Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 25 Feb 2018

Bulletin

Alma 32:33

33 And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.

Sacrament Service 

First Speaker

.“Service to others is an important characteristic of a disciple of Jesus Christ. A disciple is willing to bear other people’s burdens and to comfort those who need comfort. Often Heavenly Father will meet the needs of others through you.” - For the Strength of Youth

Mosiah 2:17

17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

“the greatest responsibility that God has laid upon us to seek after our dead” (Joseph Smith, “The Words of Joseph Smith”)

Next Speaker

“First of all, revelation almost always comes in response to a question, usually an urgent question—not always, but usually. In that sense it does provide information, but it is urgently needed information, special information. Moses’ challenge was how to get himself and the children of Israel out of this horrible predicament they were in. There were chariots behind them, sand dunes on every side, and just a lot of water immediately ahead. He needed information all right—what to do—but it wasn’t a casual thing he was asking. In this case it was literally a matter of life and death.

“You will need information, too, but in matters of great consequence it is not likely to come unless you want it urgently, faithfully, humbly. Moroni calls it seeking “with real intent” (Moroni 10:4). If you can seek that way, and stay in that mode, not much that the adversary can counter with will dissuade you from a righteous path. You can hang on, whatever the assault and affliction, because you have paid the price to—figuratively, at least—see the face of God and live.” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence”, Devotional address given at Brigham Young University on 2 March 1999)

Exodus 14

14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

“Life will not be free from challenges, some of them bitter and hard to bear. We may wish to be spared all the trials of life, but that would be contrary to the great plan of happiness, ‘for it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things’ (2 Ne. 2:11). This testing is the source of our strength.” (President Boyd K. Packer, “Do Not Fear”, April 2004 General Conference)

‘Isn’t it interesting that the Greatest Intelligence in the Universe abandoned His Son at the most pivotal moment in His plan? Could it be that it was at this moment that the Greatest Intelligence of All bore witness to the universe that He had put His faith in Jesus? That He knew Jesus would choose Him no matter what? And could it be that when you think He has abandoned you that He is actually saying, ‘I have faith you will choose me even when I’m not there’?” (Michael McLean, “Michael McLean Opens Up About His 9-Year Faith Crisis and How He Found His Testimony Again”, LDS Living Magazine)

Charity is not an attribute.  It is who the Savior is.

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.

Charity is a gift of the spirit.  If we want it, we need to behave in a way that will allow us to have the spirit.

Next Speaker

We find answers when our scripture study starts with prayer.

3 Nephi 18:19

19 Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name;

1 Thessalonians 5:17-19

17 Pray without ceasing.

18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

19 Quench not the Spirit.

Matthew 7:7-11

7 ¶ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Moroni 7:9

9 And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such.

3 Nephi 18:21

21 Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed.

“Children learn through gentle direction and persuasive teaching. They search for models to imitate, knowledge to acquire, things to do, and teachers to please.

“Parents and grandparents fill the role of teacher. So do siblings of the growing child. In this regard, I offer four simple suggestions for your consideration:

“Teach prayer, Inspire faith, Live truth, and Honor God.”

…

“We learn to pray by praying.” (President Thomas S. Monson, “Teach the Children”, October 1997 General Conference)

Sunday School 

Bible Dictionary - Abrahamic Covenant

Baptism is the covenant of salvation. 

Marriage is the covenant of exhalation. 

“Rewards for obedience to the commandments are almost beyond mortal comprehension.” (Elder Russell M. Nelson, “Children of the Covenant”, April 1995 General Conference)

“each generation would be linked to the one which went on before … [in] the divine family of God.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, in Conference Report, Apr. 1965, p. 10.)

Youth/Parents Mission Meeting

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 18 Feb 2018

 Bulletin

2 Nephi 32:3

3 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

Sacrament Service 

First Speaker

John 8

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Next Speaker

Investing in the Gospel

Where do we invest our love?  Hobbies, people, jobs…?

Next Speaker

In contrast to the financial markets, the gospel is always a message of love when we invest in it.

The gospel, the doctrine, and life are all long term investments.

Do we have enough spiritual reserves to survive when your faith is tested?  When it is shaken?

Eph 2:20

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Eph 4:10-14

10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

“Man’s chief concern in life should not be the acquiring of gold, or of fame, or of material possessions. It should not be the development of physical prowess, nor of intellectual strength, but his aim, the highest in life, should be the development of a Christlike character.” (David O McKay, True to the Faith, p. 32.)

Sunday School 

The great flood was the baptism of the earth. The earth was still in telestial state at that time. When Christ returns that will be the purification by the Holy Ghost. The earth will be changed to a terrestrial state. The wicked will be destroyed. All those that can't abide a terrestrial glory.

“As yet there was no evidence of rain and flood. His people mocked and called him a fool. His preaching fell on deaf ears. His warnings were considered irrational. There was no precedent; never had it been known that a deluge [or flood] could cover the earth. How foolish to build an ark on dry ground with the sun shining and life moving forward as usual!” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball [2006], 140–41).

After Noah left the ark he built an altar. Just like Adam did when he left the garden of Eden. 

Elders Quorum 

My Lesson on Elder Oaks Talk on the Proclamation. 

Elder Dallin H Oaks, The Plan and the Proclamation

All quotes are from Elder Oaks talk unless otherwise specified.

A sister in stake conference said, “When we make an excuse as to why we are exempt from the council of a prophet we are exempting ourselves from the blessings that come from that council. “

“I think that as we get busy in our family, church, and secular lives, our inclination when confronted with uncomfortable commandments or instructions from Church leaders is to rationalize—to assert that because we are already stretched to the limit, we are doing enough, and our particular extenuating circumstances exempt us from having to obey those specific words of counsel or commandment. … These experiences have taught me that the busier we get, the more important it becomes, actually, that we exercise the childlike faith of Nephi: “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them’ (1 Nephi 3:7).  ” (The Power of Everyday Missionaries, Clayton Christensen ) 

“As is evident in our family proclamation, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are blessed with unique doctrine and different ways of viewing the world.”

“In a parable, Jesus described those who ‘[hear] the word’ but become ‘unfruitful’ when that word is ‘choke[d]’ by ‘the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches’ (Matthew 13:22). Later, Jesus corrected Peter for not savoring ‘the things that be of God, but those that be of men,’ declaring, ‘For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?’ (Matthew 16:23, 26).”

My thoughts

{

Take a second to think silently to yourself if you have any cares of the world that are trying to choke the word out of your life. 

Now take a second to think if you have any cares of the world that are succeeding in choking the word out of your life. 

} 

“...the writings of Jesus’s early Apostles frequently use the image of ‘the world’ to represent opposition to gospel teachings. “Be not conformed to this world” (Romans 12:2), the Apostle Paul taught. “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” (1 Corinthians 3:19). ”

My Thoughts

{

Take a moment to think if there are any parts of your behavior where you might conform to the world at times.

}

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While we talk today, I would like anyone who has an internet connected device to use it to search for answers to some of the questions I pose today.  Present them to the class or make a note of them for yourself.

“The Apostle James taught that ‘the friendship of the world is enmity with God[.] Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God’ (James 4:4).”

My Thoughts

{

This says we should NOT be a friend to the world.  Other places in the scriptures say we are to love our neighbor.  What if our neighbors are worldly.

We should not be a friend to the world, but we are to fellowship those in our ward.  What if our ward members are worldly?

Often when reading the scriptures or statements from modern day prophets we have to reconcile two things that seem contradictory that are both true.

So if we know that the friendship of the world is enmity to God is true because it is in the scriptures, then we must define what is “friendship of the world” and what is “enmity” and reconcile that again “love your neighbor” and “be a missionary” and “fellowship”.

Things to ponder on:

What is friendship of the world?

What is Enmity?

}

Anyone who has a device handy, dig in and see if you can find some scriptures or statements that come to your mind when we think of loving our neighbor, but not being a friend to the world.  While you do that I will read another paragraph from Elder Oaks’ talk.

“President Thomas S. Monson summarized these teachings: ‘We must be vigilant in a world which has moved so far from that which is spiritual. It is essential that we reject anything that does not conform to our standards, refusing in the process to surrender that which we desire most: eternal life in the kingdom of God.’1”

Anyone find anything about how we love our worldly neighbor and at the same time not be a friend to the world?

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“God created this earth according to His plan to provide His spirit children a place to experience mortality as a necessary step toward the glories He desires for all His children.“

“The restored gospel of Jesus Christ and the inspired family proclamation...are essential teachings to guide mortal preparation for exaltation.”

“In this mortal life, we have no memory of what preceded our birth, and we now experience opposition. We grow and mature spiritually by choosing to obey God’s commandments in a succession of right choices.”

“Latter-day Saints who understand God’s plan of salvation have a unique worldview that helps them see the reason for God’s commandments,”

“Our Savior’s Atonement reclaims us from death and, subject to our repentance, saves us from sin.”

“Inevitably, the actions of those who try to follow God’s plan of salvation can cause misunderstanding or even conflict with family members or friends who do not believe its principles. “

‘But whatever the cause of conflict with those who do not understand or believe God’s plan, those who do understand are always commanded to choose the Lord’s way instead of the world’s way.’

“[The Family Proclamation] declarations are, of course, visibly different from some current laws, practices, and advocacy of the world in which we live. In our day, the differences most evident are cohabitation without marriage, same-sex marriage, and the raising of children in such relationships. Those who do not believe in or aspire to exaltation and are most persuaded by the ways of the world consider this family proclamation as just a statement of policy that should be changed. In contrast, Latter-day Saints affirm that the family proclamation defines the kind of family relationships where the most important part of our eternal development can occur.”

“Converted Latter-day Saints believe that the family proclamation, issued nearly a quarter century ago and now translated into scores of languages, is the Lord’s reemphasis of the gospel truths we need to sustain us through current challenges to the family. “

My Thoughts

{

The Proclamation was restating existing gospel truths, perhaps to show that these are not just a policy or program that can be changed, but doctrine.

}

“gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.”

“that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.”

My thoughts

{

People struggle with issues that God has already given us the answer to years ago.

}

“The inspiration identifying the need for a proclamation on the family came to the leadership of the Church over 23 years ago. It was a surprise to some who thought the doctrinal truths about marriage and the family were well understood without restatement.”

“With so much of sophistry that is passed off as truth, with so much of deception concerning standards and values, with so much of allurement and enticement to take on the slow stain of the world, we have felt to warn and forewarn.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “Stand Strong against the Wiles of the World,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 100.)

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 11 Feb 2018

Bulletin

“Let us be a temple attending people. Attend the temple as frequently as personal circumstances allow. Keep a picture of the temple in your home that your children may see it. Teach them about the purposes of the house of the Lord. Have them plan from the earliest years to remain worthy of that blessing.” - President Howard W Hunter. 

Sacrament Service 

Conferences are to strengthen and give us a chance to evaluate our activity.

In ward conference we get instruction from our stake leader for our specific ward.

Not only do our dead need us in the temple, but we need to be there to receive strength.

“Whether we come to the temple with hearts full of joy or heavy with sorrow, the temple is the place for every worthy member with an open heart to be lifted and strengthened.” (President Jean B. Bingham, “The Temple Gives Us Higher Vision”, Ensign January 2018)

How are we doing as the Savior’s shipmate?

“‘Which way do you face?’ President Boyd K. Packer surprised me with this puzzling question while we were traveling together on my very first assignment as a new Seventy. Without an explanation to put the question in context, I was baffled. ‘A Seventy,’ he continued, ‘does not represent the people to the prophet but the prophet to the people. Never forget which way you face!’ It was a powerful lesson.” (Elder Lynn G. Robbins, “Which Way Do You Face?”, October 2014 General Conference)

The speaker proposed that profanity is the vain effort of a weak mind to express itself forcefully.

Be careful and do not push away the spirit with coarse words.  

Sunday School 

“Upon hearing the voice of God after partaking of the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve hid themselves in the Garden of Eden. God called unto Adam and asked, ‘Where art thou? And [Adam answered], I heard thy voice … , and I was afraid’ (Genesis 3:9–10). Notably, one of the first effects of the Fall was for Adam and Eve to experience fear. This potent emotion is an important element of our mortal existence.”

Moses 5:4

4 And Adam and Eve, his wife, called upon the name of the Lord, and they heard the voice of the Lord from the way toward the Garden of Eden, speaking unto them, and they saw him not; for they were shut out from his presence.

Sacrifice of the firstlings of the flock was symbolic of the sacrifice of the Savior. At first Adam did not know why, other than he was commanded by God to do it. 

Not only did Cain offer the wrong thing for a sacrifice, but he wasn't going to offer a sacrifice at all unto Satan told him to. 

“Are we our brothers’ keepers? In other words, are we responsible to look after the well-being of our neighbors as we seek to earn our daily bread? The Savior’s Golden Rule says we are. Satan says we are not.”

Elders Quorum 

Lesson based on A Yearning for Home - President Dieter F Uchtdorf

Dnc 84:33-40

33 For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies.

34 They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God.

35 And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord;

36 For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me;

37 And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father;

38 And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him.

39 And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood.

40 Therefore, all those who receive the priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved.

If we return to Father in Heaven, the place will be very familiar to us, because we have been there before. 

If I want to be like God, I better be enjoying doing what he does. Moses 1:39

Doctrine and Covenants 90:24

24 Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another.

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 4 Feb 2018

Bulletin

“The Lord told His leaders of the Restoration, and He tells us, that when we stand with faith upon His rock, doubt and fear are diminished; the desire to do good increases. As we accept President Monson’s invitation to plant in our hearts a testimony of Jesus Christ, we gain the power, the desire, and the courage to go to the rescue of others without concern for our own needs.” (President Henry B. Eyring, “Fear Not to Do Good”, October 2017 General conference)

Sacrament Service 

One brother talked about how he and his wife work as tour guides at the conference center.

Another sister talked about how she worked in the conference center for five years.  She said it is one of the best callings and you can call yourself to it.

Sunday School 

3 pillars of Salvation:  creation, fall, atonement

Moses 3:17

17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it, nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee; but, remember that I forbid it, for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

When in doubt one must choose the welfare of others.

Opposition is important for our earthly experience. Satan was allowed in the garden. Laman and Lemuel were taken with the rest of Levi’s family.

Results of the fall:

-Mortality 

-the ability to have children

-spiritual death - separation from God

-sickness

-misery and woe

-work to get the ground to produce

-sorrow and joy

“The plan of redemption must start with the account of the fall of Adam. In the words of Moroni, ‘By Adam came the fall of man. And because of the fall of man came Jesus Christ, … and because of Jesus Christ came the redemption of man’ (Mormon 9:12). Just as a man does not really desire food until he is hungry, so he does not desire the salvation of Christ until he knows why he needs Christ. No one adequately and properly knows why he needs Christ until he understands and accepts the doctrine of the Fall and its effect upon all mankind” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1987, 106; or Ensign, May 1987, 85).

“This suggested contrast between a sin and a transgression reminds us of the careful wording in the second article of faith: ‘We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression’ (emphasis added). It also echoes a familiar distinction in the law. Some acts, like murder, are crimes because they are inherently wrong. Other acts, like operating without a license, are crimes only because they are legally prohibited. Under these distinctions, the act that produced the Fall was not a sin—inherently wrong—but a transgression—wrong because it was formally prohibited. These words are not always used to denote something different, but this distinction seems meaningful in the circumstances of the Fall.

“Modern revelation shows that our first parents understood the necessity of the Fall. Adam declared, ‘Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God’ (Moses 5:10).

“Note the different perspective and the special wisdom of Eve, who focused on the purpose and effect of the great plan of happiness: ‘Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient’ (v. 11)” (“The Great Plan Of Happiness,” Ensign, Nov. 1993, 73).

Elders Quorum 

Matthew 24

3 ¶ And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

We don't know what is going on in other people's lives, but Father does. Before you judge, ask Him why they are hurting and what you can do.