Church today was wonderful.
In ward business, Carrie F was released from the Family History Committee, thanks for all your efforts in that calling! Lorette B was sustained as the Relief Society Weekday Activities Coordinator.
Bishop and Sister Lutz were the speakers, with the choir singing, "There is a Green Hill Far Away" as the musical interlude.
Sister Lutz spoke on her favorite topic, dating and marriage. She used Genesis 24 as the basis for her talk, which tells about Abraham sending his servant to find a wife for his son, Isaac, from his home land. Sister Lutz said that she found 10 steps that could be followed:
1. Genesis 24:3 Choose only from those who share your same values and goals. Search for the ideal, choose only one who can join you in the temple.
2. Genesis 24:7 Go to the Lord in mighty prayer. Pray that the Lord will send angels before you to prepare the way for your marriage to happen. Be specific in your prayers - ask for a spouse that is service oriented, has values...
3. Genesis 24:16 Be a desirable spouse - do what it takes.
4. Pray mightily for help.
5. Genesis 24: 13, 14 Tell the Lord what you are looking for in a spouse. Notice that the servant doesn't ask for beauty, but one who serves. Yet also notice that she was beautiful.
6. Ponder, wait and watch so as not to be too hasty. Don't pick china patterns after the 1st date.
7. Genesis 24:27 Be in the way, be engaged in your search, go to all activities, be involved in service.
8. Rebecca was a servant. Learn to place yourself second and others first.
9. Genesis 24:26 Express thanks continually. Thankful for a date, thankful for the ability to lose weight or overcome weakness.
10. Genesis 24: 55 - 58 Be ready to leave. Make the leap of faith.
Bishop Lutz spoke about "believing in marriage" and the need to have hope. He also spoke about his time serving as the Bishop of the single's ward. How they loved it and were sad to be released. He also related how he quickly learned that he needed to seek the spirit while performing his duties as the Bishop. Bishop Lutz also complimented the ward on what outstanding people there are here. He counseled the members to seek the Lord and to let Him speak to them.
The Priesthood/Relief Society lesson was on Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and the Fall. Here is a quote: Wisely Discerning - Eve had the capacity to weigh choices and act in ways that supported the ultimate design of God for His children. When she was "beguiled" by Satan to partake of the forbidden fruit, she realized that the consequences of transgressing would be in the best interests of her children - she being "the mother of all living" - for they could not "live" in the eternal sense unless the plan of happiness were enacted. She therefore used her God-given agency in wisdom - for the Lord had extended that privilege, even though it had explicit consequences: "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it, nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee; but, remember that I forbid it, for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Moses 3:17). In careful consideration of what was at stake, Eve made the conscious decision to partake of the fruit (see Moses 4:6-13). As she later described her position with respect to this decision - having learned of the great plan of salvation from the Lord - Eve articulated her profound insight in the form of a glorious pronouncement: "And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient" (Moses 5:11).
Looking Forward:
Monday evening, April 12th, Family Home Evening will be at the Pinto's, 34 Japonica - key code: "key", "key" 2593. It will be the kickoff for our ward's Family History Olympics - a friendly competition between the men and the women to see who can index the most names this year!
The Irvine Stake play, The Errand, will begin this week. Shows are April 16, 17, 22, 23 and 24 (all shows 7:30pm, with a matinee at 2pm on April 24th). For info and tickets, check the website: http://errand.irvineproductions.com .
Br Wong's wonderful Food Storage Cooking Class will be held on Saturday, April 17th at 9:00. This month will be about The Wonders of Wheat.
Sunday, April 18th, there will be lots of activities:
Bishopric Wives dinner at 4:15pm
OCBC potluck dinner at 5:00pm in Buena Park building - 7600 Crescent Ave
OCBC 16-stake quarterly devotional at 7:00pm, also in the Buena Park building,
featuring President and Sister Miller speaking about "The Church in Haiti"
The Irvine Stake Temple Day will be on Wednesday, April 21st. Sign up are going around Priesthood and Relief Society, or call the temple and set up your own reservation, 949-644-1820.
Dance instruction, by Martine J, on Thursday, April 22nd at 7pm in the Bryan building. No sign-ups, come as often as you can. Contact Martine.
Family History Musical Fireside featuring The Latter-Day Ambassador Choir will be held on Saturday, April 24 at 7pm in the Cypress Stake Center, 5151 Orange Ave and on Sunday, April 25th at 7pm in the Irvine Stake Center. "Once you see this most powerful fireside, you will never look at family history the same ever again. This fireside has changed the way members look at and how they feel about the work they do in the temple."
Lake Ward Healthy Living Discussion Group will be held on Sunday, April 25th at 4:15pm in the Relief Society Room. This group is designed to bring people together to help each other attain their health goals. Contact Leanne A.
Congratulations on making it to the end of a very long e-mail :-)!!!
Make the week a wonderful one!!!
With much love,
Debbie
