The Book

In Relief Society today the lesson was taught from the October General Conference 2014, each ward were able to choose which talk they used.

Below we have shared the lesson taught in one of our units today:  The Book by Elder Allan F. Packer.  The talk can be read / viewed HERE

The Lord's work and glory is to 'bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man', he desperately desires that we will all live righteously and do all that is needed that we may all one day return to His presence.  Elder Packer taught that there are four areas in which the Church focuses to assist each of it's members to reach this goal:

1. Live the gospel of Jesus Christ
2. Gathering Israel through missionary work
3. Caring for the poor and needy
4. Enabling the salvation of the dead by building temples and performing vicarious ordinances.

"These four focuses and all other laws, commandments, and ordinances are required and not optional."

 

Elder Packer then went on to speak to us about number 4 - work for the dead.

 

 

We were reminded that one thing we have been asked to do as members of the Europe Area is during 2015 to complete the My Family booklet. 

 

Have you accepted this challenge?

 

If not, these should be available from your ward / branch and a wonderful way to begin you family history or even just to insure you are gathering the information you need.

 

 

 

President Spencer W Kimball said: "Our success, individually and as a Church, will largely be determined by how faithfully we focus on living the gospel in the home."  'Temple and family history is part of living the gospel at home.  It should be a family activity far more than a Church activity.'  Are we ensuring that is happening?

 

We discussed various ways to make Family History something ALL the family are involved in and care about - maybe by hanging a Family Tree on the wall in our homes so we can see who we have found and what spaces still are waiting to be found.  Maybe by sharing photographs and stories of our ancestors in FHE, even acting out the stories with the children in our homes. 

 

Also, was discussed the great importance on involving our youth.  Elder David A Bednar promised: "I invite the young people of the Church to learn about and experience the Spirit of Elijah...I promise that you will be protected against the intensifying influence of the adversary.  As you participate in and love this holy work, you will be safeguarded in your youth and throughout your lives."    In a world where temptation becomes more and more rife among our young people, isn't this exactly what we hope for them?  To be safeguarded and influenced by the Lord.  It can be as simple as involving them in our Family History efforts.

 

If you would like to see more about the challenge that was given to the youth, you can watch the video HERE .  Maybe this is a challenge your family want to take this year?

 

Many members of the Church love Family History, but sadly there are many who are yet to do any of this work.  Elder Packer said "Even with the dramatic increase in member participation, we find that relatively few members of the Church are regularly involved in finding and doing temple ordinances for their family.  This calls for a change in our priorities.  Don't fight the change, embrace it!"

 

Sisters, this is a work WE can do.  This is a work we can encourage ALL our family to be part of.  Elder Packer taught us that the Church has done much to make this possible and have removed many of the obstacles. "However, there is one obstacle the Church cannot remove.  It is an individual's hesitation to do the work.  All it requires is a decision and a little effort."

 

Will we be the obstacle?  Or are we willing to make that decision and put in a little effort?  The blessings will be immense.

 

 



Pray Always....Do We?

Todays lesson was taught from Chapter Two of the Teachings of President Benson: Pray Always.

When do YOU pray?

What a wonderful video, reminding us of the great blessing that prayer, the opportunity to speak with our loving Father in Heaven truly is.

President Benson said:  "All through my life the counsel to depend on prayer has been prized above almost any other advice I have received?"  Sisters, do we feel the same way?  Is prayer a treasured blessing in YOUR life?

 

It soon becomes clear as we read the words of President Benson, that prayer was a part of all that he
did - from praying over his employment as the United States Secretary of Agriculture to visiting Germany after World War Two, on the Lord's errand. And it was those prayers that sustained him and allowed him to be an instrument to the Lord.  It needs to be the same way with us.

During Relief Society today we had the opportunity to share our own experiences with prayer, and bear testimony of the blessing it has been in our own lives.  Sisters spoke of miraculous healings that have come to members of their families as they have joined together and pled with the Lord for help.  Testimonies were shared of families brought together, personal strength received, faith renewed and the ability to withstand temptation.

President Benson suggested that five ways we could improve our communication with the Lord - as you consider the experiences in your own life, maybe ponder if one of these could make your relationship with the Lord a little better?

1. We should pray frequently - we should be alone with our Heavenly Father at least two or three times a day.

2. We should find an appropriate place where we can meditate and pray - free from distraction.

3. We should prepare ourselves for prayer - If we do not feel like praying, then we should pray until we do feel like praying. 

4. Our prayers should be meaningful and pertinent - We should avoid using the same phrases in each prayer.  Any of us would be offended if a friend said the same words to us each day, treated the conversation as a chore, and could hardly wait to finish in order to turn on the television set and forget us...

5. After making a request through prayer, we have a responsibility to assist in its being granted - We should listen.  Perhaps while we are on our knees, the Lord wants to counsel us.

Sometimes life can be extremely trying and President Benson teaches us it is often in these moments that prayer becomes the most precious to us.    He says: "I know without any question that it is possible for men and women to reach out in humility and prayer and tap that Unseen Power, to have prayers answered.  Man does not stand alone, or at least, he need not stand alone.  Prayer will open doors, prayer will remove barriers, prayer will ease pressures, prayer will give inner peace and comfort during times of strain and stress and difficulty.  Thank God for prayer.

"Even during hours of trial and anxiety, it is possible to draw close to the Lord, to feel of His influence and of His sustaining power - that one is never alone, if he will only humble himself before the Almighty.  I am grateful for that testimony, that assurance."

Sisters, we too can have that sure testimony of prayer.  We do it by proving the Lord at His word and ensuring prayer has a priority within our lives.  We do it by following the counsel of President Benson:

"...and so I adjure you to give prayer - daily prayer, secret prayer - a foremost place in your lives.  Let no day pass without it."

Just imagine the difference it could make.  Sisters - When do YOU pray?

Loving the Lord - A moment to Ponder

Sisters - do you love the Lord?  Does He come first in your life?  Do you care more about pleasing Him than you do anyone else?

These are questions that we may pondered on today as we studied today's RS lesson, the first chapter in the Teachings of President Ezra Taft Benson:  The Great Commandment - Love the Lord.

President Benson explained his wish for us all as members of the Church:

"I wish that every Latter-day Saint could say and mean it with all his heart: I'll go where you want me to go.  I'll say what you want me to say.  I'll be what you want me to be.  If we could all do that, we would be assured of the maximum of happiness here and exaltation in the celestial kingdom of God hereafter."

Imagine a life of happiness here on earth and an future to look forward to in the Celestial kingdom with God.  Isn't that what we all want? 

He went on further to share the blessings that we can look forward to if we choose to have this attitude and act accordingly as we go through life:

 

Sisters - what do we need to do daily that will enable these blessings to be part of our life, to ensure a life of happiness?

We simply have to love the Lord, and place Him first in our lives.  It is that simple. 

"To love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength is all-consuming and all-encompassing.  It is no lukewarm endeavour.  It is total commitment of our very being - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually - to a love of the Lord.

 

" The breadth, depth and height of this love of God extend to every facet of one's life.  our desires, be they spiritual or temporal, should be rooted in a love of the Lord.  Our thoughts and affections should be centered on the Lord.  Let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord, said Alma, yea let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever."

So sisters - is this how you love the Lord?  Does your life reflect that?  Are you truly willing to go where He wants you to go?  To say what He wants you to say?  And be what He wants you to be?  If not, what are we going to do about it this week?

Learning to Trust the Lord...

Sisters, in each of the units throughout the Stake today, the first Principle of the new Self-reliance programme should have been taught:

Principle One - Exercising faith in Jesus Christ.

Within this we saw a short video of a beautiful experience one family had as they chose to exercise faith in Christ and trust Him and his words:

The rest of the presentation of this principle can be viewed in the Self Reliance tab at the top of the page.

This was the Presidency message shared in one of our units in the Stake this week in the reminder of the time -

Sisters, what do you treasure most?  What is of most importance to you?  Ponder on that as you listen to the following story:

The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five.  Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand she saw them, a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box.

'Oh please mummy, can I have them?  Please, mummy please?'

Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girls upturned face.

'A dollar ninety five, that's almost $2.00.  If you really want them I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself.  Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another dollar bill from Grandma.  As soon as Jenny got home she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies.  After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbour and asked Mrs McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents.

On her birthday Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.  Jenny loved her pearls.  They made her feel dressed up and grown up.  She wore them everywhere - Primary, school, even to bed.  The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath.  Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.

Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story.  One night when he was finished the story he asked Jenny, 'do you love me?'  'Oh yes, Daddy, you know that I love you,'  'Then give me your pearls.'  'Oh Daddy not my pearls.  But you can have Princess - the white horse from my collection, the one with the pink tail.  Remember Daddy, the one you gave me, she's my favourite.'

'That's okay honey, daddy loves you.  Good night.'  And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.

Then we paused - and read from the scriptures - Mark 10:17-22 and then considered for a while.

The rich young man was asked to give up something that was precious to him, just as little Jenny was.  Sometimes we too are asked to do that same thing.  For us, it may not be riches or precious treasures but we all have something the Lord asks us to put aside:

Maybe we have a person we choose not to forgive, we know we have to one day but for now we feel good in being angry and right and justified.

Maybe it is our favourite sin / weakness - that we know we shouldn't really do, but we just don't want to have to change yet.

Maybe it is the choices of how we spend our time - when it is time to go VT, do we?  Or do we choose the TV and that show we really want to watch.  Or when it is time to study the scriptures, do we chose the warm bed which we just cannot face leaving just now.

Maybe it is riches and worldly items, maybe when offered an extra shift at work which just happens to be on a Sunday we choose to do it.

What was it the young man chose?  He chose his worldly goods but actually his choice was far, far more important than that.  He chose the world over the Saviour.  He chose not to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  Is it possible that out choices are the same, are we choosing something over the Saviour?

Listen to the rest of Jenny's story:

About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's dad asked again 'Do you love me?'

'Daddy you know I love you.'  'Then give me your pearls.'  'Oh Daddy not my pearls, but you can have my baby doll.  The brand new one I got for my birthday.  She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matched her sleeper.'

'That's okay, sleep well.  God bless you little one.  Daddy loves you' and as always he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.

A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian style.  As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.  'What is it Jenny?  What's the matter?'  Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy.  And when she opened it there was her little pearl necklace.  With a little quiver she finally said 'Here Daddy, it's for you.'

With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny.  He had had them all the time.  He was just waiting for her to give up the dime store stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure.

Sisters, sometimes we forget that the reason the Lord wants us to choose Him, to follow Him, to be righteous is because He loves us and has much greater things in store for us.

As we think about this coming year, will we be content with our little pearls that might turn our neck green or are we willing to make those small changes and become a better disciple of Christ.  As Elder Neal A Maxwell said "If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God first, it will in the end make no difference what you have chosen instead."

Happy New Year - Looking Forward

 

Sisters, we wish you all a Happy New Year - if you have a moment this Mormon

Message video has a wonderful message for us all...

 

~ Look Not Behind Thee ~

 

 

 

What will 2015 bring for you? It is YOUR choice!

At this time of year we naturally begin to turn our thoughts to the coming year and what changes we want to make. 

The lesson in Relief Society today was based on the General Conference talk by Elder Jorg Klebingat entitled "Approaching the Throne of God with Confidence".  He spoke boldly but kindly of some of the choices we currently make and may what to change.

The talk can be viewed HERE

Listen to the questions Elder Klebingat posed to us:

* One a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your spiritual confidence before God?

* Do you have a personal witness that you current offering as a Latter-day Saint is sufficient to inherit Eternal Life?

* Can you say within yourself that Heavenly Father is pleased with you?

* What thoughts come to mind if you had a personal interview with your Saviour one minute from now?

Maybe you feel there is something you could improve on?  As you go through this talk, maybe you will find the Spirit prompting you as to what some of those goals for the coming year could be.

Elder Klebingat said this:

"Whenever the adversary cannot persuade imperfect yet striving Saints such as you can abandon your belief in a personal and living God, he employs a vicious campaign to put as much distance as possible between you and God.  The adversary knows that faith in Christ - the kind of faith that produces a steady stream of tender mercies and even mighty miracles - goes hand in hand with a personal confidence that you are striving to choose the right.  For that reason he will seek access to your heart to tell you lies - lies that Heavenly Father is disappointed you, that the Atonement is beyond your reach, that there is no point in even trying, that everyone else is better than you, that you are unworthy, and a thousand variations of that same evil theme."

Sisters - does that sound familiar? 

So many of us feel we are not good enough, clever enough, anything enough.  Those feelings are NOT from the Lord.  And as the talk went on to share "as long as you allow those voices to chisel away at your soul, you can't approach the throne of God with real confidence.  Whatever you do, whatever you pray for, whatever hopes for a miracle you may have, there will always be just enough self-doubt chipping away at your faith - not only your faith in God but also confidence in yourself..."

It doesn't have to be this way. 

We can CHOOSE to make things different.  Elder Klebingat offered 6 suggestions that can offer us the peace we all look for.  He said them in such a wonderful way we have quoted him below....As you read let the Spirit guide your thoughts in what YOU need to do to allow that peace and confidence to come.  Pick one area and let it become part of your life in 2015.....

1. Take responsibility for your own spiritual wellbeing - Stop blaming others or your circumstances, stop justifying and stop making excuses for why you may not be fully striving to be obedient.  Accept that you are free according to the flesh and free to choose liberty and eternal life.  The Lord knows your circumstances perfectly, but He also knows perfectly well whether you simply choose not to fully live the gospel.  If this is the case, be honest enough to admit it, and strive to be perfect within your own sphere of circumstances.

2. Take responsibility for your own physical wellbeing - Your soul consists of your body and spirit.  Feeding the spirit while neglecting the body, which is a temple, usually leads to spiritual dissonance and lowered self-esteem.  If you are out of shape, if you are uncomfortable in your own body and can do something about it, then do it!  Elder Russell M Nelson has taught that we should 'regard our body as a temple of our very own' and that we should 'control our diet and exercise for physical fitness'

President Boyd K Packer has taught 'that our spirit and our body are combined in such a way that our body are combined in such a way that our body becomes an instrument of our mind and that our body becomes an instrument of our mind and the foundation of our character.'  Therefore, please use good judgement in what and especially how much you eat and regularly give your body the exercise it needs and deserves.  If you are physically able, decide today to be the master of your own house and begin a regular long term exercise program, suited to your abilities combined with a healthier diet.

3. Embrace voluntary, wholehearted obedience as part of your life - Acknowledge that you cannot love God without also loving His commandments.  The Saviour's standard is clear and simple, 'if ye love me, keep my commandments'.  Selective obedient brings selective blessings and choosing something bad over something worse is still choosing wrong.  You can't watch a bad movie and very bad one. Faithful observance of some commandments doesn't justify neglecting others. Abraham Lincoln rightly said 'when I do good I feel good, when I do bad I feel bad.'
expect to feel virtuous because you did not watch a

Also, do the right things for the right reasons.  The Lord who 'requireth the heart and a willing mind' and who 'is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the hearth' knows why you go to church  - whether you are present in body only or truly worshipping.  You can't sing on Sunday 'O Babylon, O Babylon I bid thee farewell, and then seek to tolerate it's company again moments later.  Remember that casualness in spiritual matters never was happiness.  Make the Church and the restored gospel  your whole life not just a part of your outward or social life.  Choosing this day whom you will serve is lip service only - until you actually live accordingly.

4. Become really, really good at repenting thoroughly and quickly - Because the Atonement of Jesus Christ is very practical, you should apply it generously 24/7, for it never runs out.  Embrace the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance as things that are to be welcomed and applied daily according to the Great Physicians orders.  Establish an attitude of ongoing, happy, joyful repentance by making it your lifestyle of choice.  In doing so, beware of the temptation to procrastinate and don't expect the world to cheer you on.  Keeping your eyes on the Saviour, care more about what He thinks of you, and let the consequences follow.

5. Become really, really good at forgiving - 'I the lord will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men'.  Forgive everyone, everything, all the time or at least strive to do so, thus allowing forgiveness into your own life.  Don't hold grudges, don't be easily offended, forgive and forget quickly and don't ever thing that you are exempt from this commandment.

6. Accept trials, setbacks and surprises as part of your mortal experience - Remember that you are here to be proved and tested 'to see if you will do all things whatsoever the Lord your God shall command you' and may I just add 'under all circumstances'.  Millions of your brothers and sisters have been or are being thus tested, so why should you be exempt?  Some trials come through your own disobedience or negligence.  Other trials come because of the negligence of others or simply because this is a fallen world.  When these trials come, the adversary's minions begin broadcasting that you did something wrong, that this is a punishment, a sign that Heavenly Father does not love you.  Ignore that!  Instead, try to force a smile, gaze heavenward and say I understand Lord.  I know what this is.  A time to prove myself, isn't it?  Then partner with Him to endue well to the end.

It is our choice Sisters - we truly can become more confident before the Lord and more ready to meet with Him again.  What do you need to do?  Will you do it?  Here is to a wonderful, peaceful and content 2015. 

Where is the Saviour?

As I sat in Sacrament meeting today in Ipswich Ward I heard a wonderful and thought provoking message -

 

Sister Lafevre told of her preparations for the Ward Christmas Party and the privilege of putting out many nativity sets for the display.  As she carefully unwrapped the pieces of each set she began to notice a pattern, that the designers tended to follow a similar design.  The wise men would often be placed on the right side, while the shepherds went to the left.  Joseph would be faced slightly to the right with Mary facing inward the other side, both facing the central figure, the baby Jesus.

 

 

 

 

It crossed her mind - why this would be?  Why was the baby Jesus in the centre?  What would happen if she decided to move the pieces....place Jesus off to the side and have a wise man in the centre, or a shepherd.  But she realised she just couldn't do it.  It was so very necessary that Jesus be in the centre.

 

The thoughts came as I listened to the questions then posed to us:

 

As a Latter Day woman where would I be in that scene?

Where is my relationship with the Saviour right now?

Where do I stand with Christ?

Is He at the centre of my life?

 

And so Sisters, we must each ask ourselves.  Where is the Saviour in our lives?  Is He still placed at the centre?  Could we possibly have it any other way and still feel the peace and joy his coming brought to the world?

 

As we approach this Christmas period, what better time to take a moment and review where our hearts are and what state our relationship is with Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

 How much room will you make for the Saviour this Christmas season and in the coming year?  Will He be the centre of your life in 2015?