Annoucements & Lesson - 23 March 2014

Announcements:

The Primary children will be singing prelude music next Sunday - please can all parents ensure there children are at church by 9.45am.  The children have been practising hard and they don't want anyone to miss out.

A reminder that in 2 weeks time we have General Conference - on Sat 5th April the General Women's Session will be shown at the chapel at 3pm.  The stake will be providing light refreshments.

Bishop has asked us to remind all parents of youth who are attending EFY.  By 13th April the following needs to have been done:  1. register on line 2. paid £15 fee 3. an appointment made with Bishop.  Any problems please speak to the youth leaders.

Lesson:

Sister Annie Green taught our lesson today based on Elder Richard G Scott's talk from October 2013 General Conference 'Personal Strength through the Atonement'.

What a fabulous talk!!!!  In it Elder Scott shares the history of the People of Ammon and their great conversion from blood thirsty Lamanites to converted Saints of Christ.  As part of this conversion, to show the Lord the true change of heart, they bury their weapons deep covenanting never to pick them up again.  Elder Scott tells of their life when they are living righteous lives and have been faithfully doing so for some time, when they are again attached by some Lamanites and are strongly tempted to pick up their weapons one more time to protect their families.  But their prophet leader says something that should have a strong impact on us all - BREAKING A COVENANT WITH THE LORD IS NEVER JUSTIFIED.

What their prophet knew was 'sometimes our poor choices leave us with long-term consequences.  One of the vital steps to complete repentance is to bear the short and long term consequences of our past sins.  Their past choices had exposed these Ammonite fathers to a carnal appetite that could again become a point of vulnerability that Satan would attempt to exploit.'

We discussed what we can do to keep ourselves safe - keeping a distance between ourselves and any temptations that might still arise, fasting, praying all play a large part. 

'Satan will try to use our memory of any previous guilt to lure us back into his influence.  We must be ever vigilant.'  Ashlea shared a fabulous comment : If Satan reminds you of your past, remind him of his future!'

We discussed Captain Moroni and his example that where there is weakness, he built fortifications.  When we have made errors in our life, we were taught the need for 'taller and wider fortifications' to keep us safe and in a righteous path.   We too need those fortifications.  But Elder Scott gave a wonderful promise to us when we do struggle to overcome the weaknesses we all experience:

'The joyful news for anyone who desires to be rid of the consequences of past poor choices is that the Lord sees weaknesses differently that He does rebellion.  Whereas the Lord warns that unrepented rebellion will bring punishment, when the Lord speaks of weaknesses it is always with mercy.'

Elder Scott went on to share a few ways we can begin to build and strengthen those much needed fortifications - 'the first step must be sincere, thorough and complete repentance...Remember, repentance is not punishment.  It is the hope-filled path to a more glorious future.'  Then he suggested, making and keeping covenants for ourselves and then our ancestors, sharing the gospel, serving faithfully as VT, and serving our own family.

He ended with an amazing promise:

'In each of these suggestions, there is a common theme:  fill your life with service to others.  As you lose your life in the service of your Father in Heaven's children, Satan's temptations lose power in your life.'