Weekly Update February 22nd - February 28th

FAITH

Lesson Review:

"Lord, Is It I?" 

  Talk given by President Uchtdorf, Oct. 2014 conference

Doctrine:

Being able to see ourselves clearly is essential to our spiritual growth and well-being. If our weaknesses and shortcomings remain obscured in the shadows, then the redeeming power of the Savior cannot heal them and make them strengths. Ironically, our blindness toward our human weaknesses will also make us blind to the divine potential that our Father yearns to nurture within each of us. 

Invitation to Action: 

Will you please look inside your hearts and ask the simple question: “Lord, is it I?”

Have you disengaged—even slightly—from “the … gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to [your] trust”? Have you allowed “the god of this world” to darken your minds to “the light of the glorious gospel of Christ”?

My beloved friends, ask yourselves, “Where is my treasure?”  Is your heart set on the convenient things of this world, or is it focused on the teachings of the diligent Jesus Christ? “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Does the Spirit of God dwell in your hearts? Are you “rooted and grounded” in the love of God and of your fellowmen? Do you devote sufficient time and creativity to bringing happiness to your marriage and family? Do you give your energies to the sublime goal of comprehending and living “the breadth, and length, and depth, and height" of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ?

 Promised Blessings:

If it is your great desire to cultivate Christlike attributes of “faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, [and service],”  Heavenly Father will make you an instrument in His hands unto the salvation of many souls.

Those who want to improve and progress, those who learn of the Savior and desire to be like Him, those who humble themselves as a little child and seek to bring their thoughts and actions into harmony with our Father in Heaven—they will experience the miracle of the Savior’s Atonement. They will surely feel God’s resplendent Spirit. They will taste the indescribable joy that is the fruit of a meek and humble heart. They will be blessed with the desire and discipline to become true disciples of Jesus Christ.

 Read or Listen to the entire lesson here:  

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/lord-is-it-i?lang=eng

FAMILY

I loved this talk given by President Bednar. "More Diligent and Concerned at Home"

We can become more diligent and concerned at home as we are more faithful in learning, living, and loving the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  He gives us three suggestions:

1.  Express Love and Show It.
2.  Bear Testimony and Live It
3.  Be Consistent

“Often we assume that [the people around us] must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. … We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us”  - President Monson

Feeling the power, the edification, and the constancy of testimony from a spouse, a parent, or a child is a rich blessing. Such testimony fortifies faith and provides direction. Such testimony generates light in a world that grows increasingly dark. Such testimony is the source of an eternal perspective and of enduring peace.

A public statement of love when the private actions of love are absent at home is hypocrisy—and weakens the foundation of a great work. Publicly declaring testimony when faithfulness and obedience are missing within our own homes is hypocrisy—and undermines the foundation of a great work. The commandment “Thou shalt not bear false witness” (Exodus 20:16) applies most pointedly to the hypocrite in each of us. We need to be and become more consistent. “But be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

Listen or read the entire talk here:  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/more-diligent-and-concerned-at-home?lang=eng

RELIEF

This is the last week to do your February visiting teaching visits!  Once again we have a wonderful message of hope to share with our sisters.  Please make sure they know how much you love and care for them.  This message may be just what they need in their life right now.

SWEEPING THE EARTH AS IF A FLOOD:

 

"The Lord made it clear at the very start of this last dispensation that we were to take the gospel to all the world. What He said to the few priesthood holders in 1831 He says to the many now. Whatever our age, capacity, Church calling, or location, we are as one called to the work to help Him in His harvest of souls until He comes again. …
I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to bring the gospel to all the world and that we will encourage people we love to be cleansed from sin and to be happy with us in the kingdom of God." - President Eyring

See the short video here:  https://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/unto-all-the-world/we-are-one?lang=eng

Read, or listen to the entire article here:  https://www.lds.org/liahona/print/2005/02/questions-and-answers?lang=eng&clang=eng

WEEKLY CHALLENGE:  Practice bearing your testimony to your spouse and / or other family members.   

Relief Society Announcements:

*Remember that we do not have our regular meetings this Sunday, March 1st.  Instead we will be listening to the General Broadcast.  You and your families can attend and listen to the broadcast from any ward building.

*Please also remember the upcoming Stake Women of Christ Fireside:  

      "Becoming a More Holy Woman."

     Sunday, March 1st at 6 PM @ the Stake Center.  

 Eleven women from the stake will be sharing topics that apply to us today.  You will have the opportunity to choose to attend 3 breakout sessions.  

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