Church Services This Week at Ridge Crest Ward Northridge Stake Layton Utah 3 May 2015

Sacrament Service

Stake Theme:

Being obedient to a commandment you are struggling with & choose to keep it more completely.

Reference Scripture: Joshua 24:15

Reference Talk: The Safety and Peace of Keeping the Commandments - Bishop Gary E. Stevenson – December 2012

Link to lds.org: https://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/12/the-safety-and-peace-of-keeping-the-

commandments?lang=eng

The Lord provides a way to have us keep any commandment he has given us.

Heavenly Father doesn't always answer prayers on our time, but he always answers them on time.

Sunday School

My lesson on modern apostles and prophets

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What have you learned in your personal gospel study this week?

Have you had any gospel conversations with friends or family that you would like to share?

Today we are going to talk about:  What can I learn from living prophets and apostles?

Past prophets had specific instructions for the people in the times they lived in. The instructions and things they were asked to do were specific to their time but are things that we can learn from and much still applies to us, because they are key points of the gospel in all ages like the ten commandments and the beatitudes.

Some past prophets were specifically writing to our day that we might be prepared for things to come in our day. Some of the prophets that wrote to us or about us were Isaiah, John, and Moroni.

Can you think of scriptures that are specifically for our day? Use your topical guide and see what you can find.

The living prophets and apostles receive revelation to guide the Church, and their counsel reflects the will of the Lord, who knows us perfectly and understands our challenges. Their teachings can help us with the challenges we face today. We are blessed to be led by living prophets and apostles and to receive their counsel every six months during general conference.

What are some items of counsel or commandment that living prophets have given to the church in the last day?  (word of wisdom, FHE, food storage)

What are some things you remember from our current general conference that the prophet and apostles talked to us about that are very specific to what is going on in our world now.  (tolerance, freedom to choose,

DnC 1:38

38 What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.

Let’s look at some thoughts from our prophet from last general conference.

"let us consider our callings; let us reflect on our responsibilities; let us determine our duty; and let us follow Jesus Christ, our Lord."

...

"Let us take most seriously the callings, the responsibilities, and the duties... " - President Monson

What is a calling?

What is the difference between duty and responsibility?

I saw someone online describe the difference between duty and responsibility like this :

" Duty is that you ought to do. Duty is derived from certain rights. For instance, it is my duty as a father to feed my kids. Violation of duty is a serious offense. Whereas, responsibility can be any commitment towards anything where you are free to obey or not to obey.."

Go around the room and ask each of them what their calling is.  (church calling, daughter, sister,  mother, son, brother)

It is my belief that all women are called from birth to be mothers. Not in the sense to bear children, but to raise up everyone around them.

Go around the room and ask what are their responsibilities.

Go around the room and ask what is one of their duties.

What else did our prophet share with us during our last conference?

“This year we anticipate rededicating 2 temples and dedicating 5 new temples which are scheduled for completion.

“For the past two years, as we have concentrated our efforts on completing previously announced temples, we have held in abeyance plans for any additional temples. This morning, however, I am very pleased to announce three new temples which will be built in the following locations: Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Port-au-Prince, Haiti; and Bangkok, Thailand.“

The prophet is guiding the work of the Lord in this time of great expansion of the Church and the work of the Lord.  He is sharing with us and allowing us to share in the great joy of temple building.  What does it feel like when a temple is announced that is built in our town, or in a place that is significant to us, or in a place that has world significance?

When President Monson once announced the first temple in my home state of Indiana it was a great feeling for me, even though I am now far from there.  That temple is now getting ready to be dedicated.

When he announced the temple in Rome, Italy you could hear a reaction from the audience as it sunk into them what this could mean.  Rome is the headquarters to the Catholic church, which is likely the Christian church with the most members worldwide.  They consider their church to be descended directly from Peter while he was still alive.

The prophet also talked about our behavior in the temple and some of the purpose of temples.

“As we enter through the doors of the temple, we leave behind us the distractions and confusion of the world. Inside this sacred sanctuary, we find beauty and order. There is rest for our souls and a respite from the cares of our lives.

“As we attend the temple, there can come to us a dimension of spirituality and a feeling of peace which will transcend any other feeling which could come into the human heart. We will grasp the true meaning of the words of the Savior when He said: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. … Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”1

He tells us to leave behind distractions when we enter the temple.  He tells us that the temple is a sanctuary from things of the world.  He tells us that there is peace in the temple.  In that peace we can find clarity about things that are troubling us.

In his conference talk the prophet also talks about overcoming temptations as we visit the temple.

“My brothers and sisters, in our lives we will have temptations; we will have trials and challenges. As we go to the temple, as we remember the covenants we make there, we will be better able to overcome those temptations and to bear our trials. In the temple we can find peace.”

He tells us will have trials and challenges, but as we go to the temple and remember our covenants, we will better be able to fight temptation when we are outside the temple.

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Elders Quorum

President Monson April 2015 ensign first presidency message.

Sacrificing my personal beliefs does not build trust with people.

You can be on the right side of an issue and still be the tool of Satan. If we are engaged in conversation about a social issue and don't approach it with love, then we can harm the cause and our character can be wounded.

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 11-9-08

Priesthood Opening
Mosiah 2: 41
41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and ^ahappy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are ^bblessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out ^cfaithful to the end they are received into ^dheaven, 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.

Elders' Quorum
Chapter 20: A Heart Full of Love and Faith: The Prophet’s Letters to His Family 238–247
Joseph Smith said in a letter to his wife regarding their son, "Tell little Joseph he must be a good boy; Father loves him with a perfect love. He is the eldest and must not hurt those that are smaller than him, but comfort them."

Joseph Smith was overwhelmed and yet he took the time to consider and write to each of his children individually.

We discussed how long it took to travel during the early days of the church and to communicate with people they were away from.

We should be content with what God has given us in our lives. That doesn't mean we don't try to excel and do our best, but we should not waste time envying other or coveting things we do not have.

We should follow the Savior's example, "Saying, Father, if thou be willing, ^aremove this cup from me: nevertheless not my ^bwill, but thine, be done."

If we focus on others' needs, our own trials will become easier.

Sunday School
Lesson 41: “He Did Expound All Things unto Them” 181
The teacher handed out the words of a primary song for us to consider.

Search, Ponder, and Pray
1. I love to read the holy Scriptures,
And, ev' ry time I do,
I feel the Spirit start to grow within my heart –
A testimony that they're true.

Chorus
Search, ponder, and pray
Are the things that I must do.
The Spirit will guide, and, deep inside,
I'll know the Scriptures are true.

2. So, prayerfully I'll read the Scriptures
Each day my whole life through.
I'll come to understand.
I'll keep the Lord's command
And live as He would have made it.

Chorus

Search, ponder, and pray
Are the things that I must do.
The Spirit will guide, and, deep inside,
I'll know the Scriptures are true.

Why do we want our kids to read the scriptures? Much the same reasons as God wants us to read them.

• To get direction.
• To have less contention.
• To get to know the Savior.
  

3 Nephi 22:2
2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations; spare not, lengthen thy cords and strengthen thy ^astakes;

Tent - Gospel
Stakes - Congregations/Groups of Congregations
Enlarge tent - Proclaim the gospel
Strengthen thy stakes - Perfect the saints

What can we do to make our stakes a refuge?

• Search, ponder, pray
• Strengthen our homes
• Fulfill and magnify callings

"We treasure the word of God not only by reading the words of the scriptures but by studying them. We may be nourished more by pondering a few words, allowing the Holy Ghost to make them treasures to us, than to pass quickly and superficially over whole chapters of scripture."
(November 1997 Ensign P84 Elder Eyring “Feed My Lambs”)

Sacrament Meeting Primary Program
The children sangs songs and gave scriptures for the meeting.

From the Bulletin
Angel at the sales counter:
“You can have anything you want.”
“I would like you to end world hunger, violence...”
“Oh, my good friend, we sell the seeds of blessings and not the fruits.”

Simple Statements:
Alma 37:6, 7
Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever.
God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
Helaman 5:12

If life “stinks” for you, please stop living in survival mode and develop a concerted plan of living the Gospel with exactness and consistency. Though it may bring some pride – appealing satisfaction, let go of anger and judging. Take on Alma 7:11, 12. Cut out the bad: control the good: and focus on and maximize the important. Then, and only THEN, will we feel the power of God surging through and guiding our lives. Try as we may find it, THERE IS NO OTHER WAY.
The Bishop

This week, in addition to your DAILY scripture study and prayers, if you have access to www.LDS.org please read” The Inexhaustible Gospel”by Elder Neil A. Maxwell. Please pray and make notes about what Heavenly Father would like you to do with what you learned there.
The Bishop

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 11-2-08

Priesthood Opening

Doctrine and Covenants 58:26-27
26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is ^acompelled in all things, the same is a ^bslothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

27 Verily I say, men should be ^aanxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

The bishop restated again to not go into debt for Christmas and to stay out of debt in general. He stated that a home and education and sometimes a vehicle are the only things that we should be in debt for. Some focus on that a house is ok for debt and they go beyond their means. Some also assume that they assume that they are the sometimes referred to and finance a car and then extend themselves beyond their means or at least what is permissible by God.

Elders' Quorum
The elders' quorum president reviewed how to administer to the sick with a priesthood blessing.

• Only Melchizedek Priesthood holders may administer to the sick or afflicted.

• Administering to the sick has two parts: (1) anointing with oil and (2) sealing the anointing.

• If a person requests more than one blessing for the same illness, the priesthood holder usually does not need to anoint with oil after the first blessing. Instead, he gives a blessing by the laying on of hands and the authority of the priesthood.

• Dress in church clothes where possible.

He also expressed that we should do our best to plan our lives with the information we have, but be prepared to change as the Lord reveals more information and new opportunities and priorities to us.

Take notes. Our minds alone are often no sharper than the dullest pencil.

Sunday School
Book of Mormon Lesson 40: “Then Will I Gather Them In” 177
Nephites are descendants of Israel through Joseph.

Why was Israel scattered? - To spread the gospel to other parts of the world.
3 Nephi 16:4
4 And I command you that ye shall ^awrite these sayings after I am gone, that if it so be that my people at Jerusalem, they who have seen me and been with me in my ministry, do not ask the Father in my name, that they may receive a knowledge of you by the Holy Ghost, and also of the other tribes whom they know not of, that these sayings which ye shall write shall be kept and shall be manifested unto the ^bGentiles, that through the fulness of the Gentiles, the remnant of their seed, who shall be scattered forth upon the face of the earth because of their ^cunbelief, may be brought in, or may be brought to a ^dknowledge of me, their Redeemer.

Gentiles - Nations without the gospel or people not born into the tribe of Israel.

What is the gathering of Israel? - Missionary work.
3 Nephi 20:10-15

10 And it came to pass that when they had all given glory unto Jesus, he said unto them: Behold now I finish the commandment which the Father hath commanded me concerning this people, who are a remnant of the house of Israel.

11 Ye remember that I spake unto you, and said that when the ^awords of ^bIsaiah should be fulfilled—behold they are written, ye have them before you, therefore search them—

12 And verily, verily, I say unto you, that when they shall be fulfilled then is the fulfilling of the ^acovenant which the Father hath made unto his people, O house of Israel.

13 And then shall the ^aremnants, which shall be ^bscattered abroad upon the face of the earth, be ^cgathered in from the east and from the west, and from the south and from the north; and they shall be brought to the ^dknowledge of the Lord their God, who hath redeemed them.

14 And the Father hath ^acommanded me that I should give unto you this ^bland, for your inheritance.

15 And I say unto you, that if the Gentiles do not ^arepent after the ^bblessing which they shall receive, after they have scattered my people—

At different phases of the work the Lord has gathered the people to different places in order to best grow the Church. At first the gathering was New York, Ohio, Missouri, Nauvoo, and now it is in your own city, state, country where you are to grow the Church and missionaries are sent forth to assist those who are gathering (the stakes of Zion).

Israel Facts

• The Book of Mormon - Records of the scattered tribes to convince that Jesus is the Christ.
• Joseph smith is a descendant of Israel, but he was born in a gentile nation, so the gathering is coming out from the gentiles as the scriptures say.
• Gathering doesn't just mean just restoring Israel to their homeland.
• The Lord will remember the covenant made to Abraham.
  Through his seed the kingdoms of the earth shall be blessed.
• The blood of Israel was also scattered throughout all nations.
• Gentiles that repent are adopted into the house of Israel. The Jews that don't repent are disowned.

Meanings of Israel - The main, the 12 tribes, and also the elect of God.

We are to gather our families, our wards (members and non members), our stake, our nation, the world.

Testimony Meeting
The bishop said the Holy Ghost is t comfort and to teach. Jesus has suffered our afflictions and knows how to comfort us and can send the Holy Ghost in that way.

Alma 7: 12
12 And he will take upon him ^adeath, that he may ^bloose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to ^csuccor his people according to their infirmities.

From the Bulletin
"When we invite the Holy Ghost to fill our minds with light and knowledge. He 'quickens' us, that is to say, enlightens and enlivens the inner man or woman. As a result we notice a measurable difference in our soul. We feel strengthened, filled with peace and joy. We possess spiritual energy and enthusiasm, both of which enhance our natural abilities. We can accomplish more than we otherwise could do on our own. We yearn to become a holier person.

If you set your payment, which is your personal effort, very low, you may not be able to avail yourself of all the Spirit has to offer...

We determine the level of our current personal contribution by examining our present choices and priorities against questions such as these:

1. Do I spend more time with sports than Church attendance or callings?
2. If I have a free day, do I choose to attend the temple or visit the mall?
3. Do I resort to computer games or surfing the internet rather than offering meaningful service to others in my home and community?
4. Do I read the newspaper religiously but find it difficult to read the scriptures daily?

Our next contribution to this effort will be to immerse ourselves more consistently in the words of Christ and of the prophets. When our study efforts expand, so will the influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives increase. Let us search the scriptures with pen in hand, making note of new insights and recording spiritual promptings. Thereafter, let us strive to apply what has been learned to our personal lives. The Spirit will quicken our inner selves; new understanding will come precept upon precept."
Keith K. Hilbig, "Quench Not the Spirit Which Quickens the Inner Man" Liahona, Nov 2007, 37-39)

Robert J. Matthews - BYU Sperry Symposium 10-28-2006

An address given at the BYU Sperry Symposium on How the New Testament Came to Be.

Robert J. Matthews - Professor Emeritus of Ancient Scripture - Brigham Young University
Joseph Smith and the New Testament
The current dispensation is conducted in the same way as previous dispensations. The ordinances are the same as well.

Men do not appoint themselves, but must be called of God by revelation.

"...if one man cannot understand these things but by the Spirit of God, ten thousand men cannot; it is alike out of the reach of the wisdom of the learned, the tongue of the eloquent, the power of the mighty." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 205;See reference sited in the later work - Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith Chapter 33: The Spiritual Gifts of Healing, Tongues, Prophecy, and Discerning of Spirits 379–89)

The natural man does not have the Holy Ghost, so he can not understand the things of God.

e [Elder Pratt] mentioned that as Joseph used the Urim and Thummim in the translation of the Book of Mormon, he wondered why he did not use it in the translation of the New Testament. Joseph explained to him that the experience he had acquired while translating the Book of Mormon by the use of the Urim and Thummim had rendered him so well acquainted with the Spirit of Revelation and Prophecy, that in the translating of the New Testament he did not need the aid that was necessary in the 1st instance." (Minutes of the School of the Prophets, Salt Lake City, 14 January 1871, Family and Church History Department Archives, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.)

Joseph understood much about previous dispensations since he had been visited by the leaders of those dispensations. He had been schooled by them and the Lord to restore that which had been lost, so he had to understand what had been before.

The complete gospel plan was preached in every dispensation beginning with Adam. The new testament dispensation was unique since it contained the Savior's birth, life, and ministry, but the doctrines were the same.

Men were saved by this great plan of redemption as much before the coming of Christ as since.

Our current New Testament is marvelous, but it is just a hint of what it once was.

The Book of Mormon does not lessen the New Testament or the holy land, but enlarge of view of an active and caring savior who is God of the whole world.

The Topic Jesus Christ in the Topical Guide in the Latter-day Saint scriptures contains 19 pages of scriptures supporting many subtopics about Jesus.

1 Nephi 13 talks of the Book of Mormon restoring the plain and precious things that have been removed from the Bible.

There are places in the Bible where there is ambiguity, which has caused some confusion. Mark 15:2 states "And ^aPilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, ^bThou sayest it." Some have stated that Jesus did not answer that he was the Son of God, but with, "That's what you say."

Joseph Smith's translation of this verse states,
3 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
4 And Jesus answering, said unto him, I am, even as thou sayest.

The ten commandment, the beatitudes, and the articles of faith all start with our relationship with God and they end up with out relationship to man, which matches with what the Savior said in Matthew 22:

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

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt ^alove the Lord thy God with all thy ^bheart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy ^cmind.

38 This is the first and great ^acommandment.

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

40 On these two commandments hang all the ^alaw and the prophets.

The first four beatitudes are missing from the New Testament and if we know the pattern we can immediately see that something is missing. The Savior teaches us about our relationship to God and then our relationship to man.

One o fthe purposes our scripture is to keep the Lord's commandments in front of our eyes.