Here are some of my thoughts and impressions that I got out of the church meetings I attended. We had ward conference. In Relief Society the lesson was given by the Stake Relief Society President. She taught a lesson on the significance of the Sacrament. Sacrament Meeting is the most sacred meetings in the church, when we can reflect upon the gathering of the Savior and His apostles on the occasion of the Last Supper. Jesus taught His apostles about His upcoming sacrifice. They were commanded to meet together often and commemorate the death and sufferings of Jesus Christ for the redemption of the world. He explained things so they could understand. Repetition helps with understanding. The apostles had to carry on after Jesus was no longer there. We have been commanded to meet often and remember our Redeemer. We need to renew our covenants each week. When you miss that, your week doesn't seem to be the same. How can we prepare ourselves and our families to make this a sacred thing? We need to prepare ahead of time as much as possible on Saturday so there is less to do on Sunday. Spend some time thinking about Jesus and His atonement. Don't be yelling at your kids and being frazzled by the time you get to the meeting. Have the Spirit with you. Explain to the children why it's important. Praying and reading your scriptures can help you prepare for the sacrament. Play spiritual music in the mornings before church. It helps set the tone. We partake of the sacrament in remembrance of the atonement of Jesus Christ. We have all done things wrong and then been sorry. We feel guilt and misery. Jesus' greatest torment wasn't the nails in His hands and feet, but taking upon Himself our sins and burdens. He paid the price so that we could escape. He had feelings for all of our sins, which was the suffering that He did for us. He suffered for all that we might not suffer if we would repent. But if we don't repent, we'll suffer. His sacrifice was made out of great love. If we could understand all this, we would desire to keep the commandments and would love the Lord with all our heart, mind, and strength. What can we do to remember the Savior and His atonement when we partake of the sacrament? We can read the scriptures or the hymns. We can fold our arms, bow our heads, and think about Him. We need to focus our attention on Him, not be thinking about fixing dinner or other things. One mother passes out pictures of the Savior to her children for them to look at during the Sacrament. Think of the covenant you make. When we hear the Sacrament prayers, listen to what we're covenanting to. We covenant to eat in remembrance of the body, promising that we'll remember His wounded body slain upon the cross. We drink in remembrance of the blood of Christ, which was shed for the sins of the world. We covenant to always remember Him. We promise to be called by His name and never do anything to bring reproach upon His name. We are a representative of God and need to act accordingly. Remember who you are. We need to keep His name sacred and don't take His name in vain. We covenant that we will keep His commandments. We are willing to live by every word that proceeds forth from the mouth of God. If we will do these things, we're promised the guidance of the Holy Ghost. Because He loved us, we may live. Christ has asked us to serve each other. We need to go forth and serve everyone we can. We've seen a lot of depression. Take time to lift someone else and listen to them. Fellowship those who are lost. Search them out and try to bring them back to Christ.
In Sunday School the lesson was taught by someone from the Stake Sunday School. Genesis 24 is about Isaac, and the importance of marriage within the covenant. We live in a world where there is much convenience, where we can pop something in the microwave instead of using a lot of pots and pans. A lot of convenience foods are full of sugar or salt so you have a choice of convenience vs. healthy foods. He's had trials in his life because of poor choices that he made. He got married outside of the temple and he always felt like something was missing. That marriage fell apart. Now he's been married for a year to the most wonderful woman. He wants to be with her forever. He went to the temple yesterday, the Salt Lake Temple with a live session. It was a very special experience. Divorces are common in today's society. He believes it's because of convenience. People jump into marriage hastily, without the basic fundamentals. What do you have to fall back on? We receive blessings when we do what we should. Esau was entitled to the birthright but didn't value it. He sold it for a mess of pottage, convenient out of the microwave. He was thinking of the short term. This is what people do who marry out of the temple and think they'll get sealed later. Maybe things will get in the way and it won't happen. Those sealings need to be done so we can be linked together--with our spouses and families. He's got a bother who left the church and he prays every day that his brother will come back. Heavenly Father loves all His children, even though some of them have turned their backs on Him. They're His family. We don't want any empty chairs. We need to have the right attitudes. We nee to repent a lot. Nobody knows the day they will die. He provides in home care to patients. He sees the ones who are in the church and ones who aren't and when they're close to passing, you can see the difference between those who have lived their lives the way they should. They are at peace and are ready to go. Others are in fear. Just going to the temple isn't enough--every day you need to stay on that path. We can't take for granted the covenants that we make. We need to be an example to others and help them see the right path--give them the counsel they need. We need to be loving and we need to forgive. If we can't forgive, we need to pray until we can. We shouldn't push people, but we can nudge them. He lost his oldest brother to cancer when he was in the 8th grade. After that, the family has become closer. They will be there for each other. You have to have the faith to take the steps you need to. You need to get off the fence. We're in a time when marriage is being attacked. We need to stand as pillars. We need to stand up proudly and love and support our spouses. Be an example of what marriage truly is. Use humor Make each other laugh. Every day is a new day. He wants to be the man that his wife deserves. Being temple worthy and continuing on with that is the best he can do. On October he'll get to be a father. He wants to bring up his son in the right way. No more convenience. Read the scriptures. Listen to the leadership of the church. They are in tune with Heavenly Father. Be an instrument to show others why marriage is important. Do everything you do in Christ's name. Kiss your spouse good bye every morning because you never know if they'll come home. Accidents happen at any time. Have your temple work done. Be prepared. Isaac needed a wife. He had to go to where the prospects were better to fine the right kind of wife. If a couple are not evenly matched, compromises need to be made. Sometimes those compromises are not for the best. Isaac and Rebecca were a good match. The Lord guided them to it. Jacob found a good match. Esau picked a wife who was convenient. Completely different story. The Lord will lead you to the right person. The day his wife's father put her name on the temple prayer roll, she signed up for LDS Singles and they found each other. He knew before they even met that she was the one for him. When they met they embraced and cried. He's never known a more sure thing in his life than that she was the one for him. He will be there for er every day. He'll love her and honor his covenants and take her to the temple often. These are hard times we're living in and we need to stand fast.
Th first speaker in sacrament meeting was the bishop's wife. If we have faith in the Lord, we'll have power to do whatever is expedient. We need to give service. Service to other deepens and sweetens this life. When we concern ourselves more with others, there is less time to worry about our own concerns. It helps us through hard times. When she was in high school her dad taught a Family Home Evening lesson and gave them all a pebble. When you drop a pebble in a pond, it creates a ripple effect. When we serve, it creates a ripple effect that spreads. We need to mourn with those who mourn and comfort those who stand in need of comfort, stand as a witness of God in all things and in all places. When we came to earth, we came to be tested, and to help those around us bear their burdens. We are the light of the world. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works. Be willing to step up and serve wherever needed. She participated in a pioneer trek with young men and women i our ward. On the second day of the trek they pulled their handcarts 8 miles. At the women's pull the men and women were separated and the men were waiting ahead. She had her head down and was pushing with all her might. She felt a tug and saw a young woman helping her who had reached the top and come back to help. She may never need to push a handcart again, but she never wants to let her sisters down. The attitude we show can make such a difference to those around us. A few years ago she was having a particularly hard day and her older sister, who has Down's Syndrome, reached over and took her hand. It was a simple act bu it helped her know that the Lord put people in her life to help and support her. Why does the church put such an emphasis on service? Why can't we just have fun? Great emphasis is put on helping our fellowman. Be doers of the word and not hearers only. When we've served the least of our brethren, we've served Jesus Christ. When we are in the service of our fellowman, we are in the service of our God. Service can be a lot of fun if you approach it with the right attitude. Think of your talents and skills and think how you can use them to help others. You'd be amazed at how fulfilling service can be. How can we serve? Think of the things you can do. When she was a teenager and there were heavy snowstorms, she loved to get all bundled up and help push cars that were stuck. Fulfill your callings. The Lord knows what we're capable of. When we're given a calling, the Lord is giving us an opportunity to serve where we can grow. Calls to serve in the church have been given by church leaders after they have received inspiration from the Lord. The Lord knows who should serve in each position in the church. He choose you. Service helps us grow. When you serve, there are many benefits. Often it helps you more than the people you serve.
The next speaker was the bishop. The stake theme is to accept the Lord's invitation, to have faith, and that when we have this faith we will have power to do that which is expedient in the Lord. What does faith mean? It is a strong belief and trust in someone or something. Having faith in Jesus Christ means having a strong belief and trust in Him. He showed his 5 year old son a picture of the Savior and asked him who it was. He said, "It's Jesus Christ." He told him seeing the picture made him feel good. Then he did the same thing with his 3 year old. He said the same thing. He said he knew Jesus loved him, and assured him that Jesus loved him too. He got to hear from his 3 year old that Jesus loves him too! A primary teacher asked a class to suppose that God asked them to build a space ship to take their family to another planet. Could they do it? A child responded yes! Even though he'd never built a space ship, he had no doubt that if the Lord asked him to do it, he could do it. Having faith means relying completely on Him. Even though we don't understand all things, He does. If you have faith, you hope for things which are not seen which are true. Having faith in Christ includes trust and belief but does not stop there. First we need to have trust and belief. But then we need to act on that faith. The Israelites needed to look at the brass serpent. Because of the easiness of the task, many failed to do it and they died. Faith if it has not works is dead. If someone is hungry, it's not enough to just say "Be filled." We need to do something to help them. We need to combine faith with action. It's not enough to just utter a prayer. We can't just sit around waiting for God to help us, we need to act and do what we can. We need to labor and work. When we have faith, God will give us power to do what is expedient. Those who had faith in what the Lord told Moses acted and looked at the brass serpent. They were healed. Sometimes we're asked to do simple things--cleaning the church building, doing our home and visiting teaching. Sometimes people feel discouraged in their service, feeling like what they do is not appreciated or valued. One time on his mission they knocked on a door and were warmly received. Previous missionaries were not welcomed because the people were not ready. But they planted seeds and the results were that the people were eventually baptized. We don't always see the fruit that our labors bring to pass. Maybe it will be manifest later. He's amazed by people who accept callings with great fear but they are willing to do what the Lord asks. One lady in our ward had a desire to be baptized and many obstacles were placed in her path. But finally she made up her mind that she was going to be baptized on a certain date, no matter what Satan threw at her. And she was. What an example of faith! He has known members who were going through rough times but they told him that if the Lord wanted them to have a calling, they would do it. It is humbling and sacred to meet with those who have stumbled and want to change. He has seen miraculous changes occur. They start praying again, attending church, paying their tithing. They allow the cleansing power of the Atonement to enter into their lives and change them. The Savior said to come unto Him. Come, knock. Choose faith over doubt. Choose faith over fear. Choose faith over the unknown. Faith is a choice and it must be sought after and developed. We are responsible for our faith, and for our lack of faith. The choice is yours. We have opportunities all around us to reach out and serve. This church is true. If we have faith, we can do everything and anything the Lord asks us to do. If your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto God, how great will be your joy if you bring many souls unto Him. Gain that relationship with your Heavenly Father. Choose faith. Doubt your doubts, not your faith.
Then the Stake President said this has been an incredible meeting. As we take the gospel into our lives, we are lead and directed. He hopes we'll all take this into our lives. Take the invitation the Lord has given us. We have unique challenges. The Stake Presidency loves the people. Missionary and rescue opportunities exist in abundance. There are high needs. The Lord will change our lives. The field is white and all ready to harvest. How great it is to know the faith you have in your Heavenly Father. The Spirit was strong in Stake Conference. There were only 12% who attended the Saturday night meeting and 24% on Sunday. There were so many wonderful talks that we all needed to hear. We are hastening the work. The Lord wants us to touch the lives of everyone. It's an opportunity to move the work forward. When you receive callings, those callings come from the Lord. The Lord will bless you as you act. He teaches in small steps. This last week he was able to ordain a brother in the ward an elder. What a great joy to know that the Lord lives and loves us. He is grateful for great friends who have helped him stay strong in the gospel.
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