General Conference is a month away. Six months ago, in his closing address of October General Conference, Pres. Nelson invited us to prepare for April Conference by studying the Restoration of the Gospel.
If you have yet to start your preparations (ahem, that’d be me), you still have time. My friend Montserrat Wadsworth has written a 30 day study guide over on her blog, A Gospel Centered Home. She has some great ideas to get you started.
Happy preparations!
Last week the Church updated the General Handbook and released it to the membership at large. In conjunction with this BYU released some chances to its Honor Code which have caused a lot of confusion and have given BYU more press than it probably should have (seriously, we should all be talking about the Basketball game against Gonzaga instead of this).
These are just some thoughts that I’ve had swirling in my head for a while now, but with the release of the new Church Handbook today, I’ve seen a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth on the socials from people who style themselves as LGBT “allies” in anticipation of what they think the new Handbook will say.
One tweet said, “We need to mourn with our LGBT friends that mourn today and not remind them of the commandments” (???????)
There was another tweet about the supposed harm the Church does when it makes clear policy and doctrinal statements regarding the Law of Chastity, moral behavior, marriage and family relationships. I’ve seen it called “spiritual violence”.
Needless to say, it’s a full sack cloth and ashes day for some.
Teaching the CTR-7s in our Primary continues to be a fun calling. These kids are excited for their baptisms, and to follow the Savior, Jesus Christ. Today we learned about our choices and how they determine the way our life will go.
Every day, all day, is a series of choices. We choose to wake up on time, we choose to eat breakfast. We choose to do homework, read the scriptures, watch TV, or be helpful in our homes. Sometimes we make good choices, sometimes we make bad choices, and mistakes. No matter what we choose, there will be a consequence or reaction to our choices. Apparently this week everyone had their TV and video games taken away at some point. They were all able to earn their privileges back, but they are learning.
And he hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence. (2 Nephi 1: 20). Continue reading
I teach the CTR-7 Primary class in my ward. I’ve taught this class several times over the years, and these 7 year olds turning 8 are always a hoot.
Today’s lesson was on Lehi’s Vision of the Tree of Life. I let the kids tell the story. Here were some of their observations:
7 year old boy: “I would go to the Great and Spacious Building…..and PUNCH IT!
Me: “Why does’t this building have a foundation?” 7 year old boy, “Because the devil can’t build Legos!”
8 year old girl: “I would throw the fruit at the people on the path!” “Why?” “Because so they could have a snack!”
7 year old boy, “You better be careful around that water! You could drown!”