5/25/14 Review

Important Dates

• June 5-7: Stake Laurel High Adventure
• June 9-11: Stake Priest High Adventure
• June 15: Father's Day
• June 23-27: Stake Girl's Camp
• July 10-12: Youth Conference 

June 2014 Lesson Schedule

• June 1: Presidency Lesson
• June 8: Chapter 9: Witnesses of the Book of Mormon
• June 15: Chapter 10: Our Search for Truth
• June 22: Spiritual Whirlwinds by Elder Neil L. Andersen

See June 2014 Calendar HERE

Lesson Review

 The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood – by Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Elder Oaks began his remarks as follows:

“At this conference we have seen the release of some faithful brothers, and we have sustained the calls of others. In this rotation – so familiar in the Church –we do not “step down” when we are released, and we do not “step up” when we are called. There is no “up or down” in the service of the Lord.  There is only “forward or backward,” and that difference depends on how we accept and act upon our releases and our callings. I once presided at the release of a young stake president who had given fine service for nine years and was now rejoicing in his release and in the new calling he and his wife had just received. They were called to be the nursery leaders in their ward. Only in this Church would that be seen as equally honorable.”

Elder Oaks cites a comment by Linda K. Burton, Relief Society general president as saying, “Priesthood power blesses all of us. Priesthood keys direct women as well as men, and priesthood ordinances and priesthood authority pertain to women as well as men.” 

What is the priesthood? President Joseph F. Smith described the priesthood as “the power of God delegated to man by which man can act in the earth for the salvation of the human family.”  Elder Oaks also quotes “[o]ther leaders have taught us that the priesthood ‘is the consummate power on this earth. It is the power by which the earth was created.’”

What are priesthood keys?  Elder Oaks explains that “Priesthood keys are the authority God has given to priesthood [holders] to direct, control and govern the use of His priesthood on earth.”

Elder Oaks reminds us, “Ultimately, all keys of the priesthood are held by the Lord Jesus Christ, whose priesthood it is.  He is the one who determines what keys are delegated to mortals and how those keys will be used.  We are accustomed to thinking that all keys of the priesthood were conferred on Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple, but the scripture states that all that was conferred there were ‘the keys of this dispensation’ (D&C 11:16). At general conference many years ago, President Spencer W. Kimball reminded us that there are other priesthood keys that have not been given to man on the earth, including the keys of creation and resurrection.”

Elder Oaks addresses the issue of women and the priesthood.  He states:

“In the eyes of God, whether in the Church or in the family, women and men are equal, with different responsibilities.

“I close with some truths about the blessings of the priesthood.  Unlike priesthood keys and priesthood ordinations, the blessings of the priesthood are available to women and to men on the same terms.  The gift of the Holy Ghost and the blessings of the temple are familiar illustrations of this truth.

“In his insightful talk at BYU Education Week last summer, Elder M. Russell Ballard gave these teachings: ‘Our Church doctrine places women equal to and yet different from men.  God does not regard either gender as better or more important than the other….When men and women to go the temple, they are both endowed with the same power, which is priesthood power….Access to the power and the blessings of the priesthood is available to all of God’s children.’”

For further study and pondering, see the references in the “notes” from Elder Oaks’address.

NEXT WEEK (6/1/14): Presidency Lesson

Relief Society Activity Reminder!

Come for a night of fun and fellowship

while we learn some tips on 

Spiritual & Temporal Cleaning! 

We will also have a gardening class with an emphasis

on container planting.

Light refreshments will be served & a nursery provided

7:00pm Thursday June 22nd 

at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

3717 Thomasville Rd 

5/18/14 Review

Important Dates

• May 22: Relief Society night, 7pm at the Thomasville Rd Building
• June 5-7: Stake Laurel High Adventure
• June 9-11: Stake Priest High Adventure
• June 15: Father's Day
• June 23-27: Stake Girl's Camp
• July 10-12: Youth Conference 

May 2014 Lesson Schedule

• May 4: Temple dedication (9am, 12pm or 3pm sessions) 
• May 11: Chapter 7: Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Witnesses for Christ
• May 18: Chapter 8: The Church and Kingdom of God
• May  25: The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood by Elder Dallin H. Oaks 

**The entire 2014 Lesson Schedule is now available on the blog, complete with lesson links to the lds.org page! Click "2014 Lesson Schedule" tab or this link: http://tall3rdwardrs.blogspot.com/p/monthly-calendar.html to get to the page** 

Lesson Review

Teachings of the Presidents of the Church, Joseph Fielding Smith

Chapter8: The Church and Kingdom of God

President Joseph Fielding Smith said, “Let all men know assuredly that this is the Lord’s Church and he is directing its affairs.  What a privilege it is to have membership in such a divine institution!”

President Smith life was devoted to the Church. As a young man, he served a full-time mission and was later called as president in a priesthood quorum, and a member of the general board of the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association.  He worked as a clerk in the Church Historian’s office, and in an unofficial way, he also helped his father, who was then serving as President of the Church.  He served as an Apostle for almost 60 years before serving as President of the Church. He never sought any of these positions, but when he was called to serve, he willingly obeyed the call. 

President Smith shared a reason for his dedication to the work of the Church: “I know that we have the truth of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ, just as well as I know that I live.  If I did not know it, I wouldn’t want to be here or have anything to do with this work.  But I know it in every fiber of my body.  God has revealed it to me.” 

President Smith counseled us to, “never refuse to serve.”

Question to ponder: After centuries of spiritual darkness and apostasy, the Lord restored His gospel and organized His Church on the earth.  Where would you, individually, and the world, generally, be with the gospel?  Some answers might include:

No eternal families; no priesthood, as well as all the accompanying blessings of the priesthood; no appreciating Heavenly Father’s glorious creations; no light, knowledge, hope or peace; no constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, no true happiness; no example of strong, faithful, righteous members; no love, no security, no unity; selfishness would abound; no guidance or guidelines; loss of the strength that the gospel brings

President Smith said, “We announce that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the kingdom of God on earth, the only place where men may come to learn the true doctrines of salvation and find the authority of the holy priesthood.”

Question to ponder: In what ways to Church auxiliaries help individuals and families?

President Smith said, “I desire to say that no man of himself can lead this church. It is the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ; he is at the head.  The church bears his name, his priesthood, administers his gospel, preaches his doctrine, and does his work….If this were the work of man, it would fail, but it is the work of the Lord, and he does not fail….” 

President Smith promises us that, “In this dispensation the Lord has decreed that the Church shall never again be led astray; this time the gospel is here to stay.”

Next Week: The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood by Elder Dallin H. Oaks

5/11/14 Review

Important Dates

• May 22: Relief Society night, 7pm at the Thomasville Rd Building

May 2014 Lesson Schedule

• May 4: Temple dedication (9am, 12pm or 3pm sessions) 
• May 11: Chapter 7: Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Witnesses for Christ
• May 18: Chapter 8: The Church and Kingdom of God
• May  25: The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood by Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Lesson Review

Teachings of the Presidents of the Church – Joseph Fielding Smith

Chapter7 – Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Witnesses for Jesus Christ

 Joseph Fielding Smith never knew his Smith grandparents (Hyrum Smith, older brother and loyal friend to the Prophet Joseph, and Mary Fielding Smith).  He learned a great deal about them from his aunt, Mercy Thompson.  He also learned about them from his father, Joseph F. Smith, who had known the Prophet Joseph, personally.  Although President Smith was grateful for the teachings and heritage of his family, his testimony was his own.  He testified:

“It is my knowledge, by the gift of God, that Joseph Smith in the year 1820 did see the Father and the Son; that the Father introduced his Son; that the son spoke to him, asked him what he wanted to know, and gave him counsel; told him what to do, with the promise that eventually other light would come and the fullness of the gospel, which was not then upon the face of the earth, would be restored.”

Question to ponder: Why is it important to have a testimony of Joseph Smith, what he did, and his role in this dispensation?

President Smith said, “We link the names of Jesus Christ and of Joseph Smith.  Christ is the Lord; he worked out the atoning sacrifice; he is the resurrection and the life; through him all men are raised in immortality, while those who believe and obey his laws shall also gain eternal life….Joseph Smith was a prophet, called in these last days to receive by revelation the saving truths of the gospel and to stand as a legal administrator, having power from on high, to administer the ordinances of the gospel.

Why did the Lord call Joseph Smith?  President Smith explains:

“In choosing a representative to stand at the head of this “great and marvelous work about to come forth unto the children of men, the Lord did not select one who was versed in the learning and traditions of the world.  His ways are not the ways of man, neither are his thoughts like the thoughts of men. One taught in the learning of the world would have had too much to unlearn of the traditions and philosophy of men.  In his great wisdom, the Lord chose an unsophisticated child – a boy fourteen years of age….Joseph Smith was prepared to direct the work of the restoration of the Gospel and the building of the Kingdom of God.”

President Smith further states: “In a spirit of testimony and thanksgiving, I [share] these inspired words from the Doctrine and Covenants: ‘Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it.”

The Lord provided help and support to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the form of his elder brother, Hyrum.  President Smith tells us that he “stood by the side of his brother Joseph and strengthened him by encouragement, faith and devoted love. Hyrum was a man of wonderful tenderness of heart. He possessed deep humility and loved his brother better than he loved his own life.  This is shown in his death through which he obtained a martyr’s crown.  He was fearless in his defense of the truth. Verily he ‘loved that which is right.’”

President Smith further states, “Joseph Smith could not have stood alone, else his work would have failed, just as the work of the Savior required the confirmation of another witness, and who could testify for Christ other than his Father? And so the Lord called another man to stand with Joseph Smith and to hold the keys of salvation in this dispensation as a witness with him.”

Question to ponder: How can Joseph and Hyrum Smiths’ examples help us in our assignments from the Lord?