Weekly Update - March 8th - March 14th

FAITH

"Principals of True Repentance" - Ezra Taft Benson - Lesson 5

Doctrine: 

"For those who pay the price required by true repentance, the promise is sure.  You can be clean again.  The despair can be lifted.  The sweet peace of forgiveness will flow into your lives."

 

My beloved brothers and sisters, as we seek to qualify to be members of Christ’s Church—members in the sense in which He uses the term, members who have repented and come unto Him—let us remember these six principles:

 

First, the gospel is the Lord’s plan of happiness, and repentance is designed to bring us joy.

 

Second, true repentance is based on and flows from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other way.

 

Third, true repentance involves a change of heart and not just a change of behavior.

 

Fourth, part of this mighty change of heart is to feel godly sorrow for our sins. This is what is meant by a broken heart and a contrite spirit.

 

Fifth, God’s gifts are sufficient to help us overcome every sin and weakness if we will but turn to Him for help.

 

 Finally, we must remember that most repentance does not involve sensational or dramatic changes, but rather is a step-by-step, steady, and consistent movement toward godliness.

 

 

 

Invitation to Action: 

We must not lose hope. Hope is an anchor to the souls of men. Satan would have us cast away that anchor. In this way he can bring discouragement and surrender. But we must not lose hope. The Lord is pleased with every effort, even the tiny, daily ones in which we strive to be more like Him. Though we may see that we have far to go on the road to perfection, we must not give up hope.¹⁵

For those who pay the price required by true repentance, the promise is sure. You can be clean again. The despair can be lifted. The sweet peace of forgiveness will flow into your lives.

The words of the Lord through Isaiah are sure: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isa. 1:18).

 

And in this dispensation the Lord spoke with equal clarity when He said, “Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more” (D&C 58:42).

 

 

 

      

“True repentance is based on and flows from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  There is no other way."

 Promised Blessings:

If we will strive to incorporate these principles into our lives and implement them on a daily basis, we shall then qualify to be more than members of record in the Church of Jesus Christ. As true members, we have claim to His promise: “Whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church to the end, him will I establish upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.” (D&C 10:69.)

 

 

 Read or Listen to the entire lesson here:  

 

https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-ezra-taft-benson/chapter-5-principles-of-true-repentance?lang=eng

 

Another great talk by Elder Holland is, "Broken Things to Mend"

 

When He says to the poor in spirit, “Come unto me,” He means He knows the way out and He knows the way up." 

 

Read of listen to it here: 

 

 https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2006/04/broken-things-to-mend?lang=eng

 

 

 

FAMILY

 

 

Have you read the article in this months Ensign entitled, "Talking about Tough Topics?"  It gives some great advice.  Here are the highlights:

 

"When your children face challenges, it’s important to talk to them in ways that will strengthen your relationship with them." -  By Sheree Lyn Clarke - Clinical Psychologist, LDS Family Services

 

There are many difficult issues your children could face, such as bullying, bad language, cheating at school, same-sex attraction, eating disorders, depression, and suicidal thoughts, for example. As a Latter-day Saint parent, you know you “have a sacred duty to rear your children in love and righteousness,”² but how do you go about that when your children struggle with difficult issues, whether in their own lives or in the lives of their friends? Here are some guidelines:

 

Ask questions that invite conversation. You can ask a question like this: “It looks like something may be bothering you. Do you want to talk about it?” This question not only acknowledges that you have noticed that something is bothering your child, but it also opens a door for your child to share as much (or little) as he or she chooses.

 

Listen to understand. Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “The time to listen is when someone needs to be heard. Children are naturally eager to share their experiences. … If they try to express their anguish, is it possible for us to listen openly to a shocking experience without going into a state of shock ourselves? Can we listen without interrupting and without making snap judgments that slam shut the door of dialogue? It can remain open with the soothing reassurance that we believe in them and understand their feelings. Adults should not pretend an experience did not happen just because they might wish otherwise.”

 

Show respect. The scriptures give excellent guidance on how to create an environment of love and respect. Notice some of the key words in Doctrine and Covenants 121:41–42: persuasion (not force), long-suffering (not immediate, forced compliance or impatience), gentleness (not loud, aggressive, intense communication), meekness (not proud or domineering responses), kindness (not cruel manipulation), and love unfeigned (genuine, sincere expressions of love). As we deepen our conversion, “the way we treat others becomes increasingly filled with patience, kindness, a gentle acceptance, and a desire to play a positive role in their lives.”

 

Control your anger. “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty” (Proverbs 16:32), and “the spirit of contention … is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger” (3 Nephi 11:29). Anger drives away the Spirit and has the potential to destroy fragile parent-child relationships. In general conference, President Hinckley said, “I plead with you to control your tempers, to put a smile upon your faces, which will erase anger; speak out with words of love and peace, appreciation, and respect. If you will do this, your lives will be without regret. Your marriages and family relationships will be preserved. You will be much happier.”

 

Strengthen the relationship. All of these suggestions can be helpful, but if you can’t remember them when you are in the middle of a difficult conversation with your child, simply ask yourself, “How can I use this situation with my child as an opportunity to strengthen our relationship?” Then listen to and follow the inspiration you receive.

 

Keep trying. Parenting can be very difficult, yet you can succeed if you keep trying. President Howard W. Hunter (1907–95) offered these words of encouragement: “A successful parent is one who has loved, one who has sacrificed, and one who has cared for, taught, and ministered to the needs of a child. If you have done all of these and your child is still wayward or troublesome or worldly, it could well be that you are, nevertheless, a successful parent.”

 

Talking with Teenagers

Talking about challenges is difficult enough but can be even more so with teenagers, who are struggling to form their own identities—independent of their parents. Adolescents deal with enormous academic, emotional, and social pressures. Their belief and value systems are sometimes called into question by friends and peers. Their relationships with their parents can become fragile at this stage of their development, and it is not uncommon for teenagers to end up feeling confused, alone, anxious, uncertain, helpless, isolated, and even depressed.

Parents who understand and are sensitive to these developmental challenges can better help their teenagers at a time when they need their parents most.

 

Read or listen to the entire talk here:  https://www.lds.org/ensign/2015/03/talking-about-tough-topics?lang=eng

 

 RELIEF

 

Happy Birthday to the Relief Society This Month!

 

Relief Society Purposes are to: Increase Faith and Personal Righteousness, Strengthen Families and Homes and Seek Out and Help Those in Need.

It used to be that during visiting teaching visits, the sisters would collect an offering for the poor. In 1944, it was decided that the Relief Society would discontinue the collection of charity funds by the visiting teachers. When this announcement was given, one lady said, "They have sounded the death knell of visiting teaching........who's going to want to go door to door just to visit?" Sister Belle S. Spafford, second counselor in the General Relief Society presidency spoke up and said, "I don't believe it's the death knell. I believe it is the rebirth of visiting teaching." That proved to be true. From then on the program began to flourish and women who had not served before asked to be visiting teachers. 

Daughters in my Kingdom. Page 108-109

 

Read, study, and learn more about the Relief Society in the "Daughters of Our Kingdom Book."  Visit the website for some wonderful quotes and inspiring videos.

 

https://www.lds.org/relief-society/daughters-in-my-kingdom?lang=eng

 

If you don't have your own copy, and would like a copy of the book. please see a member of the Relief Society Presidency. 

 



SWEEPING THE EARTH AS IF A FLOOD:

LDS Living posted a great article on how to share the gospel online.

 

 

Church leaders encouraged Latter-day Saints to use technology and social media to hasten the work of salvation. Find out what you can do to follow this counsel with the tips below!

 

1. Follow the prophet and apostles on social media

The prophet and apostles have accounts on Google+, Facebook, and Twitter. You can follow their pages to see inspiring posts and photos about their teachings. You can like these posts and photos, leave comments, and share them so that your friends can be inspired as well. 
 

2. Talk about the joys of the gospel

As you share your life with others on social media, be sure to let the light of the gospel shine through
 

3. Participate in online gospel discussions

There are many ways to participate in gospel discussions online (see article for ways to do this)

4. Post a review of your meetinghouse and temple 

5. Share general conference with your friends

General conference may be one of the best ways to introduce your friends to the Church. There are many easy ways to invite your friends to watch conference. If you are not comfortable inviting them to your home or to your meetinghouse to watch it, tell them about all the ways they can watch it in their home on TV, radio, the Internet, mobile apps, and social media. (See conference.lds.org for details.)

6. Connect with the world online

Keep in touch with those you have met, worked with, or served with.

 
7. Become Facebook friends with missionaries

8. Set up your own Mormon.org profile

(Instructions were given in last weeks update or find the instructions again in the article)


*Please see the article for more details on each of these tips.  So many are waiting to hear the message we have to share.  We never know who our messages will touch with little effort on our part.

 Read the entire article here:  http://www.ldsliving.com/story/78180-8-unique-and-painless-ways-to-share-the-gospel-online

 

Relief Society Announcements:

 

If you missed the Women of Christ's Fireside put on by the stake Sunday you can visit their blog:  http://womenofchristfireside.blogspot.com/  to see the handouts and other resources used in the breakout classes.

 

Congratulations to Hurd's and Wolford's on the birth of their babies!

 

Lesson Schedule for March: 

March 1st- General Area Broadcast (see announcements)
March 8th- Ezra Taft Benson - Chapter 5
March 15th - Ezra Taft Benson - Chapter 6
March 22nd - Teachings For Our Time
March 29th - Bishop's Choice

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

Visit the Relief Society blog:  www.burton4thrs.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weekly Update - March 1st - March 7th

FAITH

This week we had our Regional Conference Broadcast.  The meeting was fabulous but I was particularly inspired by a talk given by Elder Brent H. Nielsen.  He talked about "Becoming."  I didn't take very good notes but I did find another talk given by Elder Dallin Oaks that shared a similar message.

"The Challenge to Become"  - Oct. 2000 General Conference

Doctrine:

 

The Apostle Paul taught that the Lord’s teachings and teachers were given that we may all attain “the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). This process requires far more than acquiring knowledge. It is not even enough for us to be convinced‍ of the gospel; we must act and think so that we are converted‍ by it. In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know‍ something, the gospel of Jesus Christ‍ challenges us to become‍ something.

Invitation to Action: 

The gospel challenges us to be “converted,” which requires us to do‍ and to become.‍ If any of us relies solely upon our knowledge and testimony of the gospel, we are in the same position as the blessed but still unfinished Apostles whom Jesus challenged to be “converted.”

The needed conversion by‍ the gospel begins with the introductory experience the scriptures call being “born again” (e.g., Mosiah 27:25; Alma 5:49; John 3:7; 1 Pet. 1:23). In the waters of baptism‍ and by receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, we become the spiritual “sons and daughters” of Jesus Christ, “new creatures” who can “inherit the kingdom of God” (Mosiah 27:25–26).

 

In teaching the Nephites, the Savior referred to what they must become. He challenged them to repent and be baptized and be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, “that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day” (3 Ne. 27:20). He concluded: “Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am” (3 Ne. 27:27).

 

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the plan by which we can become what children of God are supposed to become. This spotless and perfected state will result from a steady succession of covenants, ordinances, and actions, an accumulation of right choices, and from continuing repentance. “This life is the time for men to prepare to meet God” (Alma 34:32).

 Promised Blessings:

How can we measure our progress? The scriptures suggest various ways. I will mention only two.

After King Benjamin’s great sermon, many of his hearers cried out that the Spirit of the Lord “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” (Mosiah 5:2). If we are losing our desire to do evil, we are progressing toward our heavenly goal.

 

The Apostle Paul said that persons who have received the Spirit of God “have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16). I understand this to mean that persons who are proceeding toward the needed conversion are beginning to see things as our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, see them. They are hearing His voice instead of the voice of the world, and they are doing things in His way instead of by the ways of the world.

 Read or Listen to the entire lesson here:  

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2000/10/the-challenge-to-become?lang=eng

FAMILY

 

 

One of the greatest blessings we can offer to the world is the power of a Christ-centered home where the gospel is taught, covenants are kept, and love abounds.

 

 

 

"For Peace At Home," by Richard G Scott was a great talk!  This address was given in the April 2013 General Conference.  Below are a few of the quotes from his talk.

 

"Many voices from the world in which we live tell us we should live at a frantic pace. There is always more to do and more to accomplish. Yet deep inside each of us is a need to have a place of refuge where peace and serenity prevail, a place where we can reset, regroup, and reenergize to prepare for future pressures.

 

The ideal place for that peace is within the walls of our own homes, where we have done all we can to make the Lord Jesus Christ‍ the centerpiece.

 

Be certain that every decision you make, whether temporal or spiritual, is conditioned on what the Savior would have you do. When He is the center of your home, there is peace and serenity. There is a spirit of assurance that pervades the home, and it is felt by all who dwell there.

 

I’m sure you can identify the fundamental principles that center your home on the Savior. The prophetic counsel to have daily personal and family‍ prayer, daily personal and family scripture study, and weekly family home evening are the essential, weight-bearing beams in the construction of a Christ-centered home. Without these regular practices it will be difficult to find the desired and much-needed peace and refuge from the world.

 

Be obedient to the prophetic teachings Christ would have you follow. Don’t rationalize away future happiness by taking shortcuts instead of applying sound gospel principles. Remember: little things lead to big things. Seemingly insignificant indiscretions or neglect can lead to big problems. More importantly, simple, consistent, good habits lead to a life full of bountiful blessings."

 

Read or listen to the entire talk here:  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/for-peace-at-home?lang=eng

 

RELIEF

 

Happy Birthday to the Relief Society This Month!

 

Relief Society Purposes are to: Increase Faith and Personal Righteousness, Strengthen Families and Homes and Seek Out and Help Those in Need.

In the first meeting of the Relief Society, Sister Emma Smith said, “We are going to do something extraordinary.” In that era, it was a popular practice for women to form their own organizations, often with constitutions and bylaws—sets of rules to govern the organizations. The women who met at Sarah Kimball's home decided to establish a constitution and bylaws, and Eliza R. Snow accepted the responsibility to write them. Then the women asked Joseph Smith to review them and give his opinion. . . .” of them. After the Prophet reviewed them he said, 'this is not what you want. Tell the sisters their offering is accepted of the Lord and he has something better for them than a constitution.
Early in the meeting, he told the sisters that they were to “encourage the brethren to good works in looking to the wants of the poor—searching after objects of charity and in administering to their wants—to assist by correcting the morals and strengthening the virtues of the female community.”

Joseph Smith's wife, Emma, was chosen to serve as President of the new society.''
Rather than pattern a Latter-day Saint women's organization after the women's societies that were prevalent and popular at that time the Prophet Joseph Smith organized them in a divinely inspired manner. 

“The Relief Society was established by the spirit of inspiration, and has been guided by that spirit ever since, and has instilled into the hearts of countless sisters those desires for righteousness which have been pleasing to the Lord.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Relief Society Magazine, Dec. 1970, 884.)
(Taken from Daughters in My Kingdom)

 

Sister Neill F. Marriott also gave a great talk in our Regional Conference last Sunday.  She suggested a few questions we could ask ourselves each day as we are thinking about ways we can show charity and serve those around us.

 

1.  Who has God given you to love?

2.  Who could benefit from your charity?

3.  What could you do each day to show service? (This could be in your family)

 

 

SWEEPING THE EARTH AS IF A FLOOD:

 

 

Have you registered onto Mormon.org?  It's a fun, easy, and effective way to share the gospel!  Here are the instructions to get started:

 

Welcome

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a community of millions. And you are an important part of that community. Let your voice be heard by creating a profile on mormon.org that shares your feelings about the gospel in your life.

What Is a Profile?

A profile is your opportunity to share your beliefs and experiences in the gospel with those who are not of our faith. Our profile creation wizard will walk you through the steps of creating your own page, uploading your photo, writing about yourself, and answering questions about the gospel that will help others better understand our beliefs.

Why Should I Create a Profile?

Mormon.org is a missionary site intended to provide information about our faith. By creating a profile, you can share your feelings about our faith, shed light on who we are as a people, and demystify our most commonly misunderstood beliefs. Mormon.org is not a social media site.

How Do I Get Started?

If you have not already done so, you will need to create an LDS Account by registering here with your Membership Record Number (available on your temple recommend or through your ward clerk). Register or sign in below.

https://mormonorg.lds.org/profile/terms?lang=eng

Relief Society Announcements:

 

If you missed the Women of Christ's Fireside put on by the stake Sunday you can visit their blog:  http://womenofchristfireside.blogspot.com/  to see the handouts and other resources used in the breakout classes.

 

Congratulations to the Milwards on the birth of their baby.  I will try to have a picture by next week.

 

Lesson Schedule for March: 

March 1st- General Area Broadcast (see announcements)
March 8th- Ezra Taft Benson - Chapter 5
March 15th - Ezra Taft Benson - Chapter 6
March 22nd - Teachings For Our Time
March 29th - Bishop's Choice

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

Visit the Relief Society blog:  www.burton4thrs.blogspot.com