August 2012
Click to watch the inspirational message about how learning, pondering, searching and memorizing the scriptures is like filling a cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon at anytime, anywhere in the world.
Words with Friends
March 2012
Click to watch the inspirational message about how learning, pondering, searching and memorizing the scriptures is like filling a cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon at anytime, anywhere in the world.
Words with Friends
March 2012
Growing up in Washington, my family would occasionally vacation to the Washington and Oregon coasts to enjoy clam-digging, crabbing, exploring tide pools, boogie boarding, and swimming. I remember a particular visit to the beach when I was about 14 years old. I was out wading and playing in the ocean near a large, barnacle-covered rock that protruded from the ocean. Without any warning, the tide rose significantly so that I could no longer touch the ocean floor. I immediately clung to that large, barnacle-covered rock and held on for dear life. As the tide receded, I could feel a strong rip current trying to pull me under and out into the ocean. The barnacles on the rock were sharp and cut me up pretty good. It was painful to hold on so tight. But I knew that if I didn’t hold on with all my strength to the rock, I would get swept under and dragged out to sea, no matter how strong of swimmer I might have been. The tide finally turned and I was able to make it safely to shore, despite my new bruises and scrapes.
That experience at the ocean reminds me of the well-known scripture in Helaman 5:12:
And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.
The scriptures says, “when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds…” It doesn’t say “if”, but “when”. No one is exempt. We WILL be tempted and tried. And it often comes at times when we least expect it. That is why it is so important to have our foundation built on the rock, or Jesus Christ – always! When tests of faith are presented, it may seem easier in the moment to just let the adversary (the “storm” – or in my case, the rip current), take control. But, no matter how hard or seemingly inconvenient it is to hold onto and stay firm on the rock, which is Christ, it is the only way to survive the storms in life. We build our foundation on Christ as we study the scriptures each day, communicate frequently with Heavenly Father through prayer, and attend our weekly meetings at church. It is a promise from God – that if we have Jesus Christ as our foundation, we CANNOT fall. This is true! Heavenly Father keeps his promises.
Carla Hedengren
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February 2012
February 2012
As we enter the month of February the focus moves from New Year’s resolutions to the holiday on the 14th. As you read in the book, True To The Faith, in the section titled Love, we read about the love of God and fellow man. As our love for those around us increases when we remember that we are all children of God. We have the opportunity to serve each other. We have the opportunity to thank the ones we love and to thank those that have helped us throughout our lives. As we look forward to Valentine’s day may we take the opportunity to thank the one’s we love and care about, and take the opportunity to reach out to others, the ones in need, the less fortunate, and those that need a friend.
May you be blessed for your efforts and your thoughtfulness.
Brother Arden Hjorth
Ward Clerk
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January 2012
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
This month's message draws heavily from an address given by Elder Holland at BYU in January of 2009. The quoted text is directly from his talk.
"The start of a new year is the traditional time to take stock of our lives and see where we are going, measured against the backdrop of where we have been."
Elder Holland then goes on to warn us about the dangers of looking back on where we've been versus where we should be, and uses the story of Lot's wife, and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah to illustrate his point.If you recall, the Lord warned Lot and his family to flee Sodom and Gomorrah, because He was going to destroy them (the cities). He told Lot and his family that as the destruction was taking place while they were fleeing, to NOT LOOK BACK. However Lot's wife did, and she was turned into a pillar of salt.
"Just what did Lot’s wife do that was so wrong? Apparently, what was wrong with Lot’s wife was that she wasn’t just looking back; in her heart she wanted to go back. It would appear that even before she was past the city limits, she was already missing what Sodom and Gomorrah had offered her. It is possible that Lot’s wife looked back with resentment toward the Lord for what He was asking her to leave behind. We certainly know that Laman and Lemuel were resentful when Lehi and his family were commanded to leave Jerusalem. So it isn’t just that she looked back; she looked back longingly. In short, her attachment to the past outweighed her confidence in the future."
As a new year begins and we try to benefit from a proper view of what has gone before, I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone nor to yearn vainly for yesterdays, however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead and remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives."
As Elder Holland teaches, my hope is that as we continually seek to improve our lives, we will always look forward in faith, and not have longings for or resentments from the past. This not only applies to our own self-improvement efforts, but to every good thing we do, whether it is serving in our callings, keeping the commandments, forsaking sin, being kind towards all, or especially, forgiving ourselves as well as others.
May we all have a Happy and Fulfilling New Year.
Brother Critchfield
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December 2011
I love to read the account of Jesus’ birth in Luke Chapter 2.
"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.“What a humble beginning, of the life of our Savior. As we go about our busy days, let us all remember to make room for our Savior. He is, after all, "The Reason For The Season.” Let us also remember that it's not the gifts we give nor the gifts we receive that is important, but the gift our Father in Heaven gave us, His only begotten Son. And, how Jesus gave his life and "suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent.” ( D&C 19:16)
I bear testimony that I know the church is true, that Jesus is the Christ, our Lord and Redeemer, the Savior of the world. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
--Brother Mike Welch
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October 4, 2011
Dear Kolob YSA Ward Members,
I have the opportunity to travel a lot and meet a lot of different people and see many different types of companies & organizations. I have seen the good and I have seen the bad. The good companies have happy and excited employees who want to achieve the highest level of perfection they can possible achieve resulting in strong increases in both sales and profits. On the other hand I have seen companies that are just the opposite: negative employees resulting in negative sales; a decline in both market share and profits. As I look deeper into the different companies and the individual lives I see a principle; that if understood and applied in our lives we to will see tremendous success and we will always have smiles on our faces and love in our hearts for the things that we are doing. It’s the difference between;
Being a Leader vs. Being a Manager
History and the scriptures are full of examples of the strength of a Leader vs. the weakness of being a Manager. Leaders are “movers and shakers”; “inventive & imaginative” whereas managers are “controlling,” “making people stay inside the box.” Great leaders of armies were men who shared their food with their men, calling them by their first names, marching along with them in the heat, sleeping on the ground with them and “are the first over the wall.” The manager on the other hand wants to control, wants to know where their next promotion will be, what perks, privileges & power is available to them for “their fine management skills.” To a manager, rank and power is everything.
The greatest of all leaders said; “If you love me, keep my commandments” whereas on the other hand the manager may say; “If you know what is good for me, you will keep my commandments and not make waves” What progress can one make both individually as well as an organization if they have to be managed or told what they have to do and when?
Perhaps the most striking contrast between a “leader” vs. a “manager” was the collision between Moroni and Amalickiah—Moroni being the most charismatic leader and Amalickiah as a skillful manager in the Book of Mormon. Moroni "did not delight in the shedding of blood" and would do anything to avoid it, repeatedly urging his people to make covenants of peace and preserve them by faith and prayer. He refused to talk about "the enemy"--for him they were always "our brethren, who had been misled by the traditions of their fathers.” Moroni was always concerned about doing the decent thing; he would never take what he called unfair advantage of an enemy. Never wanting personal gratification, the moment the war was over he "yielded up the command of his armies . . . and he retired to his own house . . . in peace" (Alma 62:43). As a national hero he could have had any office or honor in the land, but his motto as a Leader was…"I seek not for power." Amalickiah on the other hand sought power and fame; he was “…desirous to be a king…seeking for power.” Moroni scolded the management for their "love of glory and the vain things of the world" (Alma 60:32).
As Young Single Adults; let us have "Captain Moroni" for our model, and never forget what he fought for--the poor, outcast, and despised; and what he fought against--pride, power, wealth, and ambition; he was a leader in every sense.
May we always be leaders; “going about doing good.”
We Love You!
Kolob Bishopric
Bishop Karl P. Lifferth
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SEPTEMBER
"Through it all, A. J. Edwards lay motionless on the field...."
"...if you are struggling with self-control in what you look at or listen to, in what you say or what you do, I ask you to pray to your Father in Heaven for help. Pray to Him as Enos did, who wrestled before God and struggled mightily in the spirit. Wrestle like Jacob did with the angel, refusing to let go until a blessing had come. Talk to your mom and dad. Talk to your bishop. Get the best help you can from all the good people who surround you. Avoid at all costs others who would tempt you, weaken your will, or perpetuate the problem. If anyone does not feel fully worthy... [he/she] can become worthy through repentance and the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Savior wept and bled and died for you. He has given everything for your happiness and salvation. He certainly is not going to withhold help from you now!
Then you can help others to whom you are sent, now and in the future..."--Jeffrey R. Holland
“Sanctify Yourselves”
