Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah July 28, 2024

Sacrament Service 

First Speaker

Mosiah 18

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;

Next Speaker

“The point is that faith means trusting God in good times and bad, even if that includes some suffering until we see His arm revealed in our behalf.” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Waiting on the Lord”, October 2020 General Conference)

Alma 33:23 

23 And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will. Amen.

Alma 33:19-20 - “...few understand the meaning of these things”

19 Behold, he was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live.

20 But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them.

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.

Alma 32:6

6 And now when Alma heard this, he turned him about, his face immediately towards him, and he beheld with great joy; for he beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them, and that they were in a preparation to hear the word.

God wants us to choose for ourselves.

“one’s life … cannot be both faith-filled and stress-free.” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Waiting on the Lord”, October 2020 General Conference)

Next Speaker

The hymn “Faith of Our Fathers”

Enos 1:1, 3-4 - “Father was a just man”

1 Behold, it came to pass that I, Enos, knowing my father that he was a just man—for he taught me in his language, and also in the nurture and admonition of the Lord—and blessed be the name of my God for it—

3 Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart.

4 And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.

DnC 46:12-14

12 To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby.

13 To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.

14 To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.

Alma 32

23 And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times, which confound the wise and the learned.

Alma 32:21

21 And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.

“Ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls.” (Alma 17:11.)

Elders Quorum 

1 Nephi 14:14

14 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.

We can find joy everyday. 

1 Nephi 17:7

7 And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been in the land of Bountiful for the space of many days, the voice of the Lord came unto me, saying: Arise, and get thee into the mountain. And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord.

1 Nephi 5:1

1 And it came to pass that after we had come down into the wilderness unto our father, behold, he was filled with joy, and also my mother, Sariah, was exceedingly glad, for she truly had mourned because of us.

Someone suggested that joy and gratitude are connected. 

Alma 62:1

1 And now it came to pass that when Moroni had received this epistle his heart did take courage, and was filled with exceedingly great joy because of the faithfulness of Pahoran, that he was not also a traitor to the freedom and cause of his country.

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah July 21, 2024

Sacrament Service 

First Speaker

Mosiah 18:8-10

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;

9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

We likely have no idea what another person is burdened by in their life.

“There is one principle I wish to urge upon the Saints in a way that it may remain with them—that is, to understand men and women as they are, and not understand them as you are. You see the variety of mind, dispositions, judgment, and talent, and variety in explaining and communicating thoughts. There is an endless variety, and I wish you to understand men and women as they are, and not to judge your brother, your sister, your family, or anyone, only from the intention. When you know the intention of the act performed, you will then know how to judge the act.” (Remarks by President Brigham Young, made in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, April 6, 1860.Reported by G. D. Watt.)

Next Speaker

We can make assumptions about the people around us, as if their motivations are the same as ours would be.  Or their reason for doing some are the reasons ours would be.  Assumptions can start our relationships with them on false pretenses or it may torpedo an otherwise good or even great relationship before it even starts.

If we give the bare minimum, we will get very different results than if we give our all.

He referenced Elder Renlund’s talk where people threw their idols into deep, churning waterfalls.

Our perception changes the more fully that we take the Savior’s name upon us.

The Savior knows our potential and how to get us there.

Sunday School 

Alma 30-31

“our heavenly... Fit what others are doing” - Patricia Holland

"Our Father in Heaven needs us as we are, as we are growing to become. He has intentionally made us different from one another so that even with our imperfections we can fulfill His purposes. My greatest misery comes when I feel I have to fit what others are doing or what I think others expect of me.” (Patricia Holland)

Link doctrines and principles together, so your testimony of them don't fall like dominoes. Anchor doctrines and principles into the souls of people and into Christ, so they can't fall like dominoes. Teach people to receive revelation and to discern, so their testimonies can't be pushed upon by wind or pierced by fiery darts.

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah July 14, 2024

Sacrament Service 

First Speaker

2 Nephi 28

30 For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.

One’s conversion to Jesus Christ and His gospel will change their life.

The Law of Obedience.

Thou shalt not touch the iron for it is hot.  Behold, I touched the iron, it was hot, and I got injured.

Moses 1:39

39 For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

DnC 14

7 And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.

The Law of Sacrifice

Psalm 51:17

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

3 Nephi 9:19–20

19 And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings.

20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.

The Law of the Gospel

The Law of Chastity

Mosiah 4

30 But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not.

Elder Bednar’s April 2013 General Conference talk, “We Believe in Being Chaste”.

DnC 121

45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

The Law of Consecration

“I would like to consider with you five of the elements of a consecrated life: purity, work, respect for one’s physical body, service, and integrity.” (Elder D. Todd Christofferson, “Reflections on a Consecrated Life”, October 2010 General Conference)

Alma 29:1

1 O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!

Part of consecration is repentance.

“Integrity (the willingness and ability to live by our beliefs and commitments) is one of the foundation stones of good character, and without good character one cannot hope to enjoy the presence of God here or in the eternities.” (President Spencer W. Kimball, “Give the Lord Your Loyalty,” Ensign, Mar. 1980, 2.)

Next Speaker

We need to realize what our true identity is.

We are children of God.

We have access to God to help us.  How amazing it is to have personal access to God.

The speaker said that even older people can change and grow.

“My dear brothers and sisters, here is my promise. Nothing will help you more to hold fast to the iron rod than worshipping in the temple as regularly as your circumstances permit.” (President Russell M. Nelson, “Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys”, April 2024 General Conference)

Elders Quorum 

The lesson was based on Elder Gary E. Stevenson’s talk from last conference, “Bridging the Two Great Commandments”.

Matthew 22

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Mosiah 2

41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

If we reverse the two great commandments, we will not get the same results.

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah July 7, 2024

Sacrament Service 

The bishop gave us some encouragement and guidance about bearing testimonies.

“We are concerned that in some instances, members who desire to bear their testimonies in fast and testimony meeting do not have the opportunity to do so. Bishoprics are encouraged to help all people learn to express a brief, heartfelt testimony of the Savior, His teachings, and the Restoration, so that more members may have the opportunity to participate.” (First Presidency letter, May 2, 2002)

“Testimony meetings are some of the best meetings in the ward in the whole month, if you have the Spirit. If you are bored at a testimony meeting, there is something the matter with you, and not the other people. You can get up and bear your testimony and you think it is the best meeting in the month; but if you sit there and count the grammatical errors and laugh at the man who can’t speak very well, you’ll be bored, and on that board you’ll slip right out of the kingdom. …

“Every month the First Presidency and the Twelve meet with all the General Authorities in the temple. They bear testimony and they tell each other how they love one another just like all of you. Why do the General Authorities need a testimony meeting? The same reason that you need a testimony meeting. Do you think that you can go three, and six, and nine, and twelve months without bearing your testimony and still keep its full value?” (“President Kimball Speaks Out on Testimony,” New Era, Aug. 1981, 4–7;)

“Those who have a testimony of the restored gospel also have a duty to share it. The Book of Mormon teaches that we should ‘stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in’ (Mosiah 18:9).”

...

“There has never been a greater need for us to profess our faith, privately and publicly (see D&C 60:2).”

Alma 32

21 And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.

He closed with that we would go until the big hand hits eleven, reminding us to end on time.

Testimonies

Joseph Smith was not perfect, but he was a prophet.

If the spirit is present, then He is the teacher.

Bear you testimony to your family.

“A testimony of the gospel is not a travelogue, a health log, or an expression of love for family members. It is not a sermon. President Kimball taught that the moment we begin preaching to others, our testimony is ended.” (Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “Testimony”, April 2008 General Conference)

Sunday School

Who did you identify with in the stories of Ammon, Lamoni, Lamoni's father, the queen, and so on and so on. 

Ammon did not jump into teaching the king. He served him. He built a relationship with him. Then he could teach him. 

The pattern that is often taught in the scriptures is creation, fall, and Atonement. That helps to answer the big questions. Who am I? Where did I come from? Why am I here? How do I get through life? 

That cycle is also in our life repeatedly, which is how we grow. We cast off a sin or part of the natural man we are reborn or recreated. We will fall as we sin again. We then draw on the Atonement of Christ and let him help us be reborn again.