November 10, 2024
Here is the best thing I heard (What?), saw (Eye.), and read (Read.) this week, as well as the best idea (💡) I developed.
What?
“‘Come, Let Us Adore Him’“, President Russell M. Nelson, 2023 First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional:
- “I pray that you will take full advantage of the Savior’s Atonement by repenting daily, making your life increasingly pure, and seeking heavenly guidance in all that you do. … I also pray that you will use this holiday season to begin a season of even greater personal worship. Begin anew to study the teachings and the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”
- I was intrigued that President Nelson had extended an invitation to the members of the Church ‘to study the teachings and the Atonement of Jesus Christ’ in December 2023, 10 months before extending the same invitation again in his October 2024 General Conference address.
- If you’re interested in joining along with the President Russell M. Nelson Listening Schedule that I put together, you can find more information here.
Eye.
Playing Monopoly with my boys and their friend:
- When my boys and their friend announced that they wanted to play Monopoly on Saturday afternoon, I eagerly joined them. Monopoly has been one of my favorite board games for decades. It was fun to see my boys begin to better understand the game. They liked it so much on Saturday that we played again today (Sunday)!
Read.
“To Sit in Council: Bringing Greater Power to Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society Meetings“, Michael Magleby, Priesthood and Family Department:
- “More Than Just a Lesson: Sunday elders quorum and Relief Society meetings should include ‘sufficient time’ for ‘meaningful gospel instruction and discussion’ about recent general conference messages (General Handbook, 8.2.1.2, 9.2.1.2). But an elders quorum or a Relief Society is not a class or a lesson. We have a work to do, and we do more than just talk about that work. Rather, we ‘sit in council’ and promote righteous action—action that will help us all progress along the covenant path ‘with songs of everlasting joy’ (Doctrine and Covenants 66:11).”
- This statement has made me contemplate the way I have been leading an elders quorum meeting (I’m currently serving as an elders quorum instructor). I have been treating our meetings much more like a lesson than a council. I recognize work needs to be done in this area.
- “What We Are Learning and Will Never Forget“, President Russell M. Nelson, April 2021 General Conference: “During the pandemic, Sunday quorum meetings were canceled for a time. Some quorums are now able to meet virtually. Nevertheless, the work that the Lord has given to priesthood quorums was never meant to be confined to a meeting. Meetings are only a small part of what a quorum is meant for and what it can do.
“My brethren of the Aaronic Priesthood and elders quorums, expand your vision of why we have quorums. How does the Lord wish you would use your quorum to accomplish His work—now? Seek revelation from the Lord. Humble yourself! Ask! Listen! If you have been called to lead, counsel as a presidency and with quorum members. Whatever your priesthood office or calling, let God prevail in your commitment as a member of your quorum and in your service. Experience with joy the righteousness you will bring to pass as you are ‘anxiously engaged in a good cause.’ Quorums are in a unique position to accelerate the gathering of Israel on both sides of the veil.”
💡
I received and wrote down the following prompting in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday, November 3, 2024: “Dallas Jenkins’ 10/29/2024 BYU Forum address is proof that the Holy Ghost is inspiring other sincere disciples of Jesus Christ who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
- This prompting was solidified further when I listened to President Russell M. Nelson’s October 2022 General Conference address (“What Is True?“) today and noted this important statement: “Dear brothers and sisters, God is the source of all truth. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints embraces all truth that God conveys to His children, whether learned in a scientific laboratory or received by direct revelation from Him.”
Additional Content
Next Newsletter (November 17, 2024 – Newsletter Subtitle)