Thought for the day...

Today I will do what others won't, so tomorrow I can do what others can't!!

Ladies Temple Night

Our next temple night will be on the 7th of May.  We will meet at the church at 6:00.  Please come and join us.  There will be not activity this month, onlly our temple night. 

Ward Conference this Sunday!!

Our Ward Conference is this Sunday.  Our theme is "Because I have been given much!"  We look forward to hearing from the Stake Presidency!!  Please plan to attend!  We will also have the stake visitors in our Relief Socity too. 

Lesson for Sunday, April 20, 2014--Rochelle

The Church and Kingdom of God

"Let all men (and women) know assuredly that this is the Lord's Church and he is directing its affairs.  What a privilege it is to have membership in such a divine institution!!"

 

Joseph Fielding Smith served for MANY years in the church.  Almost 60 to be exact.  He tells a story at the beginning of the lesson about having his first assignment at age 9 months.  He accompanied his father President Joseph F. Smith and Brigham Young to St. George, Utah to attend the dedication of the St. George Temple.   That was his very first church assignment.  Whenever President Smith was called to anything, ANYTHING, he willingly and enthusiastically obeyed.  He quietly exhibited this dedication one day when, at age 89, he went to a meeting.  Walking from his home, he slipped and fell down a flight of steps.  Although he hurt his leg, he walked about a quarter of a mile---limping like an old man--"he said"--so he could fulfill his responsibilities.  After the meeting, he walked back home, where he finally allowed a doctor to examine him.,  The doctor found that President Smith's leg was fractured in multiple places.  President Smith later commented on the experience. 

 "The meeting got a little long," he said.  "But then, most meetings do." 

This is why he is so dedicated:  "I know that God lives.  I know that Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son in the flesh of our Father.  I have perfect faith in the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith and those who have succeeded him.  I know that we have the truth of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ, just as well as I know that I live.  If I did not know it, I wouldn't want to be here or have anuthing to do with this work.  But I know it in every fiber of my body.  God has revealed it to me."

1)  After centuries of spiritual darkness and apostasy, the Lord has restored His gospel and organized His Church on the earth. 

For centuries the world had been in spiritual darkness, without the authority, and without the understanding, they knew not how to worship the living God.  So the Lord sent his messengers from his presence, with the fulness of the gospel, and with power, and the authority of the preisthood to bestow upon men, and gave them commandments....because the Lord knew the calamities which were to come upon the world.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the kingdom of God on earth. 

2)  The Lord Himself directs the work of the Chruch, and it is our privilege to have membership in it. 

If this were the work of man, it would fail, but it is the work of the Lord, and he does not fail!!

The Lord invites us ALL!!  He wants us to be happy and make it back safely!!

3)  The church is organized to help members find joy and happines in this life and eternal life in the life to come.

The Lord has established all thing in order and has given us a perfect system.  Men cannot improve upon it.  The plan is without flaw!!!

4)  Our service in the Church expresses love for others and appreciation for the Lord's infinite service.  NEVER REFUSE TO SERVE!!!

5)  In this dispensation, the kingdom of God and the work of the Lord will spread throughout the world. 

There has been one great thing added to this age--The Lord has decreed that the Church shall never again be led astray.  This time the gospel is here to stay!!!  YEA!!!

Rochelle did such a great job.  We love our teachers!!!  They are so amazing!  Sorry if you weren't there.  We missed you!!  Come be with us!!  

Please PRAY for Glenda!!

Glenda is back in ICU and not doing good at all.  She has pheumonia again and is very sick.  She so appreciated everyone that went to the temple in her behalf.  She said she really needs all the prayers and support she can get.  We will keep you posted as to her progress.  They are supposed to be taking pictures tomorrow to see what the chemo has done.  We pray for the best!!!   

Thought for the day...

When our wagon gets stuck in the mud, God is much more likely to assist the man who gets out to push than the man who mearly raises his voice in prayer, no matter how elequate the oration...



Lesson---Sunday, April 13th--Tanleigh Wilks--AMAZING!!

Chapter 7

Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Witnesses for Jesus Christ

 

If you have never been to one of Tanleigh's lessons you are really missing out.  I feel bad for those who can't attend Relief Society.  We have the best teachers ever.  I am so grateful for their dedication and willingness to serve us and the Lord in our ward.  Tanleigh is now our official 3rd week teacher.  We are so excited about that!!!
I cannot express in words the feelings we had in this lesson.  The spirit was so strong bearing testimony to us of it's truthfulness...
Points to highlight:
1.  Joseph Smith is the revealer of the knowledge of Christ and of salvation to the world for this day and generation. 
2.  President Joseph Fielding Smith makes this statement:  "There is no doubt in my mind that the Lord raised the Prophet Joseph Smith up and gave him revelation, commandment, opened the heavens to him, and called upon him to stand at the head of this glorious dispensation.  I am perfectly satisfied in my mind that in his youth, when he went out to pray, he beheld and stood in the actual presence of God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ; in my mind there is not doubt---I know this to be true."
3.  The Lord did not select one who was versed in the learning and traditions of the world.  His ways are not the ways of man, neither are his thoughts like the thoughts of men--One taught in the learning of the world would have had too much to unlearn of the traditions and philosophy of men.  In His great wisdom the Lord chose an unsophisticated child--a boy fourteen years of age. 
4.  To him the Lord said:  "This generation shall have my word through you!!!"
5.  LOVE THIS STATEMENT:  "Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it!!"  D&C 135:3

JOSEPH LOVED HIS BROTHER HYRUM

Hyrum was a man of wonderful tenderness of heart.  He possessed deep humility and loved his brother better than he loved his own life. 
No honor came to Joseph Smith that was not shared by Hyrum who rejoiced with his brother in all the blessings the Lord bestowed upon him. 
Joseph could not hae stood alone, else his work would have failed, hust as the work of the Savior required the confirmation of another witness,, and who could teswtify for Christ other than his Father?  And so the Lord called another man to stand with Joseph Smith and to hold the keys of salvation in this dispensation as a witness with him....
Joseph and Hyrum Smith sealed their testimonies with their blood.

 "In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!!  D&C 135:3

To those who were blessed enough to be in attendance on Sunday---we were taught well!!