"A Priceless Heritage of Hope" Elder Erying

In preparing the lesson for this Sunday, "A Priceless Heritage of Hope," I have a few questions I'd like you to ponder.

• What are we doing in order to contribute to our legacy for our future generations to follow? 

• How can we bestow riches that will last on those we love?

Come prepared to share an example of someone you know who has provided "a priceless heritage."

Thank You,
Shelley Bouck-Christiansen

Joseph Fielding Smith, Chapter 17, Sealing Power & Temple Blessings

This Sunday we will discuss the coming of that great prophet Elijah, when he appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the newly dedicated Kirtland Temple. 

• Why was Elijah, one of the very first heavenly visitors sent after the temple had been completed? 
• What is the “Spirit of Elijah” that is often referred to in the context of that appearance? 
• Have you personally felt that spirit in your life? 
• Joseph Fielding Smith says that the “Spirit of Elijah” is important – but there is something far more important – what is that?
• The restoration of the sealing power to the earth, prevents the whole earth from being utterly wasted at the Savior’s 2nd coming – what does that mean?

This lesson, compiled from Joseph Fielding Smith’s teachings, is so powerfully presented -- please read through it and then bring your manuals or devices so that we can re-read some passages together. 

Remember, the whole destiny of the earth depends on each of us doing our part! 

Love, 

Karen Bateman

Lunch Bag Service Project

Dear Sisters,

Thank you for helping us to decorate our first 500 lunch bags for our service project last night! Many sisters brought home many more bags to decorate throughout the week. Please feel free to print and use the quotations that were attached in our recent email. 

We also have hundreds more bags, and glue, and markers available for anyone else who would like to pitch in and help us along. Please contact Catherine Morphis by email if you would like more blank bags. This is a great opportunity for an easy service project for home evening, youth activities, or quiet time.

Finally, as I mentioned last night. We hope that more sisters will log in to justserve.org and register as a user. Please search and sign up for the salvation army lunch sack project under D4. If you would like help registering, please email Catherine and she will register you and send you a password. We will be using this platform for our service every month so it is a tool which we should all become familiar.

Thank You,

Catherine Morphis

Joseph Fielding Smith, Ch. 16, "Bringing Up Children In Light & Truth"

  We are all teachers at sometime in our lives. It can be as we raise a family or when we teach as Grandparents or in the church as Missionaries or in other auxiliaries of the Church. Teaching is fundamental to building Heavenly Father's kingdom. Heavenly Father as given us many opportunities to see how He feels in regards to His children. There is the "Proclamation to the World", numerous scriptures that are aimed at the family and the lesson for this Sunday. We have been given and been warned of the importance that is placed on us as we love and teach His children. Please come with your hearts open to hearing and learning and receiving how to bring up your children in light and truth

The Lord said in a revelation given to the Church in 1831:

“And again, 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 by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.

“For this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized.” [D&C 68:25–26.]

… The Lord requires this at our hands.

Love,

Karen Armstrong

General Conference – No Ordinary Blessing

Why do we need Prophets? Because Heavenly Father loves His children. He has not left them to walk through this mortal life without direction and guidance. The teachings of our Heavenly Father are not the ordinary, predictable, run-of-the-mill kind you can pick up in paperback at the local bookstore. They are the wisdom of an all-powerful, all-knowing celestial Being who loves His children. Encompassed in His words are the secrets of the ages – the key to happiness in this life and in the world to come.

Heavenly Father reveals this wisdom to His children on earth through His servants the Prophets (Amos 3:7). Prophets are inspired teachers and are always special witnesses of Jesus Christ. Prophets speak not only to the people of their time, but they also speak to people throughout all time. Their voices echo through the centuries as a testament of God’s will to His children.

Much of what the Lord reveals to His prophets is intended to prevent sorrow for us as individuals and as societies. When God speaks, He does so to teach, inspire, refine, and warn His children. When individuals and societies ignore their Heavenly Father’s instructions, they do so at the risk of trial, torment, and toil.

Come learn from each other as we share our testimonies of General Conference, and learn ways to assist us, and our families, to glean the most from Conference. General Conference is October 4-5. Now is the time to prepare to receive personal revelation from the Lord’s servants, His Prophets.


Love,
Debra R. Newcum
Relief Society President

FAR-lington

Normally I don't go to veterinary appointments from Arlington, TX anymore because it's just too far away. In fact, I've been known to refer to Arlington as FAR-lington because it's just too far away. Something told me to take this call and so I proceeded to get all of my equipment for euthanasia packed up into my car.

When I go into houses, I generally take notice of religious items such as crosses, statues of saints, Mezuzahs, Buddha statues, etc. The things religious symbols in people's houses or lack thereof generally can tell me how to approach bringing up the subject of the gospel. Upon entering this house I found none of these items and was quite confused as to how to start up a conversation about the subject of religion. The first tip-off should have been the stacks of food in the kitchen but I thought maybe this family was just uber prepared for emergencies. When I sat down to write the medical record and invoice, my eyes fell upon something absolutely delightful. It was the very familiar picture of Dallas temple of The Church of Jesus of Latter Day Saints.

What a refreshing reminder that there are more of us out there than we realize. Lately, I've been feeling quite frustrated at the lack of reception of the gospel message. And in order to prove a point, the Lord had me drive all the way to FAR-lington in order to remind me that some people do say yes to the gospel. And those people are all around us whether we recognize it or not.

Rachel Roark