Sacrament Service
Bulletin
“If we teach by the Spirit and you listen by the Spirit, some one of us will touch on your circumstance, sending a personal prophetic epistle just to you.” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “An Ensign to the Nations”, April 2011 General Conference)
First Speaker
Ephesians 4:29
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Having the use of language is a miracle.
Next Speaker
“There will be times in our lives when we find ourselves on an unexpected path, facing circumstances much more severe than a disrupted vacation. How do we respond when events, often out of our control, alter the life we had planned or hoped for?”
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“Dealing with the challenges of life is not about ignoring reality but rather where we choose to focus and the foundation upon which we choose to build.” (Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, “Turn to the Lord”, October 2017 General Conference)
Proverbs 3:5-7
5 ¶ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 ¶ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
“Do we trust His commandments to be for our good? His leaders, though imperfect, to lead us well? His promises to be sure? Do we trust that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ do know us and want to help us? Even in the midst of trials, challenges, and hard times, do we still trust Him?”
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“In whatever we do, we should not decide nor act out of a spirit of fear. Truly, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear” (2 Timothy 1:7). (Do you realize the idea of “fear not” is emphasized throughout the scriptures?) The Lord has taught me that discouragement and fear are tools of the adversary. The Lord’s answer to hard times is to go forward with faith.” (Elder Stanley G. Ellis, “Do We Trust Him? Hard Is Good”, October 2017 General Conference)
When miracles happen and prayers are answered they need to be documented.
The story of the currant bush (Hugh B Brown, “God Is the Gardener”, BYU speech May 31, 1968)
“If mortal hands can transform rubble and ruins into a beautiful house of worship, then we can have confidence and trust that our loving Heavenly Father can and will rebuild us. His plan is to build us into something far greater than what we were—far greater than what we can ever imagine. With each step of faith on the path of discipleship, we grow into the beings of eternal glory and infinite joy we were designed to become.” (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “He Will Place You on His Shoulders and Carry You Home”, April 2016 General Conference)
Next Speaker
“The world is drifting. … Many things are tolerated today that would not have been tolerated for a moment twenty years ago. New problems have arisen with which we must now contend that we never dreamed of even in the days of my youth” (Joseph Fielding Smith, in Conference Report, Oct. 1916, 71).
“if you think the church has been fully restored, you are just seeing the beginning.”
“This is a global ministry. We’re prophets for the whole world—all of God’s children, not just the members of the Church. So on this tour we’ve talked to people in five different countries. There are 200 countries in the world and more. Five is such a small drop in the bucket. Yes, we’ll get around, but we’ll still miss more than we’ll touch. But we’ll try. We won’t give up just because it’s a big job.
“We’re just at the exponential phase of growth, yes, but it will continue. The Lord said, “I will hasten my work in its time” [D&C 88:73], and He makes good on His promises.
“We are witnesses to a process of restoration. If you think the Church has been fully restored, you are just seeing the beginning. There’s much more to come.
“Wait until next year—and then the next year. Eat your vitamin pills. Get your rest. It’s going to be exciting!” (Russell M. Nelson, in “Interview with President Nelson and Elder Stevenson in Chile,” Church Newsroom, YouTube video, 30 October 2018, 5:09–6:28, youtube.com/watch?v=hOc2R2IpK7w)
One of the gifts of the Spirit is faith.
“The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty.” (Sixty-first Semiannual General Conference of the Church, Monday, October 6, 1890, Salt Lake City, Utah. Reported in Deseret Evening News, October 11, 1890, p. 2.)
Normal can be a rut and change pops us out of ruts.
DnC 124
45 And if my people will hearken unto my voice, and unto the voice of my servants whom I have appointed to lead my people, behold, verily I say unto you, they shall not be moved out of their place.
Be strong until we can say, “thank you for the change”.
Combined Relief Society / Priesthood Meeting
“We are concerned that some Church members ignore the oft-repeated direction to prepare and live within a budget, avoid consumer debt, and to save against a time of need. Consideration should also be given to investing wisely with responsible and established financial institutions. We are also concerned that there are those who use relationships of trust to promote risky or even fraudulent investment and business schemes.” (27 February 2008 First Presidency Letter)
‘Let us work for what we need. Let us be self-reliant and independent. Salvation can be obtained on no other principle. Salvation is an individual matter, and we must work out our own salvation in temporal as well as in spiritual things.” (Marion G. Romney, in Welfare Services Meeting Report, Oct. 2, 1976, 13.)
Prepare and live within a budget.
Do you know where your money went and if you don't, who does?
“All of us are responsible to provide for ourselves and our families in both temporal and spiritual ways. To provide providently, we must practice the principles of provident living: joyfully living within our means, being content with what we have, avoiding excessive debt, and diligently saving and preparing for rainy-day emergencies. When we live providently, we can provide for ourselves and our families and also follow the Savior’s example to serve and bless others.” (Elder Robert D. Hales, “Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually”, April 2009 General Conference)
“In seeking to overcome debt and addictive behaviors, we should remember that addiction is the craving of the natural man, and it can never be satisfied. It is an insatiable appetite. When we are addicted, we seek those worldly possessions or physical pleasures that seem to entice us. But as children of God, our deepest hunger and what we should be seeking is what the Lord alone can provide—His love, His sense of worth, His security, His confidence, His hope in the future, and assurance of His love, which brings us eternal joy.” (Elder Robert D. Hales, “Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually”, April 2009 General Conference)
2 Nephi 9
51 Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.
“My dear brethren, the work of patience boils down to this: keep the commandments; trust in God, our Heavenly Father; serve Him with meekness and Christlike love; exercise faith and hope in the Savior; and never give up. The lessons we learn from patience will cultivate our character, lift our lives, and heighten our happiness. They will help us to become worthy priesthood bearers and faithful disciples of our Master, Jesus Christ.” (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Continue in Patience”, April 2010 General Conference)
