marriage

A statement:

Church Instructs Leaders on Same-Sex Marriage HERE 

 

On December 20, 2013, a federal district judge in Salt Lake City issued an order legalizing same-sex marriage in Utah, striking down century-old state laws and a state constitutional amendment that defined marriage exclusively as between a man and a woman. The United States Supreme Court has put that ruling on hold pending consideration of the issue by an appellate court. During the interval between the district court ruling and the Supreme Court stay, numerous same-sex marriages were performed in Utah. Legal proceedings and legislative action in some other states and countries have given civil recognition to same-sex marriage relationships.
As we face this and other issues of our time, we encourage all to bear in mind our Heavenly Father’s purposes in creating the earth and providing for our mortal birth and experience here as His children. “God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth” (Genesis 1:27–28). “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Marriage between a man and a woman was instituted by God and is central to His plan for His children and for the well-being of society. Strong families, guided by a loving mother and father, serve as the fundamental institution for nurturing children, instilling faith, and transmitting to future generations the moral strengths and values that are important to civilization and crucial to eternal salvation.
Changes in the civil law do not, indeed cannot, change the moral law that God has established. God expects us to uphold and keep His commandments regardless of divergent opinions or trends in society. His law of chastity is clear: sexual relations are proper only between a man and a woman who are legally and lawfully wedded as husband and wife. We urge you to review and teach Church members the doctrine contained in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.”
Just as those who promote same-sex marriage are entitled to civility, the same is true for those who oppose it. The Church insists on its leaders’ and members’ constitutionally protected right to express and advocate religious convictions on marriage, family, and morality free from retaliation or retribution. The Church is also entitled to maintain its standards of moral conduct and good standing for members.
Consistent with our fundamental beliefs, Church officers will not employ their ecclesiastical authority to perform marriages between two people of the same sex, and the Church does not permit its meetinghouses or other properties to be used for ceremonies, receptions, or other activities associated with same-sex marriages. Nevertheless, all visitors are welcome to our chapels and premises so long as they respect our standards of conduct while there.
While these matters will continue to evolve, we affirm that those who avail themselves of laws or court rulings authorizing same-sex marriage should not be treated disrespectfully. The gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us to love and treat all people with kindness and civility—even when we disagree.
As members of the Church, we are responsible to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to illuminate the great blessings that flow from heeding God’s commandments as well as the inevitable consequences of ignoring them. We invite you to pray that people everywhere will have their hearts softened to the truths of the gospel, and that wisdom will be granted to those who are called upon to decide issues critical to society’s future.

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a post I read a while ago  -  Marriage isn't for you,  by Seth Adam Smith

Advice from his dad:
"You don’t marry to make yourself happy, you marry to make someone else happy. More than that, your marriage isn’t for yourself, you’re marrying for a family. Not just for the in-laws and all of that nonsense, but for your future children. Who do you want to help you raise them? Who do you want to influence them? Marriage isn’t for you. It’s not about you. Marriage is about the person you married.”

This advice "went against the grain of today’s 'Walmart philosophy', which is if it doesn’t make you happy, you can take it back and get a new one."

"No, a true marriage (and true love) is never about you. It’s about the person you love—their wants, their needs, their hopes, and their dreams. Selfishness demands, “What’s in it for me?”, while Love asks, 'What can I give?”

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An Empty Jar, also found on the blog by Seth Adam Smith

From S. Michael Wilcox:
“My wife often cans peaches and pears in the fall. A great deal of work is necessary just to prepare the fruit. Then, once it is prepared, she puts it into jars, places the seals on, twists the lids tightly into place, and sets the jars in boiling water. Then she waits for the seals to set.
She has performed this operation dozens of times with hundreds of jars. In all that time I have never seen her seal an empty jar. Unless the jar is loaded with fruit, a seal is not placed. I doubt if anyone, among the thousands who can fruit every year, has ever sealed an empty jar. There must be something to preserve or the seal has no significance.
The sealing of temple covenants is similar. When we are married at the altars of the temple, the Lord, from one point of view, gives us an empty jar. Then he instructs us to fill it with the wonderful fruits of righteous marriage. We fill it with love and compromise and forgiveness and joy and peace and shared trails; we fill it with all the things of life, all the good fruit. As we keep our covenants, returning often to renew them as we work for the dead, the jar begins to fill. As we grow older and our love deepens, we desire to preserve forever all the good we have stored. 
Our abiding in the covenant allows the Lord to place the seal on our covenant relationship and preserve the fruits of our righteousness for all eternity. This is the same for all temple covenants. Nobody seals an empty jar; neither does the Lord seal empty covenants. First there must be fruit to preserve.”

Two Types of Missionary Service

Found this on Seth Adam Smith's blog here

Aaron, Ammon, & the Two Types of Missionary Service

Ammon

In The Book of Mormon, we are told of two types of missionaries. The first type of missionary is the surface-level one—a missionary that believes that his/her mission is only to preach to and convert others.  The second type of missionary is the immersed one—a missionary that believes that his/her mission is to love and serve others.
Aaron and Ammon, along with their brothers, went into Lamanite territory to serve their missions among the Lamanites. These particular Lamanites were described as “a wild and a hardened and a ferocious people; a people who delighted in murdering…and robbing and plundering” (Alma 17:14). Aaron, Ammon, and their brothers “separated themselves one from another, and went forth among [the Lamanites]” (Alma 17:17) “that perhaps they might bring them unto repentance; that perhaps they might bring them to know of the plan of redemption” (Alma 17:16).
Aaron took the surface-level approach to missionary service. He was only out to preach to and convert others. Because of this, he immediately hit resistance: “And it came to pass as he began to expound these things unto them they were angry with him, and began to mock him;
and they would not hear the words which he spake” (Alma 21:10), and “they contended with many about the word” (Alma 21:11). Eventually, things got so bad that “Aaron and a certain number of his brethren were taken and cast into prison” (Alma 21:13).
Ammon, on the other hand, took the immersed approach to missionary service. His approach was to love those to whom he had been called to serve. In fact, he believed the Lamanites ”to be his brethren” (Alma 17:30), and treated them as such. Captured and bound by the Lamanites, he was taken to the feet of a Lamanite king named Lamoni. When King Lamoni asked why he had come into Lamanite territory, Ammon responded “I desire to dwell among this people for a time; yea, and perhaps until the day I die” (Ama 17:24). He also promptly told the king, ”I will be thy servant” (Alma 17:25). From that time forward, a deep bond of love and friendship began to grow between Ammon and Lamoni. Even Lamoni’s father later noticed “the great love [Ammon] had for his son, Lamoni” (Alma 20:26).
Ammon and Lamoni went on to release Aaron and his brethren from prison. Apparently, while in prison, Aaron had learned the value of service and love over surface-level missionary work, telling Lamoni’s father “we will be thy servants” (Alma 22:3). This missionary work, founded upon service, eventually evolved into one of the greatest conversion stories in The Book of Mormon—perhaps in all scripture.
And all of it was predicated upon learning to love the people.


Read more on his complete post, Recalled to Serve ...

Always Pray unto the Father in My Name

Awesome Message

Always Pray unto the Father in My Name 

by David L. Frischknecht  -  found here

After asking the question
"Of the many prayers in the scriptures, which come to your mind?"

Brother Frischknecht  mentioned a few, including this
"Perhaps to you the most memorable prayer in the scriptures is when the Savior pleaded, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”⁴ “And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly.”⁵

Then he asked
"Have you ever been in agony and prayed more earnestly?"

When I heard him ask that question, after referring to Christ's prayer, it touched my heart to realize the comparison.  Many times have I been in agony and prayed more earnestly, and yet I do not remember ever thinking of Christ doing the same.  It was enlightening and inspiring to hear (but I'm sure my words do not express even half of what my heart and mind were feeling at the time I heard it).


His message continued, and gave me more to contemplate.  He said
"The Lord said, “Ye must always pray unto the Father in my name.”⁶
This simple commandment is repeated in countless ways throughout the scriptures. We are told to pray continually ⁷ ; to pray without ceasing ⁸; to pray morning, mid-day, and evening ⁹; and to counsel with the Lord in all our doings ¹⁰. Simply put, Heavenly Father wants us to pray with faith every morning, every night, and often in between."

I loved that - pray with faith every morning, every night, and often in between.  And he kept repeating it thru his message so I could hear it over and over again. And he gave so many reasons why we should - blessings that would come to us if we do.  I have listed the blessings he promised
 
when you pray with faith every morning, every night, and often in between your life is better in every way than if you do not:

- you have the influence and power of the Holy Ghost.
- you choose the right more often.
- you avoid the wrong more often.
- you resist and avoid temptation more consistently.
- you think of others more readily.
- you love and serve your families, friends, and others better.
- you serve the Lord better.
- you repent more promptly and more completely.
- you are better prepared for the blessings of the sacrament and the blessings of the temple.
- you share the gospel with others more frequently and with greater urgency and with deeper conviction.
- you are a better friend and you choose better friends.
- you do better at school and at work.
- you do better at sports and music and dancing and writing and speaking and any other righteous talent you pursue.
- your mind works better.
- your body works better.
- you are a better son, a better daughter, a better mother, a better father.
- your successes are more meaningful.
- your trials are more refining.
- your sadness is shorter.
- Comfort and relief and strength come more quickly.
- you feel closer to your Heavenly Father.
- you know Him better and have stronger faith in Him and in the Lord Jesus Christ. In pleasant times and in hard times, you know what They want you to do, and you are more apt to do it.

- When you pray in faith every morning, every night, and often in between, your life is better in every way than if you do not."


Quite a wonderful list of blessings.  We have so much to gain when we pray in faith every morning, every night, and often in between.   Brother Frischknecht added this

"If you do not pray in faith every morning, every night, and often in between, you live below your privileges. You forfeit blessings. You lose protection. You lose inspiration. You lose comfort. You lose opportunities. You lose light. You lose strength. Again, if you do not pray every morning, every night, and often in between, you live way below your privileges."

Incentive right?  If you do not ... you lose!

He quoted President Gordon B. Hinckley saying,
“Prayer is a marvelous and miraculous resource—the most marvelous and miraculous resource we have available to us.”¹¹

He then quoted President Thomas S. Monson saying,
praying will “solve more problems, alleviate more suffering, prevent more transgression, and bring about greater peace and contentment in the human soul than could be obtained in any other way.”¹²

More incentive!

He went on to talk about Morning Prayer,
"Of all the things we think we need to do in the morning, talking with our Heavenly Father is the first and most important.
 
The practice of “praying first” has something in common with the practice of paying tithing first. Some say they don’t have enough money to pay tithing. But when we pay our tithing first, the Lord blesses us to make better use of the remaining 90 percent than if we had not paid tithing. Similarly, some people think they don’t have enough time to pray, especially in the morning. But when the first thing we do each morning is to speak sincerely and humbly with our Father in Heaven, the rest of our day is more meaningful and inspired and productive. Because we have sought Him in prayer, early and first, we accomplish much more of what is important.
 
There is always time to pray. So let us pray always."


His next topic was to Pray Anyway, telling us that 
"the Lord does not excuse anyone from the need to pray."

He said that you may feel things like not being worthy or you just don't feel like it, or you may even think that God doesn't notice you.  Maybe you are angry or maybe you already prayed and don't want to again.  Whatever the reason for not wanting to pray, he says simply
"Pray Anyway."
"So pray. Pray again. Pray still. Remember to pray always."

"Prayer helps keep our eye single to the glory of God and our mind clear and our heart meek and grateful. Prayer opens a conduit through which the Holy Spirit can convey light, truth, knowledge, peace—all the gifts and fruits of the Spirit—without interruption."


A few more things he mentioned,

"Remembering to pray always is easier when we remember we pray to God our Heavenly Father and to no one else. To you this may seem like a simple and obvious concept. But I invite you to consider with me what a powerful truth this is and the implications it should have for our prayers."

"While we live on earth, we feel separated from Him. Though it is true that we may not see Him now, it is not true that He cannot see us. As President Eyring recently explained, “The pavilion that seems to intercept divine aid does not cover God but occasionally covers us. God is never hidden, yet sometimes we are, covered by a pavilion of motivations that draw us away from God and make Him seem distant and inaccessible.”²⁷

"Every time we address our Heavenly Father, let us remember who He is. Before we rush on to list our blessings and put in our order for more blessings, let us pause and reflect well on the loving, powerful, knowing Father with whom we are speaking. And let us allow this knowledge to influence everything else we say in our prayer."

"In simple terms, praying to the Father in the name of the Lord means that our prayer is offered and activated by our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Anointed Redeemer. It means we have faith that the Lord’s atoning mercy and grace allows us to pray to the Father now and eventually bring us back into the presence of the Father.³⁴ And it means we desire to be identified with Jesus Christ; to be called by His name; to accord our will to His will; and to follow, love, obey, and serve Him".³⁵

"Each time we pray to the Father in the name of Jesus Christ, as inspired by the Holy Ghost, we prefigure our ultimate reconciliation with Them in the kingdom of heaven."

"Every time we sincerely pray to the Father in the name of the Lord, a unique, sacred miracle occurs."
"The miracle is that you actually talked with God and that He in fact heard you and answered you."

"... our Father in Heaven desires that we pray to Him always and blesses us beyond measure when we do ..."

...

This was a wonderful message and I enjoyed it all.  The parts I added here today are those parts that stood out to me most at this time, but surely when I go back and re-read the whole message another day and time in my life, something else will stand out.  That full message given by David L. Frischknecht  can be found here.  Reading it often may be a great benefit in ones life.

With God All Things Are Possible

Still Pondering this from Chapter 14 of Teachings of Presidents of the Church, Lorenzo Snow:

"God will add His strength to our efforts"

"Where the Lord plants us, there we are to stand; when he requires us to exert ourselves for the support of these holy principles, that we are to do; that is all we need to trouble ourselves about; the rest our Heavenly Father will take care of."

President Snow "knew in whom he trusted and therefore was able to endure every hardship, every opposition and overcome every obstacle."

After becoming President of the Church President Snow said that "There was no use in his making excuses as to inability etc., to assume the vast responsibilities involved in the position .... He felt that it was for him to do the very best he could and depend upon the Lord"

And a little something from the conversation during the lesson:
Though I don't remember the exact quote or story the thing I felt impressive was that individuals and families should have their FHE, attend seminary, have prayer and scripture study, etc. to help strengthen individuals and families so that each can be a good example to those around them. 
And, do not remove yourself from places (like a public school for instance), but strive to be the example the world needs.  Of course this does not mean that you remain in an undesirable and improper place or surrounding. 

Flag Raising Program 2013

This is the program I put together for the annual 4^th of July flag raising program for Royal City 1st and 2nd Wards - 2013
I am so grateful for the people who accepted assignments and participated in this program.  They each did a great job and I am so pleased and thankful for their willingness and their goodness.  They made the program a success.  Each practiced on their own, but we never gathered for a complete run through.  Well-done my Friends!  WELL DONE!

MC /Welcome & intro program 

Prayer –

 

US Flag Raising -
Reader 1 – (read while raising flag)
I Am Old Glory: For more than nine score years I have been the banner of hope and freedom for generation after generation of Americans. Born amid the first flames of America’s fight for freedom, I am the symbol of a country that has grown from a little group of thirteen colonies to a united nation of fifty sovereign states. Planted firmly on a high pinnacle of American faith, my gently fluttering folds have proved an inspiration to untold millions.  Men have followed me into battle with unwavering courage.  They have looked upon me as a symbol of national unity.  They have prayed that they and their fellow citizens might continue to enjoy the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, which have been granted to every American as the heritage of free men.  So long as men love liberty more than life itself; so long as they treasure the priceless privileges bought with the blood of our forefathers; so long as the principles of truth, justice and charity for all remain deeply rooted in human hearts, I shall continue to be the enduring banner of the United States of America.  
(From the booklet Our Flag, written by Marine Master Sergeant Percy Webb.)

Pledge of Allegiance -

Background song -  men’s choir (remain seated) reverently/softly (like a thought in the mind/background) sing the first 6 lines of You’re a Grand Ole Flag –softening voices toward the end and flag bearers get to their seats. Flag bearers can softly sing with choir as they walk to their seats.

Reader 2 –                            Stage hand for visual -    / assorted flags
A flag is a standard, signal, banner, or ensign; it is an honored symbol of a people or a nation’s unity, its homes, achievements, glory, and high resolve. (p5 Your Flag)

The first flags adopted by our Colonial forefathers were symbolic of their struggles with the wilderness of a new land.  (visual)  Beavers, pine trees, rattlesnakes, anchors, and various like insignia with mottoes such as “Hope”, “Liberty”, “Appeal to Heaven” or “Don’t Tread on Me” were affixed to the different banners of Colonial America.  (p1-2 Our Flag)  

After the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, Americans realized they needed a national flag to take the place of all the individual banners carried by the various regiments – one that would symbolize the newly created union of states. (p 15 Your Flag)

From that original flag created in 1777 the flag has evolved and become what we see here today, with the 50^th star added in 1960.  (p20 Your Flag)

The Star Spangled Banner (first and last verses)  Choir

Reader 3 –                        Stage hand / visual -                    / dressed as Moroni, holding title of liberty.
Throughout the ages man has developed character, courage, and strength by devotion to the symbols he believed in.  (p5 Your Flag)

We know of one such symbol used years ago – we read about it in our sacred scripture. 

Amalickiah, who was desirous to be king, used flattering words, promising judges the power they were seeking if they would follow him, and causing much wickedness among the people, destroying the foundation of liberty which God had granted unto them.

Moroni was chief commander of the Nephite armies and heard of these dissensions. (visual – stand there until reader is finished, then return to seat with reader, leaving the pole stuck in ground or holder.)  With a desire to follow God and to bring peace back to his people, he rent his coat and wrote upon it “in memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children, and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.” 

Moroni looked to God for help and inspiration and as the source of freedoms and blessings; and after faithful prayer, he rallied the people to defend their religion and their liberty.  They put their trust in God, and God was with them.  (Alma 46)

 

Edmond Burke said “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

We each need to trust in God and defend our liberty and religion, just as did the people of Moroni, and our founding fathers, the people we call pilgrims and pioneers, and many other righteous people.

In God We Still Trust (Diamond Rio)  Male Solo

Reader 4 –                           Stage hand for visual -                  / commandments display
“We must stand boldly for righteousness and truth, and must defend the cause of honor, decency, and personal freedom espoused by Washington, Madison, Adams, Lincoln, and other leaders who acknowledged and loved God.” (p90 The Spirit of America)

“The values that made us great are, in reality, the commandments of God. (visual)  They provide the foundation upon which our republic was built.” (p90 The Spirit of America)

“A nation that keeps God’s commandments and walks in His ways will prosper.  The framers of our Constitution knew that, and they tried to lay a solid moral foundation for a society that could be so blessed.” (p85 The Spirit of America)

It is our duty!  Our duty to God and our Country.  Look to God as our maker and as the source of our freedoms and blessings. (p7 The Spirit of America)

You have each been given a flag or other symbol of patriotism when you arrived today.  This symbol is meant to help remind and inspire you – inspire us – to dedicate ourselves to freedom, with a desire to follow eternal truths to help make a better people and a better nation.  (see Elder Perry’s talk)

Remember, as Pres. Monson has promised – Your Future is as Bright as your Faith!

Patriotic Hymn – America the Beautiful  (1^st verse only)
  -  Chorister -                         Pianist -      

 

MC –   

Normally we do not retrieve the flag as part of our 4^th of July flag program, but today we are going to take that opportunity to hopefully help us gain a greater appreciation for our US flag.

There is no official flag folding ceremony and there is no official meaning to each of the folds. However, there are a few optional flag folding ceremonies available.  The ceremony we are using today is an abbreviated form of the program used by the Air Force Academy.    

( http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/more/folds.htm  and   http://www.usflag.org/fold.flag.html )

Reader 5 -  

Flag Folding Ceremony (abbreviated)   (While the flag is being lowered read this paragraph)

In the Armed Forces of the United States, at the ceremony of retreat, the flag is lowered, folded in a triangle fold and kept under watch throughout the night as a tribute to our nation’s honored dead. The next morning it is brought out and, at the ceremony of reveille, run aloft as a symbol of our belief in the resurrection of the body. But further, America’s freedom has proved that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. Our military knows this best. So America celebrates Memorial Day and Veterans Day so that all Americans will remember its fallen heroes and veterans. At a veteran’s funeral, the casket is draped with a flag, which is then folded into a triangle and given to the family “on behalf of a grateful nation.” That folding ceremony has a special meaning.

(Read these with each fold of the flag)

• The first fold is a symbol of life.
• The second fold is a symbol of our belief in the eternal life.
• The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veteran ….
• The fourth fold represents … American citizens trusting in God….
• The fifth fold is a tribute to our country….”
• The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our hearts that we pledge ….
• The seventh fold is a tribute to our Armed forces ….
• The eighth fold is a tribute to our mothers ….
• The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood….
• The tenth fold is a tribute to father….
• The eleventh fold… glorifies… the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
• The twelfth fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost.

When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, “In God We Trust.” 

INFO FOUND HERE  http://www.providenceforum.org/americanflagsongs

God Bless America - Female Solo

Closing Prayer / Blessing on Food – 

MC - Closing remarks and info

 

Pray and Serve

"My promise to you who pray and serve the Lord cannot be that you will have every blessing you may wish for yourself and your family.  But I can promise you that the Savior will draw close to you and bless you and your family with what is best.  You will have the comfort of His love and feel the answer of His drawing closer as you reach out your arms in giving service to others."

 

Henry B. Eyring,  April 2013 General Conference / p22 May 2013 Ensign

Dark vs Light

I found this while searching for things to use in the 4th of July flag raising program.  I wrote the quote on a note page but neglected to write the source from where it was found.

 

Darkness ceases to exist when the Light of One flame still burns.