Sunday Happenings

Lesson: Conference Talk- "Testimony" by, Cecil O. Samuelson, May 2011 Ensign
Instructor: Sister Colbert

Elder Samuelson starts out with three questions that pertain to having a testimony:

First, who is entitled to have a testimony?

"Everyone who is willing to pay the price—meaning keeping the commandments—may have a testimony. “Wherefore the voice of the Lord is unto the ends of the earth, that all that will hear may hear” (D&C 1:11). "

Second, how does one obtain the necessary revelation, and what are the fundamental steps to achieve it?

"The pattern has been clear and consistent throughout the ages. The promise given for obtaining a testimony of the Book of Mormon also applies generally: “And when ye shall receive these things”—meaning you have listened, read, studied, and pondered on the question at hand—“ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true”—meaning you will pray thoughtfully, specifically, and reverently with a firm commitment to follow the answer to your prayer—“and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. “And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things” (Moroni 10:4–5).

Third, is gaining a testimony an isolated event or an ongoing process?

"A testimony is similar to a living organism that grows and develops when treated properly. It needs constant nourishment, care, and protection to thrive and prosper. Likewise, neglect or deviance from the pattern of living that a testimony clarifies can lead to its loss or diminishment."

10 Observations and Suggestions

Let me now share 10 of the observations and suggestions of my valued and faithful young friends. The ideas they share have a commonality in their thinking and experience; thus, they likely will not be surprising to any of us. Unfortunately and especially at times of our own struggle and distress, we may temporarily forget or discount their applicability to us personally.
1. Everyone has worth because we are children of God
2. Mighty Change of Heart occurs gradually
3. Growth come from challenges in our lives
4. Learn to trust in times of uncertainty
5. Gaining a testimony is a process
6. Teaching others strengthens our testimony
7. We must continue to do the small, simple things daily
8. We should not have higher standards for others than we do for ourselves
9. We shouldn't be too hard on ourselves
10. The Atonement of Christ is central to our testimonies

How do each of these suggestions pertain to gaining a testimony?

Elder Samuelson ends by bearing his testimony: "Like Nephi and Mormon of old, “I do not know the meaning of all things” (1 Nephi 11:17; see also Words of Mormon 1:7), but let me tell you what I do know. I know God our Heavenly Father lives and loves us. I know His uniquely special Son, Jesus Christ, is our Savior and Redeemer and the head of the Church, which bears His name. I know Joseph Smith experienced all that he has reported and taught with respect to the Restoration of the gospel in our day. I know we are led by apostles and prophets today and President Thomas S. Monson holds all of the keys of the priesthood necessary to bless our lives and advance the work of the Lord. I know we are all entitled to this knowledge, and if you are struggling, you can rely on the truthfulness of the testimonies you hear from this pulpit at this conference. These things I know and bear testimony of in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

Family Home Evening Ideas

Sharing Time: We Can Testify of Jesus Christ and His Gospel
Sharing Time: Let Your Light Shine
Sharing Time: I Have a Testimony of Jesus Christ
LDS Living: Testimony of Jesus Christ
LDS Living: Testimony

Don't forget to check out the post below so you can add to your 72 hour kits this week!

Week 7: 72-Hour Kits

Week of August 28: Start building your First-aid kit (1 large one/family, or 1 small one/person). Here are some ideas:

-First Aid Manual

-Tweezers- removing foreign objects from nose and wounds

-Blunt end Scissors-for cutting away clothing or cutting bandages to right size

-Assorted sizes of Bandages- for covering many sizes and types of wounds

-Assorted sizes of Pads- sterile dressings, Kotex pads are great for heavy bleeding (larger pads, 4x4 or 5x9, can be folded or cut to fit smaller wounds)

-Roll of Gauze Rap- wraps around extremitites or head to hold bandage in place

-Tape & Safety Pins- to hold gauze & triangle bandage in place (water proof tape is also great)

-Triangular Bandage- to create a sling

-Hydrogen Peroxide- to clean wounds & prevent infection

-Antihistamine- for allergic reactions, rashes, bee stings (Benadryl, Sudafed)

-Rubber Gloves- to keep your hands from contaminating the wounds, and protecting you

-Hand Sanitizer- to clean your hands and help clean around the wound

-Antibiotic Ointment- Keeps infection down, place on wound then bandage (Neosporin)

-Medicines- burn cream, ibuprofen, inhaler, acetaminophen, cortisone cream, etc... Don't forget Prescription Medications

Websites with First Aid Info:

http://www.redcrossut.org/

http://www.pocketguides.net/

www.kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/

Sunday Happenings

Lesson: Chapter 40- Temple Work and Family History
Instructor: Sister Deus (Thanks for filling in)



Heavenly Father Wants His Children to Return to Him

"Heavenly Father wants all of His children to return and live with Him. For those who died without baptism or the temple ordinances, He has provided a way for this to happen. He has asked us to perform ordinances for our ancestors in the temples".

Sister Deus made a great point of saying that if we are going to be living with our families for eternity...shouldn't we know them. We need to take the time to get to know our ancestors.

I was talking to my husband after we got home from church about our lesson and he shared an experience from his lesson. One Elder said they had a family reunion and were each given a name of an ancestor that they had to research and get to know, then at the reunion they shared what they had learned. What a fun way to get to know your ancestors....a book could be made of the things people learned.

Temples of the Lord

Why are temples important in our lives?

• It is the place where the sealing ordinance can be performed so we can live with our families forever if we live righteously.


• Why is it important to you and your family?

Temple Ordinances Seal Families Together Forever

What does it mean to be sealed? What must a couple do to make the sealing power effective in their marriage?

"All temple ordinances are performed by the power of the priesthood. Through this power, ordinances performed on earth are sealed, or bound, in heaven. The Savior taught His Apostles, “Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven” (Matthew 16:19; see also D&C 132:7)".

Our Ancestors Need Our Help

What responsibilities do we have toward our ancestors who haved died without receiving priesthood ordinances?

"Many of our ancestors are among those who died without hearing about the gospel while on the earth. They now live in the spirit world (see chapter 41 in this book). There they are taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who have accepted the gospel are waiting for the temple ordinances to be performed for them. As we perform these ordinances in the temple for our ancestors, we can share their joy".


Family History -- How we Begin Helping Our Ancestors
1. Identify our ancestors.
2. Find out which ancestors need temple ordinances performed.
3. Make certain that the ordinances are performed for them.
4. Attend a Family History Sunday School Class
5. Start gathering items you already have....obituaries, family stories, funeral programs, journals, etc... and put them in a box or a binder.


Additional Family History Opportunities
1. Attend the temple as often as possible. After we have gone to the temple for ourselves, we can perform the saving ordinances for others waiting in the spirit world.
2. Do research to identify ancestors who are more difficult to find. Family history consultants can guide us to helpful resources.
3. Help with the Church’s indexing program. Through this program, members prepare genealogical information for use in the Church’s family history computer programs. These programs make it easier for us to identify our ancestors.
4. Contribute family history information to the Church’s current computer programs for family history. These programs contain genealogies contributed by people all over the world. They allow people to share their family information. Family history consultants can provide more information about the Church’s computer programs.
5. Participate in family organizations. We can accomplish much more for our ancestors as we work together with other family members.

Family Home Evening Ideas

Sharing Time: "The Heart of the Children"
Sharing Time: Remember Your Fathers
Sharing Time: Temples Are Places of Service
LDS Living: Family History
Go on a field trip and visit the Family History Library or start using FamilySearch.org
Don't forget to check out the 72 hour kit post below!

72-hour Kits: Week 6

Week of August 21: This week add a pair of clean undergarments, socks, & other clothing you desire (per person). Think of the upcoming seasons, you can exchange it each October and April at General Conference time.

Sunday Happenings

Lesson: Chapter 39- The Law of Chastity
Instructor: Sister Ashby

Go here to see the video that Sister Ashby started her lesson out with. It is entitled The Law of Chastity and is found on mormon.org. Sister Ashby also talked about the way we present this subject to our children being so important. She had a paper bag and crumpled newspaper next to a beautiful cup with a nice napkin in it. Which was more pleasing? Just like this object lesson the way we present this sacred law to our children will have a lasting impression. They will either feel comfortable coming to us to ask questions, or they will go and find answers in the many numerous places available to them these days. These places may not give them the correct or appropriate answers we want them to have.

A Note to Parents

"Parents can begin teaching children to have proper attitudes toward their bodies when children are very young. Talking to children frankly but reverently and using the correct names for the parts and functions of their bodies will help them grow up without unnecessary embarrassment about their bodies."

"Children are naturally curious. They want to know how their bodies work. They want to know where babies come from. If parents answer all such questions immediately and clearly so children can understand, children will continue to take their questions to their parents. However, if parents answer questions so that children feel embarrassed, rejected, or dissatisfied, they will probably go to someone else with their questions and perhaps get incorrect ideas and improper attitudes. It is not wise or necessary, however, to tell children everything at once. Parents need only give them the information they have asked for and can understand."

What are some ways Satan tempts people to break the law of chastity?

• Media (T.V., Internet, Phones, Magazines, etc..)


• Language


• Thoughts


• Peers


• Emotions/Hormones


• Clothing- Modesty


• Culture


• Exceptions (you just don't understand.....)


• Refer to the manual for more ideas to add to this list

What is the Law of Chastity?

“Before marriage, do not do anything to arouse the powerful emotions that must be expressed only in marriage. Do not participate in passionate kissing, lie on top of another person, or touch the private, sacred parts of another person’s body, with or without clothing. Do not allow anyone to do that with you. Do not arouse those emotions in your own body” (For the Strength of Youth [pamphlet, 2001], 27).

Forgiveness:

"President Kimball said: “To every forgiveness there is a condition. … The fasting, the prayers, the humility must be equal to or greater than the sin. There must be a broken heart and a contrite spirit. … There must be tears and genuine change of heart. There must be conviction of the sin, abandonment of the evil, confession of the error to properly constituted authorities of the Lord” (The Miracle of Forgiveness [1969], 353)."

Blessings:

"When we obey the law of chastity, we can live without guilt or shame. Our lives and our children’s lives are blessed when we keep ourselves pure and spotless before the Lord. Children can look to our example and follow in our footsteps."

Family Home Evening Ideas

Here is another video that might be helpful in explaing The Law of Chastity to your children.

LDS Living: I Will Be Worthy to go to the Temple

Week 5: 72 Hour Kits

Week of August 14: This week add a roll of toilet paper to your 72-hour kits (1/person, remove cardboard from the middle and store in a ziplock bag).

Sunday Happenings

Presidency Lesson: Gratitude
Instructor: Sister Stoddard

Elder Watts said, "The Savior, though always the giver, was seldom the receiver of gratitude. “And as he [Christ] entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: “And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. “And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, “And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. “And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?” Contemplating the Savior’s question “But where are the nine?” gives cause for deep reflection. In President Hinckley’s opening remarks during last April conference, he said: “And so, my beloved brothers and sisters, let us rejoice together now as we celebrate with appreciation the wondrous doctrines and practices which have come as a gift from the Lord in this most glorious time of His work. … Let us ever be grateful for these most precious gifts and privileges and act well our part as those who love the Lord.”

Sister Stoddard's niece was able to serve in India at a Leprosy colony. Go here, to read about her first day at the Leprosy Colony. Here is a video of some of the experiences she had while there. What an incredible reminder of always being grateful for the things that our Father in Heaven has blessed us with.



We were also lucky enough to have Amanda Bell share some of her experiences of working with the people in Fiji and Honduras. She was so impressed by how humble they were. She emphasized the importance of be thankful for our families, lives, and the gospel, and making sure we aren't focusing on "THINGS" to make us happy.

Go here, to read more about some of the incredible experiences Sister Stoddard's niece is having in India with Rising Star Outreach. Here are two of the articles that Sister Stoddard used for her lesson, they may be great resources to use for Family Home Evening.

Gratitude: Elder Watts, Ensign Nov. 1998

Gratitude As a Saving Principle: Elder Faust, Ensign May 1990

Family Home Evening Ideas

Sharing Time: I am Glad for Many Things

Sharing Time: I am Grateful for Many Things

Sharing Time: Gratitude for God's Creations

LDS Living: Gratitude

P.S. Check out the post below to find out what to add to your 72-hour kit this week.

Week 4: 72-hour kits

Week of August 7: This week put Hygiene Kits together for each member of your family (1 per person). Here are some items you could add:

• Travel size bar of soap & plastic bag to store soap (keep away from food)


• Toothbrush


• Travel Toothpaste


• Travel Shampoo


• Travel Conditioner


• Travel Dish Soap


• Comb/Brush