Weekly Update July 26th - August 1st

FAITH

"Filling Our Homes With Light and Truth"

Cheryl Esplin - April Conference 2015

Doctrine:

In order for us and our families to withstand the pressures of the world, we must be filled with light and gospel truth.

One place where we best seek to be filled with light and truth is in our own homes. The words in the chorus of the song we heard remind us, “God gave us families to help us become what He wants us to be.”  Families are the Lord’s workshop on earth to help us learn and live the gospel. We come into our families with a sacred duty to help strengthen each other spiritually.

Strong eternal families and Spirit-filled homes do not just happen. They take great effort, they take time, and they take each member of the family doing his or her part.  Every home is different, but every home where even one individual seeks for truth can make a difference.

Invitation to Action: 

We are continually counseled to increase our spiritual knowledge through prayer and through studying and pondering the scriptures and the words of the living prophets. In his general conference talk about receiving a testimony of light and truth, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said:

“The Everlasting and Almighty God … will speak to those who approach Him with a sincere heart and real intent.

“He will speak to them in dreams, visions, thoughts, and feelings.”

President Uchtdorf continued: “God cares about you. He will listen, and He will answer your personal questions. The answers to your prayers will come in His own way and in His own time, and therefore, you need to learn to listen to His voice."

Promised Blessings

I leave you with my testimony that I know as we fill our hearts and homes with the Savior’s light and truth, we will have the inner strength to withstand in every circumstance. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

 Read, study, or listen to the entire lesson here:  

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2015/05/general-womens-session/filling-our-homes-with-light-and-truth?lang=eng

Another Great Conference talk on this subject is:

Receiving a Testimony of light and Truth by President Uchtodorf: 

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/receiving-a-testimony-of-light-and-truth?lang=eng

FAMILY

Last week I shared an article on keeping the Sabbath Day Holy.  Because we continue to still be reminded of it I am going to share another article that came out in the Church News this month.  

"Five Ways to Celebrate the Sabbath as a Family" 

(This is just a brief overview.  See article for all the ideas shared)

As individual members of the Church of Jesus Christ, it’s easy to generate a list of things we can do to keep the Sabbath day holy. It takes more creativity to think of what a family with children of different ages can do to make Sunday a special, spiritual day. Most families try and fail and try again. It’s hard. But those families that stick with it until they find their own ways to successfully celebrate the Sabbath will reap blessings of stronger family relationships, kinder communication, spiritual depth, and more family fun.

Here are five principles, with numerous practical applications, that might help families make Sunday sacred in their homes:

1. Worship together as a family.

Along with attending church meetings together, there are many ways a family can make the Sabbath a day of worship.

• Get to bed early on Saturday night.
• Pray and read together
• Give priesthood blessings. 
• Fast as a family. 
• Proclaim the gospel. 
• Redeem the dead
• Don't take a vacation from the Sabbath
• 
  

2. Make the Sabbath different.

As a day of worship, Sunday should feel distinct from other days of the week. By carefully controlling the home atmosphere, families can help create and maintain reverence throughout the day.

• Sunday should look different. 
• Sunday should sound different. 
• Sunday should feel different.
• Sunday may not be the best day for children to play with friends. 
• Sunday should taste different. 

3. Build family relationships.

Because family members spend time together Sunday, it is a good time for them to get to know each other better and strengthen their relationships.

• Celebrate marriage.
• Create a shared family history. 
• Read and walk together. 

4. Plan for family happiness.

Sunday is a great day to serve others as a family. By opening your home and by looking for opportunities in your community, you can find many ways to experience the joys of service on this day.

• Set couple and family goals.
• Hold family councils. 

5.  Serve Others

Sunday is a great day to serve others as a family. By opening your home and by looking for opportunities in your community, you can find many ways to experience the joys of service on this day.

• Perform Family Service

As this compilation of ideas and practices illustrates, there are as many ways to successfully celebrate the Sabbath as a family as there are families. It’s not easy, but through persistence families can discover practices that are both fun and meaningful for all family members. And keeping the Sabbath day holy as a family will not only invite the Spirit but will improve communication among family members, increase love and kindness within marriage, and strengthen all family relationships. It’s worth the effort.

Make sure to read the article here:

https://www.lds.org/church/news/five-ways-to-celebrate-the-sabbath-as-a-family?cid=HP_WE_7-22-2015_dOCS_fBYU_xLIDyL2-3_&lang=eng 

 RELIEF 

Have you done your visiting teaching for July?  There is a great message on being more forgiving and merciful.  It's a message we all need to be reminded of.

*Please remember to pray for the sisters you visit teach and their families.

SWEEPING THE EARTH AS IF A FLOOD

President Thomas S. Monson, “Come, All Ye Sons of God,” Liahona, May 2013

“Missionary work is an identifying feature of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Always has it been; ever shall it be. As the Prophet Joseph Smith declared, 'After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel.' ”

Elder Neil L. Andersen, “It’s a Miracle,” Liahona, May 2013

“If you’re not a full-time missionary with a missionary badge pinned on your coat, now is the time to paint one on your heart—painted, as Paul said, 'not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God.' ...

“Our desire to share the gospel takes all of us to our knees, and it should, because we need the Lord’s help.”

Elder Russell M. Nelson, “Catch the Wave,” Liahona, May 2013

“Together, members and missionaries invite all to learn of God, of Jesus Christ, and of His gospel. Each inquiring individual should seek earnestly and pray fervently for the assurance that these things are true. The truth will be manifest by the power of the Holy Ghost.”

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “A Word for the Hesitant Missionary,” Liahona, Feb. 2013

“My dear friends, today there are more ways than ever for us to open our mouths and share with others the joyful news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is a way for everyone—even the hesitant missionary—to participate in this great work.

“ 'Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God, ye are called to the work' (D&C 4:3).”

Elder Clayton M. Christensen, “Seven Lessons on Sharing the Gospel,” Ensign, Feb. 2005

“The ability to share the gospel isn’t a 'gift' that has been given to only a few Latter-day Saints and denied to the rest. We have concluded from our own experiences and from watching others that finding people for the missionaries to teach can be easy and natural for all of us—if we go about it the Lord’s way.”

President Ezra Taft Benson, “Keys to Successful Member-Missionary Work,” Ensign, Sept. 1990

“Our work will be light and easy to bear if we will depend on the Lord and work.

“Don’t worry about being successful. We are going to be successful—there is no doubt about it. The Lord has sent us to earth at the time of harvest. He does not expect us to fail. He has called no one to this work to fail. He expects us to succeed.”

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Relief Society Announcements:

*For our Relief Society Activity in the month of July, we invite you to choose a day to invite someone to attend the Temple with you.  That may be your spouse, or a friend, your visiting teaching companion, or the sisters you visit teach.  You may want to attend a session, do sealings, initiatory work, or Temple baptisms.  We just invite you to make an effort to go sometime in the next month and to invite someone to go with you!

*Ward Campout - August 14th - 15th (More details to come)

Calendar:

August 2nd - Presidents Instruction
August 9th - Ezra Taft Bensen lesson 15
August 16th- Ezra Taft Bensen lesson 16
August 23rd - Teaching For Our Time
August 30th - Bishops 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 July 19th - July 25th

FAITH

"Marriage and Family - Ordained of God"

Chapter 14 Ezra Taft Benson Lesson

Doctrine:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints views the family as the most important organization in time and all eternity. The Church teaches that everything should center in and around the family. It stresses that the preservation of family life in time and eternity takes precedence above all other interests.

Invitation to Action: 

Marriage itself must be regarded as a sacred covenant before God. A married couple have an obligation not only to each other, but to God. He has promised blessings to those who honor that covenant.

Fidelity to one’s marriage vows is absolutely essential for love, trust, and peace. Adultery is unequivocally condemned by the Lord. …

Restraint and self-control must be ruling principles in the marriage relationship. Couples must learn to bridle their tongues as well as their passions.

Prayer in the home and prayer with each other will strengthen [a couple’s] union. Gradually thoughts, aspirations, and ideas will merge into a oneness until you are seeking the same purposes and goals.

Rely on the Lord, the teachings of the prophets, and the scriptures for guidance and help, particularly when there may be disagreements and problems.

Spiritual growth comes by solving problem together—not by running from them. Today’s inordinate emphasis on individualism brings egotism and separation. Two individuals becoming “one flesh” is still the Lord’s standard. (See Gen. 2:24.)

The secret of a happy marriage is to serve God and each other. The goal of marriage is unity and oneness, as well as self-development. Paradoxically, the more we serve one another, the greater is our spiritual and emotional growth.

The family is one of God’s greatest fortresses against the evils of our day. Help keep your family strong and close and worthy of our Father in Heaven’s blessings. As you do, you will receive faith and strength which will bless your lives forever.

One great thing the Lord requires of each of us is to provide a home where a happy, positive influence for good exists. In future years the costliness of home furnishings or the number of bathrooms will not matter much, but what will matter significantly is whether our children felt love and acceptance in the home. It will greatly matter whether there was happiness and laughter, or bickering and contention.

The family is the most effective place to instill lasting values in its members. Where family life is strong and based on principles and practices of the gospel of Jesus Christ, … problems do not as readily appear.

Setting your home in order is keeping the commandments of God. This brings harmony and love. … It is daily family prayer. It is teaching your family to understand the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is each family member keeping the commandments of God. It is … being worthy to receive a temple recommend, all family members receiving the ordinances of exaltation, and your family being sealed together for eternity. It is being free from excessive debt, with family members paying honest tithes and offerings.

Promised Blessings:

The love we know here is not a fleeting shadow, but the very substance that binds families together for time and eternity.

It was through Joseph Smith that the God of Heaven revealed the truth that the family may endure beyond the grave—that our sympathies, affections, and love for each other may exist forever.

Families Can Be Together FOREVER!

 Read, study, or listen to the entire lesson here:  

 https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-ezra-taft-benson/chapter-14-marriage-and-family-ordained-of-god?lang=eng

This lesson was highlighted in the LDS living magazine.  You can read it here:

http://www.ldsliving.com/Teachings-of-Ezra-Taft-Benson-Lesson-14-Marriage-and-Family-Ordained-of-God/s/78024?utm_medium=email&utm_source=ldsliving

Another great conference talk by President Benson was, "Fundamentals of Enduring Family Relationships."  You can listen or read it here:

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1982/10/fundamentals-of-enduring-family-relationships?lang=eng

"The secret of a happy marriage is to serve God and each other. The goal of marriage is unity and oneness, as well as self-development. Paradoxically, the more we serve one another, the greater is our spiritual and emotional growth."  

FAMILY

We have been reminded several times lately about the importance of the Sabbath day.  A talk by Sister Neill F Marriot is highlighted on LDS.org this month.  She states that, "Love for the Sabbath begins at home" in her talk titled, "Are You Ready for What the Sabbath Offers?"  It would make a great subject to discuss in Family Home Evenings.

In 3 Nephi 17, Jesus, knowing the people lacked understanding, told them to go home, ponder what He had taught, pray for understanding, and prepare their minds for the morrow when He would teach again. Studying and applying the Lord’s pattern of preparation as we ready ourselves for the Sabbath will greatly bless us.

"Our preparation for Sunday takes on holiness as we plan ahead, preparing our mental and spiritual focus; it shows the Father your love for His day. Sister Linda S Reeves, second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, said to me, “When I take the time on Saturday to prepare for Sunday, it is almost like sending a love letter to my Heavenly Father telling Him that He is the most important person in my life. He has responded by sending me a feeling of love—letting me know that He appreciates my efforts as I take the time to prepare for the Sabbath day.”

The prophet Ezekiel counsels, “Hallow my Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God” (Ezekiel 20:20). How do we hallow the Sabbath?"

She reminds us that:
1.  When we are prepared to worship, we bring increased reverence into the chapel.
2.  The heart of the Sabbath is partaking of the sacrament.  In this holy moment we acknowledge our constant need of the Redeemer.
3.  Thoughtful preparation for and participation in the Lord's day will surely make the Sabbath a delight at church and at home. 

"When we commence each Sunday prepared and reverent, our depth of Sabbath understanding will be as spiritual food to all members of our family. Faith in the Lord will grow in our homes as we bring our Sabbath day reverence into our living places."

Make sure to read the article here.  She includes a cute story about shoes and there is a fun video to watch and share:

https://www.lds.org/church/news/are-you-ready-for-what-the-sabbath-offers?cid=HP_FR_7-17-2015_dOCS_fCNWS_xLIDyL1-A_&lang=eng

 

 RELIEF 

To serve God starts with serving in our families. Daily we work, clean, love, support, listen to, teach, and endlessly give of ourselves to the members of our family. We may often feel overwhelmed with all that we must do, but Elder M. Russell Ballard gave the following counsel:

"The key... is to know and understand your own capabilities and limitations and then to pace yourself, allocating and prioritizing your time, your attention, and your resources to wisely help others, including your family..." ("O Be Wise," Ensign, Nov 2006, 17–20).

As we lovingly give of ourselves to our family, and serve them with hearts full of love, our acts will also be counted as service to God.

SWEEPING THE EARTH AS IF A FLOOD:

I found this object lesson on Pintrest. It is amazing how much work we still have to do.

1. Count 1,560 M&M's and put them in a jar.

{To save you time: A big bag at Costco has a little over 600 in each bag. About 610. So that means you need 2 Costco bags plus more.  I also prefer the peanut M&M's. They stand out more.)

2. Ask your class how many people they estimate are in the world today?

Tell the class that this jar of M&M's represents THE WORLD.

Each M on 1 M&M represents 5 MILLION PEOPLE.

There are approximately 7.8 BILLION PEOPLE ON THE EARTH TODAY.

3. Next, ask how many people live in the United States?

Tell them that there are approximately 318 million people that live in the United States.

That is approximately 63 M&M's.

4. You can narrow it down even more by asking how many people live in Idaho?

There is approximately 1.6 million people living in Idaho.

That is approximately 1/4 of a M&M. (compared to the whole world)

Well, from here, it's your choice. You can use other statistics like these:

About 1/8 of the world have NO religion (780 million people; 156 M&Ms)

About 1/5 of the world are Muslim (1 billion 235 million; about 247 M&Ms)

About 1/8 of the world are Hindus (845 million; 169 M&Ms)

About 1/5 the world are made up of miscellaneous religions (1 billion 365 million; 273 M&Ms)

About 1/3 the world is Christian: Believe in a Jesus Christ (2 billion 125 million; 425 M&Ms)

So after all of those statistics, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE MORMONS, MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS?

Well as of December 2014, there are 15,372,337 MILLION MEMBERS.

Which equals a little less than 3 M&M'S.

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Relief Society Announcements: 

Reminders:

*Please remember to pray for the Sisters you visit teach!

Announcements:

*A new Relief Society presidency was called Sunday.  We appreciate Wendy, Lorraine, Cheri, and Shandell for the service they have given.  We are excited for the new presidency and know they will be great!  
President- Kera D., 1st Counselor- Sarah H., 2nd Counselor - Jolana G., Secretary - Sheila W.

*For our Relief Society Activity in the month of July, we invite you to choose a day to invite someone to attend the Temple with you.  That may be your spouse, or a friend, your visiting teaching companion, or the sisters you visit teach.  You may want to attend a session, do sealings, initiatory work, or Temple baptisms.  We just invite you to make an effort to go sometime in the next month and to invite someone to go with you!

*Ward Campout - August 14th - 15th

Calendar:

July 21st - Ezra Taft Benson - "Marriage and Family - Ordained of God"

July 26th - Teachings For Our Time - 
August 2nd - Presidency Lesson

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

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Weekly Post July 12th - July 18th

(I am a couple of weeks behind so be prepared for a couple updates this week!)

FAITH

"Priceless Blessings of the House of the Lord"
Chapter 13 Lesson - Ezra Taft Benson

Doctrine:

“It is in the temples that we obtain God’s greatest blessings pertaining to eternal life. Temples are really the gateways to heaven.”

Invitation to Action: 

Increased temple attendance leads to increased personal revelation.

"I make it a practice, whenever I perform a marriage, to suggest to the young couple that they return to the temple as soon as they can and go through the temple again as husband and wife. It isn’t possible for them to understand fully the meaning of the holy endowment or the sealing's with one trip through the temple, but as they repeat their visits to the temple, the beauty, the significance, and the importance of it all will be emphasized upon them. I have later had letters from some of these young couples expressing appreciation because that item was emphasized particularly. As they repeat their visits to the temple, their love for each other tends to increase and their marriage tends to be strengthened." - Ezra Taft Benson

Promised Blessings:

I promise you that, with increased attendance in the temples of our God, you shall receive increased personal revelation to bless your life as you bless those who have died.

In the peace of these lovely temples, sometimes we find solutions to the serious problems of life. Under the influence of the Spirit, sometimes pure knowledge flows to us there. Temples are places of personal revelation. When I have been weighed down by a problem or a difficulty, I have gone to the House of the Lord with a prayer in my heart for answers. These answers have come in clear and unmistakable ways.

Prayers are answered, revelation occurs, and instruction by the Spirit takes place in the holy temples of the Lord.

 

 Read, study, or listen to the entire lesson here:  

https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-ezra-taft-benson/chapter-13-priceless-blessings-of-the-house-of-the-lord?lang=eng 

To learn more about LDS temples visit this website:

 https://www.lds.org/church/temples?lang=eng

I also love the talk President Monson gave in the April Conference regarding the temple:

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/blessings-of-the-temple?lang=eng

FAMILY

While searching temples on Pintrest I ran across a pin from someone explaining temple sealing's perfectly.  I thought it would be a great reminder or fun lesson for Family Home Evening.

The empty jar:

From S. Michael Wilcox:

“My wife often cans peaches and pears in the fall. A great deal of work is necessary just to prepare the fruit. Then, once it is prepared, she puts it into jars, places the seals on, twists the lids tightly into place, and sets the jars in boiling water. Then she waits for the seals to set.
She has performed this operation dozens of times with hundreds of jars. In all that time I have never seen her seal an empty jar. Unless the jar is loaded with fruit, a seal is not placed. I doubt if anyone, among the thousands who can fruit every year, has ever sealed an empty jar. There must be something to preserve or the seal has no significance.

The sealing of temple covenants is similar. When we are married at the altars of the temple, the Lord, from one point of view, gives us an empty jar. Then he instructs us to fill it with the wonderful fruits of righteous marriage. We fill it with love and compromise and forgiveness and joy and peace and shared trails; we fill it with all the things of life, all the good fruit. As we keep our covenants, returning often to renew them as we work for the dead, the jar begins to fill. As we grow older and our love deepens, we desire to preserve forever all the good we have stored.

Our abiding in the covenant allows the Lord to place the seal on our covenant relationship and preserve the fruits of our righteousness for all eternity. This is the same for all temple covenants. Nobody seals an empty jar; neither does the Lord seal empty covenants. First there must be fruit to preserve.”

Eternal marriages are not made at the altar. They are made by the things that you will do together and for each other every day thereafter.

May you spend your lifetime filling your jar with all of the sweet things of your life together.

 RELIEF 

“I hope that home teachers and visiting teachers will experience two things: first, the challenge of the responsibility that is in their great calling, and second, the sweetness of results from their work, particularly with those among us who are less active.”

Gordon B. Hinckley, “Instruments of the Lord,” Ensign, Mar. 1997, 27

How can I better teach the gospel as I serve as a home teacher or visiting teacher?

If you are a home teacher or a visiting teacher, you are a teacher of the gospel. In addition to overseeing the welfare of those you teach, you are also responsible to present a message to the families or sisters assigned to you.

You have the responsibility to select the message you will share. Home teachers usually present the First Presidency’s message that is found in the Ensign and Liahona each month. Visiting teachers usually present the visiting teaching message that is also found in these magazines.

Present the message as carefully as you would present a lesson for a Church class. Counsel with your companion about what each of you will contribute to the presentation. Make the lesson interesting and applicable to each family member.

SWEEPING THE EARTH AS IF A FLOOD:

"Tonight I would like to consider two important responsibilities we carry: first, consistently adding gospel light and truth to our lives, and second, sharing that light and truth with others.

Do you know how important you are? Every one of you—right now—is valuable and essential in Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation. We have a work to do. We know the truth of the restored gospel. Are we ready to defend that truth? We need to live it; we need to share it. We must stand firm in our faith and lift our voices to proclaim true doctrine."

 “We need more of the distinctive, influential voices and faith of women. We need them to learn the doctrine and to understand what we believe so that they can bear their testimonies about the truth of all things.” - Elder Russell Ballard

"Can you find yourself in the following words of this document, “The Living Christ”? “He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead.”

We, sisters of the Church, do not walk the roads of Palestine healing the sick, but we can pray for and apply the healing love of the Atonement to a sickened, strained relationship.

Though we will not cause the blind to see in the manner of the Savior, we can

testify of the plan of salvation to the spiritually blind. We can open the eyes of their understanding to the necessity of priesthood power in eternal covenants.

We will not be raising the dead as did the Savior, but we can bless the dead by finding their names for temple work. Then we will indeed raise them from their spirit prison and offer them the path of eternal life.

I testify we have a living Savior, Jesus Christ, and with His power and light we will be enabled to push back the darkness of the world, give voice to the truth we know, and influence others to come unto Him."

Read or listen to Sister Marriot's talk here: 

 https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/sharing-your-light?lang=eng&query=neill+marriot 

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Relief Society Announcements: 

Reminders:

Congratulations to the Wasden family on the birth of their beautiful baby girl.  

*Please remember to pray for the Sisters you visit teach!

 Announcements:

*For our Relief Society Activity in the month of July, we invite you to choose a day to invite someone to attend the Temple with you.  That may be your spouse, or a friend, your visiting teaching companion, or the sisters you visit teach.  You may want to attend a session, do sealings, initiatory work, or Temple baptisms.  We just invite you to make an effort to go sometime in the next month and to invite someone to go with you!

Calendar:

July 12th - Ezra Taft Benson - "Priceless Blessings of the House of the Lord"

July 21st - Ezra Taft Benson - "Marriage and Family - Ordained of God"

July 26th - Teachings For Our Time -

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

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