We were greatly taught last weekend at our Stake Conference. We were privileged to have Elder William Titera of the Quorum of the Seventy there with us. I hope each of our sisters felt the Spirit in those meetings touching their hearts and minds. I wrote as fast as I could and yet I know that my notes will not really do justice to the remarks and instructions given. I'm sure if we each compared our notes and recollections, we would find a lot of variation. Hopefully the glimpses I share will bring to mind things that each of us heard and help us in our application of the impressions we may have had. -Lorie Pierce
Saturday Evening Session - 9 June 2016
Bishop Steven Johnson - Columbia 2nd Ward
He talked about the people of Ammon in the Book of Mormon and their great example of true conversion. They demonstrated Belief, Conversion and Steadfastness. We have need for the same conversion.
He talked about taking the young men in his ward camping and how some of them had difficulty getting a fire going and keeping it going. He compared their experiences to our experiences with becoming truly converted. He spoke of the sparks of our testimony in feeling the Spirit and gaining knowledge and asked us to consider what we have done with those sparks. Without feeding and tending to a fire, it will go out. Only true conversion will last. He mentioned cold nights exposed to the elements while camping when the young men were unsuccessful in building lasting fires. He asked another question - have our hearts turned cold by exposure to the world? He encouraged us to strive to seek the warmth and light of true conversion. He suggested we take time to evaluate our efforts to be truly converted and ended with "may we each seek to fan the flames of our conversion."
Sister Nikki Jones - Columbia 2nd Ward
She spoke on the topic - "how observing the Sabbath Day strengthens our home and family". She said that the goal is to elevate Sabbath Day worship and that is done on a personal level and cultivated in our homes. She encouraged us to have family councils to discuss how to elevate our observance of the Sabbath Day. And she encouraged us to take changes little steps by little steps. She said their family has begun to look at their choices on how they use their Sabbath Day time in light of good, better and best choices.
She bore testimony that as their family has tried to elevate their Sabbath Day observance their relationships have been strengthened. She quoted 2 Nephi 25:26 and said that as they strive to keep the Sabbath Day holy their lives are becoming more Christ centered. She encouraged us to pray for personal guidance and to counsel together about the things we can do.
President Steven Peterson - Counselor in Stake Presidency
He spoke of the need for spiritual protection for our children and our families. He taught that the key to protecting our children is teaching and modeling the Gospel in our homes. He talked about the blessings that come as we do the basics - Family Home Evening, family prayer, family scripture study, etc.
He encouraged wives and husbands to work together to strengthen their marriages. He referred to Sister Elaine Dalton's conference talk entitled,
"Love Her Mother" in which she taughter that the most important thing a father can do for his children is to show them he loves their mother. He also mentioned a quote from Elder Hale - "none of us marry perfection; we marry potential". He then encouraged us to be willing to be humble and ask for forgiveness.
Finally he reiterated our need to build a strengthening barrier by modeling the Gospel in our homes through keeping our covenants, keeping the Sabbath Day holy, holding family home evening, family prayer, family scriptures and by following the prophet.
President James Mitchell - Stake President
He began by telling us that Elder Titera had asked him to speak to us about "what keeps him awake at night". He then talked about Alma 30 and the story of Korihor. He identified these things that Korihor taught to draw the people away from the truth:
- Falsehood of there is no God - there is no Christ
- There is no sin - therefore there is no need for an Atonement
- Leaders were misleading the people and glutting themselves on the labors of the people
- Leaders were teaching foolish traditions. Korihor said the people were losing their freedom by following those traditions.
Korihor was successful and had the people doubting their spiritual witnesses
President Mitchell noted that we are confronted with these same teachings today. He commented that the people who followed Korihor seemed to take pride in their wickedness. But the Anti-Nephi-Lehis were wise and didn't listen to Korihor and in fact sent him out of their land.
He then talked about those things that keep him awake:
1. The things of this world - the false things of this world are getting in the way of our spiritual progress.
He spoke of Alma's discourse on experimenting on the word. He reminded us that a testimony is not measurable by the world, but is real in the lives of the those who have experienced it.
2. The importance of sustaining our leaders.
He taught us that to sustain our leaders is to act on their counsel. He said we sustain our leaders with our hearts and our actions. And reminded us about the current counsel regarding our Sabbath Day observance.
3. The proper use of our time.
He said that we have a limited amount of time in life and that there are better things that can be done with it. He expressed concerned for those who may have time to see a movie, but not to attend the temple. Or families who have time to watch TV, but not for reading scriptures together. He cited other examples and then encouraged us to choose wisely how we spend our time and teach our children to do the same.
4. The need to protect our children.
He said our youth are encumbered by evil things, such as pornography. He told us as parents to be wise in helping them to learn how to deal with the evils they face. He also mentioned the Church's newest video designed to teach younger children about pornography and encouraged parents to view it.
President Mitchell ended his remarks by focusing on a talk given by Elder Jeffery R. Holland at a CES training in which he encouraged those teachers to "be not afraid, only believe".
Quoting Elder Holland,
“We know for certain that if or when
everything else in the latter days is down or dying: if governments, economies,
industries, and institutions crumble; if societies and cultures become a
quagmire of chaos and insecurity, nevertheless through it all the gospel of Jesus
Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that bears that
gospel to the world will stand triumphant, and we will stand undefiled in God’s
hand until the very Son of God Himself comes to rule and reign as Lord of lords
and King of kings,” he said. “Nothing is more certain in this world. Nothing is
more sure. Nothing could be more of an antidote to anxiety.”
President Mitchell
reminded us that the Lord is anxious to help us and concluded by sharing his
testimony.
Elder William Titera - Quorum of the Seventy
One of the very first things Elder Titera said was "when one who hold the keys speaks - we would do well to listen. President Mitchell holds the keys". He encouraged us to pay attention to what President Mitchell says and told us that we had been well taught by our Stake President.
He continued by also encouraging us to pay attention to what the prophest and apostles say. He reminded us that there is safety in following the prophets and related the tragic story of Haun's Mill, which could have been avoided had they heeded the counsel of the prophet. He taught us that following the First Presidency is a vital doctrine.
Elder Titera then addressed the concerns expressed by President Mitchell.
He spoke of the fact that we have a great deal of time on our hands compared to generations who came before. He asked these questions and made these points:
- what do we do with that time?
- are we becoming distracted?
- distractions can take over
- technology is great, but it should be a tool - our servant; not the the other way around
- are we enslaved by social media?
He told us that the only true filter for the evils that can come through the internet/devices is our internal filter. He told us that we need to help our children set their internal filter when they are young.
He then led a discussion about the current focus on our Sabbath Day observance. He taught that observing the Sabbath Day will lead to a full conversion. And he said that so much depends on what we bring to Sacrament Meeting - that our preparation for that ordinance and meeting affect what we get out of it. He encouraged us to allow time to prepare for Sacrament Meeting.
He then shared a number a clips from recent training videos regarding the Sabbath Day. He noted that there is power in councils - that it invites revelation. He taught that Family Home Evening provides a protection for us and our families.
He concluded by reminding us that there is a powerful, protective influence that comes in Sabbath Day observance and then bore his testimony.
Sunday Morning Session - 10 June 2016
President James Mitchell - Stake President
He focused his remarks on the Atonement as the focal point of the plan of salvation.
The Atonement:
- overcame the effect of the Fall of Adam & Eve
- overcame the effects of our own sins
- enables & empowers & strengthens
1. overcame the effect of the Fall of Adam & Eve
Without Jesus Christ - Adam & Eve and all of us would have been lost. "For as in Adam all die even so in Christ all are made alive"
2. overcame the effects of our own sins
Man's nature became fallen - natural man
All of us fall short, but Jesus Christ paid the price so we can be forgiven. This is the good news - the great news of the Gospel. We can be cleansed. The Lord's arms of mercy are extended to all. We need to continually repent, weekly partake of the Sacrament and share the good news.
3. enables & empowers & strengthens
Our Savior can provide us the strength we need. Because he experienced it all He can succor us. Through the Atonement we can receive an endowment of strength. If we allow Him, God will change us to truly be born again. Through the Atonement we are not just cleansed, but changed.
President Mitchell referred to President Uchtdorf's talk "The Gift of Grace" from April 2015 General Conference.
He said that many people in the church seem to fall into two categories.
- The first being those who fall short and so give up
He reminded us that it is the Savior's grace that allows and enables us to overcome sin.
He quoted 2 Nephi 25:23, "For we labor diligently to write,
to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in
Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is
by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." He taught us that "all we can do" is believe in Christ, repent and exercise faith.
- The second being those who feel they are good enough
He reminded us that salvation is not bought through obedience, but through the grace of God. We obey the commandments out of love for Him. That obedience refines and prepares us to return to His presence. We live the Gospel more fully to become like Him. As we do, our spirits become more attuned to spiritual things.
President Mitchell bore testimony of the love our Savior has for each of us and that whatever our trials may be He will strengthen us.
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There were two youth speakers. I apologize that I didn't get their names and wards written down quickly enough.
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Cindy - Youth Speaker
She spoke on having faith in Jesus Christ. She said that when we have faith in Jesus Christ, we trust Him. She also said that as we obey God, He helps us face our challenges.
Sylvan - Youth Speaker
He spoke of how he had desired to receive a testimony of the Book of Mormon and that he had realized that the Lord had been telling him it was true every time he had been reading it. He bore testimony of Joseph Smith and of Jesus Christ. He said that building his testimony from the Book of Mormon was his preparation to serve a mission.
Sister Odhalea Robinson - Ellicott City Ward
She is a convert of 9 years. She said that the Gospel has given her more direction and purpose. She bore testimony of the principles of the Gospel and that the only lasting way to peace is by making the Savior the center of our lives. She said that "the more I obey, the more options open up to me."
Sister Christiansen - Baltimore Maryland Mission
She spoke of superpowers and said that our great Super Power is the power found in the word of God. She referenced the account from 4 Nephi of "the disciples of Jesus who did tarry with them, and they did
cast them into prison;
but by the power of the word of God, which was in them, the prisons were rent
in twain, and they went forth doing mighty miracles among them".
President Christiansen - Baltimore Maryland Mission
He told us that the things President Mitchell had taught us would help us become better disciples of Christ. He said that the hastening of the work is a reality; that Jesus Christ is preparing the world for His second coming; that we are part of something greater than us. He said that truly we are seeing miracles daily. He reminded us that we do succeed when we invite because it invites the Spirit and it is the Spirit that converts.
Sister Swift - Washington DC Temple
She reminded us that God sees us as we are - that she said this is the greatest message of the Temple - that we are His children and He loves us. She told us that every obedient, righteous individual is entitled to personal revelation. She said that as we face challenges, we need to be exact in our obedience as we keep our covenants - then God will reveal Himself to us.
President Swift - Washington DC Temple
He told us, "We need you in the Temple". He said that as we bring our holiness to the Temple, we add to the holiness there. He quoted President Monson, "Those who understand the eternal blessings which come from the
temple know that no sacrifice is too great, no price too heavy, no struggle too
difficult in order to receive those blessings." He encouraged us to read Sister Neill Marriott's talk "Sharing Your Light" in which she says, "I believe
that wherever a temple is built on the earth, it pushes back the darkness."
Elder William Titera - Quorum of the Seventy
Elder Titera did an interesting thing - he went through the remarks of each of the previous speakers and added his own insights to what they had taught. I apologize that my notes are a bit disorganized, but hopefully they will spark a remembrance.
"When we live in a such a way that the considerations of Eternity press upon us we will make better decisions." - Spencer W. Kimball
Will we get distracted or stay focused on the path?
True conversion starts with a testimony - with knowing - and goes on to doing.
Becoming - "be ye therefore perfect" - happens through the Atonement of Christ. Become what He would have us become.
In times when there have not been temple on the earth, the Lord has called his prophets up to a mountain to speak with them. Why a mountain? We sometimes need to make changes to our lives like climbing a spiritual mountain to enable us to be worthy of the temple blessings. The perspective from a mountain is different. We see things we couldn't before. Nephi did go "oft" to the mountain. This should be a pattern for our lives.
Spiritual gifts are spiritual powers. Given for the benefit of man. He encouraged us to ponder the gifts of the Spirit we have.
Sometimes we forget why we're here....to be proven. When we forget we easily lose focus.
Elder Titera then used the analogy of running a marathon and the term used on the race results of "D.N.F." which stands for "did not finish". He talked about reasons runners (or we) do not finish.
- A race takes a lot of effort. If we are not careful we run out of energy. Part of our challenge is we run out of steam.
- We need to pace ourselves so we are not overwhelmed by life's challenges.
- We need regular nourishment: daily prayer, daily scripture study, FHE, association with the Saints at Church, weekly Sacrament, regular temple attendance, feastng on the words of Christ.
- Not totally prepared or taking short cuts. The preparation we give the younger generation is important - again FHE, prayer, scriptures, Sabbath Day observance.
- Injuries - sometimes we break a commandment and we need spiritual medics (Bishops, Stake President) to help in our healing and getting back on course
- We get lost or get distracted. We forget the considerations of eternity. We need to return to the basics: prayer, scriptures, the daily and weekly things. We need to watch for the sign posts - following the prophets.
He closed with reminding us that this is the Lord's work. "I will show unto the world I can do my work". We need to have the power that comes through doing His work.
