SACRAMENT MEETING NOTES - SUNDAY 29 MAY 2016

BISHOP JORDAN MERRILL

We were warmly greeted and handed programs by Brother Garth and Sister Patty Crofts.

Our meeting was conducted by 1st councilor in the Bishopric, Brother Chris Lamb.

INVOCATION: Sister Sue Eyring

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Harrison Cruz, formerly of this ward has been called to the Harristown Pennsylvania Mission.

Hunter and Carter Nelson, twin sons of Andrew and Nikki, will be baptized next Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at the Bloomington Stake Center.

Baby girl, Gwen Marie Simpson was blessed by her father Greg Simpson.

SIMPSON FAMILY

The memberships of Devro and Jessie Brinkerhoff were read in and welcomed by the raise of hands.

Brother Leo and Sister Renee' Mikesell have been called as Family History Instructors. Classes will be held during the 3rd hour of the block.

TESTIMONIES:  Chris Lamb

Paul Gavin

Cassie Warby

Jamelle and Jenna Mullins

Gavin Johnson

Janet Benavidez

Yohanna Ashton

Sherrie Garrett, Sister of the late Christine Baresco

                                                                Brice Hedrick

Kassie Christensen

Mckinzie Johnson

                                          Gage Baresco

Tim Eyring

Mariah Webb

                                            Brian Ludlow

BENEDICTION:  Relief Society President Kam Capik

ANNOUNCEMENTS:  RELIEF SOCIETY TEMPLE DAY, THURSDAY, JUNE 2 - 10:00 A.M. SESSION. LUNCHEON AFTER IN THE CAFETERIA.

BOOK OF MORMON READING FOR OUR LESSON SUNDAY JUNE 12:  MOSIAH, CHAPTER 29 AND ALMA CHAPTERS 1-4. LESSON IS ENTITLED "ALMA...DID JUDGE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS."

PRIESTHOOD AND RELIEF SOCIETY LESSON FOR JUNE 12 FROM 'THE TEACHINGS OF PRESIDENT HOWARD W. HUNTER:  LESSON 11 - "TRUE GREATNESS"

EVENING SESSION OF STAKE CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT THE SOUTHGATE CHAPEL UP ON THE HILL - 7:00 P.M.
STAKE CONFERENCE SUNDAY JUNE 5TH - 2:00 P.M. AT THE BLOOMINGTON STAKE CENTER.

SACRAMENT MEETING NOTES - 22 MAY 2016, AND SEMINARY GRADUATES

BISHOP JORDAN MERRILL

We were warmly greeted by Brother Garth and Sister Patty Crofts.

First councilor, Brother Chris Lamb, welcomed  us and conducted the meeting.

Invocation was offered by Brother Brian Ludlow

Our speakers were Brother Sean and Sister Lynsee McLauchlin formerly of the 7th Ward.  Both of them used portions of Mosiah, chapters 20--23 as their text. Lynsee explained vs 12 in Chapter 23, which reads, in part: "Ye are bound in the bonds of iniquity.." In other words, our spiritual progression stops! She feels her spiritual progression has stopped because she has been prompted the last several testimony meetings to stand and bear her testimony and she hasn't. Instead she has been listening to the adversary giving her many excuses. She also quoted Mosiah 23:21 - "Nevertheless (even when things are going well and the people are living the gospel) the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea he trieth their patience and their faith." And verse 27 - "But Alma went forth and stood among them, and exhorted them that should not be frightened, but that they should remember the Lord their God and he would deliver them." She loved it, that Alma would go out among the people and encourage them at a time when the Lamanites threatened to attack them.

Sean asked us how we are removed from Bondage and referred us to John 8:32-36 -  "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?  Jesus answered them, Verily verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.  And the servant abideth not in the house forever: but the Son abideth ever.  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

 He asked "What is our bondage?" And named three possible answers:  1) Ideology or the philosophies of men, such as our over use of 'I, My, Mine, Our' and relying on the arm of flesh.
 2) Wealth 3) Social media, sports, television; anything in excess that takes us away from the spirit. He also told us of a time in Jr High School when he was pretty full of himself and how one of the coaches told him he had to change his attitude.
Are we willing to give up everything for God? 

Benediction was offered by Brother Carson Hunt. 




Seminary graduation was held last evening! The young people in our ward to graduate were Mady Mac Arthur, 

daughter of Cary and Dave.

Noah Sato, son of John and Christie.... 

Austin Eyring

Son of Sue and Tim

 

And McKinzie Johnson  

daughter of Kendal and Nanette

 

McKinzie wrote up a few thing about herself that I am going to include here, as the few lines I had under her photo as a graduating high school senior were pretty sparse. 

(All of the Graduates from our Ward Family are outstanding young people! You will find write ups about them in previous Posts.)

McKinzie is the seventh child of eight. She loves having a big and ever growing family. She has three nieces and two nephews, and enjoys being an aunt immensely. McKinzie was born in Anchorage, Alaska, but has lived in St. George for twelve years. She is a people-person and enjoys being in the company of those she loves. Family and friends mean the world to her, and she doesn’t know where she would be without them. Her interests include reading, writing, seeing movies, singing and piano playing. She loves learning and likes to take any opportunity she can to learn. 

In high school McKinzie has participated in theater and choir. She has a passion for music and enjoys acting. Throughout all of high school she has been a part of National Honor Society and has loved serving others. In her last year of school she has been a part of Elections and Eligibility, a club in charge of all the voting in the high school. She has taken several Honors, AP, and Concurrent Enrollment classes, and by doing so she has learned how to work hard and to get the most from her education. She also took four years of French. She will be graduating with high honors and an honors diploma; she is a Utah Scholar, and has received scholarships at various colleges. For six months she worked as a nanny, and from that experience she has learned to be a good example, a good listener, and to be patient. 
After she graduates, McKinzie plans to serve a mission; she is going to work in the summer and fall, saving for her mission. She can turn in her papers in August and will be available to leave in December. After her mission she is going to go college, majoring in psychology or social work, and eventually hopes to become a child life specialist, helping children to cope with serious illnesses. She wants to help kids in any way she can. She loves children and can’t wait to one day be a wife and mother. A dream of hers is to be a published author, writing books for children and young adults. She also hopes to travel the world, learning and experiencing all of the different cultures out there. 

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES OF 2016

McKinzie Johnson

Her Father, Kendall, sent me the following; (a proud father to be sure!)  Piano, dance, drawing, poetry, physics, reading and studying the scriptures, singing, writing stories and books, reading books. Always happy and bubbly. Graduating in high Honors and several scholarships, Just to name a few.

                                     Noah Sato

Noah has 5 brothers and 2 sisters. Noah has always been a humble, modest young man. He has done well in school getting excellent grades and enjoying school. 
When he was just 3 months old he was in the Christmas Nativity at the Ward party, Noah was the baby Jesus, the starring role! 
Noah is a great swimmer. He could swim before he was 1 year old and swam before he could walk. 
He played the trumpet for 3 years and got quite good. He marched in the band at Dixie Middle School. 
He was not in a really big hurry to get his driver’s license. But since getting his license he does drive a lot. 
He has enjoyed Seminary and really respected his teacher this year.
Noah is looking forward to graduation and going on a mission soon. He and his parents thank all  the people that have helped him and have been the inspiration for him to do good.

SACRAMENT MEETING NOTES - 15 MAY 2016

Bishop Jordan Merrill

We were warmly greeted by the smiles of Brother Garth and Sister Patty Crofts.    

Brother Chris Lamb, First councilor, conducted with the following announcements: 

     Seminary Graduation will be held May 22, 7:00 p.m. at the          Southgate Building on the hill.

     Fast Sunday will be May 29th.

     Stake conference-June 4th and 5th.

     Taylor and Michelle had their baby girl, Rachel, Friday the 13th!!

And Austin Henry Eyring announced that he has been called to the Santa Anita Brazil Mission where he will be speaking Portuguese

INVOCATION:  Sister Lisa Dastrup.  

STAKE BUSINESS:

     SUSTAINED:  Brother John Sato of our ward as Stake Music Director and Sister Ann Buys of one of the Southgate Wards as Stake Organist.

WARD BUSINESS: 

     The memberships of Kimmie and Landon Clegg and their twin baby girls were read and welcomed into the Ward. (More on them later.)

RELEASED:  Andrew Nelson as YM 2nd councilor.

Jake Green as a Primary Worker.

Dwight Andrus as Scout Committee Chair.

Adrienne Lamb as Cub Committee Chair

Katelyn Boulton as Primary Activity Day leader

SUSTAINED:  Katelyn Boulton as a Sunday School teacher

     Andrew Nelson as YM Secretary

     Jake Green as YM 2nd Councilor

     Brent Heaton as Scout Committe Chair

      Donna Heaton as Primary Activity Day Leader

Pat Chappell as Cub Committee Chair

Matthew Boulton as 11 year old Scout Leader

YOUTH SPEAKER:  Jessalyn Webb, daughter of Jill and Randy. Her assigned topic was "Scripture Study." She told of a time when she was angry at God; going through a lot. She decided to put away her 'selfish self' and study the scriptures.

She prayed to seek for guidance and quoted Jeremiah 29:11 which states 

      11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  

And also Proverbs 3:36

       5 ¶Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.   6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

 

Ryan Hanning of the Southgate 2nd ward then spoke. He has been called to a mission in Mexico and his topic was "The Sabbath Day." Keeping the Sabbath is an outward sign of our love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ! It is a day to pause and remember our baptismal covenants which are to 

     1)  Bear one another's burdens

     2)  Mourn with those that mourn

     3)  comfort those that stand in need of comfort

     4) Stand as witnesses of God 

He suggests wearing appropriate clothing throughout the day to remind us that we are keeping the Sabbath Day Holy! He then quoted Isaiah 58:13-14   

      13 ¶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:

       14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Our concluding speaker was Brother Brad Hanning. He also spoke of the Sabbath and asked the question that President Russel Nelson asked in one of his conference talks: "Is the Sabbath really a Delight for you and me?" Sacrament meeting is the most holy and sacred meeting of the Church. Partaking of the sacrament is a live ordinance and the Reason for the meeting. 

The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.

From Doc and Cov 59:15-16

      15 And inasmuch as ye do these things with thanksgiving, with cheerful hearts and countenances, not with much laughter, for this is sin, but with a glad heart and a cheerful countenance—

      16 Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth.

BENEDICTION: Sister Mabel Lopez

Trudy and Gary Larkins have just moved into our Ward Family. They've moved down from SLC and we'll learn more about them soon, but we Welcome them! They will be a great addition to our Ward!

Book of Mormon Reading for Sunday May 22 - Mosiah chapters 18-24. Lesson 19. "NONE COULD DELIVER THEM BUT THE LORD"

Relief Society/Priesthood Lesson: TEACHING FOR OUR TIME - "See Yourself in the Temple." by Elder Quentin L. Cook (May Ensign 2016, pg. 97