December 30 Sacrament Meeting Talks

Sister Tolman's talk

During the Christmas holiday’s I read a short book titled The Miracle Maker and it got me to thinking.  What are the miracles in our lives and who is the miracle maker that makes them happen.  I then started thinking about what we will be studying next year and the combination of the two brought this talk into being.

The book is about a sad and lonely little village where everything is dreary because everyone is dreary.  They hear a great man is coming and he will bring a great miracle to the town.  An old run down man walks into town carrying a chicken and everyone knows it can’t be him.  He rents an old run down house and starts to clean it up.  He takes a stone to the stonecutter and sells it to buy flour for bread and meal for his chicken and some seeds to plant.  He plants the seeds and feeds himself and his chicken.  This routine continues every day and the house starts to look better as the seeds sprout and the rocks are removed from the grassy area and the grass grows.

The people of the town see the changes that are taking place and start asking his advice. As they follow his advice the town changes and becomes a place that is delightful to live in.  They thank him for the miracles and he says he has done nothing.

One of the people that asks for his advice is a rich man that wants to become richer.  The man tells him to share what he has.  At first this is hard and then he realizes that he is rich so he can help others and reaches out to do so and finds true happiness as he shares.

In three of the books of the new testament it gives the story of ” The rich young man”.  He approaches the savior and asks him how to obtain eternal life.  The Savior tells him to keep the commandment and he responds that he does this and the savior tells him,

“If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.  When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God”.  This young man could not follow the Savior because he allowed his wealth to become more important.  The Savior tells each of us to “Come Follow Me”

Another person in the story asks for his advice.  She is sad and lonely and the man tells her to care for others and it will get rid of her sadness and loneliness.  She helps one small child and this child brings others for her to help and she realizes her sadness and loneliness are gone.

In Matthew 19:13-14 it states "Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.  But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

At this time the Savior is tired but he greets the young children and cares for them.  He gives them the miracle of knowing how special and important they are and that they are loved.

The third person wants to become the greatest teacher and asks advice on how to do this.  The man tells him to complement each of his students and lift them up.  He sees no value in this but as he does it he finds great joy in lifting others.

The people gather on the mountain and he knows they are hungry.  He also knows that their real hunger is not for food but for the word of God that he has brought.  He does realize that he will not be able to feed them spiritual food until they have their physical needs met and he sends his disciples for food to feed them.  He shows that he is aware of their needs and that he loves them and helps their needs to be met.

This year we are going to be studying the New Testament and the manual is called “Come Follow Me”. This is the book that tells the story of the Greatest Miracle Maker that ever lived.  Most of the miracles that he performed were not the kind of healing from disease or blindness or other afflictions though there are many of these that are talked about.  More of the miracles are the changing of people’s hearts and attitudes.  They are the miracles of lifting people up.

He knows that we learn by example and he lives his life as an example of the things we should do and the way we should live.  He learned at his parents feet, God the father and Mary as well as Joseph.  He is baptized.  He cares about and teaches others the things he has been taught.  He shows us how to lift and care for others.  He continually calls upon his father for help, guidance and inspiration.  He knows he cannot teach until he knows.  More than once he tells us that he does nothing without the father’s consent and or guidance.  If he showed this example and he was perfect then we must do the same in order to become like him.

So how can we do as he did, be as he was and live as he lived?

Notice I mentioned that he was taught at his parent’s feet.  With the new direction and focus we can follow this example.  We can teach and train each other and our families.  We can help them to understand the way to follow the Savior.

When the new direction of two hour Sunday meetings and using the extra hour to teach and train and learn  in our homes was given one of our daughters, who was at that session of conference, sat down with her family and ask how they felt about this council.  They said that they felt like they should leave Monday night for Family Home Evening just as it is.  They felt that the extra time they now had on Sunday should spent studying the lessons that are given.  Notice they said study.

One of our daughters has made a special effort to adopt two to four families each year for Christmas.  She gets her children very involved in this and has included many others that desire to help.  She is teaching her children to care for those that are less fortunate and they look forward to doing this every year.  Others ask when she is going to have families available for them to help.  On the day they wrap these gifts others bring their children to help with the wrapping.  They are involving themselves and teaching their children the ways of the Savior.  One of her daughters, who is 13, has picked up on this and takes cookies to choir practice each week to thank those who attend choir.

When Jesus said to “Love Your Neighbor” He meant the kind thoughts, simple smiles, warm greetings but he meant much more.  To love is to lift.  We are told of the many times he cared for others.  He fed them when they were hungry, gave them hope when it appeared there was none, he was a friend to all even if they were his enemy.  He always had time to listen to, teach, love and care for others.

He showed us how to love others not only with our hearts but with our hands.

Here are some ideas of things we can do to follow the example of the Savior and lift others.

1.     Be prayerful.   Ask Heavenly Father to help you know who you can help and how you can do it.  He knows all of our needs and he also knows who can help with those needs.  As we pray and listen he will guide us.

2.     Be Present:  Are we present in our daily interactions at home, at work, at church or even at the supermarket.  Can we look and listen for ways to lift and help and serve others.

3.     Be Positive:  Can we look for the good in life and share it with others and not focus on the negatives or the problems?  Can we volunteer to be the helper when one is needed?  Can we speak kindly and positively in our interactions with others?

4.     Be Patient:  Can we be patient as we help others.  Maybe they have not learned yet the things we have and need our help.  At the Library we frequently show people things more than once and if they need it we show them again.  Patience was a virtue that the Savior possessed and used always.   Can we be patient with ourselves as we grow and learn?  We need to realize Rome wasn’t built in a day and the Savior cannot perfect us in a day.  We can be patient and learn line upon line, precept upon precept as he did.

The Last thing we can do is learn to Love as he loved and care about others.  He didn’t only care about the wealthy, the influential, and the powerful as many people do.  He cared about the poor, the needy, and those that were searching and seeking.  He loved and loves each and every one of us.  We can learn to love others as he did.

It is my prayer that as we move forward into the new year with the new emphasis on learning and teaching in our homes and reading and studying the life of the Savior that we will grow to know and love him more fully and as we do we will come to know and love those around us more fully.

  

Elder Tolman's talk

Elders and Sisters, the purpose of my talk today is to help us understand the importance, purpose, and significance of the changes announced in October General Conference. 

In his opening address in October conference President Nelson stated, “In recent years, we in the presiding councils of the Church have wrestled with a fundamental question: how can we take the gospel in its simple purity and the ordinances with their eternal efficacy to all of God’s children?”

Since the church was organized in 1830 with six members and grown now to over 16 million many changes have occurred.  The priesthood structure in the church evolved with the Quorum of the 12 Apostles organized in 1835. Bishops were ordained in Kirtland and Missouri. 

As the church grew more leadership was needed to help the First Presidency and Quorum of the 12 manage a large and growing church.  Assistants to the Quorum of the 12 and Regional Representatives were called to help.  Eventually by 1997 these leadership positions were included in the various Quorums of the Seventy with General Authority 70’s in the 1^st and 2^nd quorums and area seventies in the other quorums.  Earlier this year the changes occurred combining High Priests and Elders into a Ward Elders Quorum and the Stake High Priests Quorum consisting of the Stake Presidency, High Council, acting Patriarch and Ward Bishoprics.

Many of us have seen the changes evolve from block teaching to ward teaching to home teaching and visiting teaching and now to ministering to the needs of our members in a higher and holier way.  We used to report monthly visits to our families.  Now what is reported is the number of interviews held each quarter between ministering sisters and brothers and Relief Society and Elders Quorum presidencies.

It is marvelous to see the way temples are now closer to the members of the church.  When I was born in 1946, there were 8 temples in the church.  We now have 201 temples either operating, under construction or announced.

I see these changes as simplifying and focusing us on the most important things in our lives.

Continuing with Pres Nelson’s remarks

“As Latter-day Saints, we have become accustomed to thinking of “church” as something that happens in our meetinghouses, supported by what happens at home. We need an adjustment to this pattern. It is time for a home-centered Church, supported by what takes place inside our branch, ward, and stake buildings.  The long-standing objective of the Church is to assist all members to increase their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and in His Atonement, to assist them in making and keeping their covenants with God, and to strengthen and seal their families.

For many years, Church leaders have been working on an integrated curriculum to strengthen families and individuals through a home-centered and Church-supported plan to learn doctrine, strengthen faith, and foster greater personal worship. Our efforts over these recent years to hallow the Sabbath—to make it a delight and a personal sign to God of our love for Him—will be augmented by the adjustments we are introducing.  It is the responsibility of the Church to assist each member in the divinely defined goal of increasing his or her gospel knowledge.”

Read the October 6, 2018 Letter from the First Presidency

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

A New Balance between Gospel Instruction in the Home and in the Church

For many years, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been working on a home-centered and Church-supported plan for members to learn doctrine, fortify faith, and foster heartfelt worship. Today we announce a significant step in achieving a new balance between gospel instruction in the home and in the Church.

Beginning in January 2019, the Sunday schedule followed throughout the Church will include a 60-minute sacrament meeting each Sunday, and after a 10-minute transition, a SO-minute class period. Sunday School classes will be held in this class period on the first and third Sundays, and priesthood quorums, Relief Society, and Young Women will be held on the second and fourth Sundays. Primary will be held weekly and will last 50 minutes. In addition, we encourage individuals and families to hold home evening and to study the gospel at home on Sunday--or at other times as individuals and families choose. A new resource, Come, Follow Me-For Individuals and Families, provides ideas for personal scripture study, family scripture study, and home evening.

These adjustments will be implemented in January 2019. Additional information is enclosed and is also available at Sabbath.lds.org.

Sincerely yours, The First Presidency

We are counseled three times in the Doctrine and Covenants to Stand in Holy Places D&C 45:32, 87:8,101:22  In Doctrine and Covenants Section 101 verse 22 we read “Behold, it is my will, that all they who call on my name, and worship me according to mine everlasting gospel, should gather together, and stand in holy places”

What are these Holy Places? I quote from Elder Dennis Neuenschwander from April 2003 General Conference

“Holy places have always been essential to the proper worship of God. For Latter-day Saints, such holy places include venues of historic significance, our homes, sacrament meetings, and temples. Much of what we reverence, and what we teach our children to reverence as holy and sacred, is reflected in these places. The faith and reverence associated with them and the respect we have for what transpires or has transpired in them make them holy. The importance of holy places and sacred space in our worship can hardly be overestimated.”

I remember the feelings that I felt when we visited the Johnson Farm south of Kirtland, Ohio and stood in the same room where Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon received the revelation recorded in the 76^th section of the Doctrine and Covenants.

Growing up here in Salt Lake City, I have fond memories of my home. This was a place where my parents taught the gospel to my siblings and me.  We had a short walk to church at the Garden Park Ward where my parents took us to church each Sunday.  We had a lot more meetings back then as most of you remember.  When Sister Tolman and I lived in Michigan in the 1970’s we enjoyed our life there.  Five of our eight daughters were born there.  We loved our ward and stake and gained many life-long friends.  However, we really missed being close a temple.  In 1980 we decided to move our residence. The criteria for our new home was to be close to a temple and within a day’s drive of Salt Lake City where most of our extended family lived.  In 1981 we moved to Tempe, Arizona.  We are now a short drive to three temples not just one.  We love attending the temple.  We also love our home and have worked on making this a place where our family can feel the spirit of the Lord and recognize that it is a sacred place.   

For the past several years, we as a people have been prepared for the changes that are occurring.  In 2015, then Elder Russell M Nelson talked about the Sabbath being a delight.  The importance of proper Sabbath observance has continued to be emphasized.  The importance of personal conversion to the gospel has been encouraged. 

In January of this year when the First Presidency was introduced President Nelson stated the following

"To each member of the Church I would say keep on the covenant path."

"As a presidency, we want to begin with the end in mind," he continued, explaining this focus was the reason he chose to address Church members from the Salt Lake Temple. For Latter-day Saints, becoming "endowed in a house of the Lord" should be our continual goal, President Nelson said, one which will "qualify us for the greatest gift of God," which is eternal life with our Heavenly Father.

Staying on the covenant path "will open the doors of every spiritual blessing and privilege available," President Nelson said.

President Monson’s last address in April 2017

“This morning I speak about the power of the Book of Mormon and the critical need we have as members of this Church to study, ponder, and apply its teachings in our lives. The importance of having a firm and sure testimony of the Book of Mormon cannot be overstated.

My dear associates in the work of the Lord, I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives. I so testify with all my heart”

Elders and Sisters, we need our own personal conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Our leaders have counseled us that the members of the church can’t rely on borrowed light.  

Who remembers what happened to the church meeting schedule in March of 1980?

Here is a quote from the March 1980 Ensign article titled “Church Consolidates Meeting Schedules”. The consolidated meeting schedule reemphasizes personal and family responsibility for learning, living, and teaching the gospel. It also allows Church members more time for personal gospel study, service to others, and meaningful activities.

“The purpose of the consolidated meeting schedule is 

(1) to reemphasize personal and family responsibility for learning, living, and   teaching the gospel and 

(2) to allow Church members more time for personal gospel study, for service to others, and for meaningful activities. 

The major objectives of the new 

schedule are to—

“1. Help every Latter-day Saint home become a place where family members 

love to be, where they can enrich their lives and find mutual love, support,      appreciation, and encouragement.

“2. Emphasize home-centered Sabbath activities.

“3. Make more flexible a weekday activity program for all members.

“4. Reduce the amount of travel by Church members and provide 

Opportunities for family members to travel together and participate in Church

 activities.

“5. Conserve energy resources and reduce the nonessential costs required for members to participate in Church activities.”

In President Nelson’s April 2015 General Conference Address titled “The Sabbath Is a Delight”, he states  “How can you ensure that your behavior on the Sabbath will lead to joy and rejoicing?

In addition to your going to church, partaking of the sacrament, and being diligent in your specific call to serve, what other activities would help to make the Sabbath a delight for you? What sign will you give to the Lord to show your love for Him?”

The Sabbath provides a wonderful opportunity to strengthen family ties.

“I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom.

“Teach ye diligently … , that you may be instructed more perfectly … in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God.”   Study of the gospel makes the Sabbath a delight. This promise pertains regardless of family size, composition, or location.

In addition to time with family, you can experience true delight on the Sabbath from family history work. Searching for and finding family members who have preceded you on earth—those who did not have an opportunity to accept the gospel while here—can bring immense joy.

Make the Sabbath a delight by rendering service to others, especially those who are not feeling well or those who are lonely or in need.  Lifting their spirits will lift yours as well.

Continuing to quote from President Nelson’s October General Conference address.  “The long-standing objective of the Church is to assist all members to increase their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and in His Atonement, to assist them in making and keeping their covenants with God, and to strengthen and seal their families. In this complex world today, this is not easy. The adversary is increasing his attacks on faith and upon us and our families at an exponential rate. To survive spiritually, we need counter strategies and proactive plans. Accordingly, we now want to put in place organizational adjustments that will further fortify our members and their families.

For many years, Church leaders have been working on an integrated curriculum to strengthen families and individuals through a home-centered and Church-supported plan to learn doctrine, strengthen faith, and foster greater personal worship”

Elder Quentin L Cook.  “The goal of these adjustments is to obtain a deep and lasting conversion of adults and the rising generation. The first page of the individual and family resource points out: “The aim of all gospel learning and teaching is to deepen our conversion and help us become more like Jesus Christ. For this reason, when we study the gospel, we’re not just looking for new information; we want to become a “new creature”. This means relying on Christ to change our hearts, our views, our actions, and our very natures.

But the kind of gospel learning that strengthens our faith and leads to the miraculous change of conversion doesn’t happen all at once. It extends beyond a classroom into an individual’s heart and home. It requires consistent, daily efforts to understand and live the gospel. True conversion requires the influence of the Holy Ghost.”

The most important goal and ultimate blessing of deep and lasting conversion is worthily receiving the covenants and ordinances of the covenant pathway.

Elder Holland’s message from the November Ensign

Teaching, learning, and living the gospel are key principles at the heart of growing toward our divine potential and becoming like our Heavenly Parents. Sometimes we call this process eternal progression. Sometimes we call it conversion. Sometimes we simply name it repentance. But whatever we call it, it involves learning. The Prophet Joseph Smith said: “You have got to learn how to be gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, … by going from one small degree to another, and from a small capacity to a great one. …

Gospel Learning Is Centered in the Home

This is why we say that gospel teaching, learning, and living must be “home centered and Church supported.” First, the home is where we spend most of our time—certainly more time than we spend at church (overworked bishops notwithstanding). We wouldn’t expect our physical bodies to survive long on one meal a week—even if it is a very good meal. Similarly, if a one-hour Church class, even an excellent Church class, is the main setting for our “feasting upon the word of Christ”, then we are in danger of spiritual malnourishment.

Second, the home is both classroom and lab, where learning and living the gospel are so seamlessly combined that they are almost indistinguishable. This living laboratory experience simply can’t be recreated in the classroom alone.

Perhaps most important, the home is—or can be—an echo of heaven, a reminder of the eternal goal we came here to pursue. As President Henry B. Eyring Second Counselor in the First Presidency, put it: “Though earthly families are far from perfect, they give God’s children the best chance to be welcomed to the world with the only love on earth that comes close to what we felt in heaven—parental love. Families are also the best way to preserve and pass on moral virtues and true principles that are most likely to lead us back to God’s presence.’

Supporting Gospel Learning at Church  

The true measure of success will not be how smoothly the lesson went, how well we filled the time, how many compliments the teacher gets afterwards, or even how many class members participated. Success depends on what happens in the life of the learner. Did Brother Herrero find something in the scriptures in class last week that helped him get through the challenges he’s been facing? Or better yet, did something happen in class that enhanced his ability to find during the week the answers he needs? When he shared that experience this week, did Sister Schmidt find the hope and faith she needed to believe that God would help her too? (See “You Don’t Get Fit by Watching Others.”

Closing.

Quoting Elder Holland “As we look back on where we’ve been, I hope we can see more than just modified policies, new programs, and revised manuals. The Lord’s work has always been ultimately about people, not programs. Whatever changes He directs in an organization or a schedule or a curriculum, what He’s really hoping to change is you and me. He wants to change our hearts and enhance our future.”

I bear testimony of these truths in the name of Jesus Christ amen