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Thank you for obediently sharing that beautiful talk. Ours were so so yesterday. This really helped. Thank you. Weaselgirl, thanks for posting this. Such a breath of fresh air to hear something truly inspiring in a talk. I guess I’ve been under a rock because I didn’t know the story. I went to keepaoitchinin.org and see that it’s a fantastic four-part post. Thank you for putting me into it. Hey, my evil plan to have you guys pretty much write my talk worked. 
And I’m glad you liked it. That means a lot.
Weaselgirl wrote:Hey, my evil plan to have you guys pretty much write my talk worked.
And I’m glad you liked it. That means a lot.
What? You weasel!The assigned speakers tomorrow are stranded out-of-state, so my wife and I have been asked to speak, instead. The topic, not surprisingly, is “Ye are the light of the world.” Here is a brief outline of the talk I prepared today:
1) I have lived a relatively “light” life in two ways: full of light and not heavy. (examples) There have been times of comparative difficulty (unemployment, death of loved ones, constant moves, my wife’s struggles to accept herself, etc.), but my personal burdens have been relatively light. I understand that this is not true for everyone, including many of you here today – and in preparing this talk my mind has turned to those whose lives and burdens are darker and heavier than mine. This has led me to ask:
“How can I “lighten” their lives?
2) Discuss Jesus’ life and ministry
James 1:27 – “Pure religion and undefined before God . . .”
Rich young man (perfect church member in every way but willingness to serve others with his resources)
Matthew 11:28-30 (. . . all ye who labor and are heavy laden . . .)
Jesus was born and raised in fear and poverty and oppression. He preached primarily to those whose lives were dark and burdened.
So, how can we be the kind of light that Jesus was? What does it mean, in practical terms, to be a light unto the world in terms of being a disciple of Christ?
Matthew 25:31-40 (Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these . . .)
This passage lists only one factor in the separation of the righteous and the wicked – evidence of a commitment to the two greatest commandments to show true love.
Please answer these questions, silently to yourselves, and commit to do just a little better in areas where your answers are not what you would like them to be:
“When was the last time you . . . (insert “gave food and drink to the hungry and thirsty” – “took in a stranger” – “clothed the naked” – “visited the sick and imprisoned”)
My prayer today is that all of us can do more to build Zion here where we live – to share light not only in our countenances and our words, but also in our actions – specifically as we strive to do whatever we can to “lighten” the darkness and heaviness in the lives of the most burdened among and around us.
I wish I could be in your ward tomorrow to hear your talk. I am confused, isn’t today Fast Sunday. Ray has a talk today and so does Reuben? Did I miss something? Whoops! So this is where the talks and lessons go… Finding the Gospel of Hope:
http://forum.staylds.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=7966 ” class=”bbcode_url”> http://forum.staylds.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=7966 The stake bumped our F&TM to next week for reasons unknown, but it may have something to do with New Year’s Day.
mom3 wrote:I am confused, isn’t today Fast Sunday. Ray has a talk today and so does Reuben? Did I miss something?
Our Stake made Jan 8th Fast Sunday. Our Ward said no & made today Fast Sunday.
I’m sure they got approval to do that.
Our stake also moved f&t to next week I’m sure it is for the same reason as elsewhere, but our Stake Presidency didn’t want people to have to deal with fasting on New Year’s Eve. It’s actually in the handbook that fast Sunday is supposed to be moved when New Year’s Day is Sunday but it is admittedly hard to find and is under the New Year’s Eve section. /back to the purpose of the thread There are some interesting thoughts on lesson #2 over at By Common ConsentI especial like their take on “Adoption Theology”, where we only become sons and daughter of God when we “believe” (D&C 34: 1-4). This is contrary to what the LDS church now teaches that everybody is a “literal” child of God. The article gives several other examples of “Adoption” in the D&C, and backs it up with Joseph Smith’s own words in the King Follett Sermon
Quote:“God never did have the power to create the spirit of man at all.”
So JS believed God did not create us, and we could be adopted as his children if we believe. Now how do I work that in a comment during the lesson this Sunday?Sheldon wrote:There are some interesting thoughts on lesson #2 over at
By Common ConsentI especial like their take on “Adoption Theology”, where we only become sons and daughter of God when we “believe” (D&C 34: 1-4). This is contrary to what the LDS church now teaches that everybody is a “literal” child of God. The article gives several other examples of “Adoption” in the D&C, and backs it up with Joseph Smith’s own words in the King Follett Sermon
Quote:“God never did have the power to create the spirit of man at all.”
So JS believed God did not create us, and we could be adopted as his children if we believe. Now how do I work that in a comment during the lesson this Sunday?
Glad you brought this up, Sheldon. It’s an interesting quandary. Being literal children of God is a sort of linchpin of LDS Theology, which teaches us that we have undeniable natural value and potential. Yet, in another way, it’s much more powerful to think of BECOMING. For me personally, the doctrine of us all being God’s Children means that are all falling very short. But the doctrine of BECOMING God’s Children means that our best is in front of us if we work at it. In the NT, Paul taught that we can become the children of God and join the Family of Christ, that Christ was the firstborn of a large family, and he didn’t mean literally. Jesus is even credited with saying, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the Children of God.”In Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, BRM, distinguished between being Children of God (all) and Children of Christ (those who follow Him).
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