Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 10 January 2021

Elders Quorum

Discussion this week on I Believe in Angels

By Elder Carlos A. Godoy You can find the link here:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/44godoy?lang=eng

We can be ministering angels to others, even though we are not perfect.

First Speaker

She talked of being on a family vacation and pulling some handcarts.  They got hit with mosquitoes and had to turn back because they were not prepared for that.

She said, “Our prophets and apostles today have repeatedly warned us to make sure we are prepared by daily scripture study so that when God needs us, we don’t have to turn back.”

She related the events described in 2 Kings 18 and 19, as a lesson of listening to the prophet.

Most of My Talk

I saw something on Tyler Griffin's Come Follow Me Insights YouTube channel the other day that struck me.  He shared the parable of the chickens.

There once was this ward of chickens. The bishop would see the chickens walk to church each week and he knew they could do more than walk. He gave a talk on how they were birds and they could do more than walk. As he taught them, the chickens were stretching their wings and raising up out of the pews and they could see that they could fly. 

After church, they all walked home. 

My talk today is on something Sister Jean B Bingham said, “What does ministering look like? ... It looks like becoming part of someone’s life and caring about him or her.”

As with most talks and lessons I give, this talk is mostly things I need to learn, but you all are welcome to listen in.

With the change from home and visiting teaching to ministering a while back, we may still be kind of stumped as to what this "holier way" that President Nelson talked about looks like. 

Out of administrative necessity, the organization of the Church has had home and visiting teachers and now ministering brothers and sisters as assignments that are given out.  That can be kind of a cold way to look at it, and if ministering is merely defined as an assignment then it can be less warm. 

We call them ministering brothers and sisters, and while they have people assigned to them, I would argue that ministering is not an assignment and is not limited to those whose names are on a list one has been given.  Ministering is not a task one performs because the Elders Quorum or Relief Society assigned them to do it.  Ministering is not a calling, in the sense that a member of the bishopric calls one to minister.  

True ministering does not look like an assignment. 

“What does ministering look like? ... It looks like becoming part of someone’s life”

As we learned about a few weeks ago, I think it was in one of our 2nd hour classes, Hope grows into Faith and Faith grows into Charity and Charity is the pure love of Christ.  I believe ministering is the application of the pure love of Christ.  Not an assignment.

So what is pure love and what does it look like?  We may deeply love our parents.  We may deeply love our grandparents.  The love of our children is also pure, unconditional, and very deep and strong.  These are pure love… and they are often pure joy.

Jacob tells us in 2 Nephi 2:25, “Men are that they might have joy.”

That feeling of love and joy for our family members...is that maybe part of what Jacob was trying to tell us?  “Men are that they might have joy.”  Perhaps he was trying to make us remember how that feels?

Have you ever had a friend, that you have felt this same kind of pure love for?  A friend that you love so deeply.  The kind of friend, that when you see them, after being apart for a while, you hug them so tightly... and you feel such joy.

Is this what Jacob was trying to show us?  “Men are that they might have joy.”

What do you do with people that you love so deeply?  Do you go to lunch or dinner with them?  Do you invite them to your home?  Do you watch your favorite movies or TV shows with them?  Do you go to the mall with them or a car show or an air show or hiking, biking, or skiing?  Do you go to their kids events?

“What does ministering look like? ... It looks like becoming part of someone’s life”

I think there is sometimes a culture in the Church, where some feel that if someone is ministering to them, it is because they were given an assignment.  Or they might feel that if someone in their quorum or class is spending time with them, it must be because they were given a calling.  ---- Is that joy? ---- Is that love? ---- Is that ministering?

I have witnessed this first hand as I have worked to build true friendships with members of the Church over the years. I have, at times, had people ask me verbally, point blank, or with their body language if someone assigned me to spend time with them.

“What does ministering look like? ... It looks like becoming part of someone’s life.”

I grew up in a small town in Northern Indiana with the Amish.  One small seed of ministering that was done in my small town, was when a car would pass by, one would wave.  If not a wave, a tip of the hat or a nod if you didn’t have a hat.---More often than not that passing car was a horse and buggy.

If a person passed anyone on the sidewalk or in the store they'd say, “Mornin’” or “Evnin’” or “Afternoon”.  I ain’t very good at such things, since I am sometimes a little insecure and possibly self absorbed, but I am trying to do better.

One would also say yes ma’am or no ma’am when responding to a woman.  Didn’t matter the age of the woman, because you’re never too young to be spoken to with respect.

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It doesn’t matter the age of the woman... because...you are never too young...to be spoken to with respect.

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Does greeting those around us bring joy?  Is talking to someone with respect pure love?

What does ministering look like?

I joined the Church when I was 14 years old.  My dad was raised Catholic and my mom went to a protestant church with her aunt sometimes.

When I was ten my baby brother was born sick and died 8 months later. We had many people and churches bring us food and we attended many different churches.

My mom became friends with a lady in town.  Because of that lady’s friendship, my mom convinced my dad to meet with the missionaries.  Not because that lady gave her a Book of Mormon, which she did, and which my mom did not read, but because they became true friends.

We met with the missionaries many times without saying much about religion.  The missionaries got to know my parents and became friends with them.  My dad eventually asked them, “Do you believe in Jesus or what?”

Because he was friends with them he felt comfortable to ask what was on his mind and start taking the lessons.  We went through several sets of missionaries as they all played with us kids and built a friendship with my parents.  After two years we were baptized, because we built friendships, which allowed us to feel more deeply and opened our hearts to learn.  After we were baptised, I went to my youth activities because people built friendships with me.  I went to Sunday school because I had friends there.  I left my house before the sun was up and walked across town in the dark and cold to go to early morning seminary every day before school because I had friends there.  I have several life long friends that I made in that ward.

“What does ministering look like? ... It looks like becoming part of someone’s life”

I will close with something that contrasts this.

There have been others I have tried to keep strong friendships with or build new friendships with who are always very, very busy.  It is very difficult to maintain friendships like that.  Some I haven’t communicated with in years.

Even people that are very important to us can slip away from us if we don’t put in the time before we are assigned and after we are released.

“What does ministering look like? ... It looks like becoming part of someone’s life...”

In the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Utah East Area Devotional

Elder Evan A Smoots

Three historical instances where the Savior appeared to both men and women,

1. Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene.

1. We see how carefully Mary served.

2. We do not pray to someone that does not know us.  God the Father and Jesus know us by name.

2. Jesus appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emaus.

1. Jesus walks with us and sometimes withholds himself from us to allow us to have an experience with the Holy Spirit.

3. Jesus appeared to the apostles, including Thomas after 8 days.

1. We should choose to believe and not refuse to believe until we have all the proof laid out in front of us before we believe.

Next Speaker

Why do we need a church?

“There is a second major reason the Savior works through a church, His Church, and that is to achieve needful things that cannot be accomplished by individuals or smaller groups. One clear example is dealing with poverty. It is true that as individuals and families we look after the physical needs of others, “imparting to one another both temporally and spiritually according to their needs and their wants.”23 But together in the Church, the ability to care for the poor and needy is multiplied to meet the broader need, and hoped-for self-reliance is made a reality for very many.” (Elder D. Todd Christofferson, “Why the Church”, October 2015 General Conference)

Our members of the Church are the Lord’s storehouse.

March 12th  Countries’ borders almost all closed.  Airports closed.  In spite of this, 31,000 missionaries were returned back to their home countries.

John 17:20-21

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Next Speaker

DnC 121:33

33 How long can rolling waters remain impure? What power shall stay the heavens? As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it up stream, as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints.

“Imagine the miracle of it! Whatever our Church calling, we can pray to our Heavenly Father and receive guidance and direction, be warned about dangers and distractions, and be enabled to accomplish things we simply could not do on our own. If we will truly receive the Holy Ghost and learn to discern and understand His promptings, we will be guided in matters large and small.”

...

“Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will ‘grow into the principle of revelation.’” (President Russell M Nelson, Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives, April 2018 General Conference)

Elder D Todd Christofferson

We need to love each other.  We need to do hard things.  We need to love those that are sometimes a little prickly.

3 Nephi 9:19-20

19 And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings.

20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.

What the Savior wants as an offering is ourselves.  A better self.  The higher law is, to become something.

What can we remove from our lives or a characteristic that we should develop to be a more worthy offering?

Doctrine and Covenants 88:124

124 Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated.

DnC 4:1-7

1 Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.

2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.

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

4 For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;

5 And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.

6 Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.

7 Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen.

2 Peter 1:4-8

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Wouldn’t it be nice to walk through the doors of the new Layton temple a holier person than we are today.

The Lord does not just give you a witness one time.  You get small witnesses through all your life.

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 3 January 2021

Sacrament Service - Testimony Meeting

New Year is a good time to recommit.  We should take time at several times during the year to recommit.

Relationships improve by having meaningful spiritual conversation.

There had been a lot of learning, stretching, and growing last year.

Sunday School

The Doctrine and Covenants is for the whole Earth:

Doctrine and Covenants 1:6

6 Behold, this is mine authority, and the authority of my servants, and my preface unto the book of my commandments, which I have given them to publish unto you, O inhabitants of the earth.

“The societies in which many of us live have for more than a generation failed to foster moral discipline. They have taught that truth is relative and that everyone decides for himself or herself what is right. Concepts such as sin and wrong have been condemned as ‘value judgments.’ As the Lord describes it, ‘Every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god’ (D&C 1:16).

“As a consequence, self-discipline has eroded and societies are left to try to maintain order and civility by compulsion.” (Elder D Todd Christofferson, Moral Discipline, October 2009 General Conference)

Elder Christofferson said this in 2009.  These days truth is characterized as hate speech.

“I teach them correct principles and they govern themselves.” (Joseph Smith as quoted in Messages of the First Presidency, comp. James R. Clark, 6 vols., Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965–75, 3:54.)

How to search the Doctrine and Covenants:

• Have an idea, established with prayer, on what to search for.

• Pray before you read.

• Maybe follow a topic instead of just pounding out the sections.

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 27 December 2020

Sacrament Service

The speaker talked about “The Living Christ”.

He said that our faith in Christ is the seed that we plant.  Hope is the plant that grows out of it.  Charity is the fruit that Faith and Hope produces.

1 Corinthians 13:!3

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Moroni 7:41

41 And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.

“Too many people consider repentance as punishment—something to be avoided except in the most serious circumstances.”(President Russell M. Nelson, We Can Do Better and Be Better, April 2019 General Conference)

Elder Quorum

The discussion this week will be on We Talk of Christ By Elder Neil L. Andersen

The talk can be found here:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/45andersen?lang=eng

“During this period of uncertainty, I have felt an unusual gratitude for my sure and certain knowledge that Jesus is the Christ.”

Sure:  Confident in what one thinks or knows; having no doubt that on is right.

Certain:  Known for sure; established beyond doubt.

Knowledge:  Facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education.

“Like a guiding star in a clear, dark sky, Jesus Christ lights our way.”

“He is the anchor of our souls”

D&C 88:96-98

96 And the saints that are upon the earth, who are alive, shall be quickened and be caught up to meet him.

97 And they who have slept in their graves shall come forth, for their graves shall be opened; and they also shall be caught up to meet him in the midst of the pillar of heaven—

98 They are Christ’s, the first fruits, they who shall descend with him first, and they who are on the earth and in their graves, who are first caught up to meet him; and all this by the voice of the sounding of the trump of the angel of God.

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 20 December 2020

Sacrament Service

Moroni 7:40-42

40 And again, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you concerning ahope. How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope?

41 And what is it that ye shall ahope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have bhope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.

42 Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.

Jesus makes our journey possible.  Do we make our journey harder than it needs to be?

Life is not pass or fail.  It is about what we have become.

The speaker shared how his grandson made a FaceBook video called Baseball and the gospel. https://fb.watch/2vHIX_YcxH/

“Do Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with God

By Elder Dale G. Renlund

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

To do justly means acting honorably. We act honorably with God by walking humbly with Him. We act honorably with others by loving mercy.

“As followers of Jesus Christ, and as Latter-day Saints, we strive—and are encouraged to strive—to do better and be better.1 Perhaps you have wondered, as I have, ‘Am I doing enough?’ ‘What else should I be doing?’ or ‘How can I, as a flawed person, qualify to ‘dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness’?’

“The Old Testament prophet Micah asked the question this way: ‘Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God?’ Micah satirically wondered whether even exorbitant offerings might be enough to compensate for sin, saying: ‘Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten [thousand] … rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for … the sin of my soul?’

“The answer is no. Good deeds are not sufficient. Salvation is not earned.5 Not even the vast sacrifices Micah knew were impossible can redeem the smallest sin. Left to our own devices, the prospect of returning to live in God’s presence is hopeless.

“Without the blessings that come from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, we can never do enough or be enough by ourselves. The good news, though, is that because of and through Jesus Christ we can become enough. All people will be saved from physical death by the grace of God, through the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. And if we turn our hearts to God, salvation from spiritual death is available to all “through the Atonement of [Jesus] Christ … by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.”9 We can be redeemed from sin to stand clean and pure before God. As Micah explained, ‘[God] hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?’”(Elder Dale G. Renlund, Do Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with God, October 2020 General Conference)

Sunday School

Some gifts of the Spirit we are likely born with.

“These are not simply three good things on a list. In a certain sense, they are the most important three things in the world. They are the foundational Christian virtues. Each is a trait of character to be cultivated and developed. Each is a set of attitudes and beliefs to guide thought and action. Each is a choice. Each is a gift from God.

Faith, hope, and charity may be likened to the three legs of a stool. As a boy visiting my grandmother’s farm, I was impressed with the three-legged stool used for milking cows. Just as the stool’s three legs enabled it to rest firmly on uneven ground, if we are grounded in faith, hope, and charity, we too will be on solid footing, even when the ground beneath us is rough or bumpy. Just as a one- or two-legged stool will teeter precariously, we too will be vulnerable to toppling over if we neglect any of these three virtues.

In my study of this topic, I’ve noticed several things. First, faith, hope, and charity are mutually reinforcing. An increase in one tends to result in an increase in the others. If we are feeling weak with respect to one, we can gather strength by focusing on the other two.

There is also a temporal dimension to the relationship. Faith is rooted in the past—in Christ’s death and resurrection and in His Atonement for our sins. Hope is focused on the future—in the promise that through Christ’s Atonement and by the covenants we make and keep, we can return to the presence of our Father in Heaven. And charity is enacted in the present—because it is only here and now that we can really love.

There is also a dimension of progression and culmination: faith and hope lead to charity, and it is charity—Christ’s love for us—that never fails.5 If we desire to develop and be endowed with this Christlike love, it will be by traveling the road of faith and hope.” (BRETT G. SCHARFFS, The Most Important Three Things in the World, May 12, 2009, https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/brett-g-scarffs/important-three-things-world/)

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 13 December 2020

Sacrament Service

First Speaker

Moroni 7:12-13

12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually.

13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.

Luke 22:32

32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Second Speaker

The speaker shared that the document “The Living Christ” is a very appropriate document for Christmas time.

The speaker read “The Living Christ”.

Are the scriptures more than just pleasant fables?  If they are then think about and remember how you know.

Alma 30:44

44 But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.

2 Peter 1:16-19

16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

The children’s song My Heavenly Father Loves Me illustrates what Alma was saying to Korihor.

Elders Quorum

Lesson based on talk Let God Prevail By President Russell M. Nelson

Someone suggested that to understand the gathering of Israel.

“So imagine my delight when I was led recently to a new insight. With the help of two Hebrew scholars, I learned that one of the Hebraic meanings of the word Israel is “let God prevail.” Thus the very name of Israel refers to a person who is willing to let God prevail in his or her life. That concept stirs my soul!” - From the talk

Jacob’s wrestle with God probably means to struggle to align his will to God’s.  Since his name being changed to Isreal, which means “Let God prevail” make that interpretation make sense.

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 6 December 2020

Sacrament Service

Jesus has experienced what we are going through with Covid 19.  He has felt what those of us are feeling who are afraid.  He has felt what those of us are feeling who are frustrated.  He has felt what those of us are feeling who are angry or sad.

We are all God’s children.  Can people see that we are related to God?

Sunday School

We must be willing to take upon us the name of the Son if we are to have His Spirit to be with us.

Someone stated that the word shed is a derivative of the word wash.

Alma 24:13

13 Behold, I say unto you, Nay, let us retain our swords that they be not stained with the blood of our brethren; for perhaps, if we should stain our swords again they can no more be washed bright through the blood of the Son of our great God, which shall be shed for the atonement of our sins.

The Lord does not say to meet together often to gossip about your neighbors.  He says to meet together often to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls.

Someone suggested that the body of Christ is also the people of the Church.  That could give another facet to the sacrament prayer on the bread.

First Presidency Christmas Devotional

Sister Rebecca L Craven, A Swaddle and a Heavenly Hug

"As I consider the many ways the Lord loves and cares for each of us, I feel a desire to do more to share that love with others. I also wish to better recognize the heavenly hugs and swaddles I have received but have been slow to acknowledge.

“In a world so much in need of peace, our gentle words, our acts of compassion and kindness can be the means of wrapping another in a warm, swaddling blanket. I have come to understand that the more we act on promptings to serve others, the more heavenly blankets the Lord gives us to share. What promptings have you received? Who do you know that is in need of a heavenly hug? Our personal or virtual touch may make all the difference in the life of a loved one or even a stranger."

Elder Brent H Nielson, The Prince of Peace

"My hope during this Christmas season is that no matter our circumstances, no matter where we are, and no matter how we may be separated from family or friends, we will remember that He, the Savior Jesus Christ, is the gift; that as we come unto Him, He will make our burdens light; and that we might discover Him, as my father did in the middle of a terrible war. The Savior said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” As we trust Him, we will find peace and happiness, no matter our current circumstances." 

Elder Jeffrey R Holland, Dreams of the Night

"One irony this quiet, unpublicized scene belied was the fact that no baby had ever been born about whom so much was already known, of whom so much had already been written, and regarding whom so much was already expected. Indeed, knowledge about who and what He was started in the realms of heaven before anyone had been born! As Firstborn of the Father in the world of spirits, He was designated there to be the Savior of the world, foreordained to be ‘the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.’ Later, but still prior to His birth, He would be the grand Jehovah of the Old Testament, helping Noah save his family in time of flood and aiding Joseph save his family in time of famine. He was the magisterial Jehovah whose names would include ‘Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.’ He was the Alpha and Omega in the great plan of mercy that would eventually ‘preach good tidings unto the meek; … bind up the brokenhearted, … proclaim liberty to the captives, and [open] the prison to them that are bound.’" 

“God has revealed many important instructions … by means of dreams. … [Then] the nerves [are] unstrung, and the whole of mortal humanity lies hushed in quiet [slumber, and] … the spiritual organs … converse with Deity, … [with] angels, and [with] the spirits of just men made perfect.” (Parley P. Pratt, Key to the Science of Theology (1885), 71–72; see also Harold B. Lee, “Divine Revelation” (Brigham Young University devotional, Oct. 15, 1952), speeches.byu.edu.)

President Russell M Nelson, Divine Gifts

"As Elder Holland reminded us, truly that blessed night more than two millennia ago was a night made holy by the birth of One who was foreordained to bring peace to this earth and to inspire goodwill among men. Jesus Christ was born to bless all humankind, past, present, and future." 

“Jesus was baptized in the lowest body of fresh water on earth, symbolizing the depths to which He would go in order to save us and from which He would rise above all things—again, to save us. From His example, He taught that we, too, can arise from the depths of our individual challenges—our sadness, weakness, and worries—to reach the heights of our own glorious potential and divine destiny. All this is possible by virtue of His mercy and grace.”

“I thank God for the gift of His Beloved Son. And I thank our Lord Jesus Christ for His incomparable sacrifice and mission. At His first coming, Jesus came almost in secret. But at His Second Coming, the Lord’s glory ‘shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.’ Then He shall ‘rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords.’”

“Now, as an authorized servant of the Savior, I would like to invoke a blessing upon each of you, my beloved brothers and sisters. May you and your families be blessed with peace, with an increased ability to hear the voice of the Lord, and receive revelation with an enhanced capacity to feel how much our Father and His Son love you, care for you, and are ready to guide all who seek after Them.”

 

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 29 November 2020

Sacrament Service

First Speaker

New sister in the ward introduced herself and her husband.

Musical Number with Spoken Word

Galatians 5:13-14

13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

“Lucifer is exercising every means to destroy the souls of the human family. He is more active than he has ever been and he works in such an insidious way. … [There] is one way in which he operates, and has operated from the beginning of the world, and that is to tempt one individual to destroy the reputation of another by saying unkind things of them” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith [2010]).

“As I Have Loved You” was sung.

Second Speaker

When a society begins to forget Heavenly Father, things start to fall apart, as we see with the Jaredites, Nephites, and Lamanites in the Book of Mormon.

Second Hour Meeting

They presented the primary program over Zoom.  They had a bit of singing, some audio clips of the kids speaking, and some video clips of the kids meeting individually with the bishop.

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 22 November 2020

Sacrament Service

First Speaker

Psalms 136:1

1 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalms 95:2

2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

Luke 17:11-19

11 ¶ And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Second Speaker

Kids do not get everything they ask for.  There is a reason for that.  Kids do not understand why they do not get what they want.  Parents see and understand more than they do.  From the child’s perspective, parents are being mean.  Some often feel God is being mean by allowing what he does and not giving people what they think he should.

“most of the scriptural references do not speak of gratitude for things but rather suggest an overall spirit or attitude of gratitude.” (Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Grateful in Any Circumstances, April 2014 General Conference)

Elders Quorum

The lesson was based on God Will Do Something Unimaginable By Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/28uchtdorf?lang=eng

Moses 7
60 And the Lord said unto Enoch: As I live, even so will I come in the last days, in the days of wickedness and vengeance, to fulfil the oath which I have made unto you concerning the children of Noah;

61 And the day shall come that the earth shall rest, but before that day the heavens shall be darkened, and a veil of darkness shall cover the earth; and the heavens shall shake, and also the earth; and great tribulations shall be among the children of men, but my people will I preserve;

My Thoughts

{

We are in a time right now where people are calling for revenge,  retribution, reparations, "it is our turn".  I guess I always thought that was a time of God’s vengeance, but it is paired with the wickedness of the people.

Also, the heavens being darkened and a veil of darkness covering the earth, I think I thought was a physical thing.  Something like a volcano or nuclear weapon.  Now I see that the heavens being darkened means a lack of revelation.  A veil of darkness meaning that the most plain things will not be able to be seen and understood by the majority of people.

}

The Lord often prepares us with hardships before the reward.

“Our best days are ahead of us, not behind us. This is why God gives us modern revelation! Without it, life might feel like flying in a holding pattern, waiting for the fog to lift so we can land safely.” (from the talk)

“Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.

“My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation. Let this Easter Sunday be a defining moment in your life. Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly.” (President Russell M Nelson, Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives, April 2018 General Conference)

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 15 November 2020

Sacrament Service

First Speaker

A young man that recently returned from a mission to New Zealand spoke to us.

“With reverence and gratitude, we as His Apostles invite all to know — as we do — that the heavens are open. We affirm that God is making known His will for His beloved sons and daughters. We testify that those who prayerfully study the message of the Restoration and act in faith will be blessed to gain their own witness of its divinity and of its purpose to prepare the world for the promised Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” - The Restoration Proclamation

Second Speaker

What are some things about the restoration that you are thankful for?

“We declare that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, organized on April 6, 1830, is Christ’s New Testament Church restored. This Church is anchored in the perfect life of its chief cornerstone, Jesus Christ, and in His infinite Atonement and literal Resurrection. Jesus Christ has once again called Apostles and has given them priesthood authority. He invites all of us to come unto Him and His Church, to receive the Holy Ghost, the ordinances of salvation, and to gain enduring joy.”  - The Restoration Proclamation

The restoration gives us purpose.  It also helps us understand universal truths.  The restoration gives us hope and peace when people die.

Youth Sunday School

Ether 1-5

The book of Ether is taken from the record that the people of Limhi found.  Moroni condensed the record down.

“The city of Enoch had been translated (see Gen. 5:23–24; Moses 7:21–23) before the Flood, but at the time of Abraham (the general time of the tower of Babel), Melchizedek also created a society that produced a Zion people who “sought for the city of Enoch” and “obtained heaven” (JST, Gen. 14:33–34). Considering the trauma of the Flood (Gen. 6–8), the aspiration to build a tower to heaven, with water-impervious materials, may also have been an attempt to survive a flood should God attempt to destroy men again. Thus, their temple-tower was likely designed for a multitude of purposes, making it that much more meaningful in their eyes. Also, note that their attempt to dodge the judgment of God was based on their human ingenuity rather than on repentance. The Lord’s response was to humble these people.

“The tower of Babel was the transitional event between the dispensations of Noah and Abraham. It is instructive to note that immediately following mankind’s scattering, the Lord intervened by establishing his covenant with Abraham and took him from the “other side of the Euphrates” to the Promised Land. (See Gen. 12.) The Lord established the Abrahamic covenant as the basis for building Zion, and that covenant was based on man’s acknowledgment of and dependence on the cleansing blood of the Atonement.” - Ensign February 1994

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 08 November 2020

Sacrament Service
How much of going to church is cultural and how much is from the heart.
“Let us embrace the future with faith! Turbulent times are opportunities for us to thrive spiritually. They are times when our influence can be much more penetrating than in calmer times.
“I promise that as we create places of security, prepare our minds to be faithful to God, and never stop preparing, God will bless us. He will ‘deliver us; yea, insomuch that he [will] speak peace to our souls, and [will] grant unto us great faith, and … cause us that we [can] hope for our deliverance in him.’
“As you prepare to embrace the future with faith, these promises will be yours! I so testify,” (President Russell M. Nelson, “Embrace the Future with Faith”, Oct 2020 General Conference)
“Now, I would love to know what you have learned this year. Have you grown closer to the Lord, or do you feel further away from Him? And how have current events made you feel about the future?
“Admittedly, the Lord has spoken of our day in sobering terms. He warned that in our day “men’s hearts [would fail] them” and that even the very elect would be at risk of being deceived. He told the Prophet Joseph Smith that “peace [would] be taken from the earth” and calamities would befall mankind.” (President Russell M. Nelson, “Embrace the Future with Faith”, Oct 2020 General Conference)
You can follow a prompting from the Holy Ghost and begin to doubt because the outcome was not what we expected.  It is God’s plan, not ours.
“My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation. Let this Easter Sunday be a defining moment in your life. Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly.” (President Russell M Nelson, Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives, April 2018 General Conference)

Elders Quorum
The lesson was based on Hearts Knit in Righteousness and Unity By Elder Quentin L. Cook
The link to the talk can be found here:
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/15cook?lang=eng
 
RIGHTEOUSNESS
Mosiah 2:41
41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.
 
“There is no Latter-day Saint who dies after having lived a faithful life who will lose anything because of having failed to do certain things when opportunities were not furnished him or her. In other words, if a young man or a young woman has no opportunity of getting married, and they live faithful lives up to the time of their death, they will have all the blessings, exaltation and glory that any man or woman will have who had this opportunity and improved it. That is sure and positive.”(Millennial Star, Aug. 31, 1899, 547–48.) 

UNITY
1 John 5:1-2
1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

Mosiah 18:21
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.

DnC 101:77 
77 According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles;

DnC 79-80

“If we open a quarrel between past and present, we shall find that we have lost the future.” — Winston Churchill