I can't tell you how grateful I am to back among you again!!! Vacations are fun, but there is no place like home!!! I truly love our ward and the spirit that I feel there. I was so touched that I couldn't sing even one word of the closing song, I read along and cried silently. I love this gospel, my Savior and all of you!
There was no ward business this week, but stay tuned. With the upcoming marriages, there promises to be some shake ups in the ward organization chart in the next few months.
Marcia R was our first speaker. She spoke about humility and how it means being meek and lowly in heart. We need to be willing to surrender our will to the Father's and follow Him, accepting being led by Him. In Alma 5:27 it asks, "Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble?" Marcia asked, "Have you been humble?" We have the power to decide what happens IN us - whether we are wiling to be humble. In Ether 12:27 it says, "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." We can use this as the gateway to obedience.
Joseph Smith endured many things with humility and grace. Christ was meek and lowly in heart saying, "I can of myself do nothing," giving Heavenly Father all the credit. We, also, can use our free agency before we act by surrendering, with humility, to His will and not just submitting to His will.
David T played a piano solo, with no music in front of him. David is one gifted piano player! The music was beautiful and helped to bring the spirit to the meeting.
Chris H, who is new to the ward, told us a little bit about himself. He moved here recently from Colorado. He has 2 kids, ages 25 & 21, and he works in the medical device field. Chris spoke about forgiveness. He said that peace and forgiveness comes after one has humility. Chris used Elder Boyd K. Packer's talk, "The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness," from 1995 while writing his talk. Chris said that repentance comes through punishment, the guilt that we inflict on ourselves. But what happens when you can't give back what you have taken or you can't mend what you have broken? Repentance is accepted by restitution and if you can't give restitution you feel hopeless.
The thought that rescued Alma was, restoring what you can't restore, healing the wound you cannot heal, fixing that which you broke and you cannot fix is the very purpose of the atonement of Christ. He will settle your accounts. Forgiveness, repentance, repair, peace and rest all come from Jesus Christ. The brilliant morning will come when you will remember your mistakes no more.
Thanks for Marcia, Chris and David for a wonderful sacrament meeting.
Just a couple of announcements:
FHE tomorrow, Jan 10th, will be held at the Pinto's home at 41 Bamboo, Irvine. FHE, for the next 4 Mondays after that, Jan 17-Feb 7, will be held at the Gardner's home, 12 Timbergate Irvine. We will be viewing the Alison Armstrong videos on males, females and relationships - one each week.
Also the Bishopric Wives dinner, normally held on the 3rd Sunday, will be cancelled this month. Instead of Bishopric Wives dinner on January 16th, we are encouraging everyone to attend the OCBC potluck at 5:30 p.m. in Laguna Nigel and then attend the fireside where Joe J. Christensen, a general authority, will be the speaker.
Make it a wonderful week!!!
With much love,
Debbie
