Bulletin
“True chastity is love in action. The need for charity is everywhere.” (President Thomas S. Monson, “Charity Never Faileth”, October 2010 General Conference)
Sacrament Service
First Speaker
A sister that recently returned from a mission to Wisconsin spoke to us.
Matthew 4
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
We choose to follow and then he makes us, molds us, changes us.
“Hope is trust in God’s promises, faith that if we act now, the desired blessings will be fulfilled in the future.” (President James E. Faust, “Hope, an Anchor of the Soul”, October 1999 General Conference)
Be consistently diligent.
Next Speaker
The plan is not for us to get there on our own, but to be guided by him who made the plan.
Delaying repentance can cause more damage to us while we delay. The procedure to repent later can be more painful and damaging as well than if we had taken care of it early. Much like a cancer that goes on untreated.
Many of the prophets and heroes in the scriptures were before that grievous sinners.
Sunday School
We must be dependent on the Savior and yet self-reliant. How do we be both dependent and self-reliant both?
“The substance of what I want to say is this: The same principle self-reliance—has application to the spiritual and to the emotional.
“We have been taught to store a year’s supply of food, clothing, and, if possible, fuel—at home. There has been no attempt to set up storerooms in every chapel. We know that in the crunch our members may not be able to get to the chapel for supplies.
“Can we not see that the same principle applies to inspiration and revelation, the solving of problems, to counsel, and to guidance?
“We need to have a source of it stored in every home, not just in the bishop’s office.” (Elder Boyd K. Packer, “Solving Emotional Problems in the Lord’s Own Way”, April 1978)
DnC 56
17 Wo unto you poor men, whose hearts are not broken, whose spirits are not contrite, and whose bellies are not satisfied, and whose hands are not stayed from laying hold upon other men’s goods, whose eyes are full of greediness, and who will not labor with your own hands!
“In fact, brethren, work is always a spiritual necessity even if, for some, work is not an economic necessity.” (Elder Neal A. Maxwell, “Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel”, April 1998 General Conference)
“I urge you, brethren, to look to the condition of your finances. I urge you to be modest in your expenditures; discipline yourselves in your purchases to avoid debt to the extent possible. Pay off debt as quickly as you can, and free yourselves from bondage.” (President Gordon B. Hinckley, “To the Boys and to the Men”, October 1998 General Conference)
Elders Quorum
My lesson - Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Gordon B Hinckley, Chapter 20
Page 35 of Preach My Gospel, the section “The Great Apostasy”
“After the death of Jesus Christ, wicked people persecuted the Apostles and Church members and killed many of them. With the death of the Apostles, priesthood keys and the presiding priesthood authority were taken from the earth. The Apostles had kept the doctrines of the gospel pure and maintained the order and standard of worthiness for Church members. Without the Apostles, over time the doctrines were corrupted, and unauthorized changes were made in Church organization and priesthood ordinances, such as baptism and conferring the gift of the Holy Ghost.
“Without revelation and priesthood authority, people relied on human wisdom to interpret the scriptures and the principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ. False ideas were taught as truth. Much of the knowledge of the true character and nature of God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost was lost. The doctrines of faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost became distorted or forgotten. The priesthood authority given to Christ’s Apostles was no longer present on the earth. This apostasy eventually led to the emergence of many churches.
“After centuries of spiritual darkness, truth-seeking men and women protested against current religious practices. They recognized that many of the doctrines and ordinances of the gospel had been changed or lost. They sought for greater spiritual light, and many spoke of the need for a restoration of truth. They did not claim, however, that God had called them to be a prophet. Instead, they tried to reform teachings and practices that they believed had been changed or corrupted. Their efforts led to the organization of many Protestant churches. This Reformation resulted in an increased emphasis on religious freedom, which opened the way for the final Restoration.”
The reformation in many ways paved the way for the restoration. We can often be frustrated by what these reformed churches got wrong, but many of the reformers did the best they could with the light they had and preserved much many of them at great financial cost to the themselves or loss of social standing and even many at the cost of their lives.
Sometimes we just look at other churches as leading people away from the truth, but many of those churches helped bring our church into being and many of them do great things today using the light of Christ.
Bottom of Page 274 continuing to the top little bit of 275
“At one point in the question-and-answer session, Mike Wallace, a senior reporter with the television show 60 Minutes, said that he wanted to do a special report on President Hinckley. President Hinckley paused and then responded, “Thank you. I’ll take a chance.’ “
“President Hinckley later admitted that he had some apprehension about being interviewed by Mike Wallace, who had a reputation as a tough reporter. He explained why he agreed to the interview despite this apprehension:
“ ‘I felt that it offered the opportunity to present some affirmative aspects of our culture and message to many millions of people. I concluded that it was better to lean into the stiff wind of opportunity than to simply hunker down and do nothing.’ “
In conversations with non members, inactives, or critics, do we sometimes steer away from a potentially stiff wind of opportunity?
In the new job I have, I have heard conversations of incorrect ideas about religion and I have been sometimes slow to speak up, being the new guy.
Articles of Faith 11
“We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may”
On the surface it seems like a reasonable and easy thing. Is it always easy?
Is it easy when other people’s lifestyles, which are based on their belief of how they show live bang into the way we want to live and the way we want our neighborhoods and communities to be?
Because we are to allow others to worship how, where or what they will, does that mean we don’t speak up against a false idea. How do we let them worship what they want and still defend truth?
Last paragraph before Section 3 on Page 277
“We are not out to injure other churches. We are not out to hurt other churches. We do not argue with other churches. We do not debate with other churches. We simply say to those who may be of other faiths or of no faith, ‘You bring with you such truth as you have and let us see if we can add to it.’ ”
Last 2 paragraphs on page 276
“I call attention to these striking words of Joseph Smith spoken in 1843: ‘If it has been demonstrated that I have been willing to die for a ‘Mormon,’ I am bold to declare before Heaven that I am just as ready to die in defending the rights of a Presbyterian, a Baptist, or a good man of any other denomination; for the same principle which would trample upon the rights of the Latter-day Saints would trample upon the rights of the Roman Catholics, or of any other denomination’ (History of the Church, 5:498).”
Some could take this as a contradiction, since the Church opposes gay marriage. Being gay is not necessarily a religion, but often people that have ways that they want to live their life aggregate into groups and develop a system of similar beliefs.
So why is this statement by Joseph Smith about defending the rights of others not a contradiction to the Church’s behavior today or is it?
With the hurricanes in the South, we have seen people from other races helping each other. We have seen people from other states helping each other. We have seen people from other religions helping each others. It should not take a huge catalyst like a hurricane or forest fire to engage these things within our communities and within ourselves. The trick is to be mindful of the small catalysts that the Lord if creating every day around us and act upon them.
President Hinckley stated, “But in all of this there is no doctrinal compromise. There need not be and must not be on our part. But there is a degree of fellowship as we labor together.”
Article of Faith 13 states,
13 We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
Last 2 Paragraphs on P278
“In those causes which enhance the environment of the community, and which are designed for the blessing of all of its citizens, let us step forward and be helpful. . . .
“. . . Teach those for whom you are responsible the importance of good civic manners. Encourage them to become involved, remembering in public deliberations that the quiet voice of substantive reasoning is more persuasive than the noisy, screaming voice of protest. In accepting such responsibilities our people will bless their communities, their families, and the Church.”
President Hinckley shared this poem:
“He drew a circle that shut me out—
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took him in!”
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