Jerry Murray, First Counselor, was conducting. The general announcements were as follows:
The Oakland Temple will close for cleaning and renovation on August 22nd and will reopen mid-November, 2016.
Jerry Ricksecker continues to do well and has completed the first phase of his physical therapy. He will be moved to another facility this coming week. Please check the address listed in today's bulletin for the correct location before going to visit.
Upcoming Events: Eagle Court of Honor for Luke Erickson to be held on August 14th at 7:00 PM in the Petaluma Building.
Elder Nathan Kirk has returned from his mission to Chile and will be giving a talk at Sacrament Meeting on August 14th.
Our lesson today was presented by Bishop Cameron Dennis. He spoke on important ways we can build our testimonies and improve our spiritual knowledge.
To begin, Bishop Dennis played an audio clip from President Ezra Taft Benson on the importance of reading the scriptures daily, particularly the Book of Mormon.
One of President Benson's most important objectives was to spread word of the Book of Mormon throughout the world. In his General Conference talk in 1985, shortly after becoming the President of the Church, President Benson speaking of this, reminded of the prediction in Doc. & Cov. 84:54-58:
"And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received -
"Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.
"And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.
"And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written -
"That they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father's kingdom; otherwise there remaineth a scourge and judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion."
President Benson then called upon the entire Church to respond to this scripture by "flooding the earth with the Book of Mormon":
"The time is long overdue for a massive flooding of the earth with the Book of Mormon for the many reasons which the Lord has given. In this age of the electronic media and the mass distribution of the printed word, God will hold us accountable if we do not now move the Book of Mormon in a monumental way."
As faithful members of the Church we may already be doing much to spread the Gospel, but we must say more and do more. Why? Because we must "bring forth fruit meet for their (our) Father's kingdom". This requires constant action and improvement.
President Joseph Smith said that the Book of Mormon is "the most correct of any book on earth and the keystone of our religion . . ." However, the Book of Mormon has not yet become the centerpiece of our lives. We are to read the Book of Mormon because it contains the fulness of the Gospel in a plain manner, meant for our time. This is a daily necessity, not a sometimes thing.
How many of us make time to study the Book of Mormon daily? What are some of the words we might use to describe how we study:
In 2 Nephi 32:3, we read " . . . feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do."
Additional suggestions from class members were: ponder, apply, search; treasure up in our minds.
What are effective ways to encourage daily study?
- Read - just begin and keep going.
- Choose the best time for you to study to get the most out of it. When would be most conducive to the Spirit?
- Memorize key passages that stand out in your study.
- Try to imagine how a specific scripture (or section) will apply to your life.
- Write down the scripture, what you were involved in and how you were impressed with the message at that time. This will be ongoing because the same scripture may have different meanings during different time periods of our lives.
Daily study of the Book of Mormon prepares our mind and heart for what we need to know and to do.
We are admonished to make time every day to read, study, memorize, ponder, 'ponderize' the scriptures available to us in the Book of Mormon.
The knowledge we gain and the strength of our testimonies will be most reassuring in today's world.
The second topic the Bishop chose to speak on was Prayer. We were shown a Church video message by President Thomas S. Monson on "Prayer". The subject of the video, Daisy Ogondo lived in New York City and had previously meet with the missionaries, but life events intervened and she lost contact with them. Then in 2007, the principles she had been taught "stirred in her heart" when she saw some missionaries on the street, talking with another person. She prayed, in her heart, that if God would send the missionaries to her home, she would not turn them away. She relates that when the missionaries did turn up at her door, she said to them, "Come in. I have been waiting for you!" She says that praying has helped her to serve more because praying and being in communication with God has helped her to become more loving with others, to be more humble, to be more devoted to the Church and to God. She says that she knows God had a plan for her, even before the missionaries came to her home that first time. He had a plan for her to be where she is now, where He wanted her to be. He rescued her right when she needed Him. She eventually became a baptized member of the Church. President Monson asks us to pray fervently. Prayer is the provider of spiritual strength. Prayer is the "Passport to Peace". Speak to Father in Heaven in Prayer and then listen for the answer. "Miracles are wrought through prayer."
Brother Unbayev remembered that when he was in the Muslim faith, before his baptism into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, prayers did not mean very much to him. It was simply a matter of repeating words. Now, prayers are specific to himself, his family and their lives.
We should choose to converse with our Father every day to share our thoughts and feelings; what's going on in our lives. Our Father in Heaven loves us and wants to hear about how our lives are progressing, what our needs are and how much we love Him.
When we are struggling with life events and difficulties, counsel with the Lord and seek His guidance. Think of prayer as a private conversation with Heavenly Father, just as you would converse with your earthly parents, or trusted advisers.
Why has the Lord commanded us to pray to our Father? Praying daily helps us draw closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
- We have the opportunity to become like Them and prayer helps us to prepare ourselves, in the best way, for things and events to come.
- We can ask for guidance. This makes it easier to make the right choices in life.
- Prayer invites the Lord into our homes to be a part of our lives.
- If we don't ask, He cannot help us. We must first ask in order for Him to answer. We should ask for guidance with decisions.
John Lallatin mentioned that we should begin our scripture study with prayer. He has found that when he begins his scripture study with prayer the Lord will guide him to answers to questions and doubts. Through fervent prayer our eyes will be opened to those things we should know and do.
The example was given of the Brother of Jared and how he prepared to ask the Lord in prayer for help with lighting their boats. He had an idea, found the materials he thought would work and then asked the Lord for confirmation and for help to implement his plan. The Lord teaches us to come up with a solution, then confirm with Him for approval.
Do your part (due diligence), then take it to Him.
We can learn about the parallels in our earthly situations as they come up with those over whom we have stewardship and how we relate to how Father feels about us.
Hold on - Feel the Spirit - Do your Best.
The third topic of today's discussion was Sabbath Day observance.
We do need to take the Sabbath Day more seriously now, more than ever. We need to think about what we will do or not do on the Sabbath, before the day arrives.
We should turn from our daily pursuits of pleasure on the Sabbath. Keep it simple, respectful and reverent.
Prepare early for tasks and lessons we will need to perform or participate in on the Sabbath.
Think about Sunday on Saturday - Remember the Primary Song? Take care of household activities before Sunday. Have a plan for Sunday dinner and have things ready to go before Sunday morning.
On Sunday, strive to arrive early, not late.
Prepare - Be Ready - Go on Time.
We are at different levels in our lives and in our families, but we can all find an area to improve our performance. Do more.
This will bless our lives in ways we cannot predict.
A specific challenge given to the youth was:
- Read the scriptures daily.
- Attend all three meetings on Sunday, every week - and participate.
- Attend Seminary every day. Take advantage of our awesome Seminary instructor, Brother Steve Wasden, and his scriptural knowledge.
- Then check in the Bishop Dennis every week to keep him apprised of your progress.
Challenge to all adults:
- Attend all three meetings on Sunday. Be on time and participate.
- Read your scriptures regularly every day and Pray.
- Set the example for our youth that the Sabbath is for us, a Delight.
Sacrament Meeting is where we are to be.
Our lives will be greatly enriched when we make the Sabbath a delight in our homes.
Two scriptures that Bishop Dennis quoted for our benefit are:
Doc. & Cov. 59:23 -
"But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come."
Doc. & Cov. 90:24 -
"Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have convenanted one with another."
May we so do that we may have peace and comfort and have the Spirit to abide with us.
Your bloggess,
Karen
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