October 27, 2013

Opening Hymn: 98
Closing Hymn: 142

Announcements:
Relief Society Activity on Tuesday at 7:00- Ice Cream and Nursery will be provided.
Amanda and Tyler Hollett had baby Russell Tyler Hollett Jr. If you would like to take the Hollett's a meal you can sign up at http://www.takethemameal.com/meals.php?t=BQWO2474

Lesson:
Our Lesson on Sunday was by Sister Pat Maurer.  She gave a lesson based on the following two talks:
"The Lords Way" by Elder Stanley G. Ellis
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/the-lords-way
"Personal Peace: The reward of righteousness" by Elder Quenton L. Cook
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/personal-peace-the-reward-of-righteousness

The first talk that Sister Maurer addressed was "The Lords Way"
In Elder Ellis's talk he begins by telling how he and his family grew up on a farm where they learned the following principles:

I grew up on a farm near Burley, Idaho—a real “Idaho farm boy!” As such I learned:

1. 1. 
   To work—if you don’t plant, you don’t harvest.
2. 2. 
   To work smart—if you irrigate and fertilize, you harvest more.
3. 3. 
   The importance of timing—if you don’t plant at the right time, an early frost can destroy the harvest.
4. 4. 
   To do what is needed or ought to be done regardless of what is enjoyable, preferable, or convenient—you milk the cow when she needs to be milked, not when you want to.
5. 5. 
   To be direct—with livestock and machinery involved, you don’t have time to “beat around the bush” or to worry about being politically correct. (In this respect, as I have served throughout the Church, I have often asked, “Do you want me to speak directly or with sugar?” As a rule the Saints have chosen “direct!” I will be direct today.)
6. 6. 
   Finally, as an Idaho farm boy, I learned to stick to the basics.
7. Nothing is more basic to all of us, and our doctrine, than the truths of the first article of faith: “We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son,Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost” (Articles of Faith 1:1).
8. Especially Important
9. With all that is happening in the Church today, and as the Lord is hastening His work on every side, it is even more critically important that we do all we do in His way!
   Especially in the work of salvation, we learn that “in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way” (Ether 12:11). The doctrine of Christ “is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God” (2 Nephi 31:21).
   “O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!
   “Yea, I would declare unto every soul … the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God [and His ways], that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth” (Alma 29:1–2).
   Again, I witness the Lord has the way! Our Heavenly Father knows us, loves us, and wants to help. He knows best how to help. We are not spiritual orphans!

The second talk that Sister Maurer addressed was "Personal Peace: The Reward of Righteousness"

Agency is essential to the plan of happiness. It allows for the love, sacrifice, personal growth, and experience necessary for our eternal progression. This agency also allows for all the pain and suffering we experience in mortality, even when caused by things we do not understand and the devastating evil choices of others. The very War in Heaven was waged over our moral agency and is essential to understanding the Savior’s earthly ministry.

Peace comes from knowing that the savior knows who we are.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.”

Sister Maurer gave the class the challenge to memorize her favorite scripture John 14: 27

 26 But the ^aComforter, which is the ^bHoly Ghost, whom the Father will send in my ^cname, he shall ^dteach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

 27 ^aPeace I leave with you, my ^bpeace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be ^ctroubled, neither let it be afraid.

What are some obstacles to Peace?

* Busyness
* Choosing to Suffer
* Pride
* Worrying about decisions that our children make that will lead to sadness.

I am so thankful that Sister Maurer was given the opportunity to teach. I love hearing her point of view and learning from her wonderful example. I know that the Lord wants nothing more than happiness and peace for his children. I know that by following the Lord and following His chosen path that we will have the peace and the life that we desire. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

I encourage you all to read the wonderful talks that were discussed on Sunday and I hope to see you all at the Relief Society Activity to celebrate our goal of reading The Book of Mormon!

Book Of Mormon Reading Challenge & General Conference

Hello Sisters!

The countdown is on and there are only 23 days left until General Conference on October 5-6!  

If you are participating in our 90 day Book of Mormon Reading Challenge (and we hope everyone is), then as of today you should complete reading for Day 68 in order to finish your reading by October 4^th…just in time for Conference!  If you've fallen behind, no worries - there is still time to catch up! I know that you will be blessed in your diligent reading and study of the Book of Mormon. 

Also, check out our Countdown Clock here on the blog for General Conference!  

Are you excited yet??

To download the reading schedule click HERE

Sunday September 8, 2013

September 28th at 6:30: Social Broadcast at Thomasville Rd chapel.
Baptism: Saturday at 10am Dennis Peters will be getting baptised.
Choir Practice: Sunday at 9:45am in institute building.
Building Cleaning Duty: This month is 1st wards month to clean. (Cleaning dates and times TBA)
Tupelo Honey: Sister Clark has yummy tupelo honey for sale.

Opening Hymn 76
Practice Hymn 12
Closing Hymn 25

Lesson: Sister Neely-Bey

Chapter 17: Priesthood—“for the Salvation of the Human Family”

What is my responsibility to the priesthood? 

From the Life of Lorenzo Snow

Elder Lorenzo Snow was ordained an Apostle on February 12, 1849. Eightmonths later he was called to establish a mission in Italy. With otherbrethren who had been called to serve, he left for this mission on October19, 1849. He and his companions made the long journey by foot, onhorseback, and by boat.

Arriving in Italy in June 1850, he and his companions found that thepeople in the major Italian cities were not yet ready to receive the gospel.But a people known as the Waldenses attracted his attention, and he feltinspired to work among them. The Waldenses had lived for centuries inthe secluded Piedmont region—a mountain valley just south of the Italy-Switzerland border and east of the Italy-France border. Having formedtheir society because of a desire for religious reform, they were dedicatedto studying the Bible and following the example of the Savior’s Apostles.

Elder Snow said that when he considered preaching the gospel among theWaldenses, “a flood of light seemed to burst upon my mind.”¹ But despitethese assurances, he felt that it was unwise to begin active missionarywork immediately because enemies of the Church had distributedpublications among the people, spreading lies about the Church.² ElderSnow reported, “As I felt it was the mind of the Spirit that we shouldproceed at first, by slow and cautious steps, I submitted to the will ofheaven.”³

Although the missionaries did not begin preaching right away, Elder Snowoversaw the publication of pamphlets in Italian and French. In addition, heand his companions befriended the people around them. “Weendeavoured to lay a foundation for future usefulness,” he said, “insilently preparing the minds of the people for the reception of the Gospel,by cultivating friendly feelings in the bosoms of those by whom we weresurrounded. Yet I felt it rather singular, and no small tax upon patience,to be weeks, and months, in the midst of an interesting people, withoutbeing actively and publicly engaged in communicating the great principleswhich I had come to promulgate.”⁴

The Waldenses’ feelings about the Church began to change significantlyafter Elder Snow administered a priesthood blessing to a boy who hadbecome very ill. Elder Snow wrote the following in his journal:

“Sept. 6th.—This morning my attention was directed to Joseph Guy, a boythree years of age, the youngest child of our host. Many friends had beento see the child, as to all human appearance, his end was nigh at hand. Iwent to see him in the afternoon: death was making havoc of his body;his former healthy frame was now reduced to a skeleton, and it was onlyby close observation we could discern he was alive.”

Troubled by the opposition to the preaching of the gospel and concernedabout little Joseph Guy, Elder Snow turned to the Lord for help thatevening. He later recalled: “For some hours before I retired to rest, I calledupon the Lord to assist us at this time. My feelings on this occasion willnot be easily erased from memory.

“Sept. 7th.—This morning, I proposed … that we should fast, and retire tothe mountains, and pray. As we departed, we called and saw the child; hiseyeballs turned upwards: his eyelids fell and closed: his face and earswere thin, and wore the pale marble hue, indicative of approachingdissolution. The cold perspiration of death covered his body, and theprinciple of life was nearly exhausted. Madame Guy and other femaleswere sobbing, while Monsieur Guy hung his head.” Whispering to ElderSnow and the other missionaries, Monsieur Guy said, “He dies. He dies.”

Elder Snow continued: “After a little rest upon the mountains, aside fromany likelihood of interruption, we there called upon the Lord in solemnprayer, to spare the life of the child. As I contemplated the course wewished to pursue and the claims we should soon advance to the world, Iregarded this circumstance as one of vast importance. I know not anysacrifice which I could possibly make, that I was not willing to offer thatthe Lord might grant our requests.”

When they returned to the Guy family that afternoon, Elder Snow gaveJoseph a priesthood blessing. They went to see the family a few hourslater, and Joseph’s father, “with a smile of thankfulness,” told them theboy was much better.

“Sept. 8.—The child had been so well, the parents were enabled to betakethemselves to rest, which they had not done for some time previous. To-day, they were enabled to leave him, and attend to their business.” WhenJoseph’s mother expressed her joy at the boy’s recovery, Elder Snowresponded, “The God of heaven has done this for you.”

When you think of the Priesthood, what is your first thought? 

Ordinances, Power, Joseph Smith, Men, Blessings, God, Revelation, Keys, Service.

Priesthood bearers are messengers of the Almighty, with authority delegated from heaven to administer holy ordinances.

The Priesthood is like an umbrella over the whole Church, but men are just the ones who get to hold the handle.

The Priesthood is a physical representative of Heavenly Father.

One women commented that the Priesthood could be thought of as a way to bring men closer to the Lord by having the responsibility of having the Priesthood.  Also we women do everything why should we also have the responsibility of the Priesthood ;) 

The Priesthood has been restored; it has been bestowed upon man thatthrough that medium, all who would like to be good and happy, mighthave the privilege. The gospel tells us how to be great, good and happy.The spirit of the gospel of Christ teaches all things that are necessary forour present and future welfare.

The object of the priesthood is to make all [people] happy, to diffuseinformation, to make all partakers of the same blessings in their turn.¹²

^{For this very purpose the Holy Priesthood has been bestowed in this ourday, to guide and perfect the saints of God here, and just in proportion aswe attain to intelligence in this world and to integrity and faithfulness … ,so will be the exalted condition in which we shall appear behind the veil.13}

How has the Priesthood brought happiness to you?

-Comforted -Blessings for exams.

Thank you Sister Neely-Bey for the wonderful lesson!