Sunday, May 30, 2021

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 30 May 2021

Sacrament Service
The speaker said that President Eisenhower once said something like “This nation is great because it wants to see other nations have the same freedoms we have.”

Part of the song “American the Beautiful” says:
America! America!
God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.

Doctrine and Covenants 59

16 Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;

17 Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;

18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;

19 Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.

20 And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion.


Serving those to your left and right.


Joint EQ/RS 5th Sunday Meeting

"My dear young brothers and sisters, these surely are the latter days, and the Lord is hastening His work to gather Israel. That gathering is the most important thing taking place on earth today. Nothing else compares in magnitude, nothing else compares in importance, nothing else compares in majesty. And if you choose to, if you want to, you can be a big part of it. You can be a big part of something big, something grand, something majestic!

...

"When we speak of the gathering, we are simply saying this fundamental truth: every one of our Heavenly Father’s children, on both sides of the veil, deserves to hear the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. They decide for themselves if they want to know more." (President Russell M. Nelson, Hope of Israel, Worldwide Youth Devotional • June 3, 2018 • Conference Center, Salt Lake City, Utah)

Sunday, May 23, 2021

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 23 May 2021

 Sacrament Service

First Speaker

“We now confess that we fully believe that rarely, if ever, do good things happen to us without the influence of the hand of heaven.” (CECIL O. AND SHARON G. SAMUELSON, The Lord’s Hand in Our Lives, BYU Speeches January 8, 2013)


Next Speaker

3 Nephi 17:23

23 And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.


“Notice that He didn’t say “glance at them” or “casually observe them” or “occasionally take a look in their general direction.” He said to behold them. To me that means that we should embrace them with our eyes and with our hearts; we should see and appreciate them for who they really are: spirit children of our Heavenly Father, with divine attributes.” (Elder M. Russell Ballard, “Great Shall Be the Peace of Thy Children”, Ensign April 1994)


Matthew 18:3-4

3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.


“If there were more reverence in human hearts, there would be less room for sin and sorrow and more increased capacity for joy and gladness. To make more cherished, more adaptable, more attractive, this gem among brilliant virtues is a project worthy of the most united and prayerful efforts of every officer, every parent, and every member of the Church.” (David O McKay, October 1955 General Conference)


“We watch. We wait. We listen for that still, small voice. When it speaks, wise men and women obey. We do not postpone following promptings of the Spirit.” (Thomas S. Monson, “The Spirit Giveth Life”, April 1985 General Conference)


Elders Quorum

The discussion this week on “The Principles of My Gospel” By Elder David A. Bednar

You can find the link to his talk here:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2021/04/56bednar?lang=eng

Alma 11:42-44

42 Now, there is a death which is called a temporal death; and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death.

43 The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time; and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt.

44 Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.


Mosiah 13:16-19

16 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

17 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work;

18 But the seventh day, the sabbath of the Lord thy God, thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates;

19 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is; wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.


You can disagree with God but in the end you let God prevail. Ie Jacob's wrestle with God.


Sunday, May 16, 2021

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 16 May 2021

Sacrament Service 

First Speaker

Recognize truth no matter where it comes from.  Often there are gold nuggets of truth from people of different political ideas or different religions.


“It is a wicked and adulterous generation that seeketh after a sign. Show me Latter-day Saints who have to feed upon miracles, signs and visions in order to keep them steadfast in the Church, and I will show you members of the Church who are not in good standing before God, and who are walking in slippery paths. It is not by marvelous manifestations unto us that we shall be established in the truth, but it is by humility and faithful obedience to the commandments and laws of God. When I as a boy first started out in the ministry, I would frequently go out and ask the Lord to show me some marvelous thing, in order that I might receive a testimony. But the Lord withheld marvels from me, and showed me the truth, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, until he made me to know the truth from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet, and until doubt and fear had been absolutely purged from me. He did not have to send an angel from the heavens to do this, nor did he have to speak with the trump of an archangel. By the whisperings of the still small voice of the Spirit of the living God, he gave to me the testimony I possess. And by this principle and power he will give to all the children of men a knowledge of the truth that will stay with them, and it will make them to know the truth, as God knows it, and to do the will of the Father as Christ does it.” (Gospel Doctrine, p.7.)


Next Speaker

2 Nephi 31:19–20

19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.

20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.


Alma 1:25

25 Now this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in the faith; nevertheless, they were steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with patience the persecution which was heaped upon them.


“True, enduring happiness, with the accompanying strength, courage, and capacity to overcome the greatest difficulties, will come as you center your life in Jesus Christ. Obedience to His teachings provides a secure ascent in the journey of life. That takes effort. While there is no guarantee of overnight results, there is the assurance that, in the Lord’s time, solutions will come, peace will prevail, and happiness will be yours.” (Elder Richard G. Scott, The Atonement Can Secure Your Peace and Happiness, October 2006 General Conference)


“Whenever an undertaking is begun, both the energy and the will to endure are essential. The winner of a five-kilometer race is declared at the end of five kilometers, not at one or two. If you board a bus to Boston, you don’t get off at Burlington. If you want to gain an education, you don’t drop out along the way—just as you don’t pay to dine at an elegant restaurant only to walk away after sampling the salad.


“Whatever your work may be, endure at the beginning, endure through opposing forces along the way, and endure to the end. Any job must be completed before you can enjoy the result for which you are working.” (Elder Russell M. Nelson, Don’t Go Overboard!, April 1997 general conference)


Elders Quorum 

The discussion this week is on Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution By President Dallin H. Oaks

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2021/04/51oaks?lang=eng


Dnc 101:77

77 According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles;  


First is the principle that the source of government power is the people. In a time when sovereign power was universally assumed to come from the divine right of kings or from military power, attributing sovereign power to the people was revolutionary. Philosophers had advocated this, but the United States Constitution was the first to apply it. Sovereign power in the people does not mean that mobs or other groups of people can intervene to intimidate or force government action. The Constitution established a constitutional democratic republic, where the people exercise their power through their elected representatives.


Someone recommended the book The Great Prologue by Mark E Peterson.


Sunday, May 09, 2021

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 9 May 2021

Sacrament Service 

First Speaker

Comparison of yourself to others is only useful so far as it makes us stronger, otherwise 


comparison is the thief of joy.  


For example, if I am listening to a eulogy of someone’s father.  If I compare their life to my life, I could get depressed that I wasn’t that kind of father or that I did not have the kind of father they were.


That kind of comparison is unhealthy.


On the other hand, if I determine that I want to incorporate some of those traits into my life and make positive changes, then that comparison was healthy.


We can feel a moment of guilt or sadness to instigate change in us, but we shouldn't stay in that moment long term. 

When you marinate meat, you leave it in there long enough for it to change.  You don't leave it in there until it rots.  Shortly, you take the meat out of the marinade and cook it and enjoy the change.


Feel then Act then Change then have Joy then Repeat.


Next Speaker

John 19:25-27

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Proverbs 31:10-31

  • Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies…

  • A virtuous woman is a symbol of Christ.

  • Noone is the virtuous woman every minute of every day.  One should strive to return to this standard when one varies from that standard.


“Brethren, your first and foremost duty as a bearer of the priesthood is to love and care for your wife. Become one with her. Be her partner. Make it easy for her to want to be yours. No other interest in life should take priority over building an eternal relationship with her. Nothing on TV, a mobile device, or a computer is more important than her well-being.”

...

“Pray to have your heart attuned to your wife’s heart. Seek to bring her joy. Seek her counsel, and listen. Her input will improve your output.” (President Russell M. Nelson, We Can Do Better and Be Better, April 2019 General Conference)


“Let me be very clear about this: if the world loses the moral rectitude of its women, the world will never recover.”


Sunday School 

Dnc 46-48

Having the spirit in a class or meeting is stronger when we come prepared. 


Increasing our faith takes work. 

"Your mountains may be loneliness, doubt, illness, or other personal problems. Your mountains will vary, and yet the answer to each of your challenges is to increase your faith. That takes work. Lazy learners and lax disciples will always struggle to muster even a particle of faith." (President Russell M. Nelson, Christ Is Risen; Faith in Him Will Move Mountains, April 2021 General Conference)


People should feel that they are invited to be in your group or at church without specifically being invited. 


We should be able to talk to a smoker, even if we don't smoke. We should be able to talk to a person that comes to church in jeans, even though we are in a suit. We don't have to change our standard of behavior or dress to love someone that has a different standard. 


Jacob 5:47

47 But what could I have done more in my vineyard? Have I slackened mine hand, that I have not nourished it? Nay, I have nourished it, and I have digged about it, and I have pruned it, and I have dunged it; and I have stretched forth mine hand almost all the day long, and the end draweth nigh. And it grieveth me that I should hew down all the trees of my vineyard, and cast them into the fire that they should be burned. Who is it that has corrupted my vineyard?


Christ served the poor and needy.  Are we not all poor and needy.


Sunday, May 02, 2021

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 2 May 2021

 Sacrament Service

Try to see above the rubble in your life.


After trials joy will always follow if we don’t get in the way.


If things go back to normal too quickly after a trial, then we can miss opportunities.


Sunday School

2 Nephi 9:14

14 Wherefore, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness; and the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness.


We will end up where we are comfortable and we choose everyday what we are comfortable with. 


Moroni 7:28

28 For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will cleave unto every good thing; wherefore he advocateth the cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens.


"Nothing man could do for himself could bring him past that judgment bar successfully without such an Advocate. That is why eternal life is always a gift, and those who receive it do so by “inheritance.” It is interesting to note that the word inherit and its cognate words are used seventy-eight times in the Doctrine and Covenants, while the word earned and its related words are not used once." (Gerald N. Lund, “Salvation: By Grace or by Works”, Ensign April 1981)


“Significantly, the Savior pleads our cause before the Father and asks that those who believe on Him be spared the eternal demands of justice, not based on our innocence but on His atoning sacrifice. His case for our redemption from the penalty of sin is “the sufferings and death of him who did no sin” (D&C 45:4).” (Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, Chapter 17)