Elder Greer
James 2: Faith without works is dead. Faith is an action word – meaning you must move your feet and focus on the Lord Jesus Christ.
How do we increase our faith?
1. Arrive early before sacrament to focus on the spirit of the meeting
2. Listen to the prayers that are said
3. Law of common consent - sustaining vote
4. Sing the hymns
5. Partake of the sacrament
6. Focus on speakers. When you have a difficult time focusing on the speaker think to yourself, how would I teach this principle?
Elder Lynn G. Robbins
o The blessing of hymns and great music in our lives is to give us courage to face difficult challenges.
o We all have faith and a strong testimony in the gospel that must be nourished. Otherwise if we aren’t careful, we will lose sight of the gift we have.
o How many differences of opinion come up between a husband and wife? Thousands of differences. This is also true of the first presidency and apostles as they must have a unanimous voice. When the voice is not unanimous, they table the decision and research the topic more in depth.
o A husband and wife should never finalize a decision and move forward until both are in agreement. It may require more thorough research.
o As a couple works to develop Christlike virtues, their marriage will be more stable. Their outlook, aspirations and spiritual beliefs will be more aligned.
o Stop looking for your soulmate. Couples can get caught up with infatuation while dating believing they are falling in love, but then that chemical rush tapers off. Love is an action verb. It’s not just going to happen.
o Both people should be willing to work and follow the Savior. For couples that say they fall out of love, they can fall back into love by founding their relationship upon Christ.
o Love has to do with the mind, rather than the heart. It’s a decision to love and it grows. It’s not something that just happens to you.
o We are taught to teach a child to love – this is an example of how love has to be an act.
o Ephesians 5 – Husbands love their wives, even as Christ loves the church. Bring Christlike love into your relationship.
o Christ describes the behavior of love – it is kind, it suffers long, not puffed up
o Only 1/3 of the population say “I love you”
President Dallin H. Oaks
o The Lord loves YOU.
o Testimony of the mantle President Nelson has received. Elder Oaks has known President Nelson for 34 years and said that President Nelson is a different man since he’s become prophet.
o The gospel is a process that leads us to be what Heavenly Father wants us to be.
o The reality with relationships and marriage is that there are thousands of different opinions and it won’t always be smooth sailing.
o How you resolve your differences is key to your marriage. Example: Kristin Oaks squeezes toothpaste bottle from the middle. President Oaks squeezes it from the bottom. They found a solution – get separate toothpaste bottles.
o Soulmate – Look up talk “Agency or Inspiration – Which?” – Bruce R. McConkie
o Make adult decisions – we live in a world that isn’t focused on the eternal perspective
o World popularizes sports, athletic ability – bigger headlines than world problems. Is athletic ability necessary for salvation? The mortal Savior was despised of men. He didn’t standout but his appearance was typical of those he associated with.
o World honors money and property – lay up treasures in Heaven
o Be careful to not be drawn aside by priorities of the world. Knowledge puffeth up. No reason to be proud of knowledge but we need to gain knowledge. There isn’t much salvation in the things of the mind.
o Avoid starving yourself spiritually – Don’t let the mind be overfed with priorities of the world. The Lord’s commandments are associated with blessings. Our intellect isn’t the only source for knowledge but knowledge is given through the Holy Ghost.
o Many of us fail to ask, where will this lead? A group of people were watching a dog stare down a fox squirrel running around a tree. Suddenly the dog catches the squirrel and people say, oh no, this is horrible. Yet no one did anything prior to it happening while they just stood there and watched.
o Love & Law – We need to look at both sides of the coin when working with people. We put much emphasis on love which is great, but we cannot forget the law.
o Temple brings great value to our lives. In the temple, we are taught, make covenants, and receive blessings that sustain and strengthen us.
o It’s important to outlive challenges. Hang around longer than they do.
o How do we build hope in our lives? Seek out the things of the Lord and wait upon the Lord. Sometimes we may not get an answer because we are asking the wrong question – should I A or B? At times it isn’t an answer to should I A or B.
o Did you send a subpoena to the Lord? President Oaks asked his son one time when his son was trying to quickly receive an answer on his own time. Answers come line upon line as we do our part. It may be that it isn’t the right time to fully receive the answer or that our hearts need to be more prepared. Or the Lord may need you to serve while waiting for an answer. His will. His timing. Wait upon the Lord.
o Alma 7:11 – The Lord knows our afflictions and can strengthen us.
