1-13-2019 Deep and Lasting Conversion to Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ by Elder Quentin L. Cook

Welcome: Tina Gregory- Check Bulletin for Announcements.
LaJuana Pulver passed away this last week.  We pray for and celebrate her life with Michelle and her family.  Her funeral  will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2019 at 12:00 Noon in the Fielding Stake Center (4375 W. 15600 N.- Fielding). A viewing will be held Friday evening, January 18, 2019 from 5-7 p.m. at the Rogers & Taylor Funeral Home (111 N. 100 E.- Tremonton), and prior to the funeral service at the church from 10:30- 11:30 a.m. Interment in the Fielding Cemetery.

Jamie Johnson (Teacher)  Deep and Lasting Conversion to Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ by Elder Quentin L. Cook

Discussion about the home-centered church supported curriculum "Come Follow Me"

• Who is this for?

Family- us- parents, children, youth, people missionaries are training, everyone

"The new home-study Come, Follow Me resource for individuals and families—also covering the New Testament—is designed to help members learn the gospel in the home. It explains: “This resource is for every individual and family in the Church. It is designed to help [us better] learn the gospel—whether on [our] own or with [our] family. … The outlines in this [new] resource are organized according to a weekly … schedule.”

• When do we do this curriculum?

Always- Sunday- Everyday-
"We trust you to counsel together and to seek revelation for implementing these adjustments—while not looking beyond the mark or trying to regiment individuals or families. Additional information will be shared in upcoming communications, including a First Presidency letter and enclosure."

• Where?

In our home- Church- Cars - Anywhere
"In the home-centered, Church-supported portion of this adjustment, there is flexibility for each individual and family to determine prayerfully how and when it will be implemented."

• How?

Group Discussion How is this curriculum or change going to work for you?  How is it going for you now?  What is or is not working?  Discus in groups of 4 or 5 sisters. 

• Using the gospel library app- click on Come follow me- then go to primary- as you discuss and teach the 'Come Follow Me" at home click on the links to clips and songs for children.  It adds variety and is at your fingertips.
• Study in the car as you drive to certain places each time.  
• We study one section a night for the week.  It might take 10-20 minutes .  We love it.  
• There is a link to videos that go with the curriculum.  
• Put the lesson topic- with a picture on the fridge so your family sees it during the week and keeps it in their minds.

• Why?

What is the purpose and blessings of doing the "Come Follow me Curriculum?"

1. Prepare for the 2nd coming
2. Learn doctrine
3. Deepen our conversion
4. Continual progression
5. Strengthen our faith
6. Missionary work
7. Strengthen our testimonies
8. Draw family closer
9. Helps make the Sabbath a delight
10. Combines home and church
11. Contributes to joyful gospel living
12. Change of heart
13. Joyful family time
14. Increase ability for personal revelation
15. Help us become more like Jesus Christ
16. Deep and Lasting conversion
17. Help us rely on Christ to change our hearts

"What do these adjustments mean for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? We are confident that members will be blessed in extraordinary ways. Sunday can be a day of gospel learning and teaching at church and in the home. As individuals and families engage in family councils, family history, ministering, service, personal worship, and joyful family time, the Sabbath day will truly be a delight."

This new curriculum has been in the works before President Nelson Become the prophet.  Jamie's father in law works for church distribution and the "Come Follow Me" curriculum has been ready to go for 3 -4 years but church leaders kept saying wait the time needs to be just right. 

"World conditions increasingly require deepening individual conversion to and strengthening faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and His Atonement. The Lord has prepared us, line upon line, for the perilous times that we now face. In recent years, the Lord has guided us to address related core concerns, including:

• Honoring the Sabbath day and the sacred ordinance of the sacrament has again been emphasized for the last three years.
• Under the bishop’s direction, strengthened elders quorums and Relief Societies are focused on the purpose and divinely appointed responsibilities of the Church9 and helping members make and keep sacred covenants.
• Ministering in a higher and holier way is being joyfully adopted.
• Beginning with the end in mind, temple covenants and family history service are becoming a purposeful part of the covenant path.

The adjustment announced this morning is yet another example of guidance for the challenges of our day. "

This curriculum and change to home centered gospel living has been line upon line.  This is the next step.  If we are obedient to what God has revealed to us we are showing God we are ready for more.  Seek revelation for your family.  Don't overwhelm.  But do the small and simple things that add to great blessings.

Jamie's mom:  While she was in Portugal on her mission saw a duplex.  One side of the duplex was bright yellow, beautiful roof tiles, green trees, nice lawn, open windows.  The other side was grey, dead lawn, shutters down. She thought to herself "which side do I want to live in?" The side that looks happy where the Spirit wants to be or the side that is dark and needs to be painted, weeded and cared for.  The other side is not doing the small and simple things.  When we do the small and simple things our lives will be blessed.  She read in her journal when her children were small " Mondays are hard. Trying to have family night... But I have faith in the prophets blessings.  Years later her journal read: "it is one of the greatest blessings in our lives that we had and continue to have family hour".  The small and simple things make a big difference to our lives.

Jamie: We all have trials and wounds.  Sometimes we think I just can't do one more thing.  Last week her son had the flue.  He wanted his mom to sit with him and said, "I wish Jesus could come and heal me now."  There are times in all our lives when we want Jesus to come and heal us now.  If you are feeling tired and overwhelmed, start small, let the 'Come Follow Me" Curriculum help you.  Think of the goal making our Sabbath be a delight.

"The most important goal and ultimate blessing of deep and lasting conversion is worthily receiving the covenants and ordinances of the covenant pathway." 

Jamie: She was the slowest on her track team.  She only joined so she could prove to herself that she could do something hard even though she was not good at it.  She ran leg 2 or 3 of the 4 by 4.  Her friend who ran before her would go back to the second bend and cheer her on and run with her even though she just ran.  Her friend never let her quit- even though at that second bend she wanted to quit. 

 In our lives Jesus is standing at that second bend to cheer us on, run with us, and bring us in.  

Then Jamie gave us a bookmark with this quote on it:

"The new home-centered, Church-supported integrated curriculum has the potential to unleash the power of families, as each family follows through conscientiously and carefully to transform their home into a sanctuary of faith.  I promise that as you diligently work to remodel your home into a center of gospel learning, over time your Sabbath days will truly be a delight.  Your children will be excited to learn and to live the Savior's teachings, and the influence of the adversary in your life and in your home will decrease.  Changes in your family will be dramatic and sustaining."  - President Russell M. Nelson

The Vision of the Redemption of the Dead by Elder Ballard

Our lesson today was facilitated by sister Tammy Ward.  It was based on the conference talk given by Elder M. Russell Ballard in the October conference.

Sister Tammy began by asking the sisters what were some of the things that jumped out to them regarding Joseph F. Smith's life in Elder Ballard's talk.

• Sister Bywater said that she was impressed by how as a child he was always helping and how he had served a church mission when he was 15 years old.
• Sister Phipps said that she like the part in the talk where his father, Hyrum Smith picked Joseph F. Smith up and kissed him when he was 5.  Hyrum was on his way to Carthage jail.  The next time Joseph saw him, he was lying next to the Prophet Joseph Smith after they had been martyred.

Sister Tammy told of how his mother died when Joseph F. Smith was only 13 years of age.  She told of how he seemed to lose his compass after the death of both of his parents.  However she said that when he served his mission at the age of 15 in the Hawaiian islands it seemed to help him regain the balance that he needed in his life. 

• Sister Phipps said that Joseph F. Smith was well acquainted with sorrow.  

President Smith had lost over his life time prior to the revelation of the 138th section of the Doctrine and Covenants the following people: 

His father, his mother, one brother, two sisters, two wives, and thirteen children.

• Anne Welling said, "Even though he suffered so much loss in his life, Joseph F. Smith never gave up.  He seemed to always have hope for the future."

Sister Tammy said that through his searching for answers, he blessed not only himself and those that he loved, but that he blessed all of the world with the answers he was given in the revelation of Doctrine and Covenants Section 138.  

In his talk, Elder Ballard said that "He (Joseph F. Smith) recorded: “As I read I was greatly impressed. … As I pondered over these things … , the eyes of my understanding were opened, and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me, and I saw the hosts of the dead.”1 The full text of the vision is recorded in Doctrine and Covenants section 138.  

Sister Tammy then asked, "What is the vision of the redemption of the dead?"

• Sister Coombs said that it was a vision that President Smith received the night before a conference.
• Sister Smith said it was a vision of Christ ministering to the dead.
• Sister Phipps said that it was a revelation that President Smith received while reading his scriptures.
• Sister Kent said that not only did he receive this revelation while reading the scriptures, but it was also while he was pondering what he had read in the scriptures.

Sister Tammy then told of a time when her family lived in Brigham City and their Stake President had asked the members of his stake to not only read their scriptures for at least 30 minutes a day, but then to take and ponder on what they had read for another 30 minutes.  They were to do this for 6 months.  She said that the changes that people had in their lives were so profound that the Stake President asked them to continue to do this for another 6 months.  She said that so many were blessed by doing this.

Sister Tammy then had the sisters in the room open up their scriptures to Doctrine and Covenants section 138 and asked us to read through it quickly and see what stood out to us.  

She then asked, "Who did President Smith see in his vision?" 

He saw the following people: Father Adam and Mother Eve, Abel, Seth, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Elias, Malachi, Elijah, The Prophets of the Nephites, and many more faithful.  These were those that were taught by Christ and did go forth teaching those that Jesus was unable to go to because of their rebellion and transgressions.

She then asked "When did this happen?"  

It happened during the short time between the crucifixion and when Christ arose from the dead. 

Sister Ward then asked how this made us feel.  I responded that it made me sad that those who chose to be rebellious wouldn't be able to be taught by the Savior.  But sister Ward pointed out that we shouldn't be sad, that they would still be taught and would have the opportunity to progress.

Sister Warren then told a personal story of her daughter that fell away from the church when she got married.  For several years her daughter wasn't active because she said she couldn't believe the Joseph Smith story.  However, several years later she got very sick and this daughter almost died and while she was so sick, she asked for a blessing, thus showing that she really did still believe in the power of the priesthood.  

Sister Ward then said, "We should never give up hope!  Heavenly Father will give us ample opportunities to return to Him if we have the smallest amount of desire to do so."

Sister Ward then asked, "What can we do to help those that have passed away before?"

We can do our Family History Work. Keep our Ancestors remembered by telling their stories.  We can do their Temple work if it has not been done.  

She then showed pictures that she collected that showed ways that sisters in our ward are doing to remember their ancestors.  Here are a few:

Tammy then told of her grandfather that she loved dearly.  She lived with him twice in her life, once when she was 14 and then again when she was 17.  He was not a member of the Church.  She told of how he had a Book of Mormon on the shelf and it was covered with thick dust, because he never had opened it.  But this grandfather had wonderful home teachers.  They would come and visit him and never judged him.  They loved him and became his friends.  She said she knows that this grandfather will have the opportunity to know and understand the Gospel one day because of the promises of this vision.  

Sister Cheri Smith then said in verse 48 of Section 138, it says, "Foreshadowing the great work to be done in the temples of the Lord in the dispensation of the fulness of times, for the redemption of the dead, and the sealing of the children to their parents, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse and utterly wasted at his coming." So there is to be Family history work and Temple work done.

Sister Ward told of a time when she was in a room that was empty of anyone but her.  She felt her great-grandmother with her there and she felt to bear her testimony to her.  She knows that one day she will see her again and that her great-grandmother will know that Tammy knew of the truthfulness of the Gospel.  

In summation ~ Sister Ward said that this lesson was truly about Freedom.  That we will be given the opportunity to be free from the oppression of the bondage of sin.  This work will continue on the other side of the veil.  Tammy bore testimony that she knows that this liberty and freedom from bondage is truly a gift from our Savior.

We would like to thank sister Ward for the beautiful way in which this lesson was taught and for her time in preparing it for us.

RS Council Mtg Dec 2018

I would like to Thank sister Ashby for taking notes for me this past Council meeting as I was sick and wasn't able to attend.  These are the notes that she had.

The council was led by Jessica White and was based on Revelations of President Russell Nelson.

She asked us to recall some of the things we have remembered and observed over the time President Nelson has been our prophet.  Jessica did the math and found that President Nelson has addressed us on 10 separate occasions.

  

These are comments made by sisters and Jessica throughout the meeting: 

Things we have been impressed by.

The complete name of the church is not negotiable.

Love to hear children singing I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Read the Book of Mormon by year end and underline all references with the Saviors name.

Social Media Fast.

Temple Attendance.

We belong to a world wide church and President Nelson is a prophet for all of us—no matter where we are in the world.

Prayer—Ask for help.

Become a part of the Lord’s Army and the Gathering of Israel.

The time is not far away that we will not survive spiritually without our testimonies.

Mark each verse in the Book of Mormon that refers to the Savior and miracles will begin to happen.

Personal Revelation.

Praying and writing down thoughts.

President nelson is a delightful person. 

Impressed by the picture of him in a swing that went around on social media.

President Nelsons ability to travel world wide—and the fact that he has the energy to do all of that traveling and meeting with the saints from around the world.

The Ministering Program

He doesn't challenge us— He invites us.

He invites us to go to the temple.

He invites us to read the Book of Mormon. 

He invites us to be more like the Savior.

We need to use our personal language around everyone—not just around our LDS friends—Some might laugh at it and maybe they won't.

Reading Bishops Handbook. 

Receiving personal revelation.

Home Centered—Church Supported Ministering.

Melchizedek Priesthood Changes.

New way of calling missionaries —Proselyting and Service Missionaries.

Two-Hour Meeting Schedule.

Sister Nelson says she knows when the prophet is receiving personal revelation and she leaves him to himself.

There are now 201 temples in operation, under construction and announced.

Challenges to sisters at the Women's Conference:

Invitation of 10-day social media fast, reading the Book of Mormon, Temple attendance, and participating fully in Relief Society. 

Dedicate or Rededicate our homes.

We need to be aggressive to move forward—Be the driver, not the one being dragged from behind.

If we are obedient we will have the Saviors help.

Sometimes the Lord’s time-table is different than ours.

Oct 2018 Conference closing remarks:

Remodel our homes into a haven of gospel living.

Changes will be dramatic and sustaining and the influence of the advisory will decrease.

Worship and serve in the temple—It will bring about great miracles.

Revelations will continue until the Savior returns and the work is accomplished.