May 31, 2012

"Home Teaching/Visiting Teaching - June 2012"

Called of God and Sustained by the People

President Henry B. Eyring, 1st Counselor in the 1st Presidency
As members of the Church, we are invited often to sustain people in callings to serve. Years ago an 18-year-old student showed me what it means to sustain the Lord’s servants. I am still blessed by his humble example.
He had just begun his first year in college. He was baptized less than a year before he left home to begin his studies at a large university. There I served as his bishop.
As the school year began, I had a brief interview with him in the bishop’s office. I remember little of that first conversation except that he spoke of his challenges in a new place, but I will never forget our second conversation.
He asked to see me in my office. I was surprised when he said, “Could we pray together, and may I be voice?” I was about to say that I had already prayed and expected that he had as well. Instead I agreed.
He began his prayer with a testimony that he knew the bishop was called of God. He asked God to tell me what he should do in a matter of great spiritual consequence. The young man told God he was sure the bishop already knew his needs and would be given the counsel he needed to hear.
As he spoke, the specific dangers he would face came to my mind. The counsel was simple but given in great clarity: pray always, obey the commandments, and have no fear.
That young man, one year in the Church, taught by example what God can do with a leader as he is sustained by the faith and prayers of those he is called to lead. That young man demonstrated for me the power of the law of common consent in the Church (see D&C 26:2). Even though the Lord calls His servants by revelation, they can function only after being sustained by those they are called to serve.
By our sustaining vote, we make solemn promises. We promise to pray for the Lord’s servants and that He will lead and strengthen them (see D&C 93:51). We pledge that we will look for and expect to feel inspiration from God in their counsel and whenever they act in their calling (see D&C 1:38).
That promise will need to be renewed in our hearts frequently. Your Sunday School teacher will try to teach by the Spirit, but just as you might do, your teacher may make mistakes in front of the class. You, however, can decide to listen and watch for the moments when you can feel inspiration come. In time you will notice fewer mistakes and more frequent evidence that God is sustaining that teacher.
As we raise a hand to sustain a person, we commit to work for whatever purpose of the Lord that person is called to accomplish. When our children were small, my wife was called to teach the little children in our ward. I not only raised my hand to sustain her, but I also prayed for her and then asked permission to help her. The lessons I received of appreciation for what women do and of the Lord’s love for children still bless my family and my life.
I spoke recently with that young man who sustained his bishop years ago. I learned that the Lord and the people had sustained him in his call as a missionary, as a stake president, and as a father. He said as our conversation ended, “I still pray for you every day.”
We can determine to pray daily for someone called by God to serve us. We can thank someone who has blessed us by his or her service. We can decide to step forward when someone we have sustained asks for volunteers.1
Those who uphold the Lord’s servants in His kingdom will be sustained by His matchless power. We all need that blessing.

Teaching from This Message

After sharing the message, consider reading the following quote: “The Lord will make you an instrument in His hands if you are humble, faithful, and diligent. … You will receive added strength when you are sustained by the congregation and set apart” (Teaching, No Greater Call [1999], 20). Have the family gather around a heavy object and ask one person to try to lift it. Adding one more person at a time, invite other family members to help lift the object. Discuss what happens when everyone helps. Consider emphasizing President Eyring’s counsel about practical ways we can sustain others in their callings.
Youth

Thanks to My Sunday School Teacher

Name withheld
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My Sunday School class isn’t always reverent. I love listening to the lesson every week, but sometimes it seems as though others in my class do not. Often they talk to each other or play games on electronic devices while our teacher is trying to teach us. Sadly, I sometimes find myself part of the problem.
One week we were worse than usual, and by the end of class, our teacher was reduced to tears because nobody would listen to her lesson. As we walked out of the classroom, I felt bad for her.
The next Sunday our teacher explained that she had prayed a lot that week, seeking for guidance, and it occurred to her that she needed to show us a Church film. She began the movie, which was about the life of Jesus Christ and the miracles He performed.
As I thought about the film that evening, I felt something different. Suddenly I realized that I was feeling the Spirit, more so than I ever had before. Immediately I decided that I wanted to make changes in my life to be more like the Savior, and I realized the experience in Sunday School that day had greatly strengthened my testimony. I am so thankful for my Sunday School teacher and everything she does for our class every week.
Children

Sustaining Means Helping

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President Eyring said that when we raise our hands to sustain people, we promise to help them do what they have been called to do.
Which of the children above are sustaining a leader or teacher?
Top: illustrations by Scott Greer; photo illustrations by Welden C. Andersen, Hyun-Gyu Lee, and Frank Helmrich
Here are some of the people we sustain: prophet, bishopric or branch presidency, ward or branch mission leader, Primary teacher, Primary leaders.
Write down or discuss with your parents something you can do to sustain these people.
 
"Called to Serve"
 
cji
6/1/12
 
None seeking appointment
just seeking to serve all
Father's will to be done
no turning away forever
called to serve wherever
cleaning the Chapel
handing out the hymn books
playing the piano/organ
being a Bishop or member
a leader or a follower
a Home Teacher called
always called to serve
then to be sustained
worthy to thus serve!
Copyright © 2012 – cji

Visiting Teaching—a Sacred Assignment

As visiting teachers, we have an important spiritual mission to fulfill. “The bishop, who is the ordained shepherd of the ward, cannot possibly watch over all of the Lord’s sheep at one time. He is dependent on inspired visiting teachers to help him.”1 Seeking and receiving revelation as to who should be assigned to watch over each sister is essential.
Inspiration begins as members of the Relief Society presidency prayerfully discuss the needs of individuals and families. Then, with the bishop’s approval, the Relief Society presidency gives the assignment in a way that helps sisters understand that visiting teaching is an important spiritual responsibility.2
Visiting teachers sincerely come to know and love each sister, help her strengthen her faith, and give service when needed. They seek personal inspiration to know how to respond to the spiritual and temporal needs of each sister they visit.3
“Visiting teaching becomes the Lord’s work when our focus is on people rather than percentages. In reality, visiting teaching is never finished. It is more a way of life than a task.”4

From Our History

Eliza R. Snow, the second Relief Society general president taught, “I consider the office of a teacher a high and holy office.” She counseled visiting teachers “to be filled with the Spirit of God, of wisdom, of humility, of love” before they visited homes so they would be able to ascertain and meet spiritual needs as well as temporal ones. She said, “You may feel to talk words of peace and comfort, and if you find a sister feeling cold, take her to your heart as you would a child to your bosom and warm [her] up.”5
As we go forth in faith as the early Relief Society sisters did, we will have the Holy Ghost with us and be inspired to know how to help each sister we visit. “Let [us] seek for wisdom instead of power,” said Sister Snow, “and [we] will have all the power [we] have wisdom to exercise.”6
For more information, go to reliefsociety.lds.org.

What Can I Do?

  1. How can I improve in my ability to fulfill my important responsibility as a visiting teacher?
  2. As a visiting teacher, how can I help other sisters fulfill their responsibility as visiting teachers?


"Sacred Honors"
 
cji
6/1/12
 
Sacred honors entrusted
care and service to others
accounting for stewardship
being worthy to be a servant
a handmaiden of Father's
rich or poor to the world
this work for all to do
thus the laurels shared
sacred honors earned
care and serving others!
 
Copyright © 2012 – cji

May 30, 2012

"Two Times Two"

"Two Times Two"
 
cji
5/31/12
 
Giant ants climbing walls
marching into battle strong
two times two times two
how many in all to gather
battlefields of sandy earth
struggles for the kingdom
like the ants into the wars
two times two times two
unending in lines of miles
lemmings of history past
like each of us this day
unknowingly suspecting
others to do the fighting
while we're found alone
two times two times two!


Copyright © 2012 – cji

"A Birthday for Asia" and "The Guitar Player"


“A Birthday for Asia”
cji
5/30/12

Pert and happy to know
straight and narrow to stay
in maturity and loveliness
yet intelligent and serious
as athletic and artistic
volleyball is her game
important her name
she’s very realistic
at abuses she’s furious
inviting all to a quietness
Asia’s twenty just  today
smiles about her to glow!

Copyright © 2012 – cji





“The Guitar Player”
cji
5/30/12

Marching bands within to be
complexity of notes to explain
simple chords to strike a heart
blues and jazz seem all one part
feelings having meanings plain
the guitar player all to see;

But do they really comprehend
the depth of soul to be found
curiously to explore all about
fingers flicking strings to shout
yet within the deep profound
his quest for wisdom not to end!


Copyright © 2012 – cji

"The First Two (2)"

"The First Two (2)"
 
cji
5/30/12
 
Taking away all laws
obedience and rule
finding means to avoid
removing what unwanted
courts, judges, lawyers
defending only crimes
always ignoring the 1st 2
actually encouraging
disobedience to both
as well as some others;
 
So all sisters/brothers
who've taken no oath
why so discouraging
about the first two
into music as chimes
found as destroyers
only agency so wanted
deeply hidden in the void
thinking blasphemy cool
adding fine print pause!

Copyright © 2012 – cji

May 28, 2012

"Another Day"

"Another Day"
 
cji
5/29/12
 
Gone the parades long passed
covered the grills for a time
gone is Audie Murphy as well
maybe someday gone is me;
 
Another day maybe we'll see
or roll with the ocean's swell
remembering freedom some time
as heroes alone are massed!
Copyright © 2012 – cji

May 27, 2012

"Memorial Day 2012"

"Memorial Day 2012"
 
cji
5/28/12
 
Wolves beguiling the sheep
the mobs of evil pervasive
rhetoric of the media explodes
beguiling all who'll partake;
 
Oh my nation please awake
freedom internally implodes
evil, mobs, wolves invasive
while the sheep flocks sleep!
Copyright © 2012 – cji

May 26, 2012

"Quietly Humbled"

"Quietly Humbled"
 
cji
5/27/12
 
Each hour of the Sabbath
pondering the importance
keeping this day set apart
prayerfully to covenant again
covenants made eternally
seeking the warmth of truth
the blessings of obedience
a remembrance of Father
quietly humbled by such awe
that Father hears my prayers
answering ever so assuredly
not just on the Sabbath Day
but every moment everyday!

Copyright © 2012 – cji

"Splitting Wood"

"Splitting Wood"
 
cji
5/26/12
 
Clear clarion sounds
ringing in the air about
many voices to shout
or just one all alone;
 
The ax rises and falls
over and over repetitive
done by self or competitive
splitting wood for fire;
 
Older times long ago
when one worked by hand
now-a-days none understand
for mechanical replacing all;
 
Long ago and not far away
men/women worked together
striving for home and shelter
today once more all alone!

Copyright © 2012 – cji

May 25, 2012

"Insert"

"Insert"
 
cji
5/25/12
 
Finding ways in and out
seeking further intelligence
to insert the key of access
passwords and passages
quickening one's awareness
pretending to be invisible
high jacking an other's life
checking backdoor windows
forever seeking not your own
to insert a special interest
rhetorically to impugn all
beguiling without virtue
finding ways in and out!

--
Copyright © 2012 – cji

May 23, 2012

“A Name”


“A Name”

cji
5/24/12

Seemingly endless found
picking one or another
a name is but a sound
for a sister or brother;

Sometimes so strange
just letters to abound
in orders so to arrange
families to surround;

A name is once found
used by many and all
ages and ages expound
something to meals to call!

Copyright © 2012 – cji

“Staying Alive”


“Staying Alive”

cji
5/24/12

Only for the moment
mortality is measured
day by day – or days
time in space totaled
while yet some differ
giving in to live longer
lemmings and sheep
others willing to fight
caring for freedoms
some decide to rule
causing others to obey
just staying alive maybe
but one cannot forever
unless Scriptures true
life eternal for all
if worthy and pure
but only for some
most believing not
seeking mortality
rather than immortality!

Copyright © 2012 – cji

May 22, 2012

“Only the Decent”


“Only the Decent”

cji
5/23/12

The gates there awaiting
many are called few come
most over and over again
leaping and running fast
into the refiners fire hot
searing the heat intense
purifying and cleansing
uplifting – challenging
only the decent enter in
willingly to the fires depth
tasting the cleansing
within soul and mind!
Copyright © 2012 – cji
“It’s only the decent who enter the Refiners Fire willingly” – cji 5/23/12

“Songs of the Cedars”


“Songs of the Cedars”

cji
5/23/12

Winds smoothly pushing
melodies of loneliness abound
different profusions of feelings
children playing innocent like
what love awaits and beckons
tears revealing emotions often
the songs of the cedars tender
sirens of the ancient myths
each calling and beckoning all
come within – come within
comforting and beguiling
warming and yet warning
songs of the cedars alive
winds smoothly pushing!

Copyright © 2012 – cji

“Test of Fire” Incredible ad by Catholic Church


Incredible   ad by the Roman Catholic Church

“Test of Fire”

cji
5/23/12

Hammers of the blacksmith
heated medal moldable now
souls and minds to inflame
right and wrong to discern
risking all or risking none
the refiners fire to entice
entering as one or more
reflections of fires enlighten
others harden and splinter
each must endure the heat
the test of fire and flesh
to choose right or wrong
eternally the consequences!


Copyright © 2012 – cji

May 21, 2012

“Cliffs Without Edges”


“Cliffs Without Edges”

cji
5/22/12

Stretching out boundaries
extremes until to breaking
yet still within safe zones
children growing to discern
where each the limits found;

Time and space to be bound
ever so much each to learn
some individuals some clones
eternity found thus shaking
melted-molded in foundries;

Naked winds torture to bind
pushing and expanding girth
speeds in excess of light
minds blown and to canker
hardened spirits to rebel;

Old angers/fires to quell
evil spirits feeling rancor
wanting all lost in night
teaching hatred at birth
cliffs without edges blind!

(Addendum:

Gentle waves washing cool
no limits found or known
haphazardly life is taken
once a child no longer to be
blindness, deafness to feel;

Never again able to heal
cliffs without edges to see
too late for most to awaken
absolute right/wrong shown
too many having been a fool!)

Copyright © 2012 – cji

“Prove Yourselves”


Doctrine and Covenants 124:55 “prove yourselves unto me that ye are faithful in all things whatsoever I command you, that I may bless you, and crown you with honor, immortality, and eternal life.”
“Prove Yourselves”

cji
5/22/12

Making a covenant eternal
giving one’s word/honor
reporting and accounting
standing pure and clean
accepting callings fully
enduring good and evil
making clarion clear all
who’s side you are on
as Samuel – the Lord’s
are we found the same
or only imitating in shame
prove yourselves herewith
fully, completely, eternally
forever and ever and ever!

Copyright © 2012 – cji