It has been a great Sunday for me, I felt the Spirit very strong through out the meetings! Let me tell you about church today.
In ward business, the releasings were: Diane R from the FHE committee, Thom Z as a ward missionary and Kip N as co-teacher of the Gospel Essentials class because she is moving to Florida with her daughter's family for a year. We sustained Jillian T as the 30s Sunday School teacher and Christina M as a Relief Society Teacher. With Laurie A's baptism coming up next Sunday, the Bishop spoke about missionary work and has asked the speakers for this month to talk about their conversion to the truthfulness of the gospel - whether a convert or born into the the church. The Bishop said that the ward council has decided that the Lake Ward should support a missionary from the Irvine Stake that has put in his papers to serve a mission. So if you would like to contribute help for a missionary, include the money on your tithing slip and be sure to put it in the "ward mission fund" line. The ward will also be reading Preach My Gospel in 90 days together in the fall and using lessons from that in Priesthood and Relief Society.
Glenn F bore his testimony about his conversion. His parents are Buddhist and don't believe in a God, but he told a story about when his father had left his wallet on top of the car and drove off. He was really concerned about it when 2 young men with name tags knocked at their door and returned the wallet, asking nothing in return - that was Glenn's first encounter with the Mormons. Glenn was invited to to attend a fireside with a newly baptized friend where he heard about Christ visiting the Americas and said that that made sense to him, why would Christ only visit a small part of the world and people. He attended a Sunday school meeting where the teacher said that during sacrament meeting he had felt prompted to change the lesson and was now going to talk about what it takes to be happy. Glenn said that he sat there and knew that the lesson had been changed for him. He has been a member for over 20 years now.
Robin A spoke about being born into the church and how her testimony grew step by step, coming to the state of conversion. She told about being 30 and living in the Bay area, frustrated and feeling on the outside of her friendships. She prayed and was told to to use the information that she already had, find a new friend and be a true friend to that person by serving them and thinking more about them than about yourself. She was instantly happy and her old friends now wanted to be with her because she was outward focused instead of inward focused. She admonished us to have faith and trust in the Lord.
Dean D graciously played an organ solo after being asked to do so during Robin's talk! He did an amazing job of playing Sweet Hour of Prayer. It is wonderful to have such talented people in the ward who share their talents so willingly!!!
Martine J was our last speaker and told us that today was the 2nd anniversary of her US citizenship! Martine told us about when she was married to her first husband and they were living with his family and when she wanted some peace, she would climb over the back fence and sit in a quiet garden that was there - it was the landscape of a stake center!!! She read us part of her journal and told us about having all 6 missionary discussions within one week, with the mission president, zone leaders and stake president attending different lessons! She wanted to be baptized, but couldn't swim and had a fear of being under water. Martine only trusted one person to baptize her and his wife told her not to worry, that it would be the best place to die! Martine also bore testimony about priesthood blessings, that they weren't from the person giving the blessing, but from Heavenly Father. She told us that her true conversion came through prayer. She read Mosiah 18:30, about the Waters of Mormon and said that she found her own Waters of Mormon in Juno, Alaska.
In Sunday School, taught by Linda P, we read and talked about King Solomon in I Kings. How Solomon started out humble, gained great wealth, built a beautiful temple and an even bigger house. We discussed his decision to marry outside of the covenant and how those wives turned his heart to the worship of idols and false gods.
In Relief Society, taught by Maureen C, we had a lesson about Christ and the atonement. How it is necessary for our salvation, that Christ was the only one who could atone for our sins and how the atonement makes it possible for those who have faith in Christ to be saved from their sins. There was a beautiful parable in the lesson that helped us to understand justice and mercy.
As you can see, it was a wonderful Sunday!!!
Next Sunday, after the block, will be the Bishopric Wives dinner. After the dinner will be Laurie A's baptism and after the baptism we will enjoy dessert. We hope that all will be able to attend all these wonderful events. I'm hoping that people will bring desserts for all to share next Sunday - I have the rest of the dinner under control!
Make it a wonderful week!!!
With much love,
Debbie
