Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 27 December 2020

Sacrament Service

The speaker talked about “The Living Christ”.

He said that our faith in Christ is the seed that we plant.  Hope is the plant that grows out of it.  Charity is the fruit that Faith and Hope produces.

1 Corinthians 13:!3

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Moroni 7:41

41 And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.

“Too many people consider repentance as punishment—something to be avoided except in the most serious circumstances.”(President Russell M. Nelson, We Can Do Better and Be Better, April 2019 General Conference)

Elder Quorum

The discussion this week will be on We Talk of Christ By Elder Neil L. Andersen

The talk can be found here:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/45andersen?lang=eng

“During this period of uncertainty, I have felt an unusual gratitude for my sure and certain knowledge that Jesus is the Christ.”

Sure:  Confident in what one thinks or knows; having no doubt that on is right.

Certain:  Known for sure; established beyond doubt.

Knowledge:  Facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education.

“Like a guiding star in a clear, dark sky, Jesus Christ lights our way.”

“He is the anchor of our souls”

D&C 88:96-98

96 And the saints that are upon the earth, who are alive, shall be quickened and be caught up to meet him.

97 And they who have slept in their graves shall come forth, for their graves shall be opened; and they also shall be caught up to meet him in the midst of the pillar of heaven—

98 They are Christ’s, the first fruits, they who shall descend with him first, and they who are on the earth and in their graves, who are first caught up to meet him; and all this by the voice of the sounding of the trump of the angel of God.

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 20 December 2020

Sacrament Service

Moroni 7:40-42

40 And again, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you concerning ahope. How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope?

41 And what is it that ye shall ahope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have bhope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.

42 Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.

Jesus makes our journey possible.  Do we make our journey harder than it needs to be?

Life is not pass or fail.  It is about what we have become.

The speaker shared how his grandson made a FaceBook video called Baseball and the gospel. https://fb.watch/2vHIX_YcxH/

“Do Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with God

By Elder Dale G. Renlund

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

To do justly means acting honorably. We act honorably with God by walking humbly with Him. We act honorably with others by loving mercy.

“As followers of Jesus Christ, and as Latter-day Saints, we strive—and are encouraged to strive—to do better and be better.1 Perhaps you have wondered, as I have, ‘Am I doing enough?’ ‘What else should I be doing?’ or ‘How can I, as a flawed person, qualify to ‘dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness’?’

“The Old Testament prophet Micah asked the question this way: ‘Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God?’ Micah satirically wondered whether even exorbitant offerings might be enough to compensate for sin, saying: ‘Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten [thousand] … rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for … the sin of my soul?’

“The answer is no. Good deeds are not sufficient. Salvation is not earned.5 Not even the vast sacrifices Micah knew were impossible can redeem the smallest sin. Left to our own devices, the prospect of returning to live in God’s presence is hopeless.

“Without the blessings that come from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, we can never do enough or be enough by ourselves. The good news, though, is that because of and through Jesus Christ we can become enough. All people will be saved from physical death by the grace of God, through the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. And if we turn our hearts to God, salvation from spiritual death is available to all “through the Atonement of [Jesus] Christ … by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.”9 We can be redeemed from sin to stand clean and pure before God. As Micah explained, ‘[God] hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?’”(Elder Dale G. Renlund, Do Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with God, October 2020 General Conference)

Sunday School

Some gifts of the Spirit we are likely born with.

“These are not simply three good things on a list. In a certain sense, they are the most important three things in the world. They are the foundational Christian virtues. Each is a trait of character to be cultivated and developed. Each is a set of attitudes and beliefs to guide thought and action. Each is a choice. Each is a gift from God.

Faith, hope, and charity may be likened to the three legs of a stool. As a boy visiting my grandmother’s farm, I was impressed with the three-legged stool used for milking cows. Just as the stool’s three legs enabled it to rest firmly on uneven ground, if we are grounded in faith, hope, and charity, we too will be on solid footing, even when the ground beneath us is rough or bumpy. Just as a one- or two-legged stool will teeter precariously, we too will be vulnerable to toppling over if we neglect any of these three virtues.

In my study of this topic, I’ve noticed several things. First, faith, hope, and charity are mutually reinforcing. An increase in one tends to result in an increase in the others. If we are feeling weak with respect to one, we can gather strength by focusing on the other two.

There is also a temporal dimension to the relationship. Faith is rooted in the past—in Christ’s death and resurrection and in His Atonement for our sins. Hope is focused on the future—in the promise that through Christ’s Atonement and by the covenants we make and keep, we can return to the presence of our Father in Heaven. And charity is enacted in the present—because it is only here and now that we can really love.

There is also a dimension of progression and culmination: faith and hope lead to charity, and it is charity—Christ’s love for us—that never fails.5 If we desire to develop and be endowed with this Christlike love, it will be by traveling the road of faith and hope.” (BRETT G. SCHARFFS, The Most Important Three Things in the World, May 12, 2009, https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/brett-g-scarffs/important-three-things-world/)

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 13 December 2020

Sacrament Service

First Speaker

Moroni 7:12-13

12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually.

13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.

Luke 22:32

32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Second Speaker

The speaker shared that the document “The Living Christ” is a very appropriate document for Christmas time.

The speaker read “The Living Christ”.

Are the scriptures more than just pleasant fables?  If they are then think about and remember how you know.

Alma 30:44

44 But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.

2 Peter 1:16-19

16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

The children’s song My Heavenly Father Loves Me illustrates what Alma was saying to Korihor.

Elders Quorum

Lesson based on talk Let God Prevail By President Russell M. Nelson

Someone suggested that to understand the gathering of Israel.

“So imagine my delight when I was led recently to a new insight. With the help of two Hebrew scholars, I learned that one of the Hebraic meanings of the word Israel is “let God prevail.” Thus the very name of Israel refers to a person who is willing to let God prevail in his or her life. That concept stirs my soul!” - From the talk

Jacob’s wrestle with God probably means to struggle to align his will to God’s.  Since his name being changed to Isreal, which means “Let God prevail” make that interpretation make sense.

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 6 December 2020

Sacrament Service

Jesus has experienced what we are going through with Covid 19.  He has felt what those of us are feeling who are afraid.  He has felt what those of us are feeling who are frustrated.  He has felt what those of us are feeling who are angry or sad.

We are all God’s children.  Can people see that we are related to God?

Sunday School

We must be willing to take upon us the name of the Son if we are to have His Spirit to be with us.

Someone stated that the word shed is a derivative of the word wash.

Alma 24:13

13 Behold, I say unto you, Nay, let us retain our swords that they be not stained with the blood of our brethren; for perhaps, if we should stain our swords again they can no more be washed bright through the blood of the Son of our great God, which shall be shed for the atonement of our sins.

The Lord does not say to meet together often to gossip about your neighbors.  He says to meet together often to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls.

Someone suggested that the body of Christ is also the people of the Church.  That could give another facet to the sacrament prayer on the bread.

First Presidency Christmas Devotional

Sister Rebecca L Craven, A Swaddle and a Heavenly Hug

"As I consider the many ways the Lord loves and cares for each of us, I feel a desire to do more to share that love with others. I also wish to better recognize the heavenly hugs and swaddles I have received but have been slow to acknowledge.

“In a world so much in need of peace, our gentle words, our acts of compassion and kindness can be the means of wrapping another in a warm, swaddling blanket. I have come to understand that the more we act on promptings to serve others, the more heavenly blankets the Lord gives us to share. What promptings have you received? Who do you know that is in need of a heavenly hug? Our personal or virtual touch may make all the difference in the life of a loved one or even a stranger."

Elder Brent H Nielson, The Prince of Peace

"My hope during this Christmas season is that no matter our circumstances, no matter where we are, and no matter how we may be separated from family or friends, we will remember that He, the Savior Jesus Christ, is the gift; that as we come unto Him, He will make our burdens light; and that we might discover Him, as my father did in the middle of a terrible war. The Savior said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” As we trust Him, we will find peace and happiness, no matter our current circumstances." 

Elder Jeffrey R Holland, Dreams of the Night

"One irony this quiet, unpublicized scene belied was the fact that no baby had ever been born about whom so much was already known, of whom so much had already been written, and regarding whom so much was already expected. Indeed, knowledge about who and what He was started in the realms of heaven before anyone had been born! As Firstborn of the Father in the world of spirits, He was designated there to be the Savior of the world, foreordained to be ‘the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.’ Later, but still prior to His birth, He would be the grand Jehovah of the Old Testament, helping Noah save his family in time of flood and aiding Joseph save his family in time of famine. He was the magisterial Jehovah whose names would include ‘Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.’ He was the Alpha and Omega in the great plan of mercy that would eventually ‘preach good tidings unto the meek; … bind up the brokenhearted, … proclaim liberty to the captives, and [open] the prison to them that are bound.’" 

“God has revealed many important instructions … by means of dreams. … [Then] the nerves [are] unstrung, and the whole of mortal humanity lies hushed in quiet [slumber, and] … the spiritual organs … converse with Deity, … [with] angels, and [with] the spirits of just men made perfect.” (Parley P. Pratt, Key to the Science of Theology (1885), 71–72; see also Harold B. Lee, “Divine Revelation” (Brigham Young University devotional, Oct. 15, 1952), speeches.byu.edu.)

President Russell M Nelson, Divine Gifts

"As Elder Holland reminded us, truly that blessed night more than two millennia ago was a night made holy by the birth of One who was foreordained to bring peace to this earth and to inspire goodwill among men. Jesus Christ was born to bless all humankind, past, present, and future." 

“Jesus was baptized in the lowest body of fresh water on earth, symbolizing the depths to which He would go in order to save us and from which He would rise above all things—again, to save us. From His example, He taught that we, too, can arise from the depths of our individual challenges—our sadness, weakness, and worries—to reach the heights of our own glorious potential and divine destiny. All this is possible by virtue of His mercy and grace.”

“I thank God for the gift of His Beloved Son. And I thank our Lord Jesus Christ for His incomparable sacrifice and mission. At His first coming, Jesus came almost in secret. But at His Second Coming, the Lord’s glory ‘shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.’ Then He shall ‘rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords.’”

“Now, as an authorized servant of the Savior, I would like to invoke a blessing upon each of you, my beloved brothers and sisters. May you and your families be blessed with peace, with an increased ability to hear the voice of the Lord, and receive revelation with an enhanced capacity to feel how much our Father and His Son love you, care for you, and are ready to guide all who seek after Them.”