Strengthening our Faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through Sabbath Day Observance and learning the doctrines of the Gospel in our home.

I have been asked to speak on Strengthening our Faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through Sabbath Day Observance and learning the doctrines of the Gospel in our home.

I am grateful to have this opportunity to return to the Lighthouse Ward and see all of your beautiful smiling faces.

I really want to welcome the Spirit to be here in hopes that we can be uplifted and edified.

In the scriptures we read that “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

When we read the scriptures our hearts can be changed.  Scripture study will help us turn to God and our Faith will increase.

One of my favorite scripture stories was the Story of Josiah, who was made King of Judah when he was only eight years old.

And even though his father and many of those before him were wicked, Josiah chose to do right in the sight of the Lord, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.

18 years into his reign Josiah directed that the Temple should be repaired.  His High Priest Hilkiah found the book of the law and delivered it to Josiah.

When the book of the law was read to Josiah, he “rent his clothes” and wept before the Lord.

“Great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us,” he said, “because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.” 2 Kings 22:13.

The king then read the book before all the people, and at that time they all made a covenant to obey all the Lord’s commandments “with all their heart and all their soul.” 2 Kings 23:3. Then Josiah proceeded to clean up the kingdom of Judah, removing all the idols, the groves, the high places, and all the abominations that had accumulated during the reign of his fathers, defiling the land and its people. …

“And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.” 2 Kings 23:25.

Josiah was touched by the Law of Moses.  The scriptures brought about a mighty change in the kingdom of Judah because their Leader Josiah took the time to study and practice the Law.  

I am grateful to live in the fullness of times, when we have the Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, The Pearl of Great Price, The Bible, and many resources to teach our Families.  All of these things are highly accessible and are not hidden within the Temple.

“We are living in the Fullness of Times that is spoken of in the scriptures”.

God has brought together all of the elements of previous dispensations.

Because of this tremendous enlightenment that has been poured out upon the world…….The hearts of men have turned to their fathers and Missionary work is moving forward full force. 

I am so grateful to be able to access this light so easily.

President Kimbel said, “The Lord is not trifling with us when he gives us these things, for “unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” (Luke 12:48.) Access to these things means responsibility for them. We must study the scriptures according to the Lord’s commandment (see 3 Ne. 23:1–5); and we must let them govern our lives and the lives of our children.⁵

One of my deepest desires is that my children will know how to feel the Holy Spirit so that they can combat the pitfalls of youth.

President Eyring tells us that Doctrine gains its power as the Holy Ghost confirms that it is true. We prepare those we teach, as best we can, to receive the quiet promptings of the still, small voice. That takes at least some faith in Jesus Christ. It takes at least some humility, some willingness to surrender to the Savior’s will for us.

Truth can prepare its own way. Simply hearing the words of doctrine can plant the seed of faith in the heart. And even a tiny seed of faith in Jesus Christ invites the Spirit.

We can teach even a child to understand the doctrine of Jesus Christ. It is therefore possible, with God’s help, to teach the saving doctrine simply.

I grew up in a home were Scripture Study was not a priority and when I met my husband he opened my eyes to the beauty of Scripture Study.

We have been married for about 20 years and my favorite thing to do with him is to go on a long walk and talk about the things we are reading.  I cherish those moments when we are able to liken the stories in the scriptures to our own life and we are able to make changes because of the examples in the scriptures.

As my family studied the life of Saul and David we talked about the different strengths and weaknesses each one of these great men had.  Saul was grand in stature and was given every opportunity to be a great leader, however, Saul never really was able to increase his Faith enough to truly become a disciple of Christ, and ultimately this was his downfall.  

David on the other hand had practiced and utilized his faith often and brought about incredible miracles.  However, we know that David fell to temptation.  This made me wonder….was David reading his scriptures and striving to do the will of the Lord during this period of time.  I would guess that he wasn’t.  He may have forgotten all that God had done for him. 

As Disciples of Christ are we remembering what God has done for us?

In the scriptures we read “And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.

The Sabbath Day is the perfect day to study the doctrines with our families.

I wish I could say that the Sabbath Day has always been my favorite day, but I can’t…..Early in our marriage we walked our own paths on the Sabbath Day.

In the scriptures it says, “If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth.

Years ago I went to my Heavenly Father in prayer asking him to help me.  I was looking for revelation or to be inspired.

The answer I received was different than what I thought I might need.  It was strong motivation from a loving Heavenly Father encouraging me to change.

I was confused by the prompting, however, I made a list of things that I felt that I could change.  Some of the things were small changes and others would be a constant lifetime change, a change of heart.  Among the list was to improve my Sabbath Day Observance.

The three things I chose to change were; to fast more sincerely, prepare for the sacrament more sincerely, and to study the scriptures more sincerely on the Sabbath Day.

In 2012 President Gibbons then Bishop Gibbons introduced the Come Follow Me Curriculum.  He spoke of how we would teach our Youth to Learn, Act, and Become.  He said that Action would be required….I could feel the spirit so strong.  I decided to study the Come Follow Me Curriculum on Sundays with my three kids.

We have had some of the most precious moments talking about and learning about truth and light.

And I can truly say that I love Sunday!!

As I have tried to change my behavior on Sunday I have seen amazing things happen.  I didn’t know how many blessing we were missing out on until I read Isaiah.

8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward.

 9 Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

 10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:

 11 And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

 12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

I know that every single person in this room has the power to change.  With Heavenly Fathers help we can do anything.  Each one of us can be “Like” the watered garden, like a spring of water that will not fail.  We can touch the lives of our children and all that we come in contact with.

All we need to do is change….change to meet the will of the Lord.

I have thought about this talk deeply, and sometimes I think we take for granted the great miracles that God has given us.  We are so blessed to have the power of God in our lives.  He has delivered us from sin and death, and brought peace to our hearts.

When we in turn, love God with all of thine Heart, all of thy Soul, and all of thy Might we become examples to our children, so that when they fall into the bondage of sin they will know where to turn for deliverance.  Instead of turning back to Egypt (in our case the world)they will turn to God.

I have seen amazing miracles occur in my own home because of the scriptures and our signs to God on the Sabbath day.  I have seen members of my family be delivered from the bondage of sin and, in turn, be blessed with freedom, light, joy, peace, gentleness, love, and faith. 

If it wasn’t for the scriptures I don’t think this would have happened.

Think of how amazing it is that the thing that can change our lives the most is so easily accessible.

I am a witness of the power of God’s Grace; it has worked in my life and in the lives of those around me.  When we turn to God with all of our Heart, I know great miracles will follow.  I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.