About a dozen of us gathered on Sat. morning to talk about prayer, scripture study, and the temple -- as a follow up to the recent EQ/HP anonymous survey that was conducted in these areas.
Steve Bullock talked about the scriptures and began by sharing statistics on how long we can survive without water, food, and air and then posed the question "how long can we spiritually survive in a wicked world without reading the scriptures?" He shared a quantitative study he did that showed that the scriptures mention the word "commandments" more than any other word (other than articles, prepositions, etc.). Further, he said that more mention is made in the scriptures to "keep the commandments" than it is to outline exactly what those commandments are - perhaps signifying that the Lord cares more about our heart and behaviors than even about what we know.
Jeff Gritton discussed the topic of prayer by beginning with the question: Why don't we pray?
Are we just viewing it as a means to an end, or as an opportunity to build a relationship with our God? As with any conversation, it's important to LISTEN, not just talk. One person suggested thinking about what we want to talk with Heavenly Father about BEFORE we even begin praying to Him. Another talked about how he sometimes visualizes the Father and the Son talking with him when he prays. Jeff read from Alma 34, where Amulek talks about "crying unto the Lord" and asked if we put that kind of feeling into our prayers. He also reminded us that action and faith make for the most effective prayers.
Steve Harris then talked about the temple. He used the plight and deliverance of the ancient Israelites as a metaphor for the plight and eventual deliverance that we experience in mortality. With the Israelites the Lord instructed them to build a tabernacle and that was a way for Him to preserve His people, keep them united to each other and to Him until they arrived in the promised land. Shouldn't the temple today do the same thing for us?
Dave Sundahl talked about habits and behavior. He pointed out that habits are behaviors that are decoupled from desires and intentions. Developing good habits (like studying the scriptures, praying, and regularly attending the temple) means that we have good things to easily/naturally turn to when we're bombarded by the evils of the world. He encouraged us to build situations and contexts that further our development of good habits. Our Creator has made us in such a way that much of our actions stem from habits - so, why not work within this reality and work on developing good habits, rather than bad ones?
Jonathan wrapped up the meeting by talking about the importance of coming to Christ through these things that were discussed during the meeting. He referred to the parable of the seed in Alma 32 and the need to nourish that seed of faith constantly. Cultivating good thoughts and being in the right places throughout our lives will give us the Lord's protection. None of us are perfect in our study of the scriptures, our prayers, or our temple attendance, but the Savior can make up the difference as we sincerely work to keep His commandments.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Hometeaching
On the first Sunday of the month, we had a discussion about hometeaching. We started by reading two "definitions" of HT - one from the Melchizedek priesthood handbook, the other from Pres. Ezra Taft Benson. The former was more of a clinical, straightforward list of HT activities; the latter was a more impassioned explanation of how HT can change lives. Pres. Benson's 1987 address on Hometeaching outlines three keys to HT: 1)know well those whom you teach 2)know well your message to them 3) magnify your calling.
We were encouraged to read (or re-read) this talk.
Two ideas were shared that might give us as hometeachers more of a focus and purpose in our calling: 1)focus on the ordinances (DC 84:19-21)- what priesthood ordinances can your HT family benefit from, or what ordinances can you help them focus their sights on? 2)focus on a welfare area- what does your HT family need in the way of career development, literacy & education, financial/resource mgt, home production & storage, physical health, or social/emotional/spiritual strength?
Lastly, we reviewed what characteristics can make us "telestial", "terrestrial", and "celestial" hometeachers. And, we were given the assignment to read the following passages and pray, ponder, and even fast over how to apply their teachings to our HT assignments.
DC 20:47 Mosiah 18:8-10
DC 20:53-55 Moroni 6:4
We were encouraged to read (or re-read) this talk.
Two ideas were shared that might give us as hometeachers more of a focus and purpose in our calling: 1)focus on the ordinances (DC 84:19-21)- what priesthood ordinances can your HT family benefit from, or what ordinances can you help them focus their sights on? 2)focus on a welfare area- what does your HT family need in the way of career development, literacy & education, financial/resource mgt, home production & storage, physical health, or social/emotional/spiritual strength?
Lastly, we reviewed what characteristics can make us "telestial", "terrestrial", and "celestial" hometeachers. And, we were given the assignment to read the following passages and pray, ponder, and even fast over how to apply their teachings to our HT assignments.
DC 20:47 Mosiah 18:8-10
DC 20:53-55 Moroni 6:4
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
TFOT Lesson
George Wootan led our discussion during the combined EQ-HP priesthood meeting on Sunday. His lesson was based on Pres. Ann Dibbs' general conference talk titled Hold On. George began by asking us what safety equipment we have to protect us from spiritual destruction. Scriptures, personal revelation/Holy Ghost, priesthood quorums, families, the temple, and obedience to gospel principles were offered as suggestions. George then asked why we sometimes don't use this safety equipment. It was suggested that peer pressure or the belief that we have more freedom without them might influence our decisions to not use them. One person posed the question of what we mean when we talk about "safety" in a spiritual sense. Perhaps, he surmised, it is simply following God's will for us.
There was a discussion around how we can more often turn to, and rely on, the Savior when things are going well in our lives. How do we comprehend our frailties and vulnerabilities when we are prospering? The fact is, we need the Savior just as much in good times as in bad.
It was suggested that it is vital for us to do the "small and simple things" consistently to stay "safe" spiritually. The Lord told Joseph Smith that out of small things proceed that which is great (DC 64:33).
Finally, we were reminded that increasing our level of commitment with regard to personal/family prayer & scripture study, as well as temple attendance, will protect us from spiritual dangers of our day. And, as we do this, we will want even more to help the families we hometeach to have this same protection.
There was a discussion around how we can more often turn to, and rely on, the Savior when things are going well in our lives. How do we comprehend our frailties and vulnerabilities when we are prospering? The fact is, we need the Savior just as much in good times as in bad.
It was suggested that it is vital for us to do the "small and simple things" consistently to stay "safe" spiritually. The Lord told Joseph Smith that out of small things proceed that which is great (DC 64:33).
Finally, we were reminded that increasing our level of commitment with regard to personal/family prayer & scripture study, as well as temple attendance, will protect us from spiritual dangers of our day. And, as we do this, we will want even more to help the families we hometeach to have this same protection.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Jesus Christ, our Chosen Leader & Savior (GP #3)
Todd led our discussion in priesthood meeting this morning and looked at the lesson from three different angles as a way to think about the lessons we can learn:
1. The nature and circumstances of the council in Heaven- Lucifer's plan was flawed and a lie (it couldn't have worked), yet 1/3 of our spiritual brothers & sisters went along with it. Are there aspects of our spirit or character that, if fed, could lead us to make wrong decisions? How do we be sure we are "starving" these aspects of our character and feeding the good aspects of it?
2. The attributes of Jehovah that drew us to the Father's plan in the pre-mortal existence & should draw us to Him in this life- He is loving, meek, lowly, perfect, a purveyor of truth. He is our advocate with the Father. Pres. Wood compared Him to an attorney that is meek and lowly! Todd pointed out the many dichotomies the Savior presents us with- He is both God & a man, He is meek but a fierce advocate of ours, He is a King and yet He is a friend to us.
3. Jehovah said to the Father "Here am I; send me."- Do we listen for the Spirit to tell us when the Father needs us to do something and then do we respond "here am I; send me"? Or, "here am I; I'll do it."
1. The nature and circumstances of the council in Heaven- Lucifer's plan was flawed and a lie (it couldn't have worked), yet 1/3 of our spiritual brothers & sisters went along with it. Are there aspects of our spirit or character that, if fed, could lead us to make wrong decisions? How do we be sure we are "starving" these aspects of our character and feeding the good aspects of it?
2. The attributes of Jehovah that drew us to the Father's plan in the pre-mortal existence & should draw us to Him in this life- He is loving, meek, lowly, perfect, a purveyor of truth. He is our advocate with the Father. Pres. Wood compared Him to an attorney that is meek and lowly! Todd pointed out the many dichotomies the Savior presents us with- He is both God & a man, He is meek but a fierce advocate of ours, He is a King and yet He is a friend to us.
3. Jehovah said to the Father "Here am I; send me."- Do we listen for the Spirit to tell us when the Father needs us to do something and then do we respond "here am I; send me"? Or, "here am I; I'll do it."
EQ/HP Survey Results & Discussion
As you probably know, an anonymous survey was conducted a couple of weeks ago with the members of the elders quorum and high priests group in our ward. The response rate was 75%. Mark Johnson and Jonathan Clark discussed the results of the survey last week.
The survey indicated that many of us are doing well on individual fundamental activities such as daily prayer, daily scripture study, family prayer, and family home evening. However, it showed that very few of us are doing well at most or all of these things. Mark & Jonathan suggested that by increasing our efforts on these fundamental activities of the gospel that even greater things can happen in our ward and in our individual families. For example, if we are doing these things better, we will be able to testify of their power to the families we hometeach and inspire them to do better, too.
Ben Wannamaker likened this to the findings in a report about the phenomenal success of the Apple stores. The study found that many other retail stores do certain individual, important things very well. But, unlike most of these other stores, the Apple stores seem to do ALL of these important things well. There appears to be some "magic" that comes from putting all of these important things together.
It was suggested that we try not to tackle a lot of things at once in our pursuit of improvement in these gospel fundamentals. Make a plan and prioritize. Jonathan talked about the metaphor of the rice and ping-pong balls. He recalled as a young man watching some missionaries bring in a glass container with rice in it and try to fit a bunch of ping-pong balls in it. No matter what they did, they could not get all of the balls to fit. Then, they dumped out the rice and put the balls in first. They all fit. Then, the rice was dumped in and it still fit in the container, too! The lesson was on prioritization: putting the right things first in our life.
Mark & Jonathan referenced Elder Oaks' talk from the Oct. 2000 General Conference, titled "The Challenge to Become". Elder Oaks distinguished testimony and conversion. To testify, he said, "is to know and declare. The gospel challenges us to be 'converted', which requires us to do and become." We need to DO and thereby BECOME better bearers of the priesthood, better husbands & fathers, better friends, better servants of God.
Mark ended the discussion by asking us what it would be like if we improved markedly in these fundamental areas. What if, for example, 75% of us were doing all of the above activities regularly (vs. the current 1/3)? What if 2/3 or 3/4 of us were attending the temple regularly (instead of the current 30-40% of elders)? How would things change? Would our countenances change? Would more miracles occur in our families? Would we grow in charity and be more effective hometeachers? Would more investigators be coming to our ward? Would we FEEL any different?
The survey indicated that many of us are doing well on individual fundamental activities such as daily prayer, daily scripture study, family prayer, and family home evening. However, it showed that very few of us are doing well at most or all of these things. Mark & Jonathan suggested that by increasing our efforts on these fundamental activities of the gospel that even greater things can happen in our ward and in our individual families. For example, if we are doing these things better, we will be able to testify of their power to the families we hometeach and inspire them to do better, too.
Ben Wannamaker likened this to the findings in a report about the phenomenal success of the Apple stores. The study found that many other retail stores do certain individual, important things very well. But, unlike most of these other stores, the Apple stores seem to do ALL of these important things well. There appears to be some "magic" that comes from putting all of these important things together.
It was suggested that we try not to tackle a lot of things at once in our pursuit of improvement in these gospel fundamentals. Make a plan and prioritize. Jonathan talked about the metaphor of the rice and ping-pong balls. He recalled as a young man watching some missionaries bring in a glass container with rice in it and try to fit a bunch of ping-pong balls in it. No matter what they did, they could not get all of the balls to fit. Then, they dumped out the rice and put the balls in first. They all fit. Then, the rice was dumped in and it still fit in the container, too! The lesson was on prioritization: putting the right things first in our life.
Mark & Jonathan referenced Elder Oaks' talk from the Oct. 2000 General Conference, titled "The Challenge to Become". Elder Oaks distinguished testimony and conversion. To testify, he said, "is to know and declare. The gospel challenges us to be 'converted', which requires us to do and become." We need to DO and thereby BECOME better bearers of the priesthood, better husbands & fathers, better friends, better servants of God.
Mark ended the discussion by asking us what it would be like if we improved markedly in these fundamental areas. What if, for example, 75% of us were doing all of the above activities regularly (vs. the current 1/3)? What if 2/3 or 3/4 of us were attending the temple regularly (instead of the current 30-40% of elders)? How would things change? Would our countenances change? Would more miracles occur in our families? Would we grow in charity and be more effective hometeachers? Would more investigators be coming to our ward? Would we FEEL any different?
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Faith & Repentance
Bishop Beecroft gave a wonderful lesson on faith and repentance to the priesthood & RS groups this morning. This was a continuation of his talk in ward conference about keeping the gospel simple. He started by commending to us the book "Believing Christ" by Stephen Robinson. He shared some stories from this book about the author's experiences as a bishop hearing many of his flock express doubts about their capacity to be changed in their hearts. He concluded that while virtually all of them believed IN Christ -- that He was a great teacher, a prophet, and even the Son of God and our Redeemer -- they didn't really believe what He taught and that it could actually be applied in their own life.
He referred frequently to Isaiah 1:18 which beautifully articulates the Atonement's power in our lives. Christ can actually cleanse us from a sin, forgive us of that sin, forget about the sin, and change our hearts so that we forsake the sin. The Bishop recounted a talk in the University ward many years ago where the point was made that repentance is instantaneous; it is NOT repenting that takes a long time. He also quoted Elder Holland saying that repentance takes as long as it takes to say "I'll change" and mean it. Certainly there are many things we must do to carry out this commitment, but as soon as we have decided we want to change and are willing to exert the effort to do so and have the faith in Christ to believe He will help us, we are repenting. Before we can do this, though, we have to believe that Christ will help us and that His way is the better way -- in other words, we must really have faith in Him.
Bishop Beecroft went on to tell a story that was told by Elder Holland many years ago when he was president of BYU ("For Times of Trouble" 3/18/80). It was the story of a man in the early days of the church named Eli Pierce who in 1875 was called on a mission, despite his many unsavory personal habits that were in conflict with the commandments. When he was called, he immediately forsook his bad habits, purchased scriptures & began studying them. While on his mission he and the president of a branch were seen praying for the health of a the branch president's dying infant. One of the man's daughters witnessed their prayer and said she saw an angel standing with them while they prayed. Elder Holland went on to say "if God in his heavens will do that for a repentant cigar-smoking, inactive, swearing pool player, don't you think he'll do it for you?"
He referred frequently to Isaiah 1:18 which beautifully articulates the Atonement's power in our lives. Christ can actually cleanse us from a sin, forgive us of that sin, forget about the sin, and change our hearts so that we forsake the sin. The Bishop recounted a talk in the University ward many years ago where the point was made that repentance is instantaneous; it is NOT repenting that takes a long time. He also quoted Elder Holland saying that repentance takes as long as it takes to say "I'll change" and mean it. Certainly there are many things we must do to carry out this commitment, but as soon as we have decided we want to change and are willing to exert the effort to do so and have the faith in Christ to believe He will help us, we are repenting. Before we can do this, though, we have to believe that Christ will help us and that His way is the better way -- in other words, we must really have faith in Him.
Bishop Beecroft went on to tell a story that was told by Elder Holland many years ago when he was president of BYU ("For Times of Trouble" 3/18/80). It was the story of a man in the early days of the church named Eli Pierce who in 1875 was called on a mission, despite his many unsavory personal habits that were in conflict with the commandments. When he was called, he immediately forsook his bad habits, purchased scriptures & began studying them. While on his mission he and the president of a branch were seen praying for the health of a the branch president's dying infant. One of the man's daughters witnessed their prayer and said she saw an angel standing with them while they prayed. Elder Holland went on to say "if God in his heavens will do that for a repentant cigar-smoking, inactive, swearing pool player, don't you think he'll do it for you?"
Thursday, December 17, 2009
A Christmas Invitation
At this Christmas season, may we be especially worthy to be called disciples of Jesus Christ. Let us remember in thought, word and deed the Master, the Christ-child who was born in Bethlehem.
I'd like to invite each of us to take a quiet moment to consider who the Lord might have us touch during this holiday season. I know that as we place ourselves in His hands that He will make us His instruments, capable of touching the lives of others with the sweet power of friendship, and the peace and joy of the Lord. I have been the beneficiary of the kindness and love that engenders such feelings, and I can testify that it is sweet, especially when life seems to be filled with despair. There are people all around us, even in our ward and our quorum, who are filled with such feelings of doubt and despair. May we reach out to them and be a source of faith and hope to help ease their pain.
Perhaps we might begin with those to whom we are called to provide home and family service (home teaching). Let us petition the Lord to know how we might bless them and then reach out in a spirit of love and service.
Quoting the well known hymn, and Elder Porter's talk last Sunday: "Come, let us adore Him. Come, let us adore Him. Come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord." I testify of Him, that He was born in Bethlehem and died at Golgotha that we might have peace and joy in this life and a hope of salvation in the life to come! Merry Christmas!
I'd like to invite each of us to take a quiet moment to consider who the Lord might have us touch during this holiday season. I know that as we place ourselves in His hands that He will make us His instruments, capable of touching the lives of others with the sweet power of friendship, and the peace and joy of the Lord. I have been the beneficiary of the kindness and love that engenders such feelings, and I can testify that it is sweet, especially when life seems to be filled with despair. There are people all around us, even in our ward and our quorum, who are filled with such feelings of doubt and despair. May we reach out to them and be a source of faith and hope to help ease their pain.
Perhaps we might begin with those to whom we are called to provide home and family service (home teaching). Let us petition the Lord to know how we might bless them and then reach out in a spirit of love and service.
Quoting the well known hymn, and Elder Porter's talk last Sunday: "Come, let us adore Him. Come, let us adore Him. Come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord." I testify of Him, that He was born in Bethlehem and died at Golgotha that we might have peace and joy in this life and a hope of salvation in the life to come! Merry Christmas!
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