When I realized that we’d be speaking on 9/11, at first I felt a little worried. But upon reflection, I saw how perfectly it related to our assigned topic.
I still remember that fateful Tuesday, September 11, 2001 when we first learned about the terrorist attacks. We lived in Northern California and our oldest child, Zach, was in kindergarten. Our alarm clock went off, in radio mode, and as I half consciously went to hit snooze, I heard something about a plane hitting the WTC. I jolted up in bed and turned on the TV. I called my parents and said, “Turn on the news.” My dad asked me what channel and I replied, “Any channel.” My heart sank even further as we learned more and more details about the tragedy and saw the second plane hit. At the time, Thane commuted to work in San Francisco on the BART public transit system, but he stayed home that day because we were afraid the bustling city of San Francisco could be a terrorist target too. When we took Zach to school, all us kindergarten parents stood around and talked about the horror of this event. We were all scared of what might come next. We were in mourning for all those who were suffering, dying, or losing loved ones. We were bound by a collective grief and fear. But I remember the unity I felt with my family, friends, neighbors, and fellow Americans.
As I was preparing for this talk, a realization came to me. Every one of us have “9/11 experiences” in our own lives. Some of us may have health challenges. Some deal with wayward children. Others deal with divorce, death, unemployment, addictions. The point is, we all have challenges.
When dealing with these personal 9/11 experiences, there is a difference from the day the world stood still for all of us together as we faced a common tragedy. In our personal 9/11 moments, we may feel very alone in our fear and sadness, we may feel embarrassed, abandoned, downtrodden, worried, and scared.
Showing posts with label Plan of Happiness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Plan of Happiness. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Time Out for Women - Atonement
Brad Wilcox gave a great talk about the Atonement at Time Out for Women. Here are my notes and thoughts on his talk.
God has a plan. When you wonder about your future, look back and see how God has guided you in your life. He gives you opportunities to grow. He puts people in our lives that we need at that time. He knows the big picture.
The miracle of the Atonement is that we can all be transformed. This is more than just saying we are saved by grace, but rather learning to apply the Atonement in our lives and becoming perfected through Christ.
Brad Wilcox was asked by a "born again" Christian, "Have you been saved by grace?" His response? "Have you been CHANGED by grace?"
God has a plan. When you wonder about your future, look back and see how God has guided you in your life. He gives you opportunities to grow. He puts people in our lives that we need at that time. He knows the big picture.
The miracle of the Atonement is that we can all be transformed. This is more than just saying we are saved by grace, but rather learning to apply the Atonement in our lives and becoming perfected through Christ.
Brad Wilcox was asked by a "born again" Christian, "Have you been saved by grace?" His response? "Have you been CHANGED by grace?"
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Talk - Agency
We had wonderful talks in our Sacrament Meeting this past Sunday and I asked my friend, Thomas, for a copy of his talk to share on my blog. Enjoy!
Agency(direct comments or questions to: thwicke@gmail.com)
Introduction
Social Scientists should probably not be allowed to have children. To us children are a readily available source of subjects and the material for perpetual experiments:
-FHE Lesson: put ice cream on two tables, tie children together (Thomas explained that when his kids were younger, he was trying to teach them a lesson on cooperation. He placed a bowl of ice cream on two tables. He put the kids between the two tables, and he tied a rope around each of their waists so that they would, in theory, need to cooperate to move to either table. He told the kids that if they could reach both bowls of ice cream, they could each eat a bowl, but if they only reached one bowl, no one could have ice cream. Needless to say, the social experiment was a complete flop... the younger son ended up with the rope around his neck... the older daughter was in pain from the weight of her brother tightening the rope on her waist as she dragged him. Thomas' wife was laughing hysterically... Everyone at church was laughing as they heard the tale and my kids are still talking about the story).
Agency(direct comments or questions to: thwicke@gmail.com)
Introduction
Social Scientists should probably not be allowed to have children. To us children are a readily available source of subjects and the material for perpetual experiments:
-FHE Lesson: put ice cream on two tables, tie children together (Thomas explained that when his kids were younger, he was trying to teach them a lesson on cooperation. He placed a bowl of ice cream on two tables. He put the kids between the two tables, and he tied a rope around each of their waists so that they would, in theory, need to cooperate to move to either table. He told the kids that if they could reach both bowls of ice cream, they could each eat a bowl, but if they only reached one bowl, no one could have ice cream. Needless to say, the social experiment was a complete flop... the younger son ended up with the rope around his neck... the older daughter was in pain from the weight of her brother tightening the rope on her waist as she dragged him. Thomas' wife was laughing hysterically... Everyone at church was laughing as they heard the tale and my kids are still talking about the story).
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Talk - "Let Him Do It With Simplicity" by Elder L. Tom Perry
This is the article that we have been asked to speak about in Sacrament Meeting on 8/30/09.
In our search to obtain relief from the stresses of life, may we earnestly seek ways to simplify our lives.
Those of us who have been around a while—and Elder Wirthlin and I have been around for a long time—have recognized certain patterns in life’s test. There are cycles of good and bad times, ups and downs, periods of joy and sadness, and times of plenty as well as scarcity. When our lives turn in an unanticipated and undesirable direction, sometimes we experience stress and anxiety. One of the challenges of this mortal experience is to not allow the stresses and strains of life to get the better of us—to endure the varied seasons of life while remaining positive, even optimistic. Perhaps when difficulties and challenges strike, we should have these hopeful words of Robert Browning etched in our minds: “The best is yet to be” (“Rabbi Ben Ezra,” in Charles W. Eliot, ed., The Harvard Classics, 50 vols. [1909–10], 42:1103). We can’t predict all the struggles and storms in life, not even the ones just around the next corner, but as persons of faith and hope, we know beyond the shadow of any doubt that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and the best is yet to come.
Click this here to read the rest of the talk.
In our search to obtain relief from the stresses of life, may we earnestly seek ways to simplify our lives.
Those of us who have been around a while—and Elder Wirthlin and I have been around for a long time—have recognized certain patterns in life’s test. There are cycles of good and bad times, ups and downs, periods of joy and sadness, and times of plenty as well as scarcity. When our lives turn in an unanticipated and undesirable direction, sometimes we experience stress and anxiety. One of the challenges of this mortal experience is to not allow the stresses and strains of life to get the better of us—to endure the varied seasons of life while remaining positive, even optimistic. Perhaps when difficulties and challenges strike, we should have these hopeful words of Robert Browning etched in our minds: “The best is yet to be” (“Rabbi Ben Ezra,” in Charles W. Eliot, ed., The Harvard Classics, 50 vols. [1909–10], 42:1103). We can’t predict all the struggles and storms in life, not even the ones just around the next corner, but as persons of faith and hope, we know beyond the shadow of any doubt that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and the best is yet to come.
Click this here to read the rest of the talk.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Sunday School - Book of Mormon Lesson 30
Book of Mormon Lesson #30: “The Great Plan of Happiness”
Alma 40-42
1. Joseph F. Smith: [Alma 40:6-14 – the spirit world] Father (Hyrum Smith, the Patriarch) told [Bishop Edward Hunter] that the Spirit of Jesus Christ was full-grown before he was born into the world; and so our children were full-grown and possessed their full stature in the spirit, before they entered mortality, the same stature that they will possess after they have passed away from mortality, and as they will also appear after the resurrection, when they shall have completed their mission. Gospel Doctrine, pp. 455-56.
2. Joseph Smith: [Following death] The spirits of the just are … blessed in their departure to the world of spirits. They are not far from us, and know and understand our thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and are often pained therewith. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 326.
3. Parley P. Pratt: Many spirits of the departed, who are unhappy, linger in lonely wretchedness about the earth, and in the air, and especially about their ancient homesteads, and the places rendered dear to them by the memory of the former scenes. Key to the Science of Theology, p. 117.
4. Brigham Young: [Alma 40:11 – spirits are taken home to God] When the spirits leave their bodies they are in the presence of our Father and God in the sense that they are prepared to see, hear, and understand spiritual things. To go into the presence of God is not necessarily to be placed within a few yards or rods, or within a short distance of his person. Journal of Discourses, vol. 3, p. 368.
5. Orson Pratt: When our spirits leave these bodies, will they be happy? Not perfectly so. Why? Because the spirit is absent from the body; it cannot be perfectly happy while a part of the man is lying in the earth. Journal of Discourses, vol. 1, p. 289.
6. Joseph Smith: The great misery of departed spirits in the world of spirits, where they go after death, is to know that they come short of the glory that others enjoy and that they might have enjoyed themselves, and they are their own accusers. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 310-11.
7. Joseph Fielding McConkie & Robert Millet: [“This day shalt thou be with me in paradise”] There is nothing in the original word in Greek from which this was taken that signifies paradise; but it was – this day thou shalt be with me in the world of spirits. In confirming these truths, the Prophet said: “Hades, the Greek or Sheol, the Hebrew, these two significations mean a world of spirits. Hades, Sheol, paradise, spirits in prison, are all one: it is a world of spirits. Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 3, p. 299 (quoting TPJS, pp. 309-10).
8. Joseph Smith: Every man that has been baptized and belongs to the kingdom has a right to be baptized for those who have gone before; and as soon as the law of the Gospel is obeyed here [the gospel ordinance] by their friends who act as proxy for them, the Lord has administrators there to set them free. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 357.
9. Brigham Young: When the angel who holds the keys of the resurrection shall sound his trumpet, the peculiar fundamental particles that organized our bodies here, if we do honor to them – though they be deposited in the depths of the sea, and though one particle is in the north, another in the south, another in the east, and another in the west – will be brought together again in the twinkling of an eye, and our spirits will take possession of them. Journal of Discourses, vol. 8, p. 28.
10. John Taylor: I know that some people … will say that all the parts of the body cannot be brought together, for say they, the fish probably have eaten them up, or the whole may have been blown to the four winds of heaven, etc. It is true the body, or the organization, may be destroyed in various ways, but it is not true that the particles out of which it was created can be destroyed. They are eternal; they never were created. … It is in accordance with acknowledged science. You may take, for instance, a handful of fine gold, and scatter it in the street among the dust; again, gather together the materials among which you have thrown the gold, and you can separate one from the other so thoroughly, that your handful of gold can be returned to you; yes, every grain of it. You may take particles of silver, iron, copper, lead, etc., and mix them together with any other ingredients, and there are certain principles connected with them by which these different materials can be eliminated, every particle cleaving to that of its own element. Journal of Discourses, vol. 18, pp. 333-34.
11. Dallin H. Oaks: [Alma 41:3 – desires of their hearts] Just as we will be accountable for our evil desires, we will also be rewarded for our righteous ones. Our Father in Heaven will receive a truly righteous desire as a substitute for actions that are genuinely impossible. … This principle means that when we have done all that we can, our desires will carry us the rest of the way. It also means that if our desires are right, we can be forgiven for the unintended errors or mistakes we will inevitably make as we try to carry those desires into effect. What a comfort for our feelings of inadequacy! Pure in Heart, p. 59.
12. Gordon B. Hinckley: So many of us are fearful of what our peers will say, that we will be looked upon with disdain and criticized if we stand for what is right. But I remind you that “wickedness never was happiness” (Alma 41:10). Evil never was happiness. Sin never was happiness. Happiness lies in the power and the love and the sweet simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need not be prudish. We need not slink off in a corner, as it were. We need not be ashamed. We have the greatest thing in the world, the gospel of the risen Lord. Gen. Conference, April 1997.
13. Joseph Smith: [Alma 42:8, 16 – the “great plan of happiness”] In obedience there is joy and peace unspotted, … and as God has designed our happiness – and the happiness of all His creatures, He never has – He never will institute an ordinance or give a commandment to His people that is not calculated in its nature to promote that happiness which He has designed, and which will not end in the greatest amount of good and glory to those who become the recipients of His laws and ordinances. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 256-57.
14. Neal A. Maxwell: The plan cannot bring true happiness to anyone whose life is grossly inconsistent with its standards. … It has no place of honor for one too concerned with losing his place in the secular synagogue. … Believers in the plan are not automatically immune to the consuming cares of the world. … Some of our present circumstances may reflect previous agreements now forgotten, but once freely made. The plan always points the way, but does not always smooth the way. Gen. Conference, April 1994.
15. Neal A. Maxwell: In the plan of happiness, the Great Shepherd, Jesus, will neither drive nor even herd us along the strait and narrow path. Doing such would be against God’s agency-drenched plan. Instead, exemplifying and beckoning, Jesus says, “Come, follow me” (Luke 18:22), the very words and the manner of the true shepherd. … Meanwhile, strange, is it not, how we are willing to settle for so much less? We are like an eager child at a candy store who will settle for just “one of these and one of those,” when the Owner desires to give us the whole store (D&C 84:38) Whom the Lord Loveth, pp. 73-74.
16. J. Reuben Clark: I believe that our Heavenly Father wants to save every one of his children. I do not think he intends to shut any of us off because of some slight transgression, some slight failure to observe some rule or regulation. … I believe that in his justice and mercy, he will give us the maximum reward for our acts, give us all that he can give, and in the reverse, I believe that he will impose upon us the minimum penalty which it is possible for him to impose. Gen. Conference, Oct. 1955.
17. C.S. Lewis: Mercy, detached from justice, grows unmerciful. That is the important paradox. As there are plants which flourish only in mountain soil, so it appears that Mercy will flower only when it grows in the grannies of the rock of Justice. The Humanitarian Theory of Punishment, p. 294.
Next week: Alma 43-52 “Firm in the Faith of Christ”
Alma 40-42
1. Joseph F. Smith: [Alma 40:6-14 – the spirit world] Father (Hyrum Smith, the Patriarch) told [Bishop Edward Hunter] that the Spirit of Jesus Christ was full-grown before he was born into the world; and so our children were full-grown and possessed their full stature in the spirit, before they entered mortality, the same stature that they will possess after they have passed away from mortality, and as they will also appear after the resurrection, when they shall have completed their mission. Gospel Doctrine, pp. 455-56.
2. Joseph Smith: [Following death] The spirits of the just are … blessed in their departure to the world of spirits. They are not far from us, and know and understand our thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and are often pained therewith. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 326.
3. Parley P. Pratt: Many spirits of the departed, who are unhappy, linger in lonely wretchedness about the earth, and in the air, and especially about their ancient homesteads, and the places rendered dear to them by the memory of the former scenes. Key to the Science of Theology, p. 117.
4. Brigham Young: [Alma 40:11 – spirits are taken home to God] When the spirits leave their bodies they are in the presence of our Father and God in the sense that they are prepared to see, hear, and understand spiritual things. To go into the presence of God is not necessarily to be placed within a few yards or rods, or within a short distance of his person. Journal of Discourses, vol. 3, p. 368.
5. Orson Pratt: When our spirits leave these bodies, will they be happy? Not perfectly so. Why? Because the spirit is absent from the body; it cannot be perfectly happy while a part of the man is lying in the earth. Journal of Discourses, vol. 1, p. 289.
6. Joseph Smith: The great misery of departed spirits in the world of spirits, where they go after death, is to know that they come short of the glory that others enjoy and that they might have enjoyed themselves, and they are their own accusers. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 310-11.
7. Joseph Fielding McConkie & Robert Millet: [“This day shalt thou be with me in paradise”] There is nothing in the original word in Greek from which this was taken that signifies paradise; but it was – this day thou shalt be with me in the world of spirits. In confirming these truths, the Prophet said: “Hades, the Greek or Sheol, the Hebrew, these two significations mean a world of spirits. Hades, Sheol, paradise, spirits in prison, are all one: it is a world of spirits. Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 3, p. 299 (quoting TPJS, pp. 309-10).
8. Joseph Smith: Every man that has been baptized and belongs to the kingdom has a right to be baptized for those who have gone before; and as soon as the law of the Gospel is obeyed here [the gospel ordinance] by their friends who act as proxy for them, the Lord has administrators there to set them free. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 357.
9. Brigham Young: When the angel who holds the keys of the resurrection shall sound his trumpet, the peculiar fundamental particles that organized our bodies here, if we do honor to them – though they be deposited in the depths of the sea, and though one particle is in the north, another in the south, another in the east, and another in the west – will be brought together again in the twinkling of an eye, and our spirits will take possession of them. Journal of Discourses, vol. 8, p. 28.
10. John Taylor: I know that some people … will say that all the parts of the body cannot be brought together, for say they, the fish probably have eaten them up, or the whole may have been blown to the four winds of heaven, etc. It is true the body, or the organization, may be destroyed in various ways, but it is not true that the particles out of which it was created can be destroyed. They are eternal; they never were created. … It is in accordance with acknowledged science. You may take, for instance, a handful of fine gold, and scatter it in the street among the dust; again, gather together the materials among which you have thrown the gold, and you can separate one from the other so thoroughly, that your handful of gold can be returned to you; yes, every grain of it. You may take particles of silver, iron, copper, lead, etc., and mix them together with any other ingredients, and there are certain principles connected with them by which these different materials can be eliminated, every particle cleaving to that of its own element. Journal of Discourses, vol. 18, pp. 333-34.
11. Dallin H. Oaks: [Alma 41:3 – desires of their hearts] Just as we will be accountable for our evil desires, we will also be rewarded for our righteous ones. Our Father in Heaven will receive a truly righteous desire as a substitute for actions that are genuinely impossible. … This principle means that when we have done all that we can, our desires will carry us the rest of the way. It also means that if our desires are right, we can be forgiven for the unintended errors or mistakes we will inevitably make as we try to carry those desires into effect. What a comfort for our feelings of inadequacy! Pure in Heart, p. 59.
12. Gordon B. Hinckley: So many of us are fearful of what our peers will say, that we will be looked upon with disdain and criticized if we stand for what is right. But I remind you that “wickedness never was happiness” (Alma 41:10). Evil never was happiness. Sin never was happiness. Happiness lies in the power and the love and the sweet simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need not be prudish. We need not slink off in a corner, as it were. We need not be ashamed. We have the greatest thing in the world, the gospel of the risen Lord. Gen. Conference, April 1997.
13. Joseph Smith: [Alma 42:8, 16 – the “great plan of happiness”] In obedience there is joy and peace unspotted, … and as God has designed our happiness – and the happiness of all His creatures, He never has – He never will institute an ordinance or give a commandment to His people that is not calculated in its nature to promote that happiness which He has designed, and which will not end in the greatest amount of good and glory to those who become the recipients of His laws and ordinances. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 256-57.
14. Neal A. Maxwell: The plan cannot bring true happiness to anyone whose life is grossly inconsistent with its standards. … It has no place of honor for one too concerned with losing his place in the secular synagogue. … Believers in the plan are not automatically immune to the consuming cares of the world. … Some of our present circumstances may reflect previous agreements now forgotten, but once freely made. The plan always points the way, but does not always smooth the way. Gen. Conference, April 1994.
15. Neal A. Maxwell: In the plan of happiness, the Great Shepherd, Jesus, will neither drive nor even herd us along the strait and narrow path. Doing such would be against God’s agency-drenched plan. Instead, exemplifying and beckoning, Jesus says, “Come, follow me” (Luke 18:22), the very words and the manner of the true shepherd. … Meanwhile, strange, is it not, how we are willing to settle for so much less? We are like an eager child at a candy store who will settle for just “one of these and one of those,” when the Owner desires to give us the whole store (D&C 84:38) Whom the Lord Loveth, pp. 73-74.
16. J. Reuben Clark: I believe that our Heavenly Father wants to save every one of his children. I do not think he intends to shut any of us off because of some slight transgression, some slight failure to observe some rule or regulation. … I believe that in his justice and mercy, he will give us the maximum reward for our acts, give us all that he can give, and in the reverse, I believe that he will impose upon us the minimum penalty which it is possible for him to impose. Gen. Conference, Oct. 1955.
17. C.S. Lewis: Mercy, detached from justice, grows unmerciful. That is the important paradox. As there are plants which flourish only in mountain soil, so it appears that Mercy will flower only when it grows in the grannies of the rock of Justice. The Humanitarian Theory of Punishment, p. 294.
Next week: Alma 43-52 “Firm in the Faith of Christ”
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Sharing Time - I Will Do Family History Work So My Ancestors Can Receive Temple Blessings
Sharing Time - I will do family history work so my Ancestors can receive temple blessings.
Set Up:
Set up a table like you’re having a birthday party. Cake, plates, napkins, streamers, balloons, table cloth, center piece etc. Even have a present wrapped. Ask the children to close there eyes and imagine they’re getting ready for a birthday party tomorrow and they have been planning for weeks. Talk about all the fun stuff you get to do to plan for it. The fun games you will play etc. Talk about some of the friends they would invite. Have them open their eyes, "I'm so sorry, but there's been a change of plans. We aren't going to have your birthday party tomorrow. We'll have it sometime, I'm just not sure when." How would that make you feel?
Share with the Children:
Imagine now being in the Spirit World. The missionaries have taught you the gospel and you accept it. In order to progress you need to be baptized....but wait, you can't. Why? What do you have to do? You have to wait until someone does it for you.
Share with the Children:
In order to help our family members who have passed on, we must first know who they are. Draw a pedigree chart on the board with spaces to fill in three generations (child, parents, and grandparents). Share with them your 3 generation chart. (Have it pre-done.)
Sing “Families Can Be Together Forever” (p. 188).
Share with the Children:
Talk about your three generations. Talk about some of the traits you have that are similar to yours. Show some pictures of your three generation chart. Talk about there three generations. Who might they look like? What talents that have been passed down. Whose personality they might have? You can add whatever you like.
Sing “I Am a Child of God” (pp. 2–3).
Share with the Children:
Share a story from one of you ancestors that has passed on. And why they’re so important to you and why? Tell the children that through temple ordinances our families can be together forever.
Testify:
The importance of temple work and how I’m helping them to return back to Heavenly Father etc.
Set Up:
Set up a table like you’re having a birthday party. Cake, plates, napkins, streamers, balloons, table cloth, center piece etc. Even have a present wrapped. Ask the children to close there eyes and imagine they’re getting ready for a birthday party tomorrow and they have been planning for weeks. Talk about all the fun stuff you get to do to plan for it. The fun games you will play etc. Talk about some of the friends they would invite. Have them open their eyes, "I'm so sorry, but there's been a change of plans. We aren't going to have your birthday party tomorrow. We'll have it sometime, I'm just not sure when." How would that make you feel?
Share with the Children:
Imagine now being in the Spirit World. The missionaries have taught you the gospel and you accept it. In order to progress you need to be baptized....but wait, you can't. Why? What do you have to do? You have to wait until someone does it for you.
Share with the Children:
In order to help our family members who have passed on, we must first know who they are. Draw a pedigree chart on the board with spaces to fill in three generations (child, parents, and grandparents). Share with them your 3 generation chart. (Have it pre-done.)
Sing “Families Can Be Together Forever” (p. 188).
Share with the Children:
Talk about your three generations. Talk about some of the traits you have that are similar to yours. Show some pictures of your three generation chart. Talk about there three generations. Who might they look like? What talents that have been passed down. Whose personality they might have? You can add whatever you like.
Sing “I Am a Child of God” (pp. 2–3).
Share with the Children:
Share a story from one of you ancestors that has passed on. And why they’re so important to you and why? Tell the children that through temple ordinances our families can be together forever.
Testify:
The importance of temple work and how I’m helping them to return back to Heavenly Father etc.
(Thank you to Michelle Walton for contributing this sharing time to the blog)
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Primary Talk - I am a Child of God and He has a plan for me
This is a Primary talk my son gave in Senior Primary.
In the Family Proclamation it says: “In the premortal realm spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their eternal father and accepted his plan by which his children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life.”
This means that before we were born here on earth, we lived with our Heavenly Father who loves each of us. Because of his love for us, he provided a plan to help us grow and progress.
We learned about this wonderful plan at a meeting called the Grand Council in Heaven, before we were born.
We were so excited about it that we all shouted for joy. This is called the Plan of Salvation.
Jesus supported the plan and said he would volunteer to come to earth and be our Savior. He would help us by setting a perfect example and by teaching us. He would suffer for our sins and enable us to repent. He would die for us so that we could live again eternally. We were all very excited by this idea and voted for Heavenly Father’s plan.
Lucifer was there too. He tried to change the plan. He wanted to do things his way by forcing all of us to do what’s right. Satan didn’t want us to have our agency. But Heavenly Father’s plan was to let us choose for ourselves, and He hoped we would choose to follow Jesus.
Lucifer and his followers were removed from heaven and will never be allowed to have bodies. We were sad that they made the wrong choice, but we knew that Heavenly Father’s plan would make us happy and we could live with Him again someday.
I would like to bear my testimony….
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
In the Family Proclamation it says: “In the premortal realm spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their eternal father and accepted his plan by which his children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life.”
This means that before we were born here on earth, we lived with our Heavenly Father who loves each of us. Because of his love for us, he provided a plan to help us grow and progress.
We learned about this wonderful plan at a meeting called the Grand Council in Heaven, before we were born.
We were so excited about it that we all shouted for joy. This is called the Plan of Salvation.
Jesus supported the plan and said he would volunteer to come to earth and be our Savior. He would help us by setting a perfect example and by teaching us. He would suffer for our sins and enable us to repent. He would die for us so that we could live again eternally. We were all very excited by this idea and voted for Heavenly Father’s plan.
Lucifer was there too. He tried to change the plan. He wanted to do things his way by forcing all of us to do what’s right. Satan didn’t want us to have our agency. But Heavenly Father’s plan was to let us choose for ourselves, and He hoped we would choose to follow Jesus.
Lucifer and his followers were removed from heaven and will never be allowed to have bodies. We were sad that they made the wrong choice, but we knew that Heavenly Father’s plan would make us happy and we could live with Him again someday.
I would like to bear my testimony….
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Talk - Heavenly Father Loves Us & We Love Him
Here's a talk that I gave in Sacrament Meeting while I was serving in the Young Women organization and several of us leaders were asked to speak that day. I usually write my talk out word for word but I don't read it when I am up there speaking. But this way I can keep a record of my thoughts.
TALK TOPIC - “We are daughters of our Heavenly Father who loves us, and we love Him.”
Good Morning
I am grateful for the opportunity to speak today. The Bishopric allowed us to choose our topics for our talks (which could have been dangerous).
We will be talking today about the YW Theme and how it relates to the three-fold Mission of the Church.
The 3 fold mission of the church is:
Proclaim the Gospel
Perfect the Saints
Redeem the Dead
Our YW theme begins with the statement:
“We are daughters of our Heavenly Father who loves us, and we love Him.”
It then goes on to say:
“We will stand as witnesses of God at all times, and in all things and in all places…”
which supports “Proclaiming the Gospel”
It continues:
“…as we strive to live the YW Values which are: Faith, Divine Nature, Individual Worth, Knowledge, Choice & Accountability, Good Works and Integrity.”
This portion supports “Perfecting the Saints”
In ends by stating:
“We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values, we will be prepared to make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.”
Which supports “Redeeming the Dead”
I believe that the principles in the YW Theme can be helpful to everyone (not just to the young women). We can all improve ourselves by learning and living this theme.
I will be concentrating today on the part of the theme that reminds us that we are children of our Heavenly Father who loves us and we love Him.
I am so grateful to be the YW President and to be able to work with the young women in the ward. Each of the girls are wonderful and special in their own unique way. I really do love and care for each of what I call “my girls.”
As I started preparing my talk earlier this week, I was sitting in my sons’ room while my boys were playing. I looked up and on the wall we have a poster that says “My Gospel Standards” –
One of the statements on the poster said:
“I am a child of God. I know Heavenly Father loves me and I love Him. I can pray to Heavenly Father anytime, anywhere. I am trying to follow Jesus.”
I am grateful for the weekly reminder I have in YW every time we say the YW Theme and for the visual reminder I have on Zach’s poster that reminds me that I am a child of God and that He cares about me and loves me and also that I love Him.
One of our church leaders stated “That man is a child of God is the most important knowledge available to mortals.”
Joseph Smith said “All men and women are… literally the sons and daughters of Deity… Man, as a spirit, was begotten and born of heavenly parents, and reared to maturity in the eternal mansions of the Father, prior to coming upon the earth in a temporal (or physical) body.”
We were not all alike in the pre-existence just like we’re not all alike here. We were each given different talents and abilities and were called to do different things on earth. Each of us has a special purpose and our own lessons to be learned. But Heavenly Father will never force us to do anything. We must learn to obey him because we want to. For a long time I had a note up in my room that said “I choose to be obedient because of my love for Heavenly Father.” Brother Stapley said “Keeping the commandments of God is not a difficult burden when we do it out of love of him who has so graciously blessed us.”
Our heavenly parents provided us with a happy and celestial home in the pre-existence. However, our heavenly parents knew that we could not progress beyond a certain point unless we left their presence for a time. He presented us with a plan. In order to become more like Heavenly Father we needed to be tested and to gain experience. We needed to learn how to choose good over evil on our own. Our spirits needed to receive a physical body. After passing all of our tests, we could be able to receive the fullness of joy that our Heavenly parents have received. We learned that some of us might lose our way on earth. Some of us would have terrible trials, but these experiences would only be for our good if we would allow ourselves to be purified instead of defeated.
We also learned that because of our weaknesses we would all sin. We learned that a Savior would be provided for us so that we could overcome our sins and overcome death with resurrection. If we learn to obey his word and follow his example, we can be exalted and truly happy like our heavenly parents. My Patriarchal Blessing reminds me that as I make mistakes, I should get back on track quickly by repenting, constantly doing those things that will perfect my life and make it a worthy life in the eyes of the Lord.
The other day I was driving my son to preschool in Oakley. I always take the same route to school because I am not that familiar with the Oakley area. As I was driving my normal path, I came to a large DETOUR sign blocking the road. I was forced to turn right. After I turned, I noticed there were no signs telling me where to go next. I felt nervous because I was away from the road that I knew would get me to the school. I said a silent prayer and then started heading in the general direction toward the school, hoping for the best. I was determined to make it to the school and not get lost. I finally did make it to the school (and I wasn’t even very late). This experience reminded me of life. We have been taught what path will lead us to our Heavenly Father. Sometimes we may take a detour in our life due to circumstances or choices. When we find ourselves lost and looking for the way back, we need to pray for guidance and pray that the Spirit will help us know what to do. The most important thing is to remember how much we are loved and how much happiness is there for us if we stay on the straight and narrow path.
Heavenly Father knew that we would make mistakes and that we all have weaknesses. That is why it is so wonderful that He loved us enough to provide a Savior for us. Jesus knows our struggles and understands them. Even though He was perfect, he suffered pains and afflictions of every kind so that he would know how we would feel. Our Savior chose to suffer for us because of His love for us and because of His obedience to His Father.
Our Heavenly Father does indeed love us more than we can imagine. I’m sure we would cry tears of joy if we could remember with clarity the love we shared before we left his presence to come to earth. Heavenly Father has given us everything we have and everything we are. We can show our love for Him by choosing the right and following the teachings of His Son.
Heavenly Father has given us the Gospel to teach us. We can confide and counsel with our Father thru prayer…. That we can learn by studying his word in the scriptures, by listening to the prophets and by listening after we pray. We can show our love for Heavenly Father by keeping His commandments and by serving others.
David B. Haight said “Love is a gift of God, and as we obey His laws and genuinely learn to serve others, we develop God’s love in our lives. Love of God is the means of unlocking divine powers which help us to live worthily and to overcome the world.”
Heavenly Father values each of His children very much. We are all brothers and sisters here on earth and we are to serve each other prepare to return to meet our Savior. We need to love and look out for one another.
I was reminded by the example of a child of this. My friend’s daughter Katie was a kindergartener and she saw a little lonely girl just standing there by herself on the playground. Katie’s heart ached for this little child and she went and asked the little girl to play with her. I was so proud of Katie for being so perceptive and for having the courage and desire to comfort the lonely child.
Each of us at some time has felt like the little child alone on the playground. And at some point each of us may feel more settled and secure. If we really strive to have an attitude like Katie, then there would be fewer incidents of loneliness and sad feelings. We would all feel more loved and valued.
We are all here together to learn and to be tested and prove ourselves worthy to re-enter the presence of our Heavenly Father.
I challenge each of you to say to yourselves again and again that you are a child of God and that He loves you and you love Him. By doing this I pray that we can live our lives more worthily and be happier because we truly know who we are.
TALK TOPIC - “We are daughters of our Heavenly Father who loves us, and we love Him.”
Good Morning
I am grateful for the opportunity to speak today. The Bishopric allowed us to choose our topics for our talks (which could have been dangerous).
We will be talking today about the YW Theme and how it relates to the three-fold Mission of the Church.
The 3 fold mission of the church is:
Proclaim the Gospel
Perfect the Saints
Redeem the Dead
Our YW theme begins with the statement:
“We are daughters of our Heavenly Father who loves us, and we love Him.”
It then goes on to say:
“We will stand as witnesses of God at all times, and in all things and in all places…”
which supports “Proclaiming the Gospel”
It continues:
“…as we strive to live the YW Values which are: Faith, Divine Nature, Individual Worth, Knowledge, Choice & Accountability, Good Works and Integrity.”
This portion supports “Perfecting the Saints”
In ends by stating:
“We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values, we will be prepared to make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.”
Which supports “Redeeming the Dead”
I believe that the principles in the YW Theme can be helpful to everyone (not just to the young women). We can all improve ourselves by learning and living this theme.
I will be concentrating today on the part of the theme that reminds us that we are children of our Heavenly Father who loves us and we love Him.
I am so grateful to be the YW President and to be able to work with the young women in the ward. Each of the girls are wonderful and special in their own unique way. I really do love and care for each of what I call “my girls.”
As I started preparing my talk earlier this week, I was sitting in my sons’ room while my boys were playing. I looked up and on the wall we have a poster that says “My Gospel Standards” –
One of the statements on the poster said:
“I am a child of God. I know Heavenly Father loves me and I love Him. I can pray to Heavenly Father anytime, anywhere. I am trying to follow Jesus.”
I am grateful for the weekly reminder I have in YW every time we say the YW Theme and for the visual reminder I have on Zach’s poster that reminds me that I am a child of God and that He cares about me and loves me and also that I love Him.
One of our church leaders stated “That man is a child of God is the most important knowledge available to mortals.”
Joseph Smith said “All men and women are… literally the sons and daughters of Deity… Man, as a spirit, was begotten and born of heavenly parents, and reared to maturity in the eternal mansions of the Father, prior to coming upon the earth in a temporal (or physical) body.”
We were not all alike in the pre-existence just like we’re not all alike here. We were each given different talents and abilities and were called to do different things on earth. Each of us has a special purpose and our own lessons to be learned. But Heavenly Father will never force us to do anything. We must learn to obey him because we want to. For a long time I had a note up in my room that said “I choose to be obedient because of my love for Heavenly Father.” Brother Stapley said “Keeping the commandments of God is not a difficult burden when we do it out of love of him who has so graciously blessed us.”
Our heavenly parents provided us with a happy and celestial home in the pre-existence. However, our heavenly parents knew that we could not progress beyond a certain point unless we left their presence for a time. He presented us with a plan. In order to become more like Heavenly Father we needed to be tested and to gain experience. We needed to learn how to choose good over evil on our own. Our spirits needed to receive a physical body. After passing all of our tests, we could be able to receive the fullness of joy that our Heavenly parents have received. We learned that some of us might lose our way on earth. Some of us would have terrible trials, but these experiences would only be for our good if we would allow ourselves to be purified instead of defeated.
We also learned that because of our weaknesses we would all sin. We learned that a Savior would be provided for us so that we could overcome our sins and overcome death with resurrection. If we learn to obey his word and follow his example, we can be exalted and truly happy like our heavenly parents. My Patriarchal Blessing reminds me that as I make mistakes, I should get back on track quickly by repenting, constantly doing those things that will perfect my life and make it a worthy life in the eyes of the Lord.
The other day I was driving my son to preschool in Oakley. I always take the same route to school because I am not that familiar with the Oakley area. As I was driving my normal path, I came to a large DETOUR sign blocking the road. I was forced to turn right. After I turned, I noticed there were no signs telling me where to go next. I felt nervous because I was away from the road that I knew would get me to the school. I said a silent prayer and then started heading in the general direction toward the school, hoping for the best. I was determined to make it to the school and not get lost. I finally did make it to the school (and I wasn’t even very late). This experience reminded me of life. We have been taught what path will lead us to our Heavenly Father. Sometimes we may take a detour in our life due to circumstances or choices. When we find ourselves lost and looking for the way back, we need to pray for guidance and pray that the Spirit will help us know what to do. The most important thing is to remember how much we are loved and how much happiness is there for us if we stay on the straight and narrow path.
Heavenly Father knew that we would make mistakes and that we all have weaknesses. That is why it is so wonderful that He loved us enough to provide a Savior for us. Jesus knows our struggles and understands them. Even though He was perfect, he suffered pains and afflictions of every kind so that he would know how we would feel. Our Savior chose to suffer for us because of His love for us and because of His obedience to His Father.
Our Heavenly Father does indeed love us more than we can imagine. I’m sure we would cry tears of joy if we could remember with clarity the love we shared before we left his presence to come to earth. Heavenly Father has given us everything we have and everything we are. We can show our love for Him by choosing the right and following the teachings of His Son.
Heavenly Father has given us the Gospel to teach us. We can confide and counsel with our Father thru prayer…. That we can learn by studying his word in the scriptures, by listening to the prophets and by listening after we pray. We can show our love for Heavenly Father by keeping His commandments and by serving others.
David B. Haight said “Love is a gift of God, and as we obey His laws and genuinely learn to serve others, we develop God’s love in our lives. Love of God is the means of unlocking divine powers which help us to live worthily and to overcome the world.”
Heavenly Father values each of His children very much. We are all brothers and sisters here on earth and we are to serve each other prepare to return to meet our Savior. We need to love and look out for one another.
I was reminded by the example of a child of this. My friend’s daughter Katie was a kindergartener and she saw a little lonely girl just standing there by herself on the playground. Katie’s heart ached for this little child and she went and asked the little girl to play with her. I was so proud of Katie for being so perceptive and for having the courage and desire to comfort the lonely child.
Each of us at some time has felt like the little child alone on the playground. And at some point each of us may feel more settled and secure. If we really strive to have an attitude like Katie, then there would be fewer incidents of loneliness and sad feelings. We would all feel more loved and valued.
We are all here together to learn and to be tested and prove ourselves worthy to re-enter the presence of our Heavenly Father.
I challenge each of you to say to yourselves again and again that you are a child of God and that He loves you and you love Him. By doing this I pray that we can live our lives more worthily and be happier because we truly know who we are.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Proclamation on the Family
Here is the Proclamation on the Family that was introduced in on September 23, 1995 by the church leaders. We are trying as a family to study it and live the principles therein.
We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.
All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.
In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.
The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.
Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.
We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.
We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.
All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.
In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.
The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.
Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.
We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.
We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
FHE Idea - Armor of God
We had an awesome group family night that included 4 families with kids ages 1-15 years old. It was about the Armor of God. This could also be adapted easily to be a Primary Sharing Time.
First we talked about the parts of the Armor of God listed below:
"Loins girt about with truth". The loins are the area between the ribs and the hips, the most vulnerable area, Being girt with truth means to know right from wrong and to love truth. Knowing the truth will help us make righteous decisions.
The Breastplate of Righteousness protects the heart. Many of the decisions we make are guided by the feeling and emotions of our heart. The Holy Ghost also speaks to our heart. If we protect our heart with the breastplate of righteousness, then our actions will be pleasing to Heavenly Father.
Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Learning and understanding all parts of the gospel, (faith, repentance, baptism, the Holy Ghost, prayer, fasting, etc.) and putting them into action in our lives. This will help us to walk the strait and narrow path of the gospel and keep us on the "right foot".
The Helmet of Salvation – We should focus on things Heavenly Father would have us think of. We need to grow in our knowledge of the gospel.
He gave us:
The Breastplate of Righteousness protects the heart. Many of the decisions we make are guided by the feeling and emotions of our heart. The Holy Ghost also speaks to our heart. If we protect our heart with the breastplate of righteousness, then our actions will be pleasing to Heavenly Father.
Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Learning and understanding all parts of the gospel, (faith, repentance, baptism, the Holy Ghost, prayer, fasting, etc.) and putting them into action in our lives. This will help us to walk the strait and narrow path of the gospel and keep us on the "right foot".
The Helmet of Salvation – We should focus on things Heavenly Father would have us think of. We need to grow in our knowledge of the gospel.
He gave us:
1) The shield of faith- having faith in Jesus Christ and believing that he loves us and watches over us gives us peace and protection.
Notice, Paul says "ABOVE ALL having taken up the shield of faith." The shield of faith protects us greatly. We normally think of a shield as a small round dish, However, in Christ's time, a Roman soldier had a shield that was rectangular in shape and as tall as he was. This provided for a great covering to the soldier. When the soldiers were fired upon with flaming arrows, they were all able to crouch down behind the shields creating a barrier that would be almost impossible to penetrate.
Notice, Paul says "ABOVE ALL having taken up the shield of faith." The shield of faith protects us greatly. We normally think of a shield as a small round dish, However, in Christ's time, a Roman soldier had a shield that was rectangular in shape and as tall as he was. This provided for a great covering to the soldier. When the soldiers were fired upon with flaming arrows, they were all able to crouch down behind the shields creating a barrier that would be almost impossible to penetrate.
2) The sword of my spirit -- a sword cannot only defend us but can be used as a weapon against our enemies. The Holy Ghost acts the same way. He is there in our time of need to help us make correct decisions. He also warns us against dangers. We can have the spirit with us as we study the scriptures regularly.
Then we did this object lesson which was very cool:
Armor of God Object Lesson
Need 2 oranges, clear jar
Need 2 oranges, clear jar
The orange represents a person with the "Armor of God". Put the first orange (skin and all) in a your container of water. It will float. Then take the second orange and peel it. Each piece of the peel you take off would represent something that separates us from God... As you mention what each piece represents throw the peel in a pile. When all peeled talk about how things just don't seem to hold together well without a complete set of spiritual armor. Break the oranges into pieces and drop them in the container of water and each one will fall to the ground. We are lifted up by God's armor and protection. We can rise above the trials that come our way with His help. He will not let us sink unless we do not do our part and protect ourselves.
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