Lesson 12: The Blessings of the Priesthood

Sister Gill taught the lesson this week about the blessings we get from the Priesthood. We learned what the different offices of the priesthood were and the duties that they perform.

We have Two Priesthoods: Aaronic and Melchizedek
-The offices of the Aaronic Priesthood are deacon, teacher, priest, and bishop; however bishops are chosen from the Melchizedek Priesthood because those who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood have authority to function in all the offices of the lesser priesthood. The Aaronic Priesthood holders pass the sacrament, collect fast offerings, and assist the bishop in watching over the new members of the ward. Those who are priests can bless the sacrament and baptize new members.
-The offices of the Melchizedek Priesthood are elder, high priest, patriarch, seventy, and Apostle. Those who hold this priesthood have the power to administer the spiritual blessings of the Church. When working under the direction of a presiding authority, they may baptize, and perform sealing ordinances in temples. They may also administer to the sick and perform other ordinances. They also perform all the functions of the Aaronic Priesthood.

N. Eldon Tanner said "The priesthood is for the blessing of all-men, women and children. Through the priesthood we receive and administer the ordinances of the gospel, which include baptism, confirmation, the sacrament, all temple ordinances, including sealings for all time and eternity, and work for the dead. By the power of the priesthood the sick are healed, the lame made to walk, the blind to see and the deaf to hear, according to their faith and the will of our Father in heaven. Blessings of the priesthood comfort those who mourn, and give aid to the stricken."

Lesson 11: Extended Family Relationships

Sister Wade gave a lesson on Sunday about Extended Family Relationships. We have a lot to learn from all of our family members.

Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone told a story about his great-grandmother and how she had a great influence on his aunt.

"I have a sweet Aunt Beryl Hollindrake. She told me that when she was just three or four years old that my great-grandmother, her Grandmother Featherstone, would hold her on her lap and tell her about the Savior, all the beautiful stories. Then she would recall how my great-grandmother would tell her about the Savior's trial and how they beat him and cursed him and spit upon him--how they dragged him and forced him against the cross and drove huge spikes into his hands cruelly. She said, 'As my grandmother would tell me the stories, tears would stream down her cheeks.' And she said, 'It was on the lap of my grandmother that I learned to love the Savior with all my heart and soul.'"

Extended families can also help us learn about our heritage, our individual worth, and can provide stories, names or other family information that is needed for temple work. It is our responsibility to love and care for all members of our family; Heavenly Father wants us all to live together as family in the eternities.

Combined Activity

March 16th, 2011

Getting ready for the trust exercise.

Leading the "blind" through a dangerous chair situation.

Beautiful girls taking a break from marshmallow dodge ball.

Ping Pong Tic-Tac-Toe

The YM were in charge for the combined activity and we all had a blast!

Lesson 10: Encouraging Enjoyable Family Activities

Although our families often work together and each family member has many individual responsibilities, it is important for a family to have fun together.

When planning family activities please keep these points in mind...

1.  Family activities should allow each family member to express special interests and capabilities. Each family member’s tastes and interests are valid, and family members develop greater love and understanding for each other as they accommodate each other’s interests.

2.  It is important to be positive and supportive as you participate in family activities. When we are negative and criticize others during family activities, the activities often cease to be fun. When we praise others and recognize their good qualities, we show love and help others feel good.

3.  Arranging our schedules to allow time for family fun may require sacrifices, planning, and changing priorities. The First Presidency said, "Young men and young women should balance their involvement in school and other social activities by participating in family activities and spending appropriate time in the home"

4. Family fun can be inexpensive. Most of us could easily come up with ideas for family fun that would be expensive. But being more realistic challenges us to stretch our imaginations and be creative.

The First Presidency has given us some specific counsel about the time we spend together as families: "Meet together often, and share the problems and successes of the day. Plan your work and activities together so that each person may do his share and contribute to a happy family. We promise that as you do this and as your family members regularly pray together, sing together, read and discuss the scriptures together, and share their testimonies with each other, love and harmony will increase in your home"

Wednesday Night Service

The girls did a great job cleaning the Lord's house on Wednesday. They had fun, too! We don't have any pictures of Sunshine, for some reason, but she did an AWESOME job!

Lesson 9: Encouraging Family Unity

A family has the same characteristics as a rope. A family is strong when all its members are working together and, like a rope, cannot be broken easily. But when individual members no longer work in unity with each other, the family becomes weak. Just as a rope will become weak if an individual strand is severed. Everyone in the family benefits when individual members are working together.

The pattern of family life was established before the world was. In heaven, we were part of a heavenly family, and we came to earth as part of an earthly family. The scriptures testify that the Lord wants us to be unified.

Last sentence of DC 38:27 "I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine"

There are many opportunities in everyday family life to do things with and for each other. Sometimes we must sacrifice our personal convenience to provide for the needs of another.