Enriching Lives through Online Training

STAKE PRIESTHOOD MEETING, 2/19/05

Pres. Mendenhall --
2 Nephi 31:20 – "… having a perfect brightness of hope [& love]…"
Love others … that is most important … and there will be no need to "worry" about the outcome. Be not skeptical. No one is beyond the "perfect brightness of hope." Love them, and don’t give up on them.

Joseph Brown –
Work, Faith, Obedience prepares one for a mission. Keeping the commandments brings joy. Satan will tempt you as you prepare. Seminary is a great preparation. Understanding/Appreciating the trials of the pioneers. "Serve him with all your might, mind, and strength …" (D&C 4:2). Service must be out of love. Missionaries are called under inspiration to where they will go. Strive to do your best … blessings will come.

Pres. Tidwell –
Impressions of the apostle, Peter:
Luke 5:4-8 … Peter had sufficient faith to try again, anyway, even though he was at first questioning.
Matt. 14:28-31 … Even though Peter sunk in the water, he was the only one with faith to make the attempt.
Matt. 16:19 … "… and I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven …"
Matt. 17 … Peter is given the promised keys.
Matt. 26:40 … Even though Peter couldn’t stay awake in the Garden of Gethsemane, he was one of the few there.
John 18:10 … Even though reprimanded for cutting off the high priest’s ear, Peter was the only one courageous enough to attempt to defend the Savior.
In all of these situations, the Savior recognized Peter’s stalwartness, inspite of his weaknesses. Point is, you don’t have to be perfect – just "be there" … "show up" (for your family/families)! Heavenly Father can’t work through us if we are not "there."

Pres. Trei Coleman –
Reach out to the Prospective Elders. You can’t do it alone – use all your resources. Must go to the source of the problem. Three sources of Prospective Elders: (1) Young Men who strayed, (2) Recent Converts, (3) Inactive Move-ins. Three things you can do: (1) Go visit them … and think, "Who would be a good home teacher for them?" (2) Discuss them in Ward Council Meeting and use all resources/leaders. Work with the women and children in their family. Involve the missionaries to teach non-members in the family. Discuss them in PEC (Priesthood Executive Committee) meetings. (3) Influence/Train them through home teaching and quorum teaching. Make them a home teaching companion with a strong priesthood leader in the ward. Help them to understand the Gospel. Be their friend. Let us be "saviors in Mt. Zion!"

A Testimony –
Teach by the Spirit. Must have the Spirit to teach by the Spirit. Without the Spirit, we cannot progress. Keep the commandments to have the Spirit always with us!

Pres. Youngblood –
What does it "take" to be happy? What will make you happy? … not the accumulation of worldly items, but in sharing the Gospel and seeing how lives are changed .. and how we are changed in doing so! Do everything possible to get out of the vat/pit of debt … it will destroy. D&C 88:124 – "… cease to be idle .." – WORK! Work is a gift, learn to do it, and teach it to your children. When you see something that needs to be done – do it! Retire to thy bed early that you may arise early. Plan your day/week/month AHEAD of time! Exercise the Priesthood and be a righteous example – family prayers, temple attendance, visiting/contacting home teaching families … more than just once a month. Being in the home makes a difference. Follow what the Spirit directs you to do via your priesthood. Get to bed on time. Turn off the TV! .. and get up early (& study the scriptures). If the priesthood is "in place," all else will fall "in place" as it should. D&C 58:26-27 … Accountability. (We must not be slothful servants) (We must bring to pass much righteousness) He trusts us to do His work … and holds us accountable. "When performance is measured …" (Pres. Monson) Measurement is being accountable. So many are not here [in this meeting] who should be – invite them and bring them! We have been given special opportunities to bless others. When we report, we give our leaders the opportunity to give us inspired counsel. When praying, spend more time listening. He answers our prayers, IF we would but listen! We must work/sacrifice more. ("Dad, we want you to take this job … because you’ll be home, and we don’t care about the rest [money]") We are missionaries – share our testimony with others. We need 216 baptisms in 2005. "When performance is measured and reported, progress accelerates." (Pres. Monson) We must share the Gospel each and every day … Read the Book of Mormon daily.