Sabbath Day, Primary Talks, June 22, 2008

My son had to give a talk in Primary this week. So, trying to be efficient, I typed into the Google Search Engine the words, "LDS Primary, Talks". By doing this, I came upon a gold mine of a resource for those of you who have Primary children. This site, listed at the end of this talk as my source, has talks (for free) that have been put together for each month's Primary topic and list additional resources for visual aids, etc. on the topic of each talk. It is amazing! Here is the talk that my 11 year old gave today.

June 2008, Talk #1

"I will live now to be worthy to go to the temple and do my part to have an eternal family.

Before we were born on this earth, we all lived together as brothers and sisters in the spirit world. We were part of a heavenly family with loving heavenly parents.

Adam and Eve were the first parents on earth. Heavenly Father told Adam and Eve to have children. They had the first family on this earth.

Heavenly Father loved Adam and Eve and their children. He told Adam and Eve to teach the gospel to their children.

In our day, Heavenly Father has sent each of us to a family, just like he did with Adam and Eve's children.

Heavenly father loves all children and has told all parents to teach their children the gospel. When we die and leave this earth, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want us to live again as families in heaven. They have shown us the way for this to happen.

An important part of being together as a family forever takes place in the temple. Inside temples we make special promises to Heavenly Father and Heavenly Father makes special promises to us.
In the temple, a husband and wife can have an ordinance performed that helps them be together forever. This is called a sealing or a temple marriage. If a couple is married outside the temple for this life only, they can go to the temple and be sealed so that they can remain married for eternity. Their children can be sealed to them and are then a part of their family forever. This special blessing is given only to those who are sealed in the temple and keep the promises they make there.

In order to receive the blessings of the temple we must be worthy. To be worthy means that we are living our lives the way Heavenly Father wants us to.

As primary children, we can prepare to go to the temple by following the commandments of God and the advice of our living prophet. We should do things such as keep the sabbath day holy, treat others with love and kindness, be honest, treat our body with respect by following the Word of Wisdom, pay our tithing, obey our parents and serve others.

I am thankful that Heavenly Father has sent me to a loving family. I am happy to know that Heavenly Father has provided a way for us to become an eternal family. I know that if we will follow Heavenly Fathers plan and do what he has asked us to do, we will be happy."

Source:
http://primarytalks.googlepages.com/

Sabbath Day, March 23, 2008

jesuschrist.lds.org

JESUS CHRIST

The Bread of Life“I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. … I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever” (John 6:35, 51).

The Feast of the Passover commemorates the Israelites’ deliverance from Egypt and includes the eating of unleavened bread. As this celebration drew near, Jesus performed the miracle of feeding the 5,000. Many who saw this miracle followed Him because He had given them food, so He taught them to seek for the food “which endureth unto everlasting life” (John 6:27). He then taught them about manna, reminding them that it came from heaven to feed the Israelites in the wilderness. He declared, “I am the bread of life,” telling them of the spiritual nourishment Heavenly Father sent through Him, as well as the promise of eternal life He brought.

At a later Passover feast, Jesus used bread to signify His body as part of the sacrament. When we partake of the bread each week during the sacrament, we are reminded of Jesus Christ—His sacrifice, His Resurrection, and the promise of constant spiritual nourishment through the companionship of His Spirit.

The Light of the World“I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Our minds and spirits are illuminated through Jesus Christ. His light guides our path, helping us tell the difference between good and evil and showing us the way to eternal life.

The Good Shepherd
“I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine” (John 10:14).

The main duties of a shepherd are to lead the sheep to food and water and to return them to the safety of the fold. A shepherd also protects the sheep from dangers such as wild animals and thieves. Because he knows his flock, he can tell when a sheep is missing, and then he goes to find it. His sheep are submissive to him and trust him completely.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, calls out to us when we stray, and if we learn to heed His voice, He leads us to the safe pastures of salvation and eternal life, protecting us from the dangers of death and sin.

In a way, simply by saying, “I am,” Jesus said it all. With this, He declared that He is the Creator of the world and Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament, whose name literally means “I am” (see Exodus 3:14).

Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah and Savior, who saves us from sin and death. Because of who He is and what He did for us, we can have everlasting life and become who we are meant to be."

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

I know that my Redeemer Lives.
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead.
He lives, my everliving Head.

He lives to bless me with his love.
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed.
He lives to bless in time of need.

He lives to grant me rich supply.
He lives to guide me with his eye.
He lives to comfort me when faint.
He lives, to hear my soul's complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears.
He lives to wipe away my tears.
He lives to calm my troubled heart.
He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise heav'nly Friend.
He lives and loves me to the end.
He lives, and while he lives, I'll sing.
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

He lives and grants me daily breath.
He lives, and I shall conquer death.
He lives my mansion to preapre.
He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
"I know that my Redeemer lives!"

He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
"I know that my Redeemer lives!

Sources:
www.lds.org
jesuschrist.lds.org

Sabbath Day, March 16, 2008

Here are some links that may be of interest to you regarding service provided by the LDS Church, this Sabbath Day.

New Zealanders spruce up neighborhoods in Auckland on March 12, 2008. Over 5,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and their neighbors joined together to give service, painting bus shelters, schools, etc.

Young Australian Mormons clean up Sydney Park. "Cleanup projects supported by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are frequently organized in many countries around the world, including Mongolia, the United States and Tonga."

Volunteers help restore Wells, Nevada, March 5, 2008. "Over 300 Mormon volunteers endured a whiteout snowstorm on Saturday as they helped residents repair their town following a series of earthquakes. After an initial 6.0 quake 12 days ago, several aftershocks have hit the town, damaging homes and other buildings."

These examples of service go on and on. To view more, please see http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/

Get involved in service. Being involved helps you bond with your neighbors, your community, your state, and your country.

Westboro Baptist Church To Picket Hinckley and Lauterbach Funerals

Mourning the loss of President Gordon B. Hinckley, the beloved Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, members and non-members alike are flocking to Utah by the tens of thousands.

From Hinckley memorial register signing locations, the Church President lying in state for two days prior to the funeral on Saturday, to the funeral services, tremendous numbers of people wish to pay tribute to President Hinckley.

"In addition to the crowds coming to pay their respects, the same group that protests at military funerals, the Westboro Baptist Church, is planning on showing up. Wihongi says it's their right to demonstrate, but he's warning funeral-goers not to let these people tick them off. "If people just do their thing and don't give them the audience they're looking for," he said." www.ksl.com link

While Utah is prepared for the concourses of public, protesting may cause havoc as those whose emotions are already running thin from mourning may find their anger ignited in defense of this man, whose magnificence is globally respected.

Some have begun preparations to stop the picketing of this so-called "church", the Westboro Baptist Church, from disrupting the reverence of the ceremonies that are planned.

Link To Comments Regarding Protesting
"Word on the street is...
Westboro Baptist Church is going to protest his funeral. Apparently they think Gordon B. was making it ok to be gay or something. Who knows with those idiots.

On the brighter side, there will be a counter-protest where they will be blocking these idiot's view with sheets, tarps, etc.

There will be no provocation of the protesters, and no one involved in the counter protest will even speak to them. the goal is to block their view, and blocking them from view. Kinda cool I think.

Anyone interested in joining this silent, and non-violent counter demonstration, can attend a planning meeting this Friday night at...

Coffee Connection.
1588 S State St.
Starts at 8 PM.

The counter-protest meet up is at 200 N West Temple, Saturday 9am.

Thanks."

Looking at what this Westboro Baptist Church stands for, it is a disgust and disgrace that it is representing itself as a Baptist Church. Certainly, we all know that the Baptist religion does not preach this way. They represent themselves in an upstanding Christ-like manner. On the other hand hatred is preached from every angle from Westboro Baptist Church.

Regarding President Hinckley and the "Mormon" church, they have printed a flyer that digs quotations from the Bible and directs them in such a way that is...well in order to get the full gist, unfortunately you may have to read a quote. Link to pathetic flyer, click here

"It is impossible for anybody who believes Mormon nonsense to get to Heaven. All dead Mormons are in Hell, where they are tormented day and night forever. Rev. 14:10,11"

"...in religious protest and warning; to wit:"Be not deceived; God is not mocked." Gal. 6:7. God Hates Fags! & Fag-Enablers. Ergo, God hates Gordon Hinckley and every Mormon heretic."

For anyone reading the above quotations, steam may start streaming out of your ears from anger. However, remember what President Hinckley has said, what he has stood for during his life. In this case, he would show mercy. He would probably send them a smile and then turn the other cheek. He would not confront them to stir them up further in anger and stress, to assist them in bringing their cause further to the forefront. He would be gentle and Christ-like.

Look at what these people stand for, ripping apart scripture for their own good. "Since 1955, Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) has taken forth the precious from the vile, and is therefore as the mouth of God (Jer. 15:19)."

They are not only picketing President Hinckley's funeral, but additionally picketing the funeral of Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, both on the same day. What good does this "organization" feel it is actually doing? Here is what they say on the Lauterbach funeral picketing schedule regarding Marines. Picket Schedule Link

"They are sissified, perverted, brute beasts, who will beat you bloody. We have had numerous incidences with Marines; they are all foul-mouther and violent, with very few exceptions, if any. They are a microcosm of Doomed America, and they are all irreversibly headed for Hell for fighting for a nation that has gone the way of Sodom and Gomorrah: Isaiaah 3:25 Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war...[You're going to eat your babies!]...The siege is coming! America is Doomed! Amen!"

While looking into this church and its beliefs, the bio of Pastor Fred Phelps was pretty helpful, along with a memo he wrote to his church, which shows global hatred. Link To Memo

Obviously, from this memo, he wants control of his "congregation". Talking about where his "congregation" won't find the truth he states, "...and you don't find it in the form of a Bible college or a theological seminary, or a Sunday School of little churches meeting in different rooms for different age groups, or a super church with hierarchical rulers of archbishops, district superintendents, cardinals, popes or any such human authority above the local church, or a Billy-Graham-type multi-church crusade, or a so-called universal, invisible church, or a Youth for Christ Rally, or a foreign mission board, or a Focus on the Family-type Radio ministry, or a TV ministry -- or any of these legions of extra church religious groups, all of which have no authority from God Almighty to speak for Him or even to exist, and all of which therefore are Satanic frauds preaching Armenian lies."

So, if steam wasn't already streaming out of your ears, your face is now red with the fury of anger. Or you are at the point of thinking,"What?".

Shouldn't what the Westboro Baptist Church is doing be classified as hate crimes? What is a hate crime? Wikipedia link
"Hate crimes (also known as bias motivated crimes) occur when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her membership in a certain social group, usually defined by race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, gender identity, or political affiliation. Hate crimes differ from conventional crime because they are not directed simply at an individual, but are meant to cause fear and intimidation in an entire group or class of people.

Hate crime can take many forms. Incidents may involve physical assault, damage to property, bullying, harassment, verbal abuse or insults, or offensive graffiti or letters."

Further, the punishments for these incidents are becoming harsher due to the hate crimes that are "the most destructive of the public safety and happiness. It is said that, when the core of a person’s identity is attacked, the degradation and dehumanization is especially severe, and additional emotional and physiological problems are likely to result. Society then, in turn, can suffer from the disempowerment of a group of people. Furthermore, it is asserted that the chances for retaliatory crimes are greater when a hate crime has been committed. The riots in Los Angeles, California, that followed the beating of Rodney King, a Black motorist, by a group of White police officers are cited as support for this argument."

In these cases, where this group intends to bully and harass, give verbal abuse and/or insults during their protests, wouldn't these be considered hate crimes? Wouldn't there be a reason to shut this system of picketing down, even with the freedom of speech and expression?

"The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously found that penalty-enhancement hate crime statutes do not conflict with free speech rights because they do not punish an individual for exercising freedom of expression; rather, they allow courts to consider motive when sentencing a criminal for conduct which is not protected by the First Amendment."

During these funerals, do as the loved ones would want you to do. Look the other way. Forget these predators are trying to entice hateful emotions. Additionally, if you are reading this and are able to protect the families involved from these predators, please do so as has been so wonderfully done in past picketing experiences performed by Westboro.


Sources:

www.ksl.com
www.godhatesfags.com (Westboro Baptist Church)
en.wikipedia.org