So glad to be with people I love this past week. I miss those opportunities.
Wanting the house to help usher in the feelings of Christmas soon with new and old favorites.
When I teach an Old Testament lesson, I usually work on it for about 2 weeks. This lesson was a little different because it had videos associated with it. I decided that these videos were worth showing in class. I went up to the church library to make sure that I could get them to play on the church televisions on. Saturday evening. I could not get anything to connect. I tried all three tbs that the church has. I went home and started making phone calls to see if I could get some help to make this work.
I went to church almost an hour early to see if someone could show me how to do this. I had so many people helping me, but no success. We finally tried other phones and devices and they would play fine so I knew it was a problem with MY phone.
We started going through settings to see if we could figure out what was missing.... no luck!
Greg Miles offered Saturday to help me and also to bring his devices to use if needed. He brought his iPad, but needed a cable that the church didn't have to connect. Sharon Parry Smith, a librarian, for Bluebell Ward said "No problem - I carry one in my bag." She got it out and let me use it and Greg's machine connected nicely. Greg went beyond and when it was class time, he came in and hooked it up and actually ran the videos as I needed them. When we first got in the classroom, the videos had deleted the download setup we had already taken care of. He cleared everything and redownloaded and everything was good to go.
I was so stressed that I was kind of a mess. I didn't know how the lesson was going to go over so much worry for the technology problem. The class could sense, or actually see, that I was not on tip top point and they were wonderful. They participated and answered questions and made comments. It was wonderful. I didn't have time to present everything I had found, but I think it went ok.
I need to figure it out before trying another video. I looked ahead and no lesson until March or April need technology so I have awhile to figure it out.
I was so stressed though and I am thankful for ALL of the people who tried to help me out. It was so appreciated!
After class I had a gentleman come up and tell me how nice that I looked today though. He said that he just needed to let me know that I look beautiful in black! How sweet.
) Even if we can’t see where it fits now, don’t let what you don’t know or understand stop you from what you do. Keep doing the puzzle. Keep all the pieces in sight until you know where they go. I have a feeling it’s going to be worth it. (By Emma Hixson) 
Amos; Obadiah “Seek the Lord, and Ye Shall Live”
What truths about prophets do we know?
From the topic section on the Church website under “Prophets” it says:
Like the prophets of old, prophets today testify of Jesus Christ and teach His gospel. They make known God’s will and true character. They speak boldly and clearly, denouncing sin and warning of its consequences. At times, they may be inspired to prophesy of future events for our benefit.
We can always trust the living prophets.
Our greatest safety lies in strictly following the word of the Lord given through His prophets, particularly the current President of the Church. He promises great blessings to those who follow the President of the Church:
Share the following videos: “We Need Living Prophets” (2:45)
We are so lucky to live at a time that there is a prophet on the earth.
“Words of the Prophets” (6:10) (ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
I loved seeing and hearing the past prophets that I remember from my life time. My heart was touched again by those special men.
*Amos 3: 7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, abut he brevealeth his csecret unto his servants the dprophets.
Elder Robert D Hales in April 1995 Conference: Listen to a prophet’s voice and obey. There is safety in following the living prophet.
A characteristic of prophets throughout the ages is that, regardless of the consequences, they have had the strength to speak the words of God with plainness and boldness.
Our spiritual safety lies in turning to the clear voice of our living prophet. If we listen to his voice and obey his counsel, we will be able to live as Christ would have us live and endure to the end so that one day we, along with our families, will return back into the presence of our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ.
James E Faust Oct 1989: This continuous revelation will not and cannot be forced by outside pressure from people and events. It is not the so-called “revelation of social progress.” It does not originate with the prophets; it comes from God. The Church is governed by the prophet under the guidance and direction of God.
We have been promised that the President of the Church will receive guidance for all of us as the revelator for the Church. Our safety lies in paying heed to that which he says and following his counsel.
Carol F McConkie Oct 2014: Through the prophets, the Lord reveals the truths of salvation. The salvation that is in Christ and He charts the course leading to eternal life. The words of the prophets are like manna to our souls. When we partake we are blessed, protected and preserved both temporally and spiritually. When we feast unto their words we learn how to come unto Christ and live.
The Lord was warning Israel through Amos before they were destroyed.
What are some of the things the prophets are warning us of today?
When were you blessed by listening to the prophet? How has that strengthened your testimony?
Apostasy is like a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. Amos 5; 8:11–12
From the True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference we learn: “The Great Apostasy … occurred after the Savior established His Church. After the deaths of the Savior and His Apostles, men corrupted the principles of the gospel and made unauthorized changes in Church organization and priesthood ordinances. …
“During the Great Apostasy, people were without divine direction from living prophets. Many churches were established, but they did not have priesthood power to lead people to the true knowledge of God the Father and Jesus Christ. … This apostasy lasted until Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son appeared to Joseph Smith in 1820 and initiated the restoration of the fulness of the gospel”
How would you summarize what happened during the Great Apostasy?
*Amos 8: 11 ¶ Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a afamine of bread, nor a bthirst for water, but of hearing the cwords of the Lord:
12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall arun to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.
Why are “famine” and “thirst” good words to describe the condition of those who turn away from the Lord?
Think of these questions as you listen to this video. What impact did the Apostasy have on God’s children? What impact did the Restoration have?
Show the video “The Great Apostasy” (16:36) (ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
Additional Resource. President M. Russell Ballard taught:
“In the relatively short span of years covered by the New Testament, … the people turned against Christ and His Apostles. The collapse was so great we have come to know it as the Great Apostasy, which led to the centuries of spiritual stagnation and ignorance called the Dark Ages.
“… Our Heavenly Father loves all of His children, and He wants them all to have the blessings of the gospel in their lives. Spiritual light is not lost because God turns His back on His children. Rather, spiritual darkness results when His children turn their collective backs on Him. It is a natural consequence of bad choices made by individuals, communities, countries, and entire civilizations. This has been proven again and again throughout the course of time. One of the great lessons of this historical pattern is that our choices, both individually and collectively, do result in spiritual consequences for ourselves and for our posterity” (“Learning the Lessons of the Past,” Ensign orLiahona, May 2009, 32).
Understanding the spiritual hunger that accompanies apostasy helps us understand the spiritual feast we enjoy because of the Restoration.
Can you think of truths restored in our day that are especially meaningful to you?
21 And asaviours shall come up on bmount Zion to cjudge the mount of Esau; and the dkingdom shall be the Lord’s.
Why is the phrase “saviours … on mount Zion” (Obadiah 1:21) a good description for us when we do temple and family history work?
How does the work we do for our ancestors in the temple help us feel closer to the Savior Jesus Christ?
“But how are they to become saviors on Mount Zion? By building their temples, erecting their baptismal fonts, and going forth and receiving all the ordinances, baptisms, confirmations, washings, anointings, ordinations, and sealing powers upon their heads, in behalf of all their progenitors who are dead, and redeem them that they may come forth in the first resurrection and be exalted to thrones of glory with them; and herein is the chain that binds the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, which fulfills the mission of Elijah.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith[Deseret Book, 1968], p. 330.)
According to the Prophet Joseph Smith, how can we become saviors on Mount Zion?
We become saviors on Mount Zion as we identify our deceased family members and perform ordinances for them in the temple.
President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) “We literally become saviors on Mount Zion. What does this mean? Just as our Redeemer gave His life as a vicarious sacrifice for all men, and in so doing became our Savior, even so we, in a small measure, when we engage in proxy work in the temple, become as saviors to those on the other side who have no means of advancing unless something is done in their behalf by those on earth” (“Closing Remarks,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2004, 105).
In what ways can understanding the phrase “saviors on Mount Zion” motivate us to do more to help our past and present family members receive the blessings of the temple?
Elder D. Todd Christofferson: “By identifying our ancestors and performing for them the saving ordinances they could not themselves perform, we are testifying of the infinite reach of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Christ ‘died for all.” (“The Redemption of the Dead and the Testimony of Jesus,”Ensign, Nov. 2000, 10).
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “Temple work enables us to do for others what they cannot do for themselves. It is a labor of love that permits our forefathers to continue their progress toward eternal life” (“Seeking the Good,” Ensign, May 1992, 88).
Does anyone have recent experiences they have had doing temple and family history work that you could share with us?
Testimony
I took several packages to the post office today and got them sent on their way. It is good to know that they should arrive in time! I think I have actually mailed everything I need to this Christmas. Four packages cost me a little over $50, but I actually thought it would be more. That is why I rarely send packages any more.
Post Note: By Saturday I finished ordering everything that needs to be shipped for presents. I think I am finished with Christmas gifts.
Those three little bees lived because they were surrounded by family and friends who would not give up on them, family and friends who refused to let them drown in their own stickiness and resolved to help until the last little bee could be set free.
BEE Kind. BEE Friends. BEE Grateful.
I had visitors in the wee hours of morning! I don't know where the deer are from, but they do show up periodically. These photos were captured by my Ring camera.
