Sunday, January 29, 2023

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 29 January 2023

Sacrament Meeting

First Speaker

The speaker suggested that Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and 3 Nephi are the five gospels, since they all detail parts of Christ’s ministry.


John 3:17

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.


“...the cavity which suffering carves into our souls will one day also be the receptacle of joy…” (NEAL A. MAXWELL, “But for a Small Moment”, BYU Speech 1 Sept 1974)


Next Speaker

“This miraculously-born son of Zacharias was the last legal administrator of the old dispensation, the first of the new; he was the last of the old prophets, the first of the new. With him ended the old law, and with him began the new era of promise. He is the one man who stood, literally, at the crossroads of history; with him the past died and the future was born.” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:113)


Luke 3:4-6

4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.


Meat often refers to any food in the Bible.  Flesh referred to what we would call meat.


2 Nephi 31:6-8

6 And now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfil all righteousness in being baptized by water?

7 Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.

8 Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove.


The Holy Ghost is a personage, and is in the form of a personage. It does not confine itself to the form of the dove, but in sign of the dove. The Holy Ghost cannot be transformed into a dove; but the sign of a dove was given to John to signify the truth of the deed, as the dove is an emblem or token of truth and innocence” (Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 276).


Joint RS/EQ Meeting

The Goal:  To enhance our discipleship by increasing the influence of the Holy Ghost in each of our lives.


If a spaceman visits earth and only steps out of his spaceship every 23 hour, he could conclude that the earth rotates in the opposite directions and that a day is 552 hours long.


Are we getting frequent enough exposure to the spirit that we can gather enough data to make accurate conclusions? Are we receiving a clear signal?  Are we spending more time receiving the signals and messages of the world that we are missing data from the spirit?  Are we not receiving God’s love clearly, because we are tuned in to other signals more?


Moroni 7:19,20,33

19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the

light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every

good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.

20 And now, my brethren, how is it possible that ye can lay hold upon every

good thing?

33 And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do

whatsoever thing is expedient in me.


How do we lay hold of every good thing?


Moroni 7:25

Wherefore, by the ministering of angels, and by every word which

proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ;

and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was until

the coming of Christ.


DnC 13

Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels. and of the gospel of repentance. and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins.


“Nothing is more liberating, more ennobling, or more crucial to our individual progression than is a regular, daily focus on repentance. Repentance is not an event; it is a process. It is the key to happiness and peace of mind. When coupled with faith, repentance opens our access to the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”

...

“Brethren, we need to do better and be better because we are in a battle. The battle with sin is real. The adversary is quadrupling his efforts to disrupt testimonies and impede the work of the Lord. He is arming his minions with potent weapons to keep us from partaking of the joy and love of the Lord.” (President Russell M  Nelson, “We Can Do Better and Be Better”, April 2019 General Conference)


Your Father in Heaven trusts you. He has given you great blessings, including the fulness of the gospel and sacred ordinances and covenants that bind you to Him and bring His power into your life. With those blessings comes added responsibility. He knows you can make a difference in the world, and that requires, in many cases, being different from the world. Seek your Heavenly Father’s guidance as you make choices. He will bless you with inspiration through the Holy Ghost.


“The purpose of For the Strength of Youth is not to give you a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ about every possible choice you might face. Instead, the Lord is inviting you to live in a higher and holier way—His way. This guide will teach you about His way. It explains truths He has revealed. Make these truths your guide for making choices—big choices, such as making covenants in the temple and serving a mission, as well as daily choices, such as how to treat people or how to spend your time.”


The Lord Trusts Us and Invites Us to Live Higher and

Holier

  • Small intentional and incremental efforts will build

  • Spiritual momentum

  • The Lord loves effort

  • Pray for help on where to start

  • God enhances our capacity and works miracles in our lives


Some more questions from Moroni chapter 7:

  • Has the day of miracles ceased?

  • Have angles ceased to appear unto the children of men?

  • Has He withheld from them the power of the Holy Ghost?


“Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought”


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