Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 22 Aug 2021

Sacrament Service
First Speaker

"We further witness that Joseph Smith was given the gift and power of God to translate an ancient record: the Book of Mormon—Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Pages of this sacred text include an account of the personal ministry of Jesus Christ among people in the Western Hemisphere soon after His Resurrection. It teaches of life’s purpose and explains the doctrine of Christ, which is central to that purpose. As a companion scripture to the Bible, the Book of Mormon testifies that all human beings are sons and daughters of a loving Father in Heaven, that He has a divine plan for our lives, and that His Son, Jesus Christ, speaks today as well as in days of old." (The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World) 

"As I indicated earlier, the Lord’s tender mercies do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. Faithfulness, obedience, and humility invite tender mercies into our lives, and it is often the Lord’s timing that enables us to recognize and treasure these important blessings." (Elder David A. Bednar, “The Tender Mercies of the Lord”, April 2005 General Conference) 

Moses 3:17

17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it, nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee; but, remember that I forbid it, for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

2 Nephi 2:27

27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

“When Sister Gerard and I started out, our shared aspiration and hope for our family was to achieve the greatest of all the gifts of God—the gift of eternal life (see D&C 14:7). From that time forward, we intentionally sought to heed His counsel, believing He would bless us beyond our ability to comprehend. Every significant decision we made was measured against the standard of eternal life. When we could not see clearly, when we could not suppose, even after repeated petitions to the Lord, we would ask ourselves which choice was more compatible with the covenant path leading to our hope for eternal life. We anchored ourselves to the hope of eternal life because we needed a clear beacon to pursue, particularly when day-to-day choices were ambiguous and at times even confusing. In addition, a clear objective inoculated us against the gradual slide to relativism, where many begin to measure their conduct against that of others, no longer seeking to do the will of the Lord but settling for just doing something better than someone else.” (Elder Jack N. Gerard, “Additional ResourceCould We Have Supposed?”, This devotional address was given Tuesday, March 17, 2020, at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.)

Next Speaker

"We affirm that under the direction of the Father and the Son, heavenly messengers came to instruct Joseph and re-establish the Church of Jesus Christ. The resurrected John the Baptist restored the authority to baptize by immersion for the remission of sins. Three of the original twelve Apostles—Peter, James, and John—restored the apostleship and keys of priesthood authority. Others came as well, including Elijah, who restored the authority to join families together forever in eternal relationships that transcend death." (The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World)

"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.

“The heavens are just as open to women who are endowed with God’s power flowing from their priesthood covenants as they are to men who bear the priesthood. I pray that truth will register upon each of your hearts because I believe it will change your life. Sisters, you have the right to draw liberally upon the Savior’s power to help your family and others you love.

" (President Russell M Nelson, “Spiritual Treasures”, October 2019 General Conference)

"May we refuse to let our own mortal follies, and the inevitable shortcomings of even the best men and women around us, make us cynical about the truths of the gospel, the truthfulness of the Church, our hope for our future, or the possibility of godliness." (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Be Ye Therefore Perfect—Eventually”, October 2017 General Conference)

Elders Quorum

The discussion was on the talk “I Love to See the Temple” By President Henry B. Eyring

You can find the talk at this link:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2021/04/17eyring?lang=eng

"President Russell M. Nelson made clear for us that we can ‘see’ the Savior in the temple in the sense that He becomes no longer unknown to us. President Nelson said this: ‘We understand Him. We comprehend His work and His glory. And we begin to feel the infinite impact of His matchless life.’” (From President Eyring’s talk)

"In 1893, President Lorenzo Snow, then president of the Quorum of the Twelve, declared in general conference his strong belief “that when the Gospel is preached to the spirits in prison, the success attending that preaching will be far greater than that attending the preaching of our Elders in this life. I believe there will be very few indeed of those spirits who will not gladly receive the Gospel when it is carried to them. The circumstances there will be a thousand times more favorable.” (Millennial Star 56:50.)" (Dale C. Mouritsen, “The Spirit World, Our Next Home”, Ensign January 1977) 

"I feel the same desire to succeed in inviting living family members to desire to become worthy to receive and to honor the sealing ordinances of the temple. That is part of the promised gathering of Israel in the last days on both sides of the veil." (From President Eyring’s talk)

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 15 Aug 2021

Sacrament Service

First Speaker

Moroni 10:23

23 And Christ truly said unto our fathers: If ye have faith ye can do all things which are expedient unto me.

Next Speaker

Doctrine and Covenants 110:13, 14, 16

13 After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said:

14 Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come—

15 To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse—

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.

“...our ability to travel this road in peace is, in large part, dependent on whether or not we too have a hard time thinking about Jesus.

“Peace of mind, peace of conscience, and peace of heart are not determined by our ability to avoid trials, sorrow, or heartache. Despite our sincere pleas, not every storm will change course, not every infirmity will be healed, and we may not fully understand every doctrine, principle, or practice taught by prophets, seers, and revelators. Nevertheless, we have been promised peace—with a condition attached.

“In the Gospel of John, the Savior taught that despite the tribulations of life, we can be of good cheer, we can be of good hope, and we need not fear, because He declared, “In me ye might have peace.” Faith in Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice is, and forever will be, the first principle of the gospel and the foundation upon which our hope for “peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come” is built.” (Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, “A Pattern for Peace”, April 2016 General Conference)

John 16:33

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

“A principal purpose of the temple is to elevate our vision from the things of the world to the blessings of eternity.” (David A Bednar, “Exceeding Great and Precious Promises”, October 2017 General Conference)

“Each time we attend the temple—in all that we hear, do, and say; in every ordinance in which we participate; and in every covenant that we make—we are pointed to Jesus Christ. We feel peace as we hear His words and learn from His example.” (Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, “A Pattern for Peace”, April 2016 General Conference)

Sunday School

If we encountered the Savior today, would we be able to approach him or would we want to hide? 

How do we consecrate our actions and thoughts to God?

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 8 Aug 2021

Sacrament Service

First Speaker 

One of the young men spoke of his experience at Aaronic Priesthood Camp. 

Sometimes your path in life's course will vere off in a direction you hadn't considered. 

Next Speaker

He shared with us the children's book, "I Love You, Stinky Face". 

When we get married we each come from different family ways of doing things. Together we have to find our own way that is the best things of both and our own good things. 

Elders Quorum

The discussion was on "Why the Covenant Path" By Elder D. Todd Christofferson

You can find the talk at this link 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2021/04/54christofferson?lang=eng

“Your commitment to follow the Savior by making covenants with Him and then keeping these covenants will open the door to every spiritual blessing and privilege available to men, women, and children everywhere.

“… The ordinances of the temple and the covenants you make there are key to strengthening your life, your marriage and family, and your ability to resist the attacks of the adversary. Your worship in the temple and your service there for your ancestors will bless you with increased personal revelation and peace and will fortify your commitment to stay on the covenant path.” (Russell M. Nelson, “As We Go Forward Together,” Ensign or Liahona, Apr. 2018, 7.)

The teacher recommended the book "Believing Christ". 

"Too often our problems or challenges are self-inflicted, the result of poor choices, or, we could say, the result of “unforced errors.” When we are diligently pursuing the covenant path, we quite naturally avoid many “unforced errors.” We sidestep the various forms of addiction. We do not fall into the ditch of dishonest conduct. We cross over the abyss of immorality and infidelity. We bypass the people and things that, even if popular, would jeopardize our physical and spiritual well-being. We avoid the choices that harm or disadvantage others and instead acquire the habits of self-discipline and service."

"With covenants, we are intent on more than just avoiding mistakes or being prudent in our decisions. We feel accountable to God for our choices and our lives. We take upon us the name of Christ. We are focused on Christ—on being valiant in the testimony of Jesus and on developing the character of Christ." 

"On the covenant path we also find the essential blessings of forgiveness and cleansing from sin. This is help that can come only through divine grace, administered by the Holy Ghost." 

Grace comes from God. Christ enacted it and the Holy Ghost administers it. 

2 Nephi 11:5

5 And also my soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord which he hath made to our fathers; yea, my soul delighteth in his grace, and in his justice, and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death.

Stake Priesthood Meeting

First Speaker

Matthew 25:37–40

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Dnc 68:6

6 Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I cwas, that I am, and that I am to come.

Luke 10:38-42
38 ¶ Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Next speaker

Alma 37:6

6 Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

Next Speaker 

He shared his experience at AP camp. 

Next Speaker 

In war, strategies get perfected and then they have to change as the enemy changes. The same is true with the Lord's battle. We are seeing constant changes to the way the Church does things, because the enemy is constantly changing tactics. 

Help lift the bishop's hands. 

Stake President

Respond straightway. 

Alma 30:6-7

6 But it came to pass in the latter end of the seventeenth year, there came a man into the land of Zarahemla, and he was Anti-Christ, for he began to preach unto the people against the prophecies which had been spoken by the prophets, concerning the coming of Christ.

7 Now there was no law against a man’s belief; for it was strictly contrary to the commands of God that there should be a law which should bring men on to unequal grounds.

Pornography stalks our youth. Not just is available to them. It actively stalks.

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 1 Aug 2021

Sacrament Service
We incorrectly call the sacrament service on fast Sunday, fast and testimony meeting. It is important to be efficient in passing the sacrament, but if it took the entire meeting then the purpose of the meeting would still have been fulfilled. Talks and testimony and music are all wonderful additional blessings, but they are not the purpose.

Don't miss people God has sent to either serve us or to be served by us, because they are hidden behind immodest clothing or tattoos or bad habits.

Sunday School
Relief Society presidents do not have to be endowed.

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 25 July 2021

Sacrament Service

First Speaker

“We observe that in the scriptures, fasting almost always is linked with prayer. Without prayer, fasting is not complete fasting; it’s simply going hungry. If we want our fasting to be more than just going without eating, we must lift our hearts, our minds, and our voices in communion with our Heavenly Father. Fasting, coupled with mighty prayer, is powerful. It can fill our minds with the revelations of the Spirit. It can strengthen us against times of temptation.

“Fasting and prayer can help develop within us courage and confidence. It can strengthen our character and build self-restraint and discipline. Often when we fast, our righteous prayers and petitions have greater power. Testimonies grow. We mature spiritually and emotionally and sanctify our souls. Each time we fast, we gain a little more control over our worldly appetites and passions.” (Elder Joseph B Wirthlin, “The Law of the Fast”, April 2001 General Conference)

Next Speaker

Serve by just being good neighbors.

Next Speaker

“When I think of love, I remember the Lord’s two great commandments — to love God with all our heart, soul and mind and serve him, and to love our neighbor as ourselves,”

...

“Love ought to be the foundation and motivation for everything we do.”(Elder Dieter F Uchtdorf, Worldwide Broadcast on Sharing the Gospel)

“We learn in the scriptures that charity suffereth long and endureth all things. Charity has staying power. When you love someone, you do not give up on them.” (Elder David A Bednar, Worldwide Broadcast on Sharing the Gospel)

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 18 July 2021

Sacrament Service 

First Speaker

Alma 36 - Remember is used a lot in this chapter.

Alma 36:17

17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.

Next Speaker

Sacrifice is required in this life.  Trials are required in this life.  Heartache is required in this life.  All good things require sacrifice.

“The framers of the Constitution were men raised up by God to establish this foundation of our government, for so the Lord has declared by revelation in these words:

“I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood.” (D&C 101:80; italics added.)” (Ezra Taft Benson, “The Constitution—

A Glorious Standard”, April 1976 General Conference)

Ether 1:38

38 And it came to pass that Jared spake again unto his brother, saying: Go and inquire of the Lord whether he will drive us out of the land, and if he will drive us out of the land, cry unto him whither we shall go. And who knoweth but the Lord will carry us forth into a land which is choice above all the earth? And if it so be, let us be faithful unto the Lord, that we may receive it for our inheritance.

Alma 7:12

12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

Sunday School 

Ground breaking doctrine in 76.

-He died for the worlds (plural) he created. 

-The Father and son are separate. 

“I will refer to the “Vision” [in section 76] alone, as a revelation which gives more light, more truth and more principle than any revelation contained in any other book we ever read. It makes plain to our understanding our present condition, where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going to. Any man may know through that revelation what his part and condition will be. (Wilford Woodruff, Deseret News: Semi-Weekly, July 26, 1881, 1.)

DnC 76:20-24

20 And we beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father, and received of his fulness;

21 And saw the holy angels, and them who are sanctified before his throne, worshiping God, and the Lamb, who worship him forever and ever.

22 And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

23 For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

24 That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.

DnC 76:25-30

25 And this we saw also, and bear record, that an angel of God who was in authority in the presence of God, who rebelled against the Only Begotten Son whom the Father loved and who was in the bosom of the Father, was thrust down from the presence of God and the Son,

26 And was called Perdition, for the heavens wept over him—he was Lucifer, a son of the morning.

27 And we beheld, and lo, he is fallen! is fallen, even a son of the morning!

28 And while we were yet in the Spirit, the Lord commanded us that we should write the vision; for we beheld Satan, that old serpent, even the devil, who rebelled against God, and sought to take the kingdom of our God and his Christ—

29 Wherefore, he maketh war with the saints of God, and encompasseth them round about.

30 And we saw a vision of the sufferings of those with whom he made war and overcame, for thus came the voice of the Lord unto us:

“President George Q. Cannon, commenting on Satan’s title as a son of the morning, said: “Some have called him the son of the morning, but here it is a son of the morning—one among many, doubtless. This angel was a mighty personage, without doubt. The record that is given to us concerning him clearly shows that he occupied a very high position; that he was thought a great deal of, and that he was mighty in his sphere, so much so that when the matter was debated concerning the earth and the plan of salvation, he was of sufficient importance to have a plan, which he proposed as the plan by which this earth should be peopled and the inhabitants thereof redeemed. His plan, however, was not accepted; but it was so plausible and so attractive that out of the whole hosts of heaven one-third accepted his plan and were willing to cast their lot with him. [Moses 4:1–4; D&C 29:36–37.] Now, the difference between Jesus and Lucifer was this: Jesus was willing to submit to the Father.” (In Millennial Star, 5 Sept. 1895, pp. 563–64.)”

“The Lord our God has sent us here to get experience in these things so that we may know the good from the evil and be able to close our hearts against the evil. . . . It is true that some have greater power of resistance than others, but everyone has the power to close his heart against doubt, against darkness, against unbelief, against depression, against anger, against hatred, against jealousy, against malice, against envy. God has given this power unto all of us, and we can gain still greater power by calling upon Him for that which we lack. If it were not so, how could we be condemned for giving way to wrong influences?

“There could be no condemnation for our doing what we could not help; but we can help yielding to wrong influences and being quarrelsome and selfish. We can help giving way to the spirit of theft, and we can resist the spirit of lust. God has given us power to resist these things, that our hearts may be kept free from them and also from doubt; and when Satan comes and assails us, it is our privilege to say, ‘Get thee behind me, Satan, for I have no lot nor portion in you, and you have no part in me. I am in the service of God, and I am going to serve Him, and you can do what you please. It is no use you presenting yourself with your blandishments to me. You come and try to insinuate into my heart evil thoughts about the servants of God or about the work of God, and I will not listen to you; I will close my heart against you. . . .’

“Whenever darkness fills our minds, we may know that we are not possessed of the Spirit of God, and we must get rid of it. When we are filled with the Spirit of God, we are filled with joy, with peace and with happiness no matter what our circumstances may be; for it is a spirit of cheerfulness and of happiness.” ( Gospel Truth, 1:19–20.)

DnC 76:50-58

50 And again we bear record—for we saw and heard, and this is the testimony of the gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just—

51 They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given—

52 That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power;

53 And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true.

54 They are they who are the church of the Firstborn.

55 They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things—

56 They are they who are priests and kings, who have received of his fulness, and of his glory;

57 And are priests of the Most High, after the order of Melchizedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after the order of the Only Begotten Son.

58 Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons of God

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 11 July 2021

Sacrament Service

First Speaker

Agency

2 Nephi 2:27

27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

“Every day we choose where we want to live eternally by how we think, feel, speak, and act.” (President Russell M Nelson, Rootstech 2017)

Next Speaker

A missionary from Henderson, MT spoke to us.  He was originally assigned to Brazil, but had to come finish his mission here.

We are free to choose our actions, but not the consequences.

Article of Faith 2

We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.

Joshua 1:5

5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Next Speaker

A missionary that started his mission in Mexico City and is finishing his mission here due to Covid.

All of the commandments are given to us to keep us free and not to imprison us.

DnC 82:10

10 I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.

Elders Quorum 

The lesson was based on the talk "Not as the World Giveth" By Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

3 Nephi 11:29

29 For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.

“Brothers and sisters, we do see too much conflict, anger, and general incivility around us. Fortunately, the current generation has not had a Third World War to fight, nor have we experienced a global economic crash like the one in 1929 leading to a Great Depression. We are, however, facing a kind of Third World War that is not a fight to crush our enemies but a conscription marshaling the children of God to care more about each other and to help heal the wounds we find in a conflicted world. The Great Depression we now face has less to do with the external loss of our savings and more to do with the internal loss of our self-confidence, with real deficits of faith and hope and charity all around us.”

We have to have conflict and struggles to figure out who we are. 

Dnc 76:22-24

22 And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

23 For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

24 That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.

Dnc 121:26

26 God shall give unto you knowledge by his Holy Spirit, yea, by the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost, that has not been revealed since the world was until now;

Dnc 121:35

35 Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson

Dnc 121:41-42

41 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile

"Consider the coarse language that parallels sexual transgression, both of which are so omnipresent in movies or on television, or note the sexual harassment and other forms of impropriety in the workplace about which we read so much these days. In matters of covenantal purity, the sacred is too often being made common and the holy is too often being made profane. To any who are tempted to walk or talk or behave in these ways—“as the world giveth,” so to speak—don’t expect it to lead to peaceful experience; I promise you in the name of the Lord that it won’t. “Wickedness never was happiness,” an ancient prophet once said. When the dance is over, the piper must always be paid, and most often it is in a currency of tears and regret." 

Dnc 76:40-42
40 And this is the gospel, the glad tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us—

41 That he came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness;

42 That through him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him;

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 4 July 2021

Sacrament Service 

President Oaks in his talk The Divinely Inspired Constitution list five great fundamentals of the US Constitution.

1. Separation of powers.

2. A written Bill of Rights

3. Division of Powers

4. Popular sovereignty.

5. The rule of law and not of men.

Elder Oaks said, “Similarly, James Madison, who is known as the ‘Father of the Constitution,’ stated his assumption that there had to be ‘sufficient virtue among men for self-government.’ He argued in the Federalist Papers that ‘republican government presupposes the existence of these qualities in a higher degree than any other form.’”

Sunday School

Doctrine and Covenants 71 - Dealing with criticism

“Symonds Ryder (or Simonds Rider) learned about the restored gospel from Ezra Booth. Symonds became a member of the Church after witnessing what he considered to be a miracle. Shortly after his baptism he was ordained an elder of the Church. Later accounts suggest that when he received an official commission to preach the gospel, he found that his name was misspelled on the certificate. Supposing that a revealed call would have been free from even small errors, Symonds began to question the extent of Joseph Smith’s prophetic inspiration. Symonds was further influenced by the failing faith of his close friend Ezra Booth, who returned disappointed from his mission to Missouri. More than anything else, his concerns over the principle of consecration seem to have led to his disaffection.” (Doctrine and Covenants Institute Manual)

Isaiah 54:17

17 ¶ No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

D&C 71:1

1 Behold, thus saith the Lord unto you my servants Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, that the time has verily come that it is necessary and expedient in me that you should open your mouths in proclaiming my gospel, the things of the kingdom, expounding the mysteries thereof out of the scriptures, according to that portion of Spirit and power which shall be given unto you, even as I will.

Alma 31:5

5 And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.

D&C 71:7-9

7 Wherefore, confound your enemies; call upon them to meet you both in public and in private; and inasmuch as ye are faithful their shame shall be made manifest.

8 Wherefore, let them bring forth their strong reasons against the Lord.

9 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you—there is no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper;

“We live and teach amid such a wide variety of individual personalities, experiences, cultures, languages, interests, and needs. Only the Spirit can compensate for such differences. The Lord has told us that ‘the sword of the Spirit … is the word of God’ (Ephesians 6:17); it can facilitate communication and penetrate as nothing else. Thus holy scripture and the words of living prophets occupy a privileged position; they are the key to teaching by the Spirit so that we communicate in what the Prophet Joseph Smith called ‘the language of inspiration’ (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1976], p. 56).” (Neal A Maxwell, Teaching by the Spirit—“The Language of Inspiration”, In Old Testament Symposium Speeches, 1991, 1–6)

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 27 June 2021

Sacrament Service

First Speaker

As we constantly cling to God’s commandments we will be happy and eventually become perfect with his help.

Second Speaker

We are meant to grow and life was created with an overabundance of opportunities to grow.

The speaker shared a story from Brad Wilcox’s talk, “His Grace Is Sufficient”.  https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/brad-wilcox/his-grace-is-sufficient/

Youth and Parent Meeting on Pornography

The presenter suggested the talk Love and Marriage, by Sister Wendy Nelson

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/broadcasts/article/worldwide-devotionals/2017/01/love-and-marriage?lang=eng

The presenter suggested some principles for talking to your kids about sex:

• Start early.  Your child should know your view of sex before they are a teenager and think the “know everything”.

• INteract with your child don’t OVERreact.

• As you just listen to your teen talk about sex and pornography, they are hearing what you would say in their own mind.  You don’t have to preach to them.  Just ask them questions.

• Have your child consciously work on his or her view of sex in your presence.  That is what the questions are for.

• Outlaw things from your home for the way they portray sex, not because they have sex in them.

The presenter recommended the book A Better Way To Teach Kids About Sex by Laura M Padilla-Walker.

The presenter asked “What is God’s View of Sex?”  Then he listed the following resources:

• “They Twain Shall Be One: Thoughts on Intimacy in Marriage” by Brent A Barlow, Spet 1986 Ensign.

• “Personal Purity” by Jeffery R Holland, Oct 1998 General Conference

• “We Believe in Being Chaste” by David a Bednar, Apr 2013 General Conference

• Chastity topic in the book True to the Faith.

• https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/addressing-pornography?lang=eng

• https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/a-parents-guide?lang=eng

• “Of Souls, Symbols, and Sacraments”, Elder Holland

• August 2020 Ensign

• 1 Corinthians 6:13-20

• Matthew 19:5-6