Dear
Family and Friends
It
is General Conference Time again! Can you believe that time is here again?
These past six months have simply flown right by – for me at least. I love to
listen to the apostles and prophets speak during general conference; I always
learn so much from listening to their wise counsel. With the stories they share,
I am able to relate their messages to my own life and make it a goal to try to
do better by following the counsel given at each conference.
I
also have been trying hard to read and study all of the conference talks before
the next conference comes around – maybe that is why it seems like the one we
had in April was just last week? 😊 As you are watching, listening to, or
reading general conference please try to notice if you see any connections between the messages in general conference and
Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians?
I
hope you are each having a great week. I am doing better pain wise, but my
mobility is still lacking. I am still unable to put too much pressure on my
right leg at all. I do have my appointment in a couple of weeks which I am
still keeping even though my leg is feeling so much better so I can make sure
that everything in my knee replacement is in good condition. You know quite
often we as adults give up our doctor’s appointments for one reason or another,
but I am here to remind you just how important it is for us to keep those
follow up visits to our doctors and our dentist. 😊 😊
Remember 😊 😊
Speaking
of dentists, did I tell you just how important it is to keep your mouth
healthy. With my cancer, I have to take a bone shot. In the beginning I got one
every 21 days, now I believe I get one every 3 months along with my follow up
tests that I have to have – the echo, the CT scan and the Bone scan😊
Along with taking this bone shot comes some things that I must do, one of these
is to keep my mouth healthy. I have to take a handful of antibiotics before I
can even get a cleaning done on my teeth.
I
learned that our mouths can transport infections very easily. Whenever I have
needed to have a tooth removed, I have to be taken off the bone shot for 3
months and get a clearance from my oncologist before the work can be done. Then
I take antibiotics before during and after the extraction. Plus, I have to have
a follow up to get a clearance from the dentist for mt oncologist, to be able to
start the bone shot regiment again. It really is quite an extensive process –
just to get a bad tooth extracted.
The
reason for all of this is to protect my jawbone. If I were to get an infection
in my mouth from a bad tooth or an extraction that didn’t heal properly it
could cause my jawbone to deteriorate. I know, I thought the same thing😊
how can you be taking a shot to strengthen your bones and yet your jawbone can
deteriorate from an infection while you are taking this shot☹ I
am not certain just how this happens, but between you and me, I do not want to
find out! I think I need my jawbone! I am sure I could not manage without it☹what
do you think?
I
had to go through this same type of process before and after my surgeries –
getting a dental clearance and a clearance from my oncologist as well, prior to
each surgery. I believe I had to get a dental clearance before they could begin
the bone shots in the beginning too! I know that having cancer changes a
person, but I have tried really hard to be positive and rely fully on the Lord
for the strength that I am lacking quite often. You might be amazed by the help
the Lord will give you if you just take the time to ask Him in prayer😊
This
week we have been studying the book of Ephesians. Our instructor asked us what
we have learned, and he asked a few of us to share a brief summary with the
rest of the class. I love to listen as the other class members share their
thoughts on our study for the week😊 I always learn so much from our
discussions and especially the sharing parts.
I
thought that it may be good for you to have your family members and friends to share
a bit of a summary of something they learned in their study this week and then
them to share their thoughts. You could make a lit of what your family and
friends have learned during their study this week😊
here is the background information directly from the Come, Follow Me for
Individual and Families manual I thought
it would be a good place to begin our lesson today:
When the gospel began to spread in Ephesus, it caused “no small stir” (Acts 19:23) among the Ephesians. Local craftsmen who produced shrines to a pagan
goddess saw Christianity as a threat to their livelihood, and soon “they were
full of wrath, … and the whole city was filled with confusion” (see Acts 19:27–29). How would you feel if you
were the ‘Shrine maker”?
23 And
the same time there arose no small stir about that way.
27 So
that not only this our craft is in
danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana
should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and
the world worshippeth.
28 And
when they heard these sayings, they
were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
29 And
the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of
Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the
theatre.
Imagine being a new convert to the gospel in such a setting. Many
Ephesians did accept and live the gospel amid this “uproar” (Acts 19:40), and Paul assured them that “Christ … is our peace” (Ephesians
2:13–14). These words, along with his invitation to
“let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be
put away” (Ephesians 4:31) seem as timely and comforting now as they were then. For the
Ephesians, as for you, the strength to face adversity comes “in the Lord, and
in the power of his might” (Ephesians
6:10–13).
40 For we are in danger to be called in question for this
day’s uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of
this concourse.
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off
are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made
both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of
partition between us;
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour,
and evil speaking, be put
away from you, with all malice:
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the
wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that
ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
I think this sentence is worth repeating: ‘For the
Ephesians, as for you, the strength to face adversity comes “in the Lord, and
in the power of his might” You know that this is true, don’t you? I have experienced
this many times in my life. Remember that we can do all things in the strength
of the Lord who strengthens us😊 😊
Ideas
for Personal Scripture Study
Has God “chosen” or “predestinated” some of His children to be saved?
Paul spoke of the Saints
being “predestinated” by God and “chosen … before the foundation of the world”
to be His people. As President Henry B. Eyring has noted, the fact that so
many people live and die without the chance to receive the gospel causes some
to “conclude that God must have determined in advance which of His children He
would save and made the gospel available to them, while those who never heard
the gospel simply were not ‘chosen.’ But … God’s plan is much more loving and
just than that. Our Heavenly Father is anxious to gather and bless all of His family”
(“Gathering the Family of God,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 20–21).
All of God’s children can accept
the gospel and its ordinances because of the work performed for the dead in
holy temples.
Although no one is
predestined to be saved or not saved, modern revelation teaches that some were
chosen or “foreordained” in the premortal world to fulfill certain
responsibilities here on earth. This includes the responsibility that all
Latter-day Saints have to share the gospel and help all of God’s children on
both sides of the veil come to Christ. (See “Foreordination,” Gospel Topics, topics.lds.org.)
Prophets and apostles—and all of
us—strengthen and unify the Church.
This is a lesson that I have done with my
preschool students many times when building with Legos, blocks, cups, cans
lids, etc. we have experimented with a lot of building materials. I always
teach them that they must have a firm foundation in order for their creation to
stand alone without falling. Some of my students learn this rather easily and
yet others have to learn it through trial and lots of practice because there
are no errors when you are building and you are 4 years old – you just try
again, and again, and again! 😊
Could I and my class or you and your family members and friends;
build something together to illustrate how the Church is “built upon the
foundation of the apostles and prophets” and how the Savior is “the chief
corner stone”?
I think this could be done with cups and pictures on each cup to
represent the prophets and apostles and Jesus Christ as the ‘chief corner
stone’. Can you picture the cups with their pictures on them and building up
your structure with your family members and friends?
What happens if you were to take the cup with Jesus’ picture on
it away? ☹ What if you took away one of the prophets or the apostles? How
would your structure fair? I think it would be wobble at best, right? Are you
still picturing this structure in your mind or are you building this with your
family and your friends??? You will probably find that without these key pieces
your structure is not very stable, right??? ☹
20 And are built upon the foundation of
the apostles and prophets,
Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
So - we had our cups, or blocks, cans,
boxes, Legos, etc. All with their labels or pictures blocks or paper cups and
we did assemble them into a tower or pyramid, with Jesus Christ and the
apostles and prophets forming the base. Then we did experiment on what would
happen if Christ or the apostles and prophets were taken away from our
structure.
Now here is the big question: why do you think it is that the chief
cornerstone is a good metaphor for Jesus Christ and His role in the Church?
What is a chief cornerstone?
The
chief cornerstone is the first stone placed in a foundation. It serves as a
reference point for the measurement and placement of the other stones, which
must be aligned with the chief cornerstone. Because it bears the weight of the
rest of the building, the chief cornerstone must be solid, stable, and reliable
(see “The
Cornerstone,” Ensign, Jan. 2016, 74–75).
Next let us search through the
following verses Ephesians
2:19–22; 4:11–16 looking
for blessings we receive because of apostles, prophets, and other Church
leaders. What can we do to build our lives on their teachings? Are you with me?
Okay, let’s get to searching😊
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth
unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation
of God through the Spirit.
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for
the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the
fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind
of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in
wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things,
which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and
compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual
working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the
edifying of itself in love.
Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Church.
Are you all familiar with the old game
called telephone? You get everyone in a line, and you choose a word or a phrase
or a short story to share. You begin with the person right next to you. You
whisper the word or phrase in their ear. Then they whisper what they heard to
the next person, and they whisper what they heard to the next person and so on
until it gets to the Last person. Then the last person tells out loud what
he/she thought they heard. Lastly, the person who began the game then shares
what their original word or phrase truly was😊
usually this is when it gets a bit silly when you compare them.
This game might be a good way to show how
doctrine can be misunderstood without having the continual direction from our
prophets and apostles. When you play this game do you find that some of the
meaning got lost along the way? What may have happened if there had been a telephone
operator in between each whisper to be sure it was repeated correctly? In doing
this activity what would this activity teach us about why Christ’s Church must
be ‘built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets’?
As you listen to general conference next
week listen for how the things taught during conference helped fulfill the
purposes stated in Ephesians
4:11–16.
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come
in the unity of the
faith, and of the knowledge of the Son
of God, unto a perfect man, unto
the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind
of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in
wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things,
which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined
together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the
effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body
unto the edifying of itself in love.
Perhaps you and your family members and
friends might take a moment to make a list of some of the “vocations” or
responsibilities that you or members of your extended family and friends have
been called to fulfill at church, as mentioned in Ephesians
4:1
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,
beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are
called,
If
you are not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints here are
some examples for you: a ministering brother or sister, a
parent, a disciple of Christ, and so on. Then you and your family members and
friends could read through Ephesians
4:4–8, 11–16, and share how the callings and
assignments on their lists help edify the body of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave
gifts unto men.
11 And he agave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and feachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for
the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the
fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind
of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in
wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things,
which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and
compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual
working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying
of itself in love.
Here is your question for this section.
Are you ready to answer? How can we work
together to become unified under “one Lord, one faith, one baptism”? This next
section for study comes directly from our Come, Follow Me for Individuals and
Families manual:
Ideas
for Personal Scripture Study
The Church is founded on apostles and prophets, and Jesus Christ is the
chief cornerstone.
Reading
Paul’s teachings about apostles and prophets can help you prepare to hear the
messages of modern apostles and prophets during general conference. According
to Ephesians 2:19–22; 4:11–16, why do we
have prophets and apostles? How have their teachings helped you not be “carried
about with every wind of doctrine”?
Following the Savior’s example can strengthen
family relationships.
Although the Ephesians
lived in a culture in which wives were not treated as equals to their husbands,
this epistle still contains some valuable counsel for married couples today.
Here are a couple of questions for you to think about as you, your family and friends read Ephesians
5:22–33 together: How did Christ show His love for the Church?
What can we do to follow His example in how we treat our spouses? You
might want to share examples you’ve seen of spouses acting in Christlike ways
toward each other. How can we apply these principles to other family
relationships?
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in
every thing.
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church,
not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and
without blemish.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies.
He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the
church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother,
and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love
his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
While Paul’s counsel to “honour thy father and mother” (Ephesians 6:2) was addressed to children, it can apply to each of us,
regardless of our age or family situation. You should think about how you can
apply Paul’s counsel in Ephesians 6:1–3 to you own circumstances. For example, how can we each honor
our parents even if their choices don’t align with the teachings of Jesus
Christ? You might want to have your family members and friends take a few minutes to think about what they
can do to better honor their parents.
If there are parents—or future parents—of young children within your family group, they might benefit
from discussing Ephesians 6:4. What does it mean to bring up children “in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord”? Perhaps if your family members and friends have older
children you / they could share what this means to you /them and how you /they
have tried to apply this counsel in your/their families.
Ideas
for Personal Scripture Study
I can strengthen my family relationships.
As you
read Ephesians 5:21–6:4, what
thoughts come to you about how to strengthen your family relationships?
It is
important to note that Paul’s words in Ephesians 5:22 were
written in the context of the social customs of his era. Prophets and apostles
today teach that men are not superior to women and that spouses should be
“equal partners” (see “The Family: A Proclamation to
the World,” Ensign or Liahona, May
2017, 145). https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/the-family-a-proclamation-to-the-world/the-family-a-proclamation-to-the-world?lang=eng
Even so, you
can still find relevant counsel in Ephesians 5:23–33, especially
if you are married or preparing for marriage. For example, how does Christ show
His love for the Saints? What does this imply about how husbands should treat
their wives? What messages do you find for yourself in these verses?
The armor of God will help protect us from
evil.
What would help inspire your family members and friends to
strive to put on the whole armor of God each day? You could prepare an activity
in which your family members and friends match pieces of armor with the
principles or virtues they represent in Ephesians
6:14–17.
How can
each piece of armor help protect us from wickedness?
The armor of God.
Loins girt about with truth: This piece of armor is
like a belt tied around the waist. The word girt can
also mean fortified, strengthened, or reinforced.
Breastplate: A breastplate protects the heart and other
vital organs.
Feet shod: This refers to protective covering for a
soldier’s feet.
Shield: A shield can protect almost any part of the body from a variety
of attacks.
Helmet: A helmet protects the head.
Sword: A sword allows us to take action against the enemy.
Here is a question for
you: how have you and your family members and friends put on this armor? As
part of this discussion, you might share President N. Eldon Tanner’s
explanation:
“Examine your armor.”
President N. Eldon
Tanner, who served as a counselor in the First Presidency, invited members of
the Church to evaluate the strength of their personal armor by pondering their
efforts to live the gospel. He then explained:
“If … our armor is weak,
there is an unshielded place which can be found, a vulnerable area for attack,
and we will be subject to injury or destruction by Satan, who will search until
he finds our weaknesses, if we have them.
“Examine your armor. Is
there an unguarded or unprotected place? Determine now to add whatever part is
missing. No matter how antiquated or lacking in parts your armor may be, always
remember that it is within your power to make the necessary adjustments to
complete your armor.
“Through the great
principle of repentance you can turn your life about and begin now clothing
yourself with the armor of God through study, prayer, and a determination to
serve God and keep his commandments” (“Put on the Whole Armor of
God,” Ensign, May
1979, 46).
What can we do to
identify and strengthen any weaknesses in our armor?
Ideas
for Personal Scripture Study
Putting on “the whole armour of God” will help protect me from evil.
As you
read Ephesians 6:10–18, consider why
Paul might have named each piece of armor the way he did. What will the “whole
armour of God” protect us from? What can you do to more fully put on each piece
of armor every day?
Did you know that one of the Articles of Faith is based on aa
verse found in one of the epistles from our readings for this upcoming week?
Can you find it in your studies this week? The following ideas for family
scripture study and family home evening come directly from our Come, Follow Me
for Individuals and Families manual:
Ideas
for Family Scripture Study and Family Home Evening
As you read the scriptures with your
family, the Spirit can help you know what principles to emphasize and discuss
in order to meet the needs of your family. Here are some suggestions:
Through the latter-day
Restoration, God is gathering all things in one, including all the principles
and ordinances of the gospel. To demonstrate this idea, you could hide objects
or written phrases around your home that represent things that have been restored
in our day (like priesthood keys, temple
ordinances, scriptures, and spiritual gifts). Family members could
search for them and “gather” them together. Why are we thankful to live in the
“dispensation of the fulness of times”?
Invite family members to share experiences in which they have
felt the love and mercy of God and Jesus Christ described in these verses.
Your family might enjoy building walls out of pillows or other
objects you have at home and then knocking them down. What kinds of walls
separate people today? How has Jesus Christ “broken down the … wall of
partition between us” and God?
Your family could make their
own “armour of God” using household items. The video “The Armour of God”
(LDS.org) can help family members visualize this armor, and they can find simple
explanations in “The Whole Armor of God” (Friend, June 2016, 24–25). How
does each piece of armor protect us spiritually? What can we do to help each
other “put on the whole armour of God” (Ephesians 6:11)
every day?
You know just where we are at this point don’t
you? Yup! You guessed it! We are at the end of our lesson and this post. I hope
and I pray that some of you have been uplifted and are feeling encouraged to be
better and to do better and to become all that Your Heavenly Father knows that
you can become – with His help😊 I really like the ideas for family
scripture study and family home evening. I do hope that you can make use of
these great ides in your own family😊 You are each so amazing you know!!!
I do hope you have the opportunity to
watch, listen to, or read General Conference this week. I am all set to do so –
probably by myself, but that is quite alright. I think it is good for my family
to hear it as I listen to conference, don’t you? For all of you ladies out
there do not forget the women’s session of conference😊
there will be so many good talks I am sure of that – there always are! Be watching,
listening and looking for guidance and warnings from our prophets, seers, and
revelators😊
As always, remember who you are!! You are
each one a child of God. He loves each of you individually and He knows each of
you individually😊 it is quite amazing isn’t it? To know
that your Heavenly Father loves you no matter what you do or say. He is ever
reaching down to each one of you – just waiting for you to reach up to Him. To reach
out to Him in prayer😊
Please keep studying your scriptures nd
saying your prayers every single day. I promise you that if you can do this it
will change your life for the better. Also, if you have not had the chance to
read The Book of Mormon, please do give it a read – you won’t be sorry that you
did. In fact, if you can read from its pages every day you will feel the power
that is there! Until my next post enjoy general
conference and remember to make it a grand week😊If
you do not have a copy of the Book of Mormon, you can acquire one here: https://www.comeuntochrist.org/beliefs/book-of-mormon/book-of-mormon-request
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