Church Services This Week at Ridge Crest Ward Northridge Stake Layton Utah 6 September 2015

Sacrament Service

Stake Theme:

• September - Paying a generous fast offering, evaluate your offerings and adjust if needed.
• Reference Scripture: Isaiah 58
• Reference Talk: Fast Offering: Fulfilling our Responsibilities to Others - Victor L. Brown - May 1981
• Link to lds.org: https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-05-50-fast-offerings-the-jerry-foote-family?lang=eng

Sunday School

My teaching partner gave a lesson on fasting.  Some of his lesson he took from the Gospel Principles manual chapter on fasting.

Elders Quorum

The lesson was based on a October 2006 General Conference talk "O Be Wise", by M Russell Ballard.

Jacob 6:12

12 O be wise; what can I say more?

We need to delegate some responsibilities to our home teaching companion to share the opportunities for growth.  We should not try to do everything alone.

We need to show our home teachers that we expect them to be there each month even if most times it is routine or mundane. If they are familiar to us and trusted to be there in the mundane things we will be able to trust them in the important times.

We need to take an interest in our home teaching families especially their children.

People are often motivated by what is interesting, engaging, or urgent.

Church Services This Week at Ridge Crest Ward Northridge Stake Layton Utah 12 April 2015

Stake Priesthood Meeting

Home teaching companionships should not be one sided.

Make sure your home teaching families know that you love them.

Mark 4 - whereunto shall we compare the kingdom of God.

"My dear friends and fellow priesthood holders, if Jesus Christ were to sit down with us and ask for an accounting of our stewardship, I am not sure He would focus much on programs and statistics. What the Savior would want to know is the condition of our heart. He would want to know how we love and minister to those in our care, how we show our love to our spouse and family, and how we lighten their daily load. And the Savior would want to know how you and I grow closer to Him and to our Heavenly Father."- President Dieter F Uchtdorf, On Being Genuine, April 2015 General Conference)

Sacrament Service

Stake Theme April - Studying and learning the importance of holding family councils, then begin holding them.  Reference Scripture: D&C 50:10 and Matt 13:3-8 and discuss its relevance  Reference Talk: Counseling with our Councils - M. Russell Ballard – April 1994  Link to lds.org: Home & Family Education, Family Councils, A Heavenly Pattern via lds.org

Sunday School

My teaching partner’s lesson on apostasy.

Priesthood

First presidency message April 2015

“We will all face fear, experience ridicule, and meet opposition. Let us—all of us—have the courage to defy the consensus, the courage to stand for principle. Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God’s approval. Courage becomes a living and an attractive virtue when it is regarded not only as a willingness to die manfully but also as the determination to live decently. As we move forward, striving to live as we should, we will surely receive help from the Lord and can find comfort in His words.” (Thomas S. Monson, “Be Strong and of a Good Courage,” Ensign, May 2014, 69

)

Bear testimony. Use words when necessary.

Have courage not just to change the world, but to change ourselves.

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 2-1-09

Priesthood Opening
John 7:18
17 If any man will ^ado his ^bwill, he shall ^cknow of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

Elders' Quorum
Home Teaching
Dropping by and having a brief conversation on the doorstep of the families you teach is good, but people will not open up to someone who just pops in on them briefly each month, so it makes it hard to know if there is anything they need your help with. You have to build a relationship of trust with them first.

A better way is to plan before you go visit. Pray, prepare a lesson, and think of things you can invite them to do (like studying some scriptures you have shared with them in your lesson).

At your next visit follow-up on those things you talked about last time and anything you may have invited them to do.

Sunday School
Lesson 5: “This Is the Spirit of Revelation” 24
Doctrine and Covenants 6, 8, 9
The Bible Dictionary states, "Without revelation, all would be guesswork, darkness, and confusion. "

Write down every impression you receive and see how involved the Lord is in your life. Perhaps we would recognize revelation more.

Doctrine and Covenants 9:8
8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must ^astudy it out in your ^bmind; then you must ^cask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your ^dbosom shall ^eburn within you; therefore, you shall ^ffeel that it is right.

By studying, making a decision, and asking God if it is right we learn. We learn in life how to make good decisions on our own, rather than having God do everything for us, much like we do with our own children.

Most of the revelations recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants were received when someone was pondering the scriptures.

Elder Boyd K. Packer said, “No message appears in scripture more times, in more ways than ‘Ask, and ye shall receive’ ” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, 26; or Ensign, Nov. 1991, 21).

From the Bulletin

• Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together. (Vincent van Gogh 1853-1890)
• By small and simple things, great things are brought to pass. (Alma 37:6, 7)

10 Husband -Wife Relationship Tips:

1. Seek Help Early - Average couples wait six years before seeking help.
2. Edit Yourself - Avoid saying every critical thought.
   
3. Eliminate Demands. Make Gentle Requests - Humbly ask him/her, "Would you be willing to..."
4. Soften "Start Up" - Bring up problems gently and without blame.
5. Accept Influence - How well are you accepting sudden changes?
6. Have High Standard - ...but have a level of tolerance for bad behavior.
7. Repair and Exit Arguments - Happy couples know how to repair the situation before an argument gets completely out of control.
8. The Bright Side - Say positive statements to and about each other in public and in private situations.
9. Making Changes in the Other Person - Start with yourself. You cannot change anyone else.
10. "Where love is, there is God also."
    

Family Session Weber Heights Stake Conference Ogden Utah 10-26-08

The conference was held in the Ogden Tabernacle which is located next to the Ogden temple on the temple grounds.

1st Testimony - Former Stake Young Women President Who Was Just Released
She gave a departing speech of thank yous and eventually bore testimony of the atonement and of the restoration.

2nd Testimony - Former Stake Relief Society President
Testified that charity never fails.

The Children's Choir sang If the Savior Stood Beside Me

1st Youth Speaker
Alma The Elder - Abinadi had condemned the priests for not teaching the people. Alma defended Abinadi to the priests and was cast out.

The salvation of those around us is our responsibility.

Mosiah 18:9
9 Yea, and are ^awilling to mourn with those that ^bmourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as ^cwitnesses 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 ^dfirst resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

2nd Youth Speaker
He talked of how scouting and the preparation to receive the Duty to God award has helped him prepare for a mission. He detailed the scout law and how that applied to missionaries as well. He listed the point of the scout law from a missionary perspective.

A Scout/Missionary is:
Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.

1st Adult Speaker - 2nd Counselor in the Stake Presidency
He talked about the troubled times we live in and how things can feel very uncertain for us in our lives.
John 14:27
27 ^aPeace I leave with you, my ^bpeace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be ^ctroubled, neither let it be afraid.

Doctrine and Covenants 82:10
10 I, the Lord, am ^abound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no ^bpromise.

He talked of being obedient and the Lord will take care of us. Tithing is an exercise in obedience and receiving the Lord's blessings.
Malachi 3: 10
10 Bring ye all the ^atithes into the storehouse, that there may be ^bmeat in mine house, and ^cprove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not ^dopen you the ^ewindows of heaven, and pour you out a ^fblessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Tithing is also a principle of sacrifice and of gratitude. It is a prelude to the law of consecration. It teaches us about frugality and to serve. It teaches us to live within our means.

Children's Choir - Medley of Songs and Scriptures (Keep the Commandments/I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus)
Mosiah 2:22
22 And behold, all that he ^arequires of you is to ^bkeep his commandments; and he has ^cpromised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth ^dvary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do ^ekeep his ^fcommandments he doth bless you and prosper you.

2nd Adult Speaker - Stake RS President
"In the gospel of Jesus Christ you have help from both sides of the veil and you must never forget that. When disappointment and discouragement strike—and they will—you remember and never forget that if our eyes could be opened we would see horses and chariots of fire as far as the eye can see riding at reckless speed to come to our protection. They will always be there, these armies of heaven, in defense of Abraham’s seed." (Jeffrey R. Holland, New Era October 1980 For Times of Trouble)

She said that the best place to fight the battles of this world is in the temple.

She quoted from Vaughn J. Featherstone's talk entitled "Holiness to the Lord", "The season of the world before us will be like no other in the history of mankind. Satan has and will unleash every evil, every scheme, every blatant vile perversion ever known to man in any generation. Just as this dispensation is the fullness of times, so it is also the dispensation of the fullness of evil. We and our wives and husbands, our children, and our members must find safety. There is no safety in the world; wealth cannot provide it, enforcement agencies cannot assure it, membership alone in this Church will not guarantee it. "

3rd Adult Speaker - 1st Counselor in Stake Presidency
He and the 2nd counselor both spoke of having peace no matter what is going on in the world or what is reported on the news.

Revelation Chapter 12
There is a war in Heaven and Satan and a third of the spirits choose to follow him and they are cast to earth. The battle for the souls of men continues here. Satan is overcome in the war by the atonement.

4th Speaker - Stake Young Women President
We were taught the gospel when we first heard it. We did not teach ourselves.

Be a friend to be a missionary. To have good friends we must be a good friend. If someone does not accept your missionary invitation continue to be their friend.

5th Speaker - Stake President
He shared his experience being challenged by his seminary teacher to pray about the Book of Mormon even though he felt he was a believer.

He then recited Joseph Smith's experience of praying to know the truth and the things we learned from just that one vision.

People have no trouble believing that God spoke to Adam, Moses, and Noah, but think that Joseph's story is impossible.

General Conference Sunday Afternoon Session 10-5-08

President Boyd K. Packer - President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (Audio, Video)
The Test
He talked of the trials that the early members of the Church went through the requests for assistance that the Church sent to state and federal officials. He talked about that even though the government would not help them they were still patriots.

Elder Russell M. Nelson - Apostle (Audio, Video)
Celestial Marriage
He spoke of fidelity in marriage and the importance of eternal marriage, rather than "till death do us part" marriage.

All church quorums and classes are for obtaining the goal of an eternal exalted family.

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children. (The Family: A Proclamation to the World)

Marriage is not only an exalting principle, but a commandment.

Each marriage starts with two handicaps, two imperfect people.

He related eternal marriage to a fine item purchased at the store. He related marriage not done by the authority of God as an item purchased that was a cheap knock off. He related infidelity in marriage to shoplifting.

William D. Oswald - Sunday School Presidency (Audio, Video)
Gospel Teaching—Our Most Important Calling
He talked about effective teachers.

He talked of the spiritual preparation that the sons of Mosiah did before teaching. They had been taught well and they themselves fasted and prayed in addition to their learning.

He shared three principles for good teaching from Moroni's first visit to Joseph Smith:

1. Show love to those you teach and call them by name.
2. Teach from the scriptures.
3. Encourage the pondering of gospel truths.

Elder Eduardo Gavarret - Seventy (Audio, Video)
Returning Home
He talked about some of the progress of the Church in Peru.

Matt. 25: 35, 42

35 For I was an ^ahungred, and ye ^bgave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a ^cstranger, and ye took me in:

Elder Carlos A. Godoy - Seventy (Audio, Video)
Testimony as a Process
He talked about testimony. He shared that it is not necessary to have some grand spiritual experience to gain a testimony of the gospel.

The spirit is a still small voice. It is not in the sound of the whirlwind.

Elder Quentin L. Cook - Apostle (Audio, Video)
"Hope Ya Know, We Had a Hard Time"
He talked of his three year old talking to his mom after he and his dad had been in a car crash. He told her they had a hard time and received comfort from talking to her. We can receive the same comfort when we call home to Heavenly Father.

People will prosper in the land if they keep the commandments.

He talked of the sin of ingratitude.

President Thomas S. Monson - Prophet (Audio, Video)
Until We Meet Again
He encouraged us to be good members of our communities in the nations where we live.

He talked of taking care of those around us.

Continuous revelation is the life blood of the gospel.

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 8-17-08

Priesthood Opening

1 Ne. 1: 1

1 I, Nephi, having been ^aborn of ^bgoodly ^cparents, therefore I was ^dtaught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many ^eafflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a ^frecord of my proceedings in my days.

The bishop reviewed how to bless a baby. He referred us to the Family Guidebook for instructions on how to do it. He wanted to remind us that those planning on blessing a child should arrange it with the bishop before arranging it with their extended families.

The church is unique in the way that we are organized to take care of and watch over each other. We should call our district leaders at the end of each month and tell them who we visited, who we missed, and any needs of the families that we are responsible for.

The bishop said that missionary opportunities many times come in the disguised in work clothes.

Elders' Quorum
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith Chapter 15: Establishing the Cause of Zion p. 182–91
The logistics of physical, group Zion will be hard until we figure out the logistics of spiritual, individual Zion.

Sunday School
Book or Mormon Lesson 31: “Firm in the Faith of Christ” p138
Why the war chapters in the Book of Mormon?
Those chapters talk about fortifications in preparation for enemy attack. We are to fortify our homes against attacks from Satan and his influences.

Elder David O. McKay said: “There are … two conditions which may justify a truly Christian man to enter—mind you, I say enter, not begin—a war: (1) An attempt to dominate and to deprive another of his free agency, and, (2) Loyalty to his country. Possibly there is a third, [namely], Defense of a weak nation that is being unjustly crushed by a strong, ruthless one” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1942, 72).

The battle changes from battling in war to battling in politics. Moroni wins in battle and then a group rises up politically that is teaching against the doctrines of the church. Moroni raises up the title of liberty to remind everyone to defend their families and values.

Before making the title of liberty and also before going to battle as well he prayed. Before any battle we have in our lives we should pray first.

Sacrament Meeting
An experience with going to Lima, Peru. She went to the temple there.

1 John 4:18
18 There is no ^afear in ^blove; but perfect ^clove casteth out fear: because fear hath ^dtorment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

A missionary that just returned from a mission to Austria. He spoke about standard bearers in war. He also talked about Captain Moroni's title of liberty

President Hinckley gave us a standard to stand with when he gave us The Family: A Proclamation to the World.

Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom. Abraham pitched his toward the temple. I have often thought of it as simply putting the door of the tent facing in that direction. Was it perhaps putting his tent in that proximity as well. Did he put it close to Sodom to easily get back to the center of commerce and old friends and family? Perhaps Abraham knew there was trouble back there and that he wanted to have convenient access to the temple and church resources.

The bishop counseled us to calendar our lives with priorities so that our lives don't get filled with uncalendared non priorities.

From the Bulletin:
President Ezra Taft Benson taught, "If Book of Mormon prophets saw our day and chose those things which would be of greatest worth to us, is not that how we should study the Book of Mormon? We should constantly ask, "Why did the Lord inspire [this prophet] to include that in his record? What lesson can I learn from that to help me live in this day

and age?"

What do we learn from the "sons of Helaman?" At least three things:

1. COURAGE

'And they were all young men" Mormon said, "and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity" (Alma 53:20). The courage to follow of prophets changes

everything. Elder Eyring states that "Every time in my life when I have chosen to delay following inspired counsel or decided that I was an exception,I came to know that I had put myself in harm's way.

2. TRUST IN THE LORD

"To trust,"stated Elder Richard G.Scott,"means to obey willingly without knowing the end form the beginning. To be productive, your trust in the lord must be more powerful and enduring than your confidence in your own personal feelings and experience."

"If all matters were immediately resolved at your first petition, you could not grow. Your father in heaven and Jesus love you perfectly. They would not require you to experience a moment more of difficulty than is absolutely needed for your personal benefit or for that of those you love.

3.FAITH AND TRUST INSTILLED BY THEIR MOTHERS

"Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea and even according to their faith it was done unto them and I did remember the word which they said unto me that their mother had taught them (Alma 57:21) "Motherhood is near to divinity,

it is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind.

(Conference Report 1942)

Sunday October 28, 2007 - Sunday Services Cumberland Ward

Sacrament Meeting
The Primary did a program of singing and children giving brief presentations.

Before the Primary program started a stake high councilman said he had a letter to read. He said that the letter was a couple of pages long. I hadn't heard any rumors about anything and it didn't make sense to change our bishopric again so soon, so I didn't think much of it. As he read he said that a new stake was being created. He said that stake would be the Indianapolis West Stake and included in that would be the ward where our old house is. The new stake will be created on November 11. It is pretty exciting to have this sign of growth finally manifesting itself. One step closer to getting a temple in Indiana.

Sunday School
Lesson 39
Ephesians
Dispensation - Time block. A time when the Lord has at least one servant on Earth authorized to administer the Gospel.

Dispensation of Fullness of times - Began with the restoration of the Gospel. All of the keys of the gospel are present on the Earth at once.

This is a dispensation of gathering. Gathering members of the Church. Gathering our ancestors. Gathering families through sealing in the temple.

"One Lord One Faith One baptism." It is all about unity and there appears to be a lot of disunity between the various Christian churches that some would consider to all be Christ's Church as a whole.

Ephesians 4:11-14 - He gives us apostles and prophets that we may come to unity. That we may come to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. That we may not be "tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine..."

"husbands love your wives." (Eph. 5: 25, Col. 3: 19) When the husband loves his wife and is following Christ it works. Many of the movements to get "independence" from men are started where the husbands have ceased to follow Christ and the women don't feel any unity with those men.

Elders' Quorum Meeting
The bishop taught our lesson.
If you have faith in the savior you will be moved to action.
He talked about our poor performance with regard to home teaching. The home teaching program is the only way the bishop can keep track of how the ward is doing, since he can't visit everyone himself.

Sunday January 28, 2007

Sacrament Meeting
A couple that returned a few months ago from a service mission to inner city Indianapolis spoke to us today and reported on their mission.

Sunday School
We talked about why Jesus was baptized. He was baptized because he obeyed every commandment of his father.
5 And now, if the Lamb of God, he being ^aholy, should have need to be ^bbaptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be ^cbaptized, yea, even by water! (2 Ne. 31: 5)

We talked about the difference between immortality and eternal life. Immortality being to live forever and not die. Eternal Life to live forever with God.

We talked about the Lord fasting for forty days. Fasting makes the body weak, but makes the spirit strong.

Priesthood
The Elders' quorum president went over the responsibilities of an elder. He then specifically focused on home teaching. We then listed all those in the quorum who were not present today. It was an interesting approach.