Priesthood OpeningSomeone shared a scripture that they said they thought of as they listened to the prophet and apostles speak last weekend.
They announced a DI drive. Deseret Industries is an organization that collects used items and sells them. The proceeds go to pay the employees who would otherwise have trouble getting work. I knew that part, as it is like Goodwill in Indiana. What I did not know was that DI is owned by the Church and it is part of the Church welfare system. My friend told me that people that have financial hardship can get vouchers from their bishop to get a bed of something from DI. A little like getting an order of food from the store house.
They took volunteers for something they called a 40 day fast. I guess the ward is collectively fasting for 40 days. A member takes a day of the 40 days until they filled up all the days. The days were not filling up, so the bishop reemphasized the importance of what they were doing. He had the members of the priesthood remind him why they were fasting. They said for missionary work and for the extra power that fasting brings. The bishop stated that this is not The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Tourists. It is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are to be saints, followers of Christ, not just tourists that watch the work of Christ.
Elders' Quorum
The instructor passed out a handout with the following images on them.
The excavated remains of the baptism site in Bethany Beyond Jordan, in modern-day Jordan. (
Wikipedia)
John the Baptist Baptizing Jesus (
LDS.org)
John the Baptist Conferring the Aaronic Priesthood (
LDS.org)
The handout had the below text.
Begin Handout
Brief Description of John the Baptist
Scripture about John the Baptist
Luke 7:28 - No greater prophet
Isaiah 40:3-5 - Prophecy
John 1:22-23 - Prophecy Fulfilled
Malachi 3:1 - Prophecy
Luke 1:17, 76, 77 - Prophecy to his Father
D&C 84:28 - Ordained of God at Eight Days of Age
Brief Description of Life:
1. Born of Zachariah and Elizabeth, Birth foretold by Gabriel.
2. Zachariah was a priest, so John had the priesthood.
3. Preached and baptized in the River Jordan (see photo).
4. Knew he was a precursor to Jesus (John 3:22-36).
5. Imprisoned and beheaded by Herod Antipas.
"Post-Life" Description
Ordained Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery to the Aaronic Priesthood on May 15, 1829 (JSH 1:68-70).
Priesthood Timeline (Dennis Roberts)
D&C 13.........................................................................(1829) Aaronic Priesthood
D&C 128:20.................................................................(1829) Melchizedek Priesthood
D&C 20:38-50.............................................................(1830) Apostle, Elders, Priests, Teachers, Deacons
D&C 41:9-10................................................................(1831) Bishops
D&C 52..........................................................................(1831) High Priests
D&C 81:90....................................................................(1832) First Presidency
Teachings of Prophet Joseph Smith, 38-39............(1833) High Council
D&C 102.......................................................................(1834) Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
D&C 107:23-24...........................................................(1835) First Quorum of the Seventy
End Handout
Zachariah was probably familiar with the prophecies about a forerunner to the messiah. This must've been a similar shock to them like the news Mary and Joseph received as well.
It is a miracle that he was not killed sooner. Based on Jewish traditions he should have been executed for blasphemy.
Joseph Smith in commented on John being the greatest prophet (Luke 7:28) stated, "He was entrusted with a divine mission of preparing the way before the face of the Lord. Whoever had such a trust committed to him before or since? No man."
Sunday SchoolBook of Mormon
Lesson 13: The Allegory of the Olive Trees p56
We came up with a brief list of symbols and meanings used in the allegory.
Symbol |
Meaning |
Vineyard |
World |
Grafting |
People |
Master |
Christ |
Pruning |
People |
Fruits |
Works |
Branches |
Groups of People |
Servant |
Prophets |
This is only a partial list that the class came up with.
Pruning, grafting, and digging - Christ works hard for the world and the individuals int eh world. Many things need to be done to make the tree grow in the best ways for it and for the vineyard.
Wild branches grafted in to tame them. This is also done to bring variety and to strengthen the tree after it had been pruned.
Someone brought out that sometimes those who have seminary as a class in school take it for granted. She said something about those out East have to get up early in the morning for seminary and are more dedicated. I don't know if one could say that those I grew up with who had early morning seminary were more dedicated, but it bring out an interesting idea that people might be grafted from other parts of the country into Utah and that that could be another meaning of the allegory.
Someone pointed out that those that were nourish on poor ground might mean those in the middle east where it was harder for Christ's Church to grow, whereas in America it was designed to be a place where one could worship God.
Again someone contrasted Utah with other parts of the country. They said that in other parts people have to plan to go to the temple and even stay overnight in a hotel. They also said that some have to travel to get to their ward buildings.
The gathering of Israel and the restoration are the grafting back in the branches.
Other servants - Missionaries and general church membership.
The bishopric called upon certain member of the ward to share experiences that we had with listening to General Conference last week. I had never seen anyone do a testimony meeting like that. I think it was just a special thing because of general conference.
The first person called upon talked about President Monson's talk from the priesthood session. President Monson had talked about a young boy wathing him and mimicing everything he did as he sat on the stand. He ended up wiggling his ears to give the boys a challenging thing to do. The speaker today wondered how many kids have watched him and the other priests as they have blessed the sacrament. He said that he would watch the olded boys when he was a little kid.
One guy talked about the statistics about how much service the Church gave last year. He said he felt very proud and the he reflected on if he had done his part as he heard a talk on being good neighbors.
One person related how he had a relative that called President Monson Little Tommy Monson because she knew him when she was young. It reminded me of my mission president who was a cousin of his and was always referring to him as Tommy.
Sacrament MeetingThere were two letters from the first presidency read today.
The first was a reiteration to stop sending letters to the first presidency with doctrinal issues. The Lord has set up His Church in an orderly way. Much like when Moses put leaders over smaller groups of the children of Israel. Those leaders then reported to him.
The second was stating that the story that has circulating that a Church leader has stated that those who were members of the church in Gordon B. Hinckley's day would have those in the after life bow to them because of their greatness. The letter stated that this is false doctrine and that no leader of the Church had ever said this.
Post ChurchThey had something after church called a second Sunday social. They had little snacks and people sat around and talked. I had never heard of that, but I think I have heard of a "linger longer", although I don't recall being in a ward that ever did that.
