Quotes of the Week:
I thank God for my handicaps; for through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God.--Helen Keller, Light in my Darkness, 134
Ordinances and covenants become our credentials for admission into His presence. To worthily receive them is the quest of a lifetime; to keep them thereafter is the challenge of mortality.
--Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, 5/87, 24
Further Reading:
D. Todd Christofferson, “To Always Remember Him,” Ensign, 4/11, 49L. Tom Perry, “The Sabbath and the Sacrament,” April 2011
Dallin H. Oaks, “Desire,” General Conference, April 2011
W. Cole Durham, “Moroni,” Ensign, 6/78
Jeffrey R. Holland, “Of Souls, Symbols, and Sacraments,” address given at BYU 1/12/88
D. Todd Christofferson, “As Many as I Love, I Rebuke and I Chasten,” April 2011
Handouts:
Ether 12:6 Trial of Your Faith
“Faith and Infertility,” Ensign, 4/11, 27When someone has an ailment or an illness and they are healed as a result of a blessing, their faith is being strengthened. But for those who aren’t healed but continue faithful, their faith is being perfected. The first is a faith-promoting experience. The second is faith-perfecting.
Henry B. Eyring, To Draw Closer to God, 83-84, 86-87
It is an absolute certainty that you will go through trials of your faith. For some it will be a physical or perhaps a financial problem. For others it may not be anything that an outsider would see as a trial. But the real trial of your faith is not necessarily that moment when disaster obviously strikes you; in fact, you may go through a lifetime with little or almost none of that. The real trial of your faith is anything that would divert you from doing what God would have you do. . . .
One of the reasons why you will be tried is that opposition is always part of being a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You should expect that great difficulties will come to you in the pursuit of doing what the Lord would have you do. But you should also feel that these trials are a blessing, because “faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith” (Ether 12:6). . . .
When you’re enduring what seems to be a trail or a test, when things don’t seem to be going well, you can know that you have a loving Father who is allowing you to have experiences that can bless you.
When you’re experiencing a severe trial, ask yourself this question: “Am I trying to do what the Lord would have me do?” If you’re not, then adjust your course. . . .
I bear you my testimony that the Lord will always prepare a way for you to escape from the trials you will be given if you understand two things. One is that you need to be on the Lord’s errand. The second thing you need to understand is that the escape will almost never be OUT of the trial; it will usually be THROUGH it. If you pray to have the experience removed altogether, you may not find the way prepared for you. Instead, you need to pray to find the way of deliverance through it. . . .
Now, if your afflictions truly humble you, then you see that you’re in a position to have the Holy Ghost whisper to you—not the way to have your difficulties taken from you, but the way to go through them on your errand for the Lord. If you will be humble and ask God what to do, I promise you that he will always prepare a way for your deliverance.
Ether 12:27--Weakness
Dallin H. Oaks, “Desire,” General Conference, April 2011When we have a vision of what we can become, our desire and power to act will increase enormously.
Hartman Rector Jr., CR, 4/70, 139-40
Where do you suppose we get these weaknesses? . . .
The Lord tells us the answer to this question very plainly in the Book of Mormon (Ether 12:27). . . . We get them from the Lord; the Lord gives us weaknesses so we will be humble. This makes us teachable. Now don’t misunderstand me—the Lord is not responsible for the sin; he is only responsible for the weakness. It seems that all men have weaknesses in one form or another, character traits that make one more subject to a particular temptation than another. . . . Giving us weakness, however, is one of the Lord’s ways of getting our attention. He says this is the means he uses to make us humble, but he also says that if we will come unto him and have faith in him, he will make us strong wherein we are weak. I know this is the truth.
Howard W. Hunter, CR, 10/90, 20
Obviously, the personal burdens of life vary from person to person, but every one of us has them. Furthermore, each trial in life is tailored to the individual’s capacities and needs as known by a loving Father in Heaven.
Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, 11/80, 21
Some are tested by poor health, some by a body that is deformed or homely. Others are tested by handsome and healthy bodies; some by the passion of youth; others by the erosions of old age. Some suffer disappointment in marriage, family problems; others live in poverty and obscurity. Some (perhaps this is the hardest test) find ease and luxury. All are part of the test. And there is more equality in this testing than sometimes we suspect.
Sterling W. Sill, CR, 10/63, 80
The most widespread disease in the world is the inferiority complex. And when we think inferiority, that is what we get. . . . . One of our most unfortunate weaknesses is that we sometimes think we are under sentence to remain forever as we presently are. Yet one of the most exciting ideas in life is the possibility of changing ourselves for the better.
Neal A. Maxwell, One More Strain of Praise, 28
This process [of weaknesses being turned to strengths] is painful. It is unavoidable. It is repetitive. It is relentless!
Glenn L. Pace, Ensign, 1/05, 32
What is the difference between [humility and lack of confidence]?
To be humble is to recognize our utter dependence upon the Lord. . . . We are conscious of our weaknesses, but we know the Lord can use those very weaknesses to bless our lives . . .
To lack confidence is to have feelings of low self-worth. We are preoccupied with our weaknesses, and we lack faith in the Lord’s ability to use those weaknesses for our good.
Ether 12:27-28 Faith
Neal A. Maxwell, Ensign, 11/98, 63
It is not an easy thing, however, to be shown one’s weaknesses, as these are regularly demonstrated by life’s circumstances. Nevertheless, this is part of coming unto Christ, and it is a vital, if painful, part of God’s plan of happiness.
Ether 13:2-11 New Jerusalem
Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 2:103-4
In the day of regeneration, when all things are made new, there will be three great cities that will be holy. One will be the Jerusalem of old which shall be rebuilt according to the prophecy of Ezekiel. One will be the city of Zion, or of Enoch, which was taken from the earth when Enoch was translated and which will be restored; and the city of Zion, or New Jerusalem, which is to be built by the seed of Joseph on this the American continent.
Moroni
W. Cole Durham, “Moroni,” Ensign, 6/78Infused into these lines is all the depth of Moroni’s earthly experience and all the vibrancy of his soul; they reflect the testimony of one who truly saw Christ, and suggest the promise and the glory awaiting all those who accept his challenge.
Gordon B. Hinckley, Heroes from the Book of Mormon, 195-96
Of all the characters who walk the pages of the Book of Mormon, none stands a greater hero, save Jesus only, than does Moroni, son of Mormon. . . .
Who can sense the depth of his pain, the poignant loneliness that constantly overshadowed him as he moved about, a fugitive relentlessly hunted by his enemies? For how long he actually was alone we do not know, but the record would indicate that it was for a considerable period. His conversation was prayer to the Lord. His companion was the Holy Spirit. There were occasions when the Three Nephites ministered to him. But with all this, there is an element of terrible tragedy in the life of this man who became a lonely wanderer.
Moroni 2-5 Ordinances
Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, 11/85, 82Good conduct without the ordinances of the gospel will neither redeem nor exalt mankind; covenants and the ordinances are essential.
Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, 5/01, 84
No combination of science, success, property, pride, prominence or power can provide [the eternal blessings secured by covenants and ordinances].
Moroni 4-5 The Sacrament
Discourses of Gordon B. Hinckley, 1:396Do you know that when the priest who is at the sacrament table pronounces that prayer which was given by revelation, he places all of the congregation under covenant with the Lord? That is so very, very important. Think of the meaning of the sacrament every time you partake of the sacrament, and be true—true to the faith.
Tad R. Callister, The Infinite Atonement, p. 287-88
Brigham Young declared, “The Lord has planted within us a divinity; and that divine immortal spirit requires to be fed. . . . That divinity within us needs food from the Fountain from which it emanated.”
Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, 5/85, 80
. . . A follower of Christ is obligated to serve him. . . . By witnessing our willingness to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ, we signify our willingness to do the work of his kingdom.
Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 172
It is one of the greatest blessings we could enjoy, to come before the Lord, and before the angels, and before each other, to witness that we remember that the Lord Jesus Christ died for us.
L. Tom Perry, “The Sabbath and the Sacrament,” April 2011 General Conference
Partaking of the sacrament is the center of our Sabbath day observance.
Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ and the New Covenant, p. 283
One of the invitations inherent in the sacramental ordinance is that it be a truly spiritual experience, a holy communion, a renewal for the soul.
James E. Talmage, as cited by Jeffrey R. Holland, “Of Souls, Symbols, and Sacraments,” 1/12/88, p. 12
“It is peculiar to the theology of the Latter-day Saints that we regard the body as an essential part of the soul. Read your dictionaries, the lexicons, and encyclopedias, and you will find that nowhere, outside of the Church of Jesus Christ, is the solemn and eternal truth taught that the soul of man is the body and the spirit combined.”
Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah, 4:60
We eat in remembrance—in remembrance of that Paschal hour, in remembrance of Gethsemane, of Calvary, of an open tomb.
Moroni 6:4 Converts
Gordon B. Hinckley, Regional Representatives’ Seminar, 4/3/87
The greatest tragedy in the Church . . . is the loss of those who join the Church and then fall away. With very few exceptions it need not happen
Discourses of Gordon B. Hinckley, 1:116
With ever-increasing number of converts, we must make an increasingly substantial effort to assist them as they find their way. Every one of them needs three things: a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing with “the good word of God.” It is our duty and opportunity to provide these things.
. . . I ask each of you to please help in this undertaking. Your friendly ways are needed. Your sense of responsibility is needed. The Savior of all mankind left the ninety and nine to find the one lost. That one who was lost need not have become lost. But if he is out there somewhere in the shadows, and if it means leaving the ninety and nine, we must do so to find him. . . In my view nothing is of greater importance.
Neal A. Maxwell, Ensign, 5/82, 37
Church members did not become inactive while crossing the plains, when the sense of belonging and being needed was so profound.
Ben B. Banks, Ensign, 11/99, 10
Most active members believe that less-active members behave differently because they don’t believe the Church’s doctrine. A study by the Church’s Research Information Division does not support this assumption. It shows that almost all less-active members interviewed believe that God exists, that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith was a prophet, and that the Church is true.
As part of another study, a group of active members who previously had been less active were asked why they did not attend church. The most common reasons given were:
- Feelings of unworthiness.
- Personal or family problems.
- Parents or spouse were less active.
- Teenage rebelliousness or laziness.
- Conflicts with work schedules.
- Church too far away, lacked transportation.
They were then asked what had influenced them to return to activity in the Church. The most common answers were:
- Faced with crisis in life.
- Overcame personal problems.
- The example of a spouse or girlfriend/boyfriend.
- Influence of family members.
- Wanted the gospel influence for family.
- Fellowshipping from ward members, moved to a new ward where people cared about them.
Moroni 6:5 Meeting Together
Joseph B. Wirthlin, Ensign, 5/05, 28The Church is not a place where perfect people gather to say perfect things, or have perfect thoughts, or have perfect feelings. The Church is a place where imperfect people gather to provide encouragement, support, and service to each other as we press on in our journey to return to our Heavenly Father.
Moroni 6:7-8 Church Courts
Ronald E. Poelman, Ensign, 11/93, 85
Church discipline . . . is not for the purpose of punishment only, but is intended to heal and renew.
James E. Faust, Ensign, 11/93, 36
Church discipline is not limited to sexual sins but includes other acts such as murder, abortions, burglary, theft, fraud, and other dishonesty, deliberate disobedience to the rules and regulations of the Church, advocating or practicing polygamy, apostasy, or any other unchristianlike conduct, including defiance or ridicule of the Lord’s anointed, contrary to the law of the Lord and the order of the Church. . . .
Among the activities considered apostate to the Church include when members “(1) repeatedly act in clear, open, and deliberate public opposition to the Church or its leaders; (2) persist in teaching as Church doctrine information that is not Church doctrine after being corrected by their bishops or higher authority; or (3) continue to follow the teachings of apostate cults (such as those that advocate plural marriage) after being corrected by their bishops or higher authority” (General Handbook of Instructions, 1989, p. 10-3).
Book of Mormon Student Manual Religion 121 and 122, 1989, 144
Church courts and the policies that govern these courts serve three general purposes: to protect the sacred name of the Church, to clear the name of the innocent who are falsely accused and to provide an opportunity for the guilty to repent.
Moroni 6:9 Church Meetings
Ulisses Soares, Ensign, 11/05, 98The gospel of Jesus Christ is about people, not programs. Sometimes, in the haste of fulfilling our Church responsibilities, we spend too much time concentrating on programs, instead of focusing on people, and end up taking their real needs for granted. When things like that happen, we lose the perspective of our callings, neglect people, and prevent them from reaching their divine potential to gain eternal life.
No comments:
Post a Comment