Work and Personal Responsibility
Given by Shanel Bliss

Work is an antidote for anxiety.

Not all of us can choose the kind of work we do. Some of us labor for long hours for the bare necessities. It is difficult to enjoy such work. Yet the happiest people have learned to enjoy their work, whatever it is.

Our attitude toward work is very important. The following story shows how one man saw beyond his daily labor. A traveler passed a stone quarry and saw three men working. he asked each man what he was doing. Each man's answer revealed a different attitude toward the same job. "I am cutting stone," the first man answered. The second replied, "I am earning three gold pieces per day." The third man smiled and said, "I am helping to build a house of God."

Honesty--Quintin L. Cook, Nov. 2010 Ensign, Let there be Light.
'The thirteenth article of faith begins, "We believe in being honest." Honesty is a principle founded in religious belief and is one of God's basic laws.

Many years ago when I was practicing law in California, a friend and client who was not a member of our faith came in to see me and with great enthusiasm showed me a letter he had received from an LDS bishop of a nearby ward. The bishop wrote that a member of his congregation, a former employee of my client, had taken materials from my client's work site and had rationalized that they were surplus. But after becoming a committed Latter-day Saint and attempting to follow Jesus Christ, this employee recognized that what he had done was dishonest. Enclosed in the letter was a sum of money from the man to cover not only the cost of the materials but also interest. My client was impressed that the Church through lay leadership would assist this man in his efforts to be reconciled to God.'

From the earliest days of the Church, the prophets have taught Latter-day Saints to be independent and self-sustaining and to avoid idleness. True Latter-day Saints will not voluntarily shift from themselves the burden of their own support. So long as they are able, they will supply themselves and their families with the necessities of life.

We should each find the proper balance between work recreation, and rest. There is an old saying: "Ding nothing is the hardest work of all , because one can never stop to rest." Without work, rest and relaxation have no meaning.

On other days of the week, in addition to working, we may spend time to improve our talents and enjoy our hobbies, recreation, or other activities that will refresh us.

There is no real division between spiritual, mental, and physical work. Work is essential to each of us for growth, character development, and may satisfactions that the idle never know.

President David O McKay said, "Let us realize that the privilege to work is a gift, that the power to work is a blessing, that the love of work is success."

"Men are, that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2: 25). Work is a key to full joy in the play of God. If we are righteous, we will return to live with our Heavenly Father, and we will have work to do. As we become like Him, our work will become like His work. His work is "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39).

FHE Monday 7:00p.m. at the church. Game Board Night.

Stake Conference Adult session Saturday the 26th at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday session the 27th at 10:00 a.m.

Super Activity June 11, 2011.

Chapter 26: Sacrifice
Given by Sharlynn Campbell

The Meaning of Sacrifice
Sacrifice means giving to the Lord whatever He requires of our time, our earthly possessions, and our energies to further His work. The Lord commanded, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). Our willingness to sacrifice is an indication of our devotion to God. People have always been tried and tested to see if they will put the things of God first in their lives.

The Law of Sacrifice was Practiced Anciently
They were commanded to offer as sacrifices the firstlings of their flocks. These animals had to be perfect, without blemish. The ordinance was given to remind the people that Jesus Christ, the Firstborn of the Father, would come into the world. He would be perfect in every way, and He would offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sins.

Because of His sacrifice, everyone will be saved from physical death by the Resurrection and all can be saved from their sins through faith in Jesus Christ. Christ's atoning sacrifice marked the end of sacrifices by the shedding of blood. Such outward sacrifice was replaced by the ordinance of the sacrament. The ordinance of the sacrament was given to remind us of the Savior's great sacrifice. We should partake of the sacrament often. The emblems of bread and water remind us of the Savior's body and of His blood, which he shed for us.

We Still Must Sacrifice
Even though sacrifice by the shedding of blood was ended, the Lord still asks us to sacrifice. But now He requires a different kind of offering. He said: "Ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood,...and your burnt offerings shall be done away. ...And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit" (3 Nephi 9:19-20). A "broken heart and a contrite spirit" means that we offer deep sorrow for our sins as we humble ourselves and repent of them.

Sacrifice Helps Us Prepare to Live in the Presence of God
Only through sacrifice can we become worthy to live in the presence of God. Only through sacrifice can we enjoy eternal life. many who have lived before us have sacrificed all they had. We must be willing to do the same if we would earn the rich reward they enjoy.
We may not be asked to sacrifice all thins. But like Abraham, we should be willing to sacrifice everything to become worthy to live in the presence of the Lord.

FHE-Monday at 7:00 p.m. at the church. Game night

Sunday the 20th the chapel is being used so sacrament meeting will be in either the Relief Society room or the back of the Cultural Hall.

Stake Conference Feb. 26, 27 Saturday night session is at 7:00 p.m. Sunday session is at 10:00 a.m.

Super Activity June 11, 2011. More info coming soon!!!

Keeping Our Focus on Christ
Given by Rebecca Hamblin

Story of the Sunflower: "Clytie was a sea nymph who wore beautiful green gowns woven of seaweed. Her long, golden hair floated about her at the bottom of the sea. One day a mermaid sang her a song about a golden light above the water. Clytie wanted to see it!
She swam to the surface and climbed onto the shore. She saw the golden light described in the song...It was the sun! She stood happily gazing at it all day. When she at last turned to the water, she saw her reflection. Her golden hair had become yellow petals; her green gown had become leaves. Her tiny feet had become roots. She had become a sunflower, a small image of the sun she loved.
To this day, the sunflowers turn on their stems all through the day so that they can gaze upon the sun as it travels the sky."

Clytie had become a small image of the sun just as we must become a small image of the Son of God. To become like Christ we must do as Clytie had done.

1. She had a desire to see the sun, in turn we need to have that desire to come unto Christ.
2. She took the action required. It takes action on our part to study and develop faith in Christ.
3. She engulfed herself in the sun's light. We can engulf ourselves in the light of the Savior by going to our Sunday meeting and doing those things we know to be right.

"It is amazing what darkness can do. It has an unsettling effect, altering our perception and creating a sense of unease. Uncertainty surrounds us and often the dangers that are lurking around us are hidden from our view. The best way to move forward through these perilous times is to focus on the teachings of Christ." Emily Freeman

By keeping our focus on Christ we will have the strength and ability to accomplish the purposes Relief Society and your own spirituality.

1. Strengthen your own light by increasing your faith and personal righteousness.

"To do our part under the plan of the Lord, we are to increase our faith and personal righteousness. Membership in the Church requires faith, which we nourish throughout our lives with great “diligence, and patience, and long-suffering.” Sister Julie B. Beck

We can increase our own faith by:

• Studying the scriptures
• Having sincere and meaningful prayer
• Repenting of sins
• Studying the living prophets, ect.

2. Fortify your light by strengthening home and family.

"Our ... responsibility is to strengthen families and homes. Families worldwide are being assaulted and weakened by corrupt practices and false teachings. Therefore, whether we are married or single, old or young, we have a duty to defend and practice the truths found in 'The Family: A Proclamation to the World.' Relief Society should be organized, aligned, and mobilized to strengthen families and help our homes to be sacred sanctuaries from the world."Sister Julie B. Beck

To make our home a sanctuary we must cleanse it of things that are offensive to the spirit and to show love to the family members that live there.

3 ways to show love:

1. Service
2. Giving
3. Verbal

3. Share your light by serving the Lord and His children.

"In my travels across the world, I have seen that the thousands upon thousands of you who do not currently have a husband or children are an incredible reservoir of faith, talent, and dedication. No one is better positioned than you to work in temples, serve missions, teach the rising generation, and help those who are downtrodden. The Lord needs you." Sister Julie B. Beck

Sunday Lesson Recap - Christ's Divine Mission

Well, it's been a couple of weeks, but I'm finally back!  And it's time for our Sunday Lesson Recap!  This week's lesson was a Christmas lesson all about Christ's divine mission and it was given by Deanna.  Some highlights -

- There is not one single sentence to describe what Christ's mission was.  It included the Atonement, organizing His Church, teaching His gospel, showing charity, setting the perfect example for us to follow - the list goes on!

- Moses 1:39 - God's work and glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

- Christ is central to God's plan

- Christmas is about celebrating all of Christ's life - not just His birth, but also his life, death, resurrection and mission.

- Without the Savior, there's no reason for anything - no reason to repent, no reason to show charity to others, no reason for the Plan of Salvation.

- "Charity" - from Preach My Gospel

- What are our individual divine missions?
    - They're different for everyone and there's not just one mission to complete.

Annoucements!

Here are this week's announcements -

FHE - Monday at 7:00 pm

Wednesday, Dec. 15 - meet at the church at 5:30 pm.  We'll be going caroling at the Care Center

Tuesday, Dec. 21 - Branch Christmas Dinner at 7:00 pm.  Come to the church and we'll be having a roast beef dinner.  Casual dress.  President Chappell will be speaking