Church Services This Week at Layton North Stake Conference Layton Utah 15-16 January 2022

 1-15-22

Stake Leadership Meeting

First Speaker

Give each number of people we count an identity and a name. 

Make great people better. 

1 Nephi 10:17 - know of these by the gift… 

17 And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a vision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God—and the Son of God was the Messiah who should come—I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men.

1 Nephi 11:1

17 And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a vision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God—and the Son of God was the Messiah who should come—I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men.

Next Speaker

“Likewise, the stakes of Zion are “a refuge from the storm” because they are led by those who hold priesthood keys and exercise priesthood authority. As you continue to follow the counsel of those whom the Lord has authorized to guide you, you will feel greater safety.” (President Russell M. Nelson, “Embrace the Future with Faith”, General Conference October 2020)

Next Speaker

“God knows all things, the end from the beginning, and no man becomes president of the church of Jesus Christ by accident, or remains there by chance, or is called home by happenstance.” (President Ezra Taft Benson, "Jesus Christ—

Gifts and Expectations", New Era May 1975)

The thing that President Nelson talks the most about, is receiving personal revelation.

Mosiah 18:19

19 And he commanded them that they should teach nothing save it were the things which he had taught, and which had been spoken by the mouth of the holy prophets.

Dnc 46:2

2 But notwithstanding those things which are written, it always has been given to the elders of my church from the beginning, and ever shall be, to conduct all meetings as they are directed and guided by the Holy Spirit.

Saturday Evening Session of Stake Conference

First Speaker

“Worthy music is powerful. It has the power to make us humble, prayerful, and grateful. Prophets through all generations have taught the importance of worthy music in our expressions of worship.“ (Elder Russell M. Nelson(, “The Power and Protection of Worthy Music”, Ensign December 2009)

“… Latter-day Saints should fill their homes with the sound of worthy music. …

“Hymns can also help us withstand the temptations of the adversary. We encourage you to memorize your favorite hymns and study the scriptures that relate to them. Then, if unworthy thoughts enter your mind, sing a hymn to yourself, crowding out the evil with the good.” (Hymns, ix–x.)

Next Speaker

DnC 93

28 He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.

29 Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be.

Next Speaker 

She spoke of having had bad experiences with missionaries being pushy. She came out of it recently when the missionaries came over, not to troll for names of her friends, but to genuinely build a relationship with her family. 

Next Speaker

Jacob 5

72 And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things.

Next Speaker

1975 - the first mission was established in Utah. That must be why the mission field being somewhere outside Utah is so ingrained in the culture here. 

Next Speaker

Carry a prayer in your heart to do good and be a minister. 

Next Speaker

2 Nephi 25:26

26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

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.

Next Speaker

The Lord provides a way when we put forth effort. The Lord can and will do his own work. 

"Yes, life has its problems, and yes, there are negative things to face, but please accept one of Elder Holland’s maxims for living—no misfortune is so bad that whining about it won’t make it worse." (Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Tongue of Angels”, )

Next Speaker

President Nelson is very sensitive to contention. 

Next Speaker

Our temple is coming. 

Our society is becoming way too casual. 

Does your discipleship supersede everything else? 

"The Savior’s atoning sacrifice—the central act of all human history—is best understood and appreciated when we expressly and clearly connect it to Him." - Nelson

1-16-22

Sunday Morning Session of Stake Conference

First Speaker

Dnc 110 - Sealing powers conferred on Joseph and Oliver

DnC 110:16

16 Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors.

“If nothing else came out of all of the sorrow and travail and pain of the restoration than the sealing power of the holy priesthood to bind together families forever, it would have been worth all that it has cost.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “As One Who Loves the Prophet,” in Susan Easton Black and Charles D. Tate Jr., eds., Joseph Smith: The Prophet, the Man (1993), 6.)

DnC 131:1-4

1 In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;

2 And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage];

3 And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.

4 He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase.

Next Speaker

Doing work in the temple not only helps us feel joy, but also those we do work for. 

Next Speaker

“My dear brothers and sisters, these are the latter days.  If you and I are to withstand the forthcoming perils and pressures, it is imperative that we each have a firm spiritual foundation built upon the rock of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

So I ask each of you, “How firm is your foundation and what reinforcements to your testimony and understanding of the gospel are needed?” …

Everything taught in the temple, through instruction and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ. His essential ordinances bind us to Him through sacred priesthood covenants. Then as we keep our covenants, He endows us with His healing, strengthening power.  And, oh, how we will need His power in the days ahead.

We have been promised that if we are prepared, we shall not fear. This assurance has profound implications today.  The Lord has declared that despite today’s unprecedented challenges, those who build their foundations upon Jesus Christ and have learned to draw upon His power need not succumb to the unique anxieties of this era. (President Russell M. Nelson, October 2021 General Conference)

“Under the Lord’s direction and in answer to our prayers, recent procedural adjustments have been made. He is the One who wants you to understand with great clarity exactly what you are making covenants to do.” (President Russell M Nelson, “The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation”, October 2021 General Conference)

Next Speaker

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 109:8

8 Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;

As we build on our spiritual foundation, fear will have no place in our homes.

Next Speaker - a couple

Ether 12:7, 12

7 For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers, after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he showed himself not unto the world.

12 For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith.

“When I think of the great need for senior missionaries, I always think of that beloved hymn ‘I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go’ (Hymns, no. 270) and its message, ‘I’ll be what you want me to be.’” (Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles)

“Our message to all of our mature couples is simple: we dearly need you. We are doing everything we can to make it as convenient as possible for you to go. … The times cry out for it. There are people who need you. Please—go.” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Deseret News, Sept. 14, 2011.)

“The truth is, no senior missionary finds it convenient to leave home. Neither did Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, or Wilford Woodruff. They had children and grandchildren too, and they loved their families just as we do. But they also loved the Lord and wanted to serve Him. Someday we may meet these stalwarts who helped to establish this dispensation. When we do, we will rejoice that we did not seek the shadows when we should have served.” (President Russell M Nelson, “Senior Missionary Moments”,  April 2016 Ensign)

“Now, to those who were not able to serve a mission in their youth, may I speak directly to you. Perhaps over the years you have been burdened by feelings of regret or felt less than adequate because you did not have a missionary opportunity to serve and grow when you were younger. My advice to you: look forward, not back. Begin preparing for your mission as a senior missionary couple today! Save a little money each month. Study the scriptures. Accept Church callings. Pray to feel the Lord’s love for others and receive His love and confidence in you. You can one day claim all the blessings of missionary service!” (Elder Robert D Hales, “Couple Missionaries:”, April 2005 General Conference)

“We encourage mission presidents to seek out couples to meet needs in their missions. Bishops should seek out couples who could serve. ChurchofJesusChrist.org lists pages and pages of opportunities for senior couples. But most of all,couples might get on their knees and ask Heavenly Father if the time is right for them to serve a mission together. Of all the qualifications, a desire to serve may be the most important (seeD&C 4:3).” ((President Russell M Nelson, “Senior Missionary Moments”,  April 2016 Ensign))

Doctrine and Covenants 4:3

3 Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;

Next Speaker

The stake president called us all to serve a mission and set a date when we will be ready to serve. 

“Every woman and every man who makes covenants with God and keeps those covenants, and who participates worthily in priesthood ordinances, has direct access to the power of God. Those who are endowed in the house of the Lord receive a gift of God’s priesthood power by virtue of their covenant, along with a gift of knowledge to know how to draw upon that power.” (President Russell M. Nelson, “Spiritual Treasures”, October 2019 General Conference)

“The ordinances of salvation and exaltation administered in the Lord’s restored Church are far more than rituals or symbolic performances. Rather, they constitute authorized channels through which the blessings and powers of heaven can flow into our individual lives.”(Elder David A. Bednar, “Always Retain a Remission of Your Sins”, April 2016 General Conference)

Doctrine and Covenants 84:19

19 And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.

Mosiah 18:8-10
8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses 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 first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 9 Jan 2022

Sacrament Service

First Speaker

Spiritual Fundamentals

The more we practice prayer, the better we get at it.

Next Speaker

“...we are a question-asking people because we know that inquiry leads to truth. That is the way the Church got its start—from a young man who had questions. In fact, I’m not sure how one can discover truth without asking questions. In the scriptures you will rarely discover a revelation that didn’t come in response to a question.

“Inquiry is the birthplace of testimony. ” (President Dieter F Uchtdorf,  “The Reflection in the Water” [Church Educational System fireside address, Nov. 1, 2009], LDS.org).

DnC 112:10

10 Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers.

“Though I suffered then, as I look back now, I am grateful that there was not a quick solution to my problem. The fact that I was forced to turn to God for help almost daily over an extended period of years taught me truly how to pray and get answers to prayer and taught me in a very practical way to have faith in God. I came to know my Savior and my Heavenly Father in a way and to a degree that might not have happened otherwise or that might have taken me much longer to achieve. … I learned to trust in the Lord with all my heart. I learned to walk with Him day by day.”(D. Todd Christofferson, “Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread” (Church Educational System fireside, Jan. 9, 2011), lds.org/broadcasts.)

Moses 1:18

18 And again Moses said: I will not cease to call upon God, I have other things to inquire of him: for his glory has been upon me, wherefore I can judge between him and thee. Depart hence, Satan.

Next Speaker

“Those who serve with devotion, even when things don’t turn out the way they would like, are not easily discouraged, fatigued, or frustrated because the promise of peace of mind and the companionship of the Holy Spirit will never abandon them.”

…

“Those who serve will strive to ennoble, build, and lift their fellowmen; therefore, they will find the good in others, and they will not find reason or have time to become offended. They develop the virtue of praying for those who criticize. They don’t expect recognition or reward. They possess the love of Christ.”

…

“Those who serve will accept their assignments with humility, recognizing their limitations but convinced that two people can do all things they propose to do as long as one of the two people is God.” (Elder Carlos H. Amado, “Service, a Divine Quality”, April 2008 General Conference)

Elders Quorum

36 ¶ And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.

37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

The savior forgave the sins of the woman. He mentioned nothing of forgiving Simon's sins. 

Duty is done out of obligation and not necessarily out of love.

The hymn “Have I Done Any Good” names duty and love together, but as two different things.:
“Then wake up and do something more

Than dream of your mansion above.

Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,

A blessing of duty and love.”

See a need and try to do something.

When someone cuts us off in traffic, can we come up with a righteous excuse for what they did, rather than getting angry?

“Unlike you and me, Christ is capable of clearly seeing all facets of a given situation. Even knowing all our weaknesses as He does, the Savior does not rashly condemn us but continues to work with us compassionately over time, helping us to remove the beam from our eye. Jesus always looks on the heart and not on the appearance.”

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 2 Jan 2022

Sacrament Service 

Testimonies

Follow promptings from the spirit right away.  The speaker talked of not following the prompting to slow down on his new snowboard.  He didn’t listen and broke his collarbone.  I also have had experiences where I have had promptings I ignored and the consequences came shortly after.

Sunday School

The adversary doesn't always have to convince you to do something bad, often he just have to create doubt about doing good. 

The 4th article of faith is a cycle, not a list. 

Opposition gives us the opportunity to choose which side we are on. 

"Satan is the greatest imitator, the master deceiver, the arch counterfeiter, and the greatest forger ever in the history of the world. He comes into our lives as a thief in the night. His disguise is so perfect that it is hard to recognize him or his methods. He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing."

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 26 Dec 2021

Sacrament Service 

First Speaker

“Suppose one day before you leave for school, one of your parents makes a true promise that you can have your favorite food when you return home! You are excited! While in school you imagine eating that food, and you can already taste it. Naturally, you share your good news with others. Looking forward to going home makes you so happy that the tests and challenges of school seem light. Nothing can take away your joy or make you doubt because of how sure the promise is! Similarly, before you noble spirits were born, you learned to see Christ’s promises in this sure way, and you tasted of His salvation. Your great faith is like muscles that get stronger and bigger the more you exercise them, but they are already inside you.” (Ahmad S. Corbitt, “You Can Gather Israel!”, April 2021 General Conference)

“Your body is a temple, a gift from God. You will be blessed as you care for your body.” (For the Strength of Youth guide)

Next Speaker

We have role models when we are young that we look up to.  When we get older, we start to see their imperfections.  When we have Jesus as our role model, there are no imperfections.

Something I Thought About

“After I moved to central Missouri, I had the opportunity to serve an older couple. Their small, old country home needed a lot of repairs, including its leaky roof. The couple, however, suffered from serious health challenges that prevented them from doing physical labor.

“On a hot day in July, my good friend Dallas Martin and I were up on the roof putting down new shingles. We were uncomfortable and dripping with sweat. Suddenly, Dallas stopped nailing, stood up, and looked at me.

“‘Do you realize how blessed we are to be the ones capable of being up here doing this work and not the ones inside who can’t?’ he asked.

“His question hit me like a bolt of lightning. It was literally a life-changing moment. My whole perspective on service took on new meaning. I realized how blessed I was to be able to do all the things that I could do.

“At that moment, I felt that Dallas and I were not simply helping because of a sense of duty but were helping with a sense of gratitude. The Lord had blessed us with the ability to truly be His hands. With that realization, it was easy for me to feel love for those we were helping.” (December 2021 Liahona)

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 19 Dec 2021

Sacrament Service 

Christmas Program

Youth Sunday School - 12 and 13 year olds

What is it like to watch a toddler?  They are always getting into danger that you have to get them out of.  Often they scare you to death, because they are about to get hurt or break something.  Do you sometimes overreact, because they are getting into trouble so quickly?  Do you think at your age, your parents still feel scared for you?  Do they still see things you are heading for that are dangerous and they panic?  Maybe even overreact?

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 12 Dec 2021

Sacrament Service 

First Speaker - Missionary that recently returned from a mission to California and Brazil

Pray with a notebook, so you can write down revelation.

Receive revelation through scripture study.

Receive revelation through constant listening.

1 Nephi 2:15

15 And my father dwelt in a tent.

Nephi’s father dwelling in a tent is probably significant because he was a wealthy man, who probably had a very comfortable house.  He gave us everything he owned to follow the Lord and go dwell in a tent.

Next Speaker

Make connecting to the Savior a habit.  Something that is hard to quit that you do without thinking.

Relief Society

Trying to be 1% better means better than yourself, not 1% better than your neighbor does. It also doesn't mean completing 1% of a goal. It is just about being 1% better than what you were before. 

They talked about some things from Elder Holland. It made me think that it appears to me that Elder Holland has gotten better at speaking over the years. He seems to be more confident and more composed. So even apostles can improve little by little. 

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 5 Dec 2021

Sacrament Service

Testimonies

We don’t gain or lose a testimony all at once.  It is a process.

Sunday School

Dnc 137-138

137:7-9

7 Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying: All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God;

8 Also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom;

9 For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts.

Joseph F Smith is the son of Hyrum Smith. He was five years old when his father was murdered. He was the prophet during World War I and the Spanish flu. The Spanish flu killed at least ten times more people than covid has. 

Joseph F Smith said that the eyes of his understanding were opened. Have you had an experience like that? What is that experience like?

Matthew 27:52-53
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

"Any work you do in the temple is time well spent, but receiving ordinances vicariously for one of your own ancestors will make the time in the temple more sacred, and even greater blessings will be received." (Elder Richard G. Scott, “The Joy of Redeeming the Dead”, October 2012 General Conference)

First Presidency Christmas Devotional

Sister Michelle D. Craig

“God has given each of us gifts. You may not feel gifted, but you have spiritual gifts from God so you can bless others and draw closer to Him,”

"I have come to see the sacred power of God’s ‘less conspicuous gifts’”

"We sometimes hold back and fail to appreciate or share our gifts, fearing that they are not as polished, perfect, or pretty as we would like. When we fail to appreciate these less conspicuous gifts, we miss a chance to lift His children—and we miss a chance to feel God’s love." 

“Don’t let God’s gifts to you, even His less conspicuous ones, go unused or unappreciated.  Take the gifts He has given you from off the shelf.  If you have stored them out of self-doubt, shake off the dust and try.”

“The gifts we each have from our Heavenly Father are meant to be used and shared; our voices meant to be heard.”

Elder W. Mark Bassett

"“The message of the Restoration is the message of Christmas,”" 

"One of the most cherished titles of the Savior is ‘Prince of Peace,’" 

"We the children of God are called to be peacemakers" 

2 Nephi 25:26

26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

Elder Dale G. Renlund

“We are not asked to bring the Savior gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to qualify for this beautiful spiritual gift. We are asked to give of ourselves.”

“And now my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved” (Omni 1:26).

“...the babe in Bethlehem, who had ‘increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man,’ was his salvation, that the Son of God had grown up, and atoned for his sins.”

“This knowledge is better and longer lasting than any gift that Jultomten (Santa Claus) could ever bring you, because it can transform you.”

President Henry B Eyring

Hebrews 1:1–2

1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

John 5:30

30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

2 Nephi 9:21-22

21 And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam.

22 And he suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day.

Doctrine and Covenants 121:7–8

7 My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

8 And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 28 Nov 2021

Sacrament Service 

First Speaker

3 Nephi 1:4-15

Second Speaker

John 2 - The time they ran out of wine at the wedding feast.

It was not Jesus’ time to do miracles yet, but his mom’s faith made an exception.

Matthew 15 - The time Jesus healed the daughter of a gentile woman.

He wasn’t there for anyone but the Jews, at that time, but her faith made an exception.

3 Nephi 17

4 But now I go unto the Father, and also to show myself unto the lost tribes of Israel, for they are not lost unto the Father, for he knoweth whither he hath taken them.

5 And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them.

6 And he said unto them: Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you.

He had to go and other work to do for the Father, but their father made Him stay a little longer.

Elders Quorum

The lesson was based on The Things of My Soul By Elder Ronald A. Rasband

"The things of our souls are often clarified and deepened by asking questions."

Who do we go to when we have questions? Ministering brothers and sisters. Strong members of the ward. 

How do we know when we know the Lord? The Holy Ghost needs to bear witness to us. Look to the prophets and apostles as a reflection of him. 

I heard these two quotes in class today:

“I would die for every person in my unit and I don't even like some of them.“

“I love a lot of people, but there are far fewer of them that I'd want to go boating with.”

You don't have to want to go boating with someone to love them.

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 21 Nov 2021

Sacrament Service 

First Speaker

Mosiah 18:17, 19–22

17 And they were called the church of God, or the church of Christ, from that time forward. And it came to pass that whosoever was baptized by the power and authority of God was added to his church.

19 And he commanded them that they should teach nothing save it were the things which he had taught, and which had been spoken by the mouth of the holy prophets.

20 Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people.

21 And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.

22 And thus he commanded them to preach. And thus they became the children of God.

“I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world, even as many as will believe on my name, that they may become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one” (D&C 35:1–2).

“Unity requires effort. It develops when we cultivate the love of God in our hearts and we focus on our eternal destiny. We are united by our common, primary identity as children of God and our commitment to the truths of the restored gospel. In turn, our love of God and our discipleship of Jesus Christ generate genuine concern for others. We value the kaleidoscope of others’ characteristics, perspectives, and talents. If we are unable to place our discipleship to Jesus Christ above personal interests and viewpoints, we should reexamine our priorities and change.” (Elder Dale G. Renlund, “The Peace of Christ Abolishes Enmity”, October 2021 General Conference)

Next Speaker

“Perhaps focusing on what we are grateful for is the wrong approach. It is difficult to develop a spirit of gratitude if our thankfulness is only proportional to the number of blessings we can count. True, it is important to frequently “count our blessings”—and anyone who has tried this knows there are many—but I don’t believe the Lord expects us to be less thankful in times of trial than in times of abundance and ease. In fact, most of the scriptural references do not speak of gratitude for things but rather suggest an overall spirit or attitude of gratitude.

“It is easy to be grateful for things when life seems to be going our way. But what then of those times when what we wish for seems to be far out of reach?

“Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, I’m suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances—whatever they may be.”

Job 1:20-22

20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

“And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.” (D&C 78:19.)

Sunday School 

We take upon us the name of the Lord. We are the vessels of the Lord.  We carry the oil for the bridegroom's marriage. 

"In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost." (President Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives”, April 2018 General Conference)

What is the Babylon in your life that gets between you and the holy ghost? What gets between you and personal revelation. 

"The adversary is clever. For millennia he has been making good look evil and evil look good. His messages tend to be loud, bold, and boastful.

“However, messages from our Heavenly Father are strikingly different. He communicates simply, quietly, and with such stunning plainness that we cannot misunderstand Him." (President Russell M. Nelson, “Hear Him”, April 2020 General Conference)

"The Holy Ghost communicates important information that we need to guide us in our mortal journey. When it is crisp and clear and essential, it warrants the title of revelation. When it is a series of promptings we often have to guide us step by step to a worthy objective, for the purpose of this message, it is inspiration." (Elder Richard G. Scott, “How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life”, April 2012 General Conference)

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 14 Nov 2021

Sacrament Service 

Primary Program

Elders Quorum 

The lesson was based on Elder Holland's conference talk. 

Is it possible that the rich young ruler didn't know how to do what the Lord was asking? Perhaps he was scared to death of how he would survive without his riches. Maybe he was born into wealth and is fearful because he hasn’t learned how to survive without great wealth.  What are we scared of? 

When you feel contention, think of higher and holier things.

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 7 Nov 2021

Sacrament Service

While this life is about having trials and adversity to make us grow, learn, and progress.  We don’t have to despair.  Just like adversity is part of the plan, so is hope, salvation, and joy.  The more we understand about God’s plan, the more we can have hope and joy during our trials and adversity.