Family Night With John Bytheway Clip Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy

Church on Feb., 15, 2009

• When we fast and pray, we tend to receive more answers.
• Ask yourself: "Have I had a meaningful fast?"
• You need to be in the right mind frame when you fast.
• D&C 59:13-14
• Fasting is a sacrifice
• Matthew 6:1-4
• Alma 5:45-46
• Alma 11:37
• 2 Nephi 2:7, 10
• Alma 42:20-27
• Our Heavenly Father has mercy on us and loves us.
• Alma 36:10-12, 13-15, 16-21

__________________________________________________

          (Sunday School)

• D&C 19:23
• How can we strengthen our faith in Christ?
• Study it out,  and learn of Him.
• Hear Him and follow.

• John 17:3
• D&C 88:118
• Alma 32:27
• D&C 19:23
• Optimism is a sign of faith
• D&C 8:10
• D&C 10:46-52
• What is repentance?
• It's a change of heart
• "Change" is to turn away from evil and look to God.

• Based on faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

• Look forward, not backwards.
• What are consequences for not repenting?
• The Spirit will no longer dwell with you.
• There will be no blessings.
• Most likely the sins that you are making will increase, unless you go to the Lord.
• Sorrow and sadness :(
• Guilt.

• Why is it difficult for people to forgive themselves?
• People forget the plan of mercy.

• What happens if you don't fully forgive yourself?
• Then you didn't fully repent.

• 2 Nephi 4:19
• Why is it essential to be baptized?
• It is essential for Salvation. Without it, you cannot dwell in the highest Degree of Glory with God.

• Qualifications for baptism:
• You need to believe and have a testimony of the Gospel.

• We should always be repenting.
• He leads us to do good.

(I know some of this is pretty vague and simple, but some times it's good to hear those simple things.)

The Way of the Master by President Thomas S. Monson

"Learn of Him...Believe in Him...Follow Him"

LDS.org - Ensign Article - The Way of the Master

The Missing Piece

Words of Comfort

September 23, 2010

So, I like to go back into my "church journals" and look up scriptures that were written from past writings. I can always find scriptures that bring comfort and, sometimes, bring an answer to me or even just something that is enlightening to me. Well, this past Thursday I did that, and what do ya know...I found a bunch of them that definitely brought comfort to me. It just helped me to realize the truthfulness of the gospel, and of Christ. Here are the scriptures that I found:

St. John 14:26-31

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

"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.

"Ye have heard how I said unto you, I do away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

"And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

"Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

"But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence."

Teaching the Gospel in the Home

Teaching children with kindness and love

The Lord has commanded parents to teach the gospel to their children. He said:

“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.

“For this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized.

“And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands.

“And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord” (D&C 68:25-28).

Parents should teach with kindness and love, remembering the Apostle Paul’s counsel to “bring [their children] up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

(LDS.org)

"I believe it is by divine design that the role of motherhood emphasizes the nurturing and teaching of the next generation." (L.Tom Perry)

I do believe that these things are very important to know and understand right now. I have been hearing a lot about the importance of teaching within the home from articles in the Ensign (like the quote from L. Tom Perry), and from Stake Conference just a couple weeks ago, and I believe that Satan is really focusing on the family at this time. We need to hear what the Prophet and Apostles are saying and live by what they are teaching us as best as we can. The things that they say are the words of God, and I know this to be true. Listen and follow the things that they have to say and have been saying for years and years and years and you will be blessed. I know that the things they are saying are important, and they (i.e. the things of the world--like pornography, drugs, the unimportance of teaching in your own home-especially the gospel, etc..) will only get worse if we don't listen.

Please, please, please, remember that you can always go to the Lord for guidance in this life...he is there.

I apologize...

This past week has been a little crazy and I haven't been able to get on the computer to do my daily posts. I am currently away from my home and any computer (I am now on an iPod touch), so I won't be able to post anything until I have access to my computer. I will post as soon as I can. Thank you for your patience and once again I apologize.

Church Notes Sept 19th, 2010

• To have a successful marriage, you [both] need to be determined, unselfish and righteous.
• Our families need to be our 1st priority in life.
• Isaiah 62 (His vision of the future)
• "We are a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord" (v.3)

• Our Patriarcal Blessing (the scriptures also) is like our "Liahona" in this life to guide and direct us.
• Remember that you weren't called to this earth to ____(be a doctor, the CEO of whatever co., firefighter, etc...)
• Just be sure to focus on work when you are at work, family when you are with your family or even just at home, focus on the Savior and other church things while you are at church...don't let yourself go and focus too much on work and other non essential things in this life.

• D&C 45:32, 87:8, and 101:22 }"Stand In Holy Places"
• 3 Nephi 23:1
• Isaiah 1-5
• 1:3-5, 11-15

• Isaiah 2:7-8, 11-12
• Isaiah 3:5
• Are we making our home a place where the Spirit is invited?
• Isaiah 5:26-29
• How are we 'gathering Israel'?
• Isaiah 6:1-8

The Proof of Desire is in the Pursuit

Alma 41:5-6 "The one raised to happiness according to his desires of happiness, or good according to his desires of good; and the other to evil according to his desires of evil; for as he has desired to do evil all the day long, even so shall he have his reward of evil when the night cometh. And so it is on the other hand. If he hath repented of his sins, and desired righteousness until the end of his days, even so he shall be rewarded unto righteousness."

Matthew 6:21 "Where your treasure is, there is your heart also."

D&C 6:8 "...Even as you desire of me so shall it be done unto you."

D&C 7:8 "...Ye shall have according to your desires..."

Alma 29:4 "...I know that God granteth unto men according to their desire..."

Alma 29:5 "...To him it is given according to his desires, whether he desireth good or evil, life or death..."

Jacob 2:18-19 "But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God. And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good-to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and to administer relief to the sick and the afflicted."

"If you want something enough...

To go out and fight for it, 

Work day and night for it, 

Give up your time and your 

peace and your sleep for it; 

If you'd gladly sweat for, fret for it, 

plan for it, 

Lose all your terror of devils and man for it; 

If you'll simply go after the thing 

that you want; with all your capacity, 

strength and sagacity; 

If dogged and grim you beseech it 

and beset it, 

You'll get, you'll get it!"

(Unkown)

"...with God all things are possible" Matt 19:26

The Weekly Spiritual Thought

 Faith.

Doctrine and Covenants 90:24 "Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another."

James 1:5-6 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and abraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."

The Apostle Paul taught that "faith is the substance [assurance] of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). Alma made a similar statement: "If ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true" (Alma 32:21). Faith is a principle of action and power. Whenever we work toward a worthy goal, we exercise faith. We show our hope for something that we cannot yet see.

(LDS.org )

Scripture of the Week

(I know this is a day late, things have been hectic..)

"O my sons, I would that ye should remember that these sayings are true, and also that these records are true. And behold, also the plates of Nephi, which contain the records and the sayings of our fathers from the time they left Jerusalem until now, and they are true; and we can know of their surety because we have them before our eyes."

Mosiah 1:6

This scripture is very special to me. It was the scripture that really strengthened my testimony in the Book of Mormon and helped me to realize how true these things are.

The Power of Hymns

for Family Home Evening

http://lds.org/hf/library/0,16866,4438-1,00.html?LibraryURL=/Magazines/Ensign/2001.htm/ensign%20july%202001.htm/the%20power%20of%20hymns.htm

By Elder Merrill J. Bateman

Church hymns are a form of worship. They serve as a prayer of thanks and an expression of commitment

Some time ago I attended a concert featuring classical music with a religious theme. As the end of the concert approached, a friend nearby leaned over and said: "The last number will be a well-known hymn. You will feel the Spirit enter the room." As the orchestra played the hymn, the words associated with the music were on the minds and lips of everyone. A special spirit entered the room, and a feeling of reverence encompassed the audience as they quietly contemplated the message. My spirit resonated with the music and the words as I softly hummed the melody.

I enjoy classical music. I appreciate listening to a great orchestra playing Beethoven, Mozart, or Tchaikovsky. But the classical experience is qualitatively different than listening to one of my favorite hymns. The difference may be due partially to familiarity, it may be the poetic message of the hymn, it may be that the music and words open the door for Spirit to speak to spirit. Whatever it is, most hymns touch my inner being, bringing peace, feelings of gratitude, and a sense of awe for the goodness of the Lord. I cherish the sacred feelings that accompany Church music.

The experience with the hymn at the concert reminds me of an earlier experience. Many years ago, while living in the East, I attended a stake conference that left an indelible impression with regard to the sacred role played by music in a Church setting. Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was the visiting authority. Fifteen minutes before the general session began, Elder Packer took his place on the stand along with the stake presidency. Many in the congregation had traveled 75 to 100 miles to attend and were engaged in conversation with friends from other wards and branches. Some were seated, while others were visiting with friends as they entered the chapel. The organist had chosen various Bach selections for the prelude and was absorbed in presenting a Bach concert. As the music crescendoed it forced the members visiting with each other to raise their voices. The louder the din, the more determined the organist, and the volume of voices and music rose higher and higher.

Five minutes before the session was to begin, Elder Packer suddenly stood up and approached the podium. He asked the organist to stop. He asked the congregation to cease speaking and find their seats. He spoke clearly and firmly to the congregation, reminding them of their need to be reverent and prepare for the general session. He then turned toward the organ and told the organist that he had a special responsibility to bring the Spirit into the building and prepare the members for the meeting. Elder Packer continued, "This can be accomplished best by playing hymns." He then suggested that hymns be a central part of the prelude for subsequent conferences in that stake.

In the intervening years, that experience has returned often in memory and caused me to reflect on the various sacred and important roles performed by hymns both in Church settings and in our personal lives. Church hymns are a form of worship; they serve as a prayer of thanks and an expression of commitment. Many hymns build unity among the Saints as well as build a community of Saints. They invite the Spirit into meetings and into our lives. They teach doctrine. Hymns often express testimony and may even be a form of protection or a source of comfort and healing.

I wish to comment on some of these roles and bear witness of the power of Church music. I begin with music as a form of worship.

Music as a Form of Worship

Each time I hear "How Great Thou Art," something happens inside. I think my spirit becomes taut like a string on a violin and begins vibrating with the beauty of the music and the hope expressed in Stuart Hine's words. In particular, the third and fourth verses, combined with the lyrical nature of the chorus, cause my spirit to swell with deep appreciation for the Lord's Atonement and mercy:

And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin, ...
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, "My God, how great thou art!"

Music is one of the most effective forms of worship. In our hymns, we praise God, give thanks for His love and mercy. I am impressed with this statement by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: "Sacramental hymns are ... like prayers, ... and everyone can give voice to a prayer!" Although I had thought of some hymns as prayers, I had not thought of each sacramental hymn in that form. And yet it is! Like the charismatic writing structure of old, the sacrament, the central feature of our key weekly meeting, occurs near the center. In an important way, it is the climactic feature of the service. As the priests break the bread, the entire congregation is given the opportunity to voice their prayerful thanks through music. Sacramental hymns focus our attention on the Lord, His atoning sacrifice, and the gospel plan.

Music Builds Unity and a Community of Saints

In the process of singing together, a spirit of unity builds within the Saints. This occurs not only within a ward and stake but across the world. We can travel the earth from Sunday to Sunday, and wherever we are the music of the hymns will be familiar. Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke of his first trip to Brazil to attend a regional conference. He states: "Over three thousand Saints gathered for a regional conference. The printed program listed the musical numbers, but the Portuguese words meant nothing to me. But when their beautiful choir began to sing, the music crossed all barriers of language and spoke to my soul:

The morning breaks, the shadows flee;
Lo, Zion's standard is unfurled! ...
The dawning of a brighter day
Majestic rises on the world

Another hymn which binds both Saints and missionaries together is "Called to Serve."A few years ago when Elder Packer was assigned to the Missionary Department, he felt the need for a missionary anthem. As he and Sister Packer discussed what a special hymn could accomplish, she reminded him of "Called to Serve." He knew immediately that it was the appropriate song. I remember being in the BYU stadium in 1997 for the pioneer sesquicentennial celebration. After various vignettes depicting the pioneer beginnings and subsequent Church history, the last number included all of the missionaries from the Missionary Training Center marching into the stadium carrying flags of the various nations and singing "Called to Serve." Instantaneously 60,000 people in the stands stood on their feet and began cheering the missionaries. This was followed by the audience joining in singing the hymn with them.

Each time that hymn is sung, my chest becomes heavy and a lump enters my throat as I see in my mind's eye 50,000 or more missionaries scattered across the earth teaching the gospel. I see mothers waiting for the weekly letter and dads embracing sons and daughters as they leave the airport and when they return. I see missionaries knocking on doors and stopping people in the street. I see men and women clothed in white standing in baptismal fonts, near the beach, or at the river's edge. I envision happy people of every race, color, and nation new to the gospel but embraced by other Saints who, like them, are also converts.

Church Music Teaches Doctrine

Church music is powerful. It not only builds unity among the Saints but also contributes to a community of Saints. The scriptures teach that the Lord expects us to become a "peculiar treasure" and a "holy nation" (Ex. 19:56; 1 Pet. 2:9). We are a people bound together by covenant with special attributes, attitudes, and a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.

Hymns aid in this process by teaching doctrine under the influence of the Spirit. My faith in and commitment to Christ deepen when I sing "I Believe in Christ."My belief in eternal families grows as I sing "Families Can Be Together Forever." The hymn "I Stand All Amazed"produces a sense of amazement within me as I contemplate the "love Jesus offers me" and am "confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me," in that I do not fully understand it.

Hymns teach doctrine not only by word but also via the setting. The message inherent in "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet"is enhanced by the presence of the prophet. It is a wonderful experience to be at general conference just prior to the opening of a session and see the congregation rise and thank God for a living prophet as the Lord's anointed climbs the steps to the podium, or to be in the Marriott Center at Brigham Young University and feel the Holy Spirit as President Gordon B. Hinckley walks from the tunnel to the stand as 22,000 students, faculty, and staff bear witness through music of their gratitude to be guided "in these latter days." Sacramental hymns take on more meaning when sung in the presence of priests breaking bread in remembrance of the broken flesh.

The Topics guide in the hymnbook illustrates the wide variety of doctrines taught. Doctrinal topics from "Aaronic Priesthood" to "Zion" are covered in the hymnbook. There is an appropriate hymn for every occasion. For instance, if you had been invited to the Last Supper, what hymns from our hymnbook might have been appropriate? What about "How Great the Wisdom and the Love"or "Though Deepening Trials" or "Be Still, My Soul." It is an interesting exercise to review our hymns and find those appropriate for that setting.

It is likely that many hymns were sung that evening. Matthew indicates that the Lord and His Apostles concluded the Last Supper with a hymn before leaving for the Mount of Olives (see Matt. 26:30). What did they sing? Although we have no way of knowing the concluding hymn, we do know one song. It is called the Hallel, which consists of Psalms 11318. From before the time of Christ down to the present day, it is traditional for Jewish families to sing Psalms 11314 before the Passover meal and Psalms 11518 after. Why are these hymns important to the celebration? What is their message?

Psalms 11314 praise God for delivering Israel from the Egyptians. They indicate that He rules both water and land in that He parted the Red Sea for Israel to pass through and brought forth water when Moses struck the rock at Meribah (seeEx. 14:21-22;Ex. 17:67). At the Passover meal, one would expect Israel to be singing about deliverance from the angel of death, preservation in the desert, the parting of the Red Sea, and the greatness of the God of Jacob.

In fact, the angel of death's Passover in Egypt was a messianic type. After the meal, the hymns turn to the ultimate deliverance of the soul (Ps. 116:4), the breaking of the bonds of death, both physical (Ps. 116:8, 16) and spiritual (Ps. 188:22, 29). The Atonement, represented by the cup of salvation, is the centerpiece of the festivities following the meal. All who celebrated the Passover that evening in A.D. 33 would have sung about "the stone which the builders refused," which became "the head stone of the corner" (Ps. 118:22). The stone or rock, which is Christ, was refused or crucified by the builders, the Jewish leaders. As a result, Christ became the chief cornerstone or name by which salvation comes.

Imagine, if you will, the Savior of the world singing these hymns with His disciples, which foreshadowed the events that followed later that evening and the next day. All members of the Jewish faith participated in these events. They committed to memory these Psalms. They understood the meaning of them.

A few months after the Passover feast, Peter used Psalm 118 [Ps. 118] to defend himself before the Jewish leaders.

When Peter and John healed a lame man at the temple, they were brought before the leaders of the Sanhedrin and asked to give an accounting of the power and authority by which the miracle was performed. Peter was clear and direct in his answer:

"If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

"Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole."

Then Peter referred to Psalm 118 [Ps. 118:22], verse 22, which these Jewish leaders knew well, having sung the verse in the context of the Passover a few months earlier:

"This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:9-12).

By the use of a hymn, Peter bore testimony not only of the power by which he had healed the lame man at the temple but also of the Jewish leaders' rejection of Christ. Of greatest importance is Peter's testimony that salvation comes only through Him who is the chief cornerstone.

Hymns Facilitate the Bearing of Testimony

Just as Peter was able to bear testimony through the use of a hymn, so our hymns allow us to bear testimony. May I close with one of my favorite stories, which illustrates the power of hymns in testimony bearing.

This story concerns a young girl, the fourth child in a family of six children. Her name is Heather. Three of the children, including Heather, suffered from a rare disease called glutaric acidemia. In each case, the onset of the disease occurred during the first year of life when an enzyme attacked the brain, causing paralysis. The disease results in acid forming in the muscles similar to that which occurs following a period of intense physical activity. The problem faced by the children was that the acid never leaves and causes great pain. Cindy, the first child with the disease, died at the age of 23. She was one of the oldest living persons known with the disease. At death she weighed about 40 pounds.

Soon after Heather's birth, the parents realized that she would be physically handicapped and that her spirit would be housed in a body with great restrictions. As she grew, she was confined to a wheelchair, was unable to speak, and could send messages only with her eyes. A direct gaze and a smile meant yes. A blink meant no. Despite the handicaps, one could feel her vibrant spirit.

As Heather progressed, it became obvious to her parents that she was extraordinarily bright. She would play guessing games with the family using her limited means to communicate. When she was old enough, the parents enrolled Heather in a special school to see if she could learn to speak. The teacher was a gifted therapist. One morning as Heather and the teacher visited about the prior weekend, the teacher learned that Heather had attended Primary. The teacher then sang for Heather "When He Comes Again."

The expression on Heather's face revealed the delight within her. When the teacher asked Heather if she had a favorite song, the young girl's wide eyes and engaging smile left little doubt. But what was the song? Through a series of questions, the teacher learned that Heather's song was one she had heard in Primary. She wasn't sure which songbook it was in, but it was about Jesus. The teacher sang all the songs she could think of, but to no avail. However, Heather was not about to quit; she wanted to share her favorite song. At the end of the day, the two were still searching. The teacher agreed to bring her songbooks to school the next day.

On the following morning, Heather and her teacher continued the quest. From the first hymn to the last, the little girl blinked her eyes, indicating no. They were still unsuccessful. Finally, the teacher told Heather that her mother would have to help her find the song and then they would sing it.

The next day Heather arrived with the green Church hymnal tucked in her chair, but there was no marker. So they began with the first hymn. The teacher would sing the first part of each song, and Heather would give her answer. After the first 100 hymns, there were 100 no's. After 200 hymns there had been 200 no's. Finally, the teacher began to sing, "There is sunshine in my soul today." Heather's body jumped, and a big smile crossed her face. Her eyes gazed directly into the teacher's, indicating success after three days of searching. Both teacher and student rejoiced.

As the teacher sang the first verse and began the chorus, Heather mustered all her strength and joined in with a few sounds. After finishing the first verse and chorus, the teacher asked if she wanted to hear the rest of the verses, and Heather's eyes opened wide with a firm yes. The teacher began to sing:

There is music in my soul today,
A carol to my King,
And Jesus listening can hear
The songs I cannot sing.

Heather's reaction to these lines was so strong that the teacher stopped. As the reality and significance of the words pressed on the teacher's mind, she asked: "Heather, is that what you like about the song? Is that what you want me to know? Does Jesus listen? Does He hear the songs you cannot sing?"

The direct, penetrating gaze indicated yes.

Feeling guided by the Spirit, the teacher asked, "Heather, does Jesus talk to you in your mind and in your heart?"

Again, the child's look was penetrating.

The teacher then asked, "Heather, what does He say?"

The teacher's heart pounded as she saw the clear look in Heather's eyes as the little girl awaited the questions that would allow her to share her insights.

"Does Jesus say, 'Heather, I love you'?"

Heather's radiant eyes widened, and she smiled.

After a pause, the teacher asked next, "Does He say, 'Heather, you're special'?"

The answer again was yes.

Finally the teacher asked, "Does He say, 'Heather, be patient; I have great things in store for you'?"

Heather summoned all her strength, and her head became erect and her eyes penetrated the teacher's soul. She knew she was loved, she was special, and she needed only to be patient.

Two years later, Heather died because of the ravages of the disease. Her younger brother Mark also suffers from the disease but not to the extent of his older sisters. He can talk, although it is not easy. As the parents discussed Heather's passing and the funeral that would take place, Mark exclaimed, "No go Heather's funeral!" Heather was his best friend. As the parents tried to explain death to him, he would not be consoled. He was crushed and did not want to attend the service. For two days he could not be persuaded.

On the morning of the funeral, the father went to Mark's room to get him up. As he entered the room, Mark was sitting up in bed with a big smile on his face. His first words were, "Dad, go Heather's funeral!"

The father responded, "Mark, what has changed your mind?"

"Dad, had dream."

"What did you dream about, Mark?"

"Dad, dreamed about Heather."

"Mark, what was Heather doing?"

"Oh, Dad, Heather running and jumping and singing, 'There is sunshine in my soul today.' Dad, go Heather's funeral."

May we rejoice in the power of sacred hymns to lift our souls and to bear testimony. Truly "the song of the righteous is a prayer unto [God], and it shall be answered with a blessing upon [our] heads" (D&C 25:12).

Visiting Teaching Message-Sept 2010

Our Responsibility to Nurture the Rising Generation

“Our Responsibility to Nurture the Rising Generation,” Liahona, Sep 2010, 7

Study this material and, as appropriate, discuss it with the sisters you visit. Use the questions to help you strengthen your sisters and to make Relief Society an active part of your own life.

From the Scriptures

Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4; Enos 1:1; Alma 53:20-21; 56:47; 57:27

Without nurturing, our rising generation could be in danger of becoming like the one described in Mosiah 26. Many youth didn’t believe the traditions of their fathers and became a separate people as to their faith, remaining so ever after. Our rising generation could likewise be led away if they don’t understand their part in Heavenly Father’s plan.

So what is it that will keep the rising generation safe? In the Church, we teach saving principles, and those principles are family principles, the principles that will help the rising generation to form a family, teach that family, and prepare that family for ordinances and covenants—and then the next generation will teach the next and so on.

As parents, leaders, and Church members, we are preparing this generation for the blessings of Abraham, for the temple. We have the responsibility to be very clear on key points of doctrine found in the proclamation on the family. Motherhood and fatherhood are eternal roles and responsibilities. Each of us carries the responsibility for either the male or the female half of the plan.

We can teach this doctrine in any setting. We must speak respectfully of marriage and family. And from our example, the rising generation can gain great hope and understanding—not just from the words we speak but from the way we feel and emanate the spirit of family.

Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president.

From Our History

Addressing the sisters at the general Relief Society meeting on September 23, 1995, President Gordon B. Hinckley said: “The world we are in is a world of turmoil, of shifting values. Shrill voices call out for one thing or another in betrayal of time-tested standards of behavior.” President Hinckley then went on to introduce to the sisters, the Church, and ultimately people everywhere “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.”

In subsequent years this prophetic document has been translated into many languages and distributed to world leaders. It asks citizens and government leaders “to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.”

The proclamation has become the foundation for Latter-day Saint beliefs about the family, a statement to which we can hold fast and know that by living its precepts, we are strengthening our families and homes.

What Can I Do?

• 1. How can I help my sisters use “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” to nurture the rising generation? You might consider sharing a copy of the proclamation and helping your sisters identify and mark those passages that would best teach key doctrines.
  
• 
  
  2. How can I nurture the rising generation? You might consider reaching out to members of your ward, branch, family, or community who could benefit from your attention and love.

Presidency Message-Sept 2010

Henry B. Eyring

All of us feel, in our best moments, a desire to return home to live with God. He gave us the gift of His Beloved Son as our Savior to provide the path and to teach us how to follow it. He gave us prophets to point the way. The Prophet Joseph Smith was inspired to translate the record of prophets that is the Book of Mormon. It is our sure guide on the way home to God.

Joseph Smith said of that precious book, “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book."

The precepts of the Book of Mormon are the commandments of God we find in it. Some are direct commands from the Savior through His prophets as to what we are to do and what we are to become. The Book of Mormon gives us the Savior’s example to increase our faith and determination to obey His command to follow Him. The book is filled with the doctrine of Christ to guide us. Here is an example from 2 Nephi:

 “[Jesus] said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?

“And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son”

(2 Nephi 31:10-11)

The book makes plain that we must receive the Holy Ghost as a baptism of fire to help us stay on the strait and narrow path. We are taught that we must pray always in the name of Christ, not fainting, and that if we do, we have this promise: “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life”

(2 Nephi 31:20).

The Book of Mormon makes plain in the marvelous sermon of King Benjamin what it means to have a love of God and of all men. When our natures are changed by the power of the Atonement and through our faithful obedience to the commandments, we will be filled with the love of God (see Mosiah 4:1-12)

The Book of Mormon also gives us confidence that we can become so purified in this life that we have no more desire to do evil (see Mosiah 5:2). This hope gives us courage and comfort as Satan tries to tempt and discourage us on our way.

Each time I read even a few lines in the Book of Mormon, I feel my testimony strengthened that the book is true, that Jesus is the Christ, that we can follow Him home, and that we can take those we love home with us. It has been for me the book of books. It is the word of God.

I pray that we and all those we love will drink deeply and daily from it. I testify in the name of Jesus Christ that it is a true guide.

Teaching From This Message

  

“When we use the scriptures and the words of latter-day prophets as the source of all our teaching, we invite the Spirit to bear witness. This brings to our teaching ‘the power of God unto the convincing of men’ (D&C 11:21)” (Teaching, No Greater Call [1999], 51). Consider reading highlights from President Eyring’s message, including Joseph Smith’s statement about the Book of Mormon. Invite family members to share how living the teachings found in the Book of Mormon helps them draw nearer to God.

“When learners discuss principles from the scriptures, they develop skills they need for their personal scripture study” (Teaching, No Greater Call, 54). Consider reading the scriptures referred to in this message and looking for and discussing the principles they teach.

Christ in the Land Bountiful, by Simon Dewey © 2003 IRI

YOUTH

A Guide to Help Us Get Home 

By Hillary Holbrook

Hillary Holbrook, “My Own Book of Mormon,” Liahona, Sept. 2010, 6

In August 2005, when President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) issued a challenge to Church members to read the Book of Mormon before the end of the year, I promised myself I would read the entire book. I was familiar with stories in the Book of Mormon but had never read it all the way through. Now I meant to keep my promise.

I had been taught to apply the scriptures to my life and make them my very own. So as I read, I wrote in the margins of the page what I thought the main idea of the passage was. I also underlined repeated words and phrases to show emphasis.

I placed my name next to names in the scriptures to help me remember that the word of God spoken to others can also be the word spoken to me. For example, in 2 Nephi 2:28 I wrote my name: “And now, [Hillary], I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments.” The more I made the Book of Mormon my own, the more excited I became about reading it every day.

As I read daily, my prayers became heartfelt and personal. I was also able to focus on my classes and follow promptings of the Spirit to befriend others. On the last night of the year, I finished the Book of Mormon.

I then understood the importance of reading the whole Book of Mormon, along with other scriptures, and want to do so many more times in my life.

Left: photo illustration by Craig Dimond

CHILDREN

A Guide to Help Us Get Home

“A Guide to Help Us Get Home,” Liahona, Sept. 2010, 6

How would you feel if you were lost and didn’t know the way to get home to your family? Would you be happy if you could follow someone who could show you the way? President Eyring says the Book of Mormon is like a guide that helps us get back home to Heavenly Father.

Look at the pictures of some things the Book of Mormon tells us we need to do to get back home. Read 2 Nephi 31:10, 11, 20. Below each picture, write the correct verse from the Book of Mormon. You will need to use one of the verses twice.

Repent and be baptized.

Have bright hope.

Love God and all people.

Follow Jesus.

The "Sunday Message"-Stake Conference

For Stake Conference, we had a "Young Adult" broadcast (for both married and single). This is the website where you can listen to the talks: http://lds.org/broadcast/ces/0,7341,538-1-61-1961,00.html

Here are my notes from it:

Elder Snow

•  We go to the temple to remember our covenants.
• When we take the sacrament, that is also a way to remember our covenants and also Christ.
• Remembering our spiritual experiences gives us courage to keep moving on.
• Alma 5:26 "And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?"
• Our testimony needs to be "fed" continually-we need to continually "renew" it.
• Mosiah 27
• Alma 5: 45-46 "And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety? Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me."
•  The Holy Ghost helps us to become pure

Sister Julie B. Beck

• The only thing that will strengthen us is our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
• If our life wasn't so hard, we wouldn't have come so close to the Lord and there wouldn't be any need for the Holy Ghost.
• All you need is faith in the Lord knowing that He will help you.
• Pray always so that we may not enter into temptation.

Jeffrey R. Holland

•  Nurture your own physical strength.
• Pray a little more.
• Study [the scriptures] a little more.
• Search your soul and search your testimony.
• When you have your own faith, then you are ready to bless your family.
• We must have faith in this work...faith in our Father...we will be safe and secure.
• He will pour out blessings to you for your faithfulness.

Boyd K. Packer

• "Pray to the Father always in my name" (Referring to a scripture)
• A Father is someone that you can always call upon and receive an answer from.
• The devil cannot make you do it (or anything for that matter)--you have power over your own self.
• The Adversary has his limits, you can always tell him to depart. He has no power to make you do anything.
• The 6 word sermon: "What if [it] (he/she) was your child?"
• You are in charge of your own life. Go to the Father and tell Him that you want to do it His way--follow what the Lord has in store for you and you will be blessed.
• Faith is the most important thing to have.

Becoming Self Reliant

"'Self-reliance means using all of our blessings from Heavenly Father to care for ourselves and our families and to find solutions for our own problems.' Each of us has a responsibility to try to avoid problems before they happen and to learn to overcome challenges when they occur...How do we become self-reliant? We become self-reliant through obtaining sufficient knowledge, education, and literacy; by managing money and resources wisely, being spiritually strong, preparing for emergencies and eventualities; and by having physical health and social and emotional well-being."

Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president

"As we live providently and increase our gifts and talents, we become more self-reliant. Self-reliance is taking responsibility for our own spiritual and temporal welfare and for those whom Heavenly Father has entrusted to our care. Only when we are self-reliant can we truly emulate the Savior in serving and blessing others. It is important to understand that self-reliance is a means to an end. Our ultimate goal is to become like the Savior, and that goal is enhanced by our unselfish service to others. Our ability to serve is increased or diminished bythe level of our self-reliance."

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

"Self-Reliance is a product of our work and under-girds all other welfare practices. It is an essential element in our spiritual as well as our temporal well-being. Regarding this principle, President Marion G. Romney [1897-1988] has said: 'Let us work for what we need. Let us be self-reliant and independent. Salvation can be obtained on no other principle. Salvation is an individual matter, and we must work out our own salvation in temporal as well as in spiritual things.'...President Spencer W. Kimball [1895-1985] further taught concerning self-reliance: 'The responsibility for each person's social, emotional, spiritual, physical, or economis well-being rests first upon himself, second upon his family, and third upon the Church if he is a faithful member thereof."

President Thomas S. Monson

Genesis 3:19 "In the sweat of thy face salt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."

Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

D&C 82:18-19; 109:8 "And all this for the benefit of the church of the living God, that every man may improve upon his talent, that every man may gain other talents, yea, even as hundred fold, to be cast into the Lord's storehouse, to become the common property of the whole church--Every man seeking the interest of his neighbor, and doing all things with an eye single to the glory of God."

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

The Path of the Peacemaker

Elder Kim B. Clark

President, BYU-Idaho

"This is the great latter-day work of bringing people to Christ. It is the work of peace."

"'Prophets have long known that the Abrahamic covenant was to be fulfilled only 'in the latter days.' That's our day! We are those covenant people!'" (Elder Russell M. Nelson)

"You are the children of the covenant, the children of promise; and you are heirs to all the blessings and all the commitments and responsibilities of Abraham."

"And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers...and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace..."

"A prince of peace (or a princess of peace) is a peacemaker. When you hear the word 'peacemaker,' it is natural, and very important, to think of a mediator, someone who calms troubled waters and helps people resolve conflicts and disputes."

"You may have already discovered that helping others resolve conflict depends on the application of gospel principles like love, kindness, forgiveness, and service. If you are faithful and prayerful in this work, the Holy Ghost will guide and strengthen you in applying these principles, and the Lord will work through you to bless the lives of His children."

"He has prepared for His children a deeper peace, the 'peace of God, which passeth all understanding.'"

"It is peace of conscience and peace of mind-a positive, deep, uplifting sense of well-being. It is a sweet, powerful feeling of total harmony with Heavenly Father, with our true spiritual identity, and with your brothers and sisters."

"Such peace is one of the sweet gifts of the Spirit."

"Heavenly Father wants you to walk in peace. He wants you to establish peace. He wants you to be peacemakers."

"'The consequences of conflict are so devastating that we yearn for guidance--even a way to ensure our success as we seek the path to peace...May I suggest three ideas to prompt our thinking and guide our footsteps:

1. Search inward
2. Reach outward; and
3. Look heavenward

("framework given to us by President Monson")

"The beginning of our study of the path of the peacemaker is our relationship with God the Father and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ."

 

 LOOK HEAVENWARD

D&C 19:23 "Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me"

"Study carefully and to follow what He taught in verse 13 and 15-20 [D&C 19]"

"Wherefore, I command you to repent, and keep the commandments which you have received...lest...your sufferings be sore--how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.

"For behold, I God have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

"But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;

"Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit--and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink--

"Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

"Wherefore, I command you again to repent..."

"The path of the peacemaker is the path of faith in Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the world. It is the path of sincere repentance and whole-hearted obedience. It is the path of baptism for hte remission of sins, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and spiritual rebirth."

"Sin and wickedness and all the emotions that flow from them--are like a cancer in our spirit. There is no peace for the soul wounded by sin..the miracle of the Atonement is that we can repent and be healed. We can be completely rid of the cancer of sin, and we can find peace."

 "O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?" (The Savior)

"Through the power of the Atonement of Christ, we can be reborn of the Spirit, '[put] off hte natural man and [become] a saint,' 'humble,...submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering.' This is what it means to 'walk in the meekness of my Spirit.'"

"You shall have peace in me."

"'God wants each of His children to enjoy the transcendent blessing of peace of conscience...It provides a foundation for happiness...Peace of conscience can come only from God through a righteous, obedient life.'" (Elder Richard G. Scott)

SEARCH INWARD

"Peacemakers must also learn to 'search inward' to find peace of mind...Though we may have peace of conscience, those storms may rob us of peace of mind and hurt our ability to be peacemakers. But we can learn to 'search inward' and with the help of the Savior restore peace of mind."

"We keep the commandments and make progress in our journey of peace. But we encounter storms of life that bring uncertainty, anxiety, and stress."

"'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.'" (The Savior)

"We know that things will happen to disrupt our peace of mind. We live in a fallen world, and things happen to everyone...We have learned that we have to choose to look into the mirror of Christ. It requires an act of both faith in the Lord the Lord jesus Christ and personal determination...We can choose hope and say, 'I am not going to look into the mirror of fear. I am going to fix my eyes on the mirror of Christ, trust the Lord, and act in faith."

"If you choose the mirror of Christ you authorize the Holy Ghost to minister to you. He will 'show unto you all things what ye should do.'"

REACH OUTWARD

"We cannot be at peace ourselves and we cannot be peacemakers unless we 'reach outward' to bring peace to others."

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

"Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another, but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away.

"But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you;'" (The Savior)

"I know it is not too hard for the Lord to help you be the Lord's peacemakers in the latter-days--even when the challenge may seem daunting."

"It is Satan who 'stir[s] up the hearts of men with anger,' and it is Christ the Lord whose doctrine it is 'that such things should be done away.'"

"The duty of the peacemaker is clear: do not start the ripple of scorn and ridicule; do not propagate it if you hear it; do not retaliate when people attack; help people resolve their differences and stop the network of contention and anger dead in its tracks. Stop it with acts of kindness and respect. Stop it with gentle humor or sweet reason. Stop it with love and prayer. Stop it with whatever means the Spirit of the Lord directs. But stop it; and then act in faith to help others find the deeper peace of God."

"'May our conversations with others always be marked by the fruits of the Spirit--'love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, [and] temperance" (Galatians 5:22-23) To...all who seek to know how we should respond to our accusers, I replu, we love them. Whatever their race, creed, religion, or political persuasion...we must...help them,...be an example for them...[and]pay the price of discipleship by answering [them] with Christian courage.'" (Elder Robert D. Hales)

"This is our calling. This is what the children of the covenant, the children of Abraham are and what they do: they reach outward to their brothers and sisters to bring peace that goes down deeper and deeper into the soul. There are different levels of peace, and peacemakers work at every level: they calm troubled waters, stop the network of anger and contention, and help their brothers and sister resolve conflicts; they bring love, hope and peace to people in need with kind words, a helping hand, and acts of service that lift and strengthen; and they help their brothers and sister find peace at its deepest level in the Lord Jesus Christ."

"President Monson has set for us a marvelous example of the peacemaker, and he has called us to be peacemakers...'Come back. We reach out to you in the pure love of Christ and express our desire to assist you and to welcome you into full fellowship. To those who are wounded in spirit our who are struggling and fearful, we say, Let us lift you and cheer you and calm your fears.'" (President Monson)

"When we do...we will bring the Spirit of the Lord into the lives we touch. We will help them come unto Christ...the only way to find the deep peace of God is through the Atonement of Christ...you can reach outward and help them find the deep peace of God by sharing with them the plan of salvation and the principles of the gospel. And you can extend that opportunity to people on the other side of the veil when you serve in the temples of the Lord...If they choose to listen and obey, they, too, will find the 'peace of God, which passeth all understanding.' This is the path of the peacemaker."

"This is the path we are called to walk:

• Look Heavenward: Act with faith in Christ to repent and keep His commandments.
• Search Inward: When storms come, look to the future in the mirror of Christ, choose hope and go forward in faith.
• Reach Outward: Stop the network of anger and contention, help people in conflict find common ground, lift and strengthen them with love and service, share the gospel, and help them come unto Christ.

"If you walk this path, you will be the peacemakers the Lord will use to gather scattered Israel, established Zion, and prepare the earth for His return."

"Through your faithfulness you will walk in peace with the Prince of Peace and you will become a peacemaker in His holy hands."

So I finally sat down and decided when certain things/topics will be posted each day/week/month...Here is the "schedule":

The Monthly Presidency Message from the Ensign: The 1st Sunday of each month

The Visiting Teaching Message: The 2nd Sunday of each month

The Scripture(s) of the week: Every Monday

An Ensign Story: The very beginning of each month (within the first few days, depending on other posts)

A Spiritual Thought: Every Tuesday

Family Home Evening Lesson: Every Monday

Sunday Lessons (which are just notes/thoughts from church that day): Every Sunday

"And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will.

"And my prayer to God is concerning my brethren, that they may once again come to the knowledge of God, yea, the redemption of Christ; that they may once again be a delightsome people.

"And I, Mormon, pray to God that they [the plates] may be preserved from this time henceforth. And I know that they will be preserved."

Words of Mormon 1:7-8 & 11

I just want to take a moment to tell each of you that I do know that these things are true. I know that the scriptures are true and that Joseph Smith translated them through revelation. To have the Gospel in my life is a true blessing. And most of all, it is such a great blessing to know that Heavenly Father really is there to help us through this life, and to comfort us when we need it most. I know that these scriptures are here for us to guide and direct us through this life, and these words in the scriptures are of God.

Thank you all for reading the things that I have posted. I hope you may know the truthfulness of this Gospel as I do now.

December 2009 Visiting Teaching Message

"Pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ."

Moroni 7:48

"Disciples of Christ throughout all ages of the world have been distinguished by their compassion...In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even grater importance. Let us open our eyes and see the heavy hearts, notice the loneliness and despair; let us feel the silent prayers of others around us, and let us be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to answer those prayers"

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency

"We need to rescue 'all that is finest down deep inside of [us]' so that as daughters of God we can do our part to build the kingdom of God. We will have help to do this. As Joseph declared, 'If you live up to your privileges, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates.' Let us bear one another's burdens, mourn with those who mourn, comfort those who stand in need of comfort, and thus keep the covenants we have made [see Mosiah 18:8-10]"

Barbara Thompson, Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency

"Succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees."

Doctrine and Covenants 81:5

"The Good Shepherd said, 'Feed my lambs.' (John 21:15) So a woman feeds her loved ones, providing succor and sustenance just as the Savior would do. Her divine gift is to nurture, to help the young, to care for the poor, to lift the brokenhearted. The Lord said, 'My work and my glory [is] to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.' (Moses 1:39) So His devoted daughter-disciple may truly say, 'My work and my glory is to help my loved ones reach that heavenly goal.' To help another human being reach one's celestial potential is part of the divine mission of woman. As mother, teacher, or nurturing saint, she molds living clay to the shape of her hopes. In partnership with God, her divine mission is to help spirits live and souls be lifted. This is the measure of her creation. It is ennobling, edifying, and exalting"

Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

"The Lord has blessed women with divine attributes of love, compassion, kindness, and charity. Through our monthly visits as visiting teachers, we have the power to bless each sister as we extend our arms of love and kindness and give the gifts of compassion and charity...It is my prayer that we will pledge an increased commitment to extend our arms of love and compassion to bless, help, and strengthen each other as we go about doing our visiting teaching with a willing and joyful heart"

Silvia H. Allred, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency

"Not leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection"

JST Hebrews 6:1

Paul's phrase above-the "Principles of the Doctrine of Christ"-refers to grounding principles as in the 100% for 100 days" program. We are "not leaving" these "holy habits and righteous routines" behind; they should be so innate that we are now living them "100% Forevermore" (see Moses 5:8)

Daily Goals:

Individual and family prayer and scripture study

Magnify your calling

Acts of love and compassion for spouse and family

Weekly Goals:

Communication-filled date with spouse

Family Home Evening

Sabbath holiness including service at ward of record

Monthly Goals:

Tithing

Temple attendance

Home and Visiting Teaching

Paul's phrase above, "Let us go on to perfection," suggests that we consciously seek for, receive, and act under the sanctifying fire of the Spirit to realize our heavenly inherited "diving nature." As we are true and faithful to our temple covenants, we will learn and live more deeply their meaning, while we "wait upon the Lord" knowing that in His own time and way we will qualify for His precious promises.

(The "100% for 100 Days" was a goal in my ward this past year)

"For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them..." 

-2 Nephi 4:15

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

-2 Nephi 25:26

Bishopric Message for Sept 2010

My message this month is based on a talk by Elder Wirthlin a couple years back on charity.  In it he quotes the scriptures where the Pharisees ask Christ which is the great commandment.  Of course Christ's answer was "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and all thy mind."  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."  And from this I discovered what I think are three different types of true love:
First is the love that we have towards our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  As children looking for guidance from their earthly father, we must trust and come to know our Heavenly Father.  Let me make a comparison with getting to know a friend.  We can get to know a person in many different ways--talking face to face, being with them and doing things together, phone calls, or through emails or letter.  While coming to know our Heavenly Father and Savior better, we are unfortunately unable to use most of these methods.  If it's not too much of a stretch, imagine the scriptures as emails or letters we receive from Heavenly Father to guide us and to teach us about him and to help us to come closer to him.  By reading the scriptures and coming unto him, we show our love for him and get to know him better.
The Savior set the perfect example of love for our Father by setting His own will aside and letting the Father's direct His actions.  Mosiah chapter 15 verse 7 says that "even so shall he be led, crucified, and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father."  I've felt this love and am grateful for it, not only the love Christ showed by performing the Atonement for us, but also for being an example of true love and for teaching it to us.  One place I really like in the scriptures where Christ teaches this love to us is in John chapter 21 verse 15.  "So when they had dines, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.  He saith unto him, Feed my lambs."  The fish gave their lives under the Savior's command.  Would I do the same?
This leads me to the second type of love. Second is the love that we are asked to give to our neighbor, or each other, as ourselves.  Enos is a perfect example of this.  After obtaining forgiveness of his sins he immediately desired that his brethren (the Lamanites) could be forgiven as well.  The Savior also taught this principle to us in Matthew chapter 25 verse 37 through 40 by explaining that when we show love to others we show it to Christ as well.  Understanding better what I call the first type of love, or love for our Heavenly Father, I think better helps us to understand love for our fellow man.  As we look to President Monson as our new and dear prophet, it's very hard to overlook the great service for others he has done throughout his life.  One of his many stories of service, to summarize, was when he was inspired to visit a sister in the ward on the way home from work.  She was so glad to see him because no one else had remembered her birthday, but she was grateful that he was there.  In order to achieve this kind of love for our fellow man, we must follow Mormon's invitation, quoted by Moroni, to pray for charity with all the energy of our hearts.
The last type of true love that we should strive to have is love for our spouse.  Elder Holland has taught that "true love blooms when we care more about another person than we care about ourselves."  Elizabeth has definitely demonstrated this to me by taking such good care of me when I've had bad migraines in the past.  She is so gentle and unserstanding and often says that she wishes she could suffer the headache on my behalf.  What a great example she is to me by showing more concern for me than for her own self.
Let me leave you with the following quote from President Joseph Fielding Smith:  "If a man and his wife were earnestly and faithfully observing all the ordinances and principles of the gospel, there could not arise any cause for divorce.  The joy and happiness pertaining to the marriage relationship would grow sweeter, and husband and wife would become more and more attached to each other as the days go by, not only would the husband love the wife and the wife the husband, but children born to them would live in an atmosphere of love and harmony.  The love of each for the others would not be impaired, and moreover the love of all towards our Eternal Father and his Son Jesus Christ would be more firmly rooted in their souls."

Church on September 5th, 2010

 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends"

~John 15:13

"Even so shall he be led, crucified, and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father."

~Mosiah 15:7

I hope to have more posted later today..Have a great Labor Day!

"God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other...In the Doctrine and Covenants we read about how important it is to 'succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.' (D&C 81:5) So often our acts of service consist of simple encouragement or of giving mundane help with mundane tasks--but what glorious consequences can flow from mundane acts and from small but deliberate deeds" ("There Is Purpose in Life")

~President Spencer W. Kimball~

The Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

We are beloved spirit daughters of God, and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction. As a worldwide sisterhood, we are united in our devotion to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Exemplar. We are women of faith, virtue, vision, and charity who:

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Increase our testimonies of Jesus Christ through prayer and scripture study.

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Seek spiritual strength by following the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

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Dedicate ourselves to strengthening marriages, families, and homes.

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Find nobility in motherhood and joy in womanhood.

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Delight in service and good works.

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Love life and learning.

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Stand for truth and righteousness.

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Sustain the priesthood as the authority of God on earth.

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Rejoice in the blessings of the temple, understand our divine destiny, and strive for exaltation.

"How I love my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! It is He, Jesus Christ, who stands at the head of this Church which bears His sacred name. He is watching over it. He is guiding it. Standing at the right hand of His Father. He directs this work. Unitedly, as His Apostles, authorized and commissioned by Him to do so, we bear our witness that He lives and that He will come again to claim His kingdom and rule as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Of this we are certain and bear apostolic testimony in His holy name, even the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
                         --President Gordon B. Hinckley

"'Come to the temple.' If not now, come soon....So come to the temple--come and claim your blessings. It is a sacred work." --President Boyd K. Packer

"And Upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit"

By Julie B. Beck

Personal Revelation

"Qualifying for the Lord's Spirit begins with a desire for that Spirit and implies a certain degree of worthiness. Keeping the commandments, repenting, and renewing covenants made at baptism lead to the blessing of always having the Lord's Spirit with us. Making and keeping temple covenants also adds spiritual strength and power..."

"...Reading the scriptures...are an aid to revelation. Insight found in scripture accumulates over time, so it is important to spend some time in the scriptures every day. Daily prayer is also essential."

"...Earnestly seek help through prayer and scripture study..."

"Revelation can come hour by hour and moment by moment as we do the right things. When women nurture as Christ nurtured, a power and peace can descend to guide when help is needed."

"Mothers...can be distanced from the Spirit if they lose their temper with children. Being in the right places allows us to receive guidance."

"Personal revelation gives us the understanding of what to do every day to increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek those who need our help."

"Personal revelation is a constantly renewable source of strength."

"To do justly to walk humbly, to judge righteously...[the] Spirit will enlighten our minds, fill our souls with joy, and help us to know all things we should do."

"Promised personal revelation comes when we ask for it, prepare for it, and go forward in faith..."

Relief Society--Teaching, Inspiring, and Strengthening

"[Relief Society] has at its very core the responsibility to help sisters increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help others who are in need."

"It is sacred trust, a guiding light, and a system of watchcare that teaches and inspires women to be strong and immovable...'Charity never faileth'"

"'We can assist each other in not only doing good but in refining ourselves...Women should be women and not babies that need petting and correction all the time...the greatest good we can do to ourselves and each other is to refine and cultivate ourselves in everything that is good and ennobling to qualify us for those responsibilities'" --Eliza R. Snow of The second general Relief Society President

Measuring Success

"We are doing well when we seek to improve ourselves and do our best. We are doing well when we increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help others who are in need. We know we are successful if we live so that we qualify for, receive, and know how to follow the Spirit."

"We can feel certain that the Lord is pleased when we feel the Spirit working through us. Peace, joy, and hope are available to those who measure success properly."

"'...The women of the Church are seen as distinct and different--in happy ways--from the women of the world...Thus it will be that female exemplars of the Church will be a significant force in both the numerical and spiritual growth of the Church in the last days.'" --President Spencer W. Kimball

"The Lord depends on His daughters"

"As [we] seek and qualify for personal revelation, the Lord will pour out His Spirit upon His handmaids in these latter days."

Notes

Jacob 2:17

Mosiah 4:26

D&C 38:35; 44:6

D&C 20:77

2 Nephi 32:3

3 Nephi 19:24-33

D&C 11:12-14

1 Corinthians 13:8

Joel 2:28-29