Faith, baptism and more

"Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me."

~Doctrine and Covenants 19:23

How can we strengthen our faith in Christ?

-We need to study the scriptures and learn of Him. By reading the scriptures and praying to our Heavenly Father, we may grow closer to Him and to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

-We need to also listen for the Spirit in our lives which will also help us strengthen our faith in Him.

-Following His teachings will also strengthen our faith and the Heavenly Father will bless us for our actions.

"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

~John 17:3

"And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith."

~Doctrine and Covenants 88:118

"But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words."

~Alma 32:27

Optimism is a sign of faith

"Remember that without faith you can do nothing; therefore ask in faith. Trifle not with these things; do not ask for that which you ought not."

~Doctrine and Covenants 8:10 

 Why is it essential to be baptized in the Church?

-It is essential for Salvation

Qualifications for baptism:

-To believe

He leads us to do good.

The Relief Society Lesson Outline from 11-21-2010

The Gift of the Holy Ghost

What is the difference between the Holy Ghost and the gift of the Holy Ghost?

Quote 1:
The Prophet Joseph Smith explained: “There is a difference between the Holy Ghost and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Cornelius received the Holy Ghost before he was baptized, which was the convincing power of God unto him of the truth of the Gospel, but he could not receive the gift of the Holy Ghost until after he was baptized. Had he not taken this … ordinance upon him, the Holy Ghost which convinced him of the truth of God, would have left him.” 5

Bike Analogy:

-Draw picture. The stars above us represent the light of Christ – that helps us to be able to distinguish between right and wrong, truth and error, and one manifestation of it is our conscience. The light of Christ is given to EVERYONE. Then there are lamp-posts along our way that represent the power of the Holy Ghost and how anyone can feel that power at certain times in their lives, such as when they hear the truth being spoken or when praying to know if something is true.  However, there is still much darkness around us. Where my husband served his mission, all the bikes that they rode had lights on them, and the light represents the gift of the Holy Ghost. It is something we can have with us all the time, but we have to be peddling in order for this light to stay bright.

I like this analogy because the Gift of the Holy Ghost is exactly that, a gift that we’ve been given, but once we have it, it doesn’t just stay with us, we have to receive that gift into our lives, and that requires action, by working for it every single day.

Q: So what must we do to receive the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost?
-Faith
-Baptism
-Repentance
-Baptism by immersion
-Worthy (keep thoughts and actions pure)
-Obey the commandments
-Receive the gift - we all have been given gifts in our lives, but if we don’t use them, we lose those gifts or talents. The same thing happens with the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Quote 2:
The gift of the Holy Ghost, which is the right to receive the Holy Ghost as a constant companion, is obtained only upon condition of faith in Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion, and the laying on of hands by authorized servants endowed with the Melchizedek Priesthood. It is a most precious gift available only to worthy members of the Lord’s Church... As with all gifts, this gift must be received and accepted to be enjoyed. When priesthood hands were laid upon your head to confirm you a member of the Church, you heard the words, “Receive the Holy Ghost.” This did not mean that the Holy Ghost unconditionally became your constant companion. Scriptures warn us that the Spirit of the Lord will “not always strive with man.” When we are confirmed, we are given the right to the companionship of the Holy Ghost, but it is a right that we must continue to earn through obedience and worthiness. We cannot take this gift for granted.

What are some things that can make it so the Spirit cannot “strive with man”?
-sin, in any form
-indifference
-busyness (not making time for the Lord)
-ignoring promptings

Question: So what if you’re in a rut? (And I know everyone has felt this -- I sure have!) What if you think you haven’t felt the Spirit in awhile, how do you get out of it? Especially this time of year, in between the general conference highs, when it’s cold outside and you know, some of us may be suffering from the winter blues, how do we get out of that?



Q: How can we recognize the influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives?

It is through the power of the Holy Ghost that visions, dreams, and prophecies usually come. But -it is in a quiet, almost unnoticeable way. That is why we often refer to him as the still small voice. (See 1 Kings 19:11–12.)
-we may have feelings of peace, right, and sureness. It is a warm, good feeling. (warm fuzzy, right)

I want each of you to imagine that someone you’re talking to has never experienced what salt tastes like. How would you describe it to them?

It’s hard! There are some things like the taste of salt, that we can really only recognize by and through our own experiences, by tasting it for ourselves. The same thing goes for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Some may have visions or dreams, whereas some of us it may only come as a fleeting thought. With practice, we can feel confident recognizing his presence.
   
President Thomas S. Monson counseled us: “We watch. We wait. We listen for that still, small voice. When it speaks, wise men and women obey. Promptings of the Spirit are not to be postponed.”

If we want to learn to recognize the spirit, we have to be ready to listen to it.

Quote 3:
The following story of how the Holy Ghost helped Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Council of the Twelve Apostles:
“One of my earliest childhood recollections is of riding a horse through an apple orchard. The horse was tame and well broken, and I felt at home in the saddle.
“But one day something frightened my [horse], and he bolted through the orchard. I was swept from the saddle by the overhanging limbs, and one leg slipped down through the stirrup. I desperately hung to an almost broken leather strap that a cowboy uses to tie a lariat to his saddle. My weight should have broken the strap, but somehow it held for the moment. Another lunge or two of the stampeding horse would have broken the strap or wrenched it from my hands and left me to be dragged to injury or death with my foot entangled in the stirrup.
“Suddenly the horse stopped, and I became aware that someone was holding the bridle tightly and attempting to calm the quivering animal. Almost immediately I was snatched up into the arms of my father.
“What had happened? What had brought my father to my rescue in the split second before I slipped beneath the hoofs of my panic-driven horse?
“My father had been sitting in the house reading the newspaper when the Spirit whispered to him, ‘Run out into the orchard!’
“Without a moment’s hesitation, not waiting to learn why or for what reason, my father ran. Finding himself in the orchard without knowing why he was there, he saw the galloping horse and thought, I must stop this horse.
“He did so and found me. And that is how I was saved from serious injury or possible death” (“Hearken to the Spirit,” Friend, Sept. 1972, p. 10).

Have any of you had experiences where the gift of the Holy Ghost has helped you or someone that you know? It doesn’t have to be something extremely personal, but if anyone has something that they’d like to share with us?


The last thing I want to point out is how precious this gift is!

Quote 4:
In the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord calls the gift of the Holy Ghost “the unspeakable gift.” 6 It is the source of testimony and spiritual gifts. It enlightens minds, fills our souls with joy, 7 teaches us all things, and brings forgotten knowledge to our remembrance. 8 The Holy Ghost also “will show unto [us] all things what [we] should do.” 9 President James E. Faust added that the gift of the Holy Ghost “is the greatest guarantor of inward peace in our unstable world.” 10

We literally have a member of the Godhead that ministers to us.

Question: How will you help your children gain a testimony of that gift?

Testimony
The next time you renew your baptismal covenant by taking the
sacrament, listen to the promise: when you always remember your Savior and keep His
commandments, you will always have His Spirit to be with you (see D&C 20:77, 79).

Relief Society Lesson 11-14-2010

Baptism

Lesson 20

The Commandment to be baptized

·         Why must we be baptized?

(1)  Baptism is one of the first ordinances of the gospel.  We must be baptized for the remission of our sins.  When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, repent, and are baptized, our sins are forgiven through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  We must be baptized to become Members of the Church of Jesus Christ.

1.       For the Remission of our sins

2.       To become Members of the Church of Jesus Christ

3.       We can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost

4.       To show Obedience

5.       To enter into the Celestial Kingdom

The Correct Mode of Baptism

·         How should we be baptized?

(2)  The proper priesthood authority has to be obtained.  The Prophet Joseph Smith said that a person having the proper priesthood authority to baptize “shall go down into the water with the person who has presented himself for baptism…Then shall he immerse him in the water and com forth again our of the water” (D&C20-73-74)

(3)  Immersion is necessary.  The Apostle Paul taught that being immersed in water and coming out again is symbolic of death, burial, and resurrection.  After baptism we start a new life.  Baptism by immersion by a person having the proper authority is the only acceptable way of being baptized.

·         Why is authority to perform a baptism important?

·         In what ways is baptism by immersion like the burial and Resurrection of the Savior?

Baptism at the Age of Accountability

·         Who should be baptized?

(4)  Every person who has reached eight years of age and is accountable (responsible) for his or her actions should be baptized.  Some churches teach that little children should be baptized.  This is not in keeping with the teachings of the Savior.  The prophet Mormon said that it is mockery before God to baptize little children, because they are not capable of sinning.  Likewise, it is not required of people who are mentally incapable of knowing right and wrong.  All other people are to be baptized.  We must receive the ordinance of baptism and remain true to the covenants we make at that time. 

·         What might you say to a friend who believes that infants need to be baptized?

We make covenants when we are baptized

(5)  Alma explained that we must want to be called the people of God.  We must be willing to help and comfort each other.  We must stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things and in all places.  As we do these things and are baptized, God will forgive our sins.  Alma told the people who believed his teachings about the gospel.

(6)  “Behold, here are the waters of Mormon…And now, as ye are desirous to become into the fold of God, and to be called his people…what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?” The people clapped their hands for joy and said it was their desire to be baptized.  Alma baptized them in the Waters of Mormon. (See Mosiah 18:7-17)

(7)  “At baptism we make a covenant with our Heavenly Father that we are willing to come into His kingdom and keep His commandments from that time forward, even though we still live in the world. When we understand our baptismal covenant and the gift of the Holy Ghost, it will change our lives and will establish our total allegiance to the kingdom of God. When temptations come our way, if we will listen, the Holy Ghost will remind us that we have promised to remember our Savior and obey the commandments of God.” (Elder Hales, 2001)

Alma taught that when we are baptized we make covenants with the Lord to:

1.       Come into the fold of God

2.       Bear one another’s burdens

3.       Stand as witnesses of God

4.       Serve God and keep His commandments

When we are baptized and keep the covenants of baptism, the Lord promises to:

1.       Forgive our sins

2.       Pour out His spirit more abundantly upon us

3.       Give us daily guidance and the help of the Holy Ghost

4.       Let us come forth in the First Resurrection

5.       Give us eternal life

·         What do you think it means to bear one another’s burdens? To stand as a witness of God?

"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

Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple

"Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple"

by Boyd K. Packer

Come to the Temple

• "When we organize families according to the order that the Lord has revealed, we organize them in the temples."
• "Temple marriage, that sealing ordinance, is a crowning blessing that you may claim in the holy temple."
• "'Come to the temple'"
• "The temple transforms the individual and makes abundantly worthwhile any efforts made to get there."
• "Keep your faith and your hope and determine that you will come--that you will be worthy and that you will come to the temple."

These Things Are Sacred

• "We do not discuss the temple ordinances outside the temples."
• "With great effort we urge every soul to qualify and prepare for the temple experience."
• "Someday every living soul and every soul who has ever lived shall have the opportunity to hear the gospel and to accept or reject what the temple offers (If this opportunity is rejected, the rejection must be on the part of the individual)."
• "The ordinances and ceremonies of the temple...are beautiful..are sacred...are kept confidential lest they be given to those who are unprepared."
• "Preparation for the ordinances includes preliminary steps: faith, repentance, baptism, confirmation, worthiness, a maturity and dignity worthy of one who comes invited as a guest into the house of the Lord."
• "We must be prepared before we go to the temple."
• "We must be worthy before we go to the temple."
• "The restrictions and conditions set are established by the Lord and not by man."

To be continued....

Sunday School June 8th, 2008

• With baptism we come closer to Christ
• After we are baptized, we need to take the sacrament to remember those covenants that we made
• Mosiah 18-24
• What blessings have you seen in your life as a result of baptism?
• Try to remember your baptismal day and continue to remember it--write down your thoughts and feelings you have when you think about your baptismal day
• Write down all your feelings that you have when you have a spiritual moment so that you can read back and remember those feelings.
• What do you remember about your baptism that made it all special?
• Moroni 8:14 "Behold I say unto you, that he that supposeth that little children need baptism is in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; for he hath neither faith, hope, nor charity; wherefore, should he be cut off while in the thought, he must go down to hell"
• A covenant is like a contract that you have made with your Heavenly Father
• Mosiah 18:8-9 "And it came to pass that he said unto them; Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light; Yeah, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yeah, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life--"
• Focus not on your needs, but on others and the things that they may need help with
• Mosiah 18:11-14 "And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts. And now it came to pass that Alma took Helam, he being one of the first, and went and stood forth in the water, and cried, saying: O Lord, pour out thy Spirit upon thy servant, that he may do this work with holiness of heart. And when he had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he said: Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may be grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world. And after Alma had said these words, both Alma and Helam were buried in the water; and they arose and came forth out of the water rejoicing, being filled with the Spirit."
• When do we have that desire to change?
• When we have a change of heart we have a desire to reach out further [to others] and try to find ways to help others.

• 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?'"
• John 12:24-25 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal."
• We are always blessed when we sacrifice something in our lives for God.
• Charity will come to us when we serve others.
• A medicine for self pity is to help others in their lives.
• Magnify your calling, it's as simple as that.
• Serve willingly with love and compassion
• Temple work is one of the greatest ways you can serve
• D&C 58: 27-28 "Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward."
• We must lose ourselves in service
• Be an example.
• 3 Nephi--Christ coming to the America's, "Come unto me, I will heal you"
• 3 Nephi 12:14-16 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hit. Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house; Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
• D&C 20:16 "For the Lord God has spoken it; and we, the elders of the church, have heard and bear witness to the words of the glorious Majesty on high, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."
• Some of the important things in your life are based on your desires and choices--friends play a big part.
• What are the "walking sticks" in your life? What are the things in your life that hold you up and keep you strong?
• We need to walk with God
• He wants all of us to return to His presence, which is determined by us and how we make our life decisions.