Halloween Treats

Your wish is my command!

Here's what I did for my cookies, Ladies:
The witches hat = shortbread, striped cookies from the dollar store (yes, that's right, the dollar store) + store bought orange frosting (I just had some on hand, but making it is delicious too.  Either way, I'd put it into a plastic bag, cut off a bit of one corner, and squeeze it onto the cookies) + your choice of Hershey Kiss (I had half milk and half dark).  Use your frosting as glue and put the two together, just make sure you put enough frosting down that it creates a ring on the outside of the kiss to look like ribbon around a hat.

(I didn't take a picture of mine but I found this online and these are dang close to mine-just more professionally done...photo from http://barbschram.blogspot.com/2009/07/witch-way-justrite-way.html)

Now the home made sugar/short bread candy corn cookies area recipe I got from a BFF here at school.  This is her recipe (thanks KT!):

(Short Bread) Sugar Cookies

2 cups butter, softened
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
2 cups sugar
2 egg yolks
1 3/4 teaspoon vanilla
4 1/2 c. flour (you made need to add up to 1/4 c. more depending on how sticky the dough is...you want it to be sticky but handable)


Cream butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add sugar, egg yolks and vanilla; mix well. Gradually add flour. The dough will be VERY soft; don’t worry, it gets firmer after chilling. Cover and chill two hours or until firm. Roll out on floured surface to ¼ inch thickness. Cut into shapes and decorate with sugars; place on greased baking sheets (or use parchment paper). Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until set (but not browned). Cool 5 minutes. Place on wire racks to cool.

Now, using this recipe I followed the instructions on this website, ourbestbites.com (which is also where I got the picture below). 

Enjoy!

 

Waiting on the Road to Damascus

When I heard the name of this talk "Waiting on the Road to Damascus" I thought to myself, "why do I know that name? Damascus...hmmm."

I had two things working against me. The first? My memory, or lack there of. The second? I'm not a great scriptorian. I am the kind of person who remembers how she felt while somehow missing all the detail of an event/story. So for those of you who are like me, let me give you a brief refresher.

Damascus, is an ancient city of Syria. And the man, Saul, who was on his way there, who was he? When I heard the name Saul, I thought about Jack Warden's character in "While You Were Sleeping." Obviously that's not the right Saul. But then if you look for Saul in the scriptures there are two, so don't get confused like I did. There's a Saul that is talked about in the Book of Samuel, he's kind of tragic. Wrong Saul. The man President Uchtdorf talks about is the Saul in Acts, Saul of Tarsus. President Uchtdorf makes the assumption that we all know the story well. While I'm fairly certain that the majority of you have memories far superior to mine and absolutely know the account of Saul, there may be a few of you who are more like me.  Consequently, I want to share an excerpt from an article I found in "The Friend" way back in 1986 (link at bottom):

"The angry mob dropped their cloaks at Saul’s feet. Cursing and yelling, they began to hurl stones at Stephen for preaching about Jesus. The rocks bruised and cut Stephen’s body. Wounded, he knelt on the ground and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge,” and died.

Saul was unmoved by the innocent man’s dying words of forgiveness. He thought Christians were wicked, and he worked hard to rid the empire of them. He searched the towns and homes, and when he found any men or women who believed in Christ, they were put into prison.

So great was Saul’s vengeance that he went to the high priest and obtained letters to take to the synagogues in Damascus. The letters gaveSaul the authority to take prisoner any Christian he found on his journey.

Carrying the letters, Saul started for Damascus, determined to destroy the Christians. But as he neared the city, a light from heaven encircled him. Bewildered, Saul fell to the earth.

“Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” asked a voice hovering near.

Frightened, Saul asked, “Who art thou, Lord?”

The voice answered, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.”

Trembling, Saul asked, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”

“Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do,” the Lord instructed.

Obediently Saul arose, only to find that he was blind. Saul’s companions led him into Damascus, where for three days his blindness continued and he neither ate nor drank.

After the three days a man named Ananias was sent to Saul by the Lord. Putting his hands on Saul’s head, Ananias prayed, “Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.”

Immediately Saul could see again. Saul now knew that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, and he asked to be baptized into His church.

For many days Saul remained with Jesus’ disciples, learning all that he could from them. Before long, Saul, the man who had persecuted Christians, was testifying of Jesus Christ in the synagogues. Nevertheless, many people continued to persecute the Christians. One time when the people decided to kill Saul, he escaped by being lowered over the city wall in a basket by some of the disciples. "

I think it's important to know the particulars of Saul's experience in order to fully grasp President Uchtdorf's message. Who can pick out some of the details that shed light on Saul's experience and are pertinent to what we are talking about? Here are a few ideas I came up with:
-Saul, even when he was even, was never sitting around waiting for something to happen
-He was passionate (both as a wick man, and as a righteous man)
-He was frightened by the Lord (those who are unprepared to meet Him will fear Christ)
-The event wasn't all angels and butterflies. He lost his sight and had to suffer a bit.
-Even though he was scared, he was still obedient
-Saul had to exercise faith to be healed and to receive his witness
-He then went forth, acquired as much knowledge as he could, and began to spread the gospel

Now, is Saul's the first manifestation of this kind? No. Was it the last? No.
(Let me share what President Uchtdorf said on the matter...)

"We know that manifestations such as this happen. In fact, we testify that a similar divine experience happened in 1820 to a boy named Joseph Smith. It is our clear and certain testimony that the heavens are open again and that God speaks to His prophets and apostles. God hears and answers the prayers of His children.

Nevertheless, there are some who feel that unless they have an experience similar to Saul’s or Joseph Smith’s, they cannot believe. They stand at the waters of baptism but do not enter. They wait at the threshold of testimony but cannot bring themselves to acknowledge the truth. Instead of taking small steps of faith on the path of discipleship, they want some dramatic event to compel them to believe.

They spend their days waiting on the road to Damascus." (Uchtdorf)

If we ourselves haven't been there, I'm sure you've known someone who has allowed themselves to remain a traveler on the road to Damascus endlessly. What are some of the reasons someone might do this?
(i.e. tragic event leaves him/her wounded and unable to cope, doubt, fear)

Instead of waiting for some huge event to happen to us, we must realize that, just like most things in life, belief comes one step at a time.

(I will bring in one of my 4 year old's puzzles as a demonstration. I'll hold up a couple pieces and ask them if they can recognize what it is-which the answer will be no. Then, I'll put the pieces of the puzzle together as a whole and show them the picture. We will liken this to the quote below and talk about how testimonies come one piece at a time as you WORK on it. Are some pieces to the puzzle more obvious than others?  Are all puzzles the same size?  How do such things relate to our own testimonies?)

"The truth is, those who diligently seek to learn of Christ eventually will come to know Him. They will personally receive a divine portrait of the Master, although it most often comes in the form of a puzzle—one piece at a time. Each individual piece may not be easily recognizable by itself; it may not be clear how it relates to the whole. Each piece helps us to see the big picture a little more clearly. Eventually, after enough pieces have been put together, we recognize the grand beauty of it all. Then, looking back on our experience, we see that the Savior had indeed come to be with us—not all at once but quietly, gently, almost unnoticed. This can be our experience if we move forward with faith and do not wait too long on the road to Damascus." (Uchtdorf)
The remainder of President Uchtdorf's talk is spent giving us tools to assist us in putting the pieces of our testimonies together. The first piece of advice is to Hearken and Heed (story of President Monson). What must we do to hearken, or to listen, for what the Lord has to tell us?
-make time for LISTENING after saying our prayers
-find time for quiet (don't always have the radio on in the car)
-live in a way that allows the Spirit to literally be your constant companion
-figure out how the spirit talked to you specifically (Education week story-different ways of learning, different ways of feeling the spirit, "warm, peace, ideas, prickles" )

And how can we learn to heed the promptings we get better?
-If you can't tell whether you are being prompted to do something or if i'ts your own idea, just do it (as long as it's a good thing). It will never hurt. Pretty soon you'll learn when something is your idea, and when it's the Lord's.

"I testify to you that our Father in Heaven loves His children. He loves us. He loves you. When necessary the Lord will even carry you over obstacles as you seek His peace with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Often He speaks to us in ways that we can hear only with our heart. To better hear His voice, it would be wise to turn down the volume control of the worldly noise in our lives. If we ignore or block out the promptings of the Spirit for whatever reason, they become less noticeable until we cannot hear them at all. Let us learn to hearken to the promptings of the Spirit and then be eager to heed them."

The next tool President Uchtdorf reminds us of is Service. In our haste for a solution, it is easily forgotten that "the Spirit may not come to us directly as the answers to our prayers." Instead, the Lord sends his servants.

Think for a moment, who might these people be in your own lives?
-Friends, family, prophets, apostles (other church leaders), scriptures
Why is it important to serve?

-It is far too easy to get caught up in ourselves.  When we get preoccupied with ourselves we miss important things happening around us...things that the Lord may be using to try as answers to our prayers.

-When we serve, we could quite possibly be the answer to someone else's prayer.

-Our goal is to not just have a testimony of Him but ultimately become like Christ.  His whole life was about serving others.

-President Spencer W. Kimball taught this concept when he said: “God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other.”President Spencer W. Kimball taught this concept when he said: “God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other.”

"If we are thinking only of ourselves, we may miss some of the most powerful spiritual experiences and profound revelations of our lives." (Uchtdorf)

"Often, the answer to our prayer does not come while we’re on our knees but while we’re on our feet serving the Lord and serving those around us. Selfless acts of service and consecration refine our spirits, remove the scales from our spiritual eyes, and open the windows of heaven. By becoming the answer to someone’s prayer, we often find the answer to our own." (Uchtdorf)

Lastly, President Uchtdorf advises us to use sharing as a tool.  This doesn't mean that we are meant to share everything that happens to us with everyone we meet.  You will probably be given an experience or two meant only for your to use for own benefit.  These are sacred, personal events.  I guarantee the prophets, both old and new, have experienced things they haven't shared with the rest of us.  This is by design.  However, those experiences are fewer than one might think.  The Lord expects the members of His church to “open [their mouths] at all times, declaring [His] gospel with the sound of rejoicing.”  D&C 28:16 Is this easy to do?  Not all the time, not for most people. 

"This is not always easy. Some would rather pull a handcart across the prairie than bring up the subject of faith and religion to their friends and co-workers. They worry about how they might be perceived or how it might harm their relationship. It doesn’t need to be that way because we have a glad message to share, and we have a message of joy." (Uchtdorf)

(Story of President and Sister Uchtdorf always making an effort to share the spiritual events of the weekend when asked about their weekend..."It's easy for you, you have your church.")

What can we do to share our experiences and testimonies with others?

-Look for opportunities through out your day.  There are people to share with at the bus stop (remind them of the story with Mom at the bus stop), grocery store, and restaurant.  Wherever you spend your time, whether it's at school, the park, or a cubical, there are people at every turn who are willing to engage in conversation.  Make it a good one.

-Don't forget technology.  Blogs, Facebook, personal emails, etc. are all great places to share the gospel one work, phrase, or paragraph at a time. (making sure it's at the right time in the right way)

"Brothers and sisters, with the blessings of modern technology, we can express gratitude and joy about God’s great plan for His children in a way that can be heard not only around our workplace but around the world. Sometimes a single phrase of testimony can set events in motion that affect someone’s life for eternity." (Uchtdorf)

-Make it a matter of prayer.  As Heavenly Father for opportunities to share your testimony and experiences with others.

-Apply your testimony and the lessons you learn to your lives so that people can visibly see them.  We hear it all the time, the best teacher is example.  So be one.  “Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words.” (Attributed to St. Francis of Assisi)

"The most effective way to preach the gospel is through example. If we live according to our beliefs, people will notice. If the countenance of Jesus Christ shines in our lives,10 if we are joyful and at peace with the world, people will want to know why. One of the greatest sermons ever pronounced on missionary work is this simple thought attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi: “Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words.”11 Opportunities to do so are all around us. Do not miss them by waiting too long on the road to Damascus." (Uchtdorf)

We're all on the road to Damascus. I think the key word is WAITING. If we move forward (act, not wait) with faith and allow ourselves to develop our testimonies one step at a time, we'll get there. Damascus won't seem that far away after all.

As President Uchtdorf reminds us.  Do not doubt.  Be courageous.  Move forward with faith, having hope, charity and diligence.  Remember that the Lord loves us dearly and has not only promised to answer our prayers, but wants to.  If we will do ask he asks, if we press forward with faith and allow him to show us one piece of the puzzle at a time, we will reach Damascus.

"Do not doubt. Remember, “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”13 God loves you. He hears your prayers. He speaks to His children and offers comfort, peace, and understanding to those who seek Him and honor Him by walking in His way. I bear my sacred witness that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is on course. We have a living prophet. This Church is led by Him whose name we bear, even the Savior Jesus Christ.

Brothers and sisters, dear friends, let us not wait too long on our road to Damascus. Instead, let us courageously move forward in faith, hope, and charity, and we will be blessed with the light we are all seeking upon the path of true discipleship. For this I pray and leave you my blessing in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen."


Waiting on the Road to Damascus, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, April 2011 General Conference

Scriptural Giants: Saul Becomes Paul, "The Friend", 1986, Sherrie Johnson

The Gathering of Israel

(As we end 10 minutes early for testimonies on "Fast Sunday" I made this lesson more brief.  I would highly encourage more thought and study on the topic in your own personal study.  I included some fantastic talks -that I think you'd really benefit from- at the end of this post.  Enjoy!)

To understand the gathering of Israel we must first revisit the Abrahamic Covenant.
What is the Abrahamic Covenant? Abraham 2:6–11; Genesis 12:1–8; 17:1–9

"Abraham made covenants with God when he received the gospel, when he was ordained a high priest, and when he entered into celestial marriage. In these covenants, God promised great blessings to Abraham and his family. These blessings, which extend to all of Abraham's seed, are called the Abrahamic covenant."  (Gospel Study, "Abrahamic Covenant", lds.org)

-The Lord promised to make Abraham's posterity a chosen people.
      -The Son of God would come through Abraham's lineage
      - Certain lands would be in herited
      - His posterity would be like the sands of the Earth (countless)
      - They would receive the priesthood
      - Nations and kindreds of Earth would be blessed by his seed
            -His seed would bring the Gospel  and the priesthood to the world

A few other questions we need to ask are:

Who is Israel?
- Jacob, the grandson of Abraham

What does Israel mean?
-"One who prevails with God" or "Let God prevail"


How many sons did Jacob/Israel have?
- 12, these sons and their families became known as the twelve tribes of Israel, or Israelites (Genesis 49:28)

What happened to these 12 tribes, how did most of them ultimately become known and the "10 Lost Tribes?"
...how the house of Israel was scattered

Abraham and Sarah chart 

(*click to get larger image)

We know that the house of Israel must be gathered (Jeremiah 23:3), but why is this so?  Why does the Lord want his people to be gathered?  What are some of the Lord's purposes for the gathering of Israel?
- [for his children] To learn the teachings of the Gospel
- To prepare to meet the Savior
- To build temples and perform sacred ordinances
- To strengthen one another and be unified in the Gospel, finding protection from unrighteous influences
- To prepare to share the Gospel with others


This, the gathering of Israel can not be done without the proper authority.  So then we must ask, is the proper authority present, and has the work begun?  That would be an emphatic yes.  When, then, was the authority restored and to whom was it restored?
-From D&C 110:11, we learn that Joseph Smith received this authority in the Kirtland temple on April 3, 1836 from Moses (this was also when Elias and Elijah appeared to restore other keys)

Once the authority to gather Israel was given, the work had to move forward.  How exactly did the gathering of Israel begin to move forward?
-This answer is two part.  We first must understand that the gathering of Israel has two meanings.  The first is meaning is spiritual, the second physical.  Before the physical gathering, there must be a physical gathering.  Which, leads us to ask, how is Israel being spiritually gathered? 
    -Missionary work, the building of temples and the ordinances/covenants made therein are the HOW in this equation.  They both continue to move forward at astonishing rates, allowing Israel to learn the Gospel, come unto Christ, be baptized, and keep the commandments, which are all things that must be done in order to gather Israel spiritually.

The physical gathering began with Joseph Smith and the early pioneering Saints as they began to gather Israel first in Ohio, then in Missouri, and eventually in Salt Lake City.  However, as time passed and the work moved forward the physical meaning of the gathering of Israel changed a bit.  Perhaps as a result of modern technology (or maybe the modern religious laws which provide freedom and protection), it was declared many times that the physical gathering was no longer to imply that the saints needed to leave their home lands.  Elder Russell M. Nelson said:
  “The choice to come unto Christ is not a matter of physical location; it is a matter of individual commitment. People can be ‘brought to the knowledge of the Lord’ [3 Nephi 20:13] without leaving their homelands. True, in the early days of the Church, conversion often meant emigration as well. But now the gathering takes place in each nation. … The place of gathering for Brazilian Saints is in Brazil; the place of gathering for Nigerian Saints is in Nigeria; the place of gathering for Korean Saints is in Korea; and so forth. Zion is ‘the pure in heart.’ [D&C 97:21.] Zion is wherever righteous Saints are” (in Conference Report, Oct. 2006, 85; or Ensign, Nov. 2006, 81).

We now have the literal and spiritual gathering of Israel throughout the world.  But when will the gathering be complete?  
- Not until the 2nd coming of Christ and on into the Millennium ( Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:37)
- People will be "gathered home to the lands of their inheritance, and shall be established in all their lands of promise" (2 Nephi 9:2), the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh will be gathering in the Americas, the tribe of Judah will return to the city of Jerusalem (and the area surrounding it), and the lost ten tribes will receive from the tribe of Ephraim their promised blessings (D&C 133:26–34).

(If there is time left, I will spend a few moments on the conversion processes necessary in the gathering of Israel.  In doing so I'll ask if anyone would like to share their own conversion story...)

How wonderful it is to witness these prophetic miracles!  To see the Gospel of Jesus Christ spread through out the world is simply marvelous.  The gathering began more than a hundred and fifty years ago and in that short time much has been accomplished.  While there is much still left to be done, there have been infinite strides and miracles made from the pioneers through to this very day.  Hearing new temples being established every six months and watching people flock to them astounds and amazes me.  Witnessing the conversion of saint's everywhere brings me to tears.  Our Heavenly Father absolutely loves us and is extending his arms to us, calling us together and inviting us home.  How grateful I am to witness these things, to feel His love, and to have a testimony of the fulness of times.  In deed, this is a marvelous work and a wonder.

This lesson is what I would call scripture heavy.  The Bible, Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants are all used several times-far more than what I have included.  In your personal study you might want to read:

• Genesis 17:1–8 (God’s covenant with Abraham)
  
• Romans 9:4–8; Galatians 3:29 (those who follow Jesus Christ and His word are the children of the covenant)
  
• 2 Nephi 30:2; Mosiah 5:10–11 (those who repent, follow the prophets, and have faith in Jesus Christ become the Lord’s covenant people)
  
• 2 Kings 17 (Northern Kingdom taken captive)
  
• 2 Chronicles 36:11–20 (Southern Kingdom taken captive)
  
• James 1:1 (twelve tribes scattered abroad)
  
• 1 Nephi 10:12–13 (Nephite migration was part of the scattering)
  
• Jeremiah 3:14–18 (one from a city, two from a family)
  
• Ezekiel 20:33–36 (Israel will be gathered from all countries)
  
• 3 Nephi 20:29–46 (Jews will be gathered to Jerusalem)
  
• 1 Nephi 15:13–18; 3 Nephi 21:26–29 (gathering starts with Restoration of the gospel)
  
• D&C 38:31–33 (the Lord’s covenant people will be saved)
  
• Isaiah 11:11–13 (the Lord will recover His people)
  
• Revelation 18:4–8 (a voice will proclaim the gathering)
  
• D&C 133:6–15 (Gentiles to Zion, Jews to Jerusalem)  

In my study I referenced a couple really great talks in addition to the Gospel Principles Manual.  I read/used: Gathering Scattered Israel: Then and Now, by Paul K. Browning and The Gathering of Scattered Israel, by Russell M. Nelson as well as Lesson 12: “The Gathering of My People”  from the Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Teacher's Manual.

Temple Work and Family History

Many people spend their whole lives wondering why they are here (on Earth) and where they are going. What a blessing to have the answer key to that final test tucked away in our files. We know the who, what, when, where, why and how. So let's review what we know.

Who are we ALL? (Children of our Father in Heaven who loves us and wants us to return to him)
Why are we here? (To gain physical bodies, to become like Christ, to make and keep covenants, and to eventually return to our Father in Heaven)
What are we asked to do? (be baptized, make temple covenants)
How can we ALL do these things? (Make the choices necessary to enter the temple, receive our own endowments then do the work for those who didn't have the opportunity to do it themselves)
When are we to do these things? (Now, as soon as we can)
Where are we to do these things? (In the temple of the Lord)

How many of us have pictures of the temple in our home? Now, how many of the temples adorning our walls are of the very temple we were married in? I would surmise that our tendency is to develop a special attachment to the temple we made our own covenants in. Whether it's where our families were sealed or where we received our endowments (or even where we performed baptisms in our youth), the temples we have personally been in have more meaning to us.

Why is this?

I think we get it. We get that a wedding, a marriage, is more than just an earthly status. We understand not only the importance of temple work, but the importance of OUR OWN covenants. Receiving the knowledge we need and making the covenants necessary for our salvation and for the eternal bond with our families means more to us than anything else. The time and place where we made these covenants and first learned the next steps in returning to our Father in Heaven is extremely significant to us.

If we feel this way about our own experiences and relationship with the Lord, we absolutely are able to understand how others who have yet to receive these blessings must feel. We want, and need, to allow them the same opportunities and experiences as we have. It is our duty and our pleasure to stand in for them and to perform the ordinances they were unable to perform while in this life. By doing so we are giving them the chance to accept the gospel and live with God again.

Returning to the temple often is a service to our ancestors that cannot be fulfilled any other way. They need us to help them along their way. However, we also need them. Imagine if everyone had the opportunity in this life to be baptized, receive their endowments and be sealed to their eternal companion. Imagine if the only temple word to be done was our own. Do you think you could comprehend all that you need to know in one session at the temple? Do you think you'd never want to return for more instruction and to seek the Lord's guidance again? I think not. What a joy and a pleasure to be able to do this work and to be given the opportunity to continue to learn and prepare to meet our Savior.

Temple Ordinances Seal Families Together Forever

What does it mean to be sealed?  Let’s talk about the sealing power.

Matthew 16:19
And I will ^agive unto thee the ^bkeys of the ^ckingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt ^dbind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

***My experience at a sleepover in high school with a friend

D&C 128:9
9 It may seem to some to be a very bold doctrine that we talk of—a power which records or binds on earth and binds in heaven. Nevertheless, in all ages of the world, whenever the Lord has given a ^adispensation of the priesthood to any man by actual revelation, or any set of men, this power has always been given. Hence, whatsoever those men did in ^bauthority, in the name of the Lord, and did it truly and faithfully, and kept a proper and faithful record of the same, it became a law on earth and in heaven, and could not be annulled, according to the decrees of the great ^cJehovah. This is a faithful saying. Who can hear it?

“…This sealing power, restored in this dispensation by Elijah the Prophet (D&C 2:1-3; 110:13-16), is the means whereby ‘All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations’ attain “efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead (D7C 132:7).” (Boyd K. Packer, The Holy Temple)

The temple is the place for this great work to be accomplished but it would be fruitless if done without the proper authority/keys of the priesthood. When done in the right place AND with the proper authority, this vicarious work allows us to be bound to Heaven. When we say that something/someone is "sealed" we mean that the same covenants/promises made on Earth are, in essence, still in effect when we pass on from this probationary state and into the eternities to live with our Father in Heaven.

“The use of a seal is a visible means of signifying that the document is authoritative, that it is worthy of respect and recognition, that its effect is binding.  Seal is the right word, therefore, to be used to represent spiritual authority.  In this case it is not represented by an imprint, by a wax impression, by an embossment, or by a ribbon; nor by an engravement on a signet, or by a stamp, or by a gold design pressed onto a document.  The seal of official authority relating to spiritual matters, like other things spiritual, can be identified by the influence that is felt when the sealing power is exercised.” (Packer, The Holy Temple page 88)

Has anyone ever thought of the Holy Ghost’s witness or the influence our covenants have on our daily lives as the seal?

It is not enough to be baptized. We also need to enter the temple and receive our endowments. These two things are preparatory for the later, most significant covenants we make with our spouse and with the Lord as we are married and SEALED for all eternity. It is this sealing that is most vital. It not only offers us the opportunity to live with God in the Celestial Kingdom, it allows our spouse and our children the right and privilege to do so as well, with us...as long as we keep out covenants and live worthily to do so.

Once a couple is sealed, all the children they subsequently have are sealed to them. Any adopted children can be sealed to them in the temple as well. Couples that are married civilly can prepare themselves and their children to be worthy to enter the temple and be sealed together.

(What must a couple do to make the sealing power affective in their marriage?)

Our Ancestors need our help

Again, these covenants we make; the blessing of being sealed to our families, are so profound, so life changing, the Lord wants everyone to have the opportunity to partake in the joy. The bliss that results from these choices is eternal and is exactly what our Father in Heaven would choose for us. But there simply is no way to share the gospel with everyone who has ever walked the Earth, not in this life at least. So what genius plan did God come up with to solve this problem? He allows his children to be taught in the spirit world after they leave mortality. He gives them the chance to hear the gospel and choose whether or not to accept it.

However, those that accept the gospel in the spirit world still need the sealing ordinance performed on earth if their covenants are to be bound in Heaven (allowing them to progress and live eternally with our Father in Heaven}. That is why we need to do temple work. Imagine how many people have accepted the gospel and are still waiting for someone to do their work for them!  My brain could hardly fathom the 110,000 people in the Michigan stadium for the Michigan VS Notre Dame game last night, let alone centuries of the Earth's population sitting in a chapel in the sky waiting for us to take care of them. There is much work to be done, but we can do it!  We just need to know where to start.

(How does the Plan of Salvation show God's justice, compassion and mercy?
What experiences have you had doing temple work for your ancestors?)

Where do we begin?

So once we get the family history/temple work bug, where should we start?

There are 3 basic steps:
1. Identify our ancestors
2. Find out with ancestors need temple ordinances performed
3. Make certain the ordinances are performed for them
Starting your family history work is often easier if you ask your ward/branch family history consultant or bishop/branch president for direction.

Identify our Ancestors
We need to go through our homes and see what kinds of documents, certificates, family heirlooms, journals etc. we already have that might give us names and other information. We can also talk to relatives, visit a church family history center, or go to familysearch.org

"How much we learn will depend on what information is available to us. We may have only a little family information and may be able to do no more than identify our parents and grandparents. If we already have a large collection of family records, we may be able to identify ancestors from generations further back in time.

We can keep track of the information we gather on family group records and pedigree charts." (manual)

Find Out Which Ancestors Need Temple Ordinances Performed

Temple ordinances have been performed for the dead since the early days of the Church. Consequently, some ordinances for our ancestors may have already been done. To find out which ancestors need temple ordinances, we can look in two places. Our own family records might have information about what has been done. If not, the Church has a record of all ordinances that have been performed in the temple. Your ward or branch family history consultant can help you in this effort. (manual)

Make Certain the Ordinances Are Performed

Many of our ancestors in the spirit world may be anxious to receive their temple ordinances. As soon as we identify these ancestors, we should arrange for this work to be done for them.

One of the blessings of family history work comes from going to the temple and performing ordinances in behalf of our ancestors. We should prepare ourselves to receive a temple recommend so that, when possible, we can do this work. If our children are 12 years old or older, they can share in these blessings by being baptized and confirmed for their ancestors. (manual)

If it is not possible for us to go to the temple to participate in the ordinances, the temple will arrange to have the ordinances performed by other Church members.

How has the Lord helped you or members of your family find information about your ancestors?

If all of this sounds a bit intimidating to you too, take president Packer’s advice:

1.      Start with yourself.  Over time, fill a box with every record/document/photo etc. about yourself.

2.      Divide it into 3 parts: child, youth, adult

3.      Start with the child, work towards adult, and put everything in chronological order

4.      Take what you’ve created and write a simple life story

“Once you begin this project, very interesting and inspiring things will  happen.  You cannot do this much without getting something of the spirit of it, and without talking about it, at least in your family circle.  Some very interesting things will start to happen once you show some interest in your own family history work.  It is a firm principle.  There are many, many testimonies about it.  It will happen to you” (Packer, Ensign article)

Family History Basics/Responsibilities

1.      Each of us is to compile his or her own life history

2.      Each of us is to keep a book of remembrance

3.      As individuals and families we are each to see our our kindred dead, beginning first with the four most recent generations on each line, and the going back as far as we can.

4.      We are each to participate in other programs such as name extraction when asked to do so.

5.      We are to organize our families and hold meetings and reunions.

6.      If we have access to a temple, each of us should go to the temple as often as possible to do ordinance work—first for ourselves, then for our progenitros, then for al the names that have been gathered by means other than our own. (Packer, Ensign article)

Additional Family History Opportunities

What are some simple ways for someone with many other responsibilities to participate in family history work?

In addition to providing temple ordinances for the ancestors we know about, we can help those in the spirit world in many other ways. We should seek the guidance of the Spirit as we prayerfully consider what we might do. Depending on our circumstances, we can do the following things:

1. Attend the temple as often as possible. After we have gone to the temple for ourselves, we can perform the saving ordinances for others waiting in the spirit world.
2. Do research to identify ancestors who are more difficult to find. Family history consultants can guide us to helpful resources.
3. Help with the Church’s indexing program. Through this program, members prepare genealogical information for use in the Church’s family history computer programs. These programs make it easier for us to identify our ancestors.
4. Contribute family history information to the Church’s current computer programs for family history. These programs contain genealogies contributed by people all over the world. They allow people to share their family information. Family history consultants can provide more information about the Church’s computer programs.
5. Participate in family organizations. We can accomplish much more for our ancestors as we work together with other family members.

Think about what you can do to increase your participation in temple and family history work.

Additional Scriptures

1 Peter 4:6 (gospel was preached to the dead)

Malachi 4:5–6; D&C 2:2; 3 Nephi 25:5–6 (mission of Elijah)

1 Corinthians 15:29; D&C 128:15–18 (work for the dead)

D&C 138 (redemption of the dead)

Quotes, Stories etc. shared:

“You believe in the Resurrection.  You must know that baptism for someone who is dead is quite as essential as baptism for someone who is living.  There is no difference in the importance of it.  One by one it must happen.  They must do it here while living, or it must be done for them here after they die.  The whole New Testament centers on the Resurrection of the Lord.  The message is that ALL are to be resurrected.  Every scripture and every motivation that apply to missionary work have their application to ordinance work for the dead.” (President Packer, Ensign article)

“Somewhere I heard of an incident that happened in WWII.  A group of commandos were sent across the English Channel to accomplish a military mission.  They were sent shore at night in high seas and had to make their way across a treacherous reef.  When the first of them reached the beach, led by a sergeant, they heard a companion calling for help.  He was caught up on the reef and was unable to free himself.  If left to himself he would be dashed to pieces by the heavy seas against the reef.  The sergeant pulled off his gear in preparation for an attempt to rescue the man.  One of those on the beach said, ‘Don’t go out there—it’s too dangerous and difficult.  If you go out there you’ll never come back.’  The sergeant replied, ‘I don’t have to come back.  I just have to go out there.’”

This illustrates something of our position with regard to our doing the work of the Lord.  We are commanded to preach the gospel to all the living, for example.  We see no way to accomplish this task in our lifetime.  Many refuse to listen, some turn away, others resent and ever persecute us.  Nevertheless we are not released from the assignment to try.  We are to do the best we can.  If we do, the honest in heart can be found and sifted out of the world.” (President Packer, The Holy Temple, page 234)

If you don’t know where to start, start with yourself. If you don’t know what records to get, and how to get them, start with what you have. (President Packer)

I do not believe in entitlements.  The word itself makes me cringe.  However, there are a few exceptions to my rule.  One of the exceptions, one of the things EVERY person who has ever lived is entitled to is the Gospel.  Every man, woman and child is entitled to hear the words of the Lord, to hear his gospel plan. 

“The Lord has made it known that his mercy extends to the uttermost bounds and that every soul is entitled to hear the gospel plan, either in this life or in the spirit world.  All who hear and believe, repenting and receiving the gospel in it fullness, whether living or dead, are heirs of salvation in the celestial kingdom of God.”

It is thus, our duty to see to it that this entitlement is kept.  That is one tax, I’m willing to pay.

Monte J. Brough Ensign article 1994
Members Guide To Temple and Family History Work
President Packer Talk

Lessons 38 & 39: Eternal Marriage and the Law of Chastity

(my bullet pointed notes, quotes, and questions)

Topics: Procreation, Premarital Sex, Fidelity, Pornography, Homosexuality, Abortion, Repentance, Forgiveness, Law of the Gospel/Exaltation, Worthiness and the Temple, Benefits of Marriage, Preparation

We have one resource that makes most of these things very, very clear. In my mind, it was no coincidence this document was first issued in the general Relief Society meeting in 1995. Please re-read (and do so often) The Family: A Proclamation To The World. Nothing I say could possibly leave the impression and the doctrinal understanding as The Proclamation can and will. I promise you that whatever phase in life you are in, this inspired document will help you with the understanding, inspiration, and blessings you are diligently seeking.

Procreation

How is the power of procreation different for humans than for the other animals commanded to multiply and replenish the Earth?

Is the purpose of “Natural Affection” simply to procreate?

- God commanded everything to procreate, reproduce after it's own kind (Genesis 1:22)...Then HE PLACED ADAM AND EVE ON THE EARTH

- They (Adam and Eve)/we are different than all God's other creations because we are his spirit children

- As such we are brought together in marriage, told to multiply and replenish BUT TO BE GOVERNED BY MORAL LAWS, NOT INSTINCT

- Marital intimacy imbedding in personal purity = co-created love

"I had loved before, but I knew not why. But now I loved--with a pureness--an intensity of elevated, exalted feeling, which would lift my soul from the transitory things of this groveling sphere and expand it as the ocean. I felt that God was my Heavenly Father indeed; that Jesus was my brother, and that the wife of my bosom was an immortal, eternal companion...In short, I could now love with the spirit and with the understanding also" -Parley P. Pratt (describing the pure love marital intimacy can/should create)

- "Natural affections" = the cement of all virtuous and heavenly societies

- Whether married of unmarried, we need our natural passions and affections purified and wisdom to use them lawfully

- It should be a body AND spirit (soul) experience. If not, it's being prostituted

- Physical intimacy should be 15 % of marriage. "It's not the only flower in the garden" (Marion D. Hanks)

- Sex is supposed to mean something

- Only celestial beings will continue to have these intimate relations in the eternities. Though everyone will have bodies, only the celestial souls will have companionship and will continue to procreate.

Premarital

Do we HAVE to look at the premarital portion of the Law of Chastity with such negativity?

Is there a way to teach our children in a more positive way, leaving them with a desire to abstain AS WELL AS a desire to have such relations at the appropriate time?

What are the effects of pushing sexual boundaries? (not just immediate but long lasting)

- We are to only have sexual relations with our legal and lawful spouse. If you think about it, being intimate with someone you aren't married to means you are messing around with SOMEONE ELSE'S spouse, whether they are married or not. Until they are sealed to you, they belong to someone else.

- DO NOT arouse the powerful emotions that must be expressed only in marriage

- Breaking the Law of Chastity doesn't just entail having sex with someone who isn't your spouse. It includes other sexual sins...passionate kissing, laying on top of one another, touching sacred body parts, pornography etc. ANYTHING that arouses those powerful emotions is a sin and should be avoided.

"Our closeness to the Savior fills us with love, increasing our ability to love others and to feel love from others. Truman Madsen in his Four Essays on Love said it well: 'You canno lovev until you are loved. You cannot be loved until you are Beloved, Beloved of God.' Thus:

-If you want to be filled with the love of the Lord, keep His commandments.

-If you want to feel loved, keep the Lord's commandments.

-If you truly love someone, keep the Lord's commandments." (Strengthening Our Families-An In-Depth Look at the Proclamation on the Family , School of Family Life, BYU)

Fidelity

What exactly does fidelity in a marriage mean?

Are there activities beyond simply not having sex with someone who isn’t your spouse?

What can we do on a daily basis to be the most faithful we can possibly be to our spouse?

D&C 42:22-24

- Absolutely NO infidelity, including things like chat rooms, pornography, trashy romance novels, etc.

- Unchastity is next to murder in seriousness (Alma 39:5)

-Potipher's wife...just RUN! (Genesis 39:1-18)

-Never give your spouse even the smallest reason to doubt you

Pornography

We know pornography consists of explicit movies and pictures, but can you think of anything else that might be considered pornography?

Is it EVER okay to bring pornography into a relationship, even if both husband and wife consent to it?

Can you think of anything that is more devastating, and SNEAKY, and so easily multiplies devastation in a marriage?

- We often think of men when we think of pornography. Can you believe 20% of the people in the church who are struggling with this addiction are women? It's a much larger number than I would have guessed.

- The pornography women struggle with most isn't the visual but the written...the trashy romance novels and story lines that portray intimacy as something unrealistic and...well, trashy.

- Even if both spouses agree, pornography or any kind should NEVER be introduced into the bedroom (or anywhere else)

- Don't do anything that repels the Holy Ghost.

Homosexuality

What message are we to send to our children and to the world about homosexuality?

What would one do if they had these feelings?

Can they be active, worthy members of the Church?

How should we treat them?

- Homosexuality is a serious sin. The Lord does not recognize same sex couples as married. Thus, any sexual relations between two people of the same sex are NOT sustained by God and are sinful.

“In the first place, we believe that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God. We believe that marriage may be eternal through exercise of the power of the everlasting priesthood in the house of the Lord.

“People inquire about our position on those who consider themselves so-called gays and lesbians. My response is that we love them as sons and daughters of God. They may have certain inclinations which are powerful and which may be difficult to control. Most people have inclinations of one kind or another at various times. If they do not act upon these inclinations, then they can go forward as do all other members of the Church. If they violate the law of chastity and the moral standards of the Church, then they are subject to the discipline of the Church, just as others are.

“We want to help these people, to strengthen them, to assist them with their problems and to help them with their difficulties. But we cannot stand idle if they indulge in immoral activity, if they try to uphold and defend and live in a so-called same-sex marriage situation. To permit such would be to make light of the very serious and sacred foundation of God-sanctioned marriage and its very purpose, the rearing of families” (President Gordon B. Hinckley in Conference Report, Oct. 1998, 91; or Ensign, Nov. 1998, 71).

Abortion

After breaking one law, why does it seem so easy to break another?

Is abortion ever as ideal as it’s made out to be?

- There is seldom any justifiable reason for abortion

- Some abortions are justifiable but although they MAY be justified (incest, rape, health of the mother, severe defects that would cause the death of the baby shortly after birth) it is only AFTER consulting with church leaders and getting confirmation through earnest prayer

- Adopt through LDS family services is recommended for those situations where unwed women have babies and can not keep the him/her for whatever reason

Repentance

Why is confession the hardest part of repentance for most people?

Is there any other way to find peace?

If we repent but then go back to our old ways, what happens to the work we’ve already done?

- Confession is often the most difficult part of repentance but it must be done...to the Lord and to the offended person (s)

- TOTAL repentance is TOTALLY possible and peace WILL come.

- HOWEVER, those who repent but repeat the sin are responsible for that sin, as well as the previous repented sin. They are forgiven no more and must start repentance process over...and actually FORSAKE the sin.

President Kimball said: “To every forgiveness there is a condition. … The fasting, the prayers, the humility must be equal to or greater than the sin. There must be a broken heart and a contrite spirit. … There must be tears and genuine change of heart. There must be conviction of the sin, abandonment of the evil, confession of the error to properly constituted authorities of the Lord” (The Miracle of Forgiveness [1969], 353).

Satan's Tools

-immodesty

-immoral thoughts ( music, dances, jokes, stories, etc)

-pornography (pictures, videos, books etc.)

-emotions

Forgiveness

Is it possible to truly be forgiven?

Does this mean that we will remember it no more? (No-motivation enough to behave)

- Peace CAN come THROUGH forgiveness.

- Ezekiel 18:21-22

Blessings of Law of Chastity

Is it ever possible to do wrong and feel good?

How does keeping the Law of Chastity help us now, and in the future?

Does the Law of Chastity really ever just affect us and us alone?

- As with all commandments, we are entitled to the blessings promised us

- We are closer to God, able to feel the spirit better

- Our spouses continue to trust us completely

- In the right place, at the right time, with the right person, our "natural affections" bring us closer to God and being like him than anything else in this life.

- Many of the trials families face are completely avoided all together (divorce as a result of infidelity, children out of wedlock, violation of trust, etc.)

When we obey the law of chastity, we can live without guilt or shame. Our lives and our children's lives are blessed when we keep ourselves pure and spotless before the Lord. Children can look to our example and follow in our footsteps.

“Private choices are not private. They all have public consequences. Our society is the some total of what millions of individuals do in their private lives.” May 1987 Ensign

Law of the Gospel/Exaltation

Why is it important to know that marriage is ordained of God?

What is the Lord’s doctrine of marriage and how does it differ from the views of the world?

If we follow all other commandments and receive all other ordinances can be celestial beings without being sealed to our spouse?

If we do not enjoy these blessings in this life, after doing all that we could do and remaining worthy, are we simply never given this opportunity?

- Marriage has been a Law of the Gospel since the beginning

-Marriage is intended to last forever

- Marriage is NOT just a social custom or a legal agreement

- Marriage, our exaltation depends on it

- Marriage is the most sacred relationship that can exist between a man and a women

- Marriage affects our happiness now and into the eternities

Worthiness and the Temple

Which is more important, being worthy to receive the covenants, or the covenants themselves (getting married in the temple or being worthy to do so)?

- We must first be worthy to enter the temple

- We must be married by someone who has the proper priesthood authority who holds the sealing power

- The temple is the only place this holy ordinance can be performed

- If marriage is performed any other way, at any other time, by any other person (someone w/o proper authority and sealing power) the bond is broken at death.

Blessings and Benefits of Marriage

What are some of the benefits of marriage?

- We are promised the blessings of exaltation

- We enjoy eternal, never ending companionship, familiar relationships

- We have an eternal perspective that helps both in our marriage and in the raising of our children

- We are entitled to the out pouring of the spirit on our marriage as we remain worthy to receive it

Preparation

What can we do to prepare for temple marriage?

What can we do to help our youth prepare for temple marriage?

- Temple marriage should be the goal of every Latter-day Saint, even if they are already married by law.

- Much thought, prayer and righteous living must go into your preparation to receive your endowments and to be sealed in the temple

- One must be active and worthy for one or more years prior to receiving endowments (in order to qualify for recommend)

- Men must have the Melchizedek Priesthood

- One must be interviewed and found worthy by both his/her bishop and stake president (some of the questions asked in the interview can be found in this lesson).

- We need to remember that temple attendance, in every capacity you attend for, is a privileged

- Temple marriage is worth any sacrifice

“Marriage is perhaps the most vital of all the decisions and has the most far-reaching effects, for it has to do not only with immediate happiness, but also with eternal joys. It affects not only the two people involved, but also their families and particularly their children and their children’s children down through the many generations. In selecting a companion for life and for eternity, certainly the most careful planning and thinking and praying and fasting should be done to be sure that of all the decisions, this one must not be wrong” (Spencer W. Kimball)

My Resources for this lesson were mostly in print, but those that are online can be found here:
Chapter 38, Gospel Principles
Chapter 39, Gospel Principles

The Titles of my two favorite books used-ones I would HIGHLY recommend, are:
Creating Home as a Sacred Center, Principles for Everyday Living (Edited by Shirley R. Klein and E. Jeffrey Hill)
Strengthening our Families, An In-Depth Look at the Proclamation on the Family (Edited by David C. Dollahite)