27 November 2011

Sacrament Meeting:
Decisions determine consequences and what our life will hold. You cannot make an eternal decision without it having eternal consequences.
We are free to choose liberty through the Great Mediator, or you can choose captivity and death by following Satan.
How do we prepare for our great life that God has in store for us? We must search the scriptures for attributes we need to have to be like Christ. We must be bold in our declarations of Christ. Have a steadfastness in Christ and a love of God. Remember to walk in faith with Him. To be of Christ is to change, when we have the hope of change.
We must have our own testimony; you cannot lean upon your family, friends, and peers, you must stand on your own two feet and gain a personal testimony. Read the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon and ask for yourself if they are true. Once you have this testimony, remember to share it! Be worthy to serve a mission.
To serve a mission, we must have pure thoughts, be honest in all things, do not cheat, do not take the Lord's name in vain, use clean language, etc. If we are not doing all these things, we can repent and make our scarlet sins appear white as snow.

Brother Porter:
Every decision we make, whether great or small is critical.
Every Sunday, we come to feast upon the words that are spoken and taught, to feast upon the Spirit. Where we sit, truly does matter; those in the front are ready and wanting to learn, those in the back are not. It matters how we come, are we rushed and frantic, or cool and collected? It all matters!
Heavenly Father knows how strong Satan's influence is upon us. When our grandparents and parents were children, porn was hidden in dark corners, vulgar language was not spoken in movies. Now both as well as other things are common practices.
Luke 22:31-34, 56-62

 31 ¶And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, ^aSatan hath desired to ^bhave you, that he may sift you as wheat:

 32 But I have ^aprayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art ^bconverted, ^cstrengthen thy brethren.

 33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ^aready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

 34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt ^athrice deny that thou knowest me.

 56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.

 57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.

 58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.

 59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilæan.

 60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.

 61 And the ^aLord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

 62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

      In this instance, we are like Peter. Satan knows how to tempt us, when we knowingly make bad decisions, we are giving Satan permission to bind us. We must get on our knees and pray. The chains of Lucifer can be strong enough to overcome our desires to change, but we must remember that we are stronger. Go to your Bishop if necessary and loosen those bands that are binding. 

Murmuring goes on everywhere, we murmur about callings, people, or families we are assigned to teach or work with. Remember that all assignments are for a reason, whether it is for you or the individual you are assigned with to teach. 

Heavenly Father answers every prayer, but in His time, not ours and the way in which He thinks will be best for us.