Thursday, July 24, 2014
Rejoice in You
Monday, July 21, 2014
Baptism
Chapter 13: Baptism
“Baptism is literally … a transplanting, or resurrection from one life to another—the life of sin to the life of spiritual life.”
We were blessed to have a guest teacher today in Relief Society, Sister Amy Taylor! Wow, that is all I have to say. She did a marvelous job. I wish I could convey the spirit that was in that room with us. I will just have to relay the notes I took though.
She began by breaking up the topic up into 4 topics. Symbol, Mercy, Covenant, and Way of Life.
1. Symbol
1. Birth
2. Death
3. Ressurection
Page 73, the third bullet says: 3) Baptism is literally, as well as a figure of the resurrection, a transplanting, or resurrection from one life to another—the life of sin to the life of spiritual life.
2. Mercy
Little children who have not reached the years of accountability do not need baptism because they are redeemed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Children are not capable of sin before the age of accountability.
Joseph Fielding Smith related the following story:
I remember when I was in the mission field in England, there was an American family there. … When [the husband] heard the Elders preaching on the streets he invited them to his home because they were his countrymen. He was not interested in the gospel; he was interested in them because they also came from the United States. Well, I happened to be laboring there. I was not the first he heard preach, but later I was invited to his home. …
We thought we would go to his home and talk baseball and football and other things, and compare things in the United States with things in Great Britain—things that he was interested in. That is what we did, and at first we did not say a word about religion. We went back several times, and he thought we were pretty good fellows because we were not trying to crowd our religion down his throat. But after a while they began to ask questions—we knew they would—and one evening as we sat in their home the man’s wife turned to me and said: “Elder Smith, I want to ask you a question.” Before she could ask her question she began to cry. I did not know what the matter was. She sobbed, and when she had composed herself enough to ask the question she told me this story:
When they went over to England they had the misfortune of losing a little baby. … They went to the minister [of the church they were attending] and wanted to have that baby laid away with a Christian burial. … The minister said to her: “We can’t give your child a Christian burial because it was not christened. Your baby is lost.” That was a rather blunt way to put it, but that is the way she told the story, and that woman’s heart had been aching and aching for two or three years. So she asked the question of me: “Is my baby lost? Will I never see it again?” I turned and read to her from the Book of Mormon the words of Mormon to his son Moroni [see Moroni 8]. I said: “Your baby is not lost. No baby is lost. Every baby is saved in the kingdom of God when it dies.”
Moroni tells us that it is a mockery to God to not accept his mercies.
I know that little children who have not reached years of accountability, and hence are not guilty of sin, are … redeemed through the blood of Christ, and it is solemn mockery to contend that they need baptism, denying the justice and mercy of God [see Moroni 8:20–23].
I know that little children who have not reached years of accountability, and hence are not guilty of sin, are … redeemed through the blood of Christ, and it is solemn mockery to contend that they need baptism, denying the justice and mercy of God [see Moroni 8:20–23].
Mercy and Love is for ALL of us.
3. Covenant
Every person baptized into the church has made a covenant with the Lord.
Every person baptized into the church has made a covenant with the Lord.
Covenants made:
1. Bear one another's burdens
2. Take name of Christ upon us
3. Witnesses of him
4. Keep his commandments
5. Always remember him
1. Bear one another's burdens
2. Take name of Christ upon us
3. Witnesses of him
4. Keep his commandments
5. Always remember him
Promises
1. Gift of the Holy Ghost
2. Member of his church
3. ETERNAL LIFE
1. Gift of the Holy Ghost
2. Member of his church
3. ETERNAL LIFE
4. Way of LifeTo gain the full blessings of the gospel, we must continue to be humble, repentant, and obedient after we are baptized.
If we are humble, we will be repentant and if we are repentant we will be obedient.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
The Oath and the Covenant of the Priesthood
Lesson: Chapter 12: The Oath and the Covenant of the Priesthood
Priesthood Power
Restored, Received by prophecy and the Laying on of Hands, Righteous Priesthood Holder,
Inherit all that God has if we live worthy of this blessing
Eternal Blessings, Enable mortals to act in God’s name
Source of the Blessings? Sustain, Sacrament
Through the Priesthood We Receive
Heirs, Chosen Heirs
Offices of the Priesthood, (Two Priesthood's) Ordinances & Oil
Oath & Covenant– God Promises, They Promise
Differences & Duties
In one of the sermons, President Smith said: “I think we all know that the blessings of the priesthood are not confined to men alone. These blessings are also poured out upon our wives and daughters and upon all the faithful women of the Church. These good sisters can prepare themselves, by keeping the commandments and by serving in the Church, for the blessings of the house of the Lord. The Lord offers to his daughters every spiritual gift and blessing that can be obtained by his sons, for neither is the man without the woman, nor the woman without the man in the Lord.
As Sister Bosh taught the lesson, she gave the scripture 1 Nephi 19:23 which says "And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.."
She wanted to "liken" President Smith's lesson to us women. As you read the lesson, think about what it means for us, women. "The Lord offers to his daughters every spiritual gift and blessing that can be obtained by his sons, for neither is the man without the woman, nor the woman without the man in the Lord..."
1. Men should have a clear understanding of the covenant they make when they receive offices in the priesthood.
Refer to D & C 84: 17-24
2. Priesthood holders promise to magnify their callings in the priesthood and live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
My father, President Joseph F. Smith, said: “There is no office growing out of this priesthood that is or can be greater than the priesthood itself. It is from the priesthood that the office derives its authority and power. No office gives authority to the priesthood. No office adds to the power of the priesthood. But all offices in the Church derive their power, their virtue, their authority, from the priesthood."
In other words, in a woman's perspective, magnify your callings. "What does it mean to magnify a calling? It means to build it up in dignity and importance, to make it honorable and commendable in the eyes of all men, to enlarge and strengthen it, to let the light of heaven shine through it to the view of other men. And how does one magnify a calling? Simply by performing the service that pertains to it. An elder magnifies the ordained calling of an elder by learning what his duties as an elder are and then by doing them. As with an elder, so with a deacon, a teacher, a priest, a bishop, and each who holds office in the priesthood." --taken from here
And we have a lot of sisters who magnify their callings!
3. The promise of exaltation is offered to every Melchizedek Priesthood holder who is true to the oath and covenant of the priesthood.
Christ is our greatest example of fulfilling of callings and duties: President Smith said, "And so Christ is the great prototype where priesthood is concerned, as he is with reference to baptism and all other things. And so, even as the Father swears with an oath that his Son shall inherit all things through the priesthood, so he swears with an oath that all of us who magnify our callings in that same priesthood shall receive all that the Father hath.
And~~~~ It is perfectly clear that there are no more glorious promises that have or could be made than those that came to us when we accepted the privilege and assumed the responsibility of holding the holy priesthood and of standing as ministers of Christ."
4. The blessings of the Lord are offered to all people through the ministrations of those who hold His holy priesthood.
Sister Bosh said that we need the blessings of the priesthood in order to receive exaltation. President Smith said, "The blessings of the Lord are offered to the Saints and to the world through the ministrations of those who hold his holy priesthood, who represent him, who are in fact his servants and agents and are willing to serve him and keep his commandments."
In addition~~~I found a conference talk that stood out to me. Here is a highlight from Neil L Andersen's talk. He said, "A man may open the drapes so the warm sunlight comes into the room, but the man does not own the sun or the light or the warmth it brings. The blessings of the priesthood are infinitely greater than the one who is asked to administer the gift." I attached the video for you. :)
Priesthood Power
Restored, Received by prophecy and the Laying on of Hands, Righteous Priesthood Holder,
Inherit all that God has if we live worthy of this blessing
Eternal Blessings, Enable mortals to act in God’s name
Source of the Blessings? Sustain, Sacrament
Through the Priesthood We Receive
Heirs, Chosen Heirs
Offices of the Priesthood, (Two Priesthood's) Ordinances & Oil
Oath & Covenant– God Promises, They Promise
Differences & Duties
In one of the sermons, President Smith said: “I think we all know that the blessings of the priesthood are not confined to men alone. These blessings are also poured out upon our wives and daughters and upon all the faithful women of the Church. These good sisters can prepare themselves, by keeping the commandments and by serving in the Church, for the blessings of the house of the Lord. The Lord offers to his daughters every spiritual gift and blessing that can be obtained by his sons, for neither is the man without the woman, nor the woman without the man in the Lord.
As Sister Bosh taught the lesson, she gave the scripture 1 Nephi 19:23 which says "And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.."
She wanted to "liken" President Smith's lesson to us women. As you read the lesson, think about what it means for us, women. "The Lord offers to his daughters every spiritual gift and blessing that can be obtained by his sons, for neither is the man without the woman, nor the woman without the man in the Lord..."
1. Men should have a clear understanding of the covenant they make when they receive offices in the priesthood.
Then,
speaking of both the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods, the Lord
says: “For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of
which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified
by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies.
“They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God.
“And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord;
“For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me;
“And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father;
“And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him.
Refer to D & C 84: 17-24
2. Priesthood holders promise to magnify their callings in the priesthood and live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
My father, President Joseph F. Smith, said: “There is no office growing out of this priesthood that is or can be greater than the priesthood itself. It is from the priesthood that the office derives its authority and power. No office gives authority to the priesthood. No office adds to the power of the priesthood. But all offices in the Church derive their power, their virtue, their authority, from the priesthood."
In other words, in a woman's perspective, magnify your callings. "What does it mean to magnify a calling? It means to build it up in dignity and importance, to make it honorable and commendable in the eyes of all men, to enlarge and strengthen it, to let the light of heaven shine through it to the view of other men. And how does one magnify a calling? Simply by performing the service that pertains to it. An elder magnifies the ordained calling of an elder by learning what his duties as an elder are and then by doing them. As with an elder, so with a deacon, a teacher, a priest, a bishop, and each who holds office in the priesthood." --taken from here
And we have a lot of sisters who magnify their callings!
3. The promise of exaltation is offered to every Melchizedek Priesthood holder who is true to the oath and covenant of the priesthood.
Christ is our greatest example of fulfilling of callings and duties: President Smith said, "And so Christ is the great prototype where priesthood is concerned, as he is with reference to baptism and all other things. And so, even as the Father swears with an oath that his Son shall inherit all things through the priesthood, so he swears with an oath that all of us who magnify our callings in that same priesthood shall receive all that the Father hath.
And~~~~ It is perfectly clear that there are no more glorious promises that have or could be made than those that came to us when we accepted the privilege and assumed the responsibility of holding the holy priesthood and of standing as ministers of Christ."
4. The blessings of the Lord are offered to all people through the ministrations of those who hold His holy priesthood.
Sister Bosh said that we need the blessings of the priesthood in order to receive exaltation. President Smith said, "The blessings of the Lord are offered to the Saints and to the world through the ministrations of those who hold his holy priesthood, who represent him, who are in fact his servants and agents and are willing to serve him and keep his commandments."
In addition~~~I found a conference talk that stood out to me. Here is a highlight from Neil L Andersen's talk. He said, "A man may open the drapes so the warm sunlight comes into the room, but the man does not own the sun or the light or the warmth it brings. The blessings of the priesthood are infinitely greater than the one who is asked to administer the gift." I attached the video for you. :)
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Prayer
What is prayer: communication with God. Prayer can be silent or out loud.
Pray Always By: President Spencer W. Kimball
Pray Always By: President Spencer W. Kimball
As we group ourselves in prayer, whether in home, Church, social or public settings, we should remember the purpose of our prayers—to communicate with our Father in Heaven. Difficult as it seems, I have found when praying with others that it is better for our attitudes to be concerned with communicating tenderly and honestly with God rather than with worrying over what listeners may be thinking. Of course, the setting of prayers needs to be taken into account, and this is one reason why public prayers, or even family prayers, cannot be the whole of our praying.
But in our family circles, our children will learn how to talk to their Heavenly Father by listening to their parents. They will soon see how heartfelt and honest our prayers are. If our prayers are hurried, even tending to be thoughtless ritual, they will see this also. Better that we do in our families and in private as Mormon pleaded, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart.” (Moro. 7:48.)
Avoid ritual prayers.
What do we pray for? Everything!
Hymn # 145 reads: Prayer is the soul's sincere desire.
After a prayer, we need to listen intently, even for several minutes to receive an answer.
In April conference of 2008 David A. Bednar gave us tips on improving our prayers. Ask In Faith:
3 ways to improve our prayers:
Ask in Faith and Act
After the Trial of Our Faith
Not My Will, but Thine, Be Done
Then in October Conference of the same year he gave a talk that again addressed prayer. Pray Always
Principle #1. Prayer becomes more meaningful as we counsel with the Lord in all our doings (see Alma 37:37).
Principle #2. Prayer becomes more meaningful as we express heartfelt gratitude.
Principle #3. Prayer becomes more meaningful as we pray for others with real intent and a sincere heart.
Communication.
We don't always recognize the answers to our prayers.
Richard G. Scott tells us ways to Recognize answers to our prayers in his October 1989 conference talk.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Genealogy
A CRY FROM THE PAST
By Clara Lewis Jennings
Must I, behind locked doors, forever wait
While you, who are on earth, procrastinate?
Must I, cry out unheard, forevermore,
And wait, in vain behind this bleak, barred door?
Because you would not see, to work to set me free, through genealogy?
Must I, who once held loved ones tenderly,
Stretch out my arms through all eternity?
Must I, not know the joy of being sealed
By this great power God has now revealed?
Because you failed your dead, others move ahead, hear what I have said!
When I, dwelt on the earth as mortal man,
The Lord, had not revealed his Gospel plan.
I would have done my own work had I known,
And would not now be waiting here alone;
Depending on you to do, that which I accept as true, to see me through.
Please hear, my voice before it is too late,
For you, and yours will one day share my fate.
For God has spoken in this latter day,
Commanding you to open up the way.
To set your kindred free, you must heed my plea, find your family tree.
For in, your day the Lord has plainly said,
That no man can be saved without his dead.
As I must look at my posterity,
So must they also have the need of me.
To pass beyond the door, and so I call once more, open up my door.
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