Pleasant Hill "Sacrament Summaries" August 23, 2015

August 23, 2015

Giving a very heartfelt talk, Megan Doyle Stockton taught us about "The Comforter".  The Comforter is the Holy Spirit. She explains that everything happens for a reason. The Holy Ghost helps us make the right choices along with comforting us with emotions that suit the situation. She shared her personal family story that touched so many hearts. As the family is witnessing the matriarch getting sicker, the family is finding comfort from the Holy Spirit. She also relates the Holy Spirit as a beacon of light, and that  as children go back to school, they may find guidance, comfort and strength to reach their full potential.

Sister Katie Wach gave a very uplifting message about, “Justice, Love, and Mercy”. She tells us from scriptures that we are to, “…walk humbly with God”, noting how hard it is when we are surrounded with such horrible things in all realms of media. She also spoke of how Heavenly Father commands us to forgive and love our Brothers and Sisters, “ 70×7”. He has so much love for each and every one of us, so much mercy he forgives us of our faults.

Brother Jared Wach spoke about Priesthood and Personal Prayer. He defined having the priesthood as, “…having the right to speak and act in the Lord’s name".  As his wife and he are new members of the Ward, his day has come to speak in Sacrament Meeting. He tells how his Faith is the center of his attention. He explained that Heavenly Father already knows our prayers and that he wants us to humble ourselves to come to him with a sincere heart. He was able to put this into action as he attended the temple to discover if a particular woman should be his wife.  When he received and answer of “No”, he was surprised to find that he met his wife Katie the shortly thereafter while serving in the baptistery. He is grateful for the power of prayer and the ability to give a Father's Blessing to his children.

-Sister Stephanie Fini

-Pleasant Hill Ward Blogger

Pleasant Hill "Sacrament Summaries"

August 16, 2015; High Council Sunday

Returned Missionary, Ben Arrington was in awe of the blessing he received from seeing 4 ordinances in 2 hours. He had just given a talk at the Kissimmee Ward. While coming from that chapel, he had a lot on his mind. The main principle, first learned in his mission was to, "…talk to absolutely every person you see."  He reflected upon why and realized instead of going through the motions of everyday life, there is no such thing as, "just another person." Every single person has issues and problems. "How can we help someone that we don't know find faith, hope and charity?"  -TALK TO THEM! 

"We need to see them for the seeds that they are, and the fruit that they can bare." The quicker we can move on from our own problems and focus on helping others, Heavenly Father will wipe away our own personal worries. "Heavenly Father has plans for all of us."

High Councilman, Brother Carlos Dominguez was given an assignment from the stake: What we need now is the Greatest Generation of Youth!

After a very humorous story about a rich man, a pool with a gator, and being pushed in, he simply defined "young adult missionary"-- Everyone. And he also simply defined "returned missionary"-- Non retired Mormon. 
He asked, "…what to do to better prepare for a mission?" Answer: Ask Heavenly Father and Follow the Spirit. 
And for the returned missionaries, "…prepare always, be active, not retired Mormons."

• Skills are like tools, to be better you have to use them. 
• Also, about marriage, its 80% (give),20% (receive). The success of Marriage is working together to achieve 100%. He added, "A happy wife, a happy life!"
• A little more about the story of the rich man, with the pool and gator:
• The Lord is the rich man, the gator is our problems and don't [wait]  be pushed. Jump freely, swim fast and directly to the Lord and we will be rewarded. "Keep the commandments, and the Lord will do his part” .

-Sister Stephanie Fini,

-Pleasant Hill Ward Blogger

Pleasant Hill "Sacrament Summaries"

AUGUST 9TH, 2015; Seminary Sunday

WITH A HUMBLE HEART and prayers for guidance from the Holy Spirit Sister Whitt explains her "Romeo and Juliette" elopement, and how she was introduced to "a church out west" by an invitation to be joined "for time and all eternity." It took Brother and Sister Whitt 10 years to get to the Temple. When weather threatened to stop their plans their family provided a ride. They had met their ordinances to go to the Temple. She explained that the Lord blesses those who follow the ordinances and we will be judged by the works we do on Earth. "Going to the Temple is very important and we should live life as if you had a temple-recommend." Sister Whitt left us with a question regarding our own feelings concerning the Temple. "Are you focused towards the Temple?" We are not to, ‘kick against the pricks”, but do what we must to follow His guidance.

Sister Egg, another seminary teacher privileged to teach seminary in a public school, honored us with a story of her military grandfather. His generation labeled, ”The Greatest Generation" by Tom Brokaw, lived and survived World War II, The Great Depression, and the horrific attack on Pearl Harbor. She believes he was wrong. As Sister Egg works daily with youth in a public school she explains how visibly lacking in moral character some youth can be. It is clear to see that LDS youth; "they know who they are.". She told of a girl who had to give her prom money to a parent who squandered the hotel rent money. Sister Egg knows we are raising "The Greatest Generation."  Her daughter, Hannah, ready for a prom with a new dress, shoes, and accessories without hesitation gave this girl everything to wear and the family sponsored her so she could live her prom dream. "Our youth stand strong in adversity and set examples." We celebrate with our youth but we are really just learning from them. They are models to others. "We are raising The Greatest Generation that is building the kingdom of God on Earth."

Brother Egg closed our meeting with an emotional show of gratitude for the time the youth and teachers put into seminary. "It is the most remarkable thing to see how it protects the youth each day with a healthy dose of the Gospel."

-Sister Stephanie Fini

Pleasant Hill Ward Blogger