Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 25 March 2012

Ward Council
D Todd christofferson - Jan 2012 Ensign, “Recognizing God’s Hand in Our Daily Blessings”
“As you retire to bed, think about the successes and failures of the day and what will make the next day a little better. And thank your Heavenly Father for the manna He has placed along your path that sustained you through the day.”

Training
Purposes of Sunday School
Church Handbook 2
Section 12.1

1. Strengthen individuals’ and families’ faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through teaching, learning, and fellowshipping.
2. Help Church members “teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom” (D&C 88:77) at church and at home.

Elders Quorum
Certainly the Lord can do everything himself, but he respects the agency of man, so if we do not follow the promptings of the lord there are things that need doing that will not get done.


“How grateful we ought to be to know that this work is not the work of man, but it is the work of the Lord; that this Church, that bears the name of Jesus Christ, is directed by him, and he will permit no man or group of men to destroy it. He will not permit the men who preside over his Church to lead the people into error, but he will sustain them with his almighty power. He will magnify them in the eyes of good and great men and women. He will bless their ministry and it will be fraught with success. Those who oppose and find fault will not find joy in their opposition.” (George Albert Smith, In Conference Report, Apr. 1934, 29)


We here the same messages over and over.  If we were getting the point then it wouldn't be repeated so much.  If it wasn't important then it wouldn't be repeated so much.


Just because counsel from the prophet is not wrapped in a thou shalt or that counsel isn't specifically asked about in the temple recommend interview, does not mean we don't need to repent if we disregard that counsel.  Before we get a recommend we are asked if there is anything in our conduct that would keep us from going to the temple.  We are also asked if we sustain our leaders.  One must personally decide if that is true counsel that needs to be a part of our life.  It could then be argued that not implementing that counsel in our life is sin and not following our leaders.  We must then decide for ourselves if that particular sin makes us unworthy to go to the temple.  There is some accountability for us to ask ourselves our own internal questions.  This doesn’t mean nitpick, but it also doesn’t mean gloss over serious problems in our lives because we can weasel out of the wording of the temple recommend questions.

Sunday School
Jacob 1

Jacob 1 - History
Jacob 2-3 - Sermon at the temple
Jacob 4 - The atonement
Jacob 5 - The allegory of the olive tree
Jacob 6 - Explanation of chapter 5
Jacob 7 - Shereem

We only have two sermons of Jacob out of the entire time her was prophet.  Imagine if future generations only had two of president
Monson's talks and which two would they be?

The words of Jacob that were included were probably those that would be most useful for people in our day.

Jacob 1:19
 19 And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day.

This is equivalent to when we say magnify our calling.  This could mean to learn about our calling.  It could also mean to focus or bring into focus.


Doctrine and Covenants 68:25
25 And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.


If we don't teach our children how to live, someone else will.

If we don't teach our children what things are wrong then we may be inadvertently teaching them that those things are not wrong.

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 18 March 2012

Stake Conference General Session
There have been many movements about Women's rights and some of them have been very detrimental to women and the family.

Sister Olsen
The mission president's wife shared one of her favorite books, "The Dot"  I think it is the book that the person in this video is reading.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5mGeR4AQdM

President Olsen
Olive oil is symbolic of the blood of Christ.  Olive oil is made in a press.  When we are anointed with olive oil we are symbolically
anointed with his blood.


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.


The temple has been crafted by a master teacher.

Sister Baxter
English is the language of the restoration.  The book of Mormon was translated by revelation from the original into English.

“Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere in the world.” (Elder Richard G Scott, “The Power of Scripture”, General Conference October 2011)


Joshua 1:8
 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Knowing how important the scriptures were, lehi sent his sons all the way back to Jerusalem to get them.

Her parents joined the church when she was 7.  By the time she was 14 her parents stopped going to church.

Elder Baxter
He said that he will be speaking in general conference.

All of the ordinances in the church are about Christ.

In Christ's day they were persecuted and people said false things about the church, just as they do today.

Some of our critics say that we are not Christian because we do not preach the traditions of other churches which were created by man by their reasoning and not given by God.

We do not believe that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one anamorphic being, not because we are not Christian, but because that doctrine is totally false.

We are told we are not Christian because we don't use the symbol of the cross.  We know that all of the Lord's atoning sacrifice did not happen only on the cross, but also in the garden and in the empty tomb.  We do not worship a dead Christ.  The symbol of our faith is our lives, not a graven image.

He quote Neal A Maxwell as saying, "the only thing empty about our religion is the tomb."  I could not find that quote, but found this one,  “We say, humbly but firmly that it is the garden tomb--not life--that is empty.”(Neal A Maxwell, “All Hell Is Moved”, devotional address was given at Brigham Young University on 8 November 1977)



Matthew 7:21   
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

We are all saved in that we will all overcome physical death through the atonement, but Matthew says simply calling on Jesus doesn’t get you into heaven.  Taking his name upon you and doing His will is how it is done.  Both are necessary.


We believe that all must be baptized.  There must be a way for those that have not heard this doctrine and died and get them baptized.


“Indeed, given that all Christian Churches believe that the soul lives on after death and retains understanding and consciousness of self, doesn’t it make more sense to baptise dead adults than live babies?”
…
“Baptising the dead might be seen as analogous, too, to the Jewish prayer of intercession.”
…
“The key point is, surely, that all religions believe that the soul, after death, at last knows what’s what — whether Hinduism, Free Presbyterianism, Jainism, Judaism, Islam, Catholicism or whatever is the true religion. What if it’s Mormonism? What if it’s an everyday occurrence on the other side that Catholics and Protestants are left standing dumbstruck at the Gates, gasping: “Mormons! Who’d have believed it?” And maybe a wife berating her husband: ‘There! I told you it would be the Mormons! But would you listen?! Now it’s eternal hellfire for the two of us, I hope you’re satisfied.’

“In that scenario, shouldn’t all members of all other religions be literally eternally grateful to the Mormons for sharing their saving grace even unto and after death?
If, on the other hand, it isn’t the Mormons at all, those who turn out to have been right can wave a merry farewell to the crestfallen followers of Brigham Young as they trundle downwards to their eternal comeuppance.

“What’s the problem?” (Eamonn McCann, “What if Mormons are right and Catholics and Protestants wrong?”, Belfast Telegraph 28 August 2008)


The bible was not compiled at the time John wrote the book of revelation, thus his warning on adding to the book can not be
referring to the bible.


“The Father’s plan is designed to provide direction for His children, to help them become happy, and to bring them safely home to Him. Lucifer’s attacks on the plan are intended to make the sons and daughters of God confused and unhappy and to halt their eternal progression.” (Elder David A Bednar, “Marriage Is Essential to His Eternal Plan”, Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting: Supporting the Family)


Envy, greed, lust, and unrighteous ambition flee from them.

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 17 March 2012

Adult Session of Stake Conference
David S Baxter presided over the meeting.  His wife was in attendance with him.

Elder Baxter had the stake presidency call up a bunch of people to beat their testimony.  I think it was a list that he had given them.  Afterward the counselors in the stake presidency and Sister Baxter spoke.

President Browning
Mormon 1:2
 2 And about the time that Ammaron hid up the records unto the Lord, he came unto me, (I being about ten years of age, and I began to be learned somewhat after the manner of the learning of my people) and Ammaron said unto me: I perceive that thou art a sober child, and art quick to observe;


35 Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.


President Ulrich
This life is not the end.

2 Nephi 9:6,10,12
6 For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfil the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection, and the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the fall; and the fall came by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen they were cut off from the presence of the Lord.
10 O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit.
12 And this death of which I have spoken, which is the spiritual death, shall deliver up its dead; which spiritual death is hell; wherefore, death and hell must deliver up their dead, and hell must deliver up its captive spirits, and the grave must deliver up its captive bodies, and the bodies and the spirits of men will be restored one to the other; and it is by the power of the resurrection of the Holy One of Israel.

Sister Baxter
We often try very hard to make our children's lives as easy as possible.  Heavenly Father appears to give us growth opportunities
through hardship.  Maybe our kids could use the opportunity struggle a little or at least not have everything handed to them.

2 Nephi 2:11, 15
 11 For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.
 15 And to bring about his eternal purposes in the end of man, after he had created our first parents, and the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and in fine, all things which are created, it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter.

“Our needed conversions are often achieved more readily by suffering and adversity than by comfort and tranquillity,“ (Dallin H Oaks, The Challenge to Become, November 2000 Ensign)

Job 5:7
7 Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.


“Most of us experience some measure of what the scriptures call ‘the furnace of affliction’ (Isa. 48:10; 1 Ne. 20:10). Some are submerged in service to a disadvantaged family member. Others suffer the death of a loved one or the loss or postponement of a righteous goal like marriage or childbearing. Still others struggle with personal impairments or with feelings of rejection, inadequacy, or depression. Through the justice and mercy of a loving Father in Heaven, the refinement and sanctification possible through such experiences can help us achieve what God desires us to become.” (Dallin H Oaks, The Challenge to Become, November 2000 Ensign)


She shared a story of her son pulling a hot kettle of water onto himself when he was a baby.  The thought came to me that he had done
it to himself as she described the trials he had after that.  What a foolish thought, since he was an ignorant infant.  How often do we
judge those around us in the consequences of their choices when they are so unlearned in the ways of God.

Elder Baxter
“We live in a day when the adversary stresses on every hand the philosophy of instant gratification. We seem to demand instant everything, including instant solutions to our problems.”
…“There is great purpose in our struggle in life.” (Elder Boyd K Packer, Solving Emotional Problems in the Lord's Own Way, Ensign May 1978)


“You that have not passed thro’ the trials and persecutions, and drivings with this people from the beginning, but have only read them, or heard some of them related, may think how awful they were to endure, and wonder that the saints survived them at all.—The thought of it makes your heart sink within you, your brain reel, and your body tremble, and you are ready to exclaim, ‘I could not have endured it.’ I have been in the heat of it, and never felt better in all my life; I never felt the peace and power of the Almighty more copiously poured upon me than in the keenest part of our trials. They appeared nothing to me” (President Brigham Young, Deseret News Weekly, 24 Aug. 1854, 83).


“As the showdown between good and evil approaches with its accompanying trials and tribulations, Satan is increasingly striving to overcome the Saints with despair, discouragement, despondency, and depression” (President Ezra Taft Benson, “Do Not Despair,” Ensign, Oct. 1986, 2)

Sometimes when Satan can not trap us in some sin, then he makes us feel bad about ourselves.


Matthew 7:24-27
 24 ¶ Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Even though the wise man built his house upon a rock, the trials did not cease to beat upon his house.  The wind blew and the floods rose up.


Elder Baxter said that while Ogden temple is closed, there is no shortage of temples in Utah.


Revelation 7:16-17
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.


2 Corinthians 11:23-24
 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

Philippians 4:11
 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be acontent.

“No matter how serious the trial, how deep the distress, how great the affliction, [God] will never desert us. He never has, and He never will. He cannot do it. It is not His character [to do so]. He is an unchangeable being; the same yesterday, the same today, and He will be the same throughout the eternal ages to come. We have found that God. We have made Him our friend, by obeying His Gospel; and He will stand by us. We may pass through the fiery furnace; we may pass through deep waters; but we shall not be consumed nor overwhelmed. We shall emerge from all these trials and difficulties the better and purer for them, if we only trust in our God and keep His commandments” (“Freedom of the Saints,” in Collected Discourses, comp. Brian H. Stuy, 5 vols. [1987–92], 2:185; emphasis added).

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 11 March 2012

Elders Quorum
The Priesthood
Be ready at any moment to use the priesthood to bless your family and those around us.  I should not let my behavior constrain the spirit
and power of god from acting in me.

Why did Jesus send Peter, James, and John to restore the priesthood? Why didn't Jesus do it himself?  He showed us the pattern that we are to following in administering the Church.  The prophet doesn't go out and do everything in the church.  Neither does the stake president and bishop go do everything themselves at the local level.  Those who have been given stewardship over certain things go forth and act.

It may have also been an example to Joseph and Oliver about who had had the authority before them and that they could go read about how
Peter, James, and John grew and learned their calling.

Sunday School
2 Nephi 31-33
The first principles and ordinances of the gospel - The 4th Article of Faith - faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost

John the baptist was a very important prophet and yet he humbled himself and shank away, even to giving up his life to testify and make
way for the Christ.

One of the class members proposed that there is no step in our progression that isn't accompanied by a covenant.

When the scripture speak of turning to the Lord it means to repent.

Why are we only baptized only after we are eight years old?  We have to understand the contract we are entering into.  Also, we are saved
after all we can do and baptism is the beginning of all we can do.  -



Mormon 3:2
 2 And it came to pass that the Lord did say unto me: Cry unto this people—Repent ye, and come unto me, and be ye baptized, and build up again my church, and ye shall be spared.



Jacob 6:5 - "Full purpose of heart" - with no ulterior motive
 5 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I beseech of you in words of soberness that ye would repent, and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you. And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of the day, harden not your hearts.



Sacrament Service
One of the ways God speaks to us is through reading our scriptures.

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.

When god speaks and we obey we are always better for it.


Preparing our own meals is better for us than processed foods that are quick to prepare and/or eat.

How well do we obey the word of wisdom, both dos and don'ts?


From the Bulletin

“Obedience to the Lord’s commandments provides us confidence in our chosen path, qualifies us for His guidance and direction as we pursue our efforts, and offers us the potential to become like our Savior, Jesus Christ, and return to our Father's presence.” —Bruce A. Carlson, “When the Lord Commands," Ensign, May 2010 40.

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 4 March 2012

Elders Quorum
Love
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.


If you do small and simple good things you will become good.  Also, if you do small and simple bad things you will become bad.

Sunday School
2 Nephi 26-30
2 Nephi 25:23
23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.

2 Nephi 25:26
26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

What is priestcraft?  Doctrine and Covenants 50:17-18
17 Verily I say unto you, he that is ordained of me and sent forth to preach the word of truth by the Comforter, in the Spirit of truth, doth he preach it by the Spirit of truth or some other way?
18 And if it be by some other way it is not of God.


Some thoughts were given from Elder Jeffrey R Holland’s October 2011 conference talk, “We Are All Enlisted” on the reality of Satan.


2 Nephi 29:3-4
 3 And because my words shall hiss forth—many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible.
 4 But thus saith the Lord God: O fools, they shall have a Bible; and it shall proceed forth from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people. And what thank they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? Yea, what do the Gentiles mean? Do they remember the travails, and the labors, and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles?

Were the Jews or the early Christians not true followers of God because they did not have the bible or believed that God was giving them more than the scriptures they already had?


From the Bulletin
“Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught: ‘Faith is a gift of God bestowed as a reward for personal righteousness. It is always given when righteousness is present, and the greater the measure of obedience to God’s laws the greater will be the endowment of faith’ (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 264). If we desire more faith, we must be more obedient. When we teach our children by example or precept to be casual or situational in obeying God’s commandments, we prevent them from receiving this vital spiritual gift. Faith requires an attitude of exact obedience, even in the small, simple things.

“Desire is a particle of faith that develops within us as we experience divine truth. It is like spiritual photosynthesis. The influence of the Holy Ghost, acting on the Light of Christ within every human being, produces the spiritual equivalent of a chemical reaction—a stirring, a change of heart, or a desire to know. Hope develops as particles of faith become molecules and as simple efforts to live true principles occur.

“As patterns of obedience develop, the specific blessings associated with obedience are realized and belief emerges. Desire, hope, and belief are forms of faith, but faith as a principle of power comes from a consistent pattern of obedient behavior and attitudes.
…
“Challenging times require greater spiritual power. Consider carefully the Savior’s promise: “If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me” (Moroni 7:33).” (Elder Kevin W Pearson, “Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ”, General Conference April 2009)