April 7, 2013 PM General Conference

Holland

If thou canst believe all things.  Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief.

Straight way, Lord I believe, help thou unbelief.  He heals the boy.

Those young in years of faith.

1. The father asserts his faith.  Lord I believe
Remember this man.  Hold the ground you have already won.  When those moments come, hold fast to what you already know.  This specific miracle, Jesus said, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed.  The size of your faith is not the issue.  Be true to your faith that you do have.
2.  Don't lead with your unbelief.  Be true to the faith you do have.  Have an honest declaration of faith rather than your declaration of your unbelief.  You have more faith than you think you do.  The fruit of living the gospel is evident in LDS every where.  This cannot be denied.  This is a divine work in process.  Do not hyperventilate about issue that need to be examined and resolved.  In this world everyone is to walk by faith.  Imperfect people is all God has to do to deal with it.  Be patient and kind and forgiving.
3.  When doubt or difficulty come don't be afraid to ask for help.  Importune God acting no hypocrisy.  I can't say yet ....  I hugged that boy until his eyes bulged out.  Be not afraid, only believe. Belief was always the first step toward conviction.

I know that God is at all times and all circumstances is our loving Father in Heaven.
I know that JS acknowledging that he was imperfect.
I know that president Thomas S. Monson is the rightful successor of the mantle of prophet.

More sure word of prophecy.  I know.  Lean on mine.  This work is God's work.  Don't allow doubt or devils stop you.  Fan the faith of your belief.

Dallim H. Oaks.

Follow in the footsteps of Christ.  Study the life of the Savior.
Review examples and teachings.  Invite you how this restored church and each of us qualify.
Baptism necessary to enter the kingdom of God.
Invite people to repent
If you love me keep my commandments.
Leave that which is highly esteemed among men and the traditions of men.
Ye are not of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
We should not be of the world or bound to the traditions of men.
Some model themselves after the worldly ways.
Worldly practices such as Political Correctness, grooming, teaching about the family.
Whosoever hearth these things and doeth them, I will liken unto a wise man.....
If we love him we will be obedient.
Continuous commitment that applies at all times and all places.
Partake of the sacrament as emblems of him.
We do this each week and covcnant.
We are taught to pray.  We pray in our worship services.
Daily kneeling prays as a family.
The restored church follows the example of Jesus Christ.
No man having put his hand to the plow.   Missionary duties ...
Male and female.  Leave his parents and cleave to his wife.
Seek after the flock who has strayed.  rescue and serve.
Love.  Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self.
New commandment.  as I have loved you.  Love one another.
When we are wronged, we should forgive them.
Give loving forgiveness.  forgive the drunken driver.  As a disciple of Christ, I had no other choice.
Giving to charities.  We fast for tow meals and donate to Chruch to help
Less well known is the church humanitarian donations.  100s of millions of dollars.lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
Be ye therefore perfect.  We are all heirs.  Heirs with God and joint heirs with Christ.  We inherit all things. All that he has.  Only if we follow the Savior.

Chistobel Golden Jr.

About the Father.  JC is the great Jehova.

Elder Falabella

1. The temple is the place The home.  Getting married.  Expiration date.  Shake hand with everyone. Gathered enough to get to Guatemala.
2. In order to contend, you need two people and I will never be one of them. physical abuse.  still far from eliminating emotional abuse.  wounds our personality.
3. A child who sings is a happy child.  Sacred music.  My soul delighteth in the song of the heart.
4. **send nice texts
5. Read the Book of Mormon.
6. Live the scriptures.  Blance (wife).  She taught me how to live it.  Wise man building his house on a rock.  they bring peace.

Elder Kolpischke

Always felt his love and confidence in me.  Feel his acceptance.  His father.  Being accepted by good people motivates us.  Seeking acceptance.  Bad friends or status.  Dangerous path.  to destruction.  Eventually feel abandoned and inferior.  Look to God and live.  Lasting accptance of HF and JC.  They look into our hearts.  They accept us for who we are and what we are striving to become.

Pattern:  know their hearts are honest and broken.  We look into our hearts.  We know our motives and desires. This is honest.  Broken heart is open and receptive.  He knocks. Open this door to Him.  Honest and broken.  We will be taught by the Holy Ghost.


Spirits are contrite. Acknowedge that we have done something wrong.  Willing to listen to the enticings of the Holy Spirit.  Willing.

keep their covenants by sacrifice.  Conscious decision.  Something big or hard.  No so.  Everyday we work on this.  Renew and confirm our sacred promises to the Lord.   The Sacrament.  Always having his Spirit to be with us.  Accept a calling in the church.  Rescue others.  Silent service.  Simply striving for righteousness. Observing our covenants when things are raging around us.

Seeking and receiving the acceptance of the Lord.brings forth great blessings.  His loving acceptance will motivate.  We will feel at peace.  Fear not little children.  I have overcome the world.

Bruce D. Porter.

The last supper.  they did not know that it would be called this.  Darkest hours imminent. In the world you shall have tribulation.  Be of good cheer.  Wickedness in Vengeance.  Last dispensation.  We live in it.  I have overcome the world.  We need not fear the future or falter in good cheer.  Fear not.  Jesus repeated that counsel many times.  I the Lord am with you and will stand by you.  Peace in Zion and in her Stakes.  Defense and refuge from the storm.  When poured out beyond measure....

Stone cut out without hands will fill the whole earth.  JC is the chief corner stone.  Everyone of us can be armed with the power of God as a defense.  Let the Spirit be our guide.  Humbly, quietly trust in the Lord, we will be blessed with deep inner peace.  just a joyful as I do now.

Life begins with a motarized wheel chair.  Pauls faith never dimmed.

Optimistic person named Bruce.  Impossible not to feel bouyed up in his presence.  Tom, in snow, he heard someone singing.  Here came singing.  Oh what a beautiful morning.  A symbol of faith and hope. We may sing with joy rejoicing that God is with this church.  Two other mornings - Spring of 1820.  JS entered a grove of trees in prayer.

Monson

Love and good will to all. Savior has provided this to all,.

Widows and widowers
Drug abuse

We live in a time in the world's history.
I we will put our trust in the Lord, he will help us through our difficulites whatever they may be.  i am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is the key to our happiness.

God lives.  he hears the prayers of humble hearts.  He will come in to us.  We must open on door which He knocks.  Nuture your testimonies.  Until we meet gain in six months.  the Lord bless and keep you. Invoke a blessing upon you.

April 6, 2013 - LDS Conference Sat, PM

Don't forget to pray (song)

Uctdorft

Packard, Perry, Nelson, Oaks, Ballard, Scott, Hales, Holland, Bednar, Cook, Christopherson, Anderson

Cantwell

Brook P Hales

Scott

Place of refuge.  The home.  Quiet place to reset.  Center your home and your life on the Lord.  He is the source of true peace in your life.  All decisions, what the Savior would have you do.

** Make your children accountable for your actions.
** Daily personal and family prayer, daily personal and family scripture study
** Apply sound gospel principles.
Simple consistent good habits.
tech devices can have filth in them.  Waste of time.
** do all we can to have the gentle guidance of the Holy Ghost in your life.
When we serve obediently we gain power from the Lord.
This is an absolute law.  Friends will blossom on your Christ centered environment.  Love abounds.
** Be a true friend.  as a treasure, find a good model for a family.
a positive response to our rescue efforts can occur.  Be patient.
Some things are left to the Lord.  He is in the watch care of the Lord. (James and Steven and Shawn)
Hope is not a thin thread.  Place your trust in the Lord.  We need not worry.  We don't do things simultaneously.  One step at a time.  The Lord will direct us.


Cook

The doctrine of peace.  Having a lasting peace.  How to find peace.  Newton, CT funeral.  Ivory Coast city of Abajan.
Rob our peace, things do.  World trade center.  Made their way to the Manhattan Stake Center.  Stakes of Zion are refuge from the storm when wrath to be poured out on the earth without measure.
World peace vs. God's peace.  Thing not that I have come to send peace on the earth.  He did not bring peace.  Peace shall be taken from the earth.  In deed, peace has been taken.  But, the goal is peace.  Mankind must receive his truth and acknowledge His authority.

Peace is a promised reward to righteousness.  Peace in this life.  Gift from God.  Abiding deep happiness and spiritual contentment.  Calm and happiness.

Saviors peace eases our suffering and hate.  Peace by focusing on family history.  Knowing that the Lord loves us and he knows who we are.   [connected to the vine].

God is the author of peace.  Reject God, no peace.  Abuse of agency leaves us angry, defenseless, vulnerable.

All the rules will be fair and their will be wonderful surprises.
Not found in all the stuff of the world.  Where can I turn for peace?  Answer:  The Savior, source and author.  Humbling ourselves, repenting, becoming true disciples of Jesus Christ.  Peace of conscience.   Essential for peace.  Unload your burdens on the Lord.  Bare a song away.

Ordinances bring peace because they are covenants with the Lord.

Fiji temple.  martial law.  open house.  in celestial room.  tears, feelings of peace of Hindu woman.  Grace of Jesus, we are given peace.  Comforter, peace I leave with you, peace I give unto  you.

In me ye shall have peace.  amen

Stanley Ellis
No Sugar Coating....   Whatever dude!
I am a 70.
Finding the Lord's way. The Lord has a way to do everything.  "every man walketh in his own way" in the last days.  We get blessed if we do it the Lord's way.  The Lord looketh on the heart.  Helping the poor and the needy must be in my own way.  Promoting self reliance.  Evils of the dole.

Do all that we do in His way.

Dickson

Africa, believing, faithful people. They believe in God.  Have no shame.  every couple weeks another ward is made.  You sense their faith.  to join a priesthood class is a sacred experience.  not concerned about having endless material possessions.  Little interest in having enormous homes and expensive cars.  Not incumbered with material things.  Things that matter little.  But they are filled with the things that matter most.

Bednar

limitations prepare us for eternity.  Experiences that we must have.  Male and female was needed to inact the plan of happiness.  Strengthen, bless and complete each other.  Adam and Eve, multiply and replenish the earth.  Marriage between a man and a woman is the right way.  complete abstenance before marriage.  Use that power correctly. Dont misuse God's power of procreation.  Don't use it as evil.  Ultimate expression of diving nature. Contemporary behaviors.  natural man is carnal and sensual, selfish, earthy man, rude animal passions.  Bridle all passions, constrained, deny yourselfand take up your cross.

Nelson

Missionary work.  Lots of them.  Be on the crest of the wave.

April 7, 2013 Sunday AM

Uctdorf - great talk on progressing in the light

Anderson - Preach the gospel to the whole earth.  Is this possible?  Signs and miracles were following the faith of the believers.

JS time - voice of warning to all people.  Was it possible?  Will miracles follow them?  1000's baptized in England.  45 preachers were baptized.

We are few in number.  We are eyewitnesses of Daniels prophecy - cut without hands.

Young men and women moved forward - 18 year old men and 19 year old women submitted apps all within five days!

Growing number of missionaries throughout the world.

We follow the Saviors mandate, go you forth to all nations, preaching the gospel.  We are witnessing the miracles of the Lord as well.  We are part of this unfolding miracle.  Paint missionary work on your heart.  We all have a contribution to make to this miracle.

** pray for areas of the world where are influence is limited.
** pray for opportunities to share the gospel.
** always be ready to have an answer

hold up your light that it may shine.

Promise: pray to know who  to speak to.  Faith will overcome doubt.

"come and see"  how I live, come and see the Christ.  We have found the Christ.
Some will come and some will not.  Invite those to come back and see once more.  A person's  lack of interest need not diminish our love.

** share your faith online more.
** create a blog

This isn't missionary work, this is missionary fun!

** keep the full time missionaries in your thoughts and prayers.

Moxambique - marriage - dowry - expense - can't afford - legally marry - they were married on Friday and baptized on Saturday.

This work is a miracle.


Rosemary Wixom

Okay to try to make mistakes, to try, to do insignificant things.  Influence a child by increasing his or her confidence.  Increase faith through the words we speak.  We build our foundation on the rock of Jesus Christ.

Still small voice - that is how the Lord speaks to us.  Children need to be spoken to with mildness.

** Given to us in the very hour, yea in the very minute what you shall say or do.

** Disconnect technology, everything in the home.  The silence may be disturbing.  But a conversation will occur.

25 words hanoi prisoner.  "These things are important, temple marriage, ......take pictures twice a year.

** speak and write to your children in Love, reflect the love we have for them and God's  love for them.

Elder L Whitney Clayton
Watch and Learn - His grand daughter
Marriage - no other relationship,  priceless
Eternal marriages are based on faith on the Lord, Jesus Christ.  Pay and honest tithing.  no picking an choosing some things and disregarding the rest.
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation.
Repentance in marriage - self evaluation, take steps to take corrective actions.  Humility is the essence of repentance.  humility recognizes that no one can change someone  else.  Treat our spouses with meekness.  Put the other first in every decision.
Fourth, respect - equal partners, no domination, not in keeping with divine law.  Make decision unanimously, helping each other with their shared responsibilities.  turn off electronics.  help with household responsibilities.  help with children, read with them.  They go to bed together.
Transparency - access to all financial information.  fiercely loyal to each other.  No secrets.  Share profiles and passwords.  Virtually or physically.
Fifth - Love.  Cleave unto her and none else.  completely devoted to each other.  Love each other with complete devotion.

Single - persevere, may heaven bless you richly. Keep the commandments.  One day every promised blessing will be yours.  Promises of the Lord will come unto them.

Elder L Tom Perry

War of words, deeds and thoughts.  Secularism is beginning be the norm.
obedience to law is liberty.  Universal and eternal law.  Be a man and live abundantly, observe God's law.  Freedom from sin. Obedience to law is liberty.  Why does it ring true to us?

Satan, the destruction of Man's agency was the cost.  Victory in the war in heaven was over agency.  Now, Satan does his back up plan.  Make us miserable.  he is driven to succeed.  He is part of the test of our agency.  Choice between liberty and eternal life or captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devel.  Seeketh to make all men miserable like himself.

War against sin.  Live the commandments of God.  Ten commandments.  Most acceptable delineation between good and evil.  We dismiss the other six commandments:  idols of celebrities and wealth, profane God's name,  Sabbath day is misused.  Sexuality as recreation.  Coveting is rampant.

man to substitute his own rules on either end (procreation and murder).  Marriage is part of this deterioration.  We remove the glue that hold our society together.  How signficant is the home and family?  sacred powers of procreation is only in marriage.  Sin is always sin.  God's commandments do not change.  Wickedness never was happiness.

DC 130 - law irrevocably decreed. Blessing predicated upon obedience to law.  moral absolutes.  Moral compass is faulting.  No picking and choosing all His commandment.

** Have a perfect trust in his promises.  Be a beckon.

President Thomas S Monson

there is no need to travel unmarked paths.  As we are obedient, we receive knowledge and light.  Obey rules.  Many learn through experience the wisdom of being obedient.  Vivian Park, carefree days.  Hiking and climbing, fishing.   Wanting to build a fire.  Grass dry and prickely.  Set the weeds on fire.  eight year old boy tommy.  We were forbidden to use matches.  Dangers of fire.  We needed to clear that field.  it would burn as far as we wanted.  ignited although they were drenched in gasoline.  We panicked.  fire endangering the pine trees.  Several hours the last remaining embers were extinquished.  Learned lessons.  Importance of obedience.

Spiritual safety.  Navigate this often treachourous existence.  To obey is better than to sacrifice.  he requires a willing heart and mind.  Eat the bread of Zion in the last days.

Never once did Nephi fail.

Soul stirring account; Abraham and Isaac.  Offer him as a sacrifice.  Anguish racked his body and tortured his mind.  Took knife.  Lay not thou hand on the lad.  Thy only son.  passed the test.  In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Obedience is good to do.   Just do it.
Walter Crowsa  - east Germany.  Lack of freedom.  He loved and served the Lord.  Johann Vendorfer, Hungary, prisoner in his native land.  Walter  was Johann's home teacher.  Lives Hungary, in about  a week if we get back.  Dandorfer overwhelmed with gratitude.  Gave his tithing.  Now I'm current with the Lord.  Now I am worthy to shake the hands of the servants of the Lord.    Crowsa served faithfully.  Never murmurred and never made excuses.  Prove them herewith.  abiding the law for the blessing.  Savior, no greater example exists.  Made perfect.  Author of eternal salvation.  Lived the perfect live.  Honoring the sacred mission he received.  Never haughty, never puffed up.  Refused deviate what he knew was right.  Gesemenenee, obedient.  Instructs us, follow thou me.  Are we willing to obey?  answers and blessings can be ours.   He that keepeth God's commandments receiveth truth and light until he receiveth all things.

Elder Holland's talk

03/24/2013

Learner Readiness
Objective: To help the listeners arrive on their own regarding message for them.

SAY: The First Great Commandment, By Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
"We have a life of devoted discipleship to give in demonstrating our love to the Lord."

Q: What is the first great commandment of the Lord?

READ Matthew 22:36-37

A - Mathew 22:36-38

 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

Q: How do you demonstrate your love for the Lord?

SAY:  To start his talk, EH talks of the early dsiciples that walked with the Savior on the earth.  At first reading one might not see some of the reasons why Elder Holland tells the story he tells.

- He talks of their inexperience walking with Lord for only three years being totally dependent upon the Lord.
- Not wanting to believe that the Savior would die and they would be left on their own.
- And then the unthinkable happened, the unbelievable was true, their Lord and Master was crucified.
- Witnessing Him in his resurrected state only added to their bewilderment.
- So, Peter and at least six of the remaining ten apostles go fishing.  Back to the same thing the Lord called them from three years earlier.

READ B

B - But, alas, the fishing wasn’t very good. Their first night back on the lake, they caught nothing—not a single fish. With the first rays of dawn, they disappointedly turned toward the shore, where they saw in the distance a figure who called out to them, “Children, have you caught anything?” Glumly these Apostles-turned-again-fishermen gave the answer no fisherman wants to give. “We have caught nothing,” they muttered, and to add insult to injury, they were being called “children."

Q:  Is the fishing good at those times in our lives when we have stopped doing God's work?

READ C

C - “Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find,”the stranger calls out—and with those simple words, recognition begins to flood over them. Just three years earlier these very men had been fishing on this very sea. On that occasion too they had “toiled all the night, and [had] taken nothing, the scripture says. But a fellow Galilean on the shore had called out to them to let down their nets, and they drew “a great multitude of fishes,” enough that their nets broke, the catch filling two boats so heavily they had begun to sink.

Q: What is the message here?
Q:  Why is it human nature to fall back into our old ways?

    Q: What can we learn about doing our own will verses doing God's will?

         [Read about being connected to the true fine and how it bears fruit.]

SHOW HOLLAND 6:56 - 10:19 (3 min 24 sec)

After a joyful reunion with the resurrected Jesus, Peter had an exchange with the Savior that I consider the crucial turning point of the apostolic ministry generally and certainly for Peter personally, moving this great rock of a man to a majestic life of devoted service and leadership. Looking at their battered little boats, their frayed nets, and a stunning pile of 153 fish, Jesus said to His senior Apostle, “Peter, do you love me more than you love all this?” Peter said, “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.”10

The Savior responds to that reply but continues to look into the eyes of His disciple and says again, “Peter, do you love me?” Undoubtedly confused a bit by the repetition of the question, the great fisherman answers a second time, “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.”11

The Savior again gives a brief response, but with relentless scrutiny He asks for the third time, “Peter, do you love me?” By now surely Peter is feeling truly uncomfortable. Perhaps there is in his heart the memory of only a few days earlier when he had been asked another question three times and he had answered equally emphatically—but in the negative. Or perhaps he began to wonder if he misunderstood the Master Teacher’s question. Or perhaps he was searching his heart, seeking honest confirmation of the answer he had given so readily, almost automatically. Whatever his feelings, Peter said for the third time, “Lord, … thou knowest that I love thee.”12

STOP, ask questions
Q: How does listening to this make you feel?
Q: What might be the message of this non-scriptural elaboration to us?

SHOW HOLLAND 10:20 - 12:31 (1:41 sec)

To which Jesus responded (and here again I acknowledge my nonscriptural elaboration), perhaps saying something like: “Then Peter, why are you here? Why are we back on this same shore, by these same nets, having this same conversation? Wasn’t it obvious then and isn’t it obvious now that if I want fish, I can get fish? What I need, Peter, are disciples—and I need them forever. I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do. Ours is not a feeble message. It is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history. It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world. So, Peter, for the second and presumably the last time, I am asking you to leave all this and to go teach and testify, labor and serve loyally until the day in which they will do to you exactly what they did to me.”

Q: What are your feeling when you listened to this
Q: What is EH's trying to tell us with his metaphore, our message not to be consigned to the ash heap of history?

Q: What is our message?  [a new life in Christ]

SHOW HOLLAND 13:19 - 15:00 (1:41 seconds)

My beloved brothers and sisters, I am not certain just what our experience will be on Judgment Day, but I will be very surprised if at some point in that conversation, God does not ask us exactly what Christ asked Peter: “Did you love me?” I think He will want to know if in our very mortal, very inadequate, and sometimes childish grasp of things, did we at least understand one commandment, the first and greatest commandment of them all—“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind.”13 And if at such a moment we can stammer out, “Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee,” then He may remind us that the crowning characteristic of love is always loyalty.

Q: How are loyalty and love connected?

Q: What does it mean to be loyal to Christ?

Q:  If we love the Lord why don't we stay steady, connected, as constantly progressing upward?

READ D:

D - “If ye love me, keep my commandments,” Jesus said. So we have neighbors to bless, children to protect, the poor to lift up, and the truth to defend. We have wrongs to make right, truths to share, and good to do. In short, we have a life of devoted discipleship to give in demonstrating our love of the Lord. We can’t quit and we can’t go back. After an encounter with the living Son of the living God, nothing is ever again to be as it was before. The Crucifixion, Atonement, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ mark the beginning of a Christian life, not the end of it. It was this truth, this reality, that allowed a handful of Galilean fishermen-turned-again-Apostles without “a single synagogue or sword” to leave those nets a second time and go on to shape the history of the world in which we now live.

Q: Have we all have encounters with the living Son of the living God?

Q: Are there rewards in this life for devoted discipleship?

CONCLUSION

SHOW HOLLAND 18:30 - 20:00 (1.5 minutes)

To all within the sound of my voice, the voice of Christ comes ringing down through the halls of time, asking each one of us while there is time, “Do you love me?” And for every one of us, I answer with my honor and my soul, “Yea, Lord, we do love thee.” And having set our “hand to the plough,”17 we will never look back until this work is finished and love of God and neighbor rules the world. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Brethren, may each of us look at our discipleship and make a personal assessment for ourselves.  Are we connected to the true vine?  Are we enjoying the companionship of the Holy Ghost?  Are we enduring to the end by keeping our hand to the plough?  We show our love for the Lord as we serve him to the end, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

January 2013 - HP Lesson

Missionary Work - Russell Nelson

Lesson Pattern


Missionary Work (R) [5 minutes]
Say: We have been taught many times about the aspects of missionary work [BOARD]
    Inspiring young and old to go on missions.
    Every member a missionary
   Actually going on a mission yourselves
I want to go a different direction in this lesson. But, before let's review what Elder Russell Nelson and President Monson has to say.

Do the review
Read [Elder Nelson]

A - The decision to serve a mission will shape the spiritual destiny of the missionary, his or her spouse, and their posterity for generations to come. A desire to serve is a natural outcome of one’s conversion, worthiness, and preparation.

President Monson:


B - We affirm that missionary work is a priesthood duty—and we encourage all young men who are worthy and who are physically able and mentally capable to respond to the call to serve. Many young women also serve, but they are not under the same mandate to serve as are the young men. We assure the young sisters of the Church, however, that they make a valuable contribution as missionaries, and we welcome their service.

President Monson:


C - We continue to need many more senior couples. As your circumstances allow, as you are eligible for retirement, and as your health permits, I encourage you to make yourselves available for full-time missionary service. Both husband and wife will have a greater joy as they together serve our Father’s children.


Elder Nelson's lesson was geared toward non-members listening to general conference. He exhorts non members to listen to the missionaries. He gives a few stories about how God directed people to the missionaries. Elder Nelson than suggests that missionaries can help in many different areas of their lives and that they should ASK THE MISSIONARIES.

1. If you want to know more about your ancestors, ask the missionaries
2. If you want to return to the fold, ask the missionaries
3. If you want to know how conquer an addiction, ask the missionaries.
4. If you feel life is busy and frenetic, and have gnawing emptiness, without direction or purpose, ask the missionaries.
5. If you want to strengthen your family and marriage, ask the missionaries.
6. If you want to understand the Book of Mormon better, and gain a broader comprehension of the brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God, ask the missionaries, they can help you.
7. If you want to participate in helping the needy and providing relief to victims on disaster any where in the world, ask the missionaries.  They can help you.
8. If you want to more about life after death, about heaven, God's plan for you, the Lord, Jesus Christ, His Atonement and the Restoration of His church, ask the missionaries.  They can help you.

Say: What I noticed in listening and watching E. Nelson, is his enthusiasm for the work.  He is genuinely excited about church and the gospel.  I want to discuss what makes a member enthusiastic or excited about missionary work.  Or, better stated, what make some of us vibrant and excited about our lives in the gospel.  

Say :Although there are probably multiple answers to this question, I want focus particularly today on this enthusiasm and see where it leads us. [BOARD] [if E. does work for you, substitute a good, positive word that works for you]

Enthusiasm (R and I) [5 minutes]
Define E.  enthuziazm. [Gr. to infuse a divine spirit, inspired, divine; God.]
1. A belief of private revelation; the confidence or opinion of a person, that he has special divine communications from the Supreme Being, or familiar intercourse with him.

Say: As we read the following verses of scripture, be thinking about what they all might have in common.

Learner Readiness: Read:

2 Nephi 4:20 - 24

D - My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep. He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.  He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.  Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time.  And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.

Alma 24:14 

E - And the great God has had mercy on us, and made these things known unto us that we might not perish; yea, and he has made these things known unto us beforehand, because he loveth our souls as well as he loveth our children; therefore, in his mercy he doth visit us by his angels, that the plan of salvation might be made known unto us as well as unto future generations.

Benjamin People Mosiah 5:2 

F - And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.


Romans 1:16 

G - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

1 John 4:17 -18

H - Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Alma 27:27 

I - And they were among the people of Nephi, and also numbered among the people who were of the church of God. And they were also distinguished for their zeal towards God, and also towards men; for they were perfectly honest and upright in all things; and they were firm in the faith of Christ, even unto the end. 

Knowing (I) [5 minutes]

Q: What are the common elements the verses we just read? [BOARD]

    [gratitude, testimony, conversion, personally knowing the gospel has changed your life]

Q: Why are they all bearing fervent testimony?  [Q: What do they know?]

         Knowing that it has worked for you. 

Q: What is this knowing called?
Testimony
Peace and rest, a change of heart, rebirth
A change occurred with in us that makes us happy

Letting Go - Grace (R+I+A) [10 minutes]

Q: If we have lost our excitement for the gospel, how does one regain it?
   [Stop sinning, repenting, be more believing]

Read Moroni 10: 32

J - Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

Q: Why do we need God's grace in our lives?

Say: I propose that there are inward and outward commandments that we live as disciples of Christ.

Q: Give me a few outward commandments.

Q: What are the inward commandments that we sometimes disobey?
Using force (verbal or physical)
Being judgmental of others or ourselves
Reviling back (taking offence, getting defensive)
Being puffed up
Not easily entreated
Impatient
Intolerant
Selfishness (seeking not your own)


Say: At our age we will need the grace of God to keep any of the commandments that we aren't currently living.

Say: I submit to you that this is where my internal peace comes.

Hymn


Read Hymn, Lean on my Ample Arm.

1. Lean on my ample arm,
O thou depressed!
And I will bid the storm
Cease in thy breast.
Whate'er thy lot may be
On life's complaining sea,
If thou wilt come to me,
Thou shalt have rest.
If thou wilt come to me,
Thou shalt have rest.

2. Lift up thy tearful eyes,
Sad heart, to me;
I am the sacrifice
Offered for thee.
In me thy pain shall cease,
In me is thy release,
In me thou shalt have peace
Eternally.
In me thou shalt have peace
Eternally.

Letting go scripture

3- Knowing God is With You - Connectedness (A)
Say, I submit to you that being more connected to God brings a witness to your soul that the atonement is real.  You feel joy and are happy.  Worries and fears disappear.
2- Enthusiasm - We get it.  We want to to be part (A)
Read Alma 32:?
Q: When this feeling is part of you, will we not feel more enthusiastic about the gospel and the church?  Of course we will.
1- Missionary Work (A)
Say:  I submit to you that when we feel the happiness, the good news brings, and it becomes part of us through obedience to the inward as well as the outward commandments, that we want to do missionary work (as well as the other missions of church).
We want to inspire and have to ability to inspire our youth to go on missions
We will want to share the gospel with others.
We will want to serve mission ourselves
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

What is the underlying reason why some people are excited and E. about life, the gospel and the church?
Q: What makes one person E. and another not?
Q: How does E. relate to testimony?
Q: How does E. relate to faith, happiness and rest to our souls?
When we are E. everything in our life works out better.

Preparation for a mission is important. A mission is a voluntary act of service to God and humankind. Missionaries support that privilege with their personal savings. Parents, families, friends, and donors to the General Missionary Fund may also assist. All missionaries, younger and older, serve with the sole hope of making life better for other people.



So where do I go from here?

December 2013 Teaching for Our Times

Having the Vision To Do, From April General Conference

BY ELDER O. VINCENT HALECK

Of the Seventy

---

If we are to prosper rather than perish, we must gain a vision of ourselves as the Savior sees us.

Introduction

I had an experience earlier this month that I found interesting.  I woke up in the morning and planned my day.  Within an hour ideas and thoughts came to my my mind modifying my plans. It started with my wife asking me if I wanted to go to lunch.   I changed my lunch plans confirming that my wife would be available.  I felt prompted to text my son asking him how he was doing.  He immediately calls me with news that his mother-in-law wasn't doing well in the hospital.  Karen and I visited this very sick woman in the hospital at lunch.

Tell story about thoughts and impressions regarding Thursday, December 6.
1. Wife asked if i wanted to go to lunch
2. I thought, I would cancel my appt at lunch and go with her
3. I then had a thought come to me to text my son to see how he's doing
4. He calls me and says that his mother in law is not doing well
5. I contact Karen and we visit her at the hospital at lunch

I believe that I received quiet promptings that morning to shape events the rest of the day.  These small events help me with my faith, my assurance that God cares about me.  This increases my vision of gospel.  The lesson today is about gaining our own vision of ourselves as the the Lord see us.

Say: Be thinking about the promptings you have received lately (in the past week or month) that you acted on.  Think about how these promptings from the Holy Ghost increases your vision and testimony

Elder O. Vincent Haleck's talk in the April General Conference, is entitled, "Having the Vision To Do"

Write 'Vision'

What does vision mean? (an inspired ideal that motivates us be better)

Read A

A - How do we, amidst the challenges of our lives, gain the vision necessary to do those things that will bring us closer to the Savior? Speaking of vision, the book of Proverbs teaches this truth: “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). If we are to prosper rather than perish, we must gain a vision of ourselves as the Savior sees us.

Say: Elder Haleck suggests some things we can do gain a vision. Without reading what he has to say, what are things we can do gain a vision of gospel and the Latter-day work?

1. Listen to/ read what modern day apostles say and apply their teachings

2. Read the scriptures

3. Fast and Pray

4. Go on missions

Read B


B - We experience hard things in our lives that can sometimes diminish our vision and faith to do the things we should. We become so busy that we often feel overwhelmed and unable to do any more.

Say: We all have times when our vision, our enthusiasm, our excitement diminishes.
Q: What do we do when this occurs? (renew our commitment, supplicate for the Spirit, take more time pondering and being still, give service)

READ C

C - When we study the life of our Savior and His teachings, we see Him amongst the people teaching, praying, lifting, and healing. When we emulate Him and do the things we see Him do, we begin to see a vision of who we can become. You will be blessed with insight through the help of the Holy Ghost to do more good. Changes will begin to come, and you will bring a different order to your life that will bless you and your family. During His ministry among the Nephites, the Savior asked, “What manner of men ought ye to be?” He replied, “Even as I am” (3 Nephi 27:27). We need His help to become like Him, and He has shown us the way: “Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for he that asketh, receiveth; and unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened” (3 Nephi 27:29).

'we see Him amongst the people'
Q: What do we do to emulate the Savior?



Q: "When we emulate Him and do the things we see Him do, we begin see a vision of who we can become", What does that mean? Q: What is the key ingredient

Q: Elder Haleck said, 'You will be blessed with insight through the help of the Holy Ghost to more good'
Q: How do we get insight on what we should be doing? (each of us have specific gifts and talents. the Holy Ghost will help us do more good).

SAY; This is in contrast to what the vast majority of the world does day in and day out.

Say,  I would like to quote Joseph Smith, in the King Follett Discourse, regarding what makes us more than just beasts.  I sometimes get into a rut, eating, drinking a sleeping.  I think it helps us understand the vision we need to have about our life on this earth.

READ D


D - There are but a very few beings in the world who understand rightly the character of God.
The great majority of mankind do not comprehend anything, either that which is past, or
that which is to come, as it respects their relationship to God. They do not know, neither
do they understand the nature of that relationship; and consequently they know but little
above the brute beast, or more than to eat, drink and sleep. This is all man knows about
God or his existence, unless it is given by the inspiration of the Almighty.
If a man learns nothing more than to eat, drink and sleep, and does not comprehend any
of the designs of God, the beast comprehends the same things. It eats, drinks, sleeps, and
knows nothing more about God; yet it knows as much as we, unless we are able to
comprehend by the inspiration of Almighty God. If men do not comprehend the character
of God, they do not comprehend themselves. I want to go back to the beginning, and so
lift you minds into a more lofty sphere and a more exalted understanding than what the
human mind generally aspires to.

SAY;  We need to lift our minds and actions above our natural tendencies.



Q: Going back to the previous quote, Elder Haleck states that, 'Changes will begin to come, and you will bring a different order to your life that will bless you and your family.' [REPEAT THIS]
Q: "changes will begin to come", what brought the change when it comes?
Q: "you will bring a different order to your life that will bless you and your familiy,: can any of you describe this different order for the rest of us?


Q:  Elder states, ' WE need His help to become like Him', why do we need His help?, What is the help that he gives?

Elder David A Bednar in this year's April Ensign, a article entitled, The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality said the following:

READ E


E - Most of us know that when we do wrong things, we need help to overcome the effects of sin in our lives. The Savior has paid the price and made it possible for us to become clean through His redeeming power. Most of us clearly understand that the Atonement is for sinners. I am not so sure, however, that we know and understand that the Atonement is also for saints—for good men and women who are obedient, worthy, and conscientious and who are striving to become better and serve more faithfully. We may mistakenly believe we must make the journey from good to better and become a saint all by ourselves, through sheer grit, willpower, and discipline, and with our obviously limited capacities....

Q:  What is it a mistake to believe that we can become a saint all by ourselves?  (it can't be done)

READ F

F - I am not suggesting that the redeeming and enabling powers of the Atonement are separate and discrete. Rather, these two dimensions of the Atonement are connected and complementary; they both need to be operational during all phases of the journey of life. And it is eternally important for all of us to recognize that both of these essential elements of the journey of mortality—both putting off the natural man and becoming a saint, both overcoming bad and becoming good—are accomplished through the power of the Atonement. Individual willpower, personal determination and motivation, effective planning and goal setting are necessary but ultimately insufficient for us to triumphantly complete this mortal journey. Truly, we must come to rely upon “the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah” (2 Nephi 2:8).


Application:

SAY:  As I read these gospel concepts, I have to ask myself, how do obtain the grace of the Holy Messiah.  Brother Haleck suggests a first step:

Read G


G - I bear you my witness of the Savior and His desire for us to return to Him. To do that, we must have the faith to do—to follow Him and become like Him. Throughout various times of our lives, He holds out His hand and invites us:

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29–30).

Elder Ballard said the following in the October General Conference in his talk entitled, "Be Anxiously Engaged"
READ H


H - Now, brothers and sisters, I’m not encouraging religious zealotry or fanaticism. Quite the contrary! I’m simply suggesting that we take the next logical step in our complete conversion to the gospel of Christ by assimilating its doctrines deep within our hearts and our souls so we will act and live consistently—and with integrity—what we profess to believe.

This integrity simplifies our lives and amplifies our sensitivities to the Spirit and to the needs of others. It brings joy into our lives and peace to our souls—the kind of joy and peace that comes to us as we repent of our sins and follow the Savior by keeping His commandments.

How do we make this change? How do we ingrain this love of Christ into our hearts? There is one simple daily practice that can make a difference for every member of the Church...

That simple practice is: In your morning prayer each new day, ask Heavenly Father to guide you to recognize an opportunity to serve one of His precious children. Then go throughout the day with your heart full of faith and love, looking for someone to help. Stay focused, just like the honeybees focus on the flowers from which to gather nectar and pollen. If you do this, your spiritual sensitivities will be enlarged and you will discover opportunities to serve that you never before realized were possible.

Q: Why would is it important to have our spiritual sensitivities enlarged?
Q: Doing this daily practice, will bring about what in our lives?

SAY : I would like to hear from you.  What experiences have you had with the Holy Ghost is the last week or month?   I would like a few of you to share.

Conclusion:

There is a change that occurs within us and we progress through the process of being sanctified.  This change finally results in rending the veil of unbelief.  We know we are connected to the true Vine.  We no longer fear the vicissitudes of life.  We know that God is watching over us.  We are partaking of the Heavenly Gift.  We understand from our own experience the scriptures regarding blessings flowing to us our true.  Alma 7, Mosiah 2, Mormon 9 

Converted to to His Gospel through His Church

Converted to His Gospel through His Church
BY ELDER DONALD L. HALLSTROM, Of the Presidency of the Seventy

Goal - end 5 minutes early


Introduction  - Learner Readiness - The purpose of the Church is to help us live the gospel.

Read quote from Karen's Positive Psychology Class

Read A

A I love the gospel of Jesus Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sometimes we use the terms gospel and Churchinterchangeably, but they are not the same. They are, however, exquisitely interconnected, and we need both.

Say:  I believe most of us have studied the gospel for many years of our lives.

Read B

B  The gospel is the glorious plan of God in which we, as His children, are given the opportunity to receive all that the Father has (see D&C 84:38). This is called eternal life and is described as “the greatest of all the gifts of God” (D&C 14:7). A vital part of the plan is our earthly experience—a time to develop faith (see Moroni 7:26), to repent (see Mosiah 3:12), and to reconcile ourselves with God (see Jacob 4:11).

Read C

C Because our mortal frailties and “opposition in all things” (2 Nephi 2:11) would make this life profoundly difficult and because we could not cleanse our own sins, a Savior was needed. When Elohim, the Eternal God and Father of all our spirits, presented His plan of salvation, there was one among us who said, “Here am I, send me” (Abraham 3:27). His name was Jehovah.

Q: How do we define the Church?

1. Apostles and Prophets
2. Restoration
3. Magnificent
4. Sheer goodness
5. Programs
6. Meetinghouses
7. Temples
8. Missionaries
9. Humanitarian
10. Welfare System unduplicated anywhere
11. Lay leaders
12. Community of Saints

There is nothing like the Church in all the world.

Learner Involvement

Say: Now that we have established the difference between the church and the gospel, Elder Hallstrom  discusses dangers and goals.
Read C


C - Some have come to think of activity in the Church as the ultimate goal. Therein lies a danger. It is possible to be active in the Church and less active in the gospel. Let me stress: activity in the Church is a highly desirable goal; however, it is insufficient. Activity in the Church is an outward indication of our spiritual desire. If we attend our meetings, hold and fulfill Church responsibilities, and serve others, it is publicly observed.

Q: What is the difference between 'outward' 'public observance' and 'inward' 'private observance'?
(no answers are okay)

Read D

D - By contrast, the things of the gospel are usually less visible and more difficult to measure, but they are of greater eternal importance. For example, how much faith do we really have? How repentant are we? How meaningful are the ordinances in our lives? How focused are we on our covenants?

Q: How do you measure your faithfulness?
Q: Are there still things that need to be repented of, or, are we beyond that?

Read E

E - I repeat: we need the gospel and the Church. In fact, the purpose of the Church is to help us live the gospel. We often wonder: How can someone be fully active in the Church as a youth and then not be when they are older? How can an adult who has regularly attended and served stop coming? How can a person who was disappointed by a leader or another member allow that to end their Church participation? Perhaps the reason is they were not sufficiently converted to the gospel—the things of eternity.

Q: What are some essential differences between being converted to gospel and only converted to the Church?  What do you see in your lives that has changed?

Read Alma 5 (changed countenance)
Read Ether 4 (veil of unbelief)

Learner Application

Say: Now let's talk about how to make the transition to deeper conversion.  Elder Hallstrom suggest three fundamental ways to have the gospel as our foundation:

Say: Before we look at what Elder Hallstrom suggests what would you suggest to the rest of us?

1.  Read F

F - Deepen our understanding of Deity. A sustained knowledge of and love for the three members of the Godhead are indispensable. Mindfully pray to the Father, in the name of the Son, and seek direction from the Holy Ghost. Couple prayer with constant study and humble pondering to continually build unshakable faith in Jesus Christ. “For how knoweth a man the master … who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?” (Mosiah 5:13).

Q:  What are the suggestions to build unshakable faith in Jesus Christ?
1. Seek direction from the Holy Ghost
2. Constant Study and humble pondering

2. Read G

G - Focus on the ordinances and covenants. If there are any of the essential ordinances yet to be performed in your life, intently prepare to receive each of them. Then we need to establish the discipline to live faithful to our covenants, fully using the weekly gift of the sacrament. Many of us are not being regularly changed by its cleansing power because of our lack of reverence for this holy ordinance.

Q: What are some of the covenants?  Say, Since we are talking about the living the gospel, what would a covenant encompassing the gospel have in it?
Q: Why would we at our age need the cleansing power of the sacrament as we strive to keep our covenants?

Q: What might be considered our lack of reverence for the holy ordinance of the sacrament?

3.  Read H

H - Unite the gospel with the Church. As we concentrate on the gospel, the Church will become more, not less, of a blessing in our lives. As we come to each meeting prepared to “seek learning, even by study and also by faith”, the Holy Spirit will be our teacher. If we come to be entertained, we often will be disappointed. President Spencer W. Kimball was once asked, “What do you do when you find yourself in a boring sacrament meeting?” His response: “I don’t know. I’ve never been in one” (quoted by Gene R. Cook, in Gerry Avant, “Learning Gospel Is Lifetime Pursuit,” Church News, Mar. 24, 1990, 10).

Conclusion / Testimony

I know that as I grow closer to God, striving and improving, my worries and burdens seem lighter.  I am more inclined to share the gospel.  My example improves because I am happy and willing to give of myself.  Little blessings begin to occur.  I am able to endure trials with patience.  My gratitude grows.

The Lord wants the members of His Church to be fully converted to His gospel. This is the only sure way to have spiritual safety now and happiness forever. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.