Lesson Summary June 2, 2013

 Kathy Chee gave her lesson from the BYU Devotional by Donald W. Parry (July 31, 2012)
   

"Angels, Chariots, and the Lord of Hosts" 

 

 

    The ministry of Angels has been on the earth since the days of Adam and Eve. They have had significant responsibilities in the Lord's great plan of happiness. Angles figure prominently in ancient and modern scripture. They have ministered to or communicated with such notables as Daniel, Mary the mother of Jesus [Luke 1:26-38] Mary Magdalene, Salome, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, other women [Mark 16:4-6; Luke 24:2-4; John 20:11-12], Peter, Paul, John the Revelator, and many others. Angels have also ministered to the prophets in the Book of Mormon.

 

        In our own dispensation prophets and apostles have testified of the eminence and considerable standing of angels. It has been a period of extraordinary angelic activity. Joseph Smith received dozens of communications from angels. Additional Church authorities and others have been recipients of angelic communications. The Gospel was restored, in part, when angels imparted revelations and truths to the Prophet Joseph Smith. In the Doctrine and Covenants it tells of the voice of Michael, the archangel; the voice of Gabriel, and of Raphael, and of divers angels, from Michael or Adam down to the present time, all declaring their dispensation, their rights, their keys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the power of their majesty and glory, and the power of their priesthood. [D&C 128:21]

 

         The title "Lord of hosts" is so important that it is found some 250 times in the Old Testament; Isaiah alone used the term about fifty times. This title, then, is a frequent reminder that the Lord has hosts of angels. "And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne . . . :and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands." [Revelation 5:11] 

 

          We have help from both sides of the veil. When disappointment and discouragement strike--and they will--we need to remember that if our eyes could be opened, we would see horses and chariots of fire as far as the eye can see, riding at great speed to come to our protection. They will always be there, these armies of heaven, in defense of Abraham's seed. Joseph Smith wrote that Elder Roger Orton saw a mighty angel riding upon a horse of fire, with a flaming sword in his hand, followed by five others, encircle the house [Temple], and protect the Saints, even the Lord's anointed, from the power of Satan and a host of evil spirits, which were striving to disturb the Saints.

 

 

          Most of us will never be protected by angel in a lions' den, nor will the majority of us be privileged to see horses and chariots of fire. But we should bear in mind that angelic communications are not reserved for those who lived during the time of Old Testament or the Book of Mormon. Church authorities have clearly taught that we who are laypersons may receive angelic communications or help from them according to the divine will of our loving Heavenly Father.

           It is my testimony that angels are agents of love, light, and power. The Lord's angels exist because of Jesus Christ and His infinite Atonement. I testify that angels appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith. I also testify that the sacred work of angels continues in our day.
 
Thank you Kathy for your very interesting and enlightening lesson.  

Memorial Day Breakfast!!

Monday, May 27, 2013 is the annual Boy Scout Breakfast at the church.  Breakfast will be served from 8:00 - 10:00 am.  Come have a great breakfast and enjoy chatting with friends!

May 19th 2013 Lesson Summary

DiAnne Casperson gave the Lesson from the Teachings of Lorenzo Snow Lesson 10 "Come into the Temples"
 
         Soon after President Snow's baptism he attending meetings in the Kirtland Temple. There, with the Prophet Joseph Smith and other church leaders, he received great spiritual blessings. In his journal he reported: "There we had the gift of prophecy-- the gift of tongues--the interpretation of tongues--visions and marvelous dreams were related--the singing of heavenly choirs was heard, and wonderful manifestations of the healing power, through the administrations of the Elders were witnessed.

         Lorenzo loved the Kirtland Temple, knowing that "The Son of God, in His glory, had honored it with His royal presence." He said "No language can describe my feelings," when, for the first time, I stood up in one of the pulpits to address an audience-- a pulpit on the breastwork of which, only a short time before, this holy Personage stood---'His hair as white as pure snow, his eyes as a flame of fire'-- where also Moses, Elias and Elijah, came and committed the keys of their dispensations to Joseph Smith."

          Many years later, on April 6, 1892 President Lorenzo Snow stood before another gathering, this time in front of the almost-completed Salt Lake Temple. About 40,000 Latter-day Saints crowded into the enclosure surrounding Temple Square, and about 10,000 more " occupied the tops of houses and places from which a view could be obtained. They had gathered for a ceremony in which the capstone would be secured on the temple's highest spire. Later that day the angel Moroni was placed on the capstone. 

          Lorenzo was assigned by the First Presidency to lead the Saints in the Hosanna Shout. As the Temple capstone moved securely into its position. The scene that followed is beyond the power of language to describe. The President of the Twelve, Apostle Lorenzo Snow, came forward and led Saints in shouting in concert. "Each shout was accompanied by the waving of white handkerchiefs. . . The eyes of thousands were moistened with tears in the fullness of their joy. The ground seemed to tremble with the volume of sound which sent forth its echoes to the surrounding hills. The hosannas had scarce ceased when the vast congregation burst forth in the glorious inspirational hymn, "The Spirit of God like a fire is burning." 

            Exactly one year later, on April 6, 1893 President Woodruff dedicated the Salt Lake Temple the Saints had labored 40 years to complete it, and President Snow was called to serve as the first president of that temple. He fulfilled this calling until he became President of the Church in September 1898.

            In temples we learn of the marvelous blessings God has prepared for the faithful. . . He has prepared everything for the Latter-day Saints that they could possibly wish or imagine in order to effect their complete happiness throughout the vast eternities. We have learned that, in temples, we are able to form ties which are not dissolved at death, but which reach into eternity; sacred ties which bind families together for time and eternity.

            "In temples we receive the ordinances of exaltation in behalf of our kindred dead. We did not come into this world accidentally. We came for a special purpose, and it was undoubtedly through certain arrangements in the other life where we dwelt that we came into this life. It is within the Temples that we are accomplishing a great work in reference to our kindred dead." 

            "Now, it should be an object in every man's and woman,s mind to come into our Temples and to perform this labor. It is a great labor, and an important one, too. When we go back into the other life and find our dead love ones living there, if we have not performed the labor that is necessary for their exaltation and glory we shall not feel very happy and it will not be a very pleasant meeting."
 
            This work has got to be accomplished before the Son of Man can come and receive His kingdom to present it to His Father.
 
Thank you, DiAnne, for this up lifting lesson.

June 2013 Announcements

Here are the announcements for June 2013

June 12 - Ward Temple Day

Thursday, June 20 - Relief Society Meeting 7:00 pm at the church

Announcements for May 2013

Announcements:

         May  16 -       Relief Society Activity Night 7:00pm

                            Guest speaker Allan Riser will speak to us about humanitarian efforts in an African village.

                 

      May  18 -      Workshop "Protecting Children and families from Pornography"

                            Saturday, 9:00am, SLC, Contact Kim for more information.

 

      May  19 -      Seminary Graduation.  Willow Valley Building  7:00pm