Developing the Love of Christ: Rescuing Lost Sheep

Bishop M. led a discussion around another aspect of our ward theme, Developing the Love of Christ, by using the parable of the lost sheep.

• How are we using our time outside of church to practice True Christianity?

Matt S. spoke about a few ideas specifically toward rescuing the youth.  Find out and support their events, invite them to camp outs or your family gatherings.  Include them in what you do and discover what they are interested in.

Bishop M. then shared the many people who had helped rescue him along his way: his mom, his bishop, his home teacher, his mission president and his stake president.

• Who rescued you?

When searching for who to help the following video gives proof that they are all around and all of us.

• What are we going to do differently to rescue those in need of aid?

"He Will Place You on His Shoulders and Carry you Home" - May 23, 2016

Sunny H. led a discussion using the talk "He will Place You on His Shoulders and Carry You Home" by President Uchtdorf during the April 2016 conference.

"In a very short time, the city once nicknamed the “Jewel Box” was no more. Erich Kästner, a German author, wrote of the destruction, “In a thousand years was her beauty built, in one night was it utterly destroyed.”

"Surely, I thought, if man can take the ruins, rubble, and remains of a broken city and rebuild an awe-inspiring structure that rises toward the heavens, how much more capable is our Almighty Father to restore His children who have fallen, struggled, or become lost?"

“What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

“And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.”

"To me, the parable of the lost sheep is one of the most hopeful passages in all of scripture.

Our Savior, the Good Shepherd, knows and loves us. He knows and loves you.

He knows when you are lost, and He knows where you are. He knows your grief. Your silent pleadings. Your fears. Your tears.

It matters not how you became lost—whether because of your own poor choices or because of circumstances beyond your control.

What matters is that you are His child. And He loves you. He loves His children."

The Law of Tithing - May 15, 2016

Rebecca J. gave a spiritual lesson on the observance of tithing from the Howard W. Hunter manual.

The payment of tithing strengthens faith, increases spirituality and spiritual capacity, and solidifies testimony. It gives the satisfaction of knowing one is complying with the will of the Lord. (Howard W. Hunter, The Law of Tithing)

• Have you noticed blessings in your life specifically from paying tithing?

In 2 Samuel 24:18–25 we read that David would not make an offering unto the Lord of that which cost him nothing. He no doubt reasoned that unless the gift cost the giver something of value, it was not fit or appropriate to be an offering for the Lord. (Howard W. Hunter, The Law of Tithing)

“A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation; for, from the first existence of man, the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things. It was through this sacrifice, and this only, that God has ordained that men should enjoy eternal life” (Joseph Smith, Lectures on Faith, 69).

• How do you feel about paying tithing?  Whether or not you do pay it, do you want to pay it?

If tithing is a gift, we could give whatever we please, when we please, or make no gift at all. It would place our Heavenly Father in the very same category as the street beggar to whom we might toss a coin in passing. The Lord has established the law of tithing, and because it is his law, it becomes our obligation to observe it if we love him and have a desire to keep his commandments and receive his blessings. In this way it becomes a debt. (Howard W. Hunter, The Law of Tithing)

All-hands on Relief Society - May 8, 2016

Jo Ann S. gave the lesson using "Discovering the Divinity Within" given my Rosemary M Wixom at the October 2015 General Conference. 

1. We know why we are here

2. We are loved

3. We learn because of our divine nature

4. We serve because of our divine nature

Taking the Gospel to All the World - May 1, 2016

Miriam D.  led our discussion using Chapter 8: Taking the Gospel to All the World from the Howard W. Hunter manual.

It is in understanding and accepting this universal fatherhood of God that all human beings can best appreciate God’s concern for them and their relationship to each other. This is a message of life and love that strikes squarely against all stifling traditions based on race, language, economic or political standing, educational rank, or cultural background, for we are all of the same spiritual descent. We have a divine pedigree; every person is a spiritual child of God.

In this gospel view there is no room for a contracted, narrow, or prejudicial view. The Prophet Joseph Smith said: “Love is one of the chief characteristics of Deity, and ought to be manifested by those who aspire to be the sons of God. A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race.” (Taking the Gospel to All the World)

“The purpose of the gospel of Jesus Christ is to bring about love, unity, and brotherhood of the highest order,” he said. (Taking the Gospel to All the World)

Miriam brought up a quote from a book that saw deep feelings emerge as a friendship grew between a successful art dealer and a homeless man.
“You was the onlyest person that looked past my skin and past my meanness and saw that there was somebody on the inside worth savin...We all has more in common than we think. You stood up with courage and faced me when I was dangerous, and it changed my life. You loved me for who I was on the inside, the person God meant for me to be, the one that had just gotten lost for a while on some ugly roads in life.”
― Ron Hall, Same Kind of Different as Me

We need to battle the 'walls' we build in our own mind that slow us in sharing the gospel: the comfort wall, financial wall, grandchildren wall, health wall, lack of self-confidence wall, self-satisfied wall, transgression wall, or the walls of fear, doubt, or complacency.

We heard from the sister missionaries serving in our ward about how we just need to open our mouths and show true caring for others that will open the door to sharing the gospel.  Sinclaire also told of a success story with inviting people - even those who seem disinterested - to hear the gospel message.