Jim and I were asked to speak in church on Mother's Day on Fortification in the Home through Service. It was a little nerve-racking having to speak on Mother's Day, but we did it and it turned out good. Here are our talks:
*Title of talk
*Fortifying our home – similar to Captain Moroni fortifying Ammonihah and Noah
*Captain Moroni rebuilt the City of Ammonihah to withstand the armies of the Lamanites.
*Lamanites decided to take the City of Noah because they knew that the city of Noah was weak.
*Captain Moroni fortified the City of Noah so that it was as strong as the city of Ammonihah.
*Alma 49: 13 – 14 "For they knew not that Moroni had fortified, or had built forts of security, for every city in all the land round about; therefore, they marched forward to the land of Noah with a firm determination; yea, their chief captains came forward and took an oath that they would destroy the people of that city. But behold, to their astonishment, the city of Noah, which had hitherto been a weak place, had now, by the means of Moroni, become strong, yea, even to exceed the strength of the city Ammonihah."
*We can fortify our homes to be strong to keep the adversary at bay like the Nephites kept the Lamanites at bay – never too late.
*One way to fortify our homes is through Christ like service. We are baptized, we make a covenant.
*Mosiah 8-10
"8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him that ye will serve him and keep his commandments that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?" – Spirit will help us fortify our homes
* Christ like service
*Jesus Christ taught us to "love one another" while He was on earth. The way to show our love for God is to serve each other. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of service. His life was dedicated to it. Even the little things we do, like helping someone in their garden or holding open a door, can make life a little easier for someone else. A person doesn't have to look far to find opportunities to donate their time and energy. The beauty of following Christ's example is that we don't need to evaluate who, when or how we serve, we just act.
*Everything we have comes from God, we should be willing to share it all—from our possessions and money to our time and talents—in order to help others who are in need (And it's important to remember that we're all needy in one way or another). When we serve others we are reminded that nothing in this life lasts as long as the bonds we form with other people, and there's no better way to connect ourselves to others than by working together for our common good. These bonds will help fortify. Spencer W. Kimball, a former prophet, explained: "God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs". God has the power to do His work by Himself, but He allows us to help because of the fantastic feeling we get when we serve.
* Service starts at home
*Tribute to moms – Mother’s Day – Mothers do service
*“It's the highest, holiest service assumed by humankind. It's the definition of selfless service. It's both a daunting responsibility and a glorious opportunity. The divine role of motherhood is a gift from God and key to His place of happiness for all His children.”
*"Life, every life, every heart beat, began with a mom, who willingly accepted a divine role, a thankless job, a sticky, sleepless, and stretching career. For 9 months, 90 months, 90 years she taught us right from wrong. left from right, baking soda from baking powder, she slept little and worried much. She laughed, bathed, rinsed, and repeated, and repeated. Who taught us to love God, to love others, to love ourselves, who prayed with us, prayed for us, who read to us, taught us what the words meant. It was mom who was the champion, the cheerleader, the chief inspiring officer, who was the Queen of bedtime, dinnertime, holidays, Holy Days, early mornings. later nights, music lessons, life lessons and the everything we cling to with all our heats. It was, It is, and forever will be Mom" – last year’s #It was Mom
*This year - #Time for Mom – 48 hours to mom
*Write a note to mom
*Give an hour to mom
*Get to know mom
*Record a memory of mom
* Service as extended family
*Story of my mom raised by aunts and grandma
* Service as a ward
*Many service opportunities
*Personal experiences – 18 years raised in this ward. I learned how to be a mom in this ward. There were lots of great examples
*VT
*Callings – Thank nursery, primary, music, cub scout, YW leaders. Thank spouse of Bishopric and YM leaders
* Service as a community
*Opportunities come- school, “Feed My Starving Children”
*Mom at cannery
• Tie it up – if we do acts of Christ like acts of service, we will fulfill our baptism covenant to always remember him and we can have his spirit to be with us always. This will help us fortify our homes.
Tami's Talk on fortifying our homes through Christ like service
*Youth speakers / primary songs / honor to speak on Mother’s Day*Title of talk
*Fortifying our home – similar to Captain Moroni fortifying Ammonihah and Noah
*Captain Moroni rebuilt the City of Ammonihah to withstand the armies of the Lamanites.
*Lamanites decided to take the City of Noah because they knew that the city of Noah was weak.
*Captain Moroni fortified the City of Noah so that it was as strong as the city of Ammonihah.
*Alma 49: 13 – 14 "For they knew not that Moroni had fortified, or had built forts of security, for every city in all the land round about; therefore, they marched forward to the land of Noah with a firm determination; yea, their chief captains came forward and took an oath that they would destroy the people of that city. But behold, to their astonishment, the city of Noah, which had hitherto been a weak place, had now, by the means of Moroni, become strong, yea, even to exceed the strength of the city Ammonihah."
*We can fortify our homes to be strong to keep the adversary at bay like the Nephites kept the Lamanites at bay – never too late.
*One way to fortify our homes is through Christ like service. We are baptized, we make a covenant.
*Mosiah 8-10
"8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him that ye will serve him and keep his commandments that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?" – Spirit will help us fortify our homes
* Christ like service
*Jesus Christ taught us to "love one another" while He was on earth. The way to show our love for God is to serve each other. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of service. His life was dedicated to it. Even the little things we do, like helping someone in their garden or holding open a door, can make life a little easier for someone else. A person doesn't have to look far to find opportunities to donate their time and energy. The beauty of following Christ's example is that we don't need to evaluate who, when or how we serve, we just act.
*Everything we have comes from God, we should be willing to share it all—from our possessions and money to our time and talents—in order to help others who are in need (And it's important to remember that we're all needy in one way or another). When we serve others we are reminded that nothing in this life lasts as long as the bonds we form with other people, and there's no better way to connect ourselves to others than by working together for our common good. These bonds will help fortify. Spencer W. Kimball, a former prophet, explained: "God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs". God has the power to do His work by Himself, but He allows us to help because of the fantastic feeling we get when we serve.
* Service starts at home
*Tribute to moms – Mother’s Day – Mothers do service
*“It's the highest, holiest service assumed by humankind. It's the definition of selfless service. It's both a daunting responsibility and a glorious opportunity. The divine role of motherhood is a gift from God and key to His place of happiness for all His children.”
*"Life, every life, every heart beat, began with a mom, who willingly accepted a divine role, a thankless job, a sticky, sleepless, and stretching career. For 9 months, 90 months, 90 years she taught us right from wrong. left from right, baking soda from baking powder, she slept little and worried much. She laughed, bathed, rinsed, and repeated, and repeated. Who taught us to love God, to love others, to love ourselves, who prayed with us, prayed for us, who read to us, taught us what the words meant. It was mom who was the champion, the cheerleader, the chief inspiring officer, who was the Queen of bedtime, dinnertime, holidays, Holy Days, early mornings. later nights, music lessons, life lessons and the everything we cling to with all our heats. It was, It is, and forever will be Mom" – last year’s #It was Mom
*This year - #Time for Mom – 48 hours to mom
*Write a note to mom
*Give an hour to mom
*Get to know mom
*Record a memory of mom
* Service as extended family
*Story of my mom raised by aunts and grandma
* Service as a ward
*Many service opportunities
*Personal experiences – 18 years raised in this ward. I learned how to be a mom in this ward. There were lots of great examples
*VT
*Callings – Thank nursery, primary, music, cub scout, YW leaders. Thank spouse of Bishopric and YM leaders
* Service as a community
*Opportunities come- school, “Feed My Starving Children”
*Mom at cannery
• Tie it up – if we do acts of Christ like acts of service, we will fulfill our baptism covenant to always remember him and we can have his spirit to be with us always. This will help us fortify our homes.
Jim's Talk
Derek A. Cuthbert April 1990Over the years, many people, especially youth, have asked me, “Elder Cuthbert, how can I become more spiritual?” My reply has always been the same: “You need to give more service.”
Service changes people. It refines, purifies, gives a finer perspective, and brings out the best in each one of us. It gets us looking outward instead of inward. It prompts us to consider others’ needs ahead of our own. Righteous service is the expression of true charity, such as the Savior showed.
Helps us distinguish the worth of material things versus things of lasting value.
Ezra Taft Benson said:
“If you would find yourself, learn to deny yourself for the blessing of others. Forget yourself and find someone who needs your service, and you will discover the secret to the happy, fulfilled life.” (Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, May 1979, p. 34.)
Helps us establish a righteous tradition.
Wise parents will provide service opportunities in the home for their children from an early age. Growing up with this tradition will blossom into community service and Church service. It will develop a spirit of volunteerism in a world where people more often ask, “What’s in it for me?”
D&C 58:26-27
“For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; …
“Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness.” (D&C 58:26–27.)
Helps us overcome selfishness and sin.
Have you ever realized that all sin is selfish, whether it be lying, cheating, stealing, immorality, covetousness, or idleness? Sin is for one’s own ends, not another’s—certainly not for the Lord’s ends. Service, on the other hand, is unselfish and constitutes a positive power for good.
Helps to recompense for sin.
The prophet Ezekiel explained this when he declared, “None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right.” (Ezek. 33:16.) Again, James taught that to “save a soul … shall hide a multitude of sins.” (James 5:20.)
We can express regret and feel remorse for things done wrong, but full repentance should include recompense, such as service gives.
Helps us generate love and appreciation.
We come to know people by serving them—their circumstances, their challenges, their hopes and aspirations.
The principal way of showing gratitude to the Savior.
Parable:
31 ¶When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Helps us cleanse ourselves and become purified and sanctified.
Not being perfect, are we not all sinners? Yes, we all need the redeeming and atoning blood of Christ to purge us of our sins. How is this accomplished? The way is through Christlike service.
Helps us to get to know the Savior.
“how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served?” (Mosiah 5:13.)
As we immerse ourselves in the service of others, we find our spiritual selves and come unto Him.
The wonderful thing about service is that there is no end to it. As President Benson says, “Therefore, let us serve one another with brotherly love, never tiring of the demands upon us, being patient and persevering and generous.” (So Shall Ye Reap, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1960, pp. 173–74.)
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