Where do we draw the line....And once drawn, how diligently do we stack defenses to bolster our Spiritual De-Militarized Zone?

Brothers & Sisters,

This blog, contains a "Note" that I had effectually made for Facebook, but have since felt the need to post it here; Having thus been prompted, now I shall act:

   This life is a difficult life to live indeed. Full of schemes and struggles designed by the devil, that same being who the scriptures state was "...an angel of God..." ( See 2nd Nephi Chapter 2: 17 ) and one who wished for the glory and honor of the Father to be his, selfishly seeking the praise of all; The same angel who "...had fallen from Heaven; wherefore he became a devil, having sought that which was evil before God..." ( See Also 2nd Nephi Chapter 2: 17 ) Lucifer being his name ( Lucifer: Translated means "Son of the Morning.") before falling from grace, now known as Satan, has set his "Crosshairs" of which are used to fire off the fiery darts on us all, specifically designed to thwart the work of God. The Devil, ( No matter the size of his earthly empire of those whom support that "great and abominable church" , seems... along side his 'legion' of followers, both those who are currently aware of their service in his ranks, and the countless concourses of those who will realize their employ among his followers far too late,) has amassed an Armada of weapons of Spiritual Destruction against those who currently fight against his cunning devices in the world we live in today.
      The idea of this "Note" ,  (As Facebook calls this - Allow me to refer to this Note and any others I may place here, as a "Blog") has been a process of development.
      This process of development that I speak of certainly has been an elapsed timeline of changes in lifestyle, desires to shun evil and do more righteous things to bless my posterity as well as my fellow man. Having said thus, you will have realized that this is a culmination of careful prayer, pondering, study all blended in with a daily desire to increase in Spiritual stature, void of pride, driven with desire of pure humility to fulfill the sacred mandate the Savior gave to all men when he counseled and admonished his followers in "Old & New Testament" (The Bible) times, in the times of "The Book of Mormon: Another Testament Of Jesus Christ", and in these Latter Days as revealed to his people through the Prophet Joseph Smith which came to be priceless Revelations found in the "Doctrine & Covenants" which alongside our "Pearl Of Great Price" constitutes our scriptural cannon, (or) Standard Works.
      Having identified now, ( For clarity of those who are investigating the Church or the works it has... ) the process of development that comes through careful study and application of the Scriptures in our lives, I now have identified to what extent the knowledge needs to be applied. It is nothing short of a powerful standard of how after receiving the truth in what way it has to be applied in our life.
      In "The Book Of Mormon: Another Testament Of Jesus Christ" , we have not only the blessing of Another Testament  that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and our Redeemer- The "Literal Living Son Of Our Literal Living [Heavenly] Father" (Elder Jeffrey Holland of The Quorum Of The Twelve Apostles), but we also have the blessing of finding the account of the interactions he had with his people.
      Allow me quickly to just state that it is in no way, shape or form, fair to assume that the Lord was the Savior to just one group of people, or if not said as one people, it could also be said that it is not fair to assume that he was the Savior to a group of people on one hemisphere of the Earth.
      In the Scriptures, more particularly "The Book Of Mormon: Another Testament Of Jesus Christ" we read the words of Father Lehi, the Father of all the posterity known throughout the book, from beginning to end,  known as the Nephites and Lamanites. ( * A SPECIAL NOTE OF SIGNIFICANCE * It is also among the Nephites that the remnants of a scarcely mentioned people, called the Mulekites, blend in and uniting themselves as Nephites- accepting the charge that they were a people of God. For additional insight on this people, look forward to my next "Note" [ * I will hereafter refer to as my Blog * ] to come soon. * ) It is among the righteous remnants of the people left after the great destructions decreed upon the wicked which would follow the crucifixion of the Lord - alongside specific disasters to fulfill prophecy told them all earlier. The Prophecy spoken concerning the signs that would be given concerning the Birth of Christ, were revealed by Samuel the Lamanite Prophet on, or about the year 6 B.C. - You can find the account of Samuel the Lamanite prophet in revealing all these things, beginning on page 397 in "The Book Of Mormon: Another Testament Of Jesus Christ" - Starting in the Book Of Helaman, Chapter 13.
      Starting in the Book Of Helaman, Chapter 13 Verse 5, Samuel states, "Behold, I, Samuel, a Lamanite, do speak the words of the Lord... to say unto the people, that the sword of Justice hangeth over this people...'"
      Continuing in Verse 6, Samuel says, "Yea, heavy destruction awaiteth this people, and it surely cometh unto this people, and nothing can save this people, save it be repentance and Faith on the Lord Jesus Christ...."
      In the Book Of Helaman, Chapter 14 and starting with Verse 3, Samuel gives prophetic signs to affirm the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. In that same chapter (Chapter 14), Samuel begins to reveal and give Prophetic counsel regarding the signs which will come to witness of his death and crucifixion. " And behold, again, another sign I give unto you, yea, a sign of his death." (Helaman 14:14)
Revealing particulars, Samuel states, "But behold, as I said unto you concerning... a sign of his death...in that day... the Sun shall be darkened and refuse to give light unto you; and also the moon and the stars; and there shall be no light upon the face of this land... for the space of three days, to the time that he shall rise again from the dead." (Helaman 14:20)
      Take that prophecy that Samuel the Lamanite stated, and rewind to the time of Nephi (The 1st Book Of Nephi) and turn to page 45 in the Book of 1st Nephi, Chapter 19 Verse 10 where Nephi affirms the future prophecy concerning the Son of Man, as well as him (Nephi) voicing familiarity with Prophecies given in Old Testament (And the New Testament Prophecies not yet written). In the Prophetic insight, given by Nephi, he shares this exciting information (Out of verse 10):
      "... the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, yeildeth himself, according to the words of the angel, as a man, into the hands of wicked men, to be lifted up, according to the words of Zenock, and to be crucified, according to the words of Neum, (Cross reference Nehum 1: 15) and to be buried in a sepulchre, (Cross reference with Matthew 27: 60 - As well as Luke 23: 53) according to the words of Zenos, which he spake concerning the three days of darkness, which should be a sign given of his death unto those who should inhabit the isles of the sea -- (An observation or arguement could be made that since Europe and Asia are collectively the largest land mass on the Earth today, that to compare them with any other continent would make them small enough to be classified as "Isles of the sea") --  more especially given unto those who are of the house of Israel."
      Now, getting back to my point, which is also the area of focus I have thus far intended for all to zoom into with great detail, (Which I left off in the seventh paragraph) the Lord has an ideal person for each and every person to liken themselves unto, and this is what he shared with those righteous few that escaped the destructions decreed by Samuel the Lamanite. To his disciples of which 12 were called and set apart, the Lord said this;
      "...ye shall be judges of this people... therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am."

      It is this astounding counsel that leads me to desire to refrain from all sin, both sight and sound. I have made appeals unto all my family and friends now that I do not wish to see any language that was short of civilized, honorable, and inspired conversation short of what the Lord would use in talking with each of us. I feel it so important to refrain from swearing, seeing or hearing people swear - it is that important to me to be free of degrading language, pictures, videos etc... and if they continue to do so after my polite appeal to at least not do so on my pages, or in conversation with me... I feel that the action I am forced to take is to remove them from my friends list. I hope I do not have to continue to appeal to them more than once-- yet if I must, I will sever the contact.
      I pray all is cared for and resolved in a Righteous manner so as to not injure feelings.
     This request I leave with you all, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.


***************************** Lubbock Texas Stake Announcements:

August 28th 10:00a.m. Primary Activity Day Sunday,

August 29th Combined Priesthood/Relief Society

Sunday, August 29th 1:15p.m. BYC

************************* Plainview Branch Elders & High Priest Lessons By Date:

8-29-10 Joint Meeting (5th Sunday Agenda)

9-5-10 September First Presidency Meeting (Ensign)

9-12-10 "The Church of Jesus Christ Today" (Gospel Principles, Chapter 17 - Page 95)

9-19-10 "Faith in Jesus Christ" (Gospel Principles, Chapter 18 - Page 101)

"The Shumway Sequence"

Brothers and Sisters,

     I did not have the opportunity to pass out to all the members of the Branch, the list of ideals that our inspired of the Lord, Stake Presidency, has frequently visited with us all about. With help from Brother Mortensen (Our High Council Rep), I put together what I have dubbed "The Shumway Sequence".
     I know this paper, was inspired of the Lord, and I can assure you that I was directed of the Spirit to make this paper. If any of us, are to hope to fully catch "The Vision Of The Vine" (As has been confirmed to our Stake Presidency, Branch Presidency, and Quorum Presidents) we need to practice and be familiar with this "Shumway Sequence".

     Below you will find "The Shumway Sequence" :

The Shumway Sequence

1.       ALWAYS STRIVING TO INCREASE TIME SPENT AROUND THE SPIRIT

“…Humble yourselves before the Lord…call upon His holy name…watch and pray continually… and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all longsuffering.” (Alma 13:28)

2.       ALL THINGS ACCOMPLISHED ACCORDING TO THE LORD’S TIMING

“Let not your minds turn back; and when ye are worthy, in mine own due time, ye shall see and know that which was conferred upon you.” (Doctrine & Covenants Section 67:14)

3.       THERE IS SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE IN THE SERVICE YOU ARE GIVING

“And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” (Mosiah 2:17)

4.      INCREASE OUR DESIRE TO HAVE A DEEPER LEVEL OF TRUST AND FAITH

“…exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.” (Alma 32:27 –Faith)

“I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good- yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously ; and this is my Spirit.”

(Doctrine & Covenants Section 11:12 – Trust)

5.       IF YOU ARE HERE NOW, YOU ARE FOREORDAINED TO BE HERE.

“And this is the manner after which [we] were ordained – being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; …therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling…which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such.” (Alma 13:3)

      Allow me to take this chance to confirm unto you something of certain significance, that I have come to know for myself... fully independent of any other influence in the world today.
      I know that the Lord loves us all very much, and I feel his love as I have been given the chance to serve in all the callings I have had in the Plainview Branch.
      The Lord does not simply work to improve any one person, on just one front; Rather he works to build the Saints up, and to shape them to be his Christian Soldiers. I frequently revisit in my mind, something that Sister Roberts (Wife of our Branch President) said the day President Roberts was was called to be our Branch President. Said Sister Roberts, "I know the Lord qualifies whom he calls..." and I can affirm to you that such is the case.
      The Lord has been instrumental in changing this particular sinner....myself. I was blessed at first, to be called as Second Counselor to the Elders Quorum President, whom we just recently released. President Martinez was instrumental in blessing me to teach the Elders Quorum during that time, and because of that wisdom of his, I got to immerse myself more fully to the Gospel, and to make it a force to help secure my conversion. On January 10th, 2010 I was released from this calling, and was called and set apart as the Branch Mission Leader...which calling lasted until July 25th, 2010... and that brings me to the "Now" section of this epilogue.
      There are wonderful brethren in our Branch that all have been a great comfort to me. President Porter, President Williams, President Calderon, President Roberts, President Martinez, Brother Olmsted and more. You all have been great and loving to my family.
      God bless you all brethren. Let us keep "The Shumway Sequence" close to our hearts, for as President Shumway has decreed all these things to us, a literal application of his teachings will do nothing short of enriching our Spirits.

********************* Lubbock Texas Stake Announcements:

Thursday, August 26th 7:00p.m. Plainview Elders Edification

Thursday, August 26th 6:00p.m. Stake Pres. Interviews

Saturday, August 28th 10:00a.m. Primary Activity Day

Sunday, August 29th Combined Priesthood/Relief Society

Sunday, August 29th 1:15p.m. BYC

******************* Plainview Branch Elders & High Priest Lessons By Date:

8-29-10 Joint Meeting (5th Sunday Agenda)

9-5-10 September First Presidency Meeting (Ensign)

9-12-10 "The Church of Jesus Christ Today" (Gospel Principles, Chapter 17 - Page 95)

9-19-10 "Faith in Jesus Christ" (Gospel Principles, Chapter 18 - Page 101)

Plainview Branch New Callings Extended - Sunday 8-22-10

Brothers & Sisters,

     To state the official Branch business, in the Plainview Branch of the Lubbock Texas Stake, the following releases were made on Sunday:

Brother Sterling Sharp - As Ward Clerk : A unanimous vote of thanks was given.

President Art Williams - 1st Counselor in the Branch Presidency: A unanimous vote of thanks was given.

Brother Carlos Martinez - As Elders Quorum President : (No official announced release made) A unanimous vote of thanks given in Elders Quorum on 8-15-10.

(There were a few other releases, which information will be given sometime after due to my inability to remember them all)

To state the official Branch business, in the Plainview Branch of the Lubbock Texas Stake, the following callings were extended Sunday:

Brother Ron Sharp - Called as 1st Counselor in Branch Presidency - Sustained unanimously by Branch.

Brother Carlos Martinez - Called as Membership Clerk - Sustained unanimously by Branch.

Brother Ralph Olmsted - Called as Executive Secretary - Sustained unanimously by Branch.

Brother Rexford Beardsley - Called as Elders Quorum President - Sustained unanimously by Priesthood in Branch.

******************************* Lubbock Texas Stake Announcements:

Thursday, August 26th 7:00p.m. Plainview Elders Edification

Thursday, August 26th 6:00p.m. Stake Pres. Interviews

Saturday, August 28th 10:00a.m. Primary Activity Day

Sunday, August 29th Combined Priesthood/Relief Society

Sunday, August 29th 1:15p.m. BYC

************************** Plainview Branch Elders & High Priest Lessons By Date:

8-29-10 Joint Meeting (5th Sunday Agenda)

9-5-10 September First Presidency Meeting (Ensign)

9-12-10 "The Church of Jesus Christ Today" (Gospel Principles, Chapter 17 - Page 95)

9-19-10 "Faith in Jesus Christ" (Gospel Principles, Chapter 18 - Page 101)

"The Blessing Of The Scriptures" (By D. Todd Christofferson) Lesson For 8/22/10

Visit http://plainvieweq.blogspot.com ! This post contains videos!

Brothers & Sisters,

As has been tradition, I have always included the Transcript of all the General Conference Talks that we talk of every fourth Sunday, and now I am endeavoring to include the video of the talk as well, thus (If you are getting this through email) you see the invitation to visit the blog because I have that included. Below this paragraph, embedded in the page, will be the video, afterwhich will be posted the transcript. Prayerfully ponder this message as often as you can prior to Sunday, so that you can all participate in the discussion so that we can qualify for the blessings of edifying each other. God bless you all!

Video: [Embedded Link]



Transcript:


The central purpose of all scripture is to fill our souls with faith in God the Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ.
On October 6, in the year 1536, a pitiful figure was led from a dungeon in Vilvorde Castle near Brussels, Belgium. For nearly a year and a half, the man had suffered isolation in a dark, damp cell. Now outside the castle wall, the prisoner was fastened to a post. He had time to utter aloud his final prayer, “Lord! open the king of England’s eyes,” and then he was strangled. Immediately, his body was burned at the stake. Who was this man, and what was the offense for which both political and ecclesiastical authorities had condemned him? His name was William Tyndale, and his crime was to have translated and published the Bible in English.

Tyndale, born in England about the time Columbus sailed to the new world, was educated at Oxford and Cambridge and then became a member of the Catholic clergy. He was fluent in eight languages, including Greek, Hebrew, and Latin. Tyndale was a devoted student of the Bible, and the pervasive ignorance of the scriptures that he observed in both priests and lay people troubled him deeply. In a heated exchange with a cleric who argued against putting scripture in the hands of the common man, Tyndale vowed, “If God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy that driveth the plough, shall know more of the Scripture than thou dost!”

He sought the approval of church authorities to prepare a translation of the Bible in English so that all could read and apply the word of God. It was denied—the prevailing view being that direct access to the scriptures by any but the clergy threatened the authority of the church and was tantamount to casting “pearls before swine” (Matthew 7:6).

Tyndale nevertheless undertook the challenging work of translation. In 1524 he traveled to Germany, under an assumed name, where he lived much of the time in hiding, under constant threat of arrest. With the help of committed friends, Tyndale was able to publish English translations of the New Testament and later the Old Testament. The Bibles were smuggled into England, where they were in great demand and much prized by those who could get them. They were shared widely but in secret. The authorities burned all the copies they could find. Nevertheless, within three years of Tyndale’s death, God did indeed open King Henry VIII’s eyes, and with publication of what was called the “Great Bible,” the scriptures in English began to be publicly available. Tyndale’s work became the foundation for almost all future English translations of the Bible, most notably the King James Version.¹

William Tyndale was not the first, nor the last, of those who in many countries and languages have sacrificed, even to the point of death, to bring the word of God out of obscurity. We owe them all a great debt of gratitude. We owe perhaps an even greater debt to those who faithfully recorded and preserved the word through the ages, often with painstaking labor and sacrifice—Moses, Isaiah, Abraham, John, Paul, Nephi, Mormon, Joseph Smith, and many others. What did they know about the importance of scriptures that we also need to know? What did people in 16th-century England, who paid enormous sums and ran grave personal risks for access to a Bible, understand that we should also understand?

Not long before his death, the prophet Alma entrusted the sacred records of the people to his son Helaman. He reminded Helaman that the scriptures had “enlarged the memory of this people, yea, and convinced many of the error of their ways, and brought them to the knowledge of their God unto the salvation of their souls” (Alma 37:8). He commanded Helaman to preserve the records so that through them God might “show forth his power unto future generations” (Alma 37:14).

Through the scriptures, God does indeed “show forth his power” to save and exalt His children. By His word, as Alma said, He enlarges our memory, sheds light on falsehood and error, and brings us to repentance and to rejoice in Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.

The Scriptures Enlarge Our Memory

The scriptures enlarge our memory by helping us always to remember the Lord and our relationship to Him and the Father. They remind us of what we knew in our premortal life. And they expand our memory in another sense by teaching us about epochs, people, and events that we did not experience personally. None of us was present to see the Red Sea part and cross with Moses between walls of water to the other side. We were not there to hear the Sermon on the Mount, to see Lazarus raised from the dead, to see the suffering Savior in Gethsemane and on the cross, and we did not, with Mary, hear the two angels testify at the empty tomb that Jesus was risen from the dead. You and I did not go forward one by one with the multitude in the land Bountiful at the resurrected Savior’s invitation to feel the prints of the nails and bathe His feet with our tears. We did not kneel beside Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove and gaze there upon the Father and the Son. Yet we know all these things and much, much more because we have the scriptural record to enlarge our memory, to teach us what we did not know. And as these things penetrate our minds and hearts, our faith in God and His Beloved Son takes root.

The scriptures also enlarge our memory by helping us not forget what we and earlier generations have learned. Those who either don’t have or ignore the recorded word of God eventually cease to believe in Him and forget the purpose of their existence. You will remember how important it was for Lehi’s people to take the brass plates with them when they left Jerusalem. These scriptures were key to their knowledge of God and the coming Redemption of Christ. The other group that “came out from Jerusalem” shortly after Lehi had no scriptures, and when Lehi’s descendants encountered them some 300 or 400 years later, it is recorded that “their language had become corrupted; . . . and they denied the being of their Creator” (Omni 1:15, 17)

In Tyndale’s day, scriptural ignorance abounded because people lacked access to the Bible, especially in a language they could understand. Today the Bible and other scripture are readily at hand, yet there is a growing scriptural illiteracy because people will not open the books. Consequently they have forgotten things their grandparents knew.

The Scriptures Are the Standard for Distinguishing Truth and Error

God uses scripture to unmask erroneous thinking, false traditions, and sin with its devastating effects. He is a tender parent who would spare us needless suffering and grief and at the same time help us realize our divine potential. The scriptures, for example, discredit an ancient philosophy that has come back into vogue in our day—the philosophy of Korihor that there are no absolute moral standards, that “every man prosper[s] according to his genius, and that every man conquer[s] according to his strength; and whatsoever a man [does is] no crime” and “that when a man [is] dead, that [is] the end thereof” (Alma 30:17–18). Alma, who had dealt with Korihor, did not leave his own son Corianton in doubt about the reality and substance of a divine moral code. Corianton had been guilty of sexual sin, and his father spoke to him in love but plainly: “Know ye not, my son, that these things are an abomination in the sight of the Lord; yea, most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost?” (Alma 39:5).

In a complete reversal from a century ago, many today would dispute with Alma about the seriousness of immorality. Others would argue that it’s all relative or that God’s love is permissive. If there is a God, they say, He excuses all sins and misdeeds because of His love for us—there is no need for repentance. Or at most, a simple confession will do. They have imagined a Jesus who wants people to work for social justice but who makes no demands upon their personal life and behavior.² But a God of love does not leave us to learn by sad experience that “wickedness never was happiness” (Alma 41:10; see also Helaman 13:38). His commandments are the voice of reality and our protection against self-inflicted pain. The scriptures are the touchstone for measuring correctness and truth, and they are clear that real happiness lies not in denying the justice of God or trying to circumvent the consequences of sin but in repentance and forgiveness through the atoning grace of the Son of God (see Alma 42).

Scripture tutors us in principles and moral values essential to maintaining civil society, including integrity, responsibility, selflessness, fidelity, and charity. In scripture, we find vivid portrayals of the blessings that come from honoring true principles, as well as the tragedies that befall when individuals and civilizations discard them. Where scriptural truths are ignored or abandoned, the essential moral core of society disintegrates and decay is close behind. In time, nothing is left to sustain the institutions that sustain society.

The Scriptures Bring Us to Christ, Our Redeemer

In the end, the central purpose of all scripture is to fill our souls with faith in God the Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ—faith that They exist; faith in the Father’s plan for our immortality and eternal life; faith in the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which animates this plan of happiness; faith to make the gospel of Jesus Christ our way of life; and faith to come to know “the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He has] sent” (John 17:3).

The word of God, as Alma said, is like a seed planted in our hearts that produces faith as it begins to grow within us (see Alma 32:27–43; see also Romans 10:13–17). Faith will not come from the study of ancient texts as a purely academic pursuit. It will not come from archaeological digs and discoveries. It will not come from scientific experiments. It will not even come from witnessing miracles. These things may serve to confirm faith, or at times to challenge it, but they do not create faith. Faith comes by the witness of the Holy Spirit to our souls, Spirit to spirit, as we hear or read the word of God. And faith matures as we continue to feast upon the word.

Scriptural accounts of the faith of others serve to strengthen our own. We recall the faith of a centurion that enabled Christ to heal his servant without so much as seeing him (see Matthew 8:5–13) and the healing of a Gentile woman’s daughter because that humble mother would accept, as it were, even the crumbs from the Master’s table (see Matthew 15:22–28; Mark 7:25–30). We hear the cry of suffering Job: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him” (Job 13:15)—and professing, “I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: . . . [and] yet in my flesh shall I see God” (Job 19:25–26). We hear and take courage from the determination of a tender boy prophet, hated and bitterly persecuted by so many adults: “I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it” (Joseph Smith—History 1:25).

Because they expound the doctrine of Christ, the scriptures are accompanied by the Holy Spirit, whose role it is to bear witness of the Father and the Son (see 3 Nephi 11:32). Therefore, being in the scriptures is one way we receive the Holy Ghost. Of course, scripture is given through the Holy Ghost in the first place (see 2 Peter 1:21; D&C 20:26–27; 68:4), and that same Spirit can attest its truth to you and me. Study the scriptures carefully, deliberately. Ponder and pray over them. Scriptures are revelation, and they will bring added revelation.

Consider the magnitude of our blessing to have the Holy Bible and some 900 additional pages of scripture, including the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. Then consider that, in addition, the words of prophets spoken as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost in settings such as this, which the Lord calls scripture (see D&C 68:2–4), flow to us almost constantly by television, radio, Internet, satellite, CD, DVD, and in print. I suppose that never in history has a people been blessed with such a quantity of holy writ. And not only that, but every man, woman, and child may possess and study his or her own personal copy of these sacred texts, most in his or her own language. How incredible such a thing would have seemed to the people of William Tyndale’s day and to the Saints of earlier dispensations! Surely with this blessing the Lord is telling us that our need for constant recourse to the scriptures is greater than in any previous time. May we feast continuously on the words of Christ that will tell us all things we should do (see 2 Nephi 32:3). I have studied the scriptures, I have pondered the scriptures, and on this Eastertide, I bear you my testimony of the Father and the Son, as They are revealed in the holy scriptures, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

********************************** Lubbock Texas Stake Announcements:

Sunday, August 22nd 8:30a.m. Branch Council

Saturday, August 28th 10:00a.m. Primary Activity Day

Sunday, August 29th Combined Priesthood/Relief Society

Sunday, August 29th 1:15p.m. BYC

************************** Plainview Branch Elders & High Priest Lessons By Date:

8-22-10 Conference Talk "The Blessing Of The Scriptures" (By D. Todd Christofferson)

8-29-10 Joint Meeting (5th Sunday Agenda)

9-5-10 September First Presidency Meeting (Ensign)

9-12-10 "The Church of Jesus Christ Today" (Gospel Principles, Chapter 17 - Page 95)

9-19-10 "Faith in Jesus Christ" (Gospel Principles, Chapter 18 - Page 101)

Alarming Statistics Of Television

Brothers and Sisters,

I was doing some research on the topic of Television Influence on the American household for my (HUM/176) Class: Media & American Culture, and my research returned some alarming statistics. I felt it needed to be shared with all of you. Just review the information, and then ponder this against what you already may second guess you allow to take place in your home.

It is stats like these that make me glad I personally have cut public TV out of my house, and render nearly all the Gospel Influence I can to the precious souls of my children. The title to this blog also features the link to this website, but, just in case it does not work- and you wish to review this information from the California State University, Northridge , the link will follow:

http://www.csun.edu/science/health/docs/tv&health.html

(Below is all the official information from the website)

Television Statistics

According to the A.C. Nielsen Co., the average American watches more than 4 hours of TV each day (or 28 hours/week, or 2 months of nonstop TV-watching per year). In a 65-year life, that person will have spent 9 years glued to the tube.

 

 

I. FAMILY LIFE

Percentage of households that possess at least one television: 99

Number of TV sets in the average U.S. household: 2.24

Percentage of U.S. homes with three or more TV sets: 66

Number of hours per day that TV is on in an average U.S. home: 6 hours, 47 minutes

Percentage of Americans that regularly watch television while eating dinner: 66

Number of hours of TV watched annually by Americans: 250 billion

Value of that time assuming an average wage of S5/hour: S1.25 trillion

Percentage of Americans who pay for cable TV: 56

Number of videos rented daily in the U.S.: 6 million

Number of public library items checked out daily: 3 million

Percentage of Americans who say they watch too much TV: 49

 

 

II CHILDREN

Approximate number of studies examining TV's effects on children: 4,000

Number of minutes per week that parents spend in meaningful

conversation with their children: 3.5

Number of minutes per week that the average child watches television: 1,680

Percentage of day care centers that use TV during a typical day: 70

Percentage of parents who would like to limit their children's TV watching: 73

Percentage of 4-6 year-olds who, when asked to choose between watching TV

and spending time with their fathers, preferred television: 54

Hours per year the average American youth spends in school: 900 hours

Hours per year the average American youth watches television: 1500

 

 

III VIOLENCE

Number of murders seen on TV by the time an average child finishes elementary school: 8,000

Number of violent acts seen on TV by age 18: 200,000

Percentage of Americans who believe TV violence helps precipitate real life mayhem: 79

 

 

IV. COMMERCIALISM

Number of 30-second TV commercials seen in a year by an average child: 20,000

Number of TV commercials seen by the average person by age 65: 2 million

Percentage of survey participants (1993) who said that TV commercials

aimed at children make them too materialistic: 92

Rank of food products/fast-food restaurants among TV advertisements to kids: 1

Total spending by 100 leading TV advertisers in 1993: $15 billion

 

 

V. GENERAL

Percentage of local TV news broadcast time devoted to advertising: 30

Percentage devoted to stories about crime, disaster and war: 53.8

Percentage devoted to public service announcements: 0.7

Percentage of Americans who can name The Three Stooges: 59

Percentage who can name at least three justices of the U.S. Supreme Court: 17

 

Compiled by TV-Free America

1322 18th Street, NW

Washington, DC 20036

 

 

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Influence of Television

 

For decades, research and studies have demonstrated that heavy television-viewing may lead to serious health consequences. Now the American medical community, which has long-voiced its concerns about the nation's epidemic of violence, TV addiction and the passive, sedentary nature of TV-watching, is taking a more activist stance, demonstrated by its endorsement of National TV-Turnoff Week.

 

The average child will watch 8,000 murders on TV before finishing elementary school. By age eighteen, the average American has seen 200,000 acts of violence on TV, including 40,000 murders. At a meeting in Nashville, TN last July, Dr. John Nelson of the American Medical Association (an endorser of National TV-Turnoff Week) said that if 2,888 out of 3,000 studies show that TV violence is a casual factor in real-life mayhem, "it's a public health problem." The American Psychiatric Association addressed this problem in its endorsement of National TV-Turnoff Week, stating, "We have had a long-standing concern with the impact of television on behavior, especially among children."

 

Millions of Americans are so hooked on television that they fit the criteria for substance abuse as defined in the official psychiatric manual, according to Rutgers University psychologist and TV-Free America board member Robert Kubey. Heavy TV viewers exhibit five dependency symptoms--two more than necessary to arrive at a clinical diagnosis of substance abuse. These include: 1) using TV as a sedative; 2) indiscriminate viewing; 3) feeling loss of control while viewing; 4) feeling angry with oneself for watching too much; 5) inability to stop watching; and 6) feeling miserable when kept from watching.

 

Violence and addiction are not the only TV-related health problems. A National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey released in October 1995 found 4.7 million children between the ages of 6-17 (11% of this age group) to be severely overweight, more than twice the rate during the 1960's. The main culprits: inactivity (these same children average more than 22 hours of television-viewing a week) and a high-calorie diet. A 1991 study showed that there were an average of 200 junk food ads in four hours of children's Saturday morning cartoons.

 

According to William H. Deitz, pediatrician and prominent obesity expert at Tufts University School of Medicine, "The easiest way to reduce inactivity is to turn off the TV set. Almost anything else uses more energy than watching TV."

 

Children are not the only Americans suffering from weight problems; one-third of American adults are overweight. According to an American Journal of Public Health study, an adult who watches three hours of TV a day is far more likely to be obese than an adult who watches less than one hour.

 

Sometimes the problem is not too much weight; it's too little. Seventy-five percent of American women believe they are too fat, an image problem that often leads to bulimia or anorexia. Sound strange? Not when one takes into account that female models and actresses are twenty-three percent thinner than the average woman and thinner than ninety-five percent of the female population.

**************************** Lubbock Texas Stake Announcements:

Sunday, August 22nd 8:30a.m. Branch Council

Saturday, August 28th 10:00a.m. Primary Activity Day

Sunday, August 29th Combined Priesthood/Relief Society

Sunday, August 29th 1:15p.m. BYC

**************************** Plainview Branch Elders & High Priest Lessons By Date:

8-22-10 Conference Talk "The Blessing Of The Scriptures" (By D. Todd Christofferson)

8-29-10 Joint Meeting (5th Sunday Agenda)

9-5-10 September First Presidency Meeting (Ensign)

9-12-10 "The Church of Jesus Christ Today" (Gospel Principles, Chapter 17 - Page 95)

9-19-10 "Faith in Jesus Christ" (Gospel Principles, Chapter 18 - Page 101)

The Temple Influence, And Moments In Life

Brothers & Sisters,



Scattered throughout my life, I can recall the magnificent and great moments in my life; Both the moments of which I felt grand walking outside the light of the Gospel, and now, as living evidence of the joy which can only come from living within the bounds which the Lord has set. I take, in the spirit of humility, what Elder Holland said, on a recent Mormon Messages Video about Motherhood, with the joyful understanding I now have concerning the gospel, when he said, “…may I say to mothers collectively, in the name of the Lord, you are magnificent. You are doing terrifically well. The very fact that you have been given such a responsibility is everlasting evidence of the trust your Father in Heaven has in you.”



The pivotal heights of the joy of receiving a child into the world- A joy I felt I scarcely did justice in attempting to explain, or even place into words, when I received each of my beautiful children is beyond any accurate earthly vocabulary.

How the Lord found faith that I would… better yet said, “Could” care for these special, wonderful, and may I even add, beautiful…. Children is beyond my earthly capacity to attempt to share with you. In that blessed and wonderful ceremony where I was, across was my wonderful wife Melissa, and with us, around that altar brothers and sisters, are the angels of purity and innocence I call my children. I love my family. I love my children… and if even for a moment I thought I understood the grandeur of love I felt there, I know then how much more the love that our Heavenly Father has for me, has for you…. That he has for us.

I received the greatest feeling that only the Spirit of God could instill upon any individual in that room, and those who were there can testify to the fact, that through the Spirit the Lord was saying to us… “This is the way home, in this house you are now laying the foundations for your children…. For you…. And all those which shall follow, you are on your way home.”

That pathway home starts at baptism, indeed it starts when we covenant to take upon us, the name of the Son, even Christ Jesus. Ultimately, that ticket home comes through all the crowning ordinances that are required of us for salvation to the kingdom of heaven. Included in that list of ordinances, is Temple Marriage, to be sealed to your partner for time and all eternity. All of those, and enduring to the end.

I wish to share with you, a story that President Harold B. Lee shared at the March 1956 dedication of the Los Angeles California Temple, when he repeated a father’s story about his son who had been assigned to fly dangerous missions during World War 2.

“[The] father said to him, ‘Son, how were you able to get back safely to your home base … ?’ The boy said, ‘Oh, that is easy, Dad, I just fly the beam.’ But the father pursued the question by asking, ‘Suppose you have lost the beam and something has gone wrong with that radio equipment by which the flyer learns to fly his course.’ ‘Oh,’ he said, ‘I would use my compass.’ ‘Well, suppose a shot has destroyed the compass; then what?’

“The boy [pondered] thoughtfully and then he said, ‘Dad, I would begin to fly my plane higher and higher above the smoke and fog and dust of the earth until I got up where I could see the stars, and when I had flown that high, I would chart my course by the stars. That never failed and I could always find my way back home.’ ”

President Lee continued: “Down here on the earth outside of His sacred presence there are the things that money can buy, there are the things that we call the honors of men and the things that we strive for and seem to think are most important. But [the temple] is where we climb high above the smoke and the fog of these earthly things and we learn to read by God’s eternal stars a course that will lead us safely back home.

So important to know, is the way home. We come [to the temple], as I think of it, to receive the fullness of the blessings of the Priesthood. …

We come here to this Holy House to learn, to know God as he really is, and just how each of us, for ourselves, might obtain an exaltation in his presence. …

It is here we begin to lay the foundation stones of an eternal heavenly home, for here in this Church is the power to bind on earth that the same might be bound in Heaven.

Somehow we must get across the fact to all our people, young and old, that in our holy temples the temple endowment is the sure guide to happiness here and eternal life in the world to come.

When you enter a holy temple, you are by that course gaining fellowship with the Saints in God’s eternal kingdom, where time is no more. In the temples of your God you are endowed not with a rich legacy of worldly treasure, but with a wealth of eternal riches that are above price.





The temple ceremonies are designed by a wise Heavenly Father who has revealed them to us in these last days as a guide and a protection throughout our lives, that you and I might not fail to merit exaltation in the celestial kingdom, where God and Christ dwell.




It is in that Temple, of which we come to know things as they are. Our Stake Patriarch, Brother Dyle, prior to the Sealing Ceremony, mentioned this. He mentions the scripture found in Jacob Chapter 4 verse 13 where Jacob says, “"...the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls..."

Remember the scripture, found in ” (Moroni 10:3–5).

 “… Ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are ... true; and if [you] … ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost, ye may know the truth of all things.”

What truth? The truth that Jesus is the Christ. The truth that he is the literal living Son, of our literal living God. The truth that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. The truth that President Monson is our living Prophet, and that through him, the Lord conducts the affairs of His kingdom,  on His Earth.

This is powerful knowledge. It is truth that sets you free…. This life makes no logical sense unless we think in terms of the eternities. The transcendent blessings of life and eternity are received within the sacred walls of the temple. The Savior’s supernal gift to mankind gave us the opportunity for eternal life, but eternal life without our loved ones would be bleak.


.
A basic eternal truth of this Church is that families may, if they are worthy, have an eternal relationship; for us it would not be heaven without our parents, our grandparents, our eternal companions, our children, and our posterity. This union of families comes through the sealing power exercised within the hallowed walls of the temples under authorized priesthood authority.

An eternal family begins when a young couple kneels at an altar in the holy temple of God and make covenants with each other and with God and receive His greatest promises. This sealing is preceded by each making and receiving covenants which, if they continue worthy, will bless them in this life as well as in the life to come.

The father and mother are equal partners with different roles in nurturing and teaching their family members on the journey to immortality and eternal life. To have full meaning, how can life be other than an eternal process?
Part of the process of reaching into the eternities comes when we must deal with the experience called death. This life is hollow without a belief in and an understanding of immortality.

Said Paul, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” The Atonement and the Resurrection of the Savior are the grand keys that open the locks of immortality. The greatest fulfillment of these blessings, if we are worthy, comes to us in the holy temples of God. Within their sacred walls, those who hold the power and authority bind in heaven that which is bound in earth. This authority has been delegated by the President of the Church, who holds and exercises all of the keys of the kingdom of God on earth.

Fundamental to temple worship is the principle that “God is no respecter of persons.” Within the hallowed walls of the temples, there is no preference of position, wealth, status, race, or education. All dress in white. All receive the same instruction. All make the same covenants and promises. All receive the same transcendent, eternal blessings if they live worthy to claim them. All are equal before their Creator. Those who are single through no fault of their own, if worthy, will be given the blessings, if they wish, of an eternal family relationship.

We are a covenant-making people. These eternal blessings are for all who wish to worthily receive of them, both the living and the dead. In the mercy of God we are privileged to receive these blessings by proxy for our deceased ancestors who did not have this privilege in life. They, of course, may choose whether to accept these blessings. Our duty is to search out our forebears and give them the opportunity to accept and receive these blessings. As the Prophet Joseph Smith said, “The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead.”

The opportunity to receive these supernal blessings was given by God in His infinite goodness to the people of this earth through the great prophet of the Restoration, Joseph Smith. He was commissioned to restore the fulness of all things in our time.

Amid the dismal and forlorn conditions that this world forces upon us, a wise prophet, whom most of us know well, once said a very inspiring and oft times not pondered upon enough scripture. Indeed when he said this, there were those who wrote off the ability to succeed. Said he, “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.”

The comfort we should take from that is limitless. We face challenges in our life, we face struggles and in all the grief and pain that this life can…. And will throw at us… there is comfort that Nephi, yes, that very prophet of whom I just quoted, there is comfort that the loving and merciful Lord will not ever suffer us to face ANY challenges that we can not conquer.

Rest in knowing this. Elder Holland said this:

“The first lesson from Liberty Jail is that everyone, including, and perhaps especially, the righteous, will be called upon to face trying times. When that happens we can sometimes fear that God has abandoned us, and we might be left, at least for a time, to wonder when our troubles will ever end. As individuals, as families, as communities, and as nations, probably everyone has had or will have an occasion to feel as Joseph Smith felt when he cried from the depth and discouragement of his confinement: “O God, where art thou?

Whenever these moments of our extremity come, we must not succumb to the fear that God has abandoned us or that He does not hear our prayers. He does hear us. He does see us. He does love us. When we are in dire circumstances and want to cry, “Where art Thou?” it is imperative that we remember He is right there with us—where He has always been! We must continue to believe, continue to have faith, continue to pray and plead with heaven, even if we feel for a time our prayers are not heard and that God has somehow gone away. He is there. Our prayers are heard. And when we weep He and the angels of heaven weep with us.

When lonely, cold, hard times come, we have to endure, we have to continue, we have to persist. Is it any wonder why Faith is the first of the four principles of the Gospel mentioned in the 4^th article of Faith? We must have faith the Lord is in control. We must have Faith he will see us through our problems. Only after Faith is tried, then comes the blessings.

When I faced staring down serious and deadly addiction which of my own ability over the course of 11 years I was unable to overcome on my own, I had to have Faith that though I could not see myself through these problems on my own… there was one who could! The Savior saw me through it, and only after I had Faith that only He could help me, did the words echoed by Moroni in the 12^th chapter of Ether, verse 8 which reads, “I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.”

Like Moroni suggested, just because I could not naturally behold how only the Lord could help me did not mean that he could not. Thus the Saviors call in the New Testament to the blind man whom he healed, “According to your faith, be it unto you.”

In closing, I wish to read part of a First Presidency Message, of which the living Prophet at the time was Howard W. Hunter:




A Temple Motivated People – First Presidency Message Ens. Feb 1995

Truly, the Lord desires that His people be a temple-motivated people. It would be the deepest desire of my heart to have every member of the Church be temple worthy. I would hope that every adult member would be worthy of—and carry—a current temple recommend, even if proximity to a temple does not allow immediate or frequent use of it.

Let us be a temple-attending and a temple-loving people. Let us hasten to the temple as frequently as time and means and personal circumstances allow. Let us go not only for our kindred dead, but let us also go for the personal blessing of temple worship, for the sanctity and safety which is provided within those hallowed and consecrated walls. The temple is a place of beauty, it is a place of revelation, it is a place of peace. It is the house of the Lord. It is holy unto the Lord. It should be holy unto us.

It is pleasing to the Lord for our youth to worthily go to the temple and perform vicarious baptism for those who did not have the opportunity to be baptized in life. It is pleasing to the Lord when we worthily go to the temple to personally make our own covenants with Him and to be sealed as couples and as families. And it is pleasing to the Lord when we worthily go to the temple to perform these same saving ordinances for those who have died, many of whom eagerly await the completion of these ordinances in their behalf.

But to have the temple indeed be a symbol unto us, we must desire it to be so. We must live worthy to enter the temple. We must keep the commandments of our Lord. If we can pattern our life after the Master, and take His teaching and example as the supreme pattern for our own, we will not find it difficult to be temple worthy, to be consistent and loyal in every walk of life, for we will be committed to a single, sacred standard of conduct and belief. Whether at home or in the marketplace, whether at school or long after school is behind us, whether we are acting totally alone or in concert with a host of other people, our course will be clear and our standards will be obvious.

The ability to stand by one’s principles, to live with integrity and faith according to one’s belief—that is what matters. That devotion to true principle—in our individual lives, in our homes and families, and in all places that we meet and influence other people—that devotion is what God is ultimately requesting of us. It requires commitment—whole-souled, deeply held, eternally cherished commitment to the principles we know to be true in the commandments God has given. If we will be true and faithful to the Lord’s principles, then we will always be temple worthy, and the Lord and His holy temples will be the great symbols of our discipleship with Him.

************************ Lubbock Texas Stake Announcements:

August 22nd 8:30a.m. Branch Council Saturday,

August 28th 10:00a.m. Primary Activity Day Sunday,

August 29th Combined Priesthood/Relief Society Sunday,

August 29th 1:15p.m. BYC

************************** Plainview Branch Elders & High Priest Lessons By Date:

8-22-10 Conference Talk "The Blessing Of The Scriptures" (By D. Todd Christofferson)

8-29-10 Joint Meeting (5th Sunday Agenda)

9-5-10 September First Presidency Meeting (Ensign)

9-12-10 "The Church of Jesus Christ Today" (Gospel Principles, Chapter 17 - Page 95)

9-19-10 "Faith in Jesus Christ" (Gospel Principles, Chapter 18 - Page 101)

Public Invited to Attend Kyiv Ukraine Temple Open House

 My Dear Brothers & Sisters,

I have the great blessing of hosting this blog, and am even more touched by the willingness of this entire Branch to lift where they stand... to embolden and reinvigorate all whom are edified by them. This has always rang true to me. There is no better time to be driven to continual reflection on why we believe what we do, and why it helps us. Sometimes we simply follow because we are commanded and compelled to; That is a powerful demonstration of faith without having to see a sign, or additional witness (Of which the Light of Christ inside us all, already does witness through magnification and desire to listen to the still small voice).

Consider the words first, of the Savior to one disciple named Thomas:

"Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." (John 20:29)

And when it came to Alma, teaching and preaching unto those of the Zoramites after their seperation from the main body of Nephites, and more specifically unto those whom were cast out from the body of the Zoramites because of their poverty, Alma said this:

"And now, because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh ^arepentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and ^bendureth to the end the same shall be saved.

  14 And now, as I said unto you, that because ye were compelled to be ^ahumble ye were blessed, do ye not suppose that they are more blessed who truly humble themselves because of the word?

  15 Yea, he that truly humbleth himself, and repenteth of his sins, and endureth to the end, the same shall be blessed—yea, much more blessed than they who are compelled to be humble because of their exceeding poverty.

  16 Therefore, blessed are they who ^ahumble themselves without being ^bcompelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without ^cstubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe.

  17 Yea, there are many who do say: If thou wilt show unto us a ^asign from heaven, then we shall know of a surety; then we shall believe.

  18 Now I ask, is this faith? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for if a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to ^abelieve, for he knoweth it.

  19 And now, how much ^amore ^bcursed is he that ^cknoweth the ^dwill of God and doeth it not, than he that only believeth, or only hath cause to believe, and falleth into ^etransgression?

  20 Now of this thing ye must judge. Behold, I say unto you, that it is on the one hand even as it is on the other; and it shall be unto every man according to his work.

  21 And now as I said concerning faith—^afaith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye ^bhope for things which are ^cnot seen, which are true.

  22 And now, behold, I say unto you, and I would that ye should remember, that God is ^amerciful unto all who believe on his name; therefore he desireth, in the first place, that ye should believe, yea, even on his word.

  23 And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, ^anot only men but women also. Now this is not all; little ^bchildren do have words given unto them many times, which ^cconfound the wise and the learned.

  24 And now, my beloved brethren, as ye have desired to know of me what ye shall do because ye are afflicted and cast out—now I do not desire that ye should suppose that I mean to judge you only according to that which is true—

  25 For I do not mean that ye all of you have been compelled to humble yourselves; for I verily believe that there are some among you who ^awould humble themselves, let them be in whatsoever circumstances they might.

  26 Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.

  27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than ^adesire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

  28 Now, we will compare the word unto a ^aseed. Now, if ye give place, that a ^bseed may be planted in your ^cheart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your ^dunbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to ^eenlighten my ^funderstanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

  29 Now behold, would not this increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge.

  30 But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.

  31 And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own ^alikeness.

  32 Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.

  33 And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.

  34 And now, behold, is your ^aknowledge ^bperfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your ^cfaith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your ^dmind doth begin to expand.

  35 O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is ^alight; and whatsoever is light, is ^bgood, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect?

  36 Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good.

  37 And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.

  38 But if ye ^aneglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.

  39 Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ^aground is ^bbarren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.

  40 And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the ^atree of life.

  41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with ^apatience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree ^bspringing up unto everlasting life.

  42 And because of your ^adiligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the ^bfruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

  43 Then, my brethren, ye shall ^areap the ^brewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth ^cfruit unto you."

All that being said, brethren, I now wish to share with you, the story just published by the LDS Newsroom:


KYIV, Ukraine 5 August 2010 The public is invited to tour the newly completed Kyiv Ukraine Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the first temple of the Church built in Eastern Europe.

The First Presidency of the Church has announced a public open house beginning Saturday, 7 August 2010, and continuing through Saturday, 21 August 2010, excluding Sundays. Public tours are available on Mondays from 8:00 to 17:00, and Tuesdays through Saturdays from 8:00 to 20:00. 

 

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The temple is located on Yabluneva Street in Sofiivska Borshagivka Village. Tours consisting of a 12-minute video presentation and a 25-minute walking tour will begin at the meetinghouse adjacent to the temple. Free parking is available at the temple site. 

 

Following the public open house, the temple will be formally dedicated on Sunday, 29 August 2010. Three dedicatory sessions will be held to accommodate Church members in the area who will be served by the new temple. 

The Kyiv Ukraine Temple is the Church’s 134th operating temple worldwide and the 11^th on the European continent. Other European temples of the Church are located in Bern Switzerland (dedicated 1955), London England (1958), Freiberg Germany (1985), Stockholm Sweden (1985), Frankfurt Germany (1987), Preston England (1998), Madrid Spain (1999), The Hague Netherlands (2002), Copenhagen Denmark (2004) and Helsinki Finland (2006). A temple to be built in Rome, Italy was announced in October 2008.  

The Kyiv Ukraine Temple was announced on 20 July 1998. Ground was broken for the temple’s construction on 23 June 2007. The temple’s exterior covered in Amarelo Macieira granite, which is a light in color and has quartzite crystals designed to reflect sunlight. The spire of the temple is 42 meters tall, and is crowned with a gilded Angel Moroni statue. Moroni is significant to members of the Church for his role in the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Latter-day Saint temples differ from the meetinghouses or chapels where members meet for Sunday worship services. Temples are considered “houses of the Lord” where Christ’s teachings are reaffirmed through baptism and other ordinances that unite families for eternity. In the temple, Church members learn more about the purpose of life and make covenants to follow Jesus Christ and serve their fellow man. 

Though only recently introduced in 1991, the Church has grown steadily in Ukraine. At the end of 2009 there were 10,722 Church members organized into 64 congregations. Overall, the temple will serve approximately 31,000 members of the Church living in nine European nations. 

When the temple is formally dedicated, it will be open to members of the Church who are actively engaged in the faith — unlike the thousands of standard church meetinghouses that are open to everyone for regular Sunday services, regardless of religious affiliation (see Newsroom article explaining difference between chapels and temples). 

Formal temple work will commence at the Kyiv Ukraine Temple on Monday, 30 August 2010.

****************************************************** Lubbock Texas Stake
Sunday, August 8th 8:30a.m. Branch Council

Saturday, August 14th 10:00a.m. Baptism of Trey Beardsley @ Branch Building- ALL INVITED

Saturday, August 14th 3:00p.m. Beardsley Family Sealed In Lubbock Temple- ALL INVITED

Sunday, August 15th 8:30a.m. PEC Sunday,

August 22nd 8:30a.m. Branch Council Saturday,

August 28th 10:00a.m. Primary Activity Day Sunday,

August 29th Combined Priesthood/Relief Society Sunday,

August 29th 1:15p.m. BYC
 ************************ Plainview Branch Elders & High Priest Lessons By Date:

8-8-10 Chapter 15 "The Lord's Covenant People" (Gospel Principles)

8-15-10 Chapter 16 "The Church of Jesus Christ In Former Times" (Gospel Principles)

8-22-10 Conference Talk "The Blessing Of The Scriptures" (By D. Todd Christofferson)

8-29-10 Joint Meeting (5th Sunday Agenda)

9-5-10 September First Presidency Meeting (Ensign)

9-12-10 "The Church of Jesus Christ Today" (Gospel Principles, Chapter 17 - Page 95)

9-19-10 "Faith in Jesus Christ" (Gospel Principles, Chapter 18 - Page 101)