Sunday Lesson: Sun 27th

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland talk from our last general conference, Behold Thy Mother, is so powerful and thought provoking. Elder Holland said, "No love in morality comes closer to approximating the pure love of Jesus Christ than the selfless love a devoted mother has for her child."

When we read in the scriptures about our Savior and his atonement, we hear words like bear, borne, carry, deliver. "These are powerful, heartening messianic words. They convey help and hope for safe movement from where we are to where we need to be - but cannot get without assistance." These same words are used to describe the way we all entered into this world, through our own mothers. 

A young mother wrote to Elder Holland and describes her view on maternal love: "What kind of mortal love can make you feel, once you have a child, that your life is never, ever your own again? Maternal love has to be divine. There is no other explanation for it. What mothers do is an essential element of Christ's work."

Our teacher invited a few sisters to share their thought about the teaching of their own mothers. The experiences shared were powerful and emotional. One sister was so grateful for the example of love and dedication her mother showed when a terrible accident happened to her father. Another sister shared about the important role of grandmother her mother has given to her own children. 

Elder Holland teaches, ..."it is not only that they bear us, but they continue bearing with us. It is not only the prenatal carrying but the lifelong carrying that makes mothering such a staggering feat. Of course, there are heartbreaking exceptions, but most mothers know intuitively, instinctively that this is a sacred trust of the highest order."

There are most definitely challenges in motherhood. Our Savior knows about them and wants to help you through them. Elder Holland has said in a previous talk, "Rely on Him. Rely on Him heavily. Rely on Him forever. And 'press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope.' You are doing God's work. You are doing it wonderfully well. He is blessing you and He will bless you, even - no, especially - when your days and your nights may be the most challenging. Like the woman who anonymously, meekly, perhaps even with hesitation and some embarrassment, fought her way through the crowd just to touch the hem of the Master's garment, so Christ will say to the women who worry and wonder and sometimes weep over their responsibility as mothers, "Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole." And it will make your children whole as well."

Elder Holland concludes with these powerful words: "To all mothers in every circumstance, including those who struggle I say, 'Be peaceful. Believe in God and yourself. You are doing better than you think you are. In fact, you are saviors on Mount Zion, and like the Master you follow, your love never faileth."

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Sunday Lesson: Dec 20th

The last lesson of our Ezra Taft Benson manual was taught on December 20th; entitled A Christ-Centered Life. Our teacher first asked us to think of someone who is Christlike in your life. Many examples were given of people we know who live their life in close connection with our Savior. Pres. Benson said, "I testify to you that there is no greater, more thrilling, and more soul-ennobling challenge than to try to learn of Christ and walk in His steps. Our model, Jesus Christ, walked this earth as 'the Exemplar.' He is our Advocate with the Father. He worked out the great atoning sacrifice so we could have a fullness of joy and be exalted in accordance with His grace and our repentance and righteousness. He did all things perfectly and commands that we be perfect even as He and His Father are perfect."

We should ask ourselves, "What would Jesus do? or What would He have me do?" Walking in His way is the greatest achievement of life. However, Pres. Benson reminds us that we can only do this with the Savior's help. He said, "I know the Lord lives. I know that He loves us. I know that apart from Him no one can succeed, but as a partner with Him no one can fail. I know that God can make a lot more out of our lives than we can." In John 14:5-6 Christ says, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Perhaps the most important way we can become more like Christ is through our thoughts. In Doctrine and Covenants 6:36 it says, "Look unto me in every thought." Looking unto the Lord in every thought is the only possible way we can be the manner of men and women we ought to be. Pres. Benson teaches, "If thoughts make us what we are, and we are to be like Christ, then we must think Christlike thoughts. Let me repeat tha: If thoughts make us what we are, and we are to be like Christ, we must think Christlike thoughts." If our thoughts are centered on Christ, our actions will be too.

"To be like the Savior - what a challenge for any person! He is a member of the Godhead. His is the Savior and Redeemer. He was perfect in every aspect of His life. There was no flaw nor failing in Him. Is it possible for us . . . to be even as He is? The answer is yes. Not only can we, but that is our charge, our responsibility. He would not give us that commandment if He did not mean for us to do it."

In 2 Peter 1:5-7 the apostle Peter teaches us the process whereby we can become as our Savior. "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." These virtues are part of the Savior's character. These are the virtues we are to emulate if we want to be more like our Savior. 

Pres. Benson gives us his testimony; "The Savior declared that life eternal is to know the only true God and His Son Jesus Christ (John 17:3). If this is true, and I bear you my solemn witness that it is true, then we must ask how we come to know God. The process of adding one godly attribute to another, as described by Peter, becomes the key to gaining this knowledge that leads to eternal life. Note Peter's promise, which immediately follows the process described:

"For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:8).

Pres. Benson goes on..."I pray that these qualities and attributes of the Savior may abound in us so that when we stand at the Judgment and He asks each one of us, "What manner of man are you?" we can raise our heads in gratitude and joy and answer, "Even as thou art."

Sunday Lesson: Dec 6th

Listen to the following quotes and lets see if you know who the author is:

"Wonderful, glorious things are in store for you, if only you will believe, obey and endure." 

"It is impossible to stand upright when one plants his roots in the shifting sands of popular opinion and approval." 

"Men, take care not to make women weep, for God counts their tears." 

"What is most important almost always involves the people around us." 

"Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, 'I'll try again tomorrow'." 

"The past is behind, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it. The present is here, live it." 

"You can't be right by doing wrong, and you can't be wrong by doing right." 

"Be of good cheer, the future is as bright as your faith." 

"Our Heavenly Father loves you - each of you. That love never changes.....it is simply always there."

           All of these quotes come from our beloved prophet, Pres. Thomas S. Monson. 

* In What Ways Have Prophets guided God's children in the past?

In our Gospel Principles manual it teaches, "There have been prophets on the earth since the days of Adam. Experiences of these great men excite and inspire us. Moses, an Old Testament prophet, led thousands of his people out of Egypt and slavery to the promised land. He wrote the first five books of the Old Testament and recorded the Ten commandments. Nephi, a Book of Mormon prophet, journeyed from Jerusalem to the Americas 600 years before the birth of Christ. This great leader and colonizer gave us many important writings in the Book of Mormon. John the Baptist was chosen to prepare the world for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Through Joseph Smith, a latter-day prophet, the Lord restored the Church. Joseph Smith also translated the Book of Mormon while a young man."

* What have you learned from the lives and teachings of prophets?

* Why do we need a living prophet today?

"We have a prophet living on the earth today. This prophet is the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has the right to revelation for the entire Church. He holds "the keys of the kingdom," meaning that he has the authority to direct the entire Church and kingdom of God on earth, including the administration of priesthood ordinances. No person except the chosen prophet and President can receive God's will for the entire membership of the Church."

The following scriptures help us understand why a living prophet is so important:

Amos 3:7, D&C 1:4-7, 37-38. The Lord speaks to us through His prophets.

D&C 21;1, 4-7. The Lord promises great blessings to those who follow the prophet.

Sis. Carol F. McConkie, the first counselor in the Young Women's presidency has said, "Our Father in Heaven loves all of His children and desires that they know and understand His plan of happiness. Therefore, He calls prophets, those who have been ordained with power and authority to act in God’s name for the salvation of His children. They are messengers of righteousness, witnesses of Jesus Christ and the infinite power of His Atonement. They hold the keys of the kingdom of God on earth and authorize the performance of saving ordinances."

Concerning the living prophet, the Lord commands the people of His church: "Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith. For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name's glory." D&C 21: 4-6. This is an amazing promise to us that great blessing will come if we heed to and follow the counsel of the living prophet.

Pres. Wilford Woodruff said that a prophet will never be allowed to lead the Church astray:

"The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the program. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place."

* In what ways has the living prophet influenced the Church? (food storage, getting out of debt, etc.)

Think about the Proclamation to the Family. When Pres. Hinckley first read that in the General RS session in 1995, many of us may have thought, "Well of course the family is ordained of God!" That document has proved to be so important in our ever changing world. We surely could not have forseen it's importance 20 years ago.

* Where do we find the words of the living prophet? 

Recent conference talks. Do we listen to conference? Do we re-read or re-listen to their important words?

In January MaryKay Bashford will teach us from the two most recent conference talks by Pres. Monson. I challenge you to re-read his talks and be prepared for that lesson. My favorite part from Pres. Monson's talk Be an Example and a Light is this part: "May we be followers of Christ, examples of righteousness, thus becoming lights in the world." Does anyone else remember something that stood out to them from his most recent talks?

* What can we do to follow and sustain the living prophet?

Many people find it easy to believe in the prophets of the past. But it is much greater and important to believe in and follow the living prophet. We raise our hands to sustain the President of the Church as prophet, seer, and revelator. We should pray for our prophet. His burdens are heavy, and he needs to be strengthened by the prayers of the Saints. We should study His words.

We should follow his inspired teachings completely. We should not choose to follow part of his inspired counsel and discard that which is unpleasant or difficult. The Lord commanded us to follow the inspired teachings of His prophet. We read this scripture earlier, but here it is again. D&C 21: 4-5 "Thou shalt give heed unto all his [the prophets's] words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith."

RS MEETING: CHRISTMAS DINNER

Thursday, December 10th at 6:30

JOY IN THE LIGHT OF CHRIST
We have a special evening planned to help enjoy the spirit of the season. Dinner and dessert will all be provided, just come and enjoy wonderful food and program. Call a friend to come with you, all are welcome. We look forward to seeing all of you there!

December Newsletter

Presidency Message by Jan Welling
How is it that time keeps ticking by so fast? Thanksgiving has come and gone and Christmas Day will be here before we know it. I love hearing what everyone does during the holidays. I find myself searching out new ideas and different ways to make the holidays more meaningful for myself and my family. It puts a smile on my face when I hear my kids get excited about things that we have done in the past that they look forward to doing again. These traditions bring us together as a family. Traditions help us bond and have memories that last throughout the years.

What are some of your traditions? We all have them whether we recognize them or not. It might be hanging Christmas lights, making goodies for neighbors, gingerbread houses, or maybe caroling. Some traditions help us better focus on the reason for the season – Jesus Christ’s birth. One of our favorite Christmas traditions is focusing our scripture reading around Christ’s birth and life during the month of December. The kids also love getting together with their cousins and reenacting the nativity. I have to take a step back during the hustle and bustle and ask if the traditions we are creating are uplifting, bringing us closer to Christ, and inviting the Spirit into our lives.

Did you know traditions are important? They help provide something steady, reliable and safety in a confusing world. Not only at this time of year, but year round. Sister Cheryl Lant, former primary president asks, “How should we determine what our traditions will be? The scriptures give us a great pattern. In Mosiah 5:15 it states, ‘Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works.’ Our traditions of Sabbath day observance, family prayer, family scripture study, service activity in the Church, as well as patters of respect and loyalty in the home, will have a great effect on our children and our future. If our lives are based on the teachings of the scriptures and of latter-day prophets we cannot go wrong.”

I hope you enjoy this time of year and continue to find traditions that bring you closer to Christ, now and in the future. It is such a special time of year! Let us take a step back, slow down, keep our focus, and create traditions centered on Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas!



December Birthdays
1 Tammy Rose
9 Deanna Sumner
12 Amy Hafey
14 Mindy Cornelsen
14 Terry Maupin
15 Traci Goodwin
16 Loretta Wagner
17 Susan Schilling
18 Makayla Denton
19 Jessica Humrich
23 Lacee Hartvigen
31 Terisa Eshbaugh
31 Stephanie Hendrickson



Lesson Schedule – (Ezra Taft Benson)
Dec 6 Presidency Message by Lisa Lara
Dec 13 Stake Conference
Dec 20 #24 “A Christ-Centered Life”
Dec 27 “Behold Thy Mother” by Elder Holland



Upcoming Events
Dec 5 – Ward Christmas Party 4:15 Santa, 5:00 Play & Dinner
Dec 10 Relief Society Christmas Dinner 6:30 “Finding Joy in the Light of Christ”
Dec 12 Stake Conference Adult Session 7:00
Dec 13 Stake Conference 10:00
Dec 16 Ward Temple Day



Other Opportunities
Dec 15 Lunch Bunch at 11:00 am at Marty’s
Dec 16 Book group 7 pm at Marty’s they will discuss the book - “A Christmas Carol”
Thursdays 9:00 am playgroup (ask Jan)
Saturdays 8 am basketball Stake Center
Mon & Wed 9 am Aerobics

Sunday Lesson: Nov 22nd

Our teacher presented a wonderful lesson based on Pres. Uchtdorf's conference talk It works Wonderfully! Our teacher asked us the same question as Pres. Uchtdorf does, "Is the Gospel Working for You?" A way to know if we are on the right path to spiritual progression is to evaluate how things are working for us. We should ask ourselves these types of questions: 

Does my life have meaning? 

Do I believe in God? 

Do I believe that God knows and loves me.

Do I believe that God hears and answers my prayers?

Am I truly happy?

Are my efforts leading me to the highest spiritual goals and values in life?

Pres. Uchtdorf says, "I wonder if we as Church members might also benefit from asking ourselves from time to time: Is my experience in the Church working for me? Is it bringing me closer to Christ? Is it blessing me and my family with peace and joy as promised in the gospel?" Many members of the church will answer these questions very positively and say that all is working well for them in the Church. However, Pres. Uchtdorf recognized that this is not always the case. He says, " There are some who have a less-than fulfilling experience - who feel that their membership in the Church sometimes isn't quite what they had hoped for. This saddens me because I know firsthand how the gospel can invigorate and renew one's spirit - how it can fill our hearts with hope and our minds with light. I know for myself how the fruits of the gospel of Jesus Christ can transform lives from the ordinary and dreary to the extraordinary and sublime."

He suggests two ways that we can help the gospel work better for us. The first is to Simplify! "This beautiful gospel is so simple a child can grasp it, yet so profound and complex that it will take a lifetime - even an eternity - of study and discovery to fully understand it." Pres. Uchtdorf tells us, "We need to make a conscientious effort to devote our energy and time to the things that truly matter, while uplifting our fellowmen and building the kingdom of God." Wise Pres. Uchtdorf says, "Brothers and sisters, if you ever think that the gospel isn't working so well for you, I invite you to step back, look at your life from a higher plane, and simplify your approach to discipleship. Focus on the basic doctrines, principles, and applications of the gospel. I promise that God will guide and bless you on your path to a fulfilling life, and the gospel will definitely work for you."

His second way that the gospel can work better for us to to Start Where You Are. "Sometimes we feel discouraged because we are not 'more' of something - more spiritual, respected, intelligent, healthy, rich, friendly, or capable. Naturally, there is nothing wrong with wanting to improve. God created us to grow and progress . . . Satan, on the other hand, uses our weaknesses to the point that we are discouraged from even trying." Pres. Uchtdorf promises us, "God will take yu as you are at this very moment and begin to work with you. All you need is a willing heart, a desire to believe, and trust in the Lord." There are so many examples in the scriptures where God molded ordinary men to become great prophets and servants in His name. "If we look at ourselves only through our mortal eyes, we may not see ourselves as good enough. But our Heavenly Father sees us as who we truly are and who we can become. He sees us as His sons and daughters, as beings of eternal light with everlasting potential and with a divine destiny."

Perhaps the most important thing we can learn from Pres. Uchtdorf's talk is this phrase: "Exaltation is our goal; discipleship is our journey." Pres. Uchtdorf encourages us to exercise a little faith and discover that the gospel of Jesus Christ is indeed working in your life.

Sunday Lesson: Nov 15th

"The stakes and districts of Zion are symbolic of the holy places spoken of by the Lord where His Saints are to gather in the last days as a refuge from the storm." Our lesson this Sunday was Chp. 23 in our manual, Strengthen Thy Stakes. What is a stake in the organization of the church? It is a symbolic expression. Picture in your mind a great tent held up by cords extended to many stakes that are firmly secured in the ground. Many prophets likened latter-day Zion to a great tend encompassing the earth. That tent was supported by cords fastened to stakes. Pres. Benson explains to us that those stakes are various geographical organizations spread out over the earth. Israel is being gathered to the various stakes of Zion.

We learn that a stake has a least four purposes. 1) A stake is presided over by 3 high priests, the stake presidency, and supported by 12 men known as the high council. This is symbolic to the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve. "The purpose of the stake is to unify and perfect the members who live in those boundaries by extending to them the Church programs, ordinances, and gospel instruction. 2) Members of stakes are to be models or standards of righteousness. We all can be examples to those around us right where we are. 3) Stakes are to be a defense by unifying themselves under local priesthood leaders and by doing their duty to keep their covenants. Pres. Benson teaches that if we keep our covenants they will become a protection to us from error and calamity. 4) The last purpose Pres. Benson teaches is that a stake is to be a refuge from the storm. A stake should be a safe place for us.

In D&C 68:25-26 it says, "Inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost.....the sin be upon the heads of the parents. For this shall be the law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized." This is one of the major purposes of the stakes of Zion. They are organized to help parents teach their children the gospel and administer the ordinances of salvation. 

In the Lord's preface revelation to the Doctrine and Covenants (D&C 1:35) the Lord warned: "The day speedily cometh; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion." We can all see this coming to pass. "Never has his (Satan's) influence been so great, and only those who have taken the Holy Spirit as their guide - and followed counsel from priesthood leaders - will be spared from the havoc of his evil influence." In the next verse of scripture the Lord also states that He will have power over His Saints "and shall reign in their midst." The Lord does this as He works through His chosen servants and stake and ward authorities.

Pres. Benson teaches us that, "...stakes are to be the gathering spots for the Zion of today, and they need to be spiritual sanctuaries and to be self-sufficient in as many ways as possible. The stakes and districts of Zion are symbolic of the holy places spoken of by the Lord where His Saints are to gather in the last days as a refuge from the storm. You and your children will gather here....to generally improve yourselves and one another."

The prophet Nephi for saw our day when the Saints would be scattered in stakes all over the world. He saw the time when the Lord would extend His protection to them through His stakes. "And it came to pass the I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory." (1 Nephi 14:14)

If we follow our local priesthood leaders, our bishop and stake president, we will be protected and be a light to the world in the last days. Pres. Benson visited many stakes throughout the world. He commented, "I have sometimes said to my wife, as I returned from visiting the stakes, that I do not know exactly what heaven is going to be like, but I could ask nothing finer over there than to have the pleasure and joy of associating with the type of men and women I meet in the leadership of the stakes and wards of Zion and the missions of the earth."