Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin
Saturday Morning Session - April 2008
Sunday Aug. 24th Lesson
True disciples of Jesus Christ have always been concerned for the one.
We need to follow the example of Christ and be concerned for the “one lost sheep”
Jesus Christ Said:
Luke 15:4 - What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
Elder Wirthlin said:“We are commanded to seek out those who are lost. We are to be our brother’s keeper. We cannot neglect this commission given by our Savior. We must be concerned for the one.”
Elder Wirthlin gives us three types of people to look for that are lost:
1. Those who feel they are different.
2. Those who are weary
3. Those who have strayed
Some are lost because they feel they are different.
Some people feel like they don’t belong because they may look, act, think or speak differently. This gives some people the feeling that they don’t fit in and therefore are not needed.
Think about a time when you were at work, or school or a social gathering and you felt like you really didn’t fit in or that your services weren’t needed. Did it make you uncomfortable? What do you think would have helped you to feel more comfortable and that you were needed there?
Quote #1 – “The Lord did not people the earth with a vibrant orchestra of personalities only to value the piccolos of the world. Every instrument is precious and adds to the complex beauty of the symphony. All of Heavenly Father’s children are different in some degree, yet each has his own beautiful sound that adds depth and richness to the whole.”
The Lord values all his children.
2 Nephi 26:33 - For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to ccome unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.
Elder Wirthlin tells a story of when he was a boy:
Quote #2 – “I remember when I was young, there was an older boy who was physically and mentally disabled. He had a speech impediment and walked with difficulty. The boys used to make fun of him. They teased and taunted him until sometimes he would cry.
I can still hear his voice: “You’re not kind to me,” he said. And still they would ridicule him, push him, and make jokes about him.
One day I could bear it no longer. Although I was only seven years old, the Lord gave me the courage to stand up to my friends.
“Don’t touch him,” I said to them. “Stop teasing him. Be kind. He is a child of God!”
My friends stepped back and turned away.
I wondered at the time if my boldness would jeopardize my relationship with them. But the opposite happened. From that day onward, my friends and I became closer. They showed increased compassion for the boy. They became better human beings. To my knowledge, they never taunted him again.”
Let’s try to remember to have more compassion for those that are different from us.
Some are lost because they are weary.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed, stressed out and too tired to keep going? Who hasn’t felt that way right? Look at the Apostles and Prophets of the church, they are not young men and I’m sure have less strength than many of us, yet they are great examples of persistence, especially Elder Wirthlin as we see him barely being able to stand and give his talks.
Elder Wirthlin said:
Quote #3 - “I do not wish to underestimate the weight that members of the Church bear upon their shoulders, nor do I minimize the emotional and spiritual trials they face. These can be heavy and often difficult to bear.
I do, however, have a testimony of the renewing power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The prophet Isaiah proclaimed that the Lord “giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” – Isaiah 40:29
When Elder Wirthlin feels tired he remembers the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith:
D&C 128:22 - Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free.
Quote #4 – “For you members of the Church who hold back because of feelings of inadequacy, I plead with you to step forward, put your shoulder to the wheel, and push. Even when you feel that your strength can add little, the Church needs you. The Lord needs you. Remember that the Lord often chooses “the weak things of the world” to accomplish His purposes.” – D&C 1:19
The Lord has given us a promise in Mathew 11:28 - Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
The Lord has asked us to show concern for the weary:
D&C 81:5 - Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.
Quote #5 – “Remember, sometimes those who start out the slowest end up going the farthest.”
Some are lost because they have strayed.
All of us make mistakes – Elder Wirthlin said in his talk – “The question is not whether we will trip and fall but, rather, how will we respond.”
Quote #6 – “Do you not know that the Church is a place for imperfect people to gather together—even with all their mortal frailties—and become better? Every Sunday in every meetinghouse throughout the world, we find mortal, imperfect men, women, and children who meet together in brotherhood and charity, striving to become better people, to learn of the Spirit, and to lend encouragement and support to others. I am not aware of any sign on the door of our meetinghouses that reads “Restricted Entrance—Perfect People Only.”
We need the Lord’s Church to be taught his redeeming gospel and doctrines and were we can partake of His saving ordinances.
Elder Wirthlin also talks about how the Church is a place were we can lose ourselves in the service of others. How does this help us?
Quote #7 – “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
We are all needed in His Church, even if we have been offended we need to set our hurt aside, we need to use our abilities to better ourselves. It not only makes us better people but we bless others with our examples.
Elder Wirthlin warns that if we have strayed because of Doctrinal concern we need to realize that the Lord is not foolish.
1 Corinthians 2:14 - But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Quote #8 – “I know that each of you bears a concern for a loved one. Give encouragement, service, and support to them. Love them. Be kind to them. In some cases, they will return. In others, they will not. But in all cases, let us ever be worthy of the name we take upon ourselves, even that of Jesus Christ.”
I’d like to end with Elder Wirthlin’s Testimony
“To all who inhabit this beautiful earth, I raise my voice and bear solemn witness that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and King! He restored His truth and His gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith. He speaks to His prophets and apostles. President Thomas S. Monson is the Lord’s anointed and guides His Church today. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”
http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-851-6,00.html
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
A Matter of a Few Degrees
By Pesident Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Priesthood Session - April 2008
Sunday July 27th Lesson
"In 1979 a large passenger jet with 257 people on board left New Zealand for a sightseeing flight to Antarctica and back. Unknown to the pilots, however, someone had modified the flight coordinates by a mere two degrees. This error placed the aircraft 28 miles (45 km) to the east of where the pilots assumed they were. As they approached Antarctica, the pilots descended to a lower altitude to give the passengers a better look at the landscape. Although both were experienced pilots, neither had made this particular flight before, and they had no way of knowing that the incorrect coordinates had placed them directly in the path of Mount Erebus, an active volcano that rises from the frozen landscape to a height of more than 12,000 feet (3,700 m).
As the pilots flew onward, the white of the snow and ice covering the volcano blended with the white of the clouds above, making it appear as though they were flying over flat ground. By the time the instruments sounded the warning that the ground was rising fast toward them, it was too late. The airplane crashed into the side of the volcano, killing everyone on board.
It was a terrible tragedy brought on by a minor error—a matter of only a few degrees"
What do we learn from this story that can relate to our lives?
- Minor drifts from the gospel can bring horrible consequences into our lives.
Let's talk about an example from the Bible - King Saul. Turn to 1 Samuel.
In 1 Samuel 9:2 we learn what kind of man Saul is - 2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people. From this scripture we learn that Saul was a very good man.
1 Samuel 9:15-17 - 15 ¶ Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, 16 To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me. 17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people. So Saul was chosen by God to be King of Israel. We also learn in the scriptures that Saul was a very physically imposing man and came from a very influential family. But he was also human and had weaknesses, but God had promised him that He would always be with him. Saul was a mighty leader and with the help of the Lord he defeated the Ammonites who were coming to invade Isreal - 1 Samuel 11:11-13 - 11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together. 12 ¶ And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death. 13 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the Lord hath wrought salvation in Israel. From this scripture we learn that Israel was saved with Gods help.
Soon the terrible army of the Philistines came to battle the Israelites. The Israelites were very afraid of the Philistine army. 1 Samuel 13:6 - 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. Saul knew he needed help, the Prophet Samuel called to him and told Saul to wait for him and he would come to offer a sacrifice and counsel with the Lord. Well Saul waited 7 days and couldn’t wait any longer so he offered a sacrifice but he had no priesthood authority to do so. What do you think happened when The Prophet Samuel arrived? 1 Samuel 13:13-14 - 13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. 14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue Saul had broken the commandment of the Lord and so he lost his kingdom.
This was a scriptural example of a small error that had a large impact. Small errors over time can make a dramatic difference in our lives if they are not corrected.
Quote #1 “Like the pilots and passengers of the sightseeing flight, we set out on what we hope will be an exciting journey only to realize too late that an error of a few degrees has set us on a course for spiritual disaster.”
What can we learn from these two examples?
Quote #2 “Small errors and minor drifts away from the doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring sorrowful consequences into our lives. It is therefore of critical importance that we become self-disciplined enough to make early and decisive corrections to get back on the right track and not wait or hope that errors will somehow correct themselves.”
The longer we wait to correct ourselves – the longer and harder the needed changes are.
As women, what have we been entrusted with by our Heavenly Father?
1. Raising children
2. The ability to love
3. Our feminine intuition (inspiration)
4. Influence of good on our Priesthood holders
We are reminded in D&C that “unto whom much is given much is required” What is required of us or what expectations does the Lord have for us? He expects us to be a righteous women and an example of goodness.
Quote #3 “We live up to these expectations when we quickly recognize the dangers and influences that tempt us to drift from the Lord’s way and when we courageously follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost to make decisive corrections that will bring us back on course.”
What are some of the things we are tempted with?
- Media influences
The great thing is we are promised that…
Quote #4 “The Lord will help you to recognize and avoid those evils. It is the early recognition of danger and a clear course correction that will keep you in the light of the gospel. Minor decisions can lead to major consequences.”
Quote #5 “But the Lord requires not only outward acts but also your inner thoughts and feelings to be close to the spirit of the law. God “require[s] the heart and a willing mind.” – D&C 64:34
D&C 58:26-28 - 26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. 27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; 28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward. The Lord has given us a great gift of free agency we need to use our free agency to “bring to pass much righteousness.”
Heavenly Father sent us here on earth knowing we would be tempted and that we would sin, but he didn’t leave us with no hope. He gave us the ultimate gift of the Atonement!!
John 3:16 - 16 ¶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Using the Atonement doesn’t just help us to everlasting life…
Quote #6 – “Our willingness to repent shows our gratitude for God’s gift and for the Savior’s love and sacrifice on our behalf.”
The Lord has given us commandments. These commandments test our faith and our obedience but they also…
Quote #7 – “These commandments and covenants of God are like navigational instructions from celestial heights and will lead us safely to our eternal destination.”
“Remember: the heavens will not be filled with those who never made mistakes but with those who recognized that they were off course and who corrected their ways to get back in the light of gospel truth.”
President Uchtdorf asks the question “What if we have drifted far off course?” – Isaiah 1:18 - though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. No one is excluded from this promise.
It wont always be easy to get back on course but we have lots of people who care and love us and will be there to help: your family, bishop, stake presidents, visiting teachers, and most importantly your greatest friend of all – The Savior.
Quote #8 “He understands your sorrow. He knows your grief. He and our Father in Heaven will bless, comfort, and strengthen you; They will walk beside you and carry you as you strive to right your course.”
I am so thankful for the Atonement in my life. I know the Atonement can heal and I have seen it’s healing powers in my life. I’m so thankful for the love I feel from the Lord and the knowledge I have of the Saviors sacrifice for me personally. I know that by following the Gospel of Christ I can keep on the right course.
Link to Conference Talk
http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-851-21,00.html
Priesthood Session - April 2008
Sunday July 27th Lesson
"In 1979 a large passenger jet with 257 people on board left New Zealand for a sightseeing flight to Antarctica and back. Unknown to the pilots, however, someone had modified the flight coordinates by a mere two degrees. This error placed the aircraft 28 miles (45 km) to the east of where the pilots assumed they were. As they approached Antarctica, the pilots descended to a lower altitude to give the passengers a better look at the landscape. Although both were experienced pilots, neither had made this particular flight before, and they had no way of knowing that the incorrect coordinates had placed them directly in the path of Mount Erebus, an active volcano that rises from the frozen landscape to a height of more than 12,000 feet (3,700 m).
As the pilots flew onward, the white of the snow and ice covering the volcano blended with the white of the clouds above, making it appear as though they were flying over flat ground. By the time the instruments sounded the warning that the ground was rising fast toward them, it was too late. The airplane crashed into the side of the volcano, killing everyone on board.
It was a terrible tragedy brought on by a minor error—a matter of only a few degrees"
What do we learn from this story that can relate to our lives?
- Minor drifts from the gospel can bring horrible consequences into our lives.
Let's talk about an example from the Bible - King Saul. Turn to 1 Samuel.
In 1 Samuel 9:2 we learn what kind of man Saul is - 2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people. From this scripture we learn that Saul was a very good man.
1 Samuel 9:15-17 - 15 ¶ Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, 16 To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me. 17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people. So Saul was chosen by God to be King of Israel. We also learn in the scriptures that Saul was a very physically imposing man and came from a very influential family. But he was also human and had weaknesses, but God had promised him that He would always be with him. Saul was a mighty leader and with the help of the Lord he defeated the Ammonites who were coming to invade Isreal - 1 Samuel 11:11-13 - 11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together. 12 ¶ And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death. 13 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the Lord hath wrought salvation in Israel. From this scripture we learn that Israel was saved with Gods help.
Soon the terrible army of the Philistines came to battle the Israelites. The Israelites were very afraid of the Philistine army. 1 Samuel 13:6 - 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. Saul knew he needed help, the Prophet Samuel called to him and told Saul to wait for him and he would come to offer a sacrifice and counsel with the Lord. Well Saul waited 7 days and couldn’t wait any longer so he offered a sacrifice but he had no priesthood authority to do so. What do you think happened when The Prophet Samuel arrived? 1 Samuel 13:13-14 - 13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. 14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue Saul had broken the commandment of the Lord and so he lost his kingdom.
This was a scriptural example of a small error that had a large impact. Small errors over time can make a dramatic difference in our lives if they are not corrected.
Quote #1 “Like the pilots and passengers of the sightseeing flight, we set out on what we hope will be an exciting journey only to realize too late that an error of a few degrees has set us on a course for spiritual disaster.”
What can we learn from these two examples?
Quote #2 “Small errors and minor drifts away from the doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring sorrowful consequences into our lives. It is therefore of critical importance that we become self-disciplined enough to make early and decisive corrections to get back on the right track and not wait or hope that errors will somehow correct themselves.”
The longer we wait to correct ourselves – the longer and harder the needed changes are.
As women, what have we been entrusted with by our Heavenly Father?
1. Raising children
2. The ability to love
3. Our feminine intuition (inspiration)
4. Influence of good on our Priesthood holders
We are reminded in D&C that “unto whom much is given much is required” What is required of us or what expectations does the Lord have for us? He expects us to be a righteous women and an example of goodness.
Quote #3 “We live up to these expectations when we quickly recognize the dangers and influences that tempt us to drift from the Lord’s way and when we courageously follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost to make decisive corrections that will bring us back on course.”
What are some of the things we are tempted with?
- Media influences
The great thing is we are promised that…
Quote #4 “The Lord will help you to recognize and avoid those evils. It is the early recognition of danger and a clear course correction that will keep you in the light of the gospel. Minor decisions can lead to major consequences.”
Quote #5 “But the Lord requires not only outward acts but also your inner thoughts and feelings to be close to the spirit of the law. God “require[s] the heart and a willing mind.” – D&C 64:34
D&C 58:26-28 - 26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. 27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; 28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward. The Lord has given us a great gift of free agency we need to use our free agency to “bring to pass much righteousness.”
Heavenly Father sent us here on earth knowing we would be tempted and that we would sin, but he didn’t leave us with no hope. He gave us the ultimate gift of the Atonement!!
John 3:16 - 16 ¶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Using the Atonement doesn’t just help us to everlasting life…
Quote #6 – “Our willingness to repent shows our gratitude for God’s gift and for the Savior’s love and sacrifice on our behalf.”
The Lord has given us commandments. These commandments test our faith and our obedience but they also…
Quote #7 – “These commandments and covenants of God are like navigational instructions from celestial heights and will lead us safely to our eternal destination.”
“Remember: the heavens will not be filled with those who never made mistakes but with those who recognized that they were off course and who corrected their ways to get back in the light of gospel truth.”
President Uchtdorf asks the question “What if we have drifted far off course?” – Isaiah 1:18 - though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. No one is excluded from this promise.
It wont always be easy to get back on course but we have lots of people who care and love us and will be there to help: your family, bishop, stake presidents, visiting teachers, and most importantly your greatest friend of all – The Savior.
Quote #8 “He understands your sorrow. He knows your grief. He and our Father in Heaven will bless, comfort, and strengthen you; They will walk beside you and carry you as you strive to right your course.”
I am so thankful for the Atonement in my life. I know the Atonement can heal and I have seen it’s healing powers in my life. I’m so thankful for the love I feel from the Lord and the knowledge I have of the Saviors sacrifice for me personally. I know that by following the Gospel of Christ I can keep on the right course.
Link to Conference Talk
http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-851-21,00.html
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