WHEN THE KIDS ASK 'WHAT DID GRANDPA AND GRANDMA BELIEVE ABOUT GOD?'
(I know you are asking yourself 'what does that have to do with the stake 50th anniversary' - but just indulge the missionary is us for a moment, please)
YOUR ANSWER TO THE KIDS CAN BE SUPPORTED BY GENERAL CONFERENCE THIS WEEKEND AND THE BRIEF REVIEW OF THE PAST 13 'COME FOLLOW ME' LESSONS
CONSIDER THE FACT THAT THE FOLKS WE ARE CELEBRATING WHO BUILT THE CHURCH ON THIS ISLAND BELIEVED AND THEN TRIED TO LIVE A PARTICULAR WAY. HELP YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN TO KNOW THAT THESE 'OLD FOLKS' WHO WE HONOR BELIEVED THE FOLLOWING:
(past 3 months of Come Follow Me including D&C 1-29)
1. GOD WAS RESTORING THE FULLNESS OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST THROUGH VISIONS, TRUTH, REVELATIONS, AND AUTHORITY FROM PROPHETS, ANGELS AND HEAVENLY MESSENGERS. GOD WAS RESTORING HIS PROMISES TO ABRAHAM.
2. THE RESTORATION IS AN ONGOING REVELATION FROM THE LIVING GOD TO HIS LIVING CHILDREN. GOD ACTUALLY SPEAKS IN THESE LATTER DAYS. THERE IS SAVING TRUTH NOW RESTORED TO EARTH ABOUT HIM, HIS SON JESUS CHRIST, THE HOLY GHOST AND ABOUT US AND OUR PLACE IN HIS 'PLAN OF HAPPINESS.'
3. JOSEPH SMITH AND FUTURE PROPHETS WITH AUTHORITY AND KEYS TO TESTIFY TO THE WORLD THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST AND THAT GODS PLAN IS FOR EVERYONE ON EARTH. THAT HE LOVES HIS CHILDREN AND HAS PROVIDED A WAY HOME.
4. THE BOOK OF MORMON AS GODS TESTIMONY TO THE WORLD THAT HE LIVES AND LOVES THEM AND THAT THEY CAN HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM BY USING THEIR OWN FREE WILL. HE WILL NOT TAKE AWAY THEIR ABILITY TO CHOOSE HIM.
5. MISSIONARY WORK AS A PART OF OUR LIVES. 'FAITH COMETH BY HEARING'. MISSIONARIES WERE CALLED EVEN BEFORE THE CHURCH WAS ORGANIZED. OUR OBLIGATION TO TESTIFY TO THE WORLD OF GODS LOVE AND HIS 'RELENTLESS PURSUIT' TO GATHER ISRAEL AND TO SAVE HIS CHILDREN.
6. THE WORTH OF SOULS - ALL MANKIND ARE BROTHERS AND SISTERS, GOD IS OUR FATHER AND WE ARE OF ETERNAL VALUE TO HIM. SO MUCH THAT HE SENT HIS SON TO SAVE US ALL BY GIVING HIS VERY LIFE. WE WILL FIND OUR JOY IN JESUS CHRIST.
7. THE PLACE OF WOMEN IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD - EMMA SMITH AND EVERY DAUGHTER OF GOD AND THEIR ROLE IN BUILDING THE KINGDOM.
8. THE CHURCH EXISTS TO BRING PEOPLE TO CHRIST AND TO PREPARE A ZION PEOPLE TO LIVE WITH THE LORD WHEN HE COMES. WE ARE TO PREPARE OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILIES FOR THE SAVIOR TO RETURN IN GLORY.
9. LIFE IS ETERNAL FOR ALL OF US. IT DOES NOT END. YES, DEATH IS A SHORT TERM SEPERATION OF BODY AND SPIRIT BUT OUR SPIRITS CONTINUE TO GROW AND REPENT IN THE SPIRIT WORLD WHILE ISRAEL IS BEING GATHERED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEIL. ALL IN PREPARATION FOR A TIME WHEN WE WOULD BE RESTORED TO OUR PHYSICAL BODY AND LIVE WITH THE LORD AND EACH OTHER IN GLORY. WE ARE ETERNAL BEINGS.
10. THE ENDOWMENT AND THE SEALING POWER WAS ABOUT TO BE RESTORED TO THE EARTH ALLOWING BELIEVERS TO MAKE COVENANT WITH GOD AND FAMILIES TO BE SEALED TOGETHER IN TEMPLES. THIS IS WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COMING TO CHRIST AND GATHERING ISRAEL.
THAT IS A SIMPLE REVIEW OF OUR 'COME FOLLOW ME' LESSONS SINCE JANUARY 2025.
WE WANT TO OFFER A MISSIONARY CHALLENGE: LISTEN TO THE SESSIONS OF GENERAL CONFERENCE ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. HEAR HOW MANY OF THE TRUTHS LISTED ABOVE ARE TAUGHT BY OUR LEADERS AND CONSIDER THOSE WHO WENT BEFORE US AND THEN HUMBLY THANK GOD FOR PEOPLE IN YOUR WORLDWHO ARE "TRUE TO THE FAITH"
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Ok, lets talk about the 'Memory Book' and how we need your help to complete this task.
The few pictures below all have something to do with the Church on the island over the past 100 years. Many of you have sent them. Many more will. Thank you. You're help is SOOO appreciated.
WE ADDED JUST A FEW PICTURES THAT HAVE BEEN SENT IN SO YOU COULD BE REMINDED.
We have been gathering dozens of pictures and conversion stories for the Stake 50th anniversary celebration. But WE COULD SURE USE YOUR HELP!
Many of you who are receiving this have already shared your answers to the short survey and some pictures. But we are asking you to help us finish strong.
ALL OF THESE PICTURES AND ITEMS WILL BE INCLUDED IN A DIGITAL BOOK, AVAILABLE TO EVERY MEMBER OF BOTH STAKES. WE WILL ALWAYS BE ADDING TO IT, BUT FOR NOW, PLEASE HELP US WITH THESE 2 ISSUES:
1. AFTER YOU HAVE FILLED OUT THE QUESTIONAIRE , FIND JUST ONE MORE MEMBER TO FILL IT OUT AND PROVIDE A PICTURE OR TWO (OR A BUNCH)
2. CONTACT THE FAMILY OF A MEMBER WHO HAS PASSED AWAY AND OBTAIN THE SAME INFORMATION OF THEM
The pictures and stories that we have received have created great memories for many. Some have been seen by friends that have not been involved with us for awhile and who are enjoying a renewed relationship with old friends. Social media (stake and personal Facebook pages) have been super helpful. Consider pictures of
youth conferences, baptisms and rebaptisms, girls camps, scout activities, ward and stake parties, stake conference, young adult activities, funeral services, service projects, missionary farewells and homecomings, meeting with missionaries, priesthood ordinations, temple trips, general authority visits, and anything else you may think of.
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