This week's lesson was from the "Gospel Principles" manual, chapter 16 "The Church of Jesus Christ in Former Times." Here are some of the key points:
- There are six characteristics that point to the true church of Jesus Christ. These characteristics were present in Christ's day and they are present in ours -
1. Authority from God - God gives His servants the power to act in His name (the priesthood)
- Matthew 16:19
2. The Church Organization - Christ called twelve Apostles to lead and guide His church after His death. These Apostles were to teach the gospel to all the world and make sure the members were doing what God wanted them to do.
- Ephesians 2:20
3. Revelation - God will always guide His church through revelation. Revelation is the "rock" upon which the church is built (see Matthew 16:16-18)
- Individuals can also receive personal revelation. It is through revelation that truth is revealed to us and we receive our testimonies.
4. First Principles and Ordinances - Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost
- Ordinances require priesthood authority in order to be complete.
5. Ordinances Performed for the Dead - Everyone has a chance to receive the gospel, no matter when they lived.
- 1 Corinthians 15:29
- 1 Peter 3:18-20, 4:6
- Doctrine and Covenants 131:6
6. Spiritual Gifts - such as faith, prophecy and visions (there are others). Spiritual gifts are given to individuals according to their needs, capacity and assignments. They follow those that believe.
The Church was also organized in the Americas - after Christ was resurrected, He visited the Nephites in the Americas and gave them the same instructions and authority He gave His Apostles in Jerusalem. See 3 Nephi 11-28
Apostasy occurred when the people became too wicked and prideful. They disobeyed and even killed the Apostles and Prophets. The gospel became corrupted with incorrect doctrine. God took His authority from the earth in response to their wickedness. This Great Apostasy was foretold - Isaiah 2:2-4; Daniel 2:44-45
Thanks to Emily for this great lesson!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
This Week's Announcements!
Hello everyone! This week is a little sparse on activities, but there's some fun stuff coming up!
- Institute is Wednesday at 7:00 pm at the Seminary building.
- There will be no FHE on Monday.
- Just as a heads up - stake conference will be September 18-19 and Elder Dallin H. Oaks will be presiding.
- Also - we as a Relief Society presidency are planning a Relief Society Retreat this fall. It is still in the planning stages, but it should be a ton of fun - we'll keep you posted.
- Institute is Wednesday at 7:00 pm at the Seminary building.
- There will be no FHE on Monday.
- Just as a heads up - stake conference will be September 18-19 and Elder Dallin H. Oaks will be presiding.
- Also - we as a Relief Society presidency are planning a Relief Society Retreat this fall. It is still in the planning stages, but it should be a ton of fun - we'll keep you posted.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Sunday Lesson Recap: Priesthood Organization
This week's lesson was from the Gospel Principles book, chapter 14 "Priesthood Organization." Some key points:
- The Church is governed by the priesthood. There are two kinds of priesthood - the Aaronic Priesthood and the Melchizedek Priesthood.
- Offices in the Aaronic Priesthood are: Deacon, Teacher, Priest, Bishop. Offices in the Melchizedek Priesthood are Elder, High Priest, Patriarch, Seventy and Apostle.
- The priesthood brethren are divided into quorums, which are groups of priesthood holders holding the same office in the priesthood. Each quorum is led by a presidency.
- The priesthood is organized in this way so that priesthood holders are given opportunities to use their priesthood to serve individuals and families and strengthen the Church.
- The auxiliaries of the Church (Relief Society, Young Women, Young Men, Sunday School and Primary) are organized the same way as the priesthood holders are and under the direction of priesthood leaders.
- This organization is also a model for how our families should be governed: "Pray for Dad"
Thanks to Aubrey for giving such a wonderful lesson!
- The Church is governed by the priesthood. There are two kinds of priesthood - the Aaronic Priesthood and the Melchizedek Priesthood.
- Offices in the Aaronic Priesthood are: Deacon, Teacher, Priest, Bishop. Offices in the Melchizedek Priesthood are Elder, High Priest, Patriarch, Seventy and Apostle.
- The priesthood brethren are divided into quorums, which are groups of priesthood holders holding the same office in the priesthood. Each quorum is led by a presidency.
- The priesthood is organized in this way so that priesthood holders are given opportunities to use their priesthood to serve individuals and families and strengthen the Church.
- The auxiliaries of the Church (Relief Society, Young Women, Young Men, Sunday School and Primary) are organized the same way as the priesthood holders are and under the direction of priesthood leaders.
- This organization is also a model for how our families should be governed: "Pray for Dad"
Thanks to Aubrey for giving such a wonderful lesson!
Announcement Roundup!
It's the end of summer and you know what that means! We've got some great activities planned to celebrate!
- FHE is tomorrow (Monday) at 7:30 at President Hill's house. The address is 333 S. Silver Maple in White Sage (close to the hospital - you can Mapquest the address if you like). We will be playing Guitar Hero... or was it Rock Band? One of those - if you have any kind of video-game-musical ability (or just want to give it a try) come and join us!
- Institute is Wednesday at 7:00 pm at the Seminary.
- On Tuesday, August 17 we will be having a party at the Rez and we will be meeting there at 7:00 pm (stay tuned for further details)
- Thursday, August 19, we are scheduled to do baptisms for the dead at the Manti Temple. Meet at the Church at 2:15 pm so we can be ready to leave by 2:30. We will be getting pizza in Ephraim on the way back.
- FHE is tomorrow (Monday) at 7:30 at President Hill's house. The address is 333 S. Silver Maple in White Sage (close to the hospital - you can Mapquest the address if you like). We will be playing Guitar Hero... or was it Rock Band? One of those - if you have any kind of video-game-musical ability (or just want to give it a try) come and join us!
- Institute is Wednesday at 7:00 pm at the Seminary.
- On Tuesday, August 17 we will be having a party at the Rez and we will be meeting there at 7:00 pm (stay tuned for further details)
- Thursday, August 19, we are scheduled to do baptisms for the dead at the Manti Temple. Meet at the Church at 2:15 pm so we can be ready to leave by 2:30. We will be getting pizza in Ephraim on the way back.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Video - "Good Things to Come"
Instead of the Sunday Lesson Recap this week, here is a video from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland -
Have a great week, everyone!
Have a great week, everyone!
Some Reminders
Here are the announcements for this week:
- Institute will be on Wednesday at 7:00 pm at the Seminary building.
- FHE is Monday at 7:30 pm.
- Next Sunday (August 8) after church, there will be a Relief Society fireside after church. A light lunch will be served.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Sunday Lesson Recap: "Mothers and Daughters"
The lesson this week came from Elder M. Russell Ballard's talk "Mothers and Daughters" and Sister Julie B. Beck's talk "And Upon the Handmaids in Those Days I Will Pour Out My Spirit". Here are the highlights:
- Even though we aren't married and don't have kids, we do set an example for our younger siblings, nieces, nephews and cousins that we have an influence over.
- "Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity." Sister Margaret D. Nadauld, former Young Women General President (from October 2000 General Conference)
- The second general Relief Society president, Eliza R. Snow, said this to the sisters: “We want to be ladies in very deed, not according to the term of the word as the world judges, but fit companions of the Gods and Holy Ones. In an organized capacity we can assist each other in not only doing good but in refining ourselves, and whether few or many come forward and help to prosecute this great work, they will be those that will fill honorable positions in the Kingdom of God. . . . Women should be women and not babies that need petting and correction all the time. I know we like to be appreciated but if we do not get all the appreciation which we think is our due, what matters? We know the Lord has laid high responsibility upon us, and there is not a wish or desire that the Lord has implanted in our hearts in righteousness but will be realized, and the greatest good we can do to ourselves and each other is to refine and cultivate ourselves in everything that is good and ennobling to qualify us for those responsibilities.” (quoted by Sister Beck)
- "A mother-daughter relationship is where a daughter learns how to nurture by being nurtured. She is loved. She is taught and experiences firsthand what it feels like to have someone care about her enough to correct her while continuing to encourage and believe in her at the same time." - Elder Ballard
- “Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world (in whom there is often such an inner sense of spirituality) will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world. . . ." - President Spencer W. Kimball (quoted by Sister Beck)
Thanks to Chrissy for the great lesson!
- Even though we aren't married and don't have kids, we do set an example for our younger siblings, nieces, nephews and cousins that we have an influence over.
- "Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity." Sister Margaret D. Nadauld, former Young Women General President (from October 2000 General Conference)
- The second general Relief Society president, Eliza R. Snow, said this to the sisters: “We want to be ladies in very deed, not according to the term of the word as the world judges, but fit companions of the Gods and Holy Ones. In an organized capacity we can assist each other in not only doing good but in refining ourselves, and whether few or many come forward and help to prosecute this great work, they will be those that will fill honorable positions in the Kingdom of God. . . . Women should be women and not babies that need petting and correction all the time. I know we like to be appreciated but if we do not get all the appreciation which we think is our due, what matters? We know the Lord has laid high responsibility upon us, and there is not a wish or desire that the Lord has implanted in our hearts in righteousness but will be realized, and the greatest good we can do to ourselves and each other is to refine and cultivate ourselves in everything that is good and ennobling to qualify us for those responsibilities.” (quoted by Sister Beck)
- "A mother-daughter relationship is where a daughter learns how to nurture by being nurtured. She is loved. She is taught and experiences firsthand what it feels like to have someone care about her enough to correct her while continuing to encourage and believe in her at the same time." - Elder Ballard
- “Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world (in whom there is often such an inner sense of spirituality) will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world. . . ." - President Spencer W. Kimball (quoted by Sister Beck)
Thanks to Chrissy for the great lesson!
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