I wanted to share with you what we learned this past weekend. Now before
you go deleting it because you don't want to read my preachy church
stuff - it was awesome! It was all about strengthening your family and
keeping your home, your marriage, and yourself, safe from the evils in
the world. So just read it - you might learn something too. We had the
opportunity to hear from Elder M. Russell Ballard of the
Quorum of the 12 and a newly called area authority over South Africa -
Elder Hamilton (in person!). (feedback, comments, questions, concerns
are welcome, but not necessary.) :)
(I emailed this to my family and Jeff's family....some who are no longer attending the LDS church so I figured they'd just delete it without reading is - hence the above paragraph. They may still have, but I sent it anyway.)
Love you all!
Alison
I need Jeff's notes from the Priesthood session - I'll let him write that part.
From the Saturday night adult session:
Sister Chancellor of the Stake:
- do not allow Satan to destroy our marriages
- we cannot force our spouse to change but we can change ourselves
Elder Hamilton:
Weight bearing beams of a righteous home are:
- family scripture study
- family prayer
- weekly family home evening
We will not always be safe from our adversary even in our own homes. We must protect our nestlings.
There should be no divisions among us - we should be one, unified with Christ.
Elder Ballard:
-The Savior knows of the trials of women. His first declaration
of being Christ was to a women at the well; on the cross to his Mother;
and to Mary when He returned as a resurrected being.
-We are never alone if we say our prayers
-Pray holding hands with your spouse at bed each night - if we
do so the adversary will not be able to penetrate our defenses.
-Do not exclude Heavenly Father from our challenges - He rarely interferes, but quickly responds.
Fortify our homes: a refuge from the storm,
*** READ THIS: technology is dangerous when it begins to control us
- it can capture our minds and our spirits
- 'You are wasting
your mind, you are wasting your time' - what he told his grandson who
was graduated from high school and addicted to video games. The
transformation of his grandson after he stopped playing video games was
night and day. He excelled in school, got a job, etc. Are you wasting
your time and your mind??
- If you have kids, you have trouble (even Apostles have family problems)
- DON'T TAKE YOUR PHONE
TO SACRAMENT MEETING - we need to leave it in the car and step into His
world for 1 hour and 10 minutes to contemplate His life and His
ministry. We need to show our kids we can survive and thrive without our
phones during sacrament - even it's for the scriptures. Bring your
scriptures with you!
- Enjoy the journey, enjoy technology - don't get captured by it.
SUNDAY Session:
President Porter - Stake President of Phoenix Stake:
Protect your home - physically and spiritually - smoke detectors and prayer can provide safety in our homes
Gird our loins with truth: each home should have the words of the prophets old and new - scriptures, Ensign, etc
- every home should have 'Preach my gospel' and the Addiction Recovery book
- memorize scriptures
Breastplate of righteousness - protects the heart and the sanctity of marriage
Feet shod with preparation: missionary work for all ages, prepare now; some of us may shuffle, but we still need to be prepared.
Helmet of salvation: covers the mind - protect with true knowledge of the plan of salvation
the SWORD of the Spirit: in every movie the bad guy
always wants the hero to 'Drop his weapon' because then it's an unfair
fight. Let us not lay down our swords and lose them in the night. We
must be prepared to fight the adversary.
Sister Jarius Morales: stalactites
and stalagmites cannot exist without each other - so we cannot exist
without our Heavenly Father and blessings from heaven.
President Meryhew: Blessings of the Atonement are extended to all
of God's Children. Family history will not only bless your ancestors,
but your family now and future generations - will bond you together.
President Taylor of the Phoenix Mission: shared
a story about a young boy who was a missionary at age 6. He wanted to
share the gospel and started leaving candy-grams for his neighbor to be
baptized. 'You'd be 'smart' to get baptized 'now' and be happy 'later'.
He also announced that the Phoenix Stake will now be part of the Tempe
West? Mission. We will say good-bye a great league of missionary army to
join another starting July 1.
Elder Hamilton: We are all slow converts. Every convert needs 3 things: a friend, to be nourished, and some sort of responsibility.
from President Hinckley: If you take a burning log
(no matter how big or how hot the fire is), if you take a burning log
off the fire, the fire will go out, the log will grow cold and will no
longer give off light or heat.
Elder Ballard:
Sacrament is a sacred meeting - different from any other meeting and room in the church.
I do not wear a white shirt and tie because I have to. We do not have a
uniform code in the church, but we do have a great love for the Lord.
We need to be prepared to stand in for the Lord in His ordinances
(saying the sacrament prayers, passing and preparing the sacrament).
(everyone stands when an Apostle or Prophet enters a room) He said,
I am generally embarrassed at this attention, however, I know you are
not standing for M. Russell Ballard the man, you are standing our
respect for the Lord's apostle and because you love the Lord.
He called down the powers of heaven and
commanded us to repent - stop pornography. (this was also done in the
Priesthood session) WOW!
He gave counsel to the Youth earlier to not raise their voice to their parents, to be respectful, to be kind.
To fathers: never raise your voice, lose your temper. Do
not lose your dignity of the priesthood by losing your temper. Step
away, step out and then come back when you are ready to love and
nurture.
To Mothers: stay under control, step outside. As the world
continues to unravel, become more secular and lose sight of God, there
is a penalty for living that way.Our home needs to be a REFUGE FROM THE STORM. (this is the second time he's said this......it's important!!!) Mother Eve is the greatest heroine of all.
** Homes are only as strong as their mother and father, and children who respect each other and love one another.
