Faith
Lesson Review:
"Joseph Smith"
General Conference Address - Oct. 2014
Doctrine:
Jesus Christ chose a holy man, a righteous man, to lead the Restoration of the fullness of His gospel. He chose Joseph Smith. His spiritual work began with the appearance of the Father and the Son, followed by numerous heavenly visitations. He was the instrument in God's hands in bringing forth sacred scripture, lost doctrine, and the restoration of the priesthood.
Invitation to Action:
The importance of Joseph's work requires more than intellectual consideration; it requires that we, like Joseph, "ask of God."
Each believer needs a spiritual confirmation of the divine mission and character of the Prophet Joseph Smith. This is true for every generation. Spiritual questions deserve spiritual answers from God.
There will be family members and friends who will need your help. Now is the time to adjust your own spiritual oxygen mask so that you are prepared to help others who are seeking the truth.
Each believer needs a spiritual confirmation of the divine mission and character of the Prophet Joseph Smith. This is true for every generation. Spiritual questions deserve spiritual answers from God.
There will be family members and friends who will need your help. Now is the time to adjust your own spiritual oxygen mask so that you are prepared to help others who are seeking the truth.
A testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith can come differently to each of us. It may come as you kneel in prayer, asking God to confirm that he was a true prophet. It may come as you read the Prophet's account of the First Vision. A testimony may distill upon your soul as you read the Book of Mormon again and again. It may come as you bear your own testimony of the Prophet or as you stand in the temple and realize that through Joseph Smith the holy sealing power was restored to the earth. With faith and real intent, your testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith will strengthen. The constant water balloon volleys from the sidelines may occasionally get you wet, but they need never, never extinguish your burning fire of faith.
Read or Listen to the entire lesson here:
FAMILY
Valentines Day is just around the corner. It's always a great time to think about our marriages and make a commitment to strengthen them if necessary.
"Marriage is a divine institution, ordained of God. Achieving success in the home is a supernal challenge—no other success can compensate for it. Unless, however, a husband and wife learn to work together as one, marriage can also be an infernal ordeal. There are too many unhappy marriages in the world today. There are too many marriages that do not stay the course, ending prematurely in divorce. There are too many children who are silently suffering from a lack of nurturing and care because their parents’ union is unhappy or dissolved.
The union between husband and wife is not something to be trifled with. The marriage covenant is essential for the Lord to accomplish His divine purposes. Consistently the Lord has declared that His divine laws were instituted to safeguard and protect the holy union between husband and wife."
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1995/04/an-elect-lady?lang=eng&query=stregthening+marriages
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1995/04/an-elect-lady?lang=eng&query=stregthening+marriages
RELIEF
Service changes people. It refines, purifies, gives a finer perspective, and brings out the best in each one of us. It gets us looking outward instead of inward. It prompts us to consider others’ needs ahead of our own. Righteous service is the expression of true charity, such as the Savior showed.
The wonderful thing about service is that there is no end to it. As President Benson says, “Therefore, let us serve one another with brotherly love, never tiring of the demands upon us, being patient and persevering and generous.” (So Shall Ye Reap, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1960, pp. 173–74.)
Yes, as we give Christlike service, it helps us grow spiritually, “[put] off the natural man and [become] a saint” (Mosiah 3:19)—that is, one who is honestly trying to follow the Savior and doing what He would want us to do. What a marvelous feeling it is to have the Spirit of the Lord poured out more abundantly upon us as we bear one another’s burdens and share with and mourn with those in need. (See Mosiah 18:8–10.)
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1990/04/the-spirituality-of-service?lang=eng&query=service
Sweeping the Earth As If a Flood:
What is the role of the Book of Mormon in conversion?
The Book of Mormon is powerful evidence of the divinity of Christ and proof of the Restoration through the Prophet Joseph Smith. An essential part of conversion is receiving a witness from the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon is true. As a missionary, you must have a personal testimony that the Book of Mormon is true.
Understand the role of the Book of Mormon
Study “What Is the Role of the Book of Mormon?” (Chapter 5 in Preach My Gospel), and take notes in the margin to summarize what you learn. Talk with a family member, friend, or neighbor about what you have learned about the Book of Mormon.
Learn how the Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ
Read the section titled “The Book of Mormon Testifies of Christ” on page 105 of Preach My Gospel. Study and mark the scriptures listed at the end of the section. Talk with your parents about what you learned from those scriptures. Ask the full-time missionaries how they help investigators understand that the Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ.
Why should we read the Book of Mormon?
Read the last two paragraphs of the introduction page of the Book of Mormon. Determine how you would share these paragraphs to invite someone to read the Book of Mormon. Find someone in your community, school, or workplace to invite to read the Book of Mormon.
Responding to objections and concerns
Read “Use the Book of Mormon to Respond to Objections” on pages 108–9 in Preach My Gospel. With a family member or friend, role-play responding to the objections and concerns listed in the box on page 109.
Find answers to questions of the soul
Study “The Book of Mormon Answers Questions of the Soul” on pages 107–8 of Preach My Gospel, and watch “Questions of the Soul” (5:08) from The District. Ask a returned missionary or the full-time missionaries what questions of the soul they have been asked during their mission and how they have used the Book of Mormon to answer these questions. Find and share with a family member or friend other scriptures from the Book of Mormon that could help answer these types of questions.
Invite others to read the Book of Mormon
Study Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s talk “Safety for the Soul” (16:48), and ponder your own testimony of the Book of Mormon. What sacrifices were made by Joseph Smith and others to bring forth the Book of Mormon? Also watch “Invitation to Read the Book of Mormon: Alejandra” (5:18) from The District. Think of people you can share the Book of Mormon with. What can you do to inspire them to want to read it?
Relief Society Announcements:
Congratulations to Shantelle Oliphant who had her baby last week!
"Becoming a More Holy Woman" - Stake Relief Society Fireside will be March 1 from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. at the Stake Center. Please dress Sunday best. There will be no nursery provided.
Lesson Schedule for February:
February 1st - President's Instruction
February 8th - Ezra Taft Benson #3 - "Freedom of Choice, an Eternal Principle"
January 18th - Ezra Taft Benson #4 - "Living Joyfully I Troubled Times"
January 25th - Teachings For Our Time
2015 Relief Society Curriculum:
Teachings of President's of the Church - Ezra Taft Benson
Recipes on the blog:
If you have a recipe you would like to share send them to: drbennett1@hotmail.com or call or text them to 208-351-7083. We would love to have your favorite holiday recipes!Visit the ward recipe blog: www.burton4threcipes.blogspot.com
