Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah May 26, 2024

Sacrament Service

First Speaker

A young man who is leaving on his mission to Germany spoke to us.

“Making a covenant with God changes our relationship with Him forever. It blesses us with an extra measure of love and mercy. It affects who we are and how God will help us become what we can become. We are promised that we, also, can be a ‘peculiar treasure’ unto Him (Psalm 135:4).” (President Russell M. Nelson, “The Everlasting Covenant”, Liahona October 2022)

“Dear brothers and sisters, those who gain genuine confidence in the covenants made in the house of the Lord through Jesus Christ possess one of the most powerful forces that we can access in this life.” (Elder Ulisses Soares, “Covenant Confidence through Jesus Christ”, April 2024 General Conference)

Mosiah 18:8

8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

Mosiah 24:13-16

13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.

When we focus on our covenants, we will build our spirits like working a physical muscle.

Next Speaker

Beware of discouragement and doubt.

The burdens we carry can often give us traction to pull through life.

Matthew 11:28-30

28 ¶ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

DnC 128
22 Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free.

Mosiah 24

15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

Alma 34:10, 13-15

10 For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.

13 Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice, and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the law of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall have passed away.

14 And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal.

15 And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.

DnC 68:6

8 Go ye into all the world, preach the gospel to every creature, acting in the authority which I have given you, baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Primary - Valiant 8

We talked about King Noah, Abinidi, Alma the Elder, and Limhi.  We learned the words mourn, burden, and yoke.

Church Services This Week at Layton North Stake Layton Utah May 19, 2024

General Session of Stake Conference

First Speaker 

Seek simplicity, seek covenants, seek discipleship, seek Jesus.

“My dear brothers and sisters, the best is yet to come for those who spend their lives building up others. Today I invite you to examine your discipleship within the context of the way you treat others. I bless you to make any adjustments that may be needed so that your behavior is ennobling, respectful, and representative of a true follower of Jesus Christ.” (President Russell M. Nelson, “Peacemakers Needed”, April 2023 General Conference)

“My friends, my fellow disciples on the road of mortal life, our Father’s beautiful plan, even His “fabulous” plan, is designed to bring you home, not to keep you out. No one has built a roadblock and stationed someone there to turn you around and send you away. In fact, it is the exact opposite. God is in relentless pursuit of you. He ‘wants all of His children to choose to return to Him,’ and He employs every possible measure to bring you back.” (Elder Patrick Kearon, “God’s Intent Is to Bring You Home”, April 2024 General Conference)

Focused covenant keeping. 

Overwhelm the Layton temple with our attendance when it is dedicated. 

Next Speaker 

Dnc 38:30

30 I tell you these things because of your prayers; wherefore, treasure up wisdom in your bosoms, lest the wickedness of men reveal these things unto you by their wickedness, in a manner which shall speak in your ears with a voice louder than that which shall shake the earth; but if ye are prepared ye shall not fear.

Luke 21

26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Be an advocate for others. 

“My dear sisters, you have special spiritual gifts and propensities. Tonight I urge you, with all the hope of my heart, to pray to understand your spiritual gifts—to cultivate, use, and expand them, even more than you ever have. You will change the world as you do so.” (President Russell M. Nelson, “Sisters’ Participation in the Gathering of Israel”, October 2018 General Conference)

Next Speaker 

Helaman 5:12

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Mosiah 24:14-15

14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

“To be cheerful when others are in despair, to keep the faith when others falter, to be true even when we feel forsaken—all of these are deeply desired outcomes during the deliberate, divine tutorials which God gives to us—because He loves us. (See Mosiah 3:19.) These learning experiences must not be misread as divine indifference. Instead, such tutorials are a part of the divine unfolding.” (Elder Neal A. Maxwell, “Be of Good Cheer”, October 1982 General Conference)

Do not misread your trials. 

Mosiah 4

10 And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them.

21 And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another.

3 Nephi 13

5 And when thou prayest thou shalt not do as the hypocrites, for they love to pray, standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen, for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

8 Be not ye therefore like unto them, for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him.

Next Speaker 

“If you are prone to worry that you will never measure up, or that the loving reach of Christ’s infinite Atonement mercifully covers everyone else but not you, then you misunderstand. Infinite means infinite. Infinite covers you and those you love.” (Elder Patrick Kearon, “God’s Intent Is to Bring You Home”, April 2024 General Conference)

Next Speaker 

Revelation will be sent to us when we seek. 

Matthew 17

1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

Joseph Smith had a question and he reflected on it again and again. After he had thought on it, he went to God in prayer. 

When we pray to God the entire Godhead is involved. We pray to the Father. We pray in the name of the Son. We receive guidance from the holy ghost on what to pray for and our answers are sent through him. 

“It seems as though the adversary was aware, at a very early period of my life, that I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his kingdom; else why should the powers of darkness combine against me? Why the opposition and persecution that arose against me, almost in my infancy?” Joseph Smith - History 1:20 - end

Next Speaker 

Dnc 68:4

4 And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.

“God’s revelations to Adam did not instruct Noah how to build the ark. Noah needed his own revelation. Therefore, the most important prophet, so far as you and I are concerned, is the one living in our day and age to whom the Lord is currently revealing His will for us.” (Elder Ezra Taft Benson, “Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet”, BYU Speech February 26, 1980)

Dnc 20:26

26 Not only those who believed after he came in the meridian of time, in the flesh, but all those from the beginning, even as many as were before he came, who believed in the words of the holy prophets, who spake as they were inspired by the gift of the Holy Ghost, who truly testified of him in all things, should have eternal life,

6th article of faith

6 We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

“Heavenly Father reveals this wisdom to His children on earth through His servants the prophets (see Amos 3:7). From the days of Adam, God has spoken to His children through appointed oracles who are charged with revealing His will and counsel to others. Prophets are inspired teachers and are always special witnesses of Jesus Christ (see D&C 107:23). Prophets speak not only to the people of their time, but they also speak to people throughout all time. Their voices echo through the centuries as a testament of God’s will to His children.” (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Why Do We Need Prophets?”, March 2012 Ensign)

“A prophet does not stand between you and the Savior. Rather, he stands beside you and points the way to the Savior.” (Elder Neil L. Andersen, “The Prophet of God”, April 2018 General Conference)

“My [philosophy is to] stop putting question marks behind the prophet’s statements and put exclamation points instead.” (Russell M. Nelson, in Lane Johnson, “Russell M. Nelson: A Study in Obedience,” Ensign, Aug. 1982, 24; Tambuli, Jan. 1983, 26.)

Next Speaker 

The Gift of the Holy Ghost is of prime importance.

Without agency Obedience is worthless. 

If we don't keep our mind on the preexistence and eternity, then mortality is confusing and painful. 

Mosiah 1

3 And he also taught them concerning the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, saying: My sons, I would that ye should remember that were it not for these plates, which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God.

Church Services This Week at Layton North Stake Layton Utah May 18, 2024

Adult Session of Stake Conference

Elder Kevin W Pearson, General Authority Seventy and President of the Utah Area / Elder Brik V Eyre, Area Seventy were here for the conference.

First Speaker 

The Gospel is our connection to the Savior. 

Next Speaker 

2 Nephi 4

34 O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.

“As you seek to learn more about Jesus Christ, I urge you to study ‘The Living Christ.’” (President Russell M. Nelson, “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives”, April 2017 General Conference)

Isaiah 49:16

16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

Proverbs 3

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.

Next Speaker

Mosiah 4

13 And ye will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably, and to render to every man according to that which is his due.

Through revelation we can receive our parenting efforts. 

Doctrine and Covenants 98:37

37 And I, the Lord, would fight their battles, and their children’s battles, and their children’s children’s, until they had avenged themselves on all their enemies, to the third and fourth generation.

Psalm 31:23

23 O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

Isaiah 49:25

25 But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.

Doctrine and Covenants 105:14

14 For behold, I do not require at their hands to fight the battles of Zion; for, as I said in a former commandment, even so will I fulfil—I will fight your battles.

“In each ward, the Lord’s youth battalion is led by a bishop, a dedicated servant of God. His first and foremost responsibility is to care for the young men and young women of his ward. The bishop and his counselors direct the work of the Aaronic Priesthood quorums and the Young Women classes in the ward.”

Intentionally parent. 

Invest in our relationships with our spouses. 

“take charge of your testimony” - Nelson

“I plead with you to take charge of your testimony. Work for it. Own it. Care for it. Nurture it so that it will grow. Feed it truth. Don’t pollute it with the false philosophies of unbelieving men and women and then wonder why your testimony is waning.” 

...

“As you take charge of your testimony and cause it to grow, you will become a more potent instrument in the hands of the Lord. You will be “inspired by a better cause”—the cause of Jesus Christ!

“There is nothing happening on this earth more important than gathering Israel for Him. Let your Heavenly Father know that you want to help. Ask Him to put you to work in this glorious cause. And then stand back and marvel at what happens when you let God prevail in your life.

“My dear young friends, I love you. I thank you. I believe in you. As the Lord’s prophet, I bless you to know the truth about who you are and to treasure the truth about what your glorious potential really is. I bless you to take charge of your own testimony. And I bless you to have the desire and strength to keep your covenants.” (President Russell M Nelson, Youth Devotional 15 May 2022)

Next Speaker

The atonement is real. It is individual. It is personal. 

“Casual and inconsistent covenant keeping leads to spiritual casualty. The spiritual damage is often greatest on our children and grandchildren. Parents and grandparents, are we still willing?” (Elder Kevin W. Pearson, “Are You Still Willing?”, October 2022 General Conference)

Next Speaker 

4 things to watch for to see the great in the last days.

1. Gospel will be preached in every nation. 

2. Temples will dot the earth. 

3. Gospel will be taken to all the dead. 

4. ? 

Psalm 132

8 Arise, O Lord, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.

9 Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.

His strength is covenants. 

Next Speaker 

“In 2018 we began discovering we wanted not only to live a balanced life but also to strive for a consecrated, sacramental life. Of course we must be wise and not ‘run faster than [we have] strength.’ And sometimes we must “be still and know that [God is] God.”24 But with planning, increasing capacity, and consecrated effort, we are discovering something miraculous. This world is not simply one of finite sticks and stones. In the Lord’s times and seasons, this world can also be one of limitless loaves and fishes.” (Gerrit W Gong, “We Seek After These Things”. BYU Devotional, 16 Oct 2018)

Next Speaker 

Where is our focus?

1 Nephi 15:27

27 And I said unto them that the water which my father saw was filthiness; and so much was his mind swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water.

“My dear brothers and sisters, the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.

“When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation, which President Thomas S. Monson just taught us, and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy. We feel it at Christmas Time when we sing, ‘Joy to the world, the Lord is come.’ And we can feel it all year round. For Latter-day Saints, Jesus Christ is joy!” (President Russell M. Nelson, “Joy and Spiritual Survival”, October 2016 General Conference)

Matthew 14 - Peter focused on the savior, then he focused on the winds and waves. He walked on water when he was focused on Christ. 

Follow prophetic priorities. 

1 Nephi 5

5 But behold, I have obtained a land of promise, in the which things I do rejoice; yea, and I know that the Lord will deliver my sons out of the hands of Laban, and bring them down again unto us in the wilderness.

“Time in the temple will help you to think celestial and to catch a vision of who you really are, who you can become, and the kind of life you can have forever. Regular temple worship will enhance the way you see yourself and how you fit into God’s magnificent plan. I promise you that.” (President Russell M. Nelson, “Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys”, April 2024 General Conference)

“The Church of Jesus Christ is known as a church that emphasizes making covenants with God. Covenants are inherent in each of the ordinances of salvation and exaltation this restored Church administers. The ordinance of baptism and its associated covenants are requirements for entrance into the celestial kingdom.” (President Dallin H. Oaks, “Covenants and Responsibilities”, April 2024 General Conference)

We qualify for a witness of what the prophet has said by creating a trusting relationship with the prophet and also with the Spirit. 

Next Speaker 

“My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation.” (President Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives”, April 2018 General Conference)

3 Nephi 14

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

Next Speaker 

“I hope you will repeatedly study the messages of this conference throughout the coming months.” (President Russell M. Nelson, “Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys”, April 2024 General Conference)

Dnc 109 - Kirtland temple dedication. 

If a man or woman is not ready to keep the five covenants, then are not ready to receive their endowment.

Think about how you would teach your children what the 5 covenants in the endowment mean. 

The garments of the holy priesthood represent Christ and the way his Atonement can cover our nakedness or guilt. 

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah May 12, 2024

Sacrament Service

First Speaker

A young man who is leaving on his mission to Germany spoke to use

“Making a covenant with God changes our relationship with Him forever. It blesses us with an extra measure of love and mercy. It affects who we are and how God will help us become what we can become. We are promised that we, also, can be a ‘peculiar treasure’ unto Him (Psalm 135:4).” (President Russell M. Nelson, “The Everlasting Covenant”, Liahona October 2022)

“Dear brothers and sisters, those who gain genuine confidence in the covenants made in the house of the Lord through Jesus Christ possess one of the most powerful forces that we can access in this life.” (Elder Ulisses Soares, “Covenant Confidence through Jesus Christ”, April 2024 General Conference)

Mosiah 18:8

8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

Mosiah 24:13-16

13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.

When we focus on our covenants, we will build our spirits like working a physical muscle.

Next Speaker

Beware of discouragement and doubt.

The burdens we carry can often give us traction to pull through life.

Matthew 11:28-30

28 ¶ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

DnC 128
22 Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free.

Mosiah 24

15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

Alma 34:10, 13-15

10 For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.

13 Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice, and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the law of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall have passed away.

14 And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal.

15 And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.

DnC 68:6

8 Go ye into all the world, preach the gospel to every creature, acting in the authority which I have given you, baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Primary - Valiant 8

We talked about King Noah, Abinidi, Alma the Elder, and Limhi.  We learned the words mourn, burden, and yoke.

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah May 5, 2024

Sacrament Service 

A young man announced that he got his mission call to Fort Worth, Texas.

Someone expressed that they heard a temple worker pray “help us to not bully those who have strayed.”  This could include those who understand different things more or less than I do or people that have come to different conclusions that I have.

Sunday School 

Spiritual learning gives focus to secular learning.

The rains and the winds beat on both the house built on the rock and the house built on the same. 

“Sometimes we think doctrine refers to weird, abstract, mysterious subjects in the gospel of Jesus Christ. As I refer to doctrine, I am not talking about how many light-years it is to Kolob and who lives there. Rather, doctrine refers to the eternal, unchanging, and simple truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There are several key words in that definition: eternal, unchanging, simple, and truth. Doctrines are never altered. They never vary. They will always be the same. You can always count on them. There is, for example, the doctrine of the Atonement. There is doctrine related to priesthood and priesthood keys. There is doctrine related to continuing revelation and the pattern whereby our Heavenly Father communicates with us and we communicate with Him. These are eternal, unchanging truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.“ (President David A. Bednar, “Teach Them to Understand”, 4 June 1998)