"Righteous Traditions"

GENERAL CONFERENCE! I love general conference.

A tradition that I will never forget is that each April conference, my father would take one of us children to the Conference Center in Salt Lake. And since we lived in Connecticut at the time, it was a big trip. We would spend the whole weekend in Utah, taking the time to walk around temple square and go to the Joseph Smith Building. It was also really special because my father would only take one of us at a time. This way, we each had a chance to bond with our father and share our testimony of what the Brethren were saying. It was a great and tender one-on-one experience of bonding and building of testimony that I will carry for the rest of my life.

And... just last Conference in April, my father flew here with my youngest brother to attend Conference. He got tickets for my husband and me too, and it was a specially significant experience. As we were walking home from the Conference Center, my father pulled me aside and with tears in his eyes, he told me that he knew I was going to be a good mother someday. He said that during Elder Ballard's talk "Daughters of God" he had a distinct impression that I was going to be a good mother if I followed Elder Ballard's counsel. I will never forget that.

Breanna Plooster

Getting the Most out of General Conference

I too love this time of year and am so excited for this upcoming weekend. It seems the older I get the more excited I become about General Conference. It has become a sort of "super bowl" event for me. I have been thinking for sometime what "traditions" we have done as a family in the past to prepare for General Conference. So here we go:

1. Along with each months new edition of the ensign we keep the last General Conference edition...so we can constantly return and read the 6 month focuses. I also listen to past conference talks in the car as I travel for work.
2. We try to focus the FHE before and after Conference on the importance of listening and heeding the words of the Lords servants.
3. When I was a child my parents made an effort to come up with a type of conference game to keep us envolved in the talks. Conference bingo...etc.
4. I have found now that if I am in sunday dress ( it's hard for me to not to be in shorts and a t-shirt at home) and have materials for note taking; I get so much more out of conference.

All things testify of Christ

As I read of all of the miracles, time and time again, realize the symbolism which point to the Savior and his role that he would play here on earth. This time, I was reading in John 2:2-11. As I read, I noticed an interesting parallelism. The Savior took the pots that had contained the old wine, and he filled them with new wine which was better than the first. In the same way, the Savior came to earth to fill mankind with the "new wine" of his gospel. It came where there had previously only been the "old wine", the law of Moses, and brought in its place the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is a better and higher law teaching more than just obedience, but principles of righteousness.

Making the Most of Conference

Hello all! It is a favorite time of year, the leaves are changing and we get to hear from out inspired leaders (BYU is playing the Aggies, I am from Cache Valley so this is a big game!). To help one another get more out of conference for the next six months I hope to have you folks comment or post what you or your family as done in the past to make it a fun spiritual experience! I want some good ideas to practice or even make tradition with my wife and boys!

Here is mine. I like to run, trouble is it takes time. So to justify my time investment in running I have been "Running with the Bretheren" for the last four years. Meaning I put their talks onto my iPod then I listen to them while I run. You might be wanting to heave as you think about physical exertion and conference, that it would be boring, but it has helped me to focus on the words and messagesmore than on the pain my body is feeling. I promise that it was conference that got me through my first marathon! Maybe this doesn't help us for this weekend, but "Running with the Bretheren" has truly been a blessed expereince! All but the priesthood talks are available within a week after conference. I buy the CD's so I can have the priesthood talks too. Happy posting!

Savior's Humility and Faith

In John Chapter 2 we learn of the marriage feast that Christ attends. When Christ is informed that there is no wine to drink for the feast, Christ turns water into wine.

6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.

7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.

8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.

It is interesting to note how the Savior works his miracles. He does not gallivant for others to see. He did not make the wine and run to the governor himself to show how powerful he was. He was meek and humble. His faith and humility is an example for all to follow.

It is important in our faith to be humble and then great things will come about.

Matthew Abinante

Work of God

Mark 1:14 No matter what happens, the work of God must go forth and we need to be a part of that effort. I thought of this because even though John, Jesus' cousin was in prison, Christ still "preached the Gospel of the kingdom of God." It reminded me so much of the story in Church History where one night Joseph Smith was tarred and feathered by a mob and the next day he still came to church and taught the people even when he was hurt and beaten. The mobbers in the crowd didn't expect to see him, but Joseph knew that the work of God must go forth. I thought of everyday life when sometimes I feel too tired to answer a spiritual prompting because it requires sacrifice on my part. When I do that, I am denying others and myself of God's work.

ST JOHN
CHAPTER 3

13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

I was impresed with this simple statement of truth taught here in John 3: 13 "A central componant to the eternal plan of happiness is reflected in the concept that all men must come to earth, here gain a body and pass through the trial of life before returning to "heaven".

Our Savior

Matthew 1:21 "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."(Emphasis added)

There are many around us that are emphatic that Christ will save us from our sins regardless of how we live. This is just not the case. Grace vs. works seemed to be the most debated topic during my days in the Philippines as a missionary. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we believe in being saved by grace, after all that we can do. We need not forget about the grace of Christ and that he is indeed our savior but we must do what we can to follow him. If we love him we will keep his commandments and truly try to become like him.

From the beginning of the New Testament our Heavenly Father has made it clear to us that Jesus is "the way, the truth and the life" and he will save us FROM our sins to "cometh unto the Father" after all we can do. (John 14:6)

Moses 5:15 "And as many as believed in the Son, and repented of their sins, should be saved; and as many as believed not and repented not, should be damned; and the words went forth out of the mouth of God in a firm decree; wherefore they must be fulfilled."

Matthew Abinante

"A student of divine Revelation"

Matthew ch.1- After reflecting over the mentioned chapter I was amazed with the character of the man Joseph; the Saviors earthly "foster" father. He was a choice man and forordained to his ministry, as was the Savior. Matthew 1:19-24 taught me this important statement of principle reflected in Joseph's life:
"A student of divine revelation must first take thought upon the matter in question and then have complete dedication in the fulfilling of the recieved direction." - Joshua McCune

"The Carrying Away Into Babylon"

Matthew 1:17
"So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations."

Matthew may not get his numbers correct (there are not exactly fourteen generations between each of these time-markers), but he does tell us something interesting about Jewish culture (and religious culture in general) with his referencing "the carrying away into Babylon" as though it were a valid and acknowledged marker of time.

Note this quote from a talk that President Spencer W. Kimball gave:

“When you look in the dictionary for the most important word, do you know what it is? It could be ‘remember.’ Because all of [us] have made covenants … our greatest need is to remember. That is why everyone goes to sacrament meeting every Sabbath day—to take the sacrament and listen to the priests pray that [we] ‘… may always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given [us].’ … ‘Remember’ is the word” (Circles of Exaltation [address to religious educators, Brigham Young University, 28 June 1968], 8).

Remembering is, in fact, essential. Many of the prophets, if not all, have counseled as Alma the Younger did his son Helamen, "I would that ye should do as I have done, in remembering the captivity of our fathers; for they were in bondage, and none could deliver them except it was the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he surely did deliver them in their afflictions."

What Matthew shows us unwittingly through his simple acknowledgement of the captivity in Babylon is that the Jews remembered this captivity, and even had it on their genealogy. It was an event ingrained within the annals of their culture, and it is, quite obviously, a marker of remembrance. We could do more to have such markers in our lives. When was the last time the Lord has led me out of captivity (spiritually or emotionally)? And have I sufficiently retained it in remembrance, marking it as a major event that has changed my life?

Info Coming

Sorry, it has taken me a few days to get this out. Hopefully you can now post. Let me know if you can't post. I will have the links all active hopefully by night of the 11th. Readings will be posted as well. I'll email a pdf to y'all so you can have one now (lots of reading because we meet only once a week.)

"More Than Just"

Matthew 1:18-21 reads as follows:

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (emphasis added).

The simple principle of truth encapsulated within this passage of scripture has to do with the difference between what Joseph thought and what the Lord had in mind. Joseph acted according to what he thought was the "higher road", and instead of divorcing Mary publicly, or even having her stoned to death (both actions of which were in his legal power), he decided to simply put her away "privily." This, he surely told himself, was the best and noblest thing he could do for her. It was the just thing. What Joseph may not have realized at this point in his young life, however, is that God doesn't always ask of us what we expect. God often expects us to be more than just in our actions one towards another. Acting with charity, the "pure love of Christ," requires of us that we do more than we may have bargained for.

Here We Go!

As we dive into the scriptures together this semester I want to try something that might be new to an institute experience. My motivation to do this stems from two guiding principles that have lead me to try this out.

First, in 2003 the Church Educational System came out with what is called the Teaching Emphasis. 'The Emphasis' was developed to help seminary and institute teachers have more impact while the student are in our classes. If correctly used the emphasis' goal is to help student take their gospel knowledge from their head to their heart. President Henry B. Eyring said of this increased effort and emphasis:

"The pure gospel of Jesus Christ must go down into the hearts of students by the power of the Holy Ghost. It will not be enough for them to have had a spiritual witness of the truth and to want good things later. It will not be enough for them to hope for some future cleansing and strengthening. Our aim must be for them to become truly converted to the restored gospel of
Jesus Christ while they are with us." (WE MUST RAISE OUR SIGHTS
Elder Henry B. Eyring, CES Conference on the Book of Mormon • 14 August 2001 • Brigham Young University)

If you want to look at this document click on the following link: The Teaching Emphasis

The document says we need to do two things in class more:

• We are to help students understand the scriptures and the words of the prophets, identify and understand the doctrines and principles found therein, and apply them in their lives in ways that lead to personal conversion.
• We are to help students learn to explain, share, and testify of the doctrines and principles of the restored gospel. We are to give them opportunities to do so with each other in class. We are to encourage them to do so outside of class with family and others.

Second, from this second bullet you can see in class we need not only the teacher to explain share and testify of principles and doctrines from the scripture but all of us together in class need to have this chance both in an out of class. This blog is my hopes for 'another' venue in which you can share your insights and principles of the gospel. Why the web? in Elder Ballard's recent Ensign article: Sharing the Gospel Using the Internet, by Elder M. Russell Ballard, tells us to join in on the conversation that is out there. Minding that we need to be part of the conversation but be ever aware of the traps of the internet.

"There are conversations going on about the Church constantly. Those conversations will continue whether or not we choose to participate in them. But we cannot stand on the sidelines while others, including our critics, attempt to define what the Church teaches. While some conversations have audiences in the thousands or even millions, most are much, much smaller. But all conversations have an impact on those who participate in them. Perceptions of the Church are established one conversation at a time." M. Russell Ballard, “Sharing the Gospel Using the Internet,” Ensign, Jul 2008, 58–63. If you would like to see a video of a similar speech he gave at BYU Hawaii here you go: Video of Speech.

So here we go. I hope this blog turns into a repository of your thoughts, principles, expereices, to show to one another alike of our belief in Christ and how being able to find and verbalize simple statements of principle can help us to come closer to our Heavenly Father.

Brother Boyce