength that go far beyond the actual acts of obedience themselves and, in fact, may seem totally unrelated to them. It may seem hard to draw a connection between the basic daily acts of obedience and solutions to the big, complicated problems we face. But they are related. In my experience, getting the little daily habits of faith right is the single best way to fortify ourselves against the troubles of life, whatever they may be. Small acts of faith, even when they seem insignificant or entirely disconnected from the specific problems that vex us, bless us in all we do.” (Elder L. Whitney Clayton, “Whatsoever He Saith unto You, Do It”, April 2017 General Conference)
Work toward deliberate discipleship. Define deliberate.
‘Come as you are,’ a loving Father says to each of us, but He adds, ‘Don’t plan to stay as you are.’ We smile and remember that God is determined to make of us more than we thought we could be.” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Songs Sung and Unsung”, April 2017 General Conference)
Enos 1
27 And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father. Amen.
Ogden Mission President's Wife
Chapter in Preach My Gospel on the Book of Mormon
“Commandments are not given to burden or restrict us. Rather, they are guideposts from an all-wise Heavenly Father to keep us out of trouble, to bring us a fulness of happiness in this life, and to bring us safely back home to Him.” (Elder Larry W. Gibbons, “Wherefore, Settle This in Your Hearts”, October 2006 General Conference)
DnC 42:12
12 And again, the elders, priests and teachers of this church shall teach the principles of my gospel, which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, in the which is the fulness of the gospel.
The Preach My Gospel manual has a section on questions of the soul.
There is one thing that all scripture heroes do. They obey.
Elder Hamula of the seventy
He commented that in the invocation it was mentioned that we have prayerfully prepared to receive.
Joseph went to the Grove to pray to find out how to act. To act in which church to join. When he received the answer to join none of them, that course of action had not occurred to him.
If we do our best to make good decisions through prayer and study then the Lord will give us warning of a bad decision, but we will still be allowed to choose for ourselves.
He opened it up to questions from the audience.
1 Thessalonians 5
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Matthew 24
42 ¶ Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Improve our sabbath worship at church and at home.
John 14
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Make sure you are asking in His name and not ours. Often we ask our own will, even though we ask using His name, but it is really in our name.
Asking in the Lord's name, you are agreeing to take on His will, His identity and character. Similar to how women have done that traditionally when getting married.
John 6
53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
The sacrament is the “enduring to the end” ordinance.
Stake President
DnC 44
Chapter Heading
Elders are to assemble in conference
1 Behold, thus saith the Lord unto you my servants, it is expedient in me that the elders of my church should be acalled together, from the east and from the west, and from the north and from the south, by letter or some other way.
2 And it shall come to pass, that inasmuch as they are faithful, and exercise faith in me, I will pour out my aSpirit upon them in the day that they assemble themselves together.
DnC 43
8 And now, behold, I give unto you a commandment, that when ye are assembled together ye shall instruct and edify each other, that ye may know how to act and direct my church, how to act upon the points of my law and commandments, which I have given.
9 And thus ye shall become instructed in the law of my church, and be sanctified by that which ye have received, and ye shall bind yourselves to act in all holiness before me
John 9
6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
The stake president encouraged us to do those things necessary for us to see more clearly.
“My dear associates in the work of the Lord, I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives. I so testify with all my heart in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” (President Thomas S. Monson, “The Power of the Book of Mormon”, April 2017 General Conference)
Primary Speaker
Jesus went to Gethsemane for me.
Youth Speaker
Young Adult Speaker
“We begin with Lehi alone ‘in a dark and dreary waste.’ Each of us experiences periods of darkness and loneliness. ‘When life gets dark and dreary, don’t forget to pray. Follow President Heber J. Grant’s example. Pray for strength to endure to the end. Ask Heavenly Father, ‘What more would You have me do?’” (Elder Kevin W. Pearson, “Stay by the Tree”, April 2015 General Conference)
Prayer opens up that channel of communication with God. It must be opened via our agency.
“God’s commandments are strict but not restrictive.” (Elder Kevin W. Pearson, “Stay by the Tree”, April 2015 General Conference)
“Lehi’s message is to stay by the tree. We stay because we are converted unto the Lord.” (Elder Kevin W. Pearson, “Stay by the Tree”, April 2015 General Conference)
Another Speaker
She testified that the power of God and reading the book of Mormon
Ogden Mission President
The spirit is manifest in our bodies in ways that are unique to us, because our spirit is connected to our entire unique body.
General Authority Speaker
Prelude music before sacrament meeting can help us receive what the ordinance of the sacrament provides.
Much of what we have acquired in this life must be set aside to become as a little child and come unto Christ.
One of the key things the Lord has taught is to be not afraid.
John 16
19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?
20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
Revelation 12
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Matthew 16
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Luke 12
31 ¶ But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
John 6
66 ¶ From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
This scripture tells about a doctrine that differed from traditions of society at that time that was taught by the Savior and people left him.
DnC 6
35 Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you.
36 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.
37 Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen.
DnC 78
17 Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you;
We as a people have more vision about what is coming than anyone else in the world.
“There is no equivocation, no doubt, no uncertainty in our minds. Those who have been true and faithful in this life will not fall by the wayside in the life to come.” (Bruce R McConkie, “The Dead Who Die in the Lord”, October 1976 General Conference)
“All of us hope for the joy of living in loving families. For some of us, it is a feeling we have not experienced—a feeling we know is possible but have not yet realized. We may have seen it in the lives of others. For others of us, family love has seemed more real and precious when death has separated us from a child, a mother, a father, a brother, a sister, or a loving and beloved grandparent.”
…
“A prophet of God once offered me counsel that gives me peace. I was worried that the choices of others might make it impossible for our family to be together forever. He said, ‘You are worrying about the wrong problem. You just live worthy of the celestial kingdom, and the family arrangements will be more wonderful than you can imagine.’” (President Henry B. Eyring, “The Hope of Eternal Family Love”, August 2016 Ensign)
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