Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 9 June 2019

Sacrament Service 

Bulletin

"We must remember that those mortals we meet in parking lots, offices, elevators, and elsewhere are often that portion of mankind God has given us to live and to serve." - President Spencer W Kimball

Elders Quorum

President Oaks’ April 2019 Priesthood Session talk, “Where Will This Lead”

"The restored gospel of Jesus Christ encourages us to think about the future. It explains the purpose of mortal life and the reality of the life to follow. It teaches great ideas about the future to guide our actions today."

With regard to our health or our finances or our spirituality, why do we not change our behavior that leads to a negative outcome or even to correct negative results that are happening right now because of that behavior. 

Many of the great leaders or people that accomplished great things had really hard things happen to them before becoming the leader or accomplishing the thing. 

Church Services This Week at Elkhart 2nd Ward South Bend Stake Elkhart Indiana 2 June 2019

Sacrament Service 

Testimonies

Be sure that it is clear to those around you that you and your family believe in Christ. 

Sunday School

Create a holy place in your home where people feel good to be.

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 26 May 2019

Sacrament Service

Bulletin

"Prayer is the passport to spiritual power." - Thomas S Monson

First Speaker

The speaker referenced Elder Holland’s April 2019 General Conference talk.

“To sacrifice is to relinquish something valuable or precious to accomplish a greater purpose. To determine something’s value, we must decide what we are willing to sacrifice to obtain it.” (Dan Clark)

Adam and Eve gave up the Garden of Eden to accomplish a greater purpose.

“Brothers and sisters, this hour ordained of the Lord is the most sacred hour of our week. By commandment, we gather for the most universally received ordinance in the Church. It is in memory of Him who asked if the cup He was about to drink could pass, only to press on because He knew that for our sake it could not pass. It will help us if we remember that a symbol of that cup is slowly making its way down the row toward us at the hand of an 11- or 12-year-old deacon.

“When the sacred hour comes to present our sacrificial gift to the Lord, we do have our own sins and shortcomings to resolve; that’s why we’re there. But we might be more successful in such contrition if we are mindful of the other broken hearts and sorrowing spirits that surround us. Seated not far away are some who may have wept—outwardly or inwardly—through the entire sacramental hymn and the prayers of those priests. Might we silently take note of that and offer our little crust of comfort and our tiny cup of compassion—might we dedicate it to them? or to the weeping, struggling member who is not in the service and, except for some redemptive ministering on our part, won’t be there next week either? or to our brothers and sisters who are not members of the Church at all but are our brothers and sisters? There is no shortage of suffering in this world, inside the Church and out, so look in any direction and you will find someone whose pain seems too heavy to bear and whose heartache seems never to end. One way to “always remember him” would be to join the Great Physician in His never-ending task of lifting the load from those who are burdened and relieving the pain of those who are distraught.” (Elder Holland’s talk)

Next Speaker

Music can bring things to our memory and can be so powerful.

3 Nephi 18

3 And when the disciples had come with bread and wine, he took of the bread and brake and blessed it; and he gave unto the disciples and commanded that they should eat.

4 And when they had eaten and were filled, he commanded that they should give unto the multitude.

The sacrament is one of the most sacred ordinances in the Church.

“My beloved brothers and sisters, with the exciting new emphasis on increased gospel learning in the home, it is crucial for us to remember that we are still commanded to ‘go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day.’ In addition to making time for more home-centered gospel instruction, our modified Sunday service is also to reduce the complexity of the meeting schedule in a way that properly emphasizes the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper as the sacred, acknowledged focal point of our weekly worship experience. We are to remember in as personal a way as possible that Christ died from a heart broken by shouldering entirely alone the sins and sorrows of the whole human family.

“Inasmuch as we contributed to that fatal burden, such a moment demands our respect. Thus, we are encouraged to come to our services early and reverently, dressed appropriately for participation in a sacred ordinance. ‘Sunday best’ has lost a little of its meaning in our time, and out of esteem for Him into whose presence we come, we ought to restore that tradition of Sabbath dress and grooming when and where we can.” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Behold the Lamb of God”, April 2019 General Conference)

John 6

47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

48 I am that bread of life.

49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.

50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

John 8

12 ¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 11

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Mattew 11

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.

Next Speaker

The purpose of life is to love each other.  If we love each other then we should serve each other.

Elders Quorum

Lesson based on Becky Craven, “Careful VS Cusal”, April 2019 General Conference

Are there people at The Tree of Life that pass pieces of fruit from the tree to others to encourage them to stay on the rod or to come to the rod. 

Keeping a hold of the iron rod takes focused effort. If you get casual and just walk next to the rod, you can drift off. 

"We can rationalize all we want, but the fact is, there is not a right way to do the wrong thing!" 

"How you win matters." - Ender’s Game

Remember is one of the most common words in the scriptures. We have to remind ourselves why we keep our covenants. 

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 19 May 2019

Sacrament Service

Bulletin

"it is in the temple that the things of the earth are joined with the things of heaven." - President Howard W Hunter 

First Speaker

The scriptures are described as “the wonders and mysteries of God”

Open and close your scripture study with a prayer.

If you study at the same time in the same place your mind will develop a habit.  Your mind and body will expect to study at that time.

2 Nephi 32:3

3 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

Reading a verse is nibbling on the scriptures.

Reading a chapter or more just to get through it is gorging on the scriptures.  Not really getting nutrition out of it and just making yourself worn out.

Praying, focusing, pondering, and reading the scriptures is feasting on the scriptures and words of Christ.

Next Speaker

“The challenge is not so much closing the gap between our actions and our beliefs; rather, the challenge is closing the gap between our beliefs and the truth. That is the challenge.” (Lawrence E. Corbridge, “Stand Forever”, BYU Speech Jan 22, 2019)

When we read our scriptures, we put ourselves in the path of divine revelation.

Helaman 5:12

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

DnC 4

2 Nephi 31:20

20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

Sunday School 

Luke 15 and Matthew 19-20

The parables in Luke 15 all deal with things that are lost from different perspectives. 

The sheep got lost due to choice and by not paying attention.

The coin got lost by neglect. 

The prodigal son was lost due to choice and deliberate rebellion. 

The brother that stayed at home was also lost in some ways. 

The parable of the prodigal son teaches us much about the nature and attributes of our Father in Heaven. Like the father in the parable, God will not control us, keep us from straying, or keep us from making selfish, foolish errors, Yet His love never diminishes, He is so anxious to have us return that He will run to us when we are still "a great way off' (Luke 15:20). He knows us so well that He can recognize our better selves when no one else can. Each of us, male or female, will be able to recognize something of ourselves in each of the sons in the parable, The parable also teaches us about what the Savior does for us when we turn from sin and return to Him, Through the Atonement, He runs to welcome us home and does not require us to make the trek of repentance alone,

"This son is not so much angry that the other has come home as he is angry that his parents are so happy about it." (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Other Prodigal”, April 2002 General Conference)

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 12 May 2019

Sacrament Service

Bulletin

"There are few things more powerful than the prayer of a righteous mother." - Elder Boyd K Packer

First Speaker

John 15:12

12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Next Speaker

If you are going to go somewhere, don’t go empty handed.  It means when you are going, do something productive on the way.

“Today I declare from this pulpit what has been said here before: that no love in mortality comes closer to approximating the pure love of Jesus Christ than the selfless love a devoted mother has for her child. When Isaiah, speaking messianically, wanted to convey Jehovah’s love, he invoked the image of a mother’s devotion. “Can a woman forget her sucking child?” he asks. How absurd, he implies, though not as absurd as thinking Christ will ever forget us.” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Behold Thy Mother”, October 2015 General Conference)

“You see, it is not only that they bear us, but they continue bearing with us. It is not only the prenatal carrying but the lifelong carrying that makes mothering such a staggering feat. Of course, there are heartbreaking exceptions, but most mothers know intuitively, instinctively that this is a sacred trust of the highest order. The weight of that realization, especially on young maternal shoulders, can be very daunting.” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Behold Thy Mother”, October 2015 General Conference)

“May each of us treasure this truth; one cannot forget mother and remember God. One cannot remember mother and forget God. Why? Because these two sacred persons, God and mother, partners in creation, in love, in sacrifice, in service, are as one.” (Elder Thomas S. Monson, “‘Behold Thy Mother’”, October 1973 General Conference)

Next Speaker

“During World War II, my widowed mother supported her three young children on a schoolteacher’s salary that was meager. When I became conscious that we went without some desirable things because we didn’t have enough money, I asked my mother why she paid so much of her salary as tithing. I have never forgotten her explanation: ‘Dallin, there might be some people who can get along without paying tithing, but we can’t. The Lord has chosen to take your father and leave me to raise you children. I cannot do that without the blessings of the Lord, and I obtain those blessings by paying an honest tithing. When I pay my tithing, I have the Lord’s promise that he will bless us, and we must have those blessings if we are to get along.’” (Dallin H Oaks, "Tithing", April 1994 General Conference) 

“My mother was a widow, with a large family to provide for. One spring when we opened our potato pits she had her boys get a load of the best potatoes, and she took them to the tithing office; potatoes were scarce that season. I was a little boy at the time, and drove the team. When we drove up to the steps of the tithing office, ready to unload the potatoes, one of the clerks came out and said to my mother, ‘Widow Smith, it’s a shame that you should have to pay tithing.’ … He chided my mother for paying her tithing, called her anything but wise or prudent; and said there were others who were strong and able to work that were supported from the tithing office. My mother turned upon him and said: ‘William, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. Would you deny me a blessing? If I did not pay my tithing, I should expect the Lord to withhold His blessings from me. I pay my tithing, not only because it is a law of God, but because I expect a blessing by doing it. By keeping this and other laws, I expect to prosper and to be able to provide for my family’” (President Joseph Fielding Smith, in Conference Report, Apr. 1900, p. 48).

“Few of us will reach our potential without the nurturing of both the mother who bore us and the mothers who bear with us. I was thrilled recently to see one of my youth leaders for the first time in years. As a teenager who had absolutely no self-confidence, I always sidled up to this woman because she would put her arm around me and say, “You are just the best girl!” She loved me, so I let her lead me. How many young men and women are desperate for your love and leadership? Do we fully realize that our influence as mothers in Israel is irreplaceable and eternal?” (Sister Sheri L. Dew, “Are We Not All Mothers?”, October 2001 General Conference)

Elders Quorum 

The lesson was based on the talk “The Quorum, A Place of Belonging” by Carl B. Cook

"My young brothers who hold the Aaronic Priesthood, the Lord would have you establish a strong quorum, a place of belonging for each and every young man, a place where the Lord’s Spirit is present, a place where all quorum members are welcome and valued. 

“Each of you quorum presidency members lead the way as you seek inspiration and develop love and brotherhood among all quorum members.”

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 5 May 2019

Sacrament Service

Bulletin

“Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more.” (Elder Richard G. Scott, “Trust in the Lord”, October 1985 General Conference)

Testimonies

We got a new bishopric today.

“At this conference we have seen the release of some faithful brothers, and we have sustained the callings of others. In this rotation—so familiar in the Church—we do not “step down” when we are released, and we do not “step up” when we are called. There is no “up or down” in the service of the Lord. There is only “forward or backward,” and that difference depends on how we accept and act upon our releases and our callings.” (Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood”, April 2014 General Conference)

The stake president said that he prayed that the new bishop would step up and that all of us would step up with him.

Pick up and do.  Do without being asked.

Sunday School 

John 7:37-39

37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

John 8:12,9:4-5

12 ¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

John 8:56-59

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

John 9:8,35-38

8 ¶ The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.

38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

John 10:7-9

7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

John 10:11-14

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

We must constantly be exerting effort in our discipleship.

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 28 April 2019

Sacrament Service 

Bulletin

DnC 12:8

8 And no one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love, having faith, hope, and charity, being temperate in all things, whatsoever shall be entrusted to his care.

First Speaker

The Word of Wisdom brings you closer to God.  It teaches you self control.

Next Speaker

1 John 3:2

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

3 Nephi 27:27

27 And know ye that ye shall be judges of this people, according to the judgment which I shall give unto you, which shall be just. Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.

DnC 93:20

20 For if you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fulness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father; therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace.

“When you climb up a ladder” explained the Prophet Joseph Smith, “you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the Gospel—you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation. But it will be a great while after you have passed through the veil before you will have learned them. It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave.” (Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, comp. Joseph Fielding Smith (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1976), 348.)

Ephesians 4

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Teaching, learning, and living the Gospel.

“The sequence of His pattern is significant. Faith, repentance, baptism, a testimony, and enduring conversion lead to the healing power of the Lord. Baptism is a covenant act—a sign of a commitment and a promise. Testimony develops when the Holy Ghost gives conviction to the earnest seeker of the truth. True testimony fosters faith; it promotes repentance and obedience to God’s commandments. Testimony engenders enthusiasm to serve God and fellow human beings. Conversion means ‘to turn with.’ Conversion is a turning from the ways of the world to, and staying with, the ways of the Lord. Conversion includes repentance and obedience. Conversion brings a mighty change of heart. Thus, a true convert is ‘born again,’ walking with a newness of life.” (Elder Russell M. Nelson, “Jesus Christ—the Master Healer”, October 2005 General Conference)

Our bodies cannot thrive on one meal a week, even if it is a grand, large meal.

“Though earthly families are far from perfect, they give God’s children the best chance to be welcomed to the world with the only love on earth that comes close to what we felt in heaven—parental love.” (President Henry B. Eyring, “Gathering the Family of God”, April 2017 General Conference)

Elders Quorum 

The lesson was based on Elder Gary E Stevenson’s April 2019 General Conference talk, "Your Priesthood Playbook".

Manna did not last till the next day for the children of Israel. They had to work to collect it every day. Our scripture study and prayer does not last very long and we have to gather strength every day.  We can forget our motivation in a short period of time if we don't keep gathering manna from the scriptures and the spirit every day. 

“You are bearers of the holy priesthood of God. Your commitment to hold firmly the iron rod will transform you into the eternal being who you were created to become.

“God knows and loves you. He will bless you and guide your steps.

“You might be thinking that you are no one special, that you are not all-star material. But that is not true. Don’t you know that God has proclaimed, ‘The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones’?

“So, do you feel weak? insignificant? Congratulations, you just made the lineup!

“Do you feel unimportant? inferior? You may be just who God needs.”

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 21 April 2019

Sacrament Service

Bulletin

John 11:25

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

First Speaker

A young woman that is leaving on a mission soon spoke to us.

Change from God has been hard throughout history. (Jonah and Ninevah’s repentance, Peter and Gentile converts, etc)

Sometimes it feels like God is not answering your question, but you can feel Him helping you take the next steps of faith.

DnC 9

7 Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.

8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.

9 But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.

Next Speaker

Everything we do in the Church is supposed to bring people to Christ.

Matthew 11

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.

“No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. … All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable. … It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire.” (Orson F. Whitney, in Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle (1972), 98.)

The Church is hierarchal, but the atonement is very personal.

“In the upper room on the night of the Last Supper, the very night during which He would experience the greatest suffering that ever took place in all of the worlds created by Him, Christ spoke about the Comforter and peace:” (Elder David A. Bednar, “A Christlike Character”, From a Brigham Young University–Idaho Religion Symposium address given on January 25, 2003.)

Sunday School

Before Christ was resurrected there was no resurrection. 

1 Corinthians 15

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ helps us through our trials by teaching us the reason we go through trials in general. 

Ether 12

26 And when I had said this, the Lord spake unto me, saying: Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness;

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 14 April 2019

Sacrament Service

Bulletin

"Keep studying the scriptures. Keep doing the things that build your faith in Jesus Christ. And then notice the wise choices you are naturally drawn to make." - President Russell M Nelson, From a Church Educational System devotional address, “Youth of the Noble Birthright: What Will You Choose?” delivered at Brigham Young University–Hawaii on September 6, 2013. For the full address, go to cesdevotionals.lds.org.

Testimonies