September 30, 2017

Visiting Teaching Message October 2017

VISITING TEACHING MESSAGE Enfolding with Love Those Who Stray

Prayerfully study this material and seek for inspiration to know what to share. How will understanding the purpose of Relief Society prepare daughters of God for the blessings of eternal life?

“The reality is that there are no perfect families … ,” said President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency. “Whatever problems your family is facing, whatever you must do to solve them, the beginning and the end of the solution is charity, the pure love of Christ.”¹

Of those who are not participating fully in the gospel, Linda K. Burton, former General President of the Relief Society, said: “Heavenly Father loves all His children. … No matter where they are—on or off the path—He wants them back home.”²

“However wayward [your children] might be, … when you speak or talk to them, do it not in anger, do it not harshly, in a condemning spirit,” taught President Joseph F. Smith (1838–1918). “Speak to them kindly.”³

Elder Brent H. Nielson of the Seventy reiterated the Savior’s instruction to those who have 10 pieces of silver and lose one: “Search until you find it. When the lost one is your son or your daughter, your brother or your sister, … after all we can do, we love that person with all of our hearts. …

“May you and I receive the revelation to know how to best approach those in our lives who are lost and, when necessary, to have the patience and love of our Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ, as we love, watch, and wait for the prodigal.”⁴

President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, said: “I have prayed with faith that someone I loved would seek and feel the power of the Atonement. I have prayed with faith that human angels would come to their aid, and they came.

“God has devised means to save each of His children.”⁵

Additional Scriptures and Information

Matthew 18:12; Alma 31:35; 3 Nephi 13:32; D&C 121:41–42

reliefsociety.lds.org

Faith, Family, Relief

Consider This

How can we continue to show charity to those who do not want to live the principles of the gospel?

Show References

Notes

1. Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “In Praise of Those Who Save,” Ensign, May 2016, 79, 80.

2. Linda K. Burton, in Sarah Jane Weaver, “Sister Burton, Sister Wixom Visit Church’s Pacific Area,” Church News, Apr. 2, 2013,lds.org/church/news.

3. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith (1998), 254.

4. Brent H. Nielson, “Waiting for the Prodigal,” Ensign, May 2015, 103.

5. Henry B. Eyring, “To My Grandchildren,” Ensign, Nov. 2013, 71.

“The Shepherd’s Lost Sheep”

cji

10/1/17

Gaining separation unknowingly

sometimes by personal choice

going to sleep in the Gospel

finding wakefulness in the world

strange initially exciting scary

wondering if anyone notices

you the lost sheep wandering

further and further thus to stray

the shepherd’s lost sheep today

one of many while still all alone

excitement now waning quickly

fear and trepidation entering

where’s the shepherd seeking you

as if awakening from a terror

phone ringing a small note

‘how are you? Are you safe?’

finding again the safety there

held closely by the shepherd

no longer the lost sheep today!

Home Teaching Message October 2017

FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE Becoming True Disciples

By President Henry B. Eyring

First Counselor in the First Presidency

In every sacrament meeting, we have the privilege of promising Heavenly Father that we will always remember the Savior and keep His commandments so that we may have His Spirit to be with us (see Moroni 4:3; 5:2; D&C 20:77, 79). Remembering Him will always come to us naturally as we take His name upon us. We do so in many ways but especially when we serve others in His name, read His holy words, and pray to know what He would have us do.

It happened for me when I performed the baptism of a young man. I knew that I had been called by the Savior’s ordained servants as a missionary to teach His gospel and to testify of Him and of His true Church. My missionary companion and I had promised the young man that he would be cleansed through the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ as he repented with faith in the Savior and was baptized by one of His authorized servants.

As I lifted the young man out of the waters of the baptismal font, he whispered in my ear, “I am clean, I am clean.” In that moment, I remembered the Savior’s baptism by John the Baptist in the river Jordan. Even more, I remembered that I was doing the saving work of a resurrected and living Savior—attended by the Holy Ghost, as John had been.

For me and for each of us, remembering the Savior can be more than relying on a memory of our knowledge and experiences with Him. We can make choices every day that draw us closer to Him in the present.

The simplest choice may be to read the scriptures. By doing so, we can gain the feelings of being close to Him. For me, closeness comes most often when I read in the Book of Mormon. In the first minutes that I read in the chapters of 2 Nephi, I hear in my mind the voices of Nephi and Lehi describing the Savior as if they knew Him personally. A feeling of closeness comes.

For you, other places in scripture may especially draw you to Him. But wherever and whenever you read the word of God, with humble and real intent to remember the Savior, you will increase your desire to take His name upon you in your daily life.

That desire will change the way you serve in the Lord’s Church. You will pray to Heavenly Father for help in magnifying even what appears to you to be a small calling. The help you will ask for is the ability to forget yourself and focus more on what the Savior wants for those you are called to serve.

I have felt His hand and His closeness in my service with our children when I prayed to know how to help them find the peace that only the gospel brings. At such moments, I cared less about being seen as a successful parent, but I cared deeply about the success and well-being of my children.

The desire to give to those we serve what the Savior would give to them leads to prayers that are a pleading to Heavenly Father, truly in the name of Jesus Christ. When we pray in that way—in the Savior’s name, with faith in Him—the Father answers. He sends the Holy Ghost to guide, comfort, and encourage us. Because the Spirit always bears witness of the Savior (see 3 Nephi 11:32, 36; 28:11; Ether 12:41), our capacity to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, and strength increases (see Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27; D&C 59:5).

The blessings of daily and present remembering will come slowly and steadily as we serve Him, feast on His word, and pray in faith on His name. And this remembering will shape us to become true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ in His kingdom on this earth—and later with His Father in the glorious world to come.

Teaching from This Message President Eyring counsels us to remember the Savior always by making daily choices to draw closer to Him. With those you teach, you might read the sacrament prayers, which outline the covenant to always remember Him (see Moroni 4:3; 5:2; D&C 20:77, 79). Consider inviting those you teach to write a list of things they could do each day to remember the Savior. You might also consider inviting them to pray to Heavenly Father for each other’s success and well-being. Consider praying for them in the same manner.

Youth Remembering the Lord Every Day

Friends, chores, homework, TV—there are so many things that ask for our attention. But every week, we promise Heavenly Father “that [we] do always remember [His Son, Jesus Christ]” (D&C 20:79).

President Eyring says that we can “make choices every day” that help us remember the Savior. Consider making a goal this month to remember the Savior more each day. You could make a calendar and commit to doing one thing per day. President Eyring lists things like reading the scriptures, praying in faith, and serving the Savior and others. There’s also journaling, attending Church meetings, listening to general conference, going to the temple, singing hymns—the list goes on! As we remember the Savior daily, President Eyring promises that “the blessings … will come slowly and steadily … [and] will shape us to become true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Children Lots of Love

(click to view larger)

When we read the scriptures or pray, we can feel how much Heavenly Father and Jesus love us. Color in a heart each time you pray or read your scriptures. What else can you do to feel close to Heavenly Father and Jesus?

“A True Disciple”

cji

10/1/17

Entering into the Scriptures

learning of Heavenly Father

of the discipleship of the Son

becoming one with the Father

as we too can become as one

being a true disciple eternally

reaching into their spheres

clasping their individual hands

making their will as ours always

delving into the Scriptures

finding to exchange our names

into those of the Prophets

Apostles Disciples or as Ruth

Esther Naomi Sarah Mary

Elizabeth and so many others

becoming personalized then

whether the Old Testament

New Testament or

Book of Mormon

learning to become as one

as are the Father and the Son

becoming true disciples always!

September 29, 2017

"Eternal Choices" (Epilogue)

https://www.lds.org/?lang=eng

“Eternal Choices”

cji

9/30/17

(Epilogue:

Watching men’s religions*

or coming to the Father/Son

hearing true religion today

led by the Savior his Church

delegated to His Prophet

and His Apostles living

eternal choices to make

Zion’s road or Babylon’s

no other choices had

choosing truth or playing!)

(3) "This Weekend"

https://www.lds.org/?lang=eng

(3)

“This Weekend”

cji

9/30/17

General Conference to be

all the world able to hear

a living Prophet/Apostles

called by the Savior to lead

His Church today for us

this weekend taking time

putting aside tv and play

instead to hearing the Word

hearing a living Prophet!

(2) "A Prophet's Voice"

https://www.lds.org/?lang=eng

(2)

“A Prophet’s Voice”

cji

9/30/17

Restoring the true Church

requires a called Prophet

then Apostles and others

adding Scriptures truthful

thus we’ve the choice

listening to dead Prophets

or to listen to one’s living

leading the true Church

in these the Latter-days

called by the Savior to lead

giving us a living Prophet!

(1) "Latter-days"

https://www.lds.org/?lang=eng

(1)

“Latter-days”

cji

9/30/17

Centuries of repetitive prayers

unable or unallowed to voice

one’s personal thoughts

addressing the Father

through the Son told to do

accepting men’s religions

mixing truth and philosophy

now in the Latter-days

hearing a boy’s prayer

bringing the Father/Son

both appearing to the boy

restoring their Gospel

in these the latter-days!

"Hearing a Living Prophet" (Prologue)

https://www.lds.org/?lang=eng

“Hearing a Living Prophet”

cji

9/30/17

(Prologue:

Centuries having past often

without a Prophet alive

many pretending to listen

to dead Prophet’s voice

often changing their words

meandering in philosophy

therefore the message

wavering the meanings

thus today we’ve a choice

accepting man’s version

of the dead Prophet’s

or to listen to a living one!)

September 28, 2017

"Fabricated"

“Fabricated”

cji

9/29/17

Fake news to always incite

dividing asunder a nation

evil persons hating America

unable to let things alone

always to agitate hating

ungrateful for all given

pretending to be caring

all the while fabricated

much like the players

upon the stage of life

make-up and lines given

always inciting fake news!

"Troubled"

This is from a friend of mine – maybe it’s how many of think – trying to see a window for a way to resolve what is going on. Then we watch day in and day crimes against innocent person of any color! Then one wonders why so many are already defensively thinking – or what to do in any given situation. Several hundred thousand – of all colors are veterans. Many have been trained not to re-act – but to act! It would be my guess I’d be dead if someone pulled a weapon on me – regardless of who they were – as I don’t wait never knew how. So I’m glad it never happened so far. c/ork

From my friend:

“It bothers me a lot with the ''defending'' going on for all the weaklings in society . There is little defense for those in harms way day in and day out. It is all about the rights and the trauma put upon these weak beings when all they have to do is ''comply''. The excuses regarding blacks and their rights when we sweep under the rug those of all colors that do the correct things but receive little acknowledgement. It is pure BS much like all this NFL garbage and the spoiled babies expressing their 'tears' of terrible treatment. Avg. pay of 2.44 million and they complain. I can not get out of my head the recent words regarding black vs white traffic stops. It troubles. Statistics are fabricated and improperly applied. Liberal tears need not apply with me. So be it.”

“Troubled”

cji

9/29/17

Lost memories of quiet

where one got along

too busy earning a living

raising a family – home

now no longer – troubled

who might be offended

who’s a weapon out of sight

who’s a walking bomb today

where are the exits/cover

troubled worse concerned

seeking a solution – lost!

September 27, 2017

"Shadows Beckon"

“Shadows Beckon”

cji

9/28/17

Waving a finger for attention

showing a little green stuff

tempting and teasing guile

shadows beckon each of us

to succumb or to resist

each has the choice once

some get a second chance

when the shadows beckon

which do we choose first

to go towards the light

or into the dark shadows!

"A Bit Here - There"

“A Bit Here – There”

cji

9/28/17

Looking for gold/diamonds

others seeking the night life

gambling and running wild

forgetting why they’re here

slowly losing a bit here-there

sometimes noticing mostly not

a soul dies slowly at first

crowded by lack of morals

parents uncaring or none

mostly only one too few

a bit here – there gone

till speeding up quickly

losing truth and values

turning out the lights

living in pretend lightning

fools found selfishly evil

looking for gold/diamonds!