Good afternoon sisters. Didn't our choir do a
wonderful job with their rendition of Come, come Ye Saints?
THOUGHT: “With continuing priesthood counsel and with
Relief Society leaders who are called of the Lord by inspiration, the women of
the Church have a divine source of direction for the work that is theirs to do,
and the Society provides a means to accomplish that work.”
Barbara B. Smith (DIMK pg. 136)
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- Bro. Rob Fisher is home
and unfortunately they were told it is inoperable. Please continue to keep
them in your prayers, because we know that Heavenly Father is aware of our
situations.
- A big thanks to the
wives of all the YM leaders who went on the Scout camps this week.
- Change of date: Sarah's class has been
changed to August 9th at 7 pm at her home. “Connecting your
family, things that matter most” will provide a packet of ideas for all
ages of your family. It will be fun.
- Sept. 13th, Jed Norwood's
presentation on Preparedness at 7 pm.
- Don't forget BYU
Education Week, Aug. 13th – 17th.
- August 2nd at
6:30 is the Annual RS Summer picnic in the back yard of Melissa Brady.
BIRTHDAYS: Happy Birthday to Heather Fillmore, July 25th
and Whitney Carpenter (works in Primary), July 28th. Hope you both
have a great day.
Today's lesson is taken from President Monson's
address to the Priesthood, “Willing and Worthy to Serve” and was
presented by Darla.
“Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am
not yet ascended to my Father:...”
Have we ever thought of the self control that
the Savior had in not returning to his Father immediately. Here he had been
separated three days and they had not seen each other. Why were they separated?
The thought came to me that it was because He was doing his Priesthood
business.
I have given you 6 quotes that were contained in
President Monson's talk. Also two questions. One is 'How can we support bearers
of the Priesthood? And 'How will we be blessed if we do?' I have put 6 pictures
of latter-day prophets and you are to tell me which quote goes with what
prophet.
Quote 1: “It is your duty first of all to learn what
the Lord wants and then by the power and strength of His holy Priesthood to
[so] magnify your calling in the presence of your fellows .. that the people
will be glad to follow you.” George Albert Smith
President Monson said, “How blessed we are to
be here in these last days, when the priesthood of God is upon the earth. How
privileged we are to bear that priesthood. The priesthood is not so much a gift
as it is a commission to serve, a privilege to lift, and an opportunity to
bless the lives of others.
“With these opportunities come responsibilities
and duties. I love and cherish the noble word duty and all that it implies.”
“Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty,
and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence.”
“As er perform our duties and exercise our
priesthood, we will find true joy. We will experience the satisfaction of
having completed our tasks.”
Quote 2 read by Cheryl: “The
priesthood... is ...the power of God delegated to man by which man can act in
the earth for the salvation of the human family, in the name of the Father and
the Son and the Holy Ghost, and act legitimately; not assuming that authority,
nor borrowing it from generations that are dead and gone, but authority that
has been given in this day in which we live by ministering angels and spirits
from above, direct from the presence of almighty God.” Joseph Fielding
Smith
This quote tells us how we are connected to the
priesthood.
Quote 3 read by Luone: “The Holy Priesthood
is the channel through which God communicates and deals with man upon the
earth; and the heavenly messengers that have visited the earth to communicate
with man are men who held and honored the priesthood while in the flesh; and
everything that God has caused to be done for the salvation of man, from the
coming of man upon the earth to the redemption of the world, has been and will
be by the virtue of the everlasting priesthood.”
Wilford Woodruff
I need to preface my behavior and blame Melissa
Barton for my tears. It's her fault as she spoke of her father, how he honors
his priesthood, his work ethic, etc. Amen to her comments. And also to the
youth speakers, and the choir and her husband.
Quote 4: “When one becomes a holder of the
priesthood, he becomes an agent of the Lord. He should think of his calling as
though he were on the Lord's errand.” Harold B. Lee
President Monson called him one of the great
teachers in the Church.
He then tells the story of “During World War
II, in the early part of 1944, an experience involving the priesthood took
place as United States marines were taking Kwajalein Atool, part of the
Marshall Islands and located in the Pacific Ocean about midway between
Australia and Hawaii. What took place in this regard was related by a correspondent—not
a member of the Church—who worked for a newspaper in Hawaii. In the 1944
newspaper article he wrote following the experience, he explained that he and
other correspondents were in the second wave behind the marines at Kwajalein
Atoll. As they advanced, they noticed a young marine floating facedown in the
water, obviously badly wounded. The shallow water around him was red with his
blood. And then they noticed another marine moving toward his wounded comrade.
The second marine was also wounded, with his left arm hanging helplessly by his
side. He lifted up the head of the one who was floating in the water in order
to keep him from drowning. In a panicky voice he called for help. The
correspondents looked again at the boy he was supporting and called back, “Son,
there is nothing we can do for this boy.”
“Then,” wrote the correspondent, “I saw
something that I had never seen before.” This boy, badly wounded himself, made
his way to the shore with the seemingly lifeless body of his fellow marine. He
“put the head of his companion on his knee... What a picture that was—these two
mortally wounded boys—both...clean, wonderful-looking young men, even in their
distressing situation. And the one boy bowed his head over the other and said,
'I command you, in the name of Jesus Christ and by the power of the priesthood,
to remain alive until I can get medical help.'” The correspondent concluded his
article: “The three of us [the two marines and I] are here in the hospital. The
doctors don't know [how they made it alive], but I know.”
President Monson continues: Miracles are
everywhere to be found when the priesthood is understood, its power is honored
and used properly, and faith is exerted. When faith replaces doubt, when
selfless service eliminates selfish striving, the power of God brings to pass
His purposes.
Martha: My brother and his family came for a visit and
on their way to Colorado for a Family Reunion, they listened to this talk.
While they were at the lake, with the kids playing in the water, he was invited
to join in a game of 'chicken'. He had the impression to stand and just observe
when he saw a two year old in the water face down. He ran out and brought him
to shore. A fireman was also there and together they began the process of
saving him. Into his mind came the story and he put his hands and commented him
to live. The mother was so grateful and relieved. They were not members of the
Church.
Quote 5 read by Melissa B: “What is priesthood?
… It is the government of God, whether on the earth or in the heavens, for it
is by that power, agency, or principle that all things are governed on the
earth and in the heavens, and by that power that all things are upheld and
sustained. It governs all things-it directs all things—it sustains all
things—and has to do with all things that God and truth are associated with.” John
Taylor
Ashley P read quote 6: “Priesthood is an
everlasting principle, and existed with God from eternity, and will to
eternity, without beginning of days or end of years.” Joseph Smith
Now, your thoughts on how to support bearers of
the Priesthood?
I want to share a little story with you. Life is
one eternal circle. When we first moved into town of course we moved next door
to Donna Larson. She had taught pre-school for years and was very educated.
Levi was little and would go over while she weeded. She asked me how he was
doing with his reading and I answered that it was falling through the cracks.
She volunteered to tutor him and one on one she build his self esteem. She
loved and taught him and he became a good reader. She saw the need, she had the
talent and she shared it. Levi now is a teacher in the priesthood and is her
home teacher. She listens patiently and encourages him in honoring his
priesthood. She, in her own way, contributes to his success in his priesthood
duties.
Francesca: I often ask my friends to give me blessings.
When I have needed their help, support, I have asked them and it took a few
seconds to recognize that they had the power. I felt the power and by my asking
them, it has helped both me and them. They felt the spirit and are not afraid
now to give blessings while they are on their missions. They had the practice.
There are ways that young women can support the
young men. Talk about it with them.
Be modest and honor their priesthood.
Be modest and honor their priesthood.
Lynette: Girls go on their missions when they are 21,
older than the young men who go at 19. The sister missionaries are taught that
it is very important to always honor the Elders. To please honor them, to help
them understand their priesthood. Their growth can be seen as they progress on
their mission. The Brethren work hared to teach the sisters to be patient with
them.
Visitor: We have to be careful not to speak negatively
about the priesthood in our meetings. For example sometimes my daughter will
say about an activity, the priest were in charge and so it wasn't very good'.
Be careful, show respect and be uplifting.
Amy W: I can answer the question of how to do so
poorly. For the early priesthood meeting the other Sunday, Paul got up late and
then had to wake up Daniel so they missed the first half of the meeting.
Lynette: I try to compliment the deacons, and always
thank them for honoring their priesthood. It does have a profound effect on
them.
Kristi: Praise and explain the praise. There is no
greater feeling when you get priesthood blessings. It connects you to purpose.
Explain that to them. Tell them Why. It gets stamped in their soul.
Amy S: In Daughters in My Kingdom there is a
chapter on the Priesthood. Chapter 8 Blessings of the Priesthood for All: An
Inseparable Connection with the Priesthood. It talks about the roles each plays
in connection to the priesthood. It is a great resource. Sister Barbara Winder
says: “I learned that when you are invited to a meeting, “ she explained,
“you are not invited to come and complain about all your problems, but you are
invited to come with solutions. Then together you can talk about ideas to see
what will work. The priesthood brethren expect and need the perspective of the
women of the Church. We need to be prepared and assist them”
I see the training that is current in the
regular ward council meetings. The perspective women have. This principle applies
in marriage, parenting. Come with solutions.
We develop testimony through prayer, service.
How to Honor them. I went online and found The
Latter-day Saint Woman: Basic Manual for Women, Part A “Women and the
Priesthood”
“We also honor the priesthood when we treat
our husbands with the same gentleness, kindness, and love they should maintain
as bearers of the priesthood. We treat them the same way we expect from
them. We honor them.
“We can also strengthen the priesthood bearers
in our home by including them in our prayers. The Prophet Joseph Smith
counseled women of the Church to “concentrate their faith and prayers for, and
place confidence in their husband; … that we should arm and sustain them with
our prayers”.
I will close with how will we be blessed if we
do support them.
Elder John A. Widtsoe explained other
benefits of the priesthood:
“Men have no greater claim than women upon
the blessings that issue from the Priesthood and accompany its possession. …
“The man holds the Priesthood, performs the
priestly duties of the Church, but his wife enjoys with him every other
privilege derived from the possession of the Priesthood. This is made clear, as
an example, in the Temple service of the Church. The ordinances of the Temple
are distinctly of Priesthood character, yet women have access to all of them,
and the highest blessings of the Temple are conferred only upon a man and his
wife jointly.”.
And Elder Bruce R McConkie explained the
companionship role of the priesthood and women: “In the true Patriarchal
Order man holds the priesthood and is the head of the household, … but he
cannot attain a fulness of joy here or of eternal reward hereafter alone. Woman
stands at his side a joint-inheritor with him in the fulness of all things.
Exaltation and eternal increase is her lot as well as his. Godhood is not for
men only; it is for men and women together.”
In conclusion I pray we will all make a better
strife in honoring all priesthood men.
Next week is 5th Sunday and we will
meet with the men. Have a wonderful week.
Don't forget to visit our blog http://manila12thwardrs.blogspot.com
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