Adversity

Vinna Chintaram taught today from President Eyring's talk in General Conference titled "Adversity".   Even  when you feel the truth of the Savior's capacity and kindness to deliver you in your trials, it may still test your courage and strength to endure.  The Prophet Joseph Smith cried out in agony in a dungeon: 

"O God, where art thou?  And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?

the Lord's reply can encourage us all in times of darkness, "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thy adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment:

"And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high;  thou shalt triumph over all thy foes."

Sister Chintaram taught that there are two paths through adversity:

Adversity -----  anger ---  feelings of injustice ----- losing faith in God

OR

Adversity ----  infinite love of the Savior ---  accepting His will --- eternal life

The difference is our own ego or having the humility to trust in the Lord and rely on his help and the power of the atonement to see us through difficulties.

President Eyring said, " With all the differences in our lives, we have at least one challenge in common.  We all must deal with adversity..." 

"I testify that the Savior lives... and I know from my own experience that He can and will give us strength to rise through every trial..."

Announcements:

DI truck at the church now through July 8  for donations.

Saturday, July 4  Flag raising and breakfast.  8 a.m.  at the Church

Thursday, July 9  Book Club meets at 7 p.m. at the Williams' home.  We will be discussing the book "The Little Prince" by Antoine De Saint-Exupery

Friday, July 10  Ward Temple Trip  7 p.m. session

Temple will be closed for cleaning July 13-26

The Power of Forgiving

In his effort to forgive others, the prophet Joseph Smith spoke of his desire to "copy the example" of Heavenly Father and live "according to the sublime and perfect pattern of the Savior."

"One of the most pleasing scenes that can occur on earth, when a sin has been committed by one person against another, is , to that sin; and then according to the sublime and perfect pattern of the Savior, pray to our Father in heaven to forgive [the sinner] also."

"Ever keep in exercise the principle of mercy, and be ready to forgive our brother on the first intimations of repentance, and asking forgiveness; and should we even forgive our brother, or even our enemy, before he repent or ask forgiveness, our heavenly Father would be equally as merciful to us."

The prophet gave the following counsel about forgiving others.

"Bear and forbear one with another, for so the Lord does with us."  "Be merciful and you shall find mercy."  "Seek to help save souls, not to destroy them."  "We must be merciful to one another, and overlook small things."

Thanks to our new teacher Sonja Johnson for a great lesson today.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Di truck at the Cherry Building June 24-July 8  Special needs right now are clothing, shoes, winter coats and books.

Cooking group meets this Thursday, June 25 at 7 PM at the Warden's home.  We will be learning bread baking.

Mother's Group meeting this Friday, June 26 at Lincoln Glen Park at 10:30 AM

The Relief Society lesson Sunday was "The Spiritual Gifts of Healing, Tongues, Prophecy, and Discerning of Spirits.

 from the Prophet Joseph Smith:

"No man can be a minister of Jesus Christ except he has the testimony of Jesus; and this is the spirit of prophecy."

"The sick may be healed through faith and the exercise of priesthood power, according to the lord's will."

"The purpose of the gift of tongues is to teach the gospel to others."

"Though only one man speaks as the prophet of the Church, the spirit of prophecy enables all to testify of Jesus Christ."

"The gift of discerning of spirits allows the faithful to distinguish between the influence of good and evil spirits."

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Saturday, June 20th  Stake Temple Trip  2:30 p.m. chapel

Thursday, June 25th  Cooking night.  Demonstration of bread baking with Travis Thomas at the Warden's home.

DI truck at the Cherry building, June 24- July 8

Elder Robert D. Hales stated "Strengthening families is our sacred duty as parents, children, extended family members, leaders, teachers and individual members of the Church." (Ensign, May 1999)  The key to strengthening families is having the Spirit of the Lord come into our homes.  We should center our lives on the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Those who are married should consider their union as their most cherished earthly relationship.  A spouse is the only person other than the Lord whom we have been commanded to love with all our heart.  "Thou shalt love they wife [husband] with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her [him] and none else."  (see D&C 42:22)  The phrase "none else" teaches that no person, activity, or possession should ever take precedence over the marriage relationship.

Each member of the family is strengthened as we lift and strengthen and love and care for one another.

Announcements

It is with much sadness that we announce the passing of Brother Oris Perry.  We will miss him.  Funeral services are scheduled for Friday, June 12th at 11 a.m. at the Church.

Stake Temple trip, Saturday June 20th.  2:30 Chapel session.

DI truck will be at the Cherry Building from June 24 through July 8