Our lesson in Relief Society this week came from two conference talks based on the plan of salvation. The plan of salvation, though simple, answers the questions that we at times wonder; where did I come from?, why am I here? and what will happen to me after death? The answers to these questions cannot be answered elsewhere. President Thomas S. Monson in his talk, “The Perfect Path to Happiness” shared that there are people throughout the world who recognize the truths of the Gospel and choose to change their lives because of it. They have come to know that the Gospel path will lead them safely back to live with God again.
President Monson said, “Essential to the plan is our Savior, Jesus Christ. Without His atoning sacrifice, all would be lost. It is not enough, however, merely to believe in Him and His mission. We need to work and learn, search and pray, repent and improve. We need to know God’s laws and live them. We need to receive His saving ordinances. Only by so doing will we obtain true, eternal happiness.
“We are blessed to have the truth…It is the one perfect path to peace and happiness both here and in the world to come.”
In President Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s talk, “O How Great the Plan of Our God!” he shares how we need to be careful not to take for granted the Plan of Salvation. He said, “It seems to be human nature: as we become more familiar with something, even something miraculous and awe-inspiring, we lose our sense of awe and treat it as commonplace…
” In the Church of Jesus Christ, we have been given so much. We are surrounded by such an astonishing wealth of light and truth that I wonder if we truly appreciate what we have.”
President Uchtdorf invites us to think back to a time when we really knew we were a child of God and understood that the atonement was for us. It was a time of awe and gratitude. We need to keep these feelings alive and continue to look forward to church meetings and scripture study. We must not let ourselves become past feeling, for in time that will lead to a loss of testimony.
The teacher explained that if we are feeling less excited about Gospel learning and truths than we used to, we should practice being obedient, for often obedience brings the Spirit and brings those feelings of gratitude. We must beware of falling into carnal security as the Nephites did at times, thinking we don’t need God or the Gospel because we are self-sufficient. We need to make the effort and personal responsibility to feel the Spirit. As we do our part, we will show Heavenly Father that we are not taking the Gospel for granted.
In closing, President Uchtdorf invited each of us to consider what we can give Heavenly Father in return for all the Gospel blessings we receive. Our Father asks in return that we live the Gospel, trust the Spirit, and share the plan of happiness with others because of the love we have for them.
- Karen
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Friday, November 25, 2016
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Monday, November 21, 2016
Sunday Lesson, Nov 20th
Our lesson this Sunday was on teaching the Gospel. The teacher began by reminding us that we must prepare ourselves and live the principles we teach for ourselves before we will be effective teachers. We know that we are instructed to teach by the Spirit. The teacher emphasized that this can only happen as we are more prepared; as we know the material and the scriptures and can respond according to that bank of knowledge. She highly encouraged each of us to us Preach My Gospel. It contains many helps for anyone who is teaching in any way.
The teacher also encouraged us to use a study journal. As we do, we will receive more revelation and show Heavenly Father that we value the scriptures and the revelation we receive as we study. We also need to make sure we go back and read the things that we have recorded, this is part of remembering insight we have gained and seeing the progress we have made.
President Hunter said that one of a teacher’s important jobs is to help students gain confidence in the scriptures. First, they need to gain confidence that Heavenly Father is speaking to them through the scriptures and come to believe that they can find answers to their problems through scripture study and prayer. Second, they need to learn to be comfortable navigating the scriptures and being able to find important scriptures and sermons. By gaining confidence in these ways we will use the scriptures in our personal lives effectively.
We gain more confidence in a scriptural knowledge by having a desire to study the scriptures. This comes by having faith that the scriptures will help us in our lives. When we don’t have much desire if we just study anyway we will feel the Spirit and see the results in our lives, helping us have more desire. We also gain more confidence by praying for help from the Holy Ghost. He will teach us all things that we need to know.
In summary, President Hunter said, “We have a great responsibility as [teachers] in the Church to make sure our own members, our own young people, do not fall into that unfortunate category of being blinded, of being good, fine, worthy young men and women who are kept from the truths of the scriptures because they do not know where to find those truths and because they do not possess confidence [in using] their standard works.”
As we teach by the Spirit, we will know how to help our students (this includes children, friends, anyone!) learn what they need to in order to gain and strengthen their testimonies and become comfortable in the scriptures. If we do not have the Spirit, we cannot teach what they will need to know. As we prepare and teach with the Spirit we will be effective in sharing what our students need to hear.
-Karen
The teacher also encouraged us to use a study journal. As we do, we will receive more revelation and show Heavenly Father that we value the scriptures and the revelation we receive as we study. We also need to make sure we go back and read the things that we have recorded, this is part of remembering insight we have gained and seeing the progress we have made.
President Hunter said that one of a teacher’s important jobs is to help students gain confidence in the scriptures. First, they need to gain confidence that Heavenly Father is speaking to them through the scriptures and come to believe that they can find answers to their problems through scripture study and prayer. Second, they need to learn to be comfortable navigating the scriptures and being able to find important scriptures and sermons. By gaining confidence in these ways we will use the scriptures in our personal lives effectively.
We gain more confidence in a scriptural knowledge by having a desire to study the scriptures. This comes by having faith that the scriptures will help us in our lives. When we don’t have much desire if we just study anyway we will feel the Spirit and see the results in our lives, helping us have more desire. We also gain more confidence by praying for help from the Holy Ghost. He will teach us all things that we need to know.
In summary, President Hunter said, “We have a great responsibility as [teachers] in the Church to make sure our own members, our own young people, do not fall into that unfortunate category of being blinded, of being good, fine, worthy young men and women who are kept from the truths of the scriptures because they do not know where to find those truths and because they do not possess confidence [in using] their standard works.”
As we teach by the Spirit, we will know how to help our students (this includes children, friends, anyone!) learn what they need to in order to gain and strengthen their testimonies and become comfortable in the scriptures. If we do not have the Spirit, we cannot teach what they will need to know. As we prepare and teach with the Spirit we will be effective in sharing what our students need to hear.
-Karen
Monday, November 14, 2016
Sunday Lesson, Nov 13th
The lesson today was on faith and testimony from the Howard W. Hunter manual. The teacher started by sharing the personal importance of this topic by sharing JS-Matthew 1:36 which talks of many, even the elect according to the covenant, being deceived in the last days. We need to build a strong testimony to help us remain on the right path and not be deceived.
President Hunter stated, “The supreme achievement of life is to find God and know that he lives.” We begin with a seed of faith and at first may not know the certainty of things, but as we continue to seek and ask we will eventually gain a sure knowledge.
The class then discussed some of the things that will change in our lives when we have faith in Jesus Christ. We will begin to see that everything; all of God’s creations follow God’s prearranged plan. We can have perfect confidence in all things being carried out according to that plan.
We also discussed how having faith gives us hope and perspective which helps us have peace and reduces stress in our lives when we go through hard times. We know that all things are in God’s hands and that it will be okay in the end. When we have faith we can see God’s hand in our lives and trust him during the good times and the hard times.
Finally we touched briefly on how to develop our faith into strong testimony. All things of value require effort on our part. Doubts will be resolved when we work hard to know the truth. President Hunter continued by explaining that when we have doubts, when they are approached with searching, prayer, and obedience to God’s commandments, our faith will “emerge from the conflict into a firmer, stronger, larger faith because of the struggle. They have gone from a simple, trusting faith, through doubt and conflict, into a solid substantial faith which ripens into testimony.” It is important for us to know for ourselves through experience and struggle.
President Hunter closed with his testimony that he knows of Christ’s reality as if he had seen him. We can also gain this powerful witness as we desire it and do the work to develop it. The teacher challenged each class member to have a lifelong goal of developing our faith and testimony in Jesus Christ and His Gospel so that we can receive eternal life.
- Karen
President Hunter stated, “The supreme achievement of life is to find God and know that he lives.” We begin with a seed of faith and at first may not know the certainty of things, but as we continue to seek and ask we will eventually gain a sure knowledge.
The class then discussed some of the things that will change in our lives when we have faith in Jesus Christ. We will begin to see that everything; all of God’s creations follow God’s prearranged plan. We can have perfect confidence in all things being carried out according to that plan.
We also discussed how having faith gives us hope and perspective which helps us have peace and reduces stress in our lives when we go through hard times. We know that all things are in God’s hands and that it will be okay in the end. When we have faith we can see God’s hand in our lives and trust him during the good times and the hard times.
Finally we touched briefly on how to develop our faith into strong testimony. All things of value require effort on our part. Doubts will be resolved when we work hard to know the truth. President Hunter continued by explaining that when we have doubts, when they are approached with searching, prayer, and obedience to God’s commandments, our faith will “emerge from the conflict into a firmer, stronger, larger faith because of the struggle. They have gone from a simple, trusting faith, through doubt and conflict, into a solid substantial faith which ripens into testimony.” It is important for us to know for ourselves through experience and struggle.
President Hunter closed with his testimony that he knows of Christ’s reality as if he had seen him. We can also gain this powerful witness as we desire it and do the work to develop it. The teacher challenged each class member to have a lifelong goal of developing our faith and testimony in Jesus Christ and His Gospel so that we can receive eternal life.
- Karen
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Sunday, November 6, 2016
During one of our recent Relief Society lessons a sister shared some words from one of these short video series. We appreciated her words and sharing it to help lift and encourage us all. All videos in the series are great! We hope you will take a few minutes to watch. Take time to feel the spirit speak to you and take these video messages into your lives in a way that will make a possitive change. Take courage to do what is right and have a great week! You are loved! :)
also found at mormon news room
Friday, November 4, 2016
November Activities
LUNCH
BUNCH
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH 11:30 – BURGER
KING (64TH
& Ward)
Everyone is invited – Each person pays for their
own.
WARD TEMPLE DAY -
WEDNESDAY 16TH
HAPPY THANKSGIVING –
THURSDAY 24TH
BOOK
GROUP
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1ST AT 7:00 PM –
Mauger’s house
WARD CHRISTMAS PARTY
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3RD at the ALKIRE BUILDING
SAVE THE DATE!
RELIEF
SOCIETY MEETING: CHRISTMAS DINNER
HE IS THE GIFT
Thursday, December 8th at 6:30 pm
Watch
for the EVITE to RSVP
*
Please bring non-perishable food items to donate to the Arvada Food Bank. *
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
November Newsletter
Presidency Message by Marty Rozeski
Gratitude makes us happy. President Thomas S. Monson said, “To express gratitude is gracious and honorable, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven.”
We all want and need a touch of heaven in our hearts. How do we do this? We can start by asking, “How has God blessed me today?” The big things are obvious, but do we notice the little things as well? Right now I notice I am blessed with the warm sun shining through the window, the friendly far off sound of a train whistle, and the constant affection of my dog as he sits beside me. Gratitude is about the here and now. It is about being happy with what you have.
President Joseph F. Smith said, “The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life.”
Challenge yourself to say, “thank-you” at least 10 times a day. Say, “thank-you” to your child, to a client, to your friend, to the store clerk, to your co-worker, to your spouse, to your Bishop, to your neighbor, to your parent, to your God.
“This is a wonderful time to be living here on earth. Our opportunities are limitless. While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help. We can lift ourselves, and cultivate others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues.” Thomas S. Monson
Yes! Gratitude makes us happy!
Birthdays
1 Kendra Mauger
5 Krysti Hampton
5 Kelley Witte
8 Bridget McCoy
9 Rebecca Olivo
11 Contessa Hardman
12 Marianne Nance
14 Meesa Johnson
16 Amber Graves
17 Jackie Tomaselli
19 Irene Hoycott
28 Karen Hamblin
29 Deanna Allred
29 Ariadne Sorensen
29 Amy Wagner
Lesson Schedule – (Howard W Hunter)
Nov 6 Stake Conference Broadcast
Nov 13 #21 “Faith and Testimony”
Nov 20 #22 “Teaching the Gospel”
Nov 27 "The Perfect Path to Happiness" by Thomas S Monson AND "O How Great the Plan of Our God" by Deiter Uchtdorf
Upcoming Events
Nov 6 Stake Conference Broadcast
Nov 16 Ward Temple Day
Nov 20 Primary Sacrament Program
Nov 24 Thanksgiving
Other Opportunities
Nov 9 Lunch Bunch 11:30 Burger King (64th&Ward)
Wednesdays 9 am Playgroup
Saturdays 8 am basketball Stake Center Mon & Wed 9 am Aerobics
Gratitude makes us happy. President Thomas S. Monson said, “To express gratitude is gracious and honorable, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven.”
We all want and need a touch of heaven in our hearts. How do we do this? We can start by asking, “How has God blessed me today?” The big things are obvious, but do we notice the little things as well? Right now I notice I am blessed with the warm sun shining through the window, the friendly far off sound of a train whistle, and the constant affection of my dog as he sits beside me. Gratitude is about the here and now. It is about being happy with what you have.
President Joseph F. Smith said, “The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life.”
Challenge yourself to say, “thank-you” at least 10 times a day. Say, “thank-you” to your child, to a client, to your friend, to the store clerk, to your co-worker, to your spouse, to your Bishop, to your neighbor, to your parent, to your God.
“This is a wonderful time to be living here on earth. Our opportunities are limitless. While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help. We can lift ourselves, and cultivate others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues.” Thomas S. Monson
Yes! Gratitude makes us happy!
Birthdays
1 Kendra Mauger
5 Krysti Hampton
5 Kelley Witte
8 Bridget McCoy
9 Rebecca Olivo
11 Contessa Hardman
12 Marianne Nance
14 Meesa Johnson
16 Amber Graves
17 Jackie Tomaselli
19 Irene Hoycott
28 Karen Hamblin
29 Deanna Allred
29 Ariadne Sorensen
29 Amy Wagner
Lesson Schedule – (Howard W Hunter)
Nov 6 Stake Conference Broadcast
Nov 13 #21 “Faith and Testimony”
Nov 20 #22 “Teaching the Gospel”
Nov 27 "The Perfect Path to Happiness" by Thomas S Monson AND "O How Great the Plan of Our God" by Deiter Uchtdorf
Upcoming Events
Nov 6 Stake Conference Broadcast
Nov 16 Ward Temple Day
Nov 20 Primary Sacrament Program
Nov 24 Thanksgiving
Other Opportunities
Nov 9 Lunch Bunch 11:30 Burger King (64th&Ward)
Wednesdays 9 am Playgroup
Saturdays 8 am basketball Stake Center Mon & Wed 9 am Aerobics
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