Rejoice the Lord is King
Conducting: Dallin H Oaks
On This Day of Joy and Gladness
I Know That my Redeemer Lives
Elder
Jeffrey R Holland
· Jesus bears
no weapon of any kind
· “making the
whole group wish they had been assigned kitchen duty that night”
· There is no
beauty that we should desire him
o
Did not have fancy clothes
o
Did not have wealth
o
Did not have professional training in synagogues
· Jesus was
always triumphant
o
We have no explanation except his divine DNA
o
We have simplified, even trivialized our image of Him and His
witness of who He was.
§ Righteousness
to mere prudishness
§ Mercy to
mere permissiveness
· We must not
be guilty of simplistic versions that ignore teachings we find uncomfortable
· We can’t ignore
the centrality of love even if it makes us uncomfortable
· Love thy
neighbor as thyself is absolutely necessary to be a disciple of Christ
· What he
actually said
o
If ye love me, keep my commandments
o
Love one another as I have loved you
§ INCLUDING
YOURSELF
· How did
Jesus Love?
o
With all His heart, might, mind, and strength
§ Which gave
Him the ability to heal the deepest pain and declare the harshest reality
o
Obedience to every word that proceeded from God’s mouth
§ Always aligning
His will and His behavior with that of His Heavenly Father
· His Love
o
Allows an encouraging embrace when it is often needed and a bitter
cup when it needs to be swallowed
o
Evident in complete loyalty to His divine will
o
Persisted and continues to persist
§ Not just through
the easy and comfortable days, but especially through the darkest and most
difficult ones.
o
Faileth not
§ And neither
does His Father’s
o
Exemplifies, empowers, and imparts
· Could heal
the deepest pain. Full of grace and truth
· Truth is
hard to hear, but when we listen, we can feel His love and peace
· What sets
Jesus apart is his total devotion to Heavenly Father’s will. When we say we are
“trying to be like Jesus”, we are trying to align ourselves more with God’s
will
· “Not just
through the easiest days, but especially the most difficult ones”
· There is a
force determined to oppose every good thing you try to do
· We will
stay for the whole course – because as with our Redeemer we signed on for the
whole thing.
o
Because we signed up for the whole course.
o
Because Jesus wants us to and we love Him
o
Because of the ordinances
o
Because we can make it better for future generations
· The joy in
this is the Headmaster gave us all open book answers before the course began,
and provided helpers to remind us of those answers
· Whom seek
ye?
o
Jesus of Nazareth
· He is carrying
us even when we though He abandoned us
· The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints is the vehicle God has provided for the
exaltation of our souls
o
The gospel is true!
o
The priesthood is not derivative!
Sister
Tracy Y Browning 2nd counselor YWs
· “I’m old
enough to remember when we were taught in school that we had nine planets”
o
Me tooooo
· Science did
lots of science and now pluto is no longer a planet
· There are
some parallels and key distinctions between expanding scientific knowledge and
seeking answers to our spiritual questions
· How we can
respond to the limits of our spiritual understanding and prepare ourselves for
growth: asking and not understanding is part of this life and is an essential
part of spiritual progress
· We thought
we understood, and we were wrong. I think this applies to a lot of things in
the world and the church (see AoF 9)
· Asking for
questions and searching for meaning is a natural part of our human experience.
· God’s plan
is merciful towards the limitations of our humanity
· Not having
complete answers can bring us to the edge of our understanding and sometimes it
can feel overwhelming and frustrating
· Christ, our
Shepherd, encourages and inspires us to use our agency
· Asking
questions is not a sign of weakness
o
It’s a precursor of growth
· God helps
us accomplish things, even when we reach the edge of our understanding
· Ask
sincerely, rather than just to confirm a conclusion we’ve already decided
· Thoughtful
processes [of science] may be incomplete to discern things pertaining to
Heavenly father and our savior, their gospel, their church, and their plan for
all of us
· We center
Jesus Christ in seeking answers and their meaning
· ASK, SEEK,
KNOCK
· We may be
required to wait upon the Lord in the space between our current line of
understanding and the next yet to be delivered
· Demonstrate
obedience = eternal knowledge given to us
· Revelation
of God is always compatible with His eternal law and it never contradicts His
doctrine
· God’s laws
and commandments are not meant to be a block in your life
· Our humble
obedience will pave the way for our spiritual discernment of God’s ways and His
purpose for teaching all of us
· Heavenly
Father and Jesus Christ are the source of all truth and share their wisdom liberally
o
Keep in mind that you do not know anything truth personally unless
shared with you by Them
· We may find
that other needs are more challenging and may create difficult and complex
feelings within us.
· Or, in our
search for spiritual truth, we may reach less accurate interpretations if we
rely exclusively on our own limited understanding
· Some
questions may persist until God [who knows everything] provides enlightenment
through our belief on his name
· Resisting
obedience may prolong or delay our growth
· This life
is a divine and profound experience in trust
· Trust that
the Lord knows what he is doing with you
· Our sincere
gospel questions can provide Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ with
opportunities to help us grow
· Even if you
don’t understand how He is going to do it, there is a way. Trust Him.
· You will
change. The higher you are, the farther you can see
Elder
Brook P Hales
· Story of a
woman
o
Had many difficult trials
o
Divorced at age 32 with 4 children
o
One of her sons passed away
o
Message from her son to his mother: “it is all okay”
· Mortality
works. It is designed to work
· Heavenly
Father has designed the plan of happiness such that we are not designed to fail
· HIs plan
provides a way for us to rise above our mortal failures
· We WILL
encounter situations that try us and people who enable us to practice true
charity and patience
· WE need to
bear up under our difficulties
· The Lord
will prove us in all things
o
To our utter limits
· For
mortality to work, we have to let ourselves have the trials. Embrace the
hardship, for we know that it will make us better
· When we
feel anxious or that we might be receiving more than our fair share of life’s
difficulties
o
We shall remember the way in which the Lord led us for 49 years in
the wilderness, to humble us and to prove us, whether we would keep the
commandments or not
o
We have suffered afflictions and much sorrow, nevertheless God
will consecrate our afflictions for our strength
o
“Nevertheless, whosoever putteth his trust in the Lord, the same
shall be lifted up at the last day”
§ Mosiah
23:21-22
· We can
still feel guilt and affliction and bad self-worth because of the actions of
others
o
But the Lord can strengthen us and bear us up
· My strength
is made perfect in weakness
· “Thou hast
suffered afflictions…but thy afflictions shall be consecrated for thy gain.”
o
2 Nephi 2:2
· I have
always been a person of worth
· Because of
the Saviors Atonement, mortality works.
· Because of
our life experiences we can
o
Be kinder to others
o
Understand them as the Lord did
· “God’s work
and glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man”
o
Moses 1:39
· We were NOT
sent here to fail!!
o
But to succeed in God’s plan for us
· Mortality
works; it worked for his ma, it’ll work for you too
· As we:
o
Enter and keep covenants
o
Repent
o
Serve others
o
Endure to the end
· We can have
assurance and complete trust in the lord that mortality works!
Elder
L Todd Budge
· In
returning and rest will ye be saved. Body will die without nourishment. So will
spirit
· The
Japanese word for “busy” is made up of a character for 2 symbols: the one on
the left means heart or spirit, and the one on the right means death
o
Being too busy could make our spirits die
· In this
fast-paced world, He knew making quality time for Him would be one of the major
challenges of our day
· “In
returning and rest shall ye be saved. In quietness and in confidence shall be
your strength”
o
Isaiah 30:15
· Even though
our salvation depends on returning to him often and resting from the cares of
the world, we do not!
· Why not??
o
We are busy with other things
o
So we get further and further from God. We insist on going faster
and faster, and the faster we go, the swifter Satan will follow us
· Nelson has
repeatedly pled with us to make time for the Lord in our lives each and every
day
o
Quiet time is sacred time
· Our focus must
be riveted on Him and His gospel.
· Being still
requires more than just making time for the lord
o
Letting go of our doubts and fearful thoughts
· Being still
involves so much more than just not moving
o
It is an act of faith
· Growth
comes with rest–we receive revelation through quiet moments.
· Quiet time
is sacred time that will facilitate revelation and peace.
· Being still
is an act of faith and requires effort
o
Mentally rigorous looking to the Savior
o
Meditation
· You too
must be still
· Meditation
is one of the most sacred doors through which we pass into the presence of the
Lord
· Mui –
japanese word that captures a contemplative sense of what it means to be still
o
Left sign: nothing
o
Right sign: doing
o
Reminder to slow down, live with more spiritual awareness
· We don't
know why someone else might struggle with something
· As much as He
desires our attention, He will not force us to gather to Him
· Approach
them with the same mindfulness and focus as approaching Japanese Calligraphy
· How to be
still?
o
We can, when praying, spend more time just being next to God
instead of talking to him
o
Do not just read the scriptures, but SAVOR them
o
Sit quietly with the Lord on the Sabbath, day of rest
o
Make a more disciplined effort to pay attention; linger a little
longer in the celestial room in quiet reflection
· Sometimes
you just need to go to a quiet solitary place to seek quiet time with God
o
NO distractions!!
§ No phone,
no music (unless that helps you like me), no books (scriptures ok)
· We are
often troubled, but when we commune with the Lord every day we can find peace
· As we
concentrate our hearts and minds on Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and listen
to the Holy Ghost, we will have greater clarity about what is most needful,
develop deeper compassion, and find rest and strength in him
· If ye shall
seek for me, then find me.
· Always
being in motion may add to the commotion of life
Guide
Us Oh Thou Great Jehovah
Elder
Gary E Stevenson
· The Church
is resplendent with divine experience that demonstrate how the Lord has guided
his Church
· 1820-1830 -
beginning of restoration of the church
· This year,
we have commenced a decade that may prove to be as momentous as any that has
followed that parallel founding decade 2 centuries ago:
o
Between 2024 and 2034 has seminal events that provide
extraordinary opportunities to serve and commune with others
o
World’s oldest religious leader turns 100 (Pres Nelson)
o
A refurbished plaza on Temple Square featuring a display of
international flags representing countries where the church is recognized, was
unveiled
§ “All
nations shall flow unto it”
o
The unprecedented number of temple open houses and dedications
that are planned to take place over the next decade
o
Bicentennial of the organization of the Church
· President
Nelson is not just an executive, but a prophet, seer, and revelator
· These will
be days not to be forgotten
· Prophecy of
Isaiah is being fulfilled
· “Glad
tidings!”
o
Comes from the greek word “euangelion”, which means good news, or
the gospel
o
Joy in this world and in the next is always linked with the gospel
of Jesus Christ
o
Men and women are that they might have joy
· The
atonement is central to God’s plan
· As we do
so, we participate in god’s work of salvation and exaltation
· Youth and
Young Adults!
o
You are here on earth now because you have been selected to be
here on earth now
o
You have the strength and capacity to be disciples of Christ in an
unprecedented way
o
Imagine how exciting this next decade can be for us
o
We have the courage and determination to face the world and all
the powers of the evil one, to build up the zion of our God fearless of all
consequences
o
We are unusually mindful of the less fortunate
o
Magnificent nature of our testimonies
o
Immense capacity to influence your peers as you love, share, and
invite them to explore the gospel of Jesus Christ
· 4 simple
activites – divinely appointed responsibilities
o
Living the gospel
o
Caring for those in need
o
Inviting all to receive the gospel
o
Uniting families for eternity
· It is in
our nature to bear one another’s burdens and comfort those that stand in need
of comfort
· The rising
generation is full of spirits filled with courage and determinations
· This will
be a decade never to be forgotten for you if you follow these principles
· Enrich and
enhance your life with the gospel
Brother
Bradley R Wilcox 1st counselor YM
· Why? Why
must Latter-Day saints live so differently from others?
· Story of
silly but valid questions kids ask God
· EVERYONE is
a child of God
· There are
many valiant followers of Christ who are not members of our church
· In 1988,
Nelson gave an address at BYU called “Thanks for the Covenant”
o
https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/russell-m-nelson/thanks-covenant/
o
Explained that when we use our moral agency to make and keep
covenants with God, we become heirs of the everlasting covenant God has made
with our forebears in every dispensation
· Our birthright
sets us apart.
· In OT
times, if a father passed away, the birthright son was tasked to care for the
sisters and mother
o
Never got to leave; could marry but had to spend the rest of his
life taking care of his father’s estate
o
Got extra inheritance though
· We receive
inheritance as a joint heir of Christ
· Is it too
much for God to expect us to live differently than Hs other children so we can
better lead and serve them?
o
NO, not when we get so many blessings from keeping our covenants
o
Does the birthright mean we’re better than others?
§ NO
§ Help others
to be better
o
Does it mean we are chosen?
§ YES! But
not to rule over others.
§ To serve
o
Does it show god’s love?
§ It is
evidence of his TRUST
§ It is one
thing to be loved and another thing entirely to be trusted
· Your Father
in Heaven Trusts You
o
For the Strength of Youth
· He does not
want to lose any of us, so he invites those who are willing to become members
of his crew
· Because of
our choice to make and keep covenants, he offers you his trust.
· He trusts
you to be:
o
Different
o
Peculiar
o
set apart because of the important work he trusts you to do
· His crew
members
· When we
look around on this cruise ship called earth, we might see other people
gambling, playing video games, wearing scanty clads.
o
Instead of thinking “why can’t I do that?” remember that we are
NOT ordinary passengers. We are members of the crew.
o
You can’t be a lifeguard if you look like all the other swimmers
on the beach
o
We receive something the other passengers do not: compensation!
· Your compensation
is not merely a mansion in Heaven with streets paved of gold.
· It’s a lot
to ask of anyone. But we are not just anyone. We are youth of the noble
birthright
· An endowment
of strength and an enabling power
· It would be
easy for God to give us all that he has. His desire is for us to become all
that He is
· More trust
-> more grace
· Your
covenant relationship with God and Jesus Christ is a relationship of love and
trust.
· He meets
you where you are and helps you repent and improve
· Don’t sell
your birthright for a mess of pottage – DON’T TRADE EVERYTHING FOR NOTHING
· 2 Nephi
2:26
· Don’t let the
world change you when you were born to change the world
MY
Shepherd Will Supply my Need
President
Henry B Eyring
· We
all have family and dear friends that are being tempted and tried by Satan
· He
pled for God's help.
· The
word of God is mightier than the sword. The doctrine.
· Foundation
of the gospel:
o
D&C 18 – the foundation of His doctrine is revealed
o
Repent
o
The Lord suffered so that all men might repent
o
He has risen from the dead so that he may raise all men unto
repentance
· It may be
tempting to try something new and sensational, but the Holy Ghost will reveal
the truth and truth only
· Be simple
in our teaching
· Safety is
gained by that teaching, and little is lost
· Seize every
opportunity to share the teachings of Jesus Christ with Children
· What words
of doctrine can I share to strengthen them from the inevitable doubtings of
their faith?
· Everything
that we teach should link back to the 2 great commandments and the love of
Jesus Christ. That is the point.
· Story of
the woman in Berlin teaching to doctrine of the gospel there and getting put in
jail, the writing a letter of the restored gospel to the judge got her out of
jail
· Do I know
the doctrine well enough to teach it?
· Cry unto
God for all thy support
· If you look
to the Lord and thank him, we will draw closer to Him, become diligent and
long-suffering, and you can know that you have done all that you can to help
those you love and those you pray for navigate through Satan’s attempt to
derail them.
· Remembering
the words of their parents saved them
The
Spirit of God
