Christmas - Closer to Christ Divided 1

8/7/2019 Christmas - Closer to Christ Divided 1

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Closer to Christ

If with all your hearts ye truly seek me,Ye shall ever surely find me. (ChildrensSongbook, 15)


2/14

Our Dear Sisters,

It is our desire to follow the counsel of our leaders in helping all of

us to come closer to Christ. We have been instructed to get backto basics by increasing our food storage, getting out of debt,

going to the temple and doing our Visiting Teaching. Most of all,

however, we have been advised that in these scary and troubling

times it is most important to strengthen our testimonies and find

our personal relationship with Christ.

We have designed this program to help us as we seek to come

closer to Christ. As we follow this outline, either by ourselves, or

with our spouse or our families, we will be prompted to think

deeply about those things that will help us grow spiritually.

Please take the time to write down your thoughts as you areprompted. Pray about the things it discusses.

Thank you for the sweet spirits you possess. It is our desire that

by helping each other as sisters in the Gospel we can all grow in

our testimonies of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Valleyview Ward Relief Society Presidency


3/14

Come and SeeRead the account of the fishermen in Mark 1:16-18 and in John 1:38-39.

Determine what fills your nets. Are everyday challenges such as time constraints,demands from work or home, or feelings of inadequacy or fear holding you back fromdeveloping a relationship with Christ?

Today try to listen for the quiet invitations from the Lord to Come and See.

The Lords Peace Brings Comfort

Putting Problems into Perspective

Life often feels like a great pile of obligations, frustrations, anddisappointments. But the Lord is there, always the same, His armsstill outstretched. When we feel overwhelmed, we have to remember the peace He has spoken to us on previous occasions. His peacebrings comfort and strength; the world cannot give that to us.

Kathleen H. Hughes, Remembering the Lords Love, Ensign, Nov.2006, 111-12

There are so many problems facing us individually and collectively.Yet I have the simple faith that many, if not all, of them can be putinto proper perspective by Pauls sublime message to the Galatians:Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live bythe faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and give himself for me

(Gal. 2:20).

James E. Faust, A Christmas with No Presents, Ensign, Dec. 2001,5-6


4/14

NOTES:

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5/14

Take His Name

Read the account of the Last Supper in John 13:4-15.

As you go through this day, find ways that you can bring honor to Christs name byletting the walk of your life exemplify Him. On this day, try to remember Him always.

The Holy One of Israel

I testify that Jesus Christ is the literal, living Son of our literal, living God. ThisJesus is our Savior and Redeemer who, under the guidance of the Father, wasthe Creator of heaven and earth and all things that in them are. I bear witnessthat He was born of a virgin mother, that in His lifetime He performed mightymiracles observed by legions of His disciples and by His enemies as well. Itestify that He had power over death because He was divine but that Hewillingly subjected Himself to death for our sake because for a period of timeHe was also mortal. I declare that in His willing submission to death He tookupon Himself the sins of the world, paying an infinite price for every sorrow andsickness, every heartache and unhappiness from Adam to the end of the world.In doing so He conquered both the grave physically and hell spiritually and setthe human family free. I bear witness that He was literally resurrected from thetomb and, after ascending to His Father, to complete the process of thatResurrection, He appeared, repeatedly, to hundreds of disciples in the OldWorld and in the New. I know He is the Holy One of Israel, the Messiah whowill don day come again in final glory, to reign on earth as Lord of lords andKing of kings.

Jeffrey R. Holland, The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent,Ensign, Nov. 2007, 42


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Determination to Die Rather than Deny

I wish time would permit us to fully explore the spiritual breadth of Hyrumstestimony as reflected in his sermons and teachings. Perhaps this one quotationwill sufficeSaid Hyrum: I had been abused and thrust into a dungeon, and

confined for months on account of my faith, and the testimony of Jesus Christ.However I thank God that I felt a determination to die, rather than deny the thingswhich my eyes had seen, which my hands had handled, and which I had bornetestimony to, wherever my lot had been cast; and I can assure my belovedbrethren that I was enabled to bear as strong a testimony, when nothing butdeath presented itself, as ever I did in my life (A History of the Persecution of theChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Missouri, Times and Seasons,Dec. 1839, p.23).

When death finally did present itself, Hyrum chose to accept it. Now, that mayseem an odd choice of words, given the circumstances that confronted Josephand Hyrumat Carthage on 27 June 1844. But according to a First Presidencyblessing given to him in 1835, Hyrum was promised power to escape his

enemies if he so chose. Listen to the words of the blessing: Though shalt havepower to escape the hand of thine enemies. Thy life shall be sought with untiringzeal, but thou shalt escape. If it please thee, and thou desirest, thou shalt havethe power voluntarily to lay down thy life to glorify God (Kirtland High CouncilMinutes, Dec. 1832-Nov. 1837).

With perfect faith in the Lords promise. Hyrum was able to face mobs andpersecutions, always knowing that he would eventually escape and return to hisfamily. But at Carthage, the time had come to voluntarily lay down his life toglorify God and to seal his testimony with his blood (D&C 136:39) together with his beloved brother Joseph.

M. Russell Ballard, Brothers Bound by Love and Faith, Ensign, Sept. 1994, 65


7/14

A Common Thread

Read 2 Nephi 25: 21-26.

Do you have a written copy of your testimony of Christ? Take timeto write one today. You might want to include your belief in Him,your gratitude for Him, or an experience that has strengthenedyour testimony of Him.

Our Faith as Committed Christians

People need to know something of our faith as committed Christianswith strong traditional values. Along with the Articles of Faith, we needto emphasize that: We believe in the eternity of the soul, that God is theFather of our spirits, and that we can return to Him after death.

We believe that Jesus Christ is our personal Savior, and we try to modelour lives after Him and His teachings. We commemorate Christsatoning sacrifice in our Sunday worship services, similar to takingcommunion in other churches. We accept as fellow Christians all whobelieve Jesus Christ to be the Son of God and the Savior of allmankindJoseph Smith taught that Jesus Christ is the core of our belief,and everything else is an appendage to it (see Elders Journal, July1838, 44). The name of the Church is The Church of Jesus Christ of

Latter-day Saints.

We believe the original church that Jesus established was lost and hasbeen restored again in our day. The priesthood, the authority to man toact in the name of God, with apostles and a prophet to lead us, has beenrestored, as have all necessary ordinances of salvation. We believe inand we use the Holy Bible, both the Old and New Testaments. And webelieve in the Book of Mormon and other books of scripture whichsupport and authenticate the Bible and testify of the ministry and divinityof Christ and of Gods ongoing revelation to man. Indeed, the Book of Mormon is Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

M. Russell Ballard, Faith, Family, Facts, and Fruits, Ensign, Nov. 2007,

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MY TESTIMONY

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___________________________________________________ __________________ Never Stopping, Ever Searching

Read the account of Jairus in Matthew 9:18-26.

Think back on a time in your life when you had to search for theSavior to find strength beyond your own. Try to remember the

process you went through in that search. Was it scripture study,more meaningful prayers, or another avenue that led you toChrist? Stretch again.


9/14

Suffering and Repentance

Christs Unwavering Love and Support

Who Is This Jesus?

Read the account of the Samaritan woman in John 4: 1-42.

Prepare to receive a simple learning moment as you go throughyour day. Let your search be constant. Try to discover, in everyhour, some heavenly blessing that will bring you closer to Christ.

It is difficult to bear the sufferings that are inflicted upon us, but the realtorment in life is to suffer the consequences of our own shortcomings and singswhich we inflict upon ourselves.

There is only one way to rid ourselves of this suffering. It is by means of sincere repentance. I learned that if I could present unto the Lord a brokenheart and a contrite spirit, feeling a godly sorrow for my sins, humbling myself,being repentant of my faults, He, through His miraculous atoning sacrifice,could erase those sings and remember them no more.

Claudio D. Zivic, After All We Can Do, Ensign, Nov. 2007, 98

In the moonlit silence of that Near Eastern night, every acute pain,every heartfelt grief, every crushing wrong and human hurtexperienced by every man, woman, and child in the human family wasto be heaped upon his weary shoulders. But in such a moment, whensomeone might have said it to him, he rather says to us, Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27).

Jeffrey R. Holland, He Loved Them unto the End, ensign, Nov. 1989,25)


10/14

The Two Hemisphere Story of Jesus Christ

When Hope Is Gone

Read the story of the blind man found in John 9:1-38.

Attempt to analyze through different eyes a situation that hasbeen troubling you. Pray that the Savior will touch your eyes sothat you will see what you need to do differently.

The scriptural story of Jesus Christ is indeed a two hemisphere story. WhileMary and Joseph in the East were making preparations for the holy childs birthin Bethlehem, Nephi in the West was being taught by the premortal Messiah. ToNephi the Lord said, Be of good cheer;on the morrow come I into the world, toshow unto the world that I will fulful all that which I have caused to be spoken bythe mouth of my holy prophets (3 Nephi 1:13).

To doubters of that second witness the Book of Mormon the Lord issued awarning: Because you have treated lightly the things you have received[you]shall remain undercondemnation until [you] repent and rememberthe Bookof Mormon and the former commandments which I have given,[the Bible,and]do according to that which I have written (D&C 84:54, 57).

The Lord provided other scriptures of the Restoration and declared that thosewords will also be fulfilled (see Joseph Smith Matthew 1:31). With thesescriptural witnesses, false doctrines will be confounded. With these scripturalwitnesses, doctrines of the Bible are not only reaffirmed but clarified.

Russell M. Nelson, Scriptural Witnesses, Ensign, Nov. 2007, 44


11/14

Now take some time to write down some of the good things thathave come to you through Christ. How does recognizing theseblessings bring you hope?

Find Peace through the Atonement

MY BLESSINGS

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Every incorrect choice we make, every sin we commit is a violation of eternallaw. That violation brings negative results we generally soon recognize. Thereare also other consequences of our acts of which we may not be conscious.They are nonetheless real. They can have a tremendous effect on the qualityof our life here and most certainly will powerfully affect it hereafter. We can donothing of ourselves to satisfy the demands of justice for a broken eternal law.Yet, unless the demands of justice are paid, each of us will suffer endless

negative consequences.

Only the life, teachings, and particularly the atonement of Jesus Christ canrelease us from this otherwise impossible predicament. Each of us has mademistakes, large or small, which if unresolved will keep us from the presence of God. For this reason, the atonement of Jesus Christ is the single mostsignificant event that ever has or ever will occur. This selfless act of infiniteconsequence, performed by a single gloried personage, has eternal impact inthe life of every son and daughter of our Father in Heaven without exception.It shatters the bonds of death. It justifies our finally being judged by the Master.It can prevent an eternity under the control of the devil. It opens the gates toexaltation and eternal life for all who qualify for forgiveness through repentanceand obedience.

Richard G. Scott, Finding Forgiveness, Ensign, May 1995, 75


12/14

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A Promise without Parallel

Learn to recognize the steady rhythm of the One whoaccompanies you along the way by reading Moroni 7:26.

Ponder the five characteristics of prayer given in this verse. Howwill remembering these make your prayers more meaningful?Choose one step that you would like to focus on.

As you kneel to pray tonight, thank your Heavenly Father for HisSon, Jesus Christ. Share with Him the reasons why you aregrateful for the Savior. Let Him know what your knowledge of Christ means to you.


13/14

The Lord Knows and Loves You Personally

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Did you know that Heavenly Father knows you personally by name?You may not have heard the Lord call you by name, but He knows eachone of you and He knows your name. Elder Neal A Maxwell said, I testifyto you that God has known you individuallyfor a long, long time 9seeD&C 93:23). He has loved you for a long, long time. He not only knowsthe names of all the stars (see Psalm 147:4: isaiah40:26); He knows younames and all your heartaches and your joys!

Elaine S. Dalton, He Knows You by Name, Ensign, May 2005, 109-10


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Christmas - Closer to Christ Divided 1