Mormon Life - Sabbath Day tag

Why we're mad about Sundays

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:41:00 -0700

source: MormonTimes.com

You can read the title of this column in two ways:

1. Why we are angry about how the Sabbath day is observed (or not observed) these days.

2. Why we are crazy about the Sabbath and love it so much.

The title actually means both. Let us elaborate one at a time.

It is one of our greatest annoyances that Sunday is no longer observed as a day of rest and worship in this country — or in this world.

{Lifestyle} The Sunday Open House: Yes or No?

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:05:00 -0600

by Ashley Evanson
source: MormonLife.com

I'm blessing my baby on Sunday and I'm running into a dilemma that has had me fretting all week: Should I have an open house after sacrament meeting, or not? Here's what "the brethren" have said:

"Members and local leaders should avoid practices that may detract from the sacred nature of a mission call or create unnecessary expense, such as holding open houses for missionaries [or baby blessings] (except for family gatherings), sending formal printed announcements or invitations, printing special programs, or forming reception lines at the meetinghouse after the sacrament meeting" (Ensign, Nov. 1994, 112).

I have people traveling from out of town for the blessing, some of whom are not LDS so I really don't expect them to stay after sacrament meeting; I assume they'll want to leave and go back to my home. I normally wouldn't feel bad about having a family gathering afterward, but my husband and I both have callings. What am I supposed to do, get a substitute so I can have a party? I feel kind awkward doing this, but I really don't feel like I have a choice.

Now here's my other dilemma: open houses for family gatherings have been given the okay, so does this mean all my friends who have come to the blessing shouldn't be invited? I'm not going to turn anyone away if they come, but quickly, my small family gathering is turning into the "after party." You know what I'm talking about. Suddenly the whole primary is running around your house and there are people there you've only talked to once who've just come for the free meal.

What would you do? How have you handled this type of situation in the past? Please, help me out by leaving a comment below.

Ashley Evanson is the online editor at LDS Living. She loves eating Costco hot dogs, Pinterest (addicted!), and watching America’s Funniest Home Videos.

Milk before meat

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:54:00 -0600

source: segullah.org/blog/

Mormon Life says: Well-written essay on the importance of considering spiritual maturity. Our family joined the Church the summer when I was fourteen, my brother was ten, and my sister was six. We grew up in Connecticut as a churchgoing family, but after church was over at 10:15 on Sunday morning, we were free to do what we wanted with the rest of the day. In the spring and fall, we usually spent the rest of the day at soccer games for my brother, Ethan. Spring soccer ended that year before we set our baptism date, before we understood the finer parts of becoming a Mormon, before we knew about how Mormons kept the sabbath day holy. At the end of the spring season, Ethan signed up to join the traveling team in the fall.

By the time August came to an end, my mom realized that she was facing a problem. We were fresh from the waters of baptism and still felt like we could do everything right in terms of living the gospel. Should she let Ethan honor his commitment to the team, or should she encourage him to keep the sabbath day holy as much as possible? Full of a convert’s zeal, she had her opinions, and she marched Ethan into the Bishop’s office to have him validate her opinion.

High-speed Internet coming to 85 percent of meetinghouses

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:20:00 -0600

source: MormonTimes.com

Mormon Life says: Hooray! We may have to have a "church Internet etiquette" seminar, though. Let me start with a personal story. I was subbing in nursery just this last Sunday and was set to teach the lesson on “I Will Love Others.” It suggested that I tell/read the New Testament story “The Good Samaritan.” I thought, why read it, when the Mormon Messages Channel has that wonderful set of “New Testament Stories” on video, including the Good Samaritan.

But, my meetinghouse has no available wireless Internet access. I was able to get around that, however, since I live close enough to the church that I went outside with my laptop, accessed my encrypted wireless, downloaded the video, and then watched the children watch with rapt attention to this important scriptural story so very well told via video.

Moral of the story, as I walked out of the church house, I wished for like the thousandth time, that our meetinghouse had accessible wireless Internet.

FHE: Worship

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:04:00 -0600

by Shauna Gibby
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "Let us prepare and conduct ourselves on the Sabbath in a manner that will call down the blessings promised us." Conference Talk:

For more information on this topic read “The Sabbath and the Sacrament,” by L. Tom Perry, Ensign, May 2011, 6.

Thought:

Let us prepare and conduct ourselves on the Sabbath in a manner that will call down the blessings promised us upon ourselves and our families.

(L. Tom Perry, “The Sabbath and the Sacrament,” Ensign, May 2011, 6.)

Song:

“The Chapel Doors,” Children’s Songbook, p. 156.

Scripture:

And he gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God. (Moses 5:5)

Lesson:

Tell your family your favorite hymn, and explain why you like it. Sing it as a family and ask:

• What are your favorite hymns and why?

• How does sacred music make you feel?

• How does it improve your worship of the Lord?

• According to D&C 25:12, what does the Lord teach about sacred music?

Read together 2 Chronicles 29:25–30 and mark all the references to music and its different forms included in their temple worship. Ask your family why they feel that the kingdom of Judah included so much music in their worship? Read the “First Presidency Preface” in Hymns (ix–x) and discuss the following questions:

• What blessings of inspirational music are mentioned?

• What hopes of the First Presidency are included in the preface?

• What can our family do to enhance our worship through music?

Remind your family of the hymn that you shared to begin this scripture study time and share your experience with how you have been blessed because of this hymn and others. Encourage your family to use the hymns more often as they worship the Lord.

(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The Old Testament, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2009], p. 144.)

Story:

The most challenging adjustment for many Ukrainian, Russian, and Belarussian people contemplating baptism into the Church was in moving from a purely private religious life to participation in public worship. During the Soviet era, a tradition developed among many believers that religion is a purely private matter with God and that devotions need not be, or ought not to be, publicly displayed.

Olga is a young university student who had always wanted to find God’s love and the love of other people, but she had resisted invitations to attend other churches because she was afraid of public worship. She justified this reticence by saying to herself: “If God loves me, it doesn’t matter where I pray to Him. I can do it by myself.”

Olga and her mother, Larisa, met Sister Cynthia Robbins and Sister Melinda Richards on the street. These missionaries invited them to church, but instead Larisa and Olga, desiring to be taught the gospel, invited them to their home. It did not take Olga and Larisa long to receive a strong spiritual witness of the restored gospel, and they accepted the invitation to be baptized. Olga and Larisa had not yet attended church and were told that this was an important requirement for baptism.

A short time later, Olga attended the a Latter-day Saint worship service but afterwards was assailed with doubts. Thinking about the experience for several days afterward, she decided against baptism. But because she had lost the missionaries’ telephone number and thus could not tell them of her decision, she and her mother attended church the next Sunday so they could speak with the missionaries.

This time at church, however, Olga had a wonderful spiritual experience during the sacrament service and afterward felt the great love of the members toward one another and toward her. She recalls:

“That Sunday changed my life forever. I understood through the Spirit that I had to belong to this church. I saw such a great faith and kindness on the faces of the people! I felt how their faith was penetrating into my soul. I understood everything without words. I understood that my fear after the first Sunday was a temptation of Satan.

“The feeling that I received right after my baptism cannot be described in words. I just can say that it seemed to me that I was flying twenty centimeters above the ground on my way home. I loved everyone; I was so happy. I felt that I was a beloved daughter of my almighty and kind Father. I wanted to hug all the world. I was thankful to God for helping me to find a beautiful church family. I was thankful for being in this church family with my mother.”

Eight months later, Olga’s father came back to the family after a period of separation, received the gospel and baptism, and was later ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood. Olga’s joy was full: “I cannot find the words in Russian or any other language to describe my feelings and blessings since my baptism. Now I have my entire family in the gospel, and I am eagerly looking forward to going to the temple together with my father and mother.”

(Howard Biddulph, Morning Breaks: Stories of Conversion and Faith in the Former Soviet Union, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1996].)

Activity:

Select eight to ten gospel pictures (from the Gospel Art Kit or printed from lds.org). Arrange them on the floor or table so everyone can see them. Ask one person to leave the room. Remove one of the pictures and rearrange the remaining pictures. Have the person return and determine which picture is missing. Repeat with other family members.

Refreshment

Grasshopper Pie

Crust

11⁄2 cups finely crushed chocolate wafers (25 wafers)

6 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

Filling

61⁄2 cups miniature marshmallows

1⁄2 cup milk
1⁄4 cup crème de menthe syrup
1 cup whipping cream
Few drops green food coloring (optional)
Whipped cream, for garnish
Chocolate curls, for garnish

For crust: Combine crushed wafers and melted butter. Spread evenly on bottom and sides of 9-inch pie pan. Chill about 1 hour.

For filling: In large saucepan, combine marshmallows and milk. Cook over low heat until marshmallows are melted. Remove from heat and cool, stirring several times while cooling. Add crème de menthe. Whip cream and fold into marshmallow mixture. Add food coloring, if desired. Pour filling into crust. Chill 2 hours before serving. Garnish with whipped cream and chocolate curls.

Makes 1 pie.

(Lion House Pies, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2010] p. 25.)

Click here for the PDF version of this lesson.

Young Men Lesson 29: Sabbath Observance

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0600

source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: The Latter-day Saints must lead out in sanctifying this appointed day each week. Discussion Questions:

How would you explain the purpose of the Sabbath day to someone who doesn’t know about the Sabbath?
What can you do to keep the Sabbath day holy when the world has made it a day of recreation and entertainment?
How can you know if an activity is appropriate for the Sabbath day? (See D&C 59:9–13.)

Excerpt from "The Blessing of Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy" by H. Aldridge Gilles:

The prophet Spencer W. Kimball counseled: “The Sabbath is a holy day in which to do worthy and holy things. Abstinence from work and recreation is important but insufficient. The Sabbath calls for constructive thoughts and acts, and if one merely lounges about doing nothing on the Sabbath, he is breaking it. To observe it, one will be on his knees in prayer, preparing lessons, studying the gospel, meditating, visiting the ill and distressed, sleeping, reading wholesome material, and attending all the meetings of that day to which he is expected. [Failure] to do these proper things is a transgression on the omission side.” 16

Our beloved prophet Gordon B. Hinckley has promised: “If you have any doubt about the wisdom, the divinity of observing the Sabbath Day, … stay home and gather your family about you, teach them the gospel, enjoy yourselves together on the Sabbath Day, come to your meetings, participate. You will know that the principle of the Sabbath is a true principle which brings with it great blessings.” 17

Jesus taught, “The sabbath was made for man.” 18 What does that mean? It means for a man to have the joy and happiness which the gospel promises, on this day he must sacrifice the world, set aside his employment as possible, and keep the eternal covenant of the Sabbath day. The Lord commanded: “Wherefore the children of Israel [which includes all Latter-day Saints] shall keep the sabbath … throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever.” 19

Of all people on the earth, the Latter-day Saints must lead out in sanctifying this appointed day each week. “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees,” said the Lord, “ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

*To read the full talk, click here.

{LDS How-to} Help Your Kids Keep the Sabbath Day Holy

Mon, 16 May 2011 11:31:00 -0600

by LDS Living staff
source: MormonLife.com

We’ve been told to keep the Sabbath day holy, but with a spirited eight-year-old, a flighty Valiant 11, and a misunderstood teen, teaching them to choose the right may appear to be more of a cross to bear than a duty to do with a heart full of song. So what can you do to truly make Sunday a special day, other than trimming your nails on Saturday? Here are some ideas.

1. Reserve the day. The Sabbath is supposed to be for the benefit of man. Think of it as a weekly holiday from the world, the day that you don’t have to do your housework. If your kids are in school, help them get their homework done on Saturday. Likewise, if you work, save your job for the weekdays, unless necessity demands otherwise. Keep worldly things for the worldly days and sacred things for this sacred day.

2. Discussion time. Always ask your children what they learned in church. Ask them to relate the lesson they were taught, then find out if they have any questions. Maybe even ask them questions to show your own interest and to get them thinking. Sunday is a day of learning, so give your children a setting in which to learn.

3. The Sunday box. Make a special box and fill it with treats and Sabbath day activities (like acting out scenes from the scriptures, or watching an uplifting movie), then hide it during the week. Especially for younger children, the anticipation for the mysterious delights of the Sunday box, only seen once a week, should help them recognize how unique the seventh day is and how certain things are set aside specifically for it.

4. Family time. If you have family that live out of state, or even simply in another house, write letters to them with your children. Have them write what they are learning in church, in school, what they did on Saturday with their friends. Take pictures to include with the letters. If your family lives nearby, visit them or have dinner with them.

5. Service. Contact your Relief Society president and other leaders to find out if there is anyone in the ward that needs service. Whether it’s cooking meals, singing songs, or just talking, take Sunday as your golden opportunity to teach your children (and maybe even yourself) the importance of service.

6. Be consistent. It won’t do you or your family much good if you do something one Sunday, then don’t do it the next. Children are quick to sense hypocrisy. If you want your Sabbath day plans to succeed, you must do them every week, or else they will become meaningless.

*How do you help your kids keep the Sabbath day holy? Leave a comment below.

Utah businesses debate Sunday question

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:17:00 -0600

source: universe.byu.edu

An unfamiliar sign to outsiders adorns the doors and windows of businesses across Utah: Closed Sundays.

A number of businesses choose to voluntarily close their doors on Sundays throughout Utah, and in Utah County in particular, even when they open out-of-state. For some, it’s a matter of religious conviction. For others, it’s a simple matter of demographics.

The University Mall in Orem has always had the policy of shutting its doors on Sundays from the time it opened in 1973.

“We have just taken a good hard look at our community and the makeup of our community and felt it would be best if we tried to not have our mall open on Sunday,” said Rob Kallas, general manager of the mall.

Poll: How Do You Approach Extracurricular Activities on Sunday?

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:05:00 -0700

by LDS Living Staff
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Opinions on what is and is not appropriate on Sunday vary greatly. What do you think about the issue of sports (and other activities) on Sunday? We have been thinking a lot about this question recently. Last week, we brought up a similar debate (watching the Super Bowl and/or having a family party on Sunday), and we also ran a story about two LDS cheerleaders who, like many other LDS youth, chose not to compete on Sunday. Both stories generated passionate response, which made us realize how varied the opinions are on the topic of appropriate Sunday activities. So we wondered: how do you and your family handle extracurricular activities on Sunday?

Most families have to face the question of Sunday competition and/or recitals at some point. Sports, music, dance, debate, and speech competitions all have the possibility to be held on Sunday. Some families have hard and fast rules for the children that no Sunday competition is allowed. Others leave the choice up to the children, sometimes while encouraging them one way or the other.

Sometimes when youth refrain from competition for religious reasons, they are applauded for integrity to their beliefs and encounter few negative consequences. Sometimes the choice results in competition privileges being taken away—and sometimes it can result in criticism or derision. It is a decision that involves many different factors, and it varies as much as the people making the decision do.

So, how do you or your family (or both) handle the question of extracurricular activities on Sunday? Check out our poll below.

Another Idea to Reinvent Your Sunday

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 11:15:00 -0700

by Dena Kennedy
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Last Saturday we ran an article called "10 Ways to Reinvent Your Sunday" (a shortened version of our print article "15 Ways to Reinvent Your Sunday" from the Jan/Feb 2011 issue). But we're still adding to the list. I have an 11th (or 16th, depending on how you look at it) idea of how to reinvent your Sunday!

My friend Suzanne told me of a great Sunday idea the other day--her family loves takeout Chinese food. She calls in a big to-go order from their favorite Chinese place each Saturday night and puts it in the fridge at home. After church, they warm it all up and have their favorite meal together--and no cooking for mom!

Do you have any other revolutionary ideas for simplifying Sunday so you can enjoy the Sabbath?

10 Ways to Reinvent Your Sunday

Sat, 22 Jan 2011 00:06:00 -0700

by LDS Living Staff and LDS Living Readers
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Looking for ways to improve your Sabbath day experience? Here are our best ideas for making your day of rest better and easier. Let’s face it—sometimes Sundays aren’t as enjoyable or fulfilling as we’d like them to be. Between the stress of getting the family—and yourself—ready for church, preparing lessons, preparing meals, and keeping the kids occupied for the rest of the day, our day of rest can be anything but restful. If you’ve been stuck in a rut, try some of these ideas to help reinvent your Sunday.

1. Simplify Sunday meals.
This was by far the most popular concept with LDS Living staff and readers alike. Here is a list of great suggestions to make feeding the family a little easier:

Get rid of the notion that we need to have a huge traditional meal after church. “It doesn’t really fit in with our day of rest,” writes Lisa Lemich Sherman on LDS Living’s Facebook page. “Use up those leftovers!” Another LDS Living Facebook friend, Sarah Gailey Emke, agrees. “I’ve done away with the big Sunday dinner. We have whatever I can think of that is easiest. It also makes for less dishes—a definite plus!”

Make a meal one day during the week that can be doubled and put in the freezer for Sunday. Several LDS Living readers also suggested having crock-pot dinners on Saturdays to further simplify meals on the weekends.

Cook brunch instead of breakfast. “This is the perfect solution if you have your church meetings later in the day,” says LDS Living editor Dena Kennedy. “To make things even easier, mix up a breakfast casserole the night before and serve it around eleven a.m.” Here is a recipe she often uses:

• 1 (32-ounce) package frozen shredded hash browns
• 2 cups diced ham
• 2 cups grated cheese
• 6 large eggs
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Sprinkle half of the hash browns in a greased 9 × 13 pan. Layer on ham and cheese, then sprinkle remaining potatoes on top. Whisk together eggs, milk, cottage cheese & pepper. Pour this mixture over the hash browns. Store in refrigerator overnight. Bake uncovered at 350˚ F for 45 to 50 minutes or until light golden brown and firm in the center.

Serve grab-and-go foods. “Since my children ate nutritious breakfasts the rest of the week, I decided that on Sunday mornings they could indulge in Pop-Tarts and a glass of milk,” writes Susan Elzey of Danville, Virginia. “It was the perfect solution: Pop-Tarts could be served on a napkin, everyone liked them, and they were a treat that urged the kids out of bed.” Jamie Lawson, managing editor of LDS Living, suggests items like Oscar Meyer Lunchables for quick meals between meetings. “When I was serving in our ward’s Young Women presidency, there was very little time to get the family fed after church before our presidency meetings would start. Lunchables were the perfect solution, and the kids loved them.”

For more easy meal ideas, read Simple Sunday Recipes.

2. Sweeten the deal.
Reward children who are ready for church on time with a special treat or prize. Let the person who is ready for church first choose the FHE treat that week. “Treats usually work wonders for those who can’t find their shoes,” writes Kristen Nelson, a mother of six in Myerstown, Pennsylvania.

3. Update the family blog.
“We created a family blog and we update it on Sunday, [posting] pictures of what we did throughout the week,” writes Kristen Nelson. “This helps us stay connected to grandparents who are across the country.”

4. Memorize.
“My mom challenged everyone in our family to memorize ‘The Family: A Proclamation to the World.’ The first person to get it done won twenty dollars,” says Kaela Worthen, an intern at LDS Living. “If the whole family got it done by a certain date, we all got a reward. It was a great thing for Sunday afternoons, and it really helped my testimony to grow as I studied and developed a greater understanding of those words. You could do the same thing with ‘The Living Christ’ or scriptures, and the rewards could vary.”

5. Have “Table Time.”
Stephanie Nixon of American Fork, Utah, says, “Every Sunday at our home, we like to do something called ‘Table Time.’ Elder LeGrand R. Curtis once said, ‘One of the more important furnishings found in most homes is the kitchen table. Now it may be small, it may be large, or in the form of a little counter with barely room to put the food and utensils. Its major function seems to be a place for the different members of the family to receive nourishment.’” Nixon suggests filling the kitchen table with activities like jigsaw puzzles, board games, Legos, and crafts. “Talk about current events, conference talks, or that day’s lessons,” she says. “My idea for Table Time came when I realized I had an opportunity to nourish my children spiritually as well as physically at the kitchen table.”

6. Plan your week.
“I spend fifteen minutes with each child to schedule their activities for the week,” says
Tiffani Thomson. “I put it all on the family calendar. That way, things are less likely to fall through the cracks, and our week is much less chaotic.”

7. Read and report.
“We have each member of our family read a [Church] magazine article on his or her own time during the day, and then we have each person report on the article during our family together time in the evening,” writes Janet Littleford of Cedar City, Utah. “This helps us to make time for reading the magazines and helps us strengthen our testimonies when we relate the articles to the rest of the family.”

8. Pack a church bag—for yourself.
“When my kids were younger, I’d pack their church bag the night before. Now that they’re older, I pack my own church bag the night before!” says Dena Kennedy. “I always print and take a few extra conference talks or BYU devotionals. I don’t get to read them every Sunday, but they come in really handy between meetings or before sacrament meeting starts.”

9. Work on awards.
“Sunday is the perfect day to work on Personal Progress, Faith in God, Duty to God, and Scouts,” says Tiffani Thomson, “even if it’s just for fifteen minutes.” Some LDS Living readers wrote in to suggest that children should be required to work on awards before they have free time on Sundays.

10. Learn about other faiths.
“Attend religious concerts (for example, an organ recital at a Roman Catholic cathedral) or other services,” suggests Katherine Morris, an intern at LDS Living. “Spending some time getting to know and appreciate people of other faiths helps us realize what we have in common. It’s a good way to build trust with friends and neighbors of other faiths and it opens the door to sharing your own faith.”

For more ways to reinvent your Sunday, read the full article in the Jan/Feb 2011 issue of LDS Living magazine.

What do you do to make Sunday the best day of your week? Leave a comment below.

Simple Sunday Recipes

Sat, 22 Jan 2011 00:04:00 -0700

by LDS Living staff
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Check out these easy and delicious recipes to make your Sunday meals a breeze. LDS Living’s article “Ten Ways to Reinvent Your Sunday” offers tips on making the Sabbath your best day of the week. One of the most popular tips was simplifying Sunday meals from the big feast they normally are to something that doesn’t require your whole day. Here are some easy—and delicious!— recipes to make cooking Sunday meals a breeze.

Overnight Breakfast Casseroles
These casseroles are made the Saturday night and are ready to pop into the oven first thing Sunday morning.

Crème Brulee French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
1 large loaf of French bread
8 large eggs
2 1/4 cups milk
1 cup plus 4-5 T sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 T vanilla extract
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tsp cinnamon
3 T unsalted butter

*To read the full recipe, click here.

Sausage Apple Casserole
Ingredients
1 pkg. Jimmy Dean® Maple Flavor Pork Sausage Roll
6 cups bread cubed into ¾-inch pieces
10 eggs
3 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 large granny smith apples, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
maple syrup, if desired

*To read the full recipe, click here.

Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
6 slices of bread torn into bite size chunks
1 tube of breakfast sausage (I used Jimmy Dean's Reduced Fat Pork Sausage)
8 eggs
1 cup milk
1 tsp dry mustard powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4-1/2 tsp black pepper (depending on your own taste, I added this to the recipe that my mom uses because I LOVE pepper)
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided

*To read the full recipe, click here.

Freezer Dinners
Make one of these recipes for dinner during the week, cooking one for now and freezing another for Sunday dinner.

Baked Penne with Chicken and Sun Dried Tomatoes
Ingredients
6 tablespoons butter, plus more for baking dishes
coarse salt and ground pepper
1 pound penne rigate
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (8 ounces each), halved horizontally
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
4 garlic cloves, minced
6 cups whole milk
10 ounces white mushrooms, trimmed and thinly sliced
1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and thinly sliced
1 1/2 cups shredded provolone (6 ounces)
1 cup finely grated Parmesan (4 ounces)

*To read the full recipe, click here.

Chicken Divan
Ingredients
2 (10-ounce) packages frozen broccoli, chopped
6 cups shredded chicken, cooked
2 (10 3/4-ounce) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
1 cup grated sharp Cheddar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon curry powder
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/2 cup soft bread crumbs
2 tablespoons butter, melted

*To read the full recipe, click here.

Lasagna Primavera
Ingredients
1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for foil
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 cups whole milk
2 packages (10 ounces each) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 package (10 ounces) frozen peas
1/2 pound carrots (4 to 5), halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 container (15 ounces) part-skim ricotta (about 2 cups)
1 large egg
1 package (9 ounces) no-boil lasagna noodles (12 to 16 noodles)
1 pound part-skim mozzarella, shredded
1 cup grated Parmesan

*To read the full recipe, click here.

Simple Sunday Snacks
These yummy snacks are great for munching on throughout the day. Have your kids fill up on these so you don’t have to cook such a big, extravagant meal.

Ham, Cheese and Fruit Kabobs
Ingredients
Lunch meat, cut into strips
Cubed cheese
Cut up fruit, such as apples, grapes and pineapple

*To read the full recipe, click here.

Easy Parmesan Knots
Ingredients
1 tube (12 ounces) refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
1/4 cup canola oil
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (I did use the green can stuff)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes

*To read the full recipe, click here.

Ham and Cheese Crescent Roll Ups
Ingredients
1 (8 ounce) can refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
8 thin slices cooked ham
4 thin slices Cheddar cheese, cut into strips

*To read the full recipe, click here.

Sabbath observance gets athletes attention

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 10:02:00 -0700

source: universe.byu.edu

BYU is a unique school. It is ranked as the top “Stone Cold Sober School” by the Princeton Review — and none of its athletes perform on Sunday.

The mission statement of BYU athletics is “to conduct the athletics program in a manner that will develop student-athletes of excellence in academics, athletics, faith and character, and to contribute to the mission of the LDS Church through the visibility of our positive example and our accomplishments.”

Part of that example includes honoring the Sabbath Day, and in 2010 several BYU teams and athletes made news by declining to play sports on Sunday. In April The New York Times and other news organizations took notice of the BYU women’s rugby team decision to withdraw from a national championship tournament instead of playing on Sunday.

Gospel Principles Lesson 24: The Sabbath Day

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:02:00 -0700

source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: The Latter-day Saints must lead out in sanctifying this appointed day each week. To all you beautiful, faithful Sunday afternoon Saints, we commend you for the respect of the Sabbath day which you show by attending conference this afternoon, wherever you may be.

We have been instructed, edified, and spiritually nourished through the five sessions of this magnificent general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We have been taught “how to act upon the points of [the Lord’s] law and commandments” 1 and have been “sanctified by that which [we] have received.” 2

Now it is time to “bind [ourselves] to act in all holiness before [the Lord].” 3 In other words, based on this conference, we need to decide on specific actions to bring about needed changes in our lives. This action is called faith, and the changes are repentance. Blessings always follow these two principles. If we do not take action quickly, then the very thing which could have sanctified us may turn to our condemnation.

Today is the Sabbath. It does not end when we leave this session; it does not end if someone calls on the phone or knocks at our door inviting us to come out and play, go for a ride, to a ball game, or shopping; it does not end because we are on vacation or someone is visiting us, whether member or nonmember.

The Lord commanded: “Go ye out from among the wicked. Save yourselves. Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord.” 4 A critical element in observing this commandment is to “remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” 5

The Sabbath lasts all day! In a revelation “especially applicable to the saints in Zion,” 6 the Lord states that the Sabbath was given that we might keep ourselves “unspotted from the world.” 7 It is a day to partake of the sacrament, a day “to pay [our] devotions unto the Most High,” 8 a day of “fasting and prayer,” 9 a day to offer our time, talent, and means in service to our God and our fellowmen, 10 a day to “[confess our] sins [to our] brethren, and before the Lord.” 11 It is also a good day to pay our tithes and fast offerings, a day to be marked by sincere sacrifice of the pursuits and pleasures of the world. It is a day to keep the Sabbath covenant, 12 a day of “rejoicing and prayer,” 13 a day of “cheerful hearts and countenances.” 14

Isaiah promised, “If thou turn away thy foot … from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, … and … honour him, not … finding thine own pleasure, … then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord.” 15

Obviously, our attention is on doing the Lord’s will and not continuing to work nor indulge our carnal appetites for recreation and loafing.

The prophet Spencer W. Kimball counseled: “The Sabbath is a holy day in which to do worthy and holy things. Abstinence from work and recreation is important but insufficient. The Sabbath calls for constructive thoughts and acts, and if one merely lounges about doing nothing on the Sabbath, he is breaking it. To observe it, one will be on his knees in prayer, preparing lessons, studying the gospel, meditating, visiting the ill and distressed, sleeping, reading wholesome material, and attending all the meetings of that day to which he is expected. [Failure] to do these proper things is a transgression on the omission side.” 16

Our beloved prophet Gordon B. Hinckley has promised: “If you have any doubt about the wisdom, the divinity of observing the Sabbath Day, … stay home and gather your family about you, teach them the gospel, enjoy yourselves together on the Sabbath Day, come to your meetings, participate. You will know that the principle of the Sabbath is a true principle which brings with it great blessings.” 17

Jesus taught, “The sabbath was made for man.” 18 What does that mean? It means for a man to have the joy and happiness which the gospel promises, on this day he must sacrifice the world, set aside his employment as possible, and keep the eternal covenant of the Sabbath day. The Lord commanded: “Wherefore the children of Israel [which includes all Latter-day Saints] shall keep the sabbath … throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever.” 19

Of all people on the earth, the Latter-day Saints must lead out in sanctifying this appointed day each week. “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees,” said the Lord, “ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” 20

To this very day, “the matter of Sabbath observance remains … as one of the great tests which divides the righteous from the worldly and wicked,” said Elder Bruce R. McConkie. 21

The promises of the Lord to those who keep the Sabbath day holy are so wonderfully clear in the scriptures that they leave one asking, “Why would anyone throw away such blessings for the tawdry, temporary pleasures of the world?” Hear again the words of Jehovah as they roll down from Mount Sinai: “Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord.

“If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;

“Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase. …

“… And ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.

“And I will give [you] peace in the land, … neither shall the sword go through your land. …

“For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, … and establish my covenant with you. …

“And I will set my tabernacle [that is, my temple] among you. …

“And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.” 22

I love the Sabbath day! It has blessed my family in countless ways. I bear a testimony born of personal experience that the commandments of the Lord are “true and faithful.” 23

I know you will be happier, enjoy greater peace, and find your lives made glad as you witness the miracles that come to each person and family who make the sacrifice of keeping this eternal covenant.

I love our Lord and Savior. I know He lives and that this is His Church and kingdom on earth. I know He is at once a just and merciful God, who loves His children with all the tenderness of a kind and loving Father. May we, in turn, “offer a sacrifice unto the Lord [our] God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit,” 24 I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Notes
1. D&C 43:8.
2. D&C 43:9.
3. D&C 43:9.
4. D&C 38:42.
5. Ex. 20:8.
6. D&C 59: section heading.
7. D&C 59:9.
8. D&C 59:10.
9. D&C 59:14.
10. D&C 59:12 reads, “Thou shalt offer up thine oblations,” meaning to offer one’s time, talents, or means (see footnote b).
11. D&C 59:12.
12. D&C 59:12.
13. D&C 59:14.
14. D&C 59:15.
15. Isa. 58:13–14.
16. The Miracle of Forgiveness (1969), 96–97.
17. Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley (1997), 559.
18. Mark 2:27.
19. Ex. 31:16–17.
20. Matt. 5:20.
21. Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. (1966), 658.
22. Lev. 26:2–12.
23. D&C 71:11.
24. D&C 59:8.

School may face punishment in event of Sabbath-day forfeit

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 09:54:00 -0600

source: MormonTimes.com

Mormon Life says: A university soccer team is choosing not to compete on Sundays, and they might be punished for their choice. For the Southern Virginia University women's soccer team, the choice of whether or not to compete on Sunday is clear — even when the outcome is not.

SVU, a liberal arts college in Buena Vista, Va., that embraces Mormon values, has always chosen not to play on Sunday. This year, as the women's soccer team prepares to play at a United States Collegiate Athletic Association-sponsored tournament at Vermont Technical College, the school has a difficult decision.

According to school officials, SVU has been notified by the USCAA that if it chooses to forfeit a Sunday game at the tournament, the entire athletic department could face sanctions. Such sanctions may impact SVU's ability to compete in future tournaments and receive postseason recognition.

No-Sunday stance has not slowed success of Costco builder

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 08:29:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: The owner of a large construction company won't let his emloyees work on Sundays, even if it means losing a contract--what a good guy. A mere five words ignited the showdown:

"We don't work on Sundays."

On one side of the table in the worksite trailer sat Firoz "King" Husein, owner and founder of Span Construction & Engineering, a company that specializes in the engineering and construction of large steel buildings.

On the other side sat the executive management team in charge of construction for Costco, the gigantic consumer goods wholesaler.

How to Celebrate Halloween on a Sunday

Sat, 23 Oct 2010 00:04:00 -0600

by Kate Ensign-Lewis
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: How do you handle the Sunday Halloween dilemma? When I was growing up and Halloween fell on a Sunday, my parents simply told us we didn’t go out. I never questioned it, but it was always a little sad to go to bed early that night, house darkened (we didn’t pass out candy, either), and listening to the occasional door-knock of the trick-or-treater unacquainted with the “lights out means no candy” protocol. I loved Halloween and still do. So this year’s holiday, as the first Sunday Halloween when I’m a house-running adult, has me thinking. What are the options?

After asking a few of LDS Living’s friends on Facebook (join us on Facebook!), we decided we weren’t the only ones interested in this question. From poking around, brainstorming, and using some of those Facebook responses, we’ve come up with a few ideas. (All ideas assume the family in question will not be trick-or-treating on Sunday. All ideas can be incorporated together or used separately.) The goal is to make Halloween a special time for the kids who love it, even if it is a little different than usual.

Go on Saturday.

This may be a viable option in areas with a predominantly religious population. If you’re new to the area, the best way to find out how it works is to ask around your ward and see what the rules are.

If October 30 trick-or-treating is not common, and you’re really outgoing, you might arrange a neighborhood trick-or-treat session on Saturday. Send around fliers and see if other families are interested. Not only will it foster more neighborhood interaction, but putting together an organized event (in which you get people to sign up and agree) may increase the safety factor as well.

Have a low-key celebration at home.

Make a dinner with pumpkin in it (or better yet, find a recipe for a casserole made IN a pumpkin). Get candy and let your kids eat it. Make pumpkin- and ghost-shaped sugar cookies and decorate them while watching a classic Halloween movie, such as It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown; Hocus Pocus; Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit; The Witches (probably 12 and above); The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad; any Harry Potter movie; and the classic Frankenstein. (For really little kids, there’s always Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie.)

One my favorite Halloween specials as a kid was A Disney Halloween, which includes classic cartoons and snippets from Disney movies (I would always skip the "Night at Bald Mountain" segment at the beginning, from Fantasia). The older version, Disney’s Halloween Treat, is also enjoyable. While these specials are no longer available on VHS and have not been released on DVD, both can be found on YouTube (in 9 parts and 5 parts, respectively), which could make for decent watching, depending on your family’s computer monitor or Internet streaming hookups.

Let your kids help with passing out candy.

Do you pass out candy to trick-or-treaters on Sunday, or not? It’s a good way to be neighborly, but of course, it’s an individual decision.

If you decide to pass candy, including your kids is one way to get them involved in the holiday, even if they can’t go out. It’s one way to help them see the joy of holidays from the other side, the side that enjoys giving and seeing the happiness of the receiver. It will also help kids feel responsible and grown-up—two feelings they are always anxious to experience. You might even let them dress up to get in the Halloween spirit.

Make sure to have a spiritual conclusion to the evening.

Family prayer or scripture study (or both) will be a good reminder of the meaning behind the day—Sunday—and your decision to treat Halloween differently this year than you usually might. Even if your children may not have willingly stayed home, they will understand a big goal for the home is to maintain spiritual priorities.

That rounds out our list. What other ideas do you have?

Young Men Lesson 28: The Sabbath

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 18:00:00 -0600

by Keith B. McMullin
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: We call upon priesthood bearers to store sufficient so that you and your family can weather the vicissitudes of life. My dear brethren, how blessed we are to be assembled together with the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles. Each priesthood bearer present, be he 12 or 112, can, because of our Savior Jesus Christ, inherit the celestial order of life "by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel."1 This is wonderful to contemplate, and I know it is true. You are in charge of your world!

With this prospect before us, consider the following story. A young man, full of ambition and energy, enrolled in a fine university. At the time, he was a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood. His goal was lofty - he wanted to become a doctor. His aim was ambitious - he wanted to be rich. He wanted to play football, so he sought out the coaches and eventually made the team. Now he could have the recognition and bragging rights unique in the world of university sports. Such were the notions in his head.

But he had given little thought to something that would ultimately dismantle his lofty and vain ambitions - he had failed to lay up in store. He had overlooked the importance of adequate preparation, the requirements of regular attendance and disciplined study, and the college chemistry class. The consequence was swift and merciless. It took less than 90 days. It happened this way:

The day he found his 5-foot 8-inch, 170-pound body on the line of scrimmage opposite a mammoth lineman from the varsity squad, he knew he was in the wrong sport.

Unaccustomed to rigorous study, his eyes and mind refused to function after a brief time in the books.

The capstone of defeat was the final chemistry exam. Suffice it to say that his random answers to multiple-choice questions did not even approximate the law of averages. He failed miserably.

Hard work, a mission that awakened in him a correct vision of life's purposes, and unrelenting preparation eventually overcame the consequence of this brief period of foolishness. Even today, however, I still have nightmares about that chemistry class.

Fortunately, the Lord has shown us how to avoid similar foolishness. He said:

"Hearken, O ye people of my church. . . . Hearken ye people from afar; and ye that are upon the islands of the sea, listen together. . . .

"Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh."2

The doctrine of the Second Coming of the Messiah provides one of the great incentives to prepare and live right. Heavenly Father knows that promised rewards encourage His children to do works of righteousness and promised penalties create a dread of doing evil. Such are the revelations pertaining to the Second Coming of our Lord.3

These revelations speak of signs and wonders on earth and in the heavens. They point to troublesome times and pending events vast in scope and duration. And most important, we receive these supernal promises:

"The Lord shall have power over his saints, and shall reign in their midst."4

"Through my providence, notwithstanding the tribulation which shall descend upon you, . . . the church may stand independent above all other creatures beneath the celestial world."5

And "if ye are prepared ye shall not fear."6

Priesthood bearers are led by these promises to prepare themselves and their families for the Lord's appearing.7 There is no need to be anxious about events leading up to the Second Coming. Let us instead be filled with gratitude for our understanding of what lies ahead. Let us appreciate that we are in charge of our own world, being the Lord's agents over that which He has entrusted to us.8 The formula is simple: Be faithful. Unencumber your life. Lay up in store.

Be faithful. As priesthood bearers, we cultivate a gentle touch and kindly word. We are men who pray, who keep the Sabbath day holy, and who know the word of God. We tithe, fast, and give a generous fast offering. We keep our covenants and consecrate our lives to the building up of God's kingdom.

And, brethren, we lay up in store! By doing these things, "the Lord shall have power over his saints, and shall reign in [our] midst."9

Unencumber your life. As men of God, we turn from excess to that which edifies, for "that which doth not edify is not of God."10 If dealings or involvements or pursuits or schedules detract from putting God first, we must pare back and unencumber our lives.11 If we have debts, we pay them and live debt free to the extent possible.

And, brethren, we lay up in store! Then, "through [the Lord's] providence, notwithstanding the tribulation . . . the church [and its people will] stand independent."12

Lay up in store. Wives are instrumental in this work, but they need husbands who lead out in family preparedness. Children need parents who instill in them this righteous tradition. They will then do likewise with their children, and their stores will not fail.

A cardinal principle of the gospel is to prepare for the day of scarcity. Work, industry, frugality are part of the royal order of life. Remember these words from Paul: "If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."13

Seated before us are the three presiding high priests who constitute the First Presidency of the Church.

From President James E. Faust, Second Counselor, we hear: "Every father and mother are the family's storekeepers. They should store whatever their own family would like to have in the case of an emergency . . . [and] God will sustain us through our trials."14

From President Thomas S. Monson, First Counselor, we hear: "Many more people could ride out the storm-tossed waves in their economic lives if they had their year's supply of food . . . and were debt-free. Today we find that many have followed this counsel in reverse: they have at least a year's supply of debt and are food-free."15

From President Gordon B. Hinckley, the Lord’s prophet, we hear:

"The best place to have some food set aside is within our homes. . . .

"We can begin ever so modestly. We can begin with a one week's food supply and gradually build it to a month, and then to three months. . . . I fear that so many feel that a long-term food supply is so far beyond their reach that they make no effort at all.

"Begin in a small way, . . . and gradually build toward a reasonable objective."16

Inspired preparation rests on the foundation of faith in Jesus Christ, obedience, and a provident lifestyle. Members should not go to extremes, but they should begin.

We call upon priesthood bearers to store sufficient so that you and your family can weather the vicissitudes of life. Please see to it that those entrusted to your watchcare receive these two pamphlets entitled All Is Safely Gathered In. Exhort them to prepare now for rainy days ahead.

Priesthood leaders, enlist the Relief Society in promoting family preparedness and homemaking. The women of the Church need your backing and will respond to your leadership.

Encourage our members to regularly put into their home storage a few wholesome, basic food items and some water that is safe to drink. They should save some money, if only a few coins each week. This modest approach will soon enable them to have several months' reserve. Over time they can expand these modest efforts into a longer-term supply by adding such essentials as grains, legumes, and other staples that will keep them alive in case they do not have anything else to eat.17

As we do our very best, we can be confident that "the barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail."18 We shall enjoy greater wisdom, security, peace of mind, and personal well-being. We shall be prepared, and because we are prepared, we "shall not fear."19

In closing, I introduce to you the Luca and Patrizia Vaccarono family. They live in a small town near Rome, Italy. In a recent letter, they wrote:

"We decided after some experience that it is important to store the items we use. Sometimes we have to modify our habits in eating certain kinds of foods. . . .

"The feeling of peace and the desire to be faithful to the commandment given by the Lord through the modern prophet helps us feel the Holy Spirit, . . . to not be afraid, and to see that the signs of the time for the Second Coming of the Lord is a blessing and not something to fear. We rejoice in it. . . . It gives us the motivation to be faithful and endure to the end and to be saved and obtain eternal life."20

As a final thought, Brother Vaccarono writes: "I'm sorry for my English. I hope you understand what I tried to explain to you." Brother and Sister Vaccarono, we understand, for it is written in scripture: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."21 In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Notes 1. Articles of Faith 1:3.

2. D&C 1:1, 12.

3. See Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. (1966-73), 1:677-78.

4. D&C 1:36.

5. D&C 78:14.

6. D&C 38:30.

7. See 2 Timothy 4:8; D&C 133:50, 52.

8. See D&C 104:13-17.

9. D&C 1:36.

10. D&C 50:23.

11. See Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:675-76; Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 6:38.

12. D&C 78:14.

13. 1 Timothy 5:8; see also 1 Timothy 6:19; D&C 29:34; "The Family: A Proclamation to the World," Liahona, Oct. 2004, 49; Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102; Joseph F. Smith, in Conference Report, Oct. 1900, 46; Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah: From Bethlehem to Calvary, 4 vols. (1979-81), 2:155.

14. "The Responsibility for Welfare Rests with Me and My Family," Ensign, May 1986, 22.

15. "That Noble Gift - Love at Home," Church News, May 12, 2001, 7.

16. "To Men of the Priesthood," Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2002, 58.

17. See The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, ed. Clyde J. Williams (1996), 314.

18. 1 Kings 17:14; see also vv. 8-16.

19. D&C 38:30.

20. Letter dated Mar. 3, 2007.

21. Proverbs 3:5-6.

Young Women Lesson 26: The Sacrament

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:00:00 -0600

by Dallin H. Oaks
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: The ordinance of the sacrament makes the sacrament meeting the most sacred and important meeting in the Church. We live in the perilous times prophesied by the Apostle Paul (see 2 Timothy 3:1). Those who try to walk the straight and narrow path see inviting detours on every hand. We can be distracted, degraded, downhearted, or depressed. How can we have the Spirit of the Lord to guide our choices and keep us on the path?

In modern revelation the Lord gave the answer in this commandment:

"And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;

"For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High" (D&C 59:9-10).

This is a commandment with a promise. By participating weekly and appropriately in the ordinance of the sacrament we qualify for the promise that we will "always have his Spirit to be with [us]" (D&C 20:77). That Spirit is the foundation of our testimony. It testifies of the Father and the Son, brings all things to our remembrance, and leads us into truth. It is the compass to guide us on our path. This gift of the Holy Ghost, President Wilford Woodruff taught, "is the greatest gift that can be bestowed upon man" (Deseret Weekly, Apr. 6, 1889, 451).

I. The ordinance of the sacrament makes the sacrament meeting the most sacred and important meeting in the Church. It is the only Sabbath meeting the entire family can attend together. Its content in addition to the sacrament should always be planned and presented to focus our attention on the Atonement and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.

My first memories of sacrament meeting are set in the small Utah town where I was ordained a deacon and participated in passing the sacrament. Measured against those memories, the sacrament meetings I now attend in many different wards are greatly improved. Typically the sacrament is administered, passed, and received by the members in an atmosphere of quiet reverence. The conducting of the meeting, including the necessary business, is brief and dignified, and the talks are spiritual in content and delivery. The music is appropriate, and so are the prayers. This is the standard, and it represents great progress since the experiences of my youth.

There are occasional exceptions. I sense that some in the rising generation and even some adults have not yet come to understand the significance of this meeting and the importance of individual reverence and worship in it. The things I feel impressed to teach here are addressed to those who are not yet understanding and practicing these important principles and not yet enjoying the promised spiritual blessings of always having His guiding Spirit to be with them.

II. I begin with how members of the Church should prepare themselves to participate in the ordinance of the sacrament. In a worldwide leadership training meeting five years ago, Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught the priesthood leaders of the Church how to plan and conduct sacrament meetings. "We commemorate His Atonement in a very personal way," Elder Nelson said. "We bring a broken heart and a contrite spirit to our sacrament meeting. It is the highlight of our Sabbath-day observance" ("Worshiping at Sacrament Meeting," Liahona, Aug. 2004, 12; Ensign, Aug. 2004, 26).

We are seated well before the meeting begins. "During that quiet interval, prelude music is subdued. This is not a time for conversation or transmission of messages but a period of prayerful meditation as leaders and members prepare spiritually for the sacrament" (Liahona, Aug. 2004, 13; Ensign, Aug. 2004, 27).

When the Savior appeared to the Nephites following His Resurrection, He taught them that they should stop the practice of sacrifice by the shedding of blood. Instead, "ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit" (3 Nephi 9:20). That commandment, repeated in the modern revelation directing us to partake of the sacrament each week, tells us how we should prepare. As Elder Nelson taught, "Each member of the Church bears responsibility for the spiritual enrichment that can come from a sacrament meeting" (Liahona, Aug. 2004, 14; Ensign, Aug. 2004, 28).

In his writings on the doctrines of salvation, President Joseph Fielding Smith teaches that we partake of the sacrament as our part of commemorating the Savior's death and sufferings for the redemption of the world. This ordinance was introduced so that we can renew our covenants to serve Him, to obey Him, and to always remember Him. President Smith adds: "We cannot retain the Spirit of the Lord if we do not consistently comply with this commandment" (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954-56], 2:341).

III. How we dress is an important indicator of our attitude and preparation for any activity in which we will engage. If we are going swimming or hiking or playing on the beach, our clothing, including our footwear, will indicate this. The same should be true of how we dress when we are to participate in the ordinance of the sacrament. It is like going to the temple. Our manner of dress indicates the degree to which we understand and honor the ordinance in which we will participate.

During sacrament meeting - and especially during the sacrament service - we should concentrate on worship and refrain from all other activities, especially from behavior that could interfere with the worship of others. Even a person who slips into quiet slumber does not interfere with others. Sacrament meeting is not a time for reading books or magazines. Young people, it is not a time for whispered conversations on cell phones or for texting persons at other locations. When we partake of the sacrament, we make a sacred covenant that we will always remember the Savior. How sad to see persons obviously violating that covenant in the very meeting where they are making it.

The music of sacrament meeting is a vital part of our worship. The scriptures teach that the song of the righteous is a prayer unto the Lord (see D&C 25:12). The First Presidency has declared that "some of the greatest sermons are preached by the singing of hymns" (Hymns, ix). How wonderful when every person in attendance joins in the worship of singing - especially in the hymn that helps us prepare to partake of the sacrament. All sacrament meeting music requires careful planning, always remembering that this music is for worship, not for performance.

President Joseph Fielding Smith taught: "This is an occasion when the gospel should be presented, when we should be called upon to exercise faith, and to reflect on the mission of our Redeemer, and to spend time in the consideration of the saving principles of the gospel, and not for other purposes. Amusement, laughter, light-mindedness, are all out of place in the sacrament meetings of the Latter-day Saints. We should assemble in the spirit of prayer, of meekness, with devotion in our hearts" (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:342).

When we do this - when we join in the solemnity that should always accompany the ordinance of the sacrament and the worship of this meeting - we are qualified for the companionship and revelation of the Spirit. This is the way we get direction for our lives and peace along the way.

IV. The resurrected Lord emphasized the importance of the sacrament when He visited the American continent and instituted this ordinance among the faithful Nephites. He blessed the emblems of the sacrament and gave them to His disciples and the multitude (see 3 Nephi 18:1-10), commanding:

"And this shall ye always do to those who repent and are baptized in my name; and ye shall do it in remembrance of my blood, which I have shed for you, that ye may witness unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.

" . . . And if ye shall always do these things blessed are ye, for ye are built upon my rock.

"But whoso among you shall do more or less than these are not built upon my rock, but are built upon a sandy foundation; and when the rain descends, and the floods come, and the winds blow, and beat upon them, they shall fall" (3 Nephi 18:11-13).

The sacrament is the ordinance that replaced the blood sacrifices and burnt offerings of the Mosaic law, and with it came the Savior's promise: "And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost" (3 Nephi 9:20).

V. Now I speak particularly to the priesthood holders who officiate in the sacrament. This ordinance should always be performed with reverence and dignity. Priests who offer the prayers in behalf of the congregation should speak the words slowly and distinctly, expressing the terms of the covenants and promised blessings. This is a very sacred act.

The teachers who prepare and the deacons who pass the emblems of the sacrament also perform a very sacred act. I love President Thomas S. Monson's account of how, as a 12-year-old deacon, he was asked by the bishop to take the sacrament to a bedfast brother who longed for this blessing. "His gratitude overwhelmed me," President Monson said. "The Spirit of the Lord came over me. I stood on sacred ground" (Inspiring Experiences That Build Faith [1994], 188). All who officiate in this sacred ordinance stand on sacred ground.

Young men who officiate in the ordinance of the sacrament should be worthy. The Lord has said: "Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord" (D&C 38:42). The scriptural warning about partaking of the sacrament unworthily (see 1 Corinthians 11:29; 3 Nephi 18:29) surely applies also to those who officiate in that ordinance. In administering discipline to Church members who have committed serious sins, a bishop can temporarily withdraw the privilege of partaking of the sacrament. That same authority is surely available to withdraw the privilege of officiating in that sacred ordinance.

What I said earlier about the importance of appropriate dress for those who receive the ordinance of the sacrament obviously applies with special force to the young men of the Aaronic Priesthood who officiate in any part of that sacred ordinance. All should be well-groomed and modestly dressed. There should be nothing about their personal appearance or actions that would call special attention to themselves or distract anyone present from full attention to the worship and covenant making that are the purpose of this sacred service.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gave a valuable teaching on this subject in general conference 13 years ago. Since most of our current deacons were not even born when these words were last spoken here, I repeat them for their benefit and that of their parents and teachers: "May I suggest that wherever possible a white shirt be worn by the deacons, teachers, and priests who handle the sacrament. For sacred ordinances in the Church we often use ceremonial clothing, and a white shirt could be seen as a gentle reminder of the white clothing you wore in the baptismal font and an anticipation of the white shirt you will soon wear into the temple and onto your missions" ("This Do in Remembrance of Me," Ensign, Nov. 1995, 68).

Finally, the sacrament is administered only when authorized by the one holding the keys to this priesthood ordinance. This is why the sacrament is not generally served in the home or at family reunions, even where there are sufficient priesthood holders available. Those who officiate at the sacrament table, prepare the sacrament, or pass it to the congregation should be designated by one who holds or exercises the keys of this ordinance. I refer to the bishopric or to the presidencies of the teachers or deacons quorums. "[My] house is a house of order," the Lord declared (D&C 132:8).

How can we have the Spirit of the Lord to guide our choices so that we will remain "unspotted from the world" (D&C 59:9) and on the safe path through mortality? We need to qualify for the cleansing power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We do this by keeping His commandment to come to Him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit and in that wonderful weekly meeting partake of the emblems of the sacrament and make the covenants that qualify us for the precious promise that we will always have His Spirit to be with us (see D&C 20:77). That we may always do so is my humble prayer, which I offer in the name of Him whose Atonement makes it all possible, even Jesus Christ, amen.

Young Men Lesson 20: Administering the Sacrament

Tue, 18 May 2010 18:00:00 -0600

by Dallin H. Oaks
source: MormonLife.com

In modern revelation the Lord gave the answer in this commandment:

"And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;

"For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High" (D&C 59:9-10).

" . . . And if ye shall always do these things blessed are ye, for ye are built upon my rock.