Ogden Utah Weber Heights Stake Conference 3-21-09

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.

"The Lord’s storehouse is both spiritual and temporal. Through faith and obedience to the commandments, we build a spiritual reservoir of strength to meet life’s challenges. Similarly, we should follow wise principles of provident living and self-reliance to build temporal resources to meet our needs and serve others.

Provident living means not coveting the things of this world. It means using the resources of the earth wisely and not being wasteful, even in times of plenty. Provident living means avoiding excessive debt and being content with having that which is sufficient for our needs.

For example, one element of provident living is to obtain education or vocational training to prepare us for a profession that will sustain us and our families. Then we must give a full day’s effort for a full day’s pay. Such a work ethic, coupled with the qualities of integrity, character, and trustworthiness, qualify each of us as a “laborer . . . worthy of his hire” (D&C 31:5).

Another element of provident living is the ability to live joyfully within our means, avoiding excessive debt and not coveting the temporal things of this world. There seems to be a sense of entitlement in today’s culture—a feeling that we should acquire right now everything that our parents have acquired over many years. Debt can enslave us. When we become burdened with excessive debt, we have given away our precious, priceless agency and placed ourselves in self-imposed servitude, spending all of our time, energy, and means to the repayment of our debts. A mounting feeling of hopelessness from this situation builds stress which depresses us mentally, affecting our self worth, our relationship with our companion, and ultimately our feelings toward the Lord." ("Seek and attain the spiritual high ground in life", Elder Robert D. Hales, CES Broadcast to Married and Single Young Adults, March 1, 2009)

Paying the Lord first shows our gratitude.

"The work of thousands of Latter-day Saints who give of their time and resources to help others, both as individuals and as contributors in the Church, is a literal manifestation of the Prophet Joseph Smith’s counsel: 'A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race.'" (Neil K. Newell, "Anxious to Bless the Whole Human Race", Ensign, April 1999)

“If the people known as Latter-day Saints had listened to the advice given from this stand by my predecessor, under the inspiration of the Lord, calling and urging upon the Latter-day Saints not to run in debt, this great depression would have hurt the Latter-day Saints very, very little. … To my mind, the main reason for the depression in the United States as a whole, is the bondage of debt and the spirit of speculation among the people.” ("Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Heber J. Grant", Chapter 13)

Budgets are a plan on how to spend our money. It helps us distinguish between wants and needs.

Teach your family sound financial principles and a good work ethic.

“Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy” (2 Ne. 9:51)

Many more people could ride out the storm-tossed waves in their economic lives if they had their year's supply of food and clothing and were debt-free. Today we find that many have followed this counsel in reverse: they have at least a year's supply of debt and are food-free." (President Thomas S. Monson, "That Noble Gift—
Love at Home,” Church News, May 12, 2001, 7.)

Not all blessings come back in monetary form.

Amos 8
11 ¶ Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a ^afamine of bread, nor a ^bthirst for water, but of hearing the ^cwords of the Lord:
12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall ^arun to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.

True discipleship means that we must press against our weaknesses and inadequacies.

Ether 12: 27
27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their ^aweakness. I ^bgive unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my ^cgrace is sufficient for all men that ^dhumble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make ^eweak things become strong unto them.

Real power comes from the grace of Christ. The Bible Dictionary states the following of grace:
"A word that occurs frequently in the New Testament, especially in the writings of Paul. The main idea of the word is divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ.

It is through the grace of the Lord Jesus, made possible by his atoning sacrifice, that mankind will be raised in immortality, every person receiving his body from the grave in a condition of everlasting life. It is likewise through the grace of the Lord that individuals, through faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means. This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts.

Divine grace is needed by every soul in consequence of the fall of Adam and also because of man’s weaknesses and shortcomings. However, grace cannot suffice without total effort on the part of the recipient. Hence the explanation, “It is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” (2 Ne. 25: 23). It is truly the grace of Jesus Christ that makes salvation possible. This principle is expressed in Jesus’ parable of the vine and the branches (John 15: 1-11). See also John 1: 12-17; Eph. 2: 8-9; Philip. 4: 13; D&C 93: 11-14."

One of the speakers referenced "The infinite atonement" by Tad Callister

Enoch and Moses both found they needed the grace of God to give them strength to overcome their weakness.

1. Ex. 4: 10
   10 ¶ And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of ^aspeech, and of a ^bslow tongue.
2. Moses 6: 31
   31 And when Enoch had heard these words, he ^abowed himself to the earth, before the Lord, and spake before the Lord, saying: ^bWhy is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people ^chate me; for I am ^dslow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?

As one studies the dealings with Enoch and Moses one can contrast how the Lord dealt with each of them.

Grace is an enabling power.

Alma 26: 12
12 Yea, I know that I am ^anothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will ^bnot boast of myself, but I will ^cboast of my God, for in his ^dstrength I can do all ^ethings; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

2 Timothy 1:7-9
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of ^afear; but of ^bpower, and of ^clove, and of a sound mind.
8 Be not thou therefore ^aashamed of the ^btestimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy ^acalling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and ^bgrace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

We overcome sin through his grace. His power. His strength.

We should not only be prepared temporally, but also spiritually to withstand temptation, worldly ideas, and the opposition of society to the things of God.

Constant prayer not just once or twice a day.

1. D&C 20: 33
   33 Therefore let the church take heed and pray always, lest they fall into ^atemptation;
2. D&C 31: 12
   12 ^aPray always, lest you enter into ^btemptation and lose your ^creward.
3. D&C 61: 39
   39 Pray always that you enter not into ^atemptation, that you may abide the day of his coming, whether in life or in death. Even so. Amen.
4. D&C 93: 49-50
   49 What I say unto one I say unto all; ^apray always lest that wicked one have power in you, and remove you out of your place.
   50 My servant Newel K. Whitney also, a bishop of my church, hath need to be ^achastened, and set in ^border his family, and see that they are more ^cdiligent and concerned at home, and pray always, or they shall be removed out of their ^dplace.
5. 3 Ne. 18: 15, 18-19, 21
   15 Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and ^apray always, lest ye be tempted by the devil, and ye be led away captive by him.
6. D&C 10: 5
   5 ^aPray always, that you may come off ^bconqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may ^cescape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.

"The Apostle Paul taught that the Lord’s teachings and teachers were given that we may all attain 'the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ' (Eph. 4:13). This process requires far more than acquiring knowledge. It is not even enough for us to be convinced of the gospel; we must act and think so that we are converted by it. In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something."
"From such teachings we conclude that the Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become." (Elder Dallin H. Oaks, "The Challenge to Become", General Conference, October 2000)

Matt. 7: 24-27
24 ¶ Therefore whosoever ^aheareth these sayings of mine, and ^bdoeth them, ^cI will liken him unto a ^dwise man, which ^ebuilt his house upon ^fa rock:
25 And the ^arain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and ^bbeat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a ^crock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a ^afoolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that ^ahouse; and it ^bfell: and great was the fall of it.

Do we have a foundation so that when we are beat up on that we don't start to crumble or washed away?

A plant grows through imperceptible changes and so does testimony and conversion.

When one has light around them frequently when more light is given to them it can be almost imperceptible.

When things go wrong is not because God has forsaken you, but because it is just part of the earthly experience.

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 3-8-09

Priesthood Opening
2 Nephi 31:20
20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a ^asteadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of ^bhope, and a ^clove of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and ^dendure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have ^eeternal life.

Media Kit is being replaced by Gospel Art Book a spiral bound color booklet.

Elders' Quorum
Chapter 28: Missionary Service: A Holy Calling, a Glorious Work 327–38
In June of 1837 Joseph Smith started sending missionaries to England. The Church was only 7 years old.

"From Nauvoo, Joseph Smith continued to send missionaries throughout the world. Elder Orson Hyde landed in England in 1841 and later continued his assigned mission to Jerusalem. He carried a letter of recommendation from Joseph Smith recognizing 'the bearer of these presents, a faithful and worthy minister of Jesus Christ, to be our agent and representative in foreign lands, to … converse with the priests, rulers and Elders of the Jews.'5 On October 24, 1841, Elder Hyde knelt on Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives and petitioned Heavenly Father to dedicate and consecrate the land 'for the gathering together of Judah’s scattered remnants, according to the predictions of the holy prophets.'6 Elder Hyde then made his way to Germany, where he laid an initial foundation for the growth of the Church there."

Why is faith important for missionary work? Faith is action. Missionary work requires action.

Why is virtue important for missionary work? The spirit is necessary for conversion. Un-virtuous thoughts and actions chase the spirit away. Virtue entails a good work ethic and honesty. A person of virtue has things they hold sacred. Their attitudes are less casual.

Why is diligence important for missionary work? The work of the Lord is done line upon line little by little. We must be diligent in the work as people are prepared a little bit everyday.

Why is charity import for missionary work? You are able to look past people's short comings and have compassion and service. Being a good steward and keeper of our fellow men is charity. Being a steward or keeper does not mean lording over people, but we are to watch over them and take care of them.

Don't contend. Stay away from mysteries and things we don't know. Stick to the basics.

Sunday School
Lesson 10: “This Is My Voice unto All” 53
We many times get caught up in our our problems that we forget the promises that have been made to us.

Doctrine and Covenants 25:5
5 And the office of thy calling shall be for a ^acomfort unto my servant, [insert husband's name], thy ^bhusband, in his ^cafflictions, with consoling words, in the spirit of ^dmeekness.

“Marriage [is] an institution of heaven, instituted in the garden of Eden.” (History of the Church, 2:320; from a Joseph Smith journal entry, Nov. 24, 1835, Kirtland, Ohio.)

“It is the duty of a husband to love, cherish, and nourish his wife, and cleave unto her and none else [see D&C 42:22]; he ought to honor her as himself, and he ought to regard her feelings with tenderness, for she is his flesh, and his bone, designed to be an help unto him, both in temporal, and spiritual things; one into whose bosom he can pour all his complaints without reserve, who is willing (being designed) to take part of his burden, to soothe and encourage his feelings by her gentle voice.

“It is the place of the man, to stand at the head of his family, … not to rule over his wife as a tyrant, neither as one who is fearful or jealous that his wife will get out of her place, and prevent him from exercising his authority. It is his duty to be a man of God (for a man of God is a man of wisdom,) ready at all times to obtain from the scriptures, the revelations, and from on high, such instructions as are necessary for the edification, and salvation of his household.”(“On the Duty of Husband and Wife,” an editorial published in Elders’ Journal, Aug. 1838, p. 61; paragraph divisions altered; Joseph Smith was the editor of the periodical.)

At a meeting of Relief Society sisters, Joseph Smith said: “You need not be teasing your husbands because of their deeds, but let the weight of your innocence, kindness and affection be felt, which is more mighty than a millstone hung about the neck; not war, not jangle [quarreling], not contradiction, or dispute, but meekness, love, purity—these are the things that should magnify you in the eyes of all good men. …

“… When a man is borne down with trouble, when he is perplexed with care and difficulty, if he can meet a smile instead of an argument or a murmur—if he can meet with mildness, it will calm down his soul and soothe his feelings; when the mind is going to despair, it needs a solace of affection and kindness. … When you go home, never give a cross or unkind word to your husbands, but let kindness, charity and love crown your works henceforward.(History of the Church, 4:605–7; spelling modernized; paragraph divisions altered; from a discourse given by Joseph Smith on Apr. 28, 1842, in Nauvoo, Illinois; reported by Eliza R. Snow; see also appendix, page 562, item 3.)

“[The Prophet Joseph Smith] exhorted the sisters always to concentrate their faith and prayers for, and place confidence in their husbands, whom God has appointed for them to honor.”(History of the Church, 4:604; from a discourse given by Joseph Smith on Apr. 28, 1842, in Nauvoo, Illinois; reported by Eliza R. Snow; see also appendix, page 562, item 3.)

"The central feature of pride is enmity—enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen" ("Beware of Pride", President Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign May 1989)

Dictionary.com defines enmity as "a feeling or condition of hostility; hatred; ill will; animosity; antagonism."

We need to balance self reliance with humility and faith.

When talks and lessons are given and scriptures are read, dig for how it applies to us and not dwell on others you think it applies to.

Do we trust that God will do what he says? If we trust him, we will do what he asks in order that he can give us those things He has promised us. That includes things in this life as well as the next.

Sacrament Service

Doctrine and Covenants 130:20-21
20 There is a ^alaw, irrevocably decreed in ^bheaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all ^cblessings are predicated—

21 And when we obtain any ^ablessing from God, it is by ^bobedience to that law upon which it is predicated.

John 14:15
15 ¶ If ye ^alove me, ^bkeep my ^ccommandments.

"The gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to change. 'Repent' is its most frequent message, and repenting means giving up all of our practices—personal, family, ethnic, and national—that are contrary to the commandments of God. The purpose of the gospel is to transform common creatures into celestial citizens, and that requires change.

John the Baptist preached repentance. His listeners came from different groups, and he declared the changes each must make to 'bring forth . . . fruits worthy of repentance' (Luke 3:8). Publicans, soldiers, and ordinary people—each had traditions that had to yield to the process of repentance.

The teachings of Jesus also challenged the traditions of different groups. When the scribes and Pharisees complained that His disciples 'transgress[ed] the tradition of the elders" by omitting the ritual washings, Jesus replied that the scribes and Pharisees "transgress[ed] the commandment of God by [their] tradition' (Matthew 15:2–3). He described how they had 'made the commandment of God of none effect by [their] tradition' (v. 6). 'Hypocrites' is what He called those whose adherence to their traditions kept them from keeping the commandments of God (v. 7).

Again, in modern revelation the Lord declares that the 'wicked one' takes the innocent children of God away from light and truth 'through disobedience . . . and because of the tradition of their fathers' (D&C 93:39).

The traditions or culture or way of life of a people inevitably include some practices that must be changed by those who wish to qualify for God's choicest blessings." ("Repentance and Change", Elder Dallin H. Oaks, General Conference, Oct 2003)

If we focus too much on the steps of repentance we can lose focus of the purpose, which is to change our hearts and life. Though, the steps of repentance are necessary.

If we are spiritually self-reliant, the better prepared we are to face adversity in our lives.

To be spiritually self-reliant we must work.

"Much of life’s misery centers in the lack of using common sense." ("Becoming Self-Reliant—Spiritually and Physically", Elder M. Russel Ballard, Ensign, March 2009)

The parable of the 10 virgins. Is about spiritual self-reliance.

“The oil of spiritual preparedness cannot be shared. ” (A Time of Urgency, Marvin J. Ashton, General Conference, April 1974)

When we take the sacrament we witness to God that we are willing to take upon us the name of Christ.

We talked about Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk from October 1995 General Conference“This Do in Remembrance of Me”

The sacrament is our Passover. We are marking our lives each week with the blood of the Lamb.

The sacrament does not cleanse us. Repentance cleanses us. We get dirty everyday and should repent every day

From the Bulletin
"The great prophet Amulek taught, 'And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption.' (Alma 34:16)" (Elder Earl C. Tingey, "The Great Plan of Happiness", Ensign, May 2006, 72-73)

Sunday June 10, 2007

Ward Conference
Sacrament Meeting
Our bishop is a truck driver. He related a story of prayer while he was driving. It was interesting and humerous listening to his use of truck driving terminology in his story.

President Cowley of the stake presidency
Prayers are answered in three ways.
1. A warm feeling or in a way that communicates to us, perhaps in our "love language." - A positive answer.
2. A Stupor of thought - a negative answer.
3. Nothing - Some action is required by us.

The ward choir sang Jesus Name of Wondrous Love.

President Sinclair - President of the Indiana Indianapolis North Stake
The time has past when praying when praying once a day was sufficient to protect our families.

Sunday School
The Stake Sunday School President gave the lesson today.
Matthew 25 - Parable of the ten virgins
Oil - Testimony, preparedness
Virgins - Church Memebers
Groom - Jesus
Wedding - Jesus' Second Coming

Priesthood
Provident Living - self reliance and preparedness.
Our high councilman gave the lesson.
Financial Self Reliance
1. Pay tithing
2. Get out of debt and where possible don't get into debt.
3. Get an education.
4. Save.