Announcements - December 21, 2014

·         The ward Christmas party will be Monday, December 22 at 6:00 p.m.

 

·         Don’t forget to take advantage of the Christmas events that are taking place on Temple Hill at the Oakland temple grounds.  The sister missionaries will be performing on December 24 at 2:30 p.m. & 4:00 p.m. and also on Christmas Day at 4:00 p.m.

Lesson Summary - December 21, 2014

Teachings of the Presidents of the Church

Joseph Fielding Smith

Lessons 25

“The Birth of Jesus Christ:  Good Tidings of Great Joy”

Chris began her lesson by having her children sing “Picture a Christmas”.

She then asked us to ponder: “What is the most memorable gift you have ever received?” and “What is the most memorable gift you have ever given?”

Joseph Fielding Smith said, “No words that man may utter can embellish or improve or add to the eloquence of its humble simplicity.  It never grows old no matter how often told, and the telling of it is by far too infrequent in the homes of men.  Let us try to imagine ourselves out with the shepherds who were watching over their flock that memorable night.  These were humble men who had not lost the faith of their fathers, whose hearts had not become hardened as were the hearts of the rulers of the Jews in the days of our Lord’s ministry, for had they been, the angels would not have appeared to them with their glorious message.”

Chris commented that the type of men were these shepherds were allowed them to be humble and to be the ones that the angels appeared to, to give them the news of the Savior’s birth.

Why and who were these angels that sang to the shepherds?  It was us, all the hosts of heaven!

Chris told us a story about her mother.  It took place in 1947 in Eastern Berlin.  Her mother’s family had very little.  During this time, during post World War II, there was extreme poverty, little food and supplies.  It was the end of November and she and her siblings were wondering what they could give their mother for Christmas.  Chris’ mother was eleven years old and was chosen to knit some mittens while her siblings did her chores for her.  Yarn was scarce and they had no money but there were old socks beyond repair and several other items that she was able to unravel and use the yarn.  She worked for weeks and finally was able to finish the mittens.  This task brought her siblings together in a united purpose and love for their mother.  Although they weren’t the most beautiful mittens ever made, they were made with love.  The children were so excited to give these mittens to their mother for she needed them to pick mushrooms in the forest.  She said that the mittens were the best present that she had ever received.  The Christmas of 1947 was remembered in her family not of post-war suffering but for one of hope, love and closeness of family.

Chris asked how can we help our children focus on giving and the true meaning of Christmas?

Chris showed the following Church video about Christmas: 

“He Is The Gift”  http://www.mormon.org/christmas

What can we do to embrace “the gift”?

Laurie G. told about the movie “The Last Straw” and how her family has used it to do things for other family members during this Christmas season.

Joseph Fielding Smith said, “The true reason for the coming of Jesus Christ into the world…was, first, to redeem all men from the physical or mortal death, which Adam brought into the world, and second, to redeem all men from spiritual death or banishment from the presence of the Lord on conditions of their repentance and remission of sins and endurance to the end of the mortal probation.”

President Joseph Fielding Smith also said, “…I now pray that at this Christmas Season, and at all times, we may center our faith in the Son of God and gain for ourselves that peace which passeth understanding.” 

Chris closed with another story from her mother.  It was Christmas Eve 1943, and her father had brought in the Christmas tree and her family decorated it with a few ornaments and a few precious candles.  Just as the family was sitting down for Christmas Eve dinner, the air raid sirens went off along with the sounds of explosions. There was no time to go to the air raid bunker so they huddled in their basement.  Their house shook and their father peeked out and reported that several neighbor houses were on fire and that their own chimney had been hit by low flying aircraft.  After several hours, the bombings stopped and the family came out of the basement to widespread destruction. Although their home was still standing, all the windows were broken, letting in the winter air, and the staircase to the bedrooms had collapsed.  The Christmas dinner was cold and full of dirt from the explosions, but in the midst of all of the destruction, their decorated Christmas tree remained untouched.  This was their Christmas miracle. Around the tree they sang “Silent Night” and read from Luke of the Savior’s birth.  They felt that peace would some time in the future be restored to the earth.

Chris urged us to take a moment to find that peace and think about how He is the true gift and what he means to us.  Think about how the angels were singing and how grateful we all are for that most amazing night of His birth.

Announcements - December 14, 2014

Come to the ward next Monday night,  December 22^nd, at 6:00 to celebrate the Ward Christmas Family Home Evening.  Dinner will be served and a special visitor may drop in to visit with the children.

Lesson Summary - December 14, 2014

“Preparing for the Coming of Our Lord”

Lesson 26

Joseph Fielding Smith

by Carly

 

President Smith once told a group of members that he was “praying for the end of the world.  If it came tomorrow I would be glad”.    He went on, “Most people have the wrong idea of what is meant by the end of the world.  When Christ comes there will be an end to the world….there will not be any war, any turmoil, envying, lying; there will be no wickedness.  Men will learn then to love the Lord and keep His commandments, and if they don’t, they will not stay here.”

 

Are we preparing for the second coming of our Savior?  Are we prepared in our hearts?  Do we realize our responsibilities before the Lord?

 

In scriptures we find many predictions regarding His coming:

 

“I come quickly.”

“I come at an hour ye think not.”

“My coming is at the door.”

“I come as a thief in the night.”

“I come in an hour when you are not looking for me.”

 

How do these statements make you feel?  We know the Savior keeps His promises.  He will come again, it is just a matter of watching and understanding the signs and preparing ourselves.

 

Thankfully, the Lord has revealed information to help us prepare for His second coming in spite of the tribulations of the last days, and that is why we can look forward with joy to this great event.

 

Matt. 1:22 teaches us “for in those days there shall also arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch, that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect according to the covenant.”

 

D&C 46:8 reads “Wherefore, beware lest ye are deceived; and that ye may not be deceived seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given.”   Some of our best gifts are the restored gospel, the scriptures, the Book of Mormon, the gift of the Holy Ghost.   We need to seek counsel in these gifts.

 

Matt. 1:23, 29-30 tells us, “Behold, I speak these things unto you for the elect’s sake; and you also shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled, for all I have told you must come to pass; but the end is not yet.  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places.  And again, because iniquity shall abound, the love of men shall wax cold; but he that shall not be overcome, the same shall be saved.”

 

We see many evidences of these events taking place in our day.  Our latter day prophets have counseled us to prepare for the natural disasters that will surely come upon us. 

 

Pres. Woodruff counsels: “We are approaching some of the most tremendous judgments God ever poured out upon the world.  The signs of the times, the sign of the coming of Christ are beginning to be manifest both in heaven and on earth.  All that the Latter-day Saints have to do is to be quiet, careful and wise before the Lord, watch the signs of the times, and be true and faithful; and when you  get through you will understand many things that you do not today.  We are in the last dispensation of the fullness of times.  It is a great day.  Let us be faithful and leave events in the hands of God, and He will take care of us if we do our duty. 

 

Elder Oaks asks, “What if the day of His coming were tomorrow?  If we knew that we would meet the Lord tomorrow either through death or through His unexpected coming, what would we do today?  What confessions would we make?  What practices would we discontinue?  What accounts would we settle?  What forgiveness would we extend?  What testimonies would we bear?

 

 

D&C 6:34-36  reads, “Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.  Look unto me in every though; doubt not, fear not.”

 

Pres. Smith concludes: “I pray every day of my life that the Lord will hasten His work…..I am praying for the end of the world because I want a better world.  I want the coming of Christ.  I want the reign of peace.  I want the time to come when every man can live in peace and in the spirit of faith, humility and prayer.”

 

A quick summary of the millennial times that follow His second coming bring hope and anticipation.

 

For one thousand years shall a happy time of peace prevail?  In due time, the inhabitants of the earth shall be brought into the fold of the church.  The gospel will be taught far more intensely and with great power until all the inhabitants of earth shall embrace it.  Idleness will not be found.  The saints will be kept busy in the temples, which shall be built in all parts of the land.  All those who have died in Christ shall come forth from the dead.  Christ shall be upon the earth and shall give instruction and guidance.  No soul will be neglected and the work of the Lord will be perfected. 

 

D&C 45:61-62 concludes, “Be prepared for the things to come.  Verily I say unto you, that great things await you.”