Salt Lake Olympus Stake Conference
May 1, 2011
"The Lost Lamb"
President Rich Bailey - 1st Counselor Stake Presidency
We are all children of our Heavenly Father. He wants us to serve by helping others to learn and grow in the gospel. The Lord knows every person. He knows who is ready to accept the gospel.
Pres. Bailey shared the story of the cow breaking through the fence from the November, 2010 Ensign, page 106. He used this story in the Young Men/Young Women sessions of Ward Conferences to show that Heavenly Father knew we would be tempted. Knowing this, He sent His own Son to take upon Himself our sins.
Bishops have been called of God. They have been given Priesthood keys and with those keys they have the power of discernment, if you repent with a broken heart, and a contrite spirit they can pronounce you clean and pure.
It is so important to make good decisions in your life. Sister Elaine Dalton learned that lesson very early in her teenage years. She learned that it was more important to be pure than popular. Read and study in Preach My Gospel page 118 - "Virtue". It is so important to stay on the right side of the fence and to Choose the Right.
Julie Bult - 6th Ward Relief Society President
Sister Bult relayed the story of a bus driver going out of his way to return a lamb to the fold. (November, 1999 Ensign by Elder Ben Banks, "Feed My Sheep") and asked if we would give the same effort to save a less active family member, a neighbor, or friend?
Why have many grown cold in the faith? A study found in 1999 that less active members still believed in God, Jesus Christ, that the Church was true and Joseph Smith was a prophet. Many of these come back when faced with a crisis and someone cares enough about them to help lead them back. We must increase our faith, energy and commitment if we want to reach these people. Never assume someone doesn't want us to contact them. We must have patience, we must fellowship, we must listen and love them. Read D&C 18:15
Ned Combs - Stake Patriarch
To the young people, I will answer many questions that have been asked since becoming Patriarch.
1. How do you address the Patriarch? By calling him Brother Combs, not Patriarch Combs
2. Why do I need a Patriarchal Blessing? Parents this would be a good topic to cover at Family Home Evenings. President James E. Faust said that God knows our spirits and patriarchal blessings tells us what the Lord expects of us and what our strengths are.
Another aspect of why we should have a patriarchal blessing comes from Shayne M. Bowen of the First Quorum of Seventy. He spoke at a BYUI Devotional on March 1, 2011. He said : " Let me share with you two things that have helped keep me from being deceived: first is my patriarchal blessing, and second is knowing that I am of the seed of Abraham. To avoid being deceived, in addition to fasting, prayer, living prophets and the scriptures, I have found a great protection in my life. In the third chapter of the book of Abraham, we begin to get a glimpse of just who Abraham is and therefore who we are." Because we know who we are we must act accordingly. There are places, web pages we must never go to, thoughts we can't entertain.
3. What is a Patriarch? The duties of a patriarch are completely spiritual. They are called to give blessings, not to counsel; they are ordained, not set apart therefore they will not be released.
President Monson said: "A patriarchal blessing is a revelation to the recipient, even a white line down the middle of the road, to protect, inspire, and motivate activity and righteousness. A patriarchal blessing literally contains chapters from your book of eternal possibilities. I say eternal, for just as life is eternal, so is a patriarchal blessing. What may not come to fulfillment in this life may occur in the next. We do not govern God's timetable. 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.' . . . Your patriarchal blessing is yours and yours alone. It may be brief or lengthy, simple or profound. Length and language do not a patriarchal blessing make. It is the Spirit that conveys the true meaning. Your blessing is not to be folded neatly and tucked away. It is not to be framed or published. Rather, it is to be read. It is to beloved. It is to be followed. Your patriarchal blessing will see you through the darkest night. It will guide you through life's dangers. . . ."
Brother Combs then closed his talk by reading from the Bible Dictionary under "Christ".
Kevin Edman - 8th Ward
I was promised by President Buie that if I got into Preach My Gospel I would receive many blessing. I encourage you to study and become familiar with it and your faith and your family’s faith will be strengthened. Prayer and a great desire changed my attitude about this book.
As I was reading in Chapter 3 the Spirit filled my heart and confirmed to me why this book is so important to me and my family. All the truth one needs to have to be saved is here in this book. As a Father I have to teach my children that Eternal life is the greatest gift. This book makes great Family Home Evening lessons. It helps our children gain their own testimony.
As we study the gospel and read the scriptures the Spirit presents Himself in different ways. I have felt a change in our home and in my heart and we have had wonderful discussions in our family and have found many teaching moments with our children. The Spirit has borne witness to me that the principles taught from this book are true.
President Richard Jenson - 2nd Counselor Stake Presidency
Often we don't use the tools available to us to be better builders with relationships. Prophets have revealed how to return back to Heavenly Father and they have given us these tools. This is a gospel of happiness.
How is our relationship with the Savior? The Savior loves us and He wants the best for us. He desires us to live with him again. Satan however, tries to make us believe otherwise. Doubt is a luxury we can no longer afford, and we can do better.
The third Article of Faith says all mankind can be saved, not part, not some, but all can be saved. All of us have been pre-qualified to be saved.
We need to forgive ourselves and move forward with faith. Forgiveness is a great blessing. In forgiving ourselves we can be better than we are.
We have received the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost will guide us, buoy us up and help us be kind to other people. Heavenly Father loves us and knows us, and He desires us to be with Him.
President Scott Buie - Stake President
Preach My Gospel converts the reader. I encourage you to take time to read a few pages each day.
God knows you, He knows your name and knows your soul.
The Church has put much time and effort into making the website, familysearch.org user friendly. I encourage you to take time to search out your ancestors. We have much work to do.
Three generations ago in Japan warnings were given about tsunamis from their ancestors. Likewise, we have spiritual tsunamis that threaten us today. However, we have a prophet that holds all Priesthood keys, and if we obey the prophet, we will be protected.
The prophets of old saw our day, Moses, Mormon, Nephi, and Enos. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said: "The future of this world has long been declared; the final outcome between good and evil is already known. There is absolutely no question as to who wins because the victory has already been posted on the scoreboard. The only really strange thing in all of this is that we are still down here on the field trying to decide which team's jersey we want to wear!"
We are the Gentiles. In your patriarchal blessing it declares what lineage you are assigned to help. There are references that I invite you to pay attention to that are prophecies for our day. D&C 45:6; D&C 88; D&C 29; Matthew 24:29
Personal righteousness and virtue are paramount because we need the Holy Ghost to be our guide. We need to stand in Holy Places. We are not to fear the future but should embrace it. We should be generous with our means, we should be in the House of the Lord, have Family Home Evening and simply live the basics. This is a great time to be alive.
Keep your covenants, don't let the tentacles of complacency enter into your lives. Ask the Lord what He wants you to do this day. The Lord will give us details as we ask. This is our time and these are our days. Go forth with hope, good cheer and optimism and let us bring back the lost sheep.
Salt Lake Olympus Stake Conference
Adult Session
April 30, 2011
Merilee Hopkin - 6th Ward
Preach My Gospel is not a book to be used by missionaries only. It is a great tool in strengthening our testimony. In Chapter 6 it discusses how to develop Christlike attributes. This is what I strive on a daily basis to teach my children.
One of the Christlike attributes is "Hope." There is so much despair and gloom in the world today. Hope is what we need most of all. President Uchtdorf said "It is believing and expecting that our prayers will be answered." (Ensign, Nov. 2008; The Infinite Power of Hope) Hope can carry us even in the darkest moments. Through my example and my faith, I can find those whose hands hang down and are filled with despair and lift them up.
President Rich Bailey - 1st Counselor Stake Presidency
"We Believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God." (9th Article of Faith)
I testify that God knows and cares about each one of us. I have a personal witness of the divine nature of our Heavenly Father. He warned my young son to move away from a tree that was struck by lightning moments later. The Spirit has borne witness to me that Christ paid for my sufferings and sorrows through the Atonement. We have Church Leaders who were chosen to be here at this time. We can have the same experiences as stated in Moroni 10; “…by the power of the Holy Ghost you may know the truth of all things.” I have felt the spirit of Elijah as I have done work for my kindred dead.
I ask you to read in Preach My Gospel, page 89, "How Do I Recognize and Understand the Spirit?". I testify that God lives and we are important to Him.
Jonathan Hinckley - High Council - 2nd Ward
My daughter had the opportunity of taking the pet hamster of her 4th Grade class home for the weekend to take care of it. The hamster became ill and while in her care it died. I took that opportunity to talk about the Plan of Salvation. In Preach My Gospel it talks about the Plan of Salvation (page 50) … while we are in mortality, we have experiences that bring us happiness…pain and sorrow…These experiences provide us opportunities to learn and grow… We grow most when we are challenged.
Eight months ago I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. We have had many tender mercies from the Lord as it is stated in 1Nephi 1:20…that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith…
Elder Joseph B. Worthlin said: "The question “Why me?” can be a difficult one to answer and often leads to frustration and despair. There is a better question to ask ourselves. That question is “What could I learn from this experience?” I was given the counsel, have patience, everything will get better over time. Elder Worthlin said…" as we look back upon our little span of existence here on this earth, we will lift our voices and rejoice that, in spite of the difficulties we encountered, we had the wisdom, the faith, and the courage to endure and press on."
Ranae Watsabaugh - Service Missionary assigned to the Refugees
Elder and Sister Watsabaugh serve in the Burmese Branch and work with the Karen people. They have been serving over 2 1/2 years. Their story is much like that of our pioneer ancestors. They have no freedom of religion; they have been driven from place to place, persecuted and tormented. They have never seen electricity or refrigerators.
The Watsabaugh’s were sent to serve them and love them and with that love has come baptisms. It has been a hard mission but there have been many tender mercies and revelations from the Lord; prayers have been answered and support from the Stake has been marvelous. Our Heavenly Father is aware of each one of us. I encourage anyone who can serve as a missionary to do it!
Paul Davis - Stake Patriarch Emeritus
We need to prepare for the Second Coming of Christ. The scriptures say that He will come suddenly. Elder Neil L. Andersen said about the Savior coming: "I testify of the majesty, but most of all, of the certainty of this magnificent event. The Savior lives. He will return to the earth. And whether on this side of the veil or the other, you and I will rejoice in His coming…"
Nicodemus was a learned man and was taught by Christ personally who He was and of the Plan of Salvation and yet he asked the Savior, "How can these things be?" (John 3:9). Contrast that with the Woman at the Well. She unexpectedly met the Savior and talked with Him and she recognized that He was the Christ. (John 4:29).
We need to be prepared and look for the Savior's coming in our lifetime, because He will come whether we are on this side of the veil or the other side, He will come.
President Scott Buie - Stake President
I encourage you to immerse yourselves in Preach My Gospel along with the scriptures. The Savior wants us to share the gospel with others. It is also a very valuable tool for young Mothers. It gives you great insight, and as you stay in Preach My Gospel it will have a wonderful effect on your family.
On my mission I gained a love of the scriptures. I gradually learned from them and felt a difference in my life as I read. I have felt more capable to deal with things; answers to prayers come as I read; I feel nearer to God and it is easier for me to resist temptation. The Book of Mormon sustains me.
Jesus Christ is the light and life of the world... (Mosiah 16:9) And He has a great interest in the affairs of this Stake.
Leianne Buie
Reading the scriptures daily brings me closer to Christ. I am grateful for the Sisters in Scriptures class. The teachers give great insight and I benefit greatly from what is said.
Jesus Christ lives, I have felt Him guide me in my life. Through the scriptures we will be made better and edified.
