Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 10 March 2013

Elders Quorum

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow Chapter 5

What is the purpose of the full time missionaries' calling?

• To teach, not to find
• To suppose us in our missionary work.
• To proclaim that Jesus is the Christ.
• To make sure. That no effort goes wasted with any of Father's children.

Sunday School

Doctrine and Covenants 25

Even though this section was given to Emma Smith, we are told in verse 16 that it is for all.

16 And verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my voice unto all. Amen.

Verse 2 - Very similar to other places where the Lord says that the righteous will prosper in the land.

Verse 3 - What does it mean to be elect?  This is related to the word election.

“The elect are chosen even “before the foundation of the world,” yet no one is unconditionally elected to eternal life. Each must, for himself, hearken to the gospel and receive its ordinances and covenants from the hands of the servants of the Lord in order to obtain salvation. If one is elected but does not serve, his election could be said to have been in vain, as Paul expressed in 2 Cor. 6:1.” (Bible Dictionary Election)

Verse 4 - Murmuring doesn't get us anywhere.  We may think it makes us feel better, but it just burrs us up and keeps us discontented.

Verse 5 - What was Emma's calling at this time?  To be his wife and a comfort and a support.

Verse 7 - Were Emma's assignments,to expound scriptures and to exhort the church, normal things that women did in the early to mid 1800s?

We read part of the preface to the hymn book.

We should fill our homes with worthy music.

Sacrament Service

You will get more out of the lesson if you read the lesson sometime before class.

"There are … many members of the Church who are lax and careless and who continually procrastinate. They live the gospel casually but not devoutly. They have complied with some requirements but are not valiant. They do no major crime but merely fail to do the things required—things like paying tithing, living the Word of Wisdom, having family prayers, fasting, attending meetings, serving. …

… The Lord will not translate one’s good hopes and desires and intentions into works. Each of us must do that for himself. …

Only the valiant will be exalted and receive the highest degree of glory, hence ‘many are called, but few are chosen.’ (D&C 121:40.) As the Savior put it, ‘… strait is the gate, and narrow the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.’ And conversely, ‘… wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.’ (Matt. 7:13, 14.)" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball, Chapter 1, “To Live With Him Someday”)

Matthew 11

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Look at your schedule and find where you can allocate time for personal study.

"We can so live that we can call upon the Lord for His protection and guidance. This is a first priority. We cannot expect His help if we are unwilling to keep His commandments." (President Gordon B Hinckley, OCTOBER 2005 General Conference, IF YE ARE PREPARED YE SHALL NOT FEAR)

The reason we can not expect his help is that things work a certain way and if we are not doing the instructions he has given us, we can’t expect it to work.  He wants to help us, but we have to do things the way things work.

"Seeking for and obtaining a testimony of spiritual truth requires asking, seeking, and knocking (see Matthew 7:7; 3 Nephi 14:7) with a sincere heart, real intent, and faith in the Savior (see Moroni 10:4)."

Asking, seeking, and knocking should be done persistently.

1 Corinthians 13:12

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

In this life we only see a small glimpse of what reality is.  With the veil between us and Heavenly Father, we can barely make out bits and pieces.  He gives us instructions to fill in the gaps and we must seek to thin the fog by drawing closer and closer to him.

"As children, we learned how to keep darkness away by turning on a light. Sometimes, when our parents went away for the evening, we would turn on every light in the house! We understood the physical law that is also a spiritual law: light and darkness cannot occupy the same space at the same time.

Light dispels darkness. When light is present, darkness is vanquished and must depart. More importantly, darkness cannot conquer light unless the light is diminished or departs. When the spiritual light of the Holy Ghost is present, the darkness of Satan departs." (Elder Robert D Hales, Out of Darkness into His Marvelous Light, April 2002 General Conference)

"“The things of God are of deep import; and time, and experience, and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out. Thy mind, O man! if thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation, must stretch as high as the utmost heavens, and search into and contemplate the darkest abyss, and the broad expanse of eternity—thou must commune with God. How much more dignified and noble are the thoughts of God, than the vain imaginations of the human heart! …

“… Let honesty, and sobriety, and candor, and solemnity, and virtue, and pureness, and meekness, and simplicity crown our heads in every place; and in fine, become as little children, without malice, guile or hypocrisy. And now, brethren, after your tribulations, if you do these things, and exercise fervent prayer and faith in the sight of God always, He shall give unto you knowledge by His Holy Spirit, yea by the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost [see D&C 121:26]." (History of the Church, 3:295–96; paragraph divisions altered; from a letter from Joseph Smith and others to Edward Partridge and the Church, Mar. 20, 1839, Liberty Jail, Liberty, Missouri; parts of this letter were later included in the Doctrine and Covenants as sections 121, 122, and 123)

""When you climb up a ladder, 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, The King Follett Sermon, April 7, 1844)

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 3 March 2013

First hour I was helping in primary while the women had a visiting teaching conference or something like that.

Sunday School
The restored church was officially organized on April 6, 1830.

What events happened between the first vision and 1830 that prepared the earth and also Joseph Smith for the organization of the church?

How did the coming forth of the Book of Mormon prepare for the organization of the church?
Section heading Doctrine and Covenants 20, “The Book of Mormon proves the divinity of the latter-day work”

The Book of Mormon and the Bible support each other.

Often the words of the Bible are taken to mean different things.

The Church was first called The Church of Christ, but the Lord set forth the more specific name of the Church.

From the Bulletin
A testimony is spiritual knowledge of truth obtained by the power of the Holy Ghost. Continuing conversion is constant devotion to the revealed truth we have received—with a heart that is willing and for righteous reasons. (Elder David A Bednar, Converted unto the Lord, October 2012 General Conference)

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 24 February 2013

Elders Quorum
The lesson was based on Neil l Anderson’s General Conference talk, “Trial of Your Faith”.

People sometimes wonder when a loved one dies, why they died and were not protected.  Many times in life we need to find the correct definition for words in context.  Just because someone dies it does not mean they are not protected.  Life continues after death.  We do not know everything God has for them beyond this life at this time in their eternal life.  We do not know what growth there is for those left behind by that person’s death or by being forced to review that person’s life at this time in our lives.

If I lose a job and have to move across the country was I treated badly and unprotected?  What is the end result of that job loss?  Did it result in a better opportunity elsewhere? Did it bring us to a more fertile job market?

The purpose that God makes trials an option in this life is to make us stronger, more compassionate, more competent being.

"A few question their faith when they find a statement made by a Church leader decades ago that seems incongruent with our doctrine. There is an important principle that governs the doctrine of the Church. The doctrine is taught by all 15 members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve. It is not hidden in an obscure paragraph of one talk. True principles are taught frequently and by many. Our doctrine is not difficult to find." (Elder Anderson)

Sunday School
Doctrine and Covenants 84, 107, 13,27,110
“If at this moment each one [of you] were asked to state in one sentence … the most distinguishing feature of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, what would be your answer?”

“My answer,” he replied, “would be … divine authority by direct revelation.” (President David O McKay, In Conference Report, Apr. 1937, 121)

Doctrine and Covenants 107:99
 99 Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence.


"The holy priesthood of God also has an owner’s manual. Let us commit to reading the scriptures and handbooks with more purpose and more focus. Let us begin by rereading sections 20, 84, 107, and 121 of the Doctrine and Covenants. The more we study the purpose, potential, and practical use of the priesthood, the more we will be amazed by its power, and the Spirit will teach us how to access and use that power to bless our families, our communities, and the Church.
As a people, we rightfully place high priority on secular learning and vocational development. We want and we must excel in scholarship and craftsmanship. I commend you for striving diligently to gain an education and become an expert in your field. I invite you to also become experts in the doctrines of the gospel—especially the doctrine of the priesthood.
We live in a time when the scriptures and the words of modern-day prophets are more easily accessible than at any time in the history of the world. However, it is our privilege and duty, and it is our responsibility to reach out and grasp their teachings. The principles and doctrines of the priesthood are sublime and supernal. The more we study the doctrine and potential and apply the practical purpose of the priesthood, the more our souls will be expanded and our understanding enlarged, and we will see what the Lord has in store for us." (President Dieter F Uchtdorf, your potential, your privilege, General Conference April 2011)

If we understand the priesthood we will better understand the Relief Society, since the Relief Society is organized after the pattern of the priesthood.

Sacrament Service
Hebrews 11:1
 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.


Alma 32:31
 21 And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.

2 Timothy 1:7-9
 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony 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 calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Romans 10:13–14
“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
“And how shall they preach, except they be sent?”


Jacob 4:4-7
4 For, for this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us.
5 Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name. And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness to be obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son.
6 Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea.
7 Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things.


Faith, we don't just have it.  We move with it.  We do something with it.


John 20:17
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 17 February 2013

Ward Council
The thought today was based on President Henry B Eyring’s February 2013 Ensign article, God Knows Our Gifts

Training
Teach by the spirit.  Be flexible to adjust what you are teaching to what the spirit tells us during our lessons and conversations.

Elders Quorum
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow chapter 4
Matthew 16:17-19
 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

The rock Jesus was referring to revelation as the rock not Peter.

“We should try to learn the nature of [the spirit of revelation]. . . . This is the grand means that the Lord has provided for us, that we may know the light, and not be groveling continually in the dark.”
( Conference Report, Apr. 1899, 52.)

We do not need to go to the prophet for every little thing.  He will set forth general principles and programs.  We are responsible for personal revelation for matters to our self and our own household.

Write down your spiritual experiences, so you can review them later and so you can ponder to find if the lord has more you than you heard.

"It is the privilege of the Latter-day Saints to live in the Gospel in such a way that they will feel approved of God. Of course, we do things sometimes that we are ashamed of when we come to consider them, but we repent of them in our hearts and determine to do them no more. That is all the Lord asks of us; and men and women who so live, live without condemnation. They have righteousness and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Lorenzo Snow, Deseret Weekly, Nov. 4, 1893, 609)

"On the last day of the cruise, a crew member asked him which of the farewell parties he would be attending. It was then that the man learned that not only the farewell party but almost everything on board the cruise ship—the food, the entertainment, all the activities—had been included in the price of his ticket. Too late the man realized that he had been living far beneath his privileges
The question this parable raises is, Are we as priesthood holders living below our privileges when it comes to the sacred power, gifts, and blessings that are our opportunity and right as bearers of God’s priesthood?”
…
“A sure testimony of Jesus Christ and of His restored gospel takes more than knowledge—it requires personal revelation, confirmed through honest and dedicated application of gospel principles.”
...
"If we are not seeking to use this channel of revelation, we are living beneath our priesthood privileges." (President Dieter F Uchtdorf, Your Potential, Your Privilege, April 2011 General Conference)

Sunday School
The First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel

Articles of Faith 4
4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Doctrine and Covenants 20:37 - requirements for baptism
37 And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism—All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church.

Sacrament Service
A missionary that recently returned from the North Carolina Charlotte mission spoke to us.

There is more to church than just showing up.  We much spiritually prepare.

We are an invited guest into the Lord's chapel and we and our children should behave as such.

"You should be reverent in your behavior as well as your attitude. Reverent behavior includes prayer, scripture study, fasting, and payment of tithes and offerings. It includes wearing modest clothing and using clean, wholesome language. The depth of your reverence is evident in your choice of music and other entertainment, in the way you speak of sacred subjects, and in the way you dress and act when you attend church and the temple. You show your reverence for the Lord when you serve other people and treat them with kindness and respect." (True to the Faith, Reverence)

"We should be the happiest people on earth. We should also be the most reverent people, but here I think every individual and every family should take a look at themselves. Are we a reverent people? Do our actions in the home and at church show reverence for our Creator?"  (President Spencer W Kimball, We Should Be a Reverent People, booklet, 1976)

"Example is always the best teacher, and children learn reverence by observing the behavior of their parents. They also learn reverence by participating in regular family prayer and gospel study." (Elder Keith L. Smith, Reverence, Ensign July 2003)

"In this regard, as members of the Church in our worshiping assemblies, we have much room for improvement. Presiding authorities in stake, ward, and quorum meetings, and especially teachers in classes, should make special effort to maintain better order and more reverence during hours of worship and of study. Less talking behind the pulpit will have a salutary effect upon those who face it. By example and precept, children should be impressed with the inappropriateness of confusion and disorder in a worshiping congregation. They should be impressed in childhood, and have it emphasized in youth, that it is disrespectful to talk or even to whisper during a sermon, and that it is the height of rudeness, except in an emergency, to leave a worshiping assembly before dismissal. " (David O. McKay,  In Conference Report, Oct. 1956, 7)

From The Bulletin

"We must know Christ better than we know him; we must remember him more often than we remember him; we must serve him more valiantly than we serve him. Then we will drink water springing up unto eternal life and will eat the bread of life.

"What manner of men and women ought we to be?" (President Howard W Hunter, "He Invites Us to Follow Him", Ensign, September 1994)

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 10 February 2013

Elders Quorum
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow chapter 3
No matter what we do God loves us.  He will continue to help us as we continue to reach for him and do our part.

He loves us no matter what, but his love doesn't override our need to prepare.  If you want to be a surgeon, just because we are dear to the head of a hospital, we can not be a surgeon without doing what is required to be a surgeon.

A person can begin to start preparing to be a surgeon at anytime.  A person can begin to learn to be like Christ at anytime.


We spend a lot of time and money bringing awareness and trying to cure AIDS and other STDs.  If people would be aware of and stick to the law of chastity the incidents of those things would be minimal.

Sunday School
Doctrine and Covenants 8,9,11, Elder David A Bednar, Spirit of Revelation, April 2011 General Conference

President Henry B Eyring talks about the Doctrine and Covenants in the First Presidency message in the January 2013 Ensign.

Continue to ask as you study the dnc:
What is revelation?
How do we receive it?
How do we recognize it?

Revelation is answer to prayer, knowledge from heavenly father on how to live our lives, and enlightenment to our minds.  Also see Doctrine and Covenants 9:8-9,

Revelation is very personal to each person.  We need to figure out how it works in us.

No one can take revelation from us (v3), but we can take it from ourselves.

Oliver's failure to translate did not release him as scribe.

Oliver felt revelation as a burning in the bosom, but that is not the only way to receive revelation.

Joseph said that he reflected on James 1:5 again and again.  Not a stupor of thought but a continual reflection on the scripture, thus indicating an answer to prayer and personal revelation.

“ Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery gained valuable experience with the spirit of revelation as they translated the Book of Mormon. These brethren learned they could receive whatever knowledge was necessary to complete their work if they asked in faith, with an honest heart, believing they would receive. And over time they increasingly understood the spirit of revelation typically functions as thoughts and feelings that come into our minds and hearts by the power of the Holy Ghost. " - (Elder David A Bednar, The Spirit of Revelation, General Conference April 2011)

Sacrament Service
The most powerful missionary work is a positive example.

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 3 February 2013

Ward Council
Doctrine and Covenants 76

Deacons Quorum
My son gave the lesson on the Plan of Salvation.

"Procrastination, as it may be applied to Gospel principles, is the thief of eternal life." (Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, The Way to Perfection, 10th ed. (1953), 202.)

Sunday School
Doctrine and Covenants 6,8
What is revelation?

How do we receive it?  
Doctrine and Covenants 88:63
Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

How do we know it?

• Doctrine and Covenants 6:7
   7 Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.
  Rich = knowledge and eternal life.
• Doctrine and Covenants 6:23
   23 Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?

Oliver Cowdery comes to Joseph smith's town, Harmony, PA.  Hyrum Smith was the equivalent of being on the board of education and hires Oliver.  Oliver hears of the plates and wants to know more.

The first time Joseph and Oliver meet, they talked into the night about the restoration and the Book of Mormon.

“In the spring of 1829, Oliver Cowdery was a schoolteacher in Palmyra, New York. As he learned about Joseph Smith and the work of translating the Book of Mormon, Oliver felt impressed to offer his assistance to the young prophet. Consequently, he traveled to Harmony, Pennsylvania, and became Joseph’s scribe. The timing of his arrival and the help he provided were vital to the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.

“The Savior subsequently revealed to Oliver that as often as he had prayed for guidance, he had received direction from the Spirit of the Lord. “If it had not been so,” the Lord declared, “thou wouldst not have come to the place where thou art at this time. Behold, thou knowest that thou hast inquired of me and I did enlighten thy mind; and now I tell thee these things that thou mayest know that thou hast been enlightened by the Spirit of truth” (D&C 6:14–15).

“Thus, Oliver received a revelation through the Prophet Joseph Smith informing him that he had been receiving revelation. Apparently Oliver had not recognized how and when he had been receiving direction from God and needed this instruction to increase his understanding about the spirit of revelation. In essence, Oliver had been walking in the light as the sun was rising on a cloudy morning.” (Elder David A Bednar, THE SPIRIT OF REVELATION, APRIL 2011 General Conference)

Personal revelation is one of the key doctrines of the restored gospel.

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 27 January 2013

Priesthood OpeningGod's pattern is to choose prophets at a young age (Samuel, John the baptist, Israel's son Joseph)

Elders QuorumPresident Monson's October 2012 General Conference talk, Consider the Blessings
No request to Heavenly Father goes unheard.
The more we act on the promptings of the spirit, the more that will come and the better we will be able to recognize them.

Sunday SchoolDoctrine and Covenants 84:54-62;3,10; 5,17

The teacher handed out the following:Key Events Surrounding the Book of Mormon Translation

Date	Location	Event
21 Sep 1823	Palmyra NY	First visit of Angel Moroni
21 Sep 1823	Palmyra NY	D&C 2 received
18 Jan 1827	Bainbridge NY	Joseph marries Emma Hale
22 Sep 1827	Manchester NY	Joseph receives the plates
Dec 1827	Harmony PA	Joseph moves to Harmony
Feb 1828	New York NY	Martin Harris visits Prof. Anthon
12 Apr 1828	Harmony PA	Translation: Martin Harris as scribe
14 Jun 1828	Harmony PA	Martin Harris takes 116 pages
15 Jun 1828	Harmony PA	Joseph and Emma's son Alvin born/dies
Jul 1828	Palmyra NY	Loss of the 116 pages
Jul 1828	Palmyra NY	Joseph learns of the lost pages
Jul 1828	Harmony PA	D&C 3 received
Sum 1828	Harmony PA	D&C 10 received
Feb 1829	Harmony PA	D&C 4 received
Winter 1829	Harmony PA	Some Translation: Emma Smith as scribe
Mar 1829	Harmony PA	D&C 5 received
5 Apr 1829	Harmony PA	Oliver Cowdery arrives in Harmony
7 Apr 1829	Harmony PA	Translation: Oliver Cowdery as scribe
Apr 1829	Harmony PA	D&C 6, 7, 8, 9 received
15 May 1829	Harmony PA	Aaronic Priesthood restored
15 May 1829	Harmony PA	D&C 13 received
May 18, 1929	Harmony PA	Melchizedek Priesthood restored
May 18, 1929	Harmony PA	D&C 11, 12 received
Jun 1829	Fayette NY	Joseph moves to Fayette
Jun 1829	Fayette NY	D&C 14, 15, 16 received
11 Jun 1829	Utica NY	Joseph applies for BoM copyright
Jun 1829	Fayette NY	Translation completed
Jun 1829	Fayette NY	D&C 17, 18, received
Jun 1829	Fayette NY	Three Witnesses see the plates
Jun 1829	Fayette NY	Eight Witnesses see the plates
Aug 1829	Palmyra NY	Printing begins at E.B. Grandin
Sum 1829	Palmyra NY	M. Harris's farm is printing collateral
26 Mar 1830	Palmyra NY	Book of Mormon copies available
Mar 1830	Manchester NY	D&C 19 received
Apr 1830	Fayette NY	D&C 20 received
6 Apr 1830	Fayette NY	Church of Christ organized
6 Apr 1830	Fayette NY	D&C 21 received
7 Apr 1831	Palmyra NY	M. Harris sells 150 acres to pay printer
28 Jan 1832	Palmyra NY	Final payment made to printer

Section 84 is directed to elders that are returning from their missions.

The Church was under condemnation for treating the Book of Mormon lightly.

They may have been very heavily entrenched in the bible and were not teaching from or about the book of Mormon.

When Joseph Smith received the first visit from Moroni he was praying expecting a heavenly manifestation, since he had received one before.  In that room while he was praying were sleeping His siblings.

Moroni recites scriptures from the Bible and tells him that those scriptures will be fulfilled through him, Joseph.

Mosiah 4:27
27 And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.

Don't run faster than you have strength, but run as fast as you are able until the end.  Don't do everything at once, but do everything you can.

Sacrament Service
“There has come to you as your birthright something beautiful and sacred and divine. Never forget that. Your Eternal Father is the great Master of the universe. He rules over all, but He also will listen to your prayers as His daughter and hear you as you speak with Him. He will answer your prayers. He will not leave you alone” (“Stay on the High Road,” Liahona and Ensign, May 2004, 112)

It can sometimes be hard to talk to God, because you know he already knows everything.  There is value in telling him about your day anyway.  He wants to hear you tell him about it and it is good for you to grow your relationship with him by telling him those things.

How can we see heavenly Father's hand in all things?

Doctrine and Covenants 59:21
21 And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.


Do good to them that despitefully use you - find scripture

3 Nephi 12:44
 44 But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you;

2 Nephi 5:27
27 And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness.