NEW EAGLE SCOUTS

Two of the precious young men of our ward received their Eagle Scout awards this last Sunday - Noah Sato,

son of Kristie & John,

 and Lucas Ashton,

son of Celia and Jeff.

Congratulations to these young men. I'm sure we can expect to hear their names connected to good things in the future!!!!

SACRAMENT MEETING NOTES - 11 DEC. 2016

                                                        BISHOP JORDAN MERRILL

Our greeters  this afternoon were Garth and Patty Crofts.

Conducting Bishop Merrill. He welcomed back Elder Chauncey and Sister Margaret Adams

from a mission at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. 

The Relief Society Christmas dinner will be held this Wed., Dec 14th at 6:00 p.m.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Choir practice will be held at the piano gallery Thursday at 6:00 PM and again Sunday at 10:30 AM 

Eagle Scout Court of honor for Lucas Ashton and Noah Sato will be next Sunday the 18th at 7:00 PM in the cultural hall. 

Book of Mormon reading for next week: Ether, chapters 7-15. 

Services for Christmas Day will be at 12 o'clock noon for just a one hour meeting. 

New Year's Day we will be on a new schedule 9 - o'clock till noon. 

Fast Sunday will be January 8. 

Invocation: Chris Cleven.

 

Sustained as a teacher in the Aaronic priesthood was Briggs  McLauchlin

who also a bore his testimony. 

Our first speaker this afternoon was Guy Ludlow

who talked about Sabbath day observance, taking his remarks from the strength of youth  pamphlet which he said is not just for youth. We are to prepare during the week to keep the Sabbath day holy.  

Lyla  and George Thomas also spoke. This is their last Sunday here as members of this ward as they are moving to Sunbrook. Lila

talked about Joy using as her reference a book by the Dalai Lama and Arch Bishop Tutu.  None but Saints can be happy under every circumstance. We find joy in doing good for others as Service brings joy which is the real meaning of our lives, that of looking outward towards others. 

 

                          George

began his remarks with "in as much as you have done it unto the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me." When we do anything of service it's as if we are doing it for Christ. He told us that there are 30,000 wards and branches across the world that means there are 30,000 Bishops 30,000 Elder's Quorum presidents 30,000 Relief Society presidents and 30,000 primary presidents plus all their teachers.  And all of them are serving others!!!  We are not to ignore the begger or we will have need to repent.  King Benjamin asked "are we not all beggars? "

Last week Carson Hunt

was released as young men's president and sustained as the new ward scoutmaster. 

                            Ron Reid

was sustained as the new Young Men's president. 

 Benediction: Dean Kleven 

SACRAMENT MEETING NOTES - SUNDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2016

BISHOP JORDAN MERRILL




Our greeters this afternoon were Fred and Marilyn Smith.

Conducting: Christopher Lamb.

Announcements: the First Presidency devotional will be held December 4 at 6:00 PM.

The ward Christmas party will be December 9. Meet in the chapel at 6 o'clock, then dinner will be served at 6:30.

Relief Socity Christmas party will be Wednesday, the 14th at 6:00 p.m.

Choir practice next Sunday at the Piano Gallery at 10:30 a.m.

Book of Mormon Reading for next week: Mormon Chapters 7-9. Title of lesson is "I speak to you as if ye were Present."

Tithing settlement will be the next two weeks on Sunday and Tuesday evenings.

The records of the Crabtrees were read in a few weeks ago; please introduce yourselves when you see them at church! They are, from left to right, Ashley, Cordell, Julie and Steve!!
Welcome, WELCOME, Crabtrees!

Invocation: Lyla Joy Thomas.

The memberships of the Brian Arnold family and Dean and Chris Kleven were read in and welcomed by the vote of the congregation.

Our first speaker was McKenzie Johnson

who has been called to the Texas Houston South Spanish-speaking mission. She leaves in two weeks and is excited to be serving in the same mission as her father did. Her first question was" why be a missionary?" Then "Who needs the church?"
The gospel is all about coming to Christ. We are all on the same journey. We need each other. We know about Christ and his atonement and we don't have to go through life alone. All of the ordinances strengthen us. She told us that President Uchtdorf said in one of his talks 'that we are all made of the stuff of Eternity.!
Our church is the kingdom of God and she told us the church feels like home as does the temple. She then bore a sweet testimony. You go, Sister Johnson!!!

Elder Pendergras

spoke next. He is from Tennessee and has only been a member of the church for three years. He had two main messages; the message of the restoration and the message of the atonement of Christ. Christ suffered for each of us because he loves us and helps us overcome every obstacle. Christ experienced the totality of mortal pain in Gethsemane. Everyone needs to know about the atonement. Our salvation is not cheap and it's not easy. Christ has a perfect empathy for each one of us! We all have so much divine potential!!
He told us that he and his 30-year-old sister who is mentally challenged were raised in a very abusive household where she was told repeatedly that she was worthless!. After he joined a church his sister Valerie Heard the gospel and also wanted to join and so he baptized her. He read part of a talk she had written where she did realize that she had value and was a daughter of God!
He then asked the question "how does a missionary let others know about Christ? "And then he answered without question. "Be a friend."

Elder Nordstrom

was our concluding speaker. he is from Pensacola Florida. He tells us that there is such joy in missionary work and he's happier than he has ever been! From Doc & Cov he quoted 'how great is the joy when bringing one soul unto Christ and how much greater joy you'll have if you bring forth many souls unto Christ.
After Christ's resurrection and his appearance to the Nephites, they were all converted and were free of the shackles of selfishness.
If we share the gospel we will have done our part and he suggested we see Elder Dallin H Oaks' conference address in the Nov issue of the Ensign.

Benediction: George Thomas

SACRAMENT MEETING NOTES --- 13 NOVEMBER 12016

BISHOP JORDAN MERRILL


Our greeters today were Fred and Marilyn Smith.

Conducting: Christopher Lamb.

There will be a blood drive on November 22 which is a Tuesday.

Mark your calendar's for our special Christmas dinner on Friday, December 9 at 6 o'clock the theme is "A night in Bethlehem ".

Missionary preparation will now be held in this building at 5 o'clock on Sunday afternoons.

Book of Mormon reading for next week: 3rd Nephi,

chapters 27 through 30.

Invocation: Margo Sweena.

Sustained: Sandra Landon as special service coordinator.

She will be in charge of the blood drive.

Testimonies were given by Chris Lamb.

Glenda Hacker.

Jenna Mullins.

Jamelle Mullins.

Janet Benavidez.

Sue Eyring.

Guy Ludlow.

Michelle Robinson.

Don Kleven.

Bill Smith.

Judy Smith.

Elder Nordstrom.

Benediction: Betty Sue Pierce

High priest temple session and social: husbands and wives, single brother and sisters, others
when: Wednesday, November 16, 5:20 session St. George Temple.
Please be at the temple dressed and ready by 5:00 PM Social: 7:45 PM at the home of Gary and Trudy Larkins,
2862 Snow Circle. Refreshments will be served.
Bring a friend, other quorum member or someone that needs a ride

SACRAMENT MEETING NOTES - 30 OCTOBER 2016

                              BISHOP JORDAN MERRILL


Our greeters Sunday afternoon were Marlene and Dave Larsen.

Conducting: Earl Blake Snow. 

Announcements: stake conference in our building next weekend, November 5 and sixth.
         Stake priesthood leadership 4:00 PM on Saturday the            fifth. 
        Adult session, 7:00 PM Saturday evening November 5.          (SET YOUR CLOCKS BACK ONE HOUR before going           to bed Saturday evening!)
        Youth leadership meeting 8:00 AM Sunday morning, November 6. 
       General meeting 10:00 AM Sunday morning. 

Relief Temple Day - Thursday, Nov 3rd, 10:40 a.m.

Fast  Sunday will be November 13. 

Book of Mormon reading for Nov 13th: 3 Nephi Chapters 22-26

The names of several new families were read in and welcomed. 

          Invocation: Lindsay McLaughlin

Sustained:   Dori Wilkerson

as Relief Society Compassionate Service leader. 

The program this afternoon was by the Bloomington third Ward primary entitled "I know the scriptures are true."  

Steve Adam

was at the piano and Allie Croft, 

a very enthusiastic music director. 

Their rendition of the hymn "praise to the man" was especially wonderful! 

This is probably the best primary program I have ever seen.  We could understand every word of all the songs and most of the talks. You primary teachers and the presidency deserve a huge  thank you. 

I regret that I don't have pictures of the entire primary to pass on to you.

                        Benediction: Sean McLaughlin

Sacrament meeting notes - October 23, 2016

                           BISHOP JORDAN MERRILL


Our greeters this afternoon were Marlene and Dave Larson. 

Conducting: Earl Bleak Snow. 

Announcements: trunk or treat this Tuesday, October 25 in the pavilion behind the church 6 o'clock

Primary program will be next Sunday, October 30 

Stake Temple day Saturday, November 5  

Stake priesthood leadership meeting will be held Saturday the fifth at 4 o'clock here at the Southgate stake center (the Manzanita building) 

               The adult session of stake conference will be held Saturday, November 5 at 7:00 PM (the Manzanita building) 

               Youth and their leaders will meet at 8:00 AM on Sunday, Nov 6th (the Manzanita building) 

               General stake conference will be held Sunday, November 6 at 10:00 A.M. (the Manzanita building) 

 Fast Sunday, November 13 

Friends of Scouting is going on right now. You can donate online or contact a member of the bishopric or Brent Heaton. 

Book of Mormon study for next week third Nephi chapters 16, 20, and 21.

Invocation: Delaine Anderson. 

Sustained: Ken Pearson as assistant ward clerk. 

Our speakers today were Trudy and Gary Larkins. Trudy

gave a brief history about her & Gary.  Among other things Gary served as a mission president of the southeast Malaysia mission from 2003 to 2006. This included five different countries. They were on a plane a lot and were told later their airtime equaled flying around the world 11 times. Then they served in the temple presidency in the Los Angeles temple from 2011 through 2014. 

Her topic was "it's never too early and never too late."  She told us that we cannot let our family do a makeover in the world's image & that in third Nephi the Savior blessed the children and prayed for them and presented them to the multitude saying "behold your little ones."  Children are strong choice spirits that were saved especially for this time. In Doc & Cov we are told to "stand in holy places and be not moved. Temples, churches and homes are holy places with the temples being the most holy places on earth.

As a temple matron she saw a lot of new brides and suggested that they need to pay more attention to the endowment which teaches us what we need to know to return to Heavenly Father. 

Gary's topic was "Covenants" which is The key difference between us and other Christian churches. In Doc & Cov 84:33-53 we are promised "everything the Father hath will be ours" if we keep our covenants. He encouraged those who are not endowed to meet with the bishop and prepare themselves to receive the endowment. The Atonement allows us to be clean again. 

He also told us that heavenly father is aware of each one of us and told us about a young girl, Ricasa who lived on the island of Borneo. Her mother died when she was 16 so she went to live with an Aunt whose husband tried to molest her. She ran away with nowhere to go and no one to care for her and found a man who ran a frui tstand. She begged him for a job which he gave her and then she begged him to let her sleep in the tiny room behind the stand which is what she did for a couple of years. Then her life changed. Two Young man in dark suits showed up and taught her the gospel. When she turned 21 she went on a mission to Singapore where Larkins were serving as mission presidents. President Larkins sent her out with a missionary companion from Utah; eight weeks later they had 16 people ready to be baptized.  When he asked the missionary from Utah what she had done she said she hadn't done anything; it was Recasa who spoke the language and had the Holy Ghost with her.  In that area they are now baptizing between 500 and 1000 converts a year. A senior couple came to that area from BYU Hawaii and made arrangements for Ricasa to attend, then she ended up in Salt Lake City at general conference and is now engaged to be married in the temple.. God knows everyone of us and wants us back!

Benediction:  Glenda Hacker