February 9, 2025
As part of Stake Conference, a special youth session was held on Sunday morning during which Elder Morgan encouraged the youth to “Choose Jesus” every day and asked them to write down three ways they would choose Jesus in the coming week. He taught that discipleship is intentional and that we should be deliberate in choosing Jesus. What followed was a group discussion on ways we can all choose Jesus, with daily repentance and regular temple attendance being highlighted as two specific examples.
On the topic of daily repentance, Elder D. Todd Christofferson has taught: “Surely the Lord smiles upon one who desires to come to judgement worthily, who resolutely labors day by day to replace weakness with strength. Real repentance, real change may require repeated attempts, but there isomething refining and holy in such striving.” Sister Kristin Yee also reminds us that, “You may feel at times that it’s not possible to be redeemed, that perhaps you are an exception to God’s love and the Savior’s atoning power because of what you are struggling with or because of what you’ve done. But I testify that you are not beneath the Master’s reach. The Savior “descended below all things” and is in a divine position to lift you and claim you from the darkest abyss and bring you into “his marvelous light.” Our need for healing and help is not a burden to Him, but the very reason he came.” I love these reminders from our leaders that none of us are lost to the Savior, that His reach finds us all wherever we are. Every day we repent, we choose Jesus and allow Him to heal us through the Atonement. When we couple daily repentance with regular temple worship, we invite His power and influence into our lives.
Elder Morgan taught the youth that the temple is a place where we have proximity to Jesus Christ because He actually visits His temples in order to manifest Himself to His people. In D&C 109:5 it says, “…to build a house to thy name, that the Son of Man might have a place to manifest himself to his people.” When we attend the temple, we can be near Jesus and feel of His spirit. President Nelson has said: “All who worship in the temple will have the power of God and angels having ‘charge over them.’ How much does it increase your confidence to know that, as an endowed woman or man [or temple-attending youth] armed with the power of God, you do not have to face life alone? What courage does it give you to know that angels really will help you?” What a marvelous blessing to know that as we attend the temple, we will have power from God, the aide of angels, and increased courage to face life’s challenges.
I’m grateful for what I have been able to learn about how choosing Jesus through daily repentance and temple attendance can bring me peace and strength in this life. It gives me confidence to know that I will be able to call upon angels to help my family stay on the covenant path and continue to choose Jesus every day.
Message provided by: Natalie Hall from the Young Women
February 2, 2025
There was a momentous event this last Wednesday when 15 people gathered to show 80 people why and how to preserve family history, how to write family history and how to profit from family history. There were 9 booths on topics from how to preserve family history as in photos and journals and exclamations of family happiness and from those booths, we learned that when we have that tie to the past, we gain a strong and never ending link to the future for we know that our ancestors did fun and hard and boring and celebratory things and that we can do the same for our descendants!
Why? Because we want to help our descendants? Because we find meaning in the efforts of our progenitors to give their descendants (us) a better life, which includes passing on our testimony and example and joy!
How to profit from family history? We did have some mighty delicious treats (Thank you Sis. Taggart!) which came from our forebearers so that you need not exist only on bread and water. We did have a great booth for you to take pictures to give to your children. We did have examples of journals to contain our thoughts and dreams and sadnesses. And we did have great displays of important items which our ancestors made so that we could remember them and their testimonies, their adventures and their dreams.
So dream and preserve and create and record! It’s all wonderful!
Message provided by: Family History Committee
January 26, 2025
“Witness unto Me”
Elder Jeffrey R Holland shared, “Now, you are already wonderful missionaries, better than you think you are, and there is more where that comes from! The 12-hour-a-day, heavy-duty effort we’ll leave to the full-time missionaries, but why should they have all the fun? We are entitled to a seat at the abundant table of testimony as well, and fortunately a place has been reserved there for each member of the Church.
I love this talk because it shows the need for love, the need for everyone to do our part in sharing the restored gospel! President Gordon B. Hinckley once said, “My heart reaches out to you missionaries. You simply cannot do it alone and do it well. You must have the help of others. My Brothers and Sisters, that power of help lies within each of us, he goes on to say, “Now, my brethren and sisters, we can let the missionaries try to do it alone, or we can help them. If they do it alone, they will knock on doors day after day and the harvest will be meager. Or as members, we can assist them in finding and teaching friends. (“Find the Lambs, Feed the Sheep”, February 1999.)
The Savior concluded His earthly ministry. He gave this paramount charge to His Apostles and those who would follow them: “Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father , and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” “Ye shall receive power, … and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” My brothers and sisters let us respond to our Saviors with enthusiasm for this work and assist the missionaries in the tremendous responsibility. I know if we join hands and share the gospel light we will all feel the love and joy of missionary work. I bear witness of the truthfulness of this gospel and of Jesus Christ and the work of His vineyard! I know the worth of 1 soul is great in the sight of our Father in Heaven. He loves us and desires us to return to him above. We must do our part to help each of our brothers and sisters return to our Heavenly Father above. This I pray in the name of our Savior, even the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Message provided by: Paane and Olivia Felila (Ward Missionaries)
January 19, 2025
Teaching and learning of Jesus Christ in the home is the foundation for the growth of gospel learning. To teach the gospel is a sacred trust. It is an essential part of the Lord’s work, and it works best when we do it in His way. Home is a fundamental responsibility for parents and families in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When we, as parents, lead by example with faith and perseverance by teaching and learning about Christ in our homes, it becomes His way to life, and His life serves as an exemplary plan for achieving enduring joy. As mentioned in the New Testament, John chapter 14 verse 6, Jesus proclaims, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Furthermore, as outlined in the manual Teaching in The Savior’s Way, “as a disciple of Jesus Christ, we have opportunities to share His light wherever we go. This includes at home, in church, while ministering to others, and among our friends. Teaching the gospel is a sacred trust and an essential part of the Lord’s work. It is most effective when we adhere to His teachings.”
President Russell M. Nelson, our living prophet, has consistently emphasized the significance of teaching about the Savior in the home. In his 2018 talk titled “The Power of Spiritual Momentum,” he advised, “Teach your children the truths of the gospel and help them comprehend the transformative power of Jesus Christ in healing, comforting, and strengthening them.”
President Nelson emphasizes that parents must not only impart Christ’s teachings but also His Atonement, life, and love. By doing so, they enable children to apply these truths in their daily lives. Through consistent teaching and exemplary behavior, children can develop a deep understanding of Jesus Christ as a real and personal Savior who can guide them through life’s challenges.
Our esteemed leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ have emphasized the importance of “Teaching in the Savior’s Way at Home” by highlighting both the approach and the spirit in which gospel principles should be imparted. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, in his 2023 talk titled “Teaching with the Spirit,” urged parents and teachers to adopt a compassionate and loving approach, akin to Christ’s interactions with His disciples. He emphasized that Jesus taught by example, inviting people to follow Him with love and understanding. Holland urged us to emulate this approach in our homes, teaching with a spirit of warmth and empathy. He underscored that teaching in the Savior’s way is not merely about conveying information but creating an environment where the Holy Spirit can work, softening hearts and fostering a deeper connection to our Savior, Jesus Christ.
I firmly believe that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, and He lives! I testify that teaching and learning about the life of Jesus Christ in our homes will provide us with a sanctuary from the turbulent storms of mortality. It will amplify the abundance of blessings we are entitled to receive and qualify us for the eternal companionship of the Holy Ghost in our daily lives. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Message provided by: Sister Wendy Stringfellow (Sunday School)
January 12, 2025
During a recent nationally televised college football quarterfinal game, two outstanding teams were at a critical point of the game when a player turned his focus to one side of the field which allowed his opponent side to score and the other team to eventually win. As commentators diagramed what transpired, they observed that the play’s outcome was the result of diverted attention. Looking the wrong way made all the difference.
Just like in the football game, there is so much going on in life, so much information, so many distractions. How do we know where to put our focus long term, today, and right now? How grateful we should be for a prophet who can help us have a clearer vision as we navigate through the world we live in, and as we evaluate what we need to do to improve.
1. “Think Celestial.” This is an overarching principle that can help eliminate many
distractions and less-worthy goals and decisions.
2. Focus on the Savior. “The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.” He is the source of light and truth and peace.
3. “Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly.” The Spirit can help us determine what to focus on today as well as in the long term.
4. “Repenting is the key to progress.” Be grateful for the gift of repentance because we are not perfect, but through repentance we can sharpen our focus.
As we begin a new year, may we each strive to focus on those things that will bring us closer to the Savior and to experience His joy.
Message provided by: Sister Janet Eggers (Relief Society)
January 5, 2025
I think I am safe in assuming that most of us enjoy giving and receiving gifts. At this time of year we may become more consumed with giving appropriate and meaningful gifts. Heavenly Father, through His prophets have given each of us the amazing gift of FamilySearch. This gift makes it possible for us to become a greater gift-giving people.
If we are willing to learn how to stroke a few computer keys, the rest has almost been completed for us. Hours of volunteer time and effort has been spent and is being spent researching available records world-wide. This new help provides the opportunity for us to become aware of and accept with gratitude the chance to get acquainted with thousands of missing cousins. Relatives we may have never heard of soon may become dear friends as well as being relatives. Our responsibility for the use of this gift is to take the time to become involved in researching and finding deceased relatives who are waiting for us to gift them. This gift of service provides us with an opportunity to serve as proxy as they enter the pathway of covenant learning, understanding and keeping. Linking families eternally through participating in temple service opens the way to the greatest gift of all given to us by the Father and His Son – the gift of eternal life.
When we become involved in this act of service and love we literally become Saviors on Mount Zion. We increase the opportunity for deceased loved ones to make the choice to become faithful followers of Christ. They will know of our love for them and will bless us for sharing and giving this gift of love. Each of us are encouraged to become as involved as much as we possibly can in this great act of service. There is great joy in gift giving.
Message provided by:
Brother Wayne L. Cable
(Ward Temple & Family History Consultant)