…the king believed all their words

1. …the king believed all their words www.kevinhinckley.com

2. Actual LDS Ward Names Angel Crossing Ward, (Moroni maybe?) Bible Park Ward, (as long as they’re translated correctly…) Bishop Ward, (wonder who’s in charge here?)  Broadway Ward, (they have great roadshows!) Deseret Ward, (It’s a lovely ward…) Golden Branch, (the members there have that “glow” about them” ) Happy Valley Ward, (The real home of Molly Mormon and Peter Priesthood…) Horse Heaven Hills Ward, (they only say yea yea and neigh neigh!) Lost Mountain Ward, (somewhere in West Texas…) Mount Zion Branch, (You should see their church building!) Russian Jack Ward, (I’m guessing the first convert was from Moscow?)   Superior Branch, (We’re number 1!, We’re number 1!) Temple City Ward, (You only have a chapel?) Ten Sleep Ward, (named after their High Priest’s Group) Treasure Mountain Ward, (its where their heart is…) Zionsville Ward, (Enoch Stake, of course)

3. Question: What are some of the reasons we provide service in the church?

4. Mosiah 27:25 26 And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; "And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God." What would lead someone to desire this change?

5. Aaron and the KingAlma 22 3 And now, O king, if thou wilt spare our lives, we will be thy servants. And the king said unto them: … I will insist that ye shall administer unto me; for I have been somewhat troubled in mind because of the generosity and the greatness of the words of thy brother Ammon… 5 Now the king said unto them: What is this that ye have said concerning the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, this is the thing which doth trouble me. 7 And Aaron answered him and said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God? And the king said: I know that the Amalekites say that there is a God… And if now thou sayest there is a God, behold I will believe. 9 And the king said: Is God that Great Spirit that brought our fathers out of the land of Jerusalem? 10 And Aaron said unto him: Yea, he is that Great Spirit, and he created all things both in heaven and in earth. Believest thou this? 11 And he said: Yea, I believe that the Great Spirit created all things, and I desire that ye should tell me concerning all these things, and I will believe thy words. Why did the King’s redemptive journey begin with “being troubled”? Then he believed a little Then he was willing to believe it all

6. Aaron continues… 12 And it came to pass that when Aaron saw that the king would believe his words, he began from the creation of Adam, reading the scriptures unto the king—how God created man after his own image, and that God gave him commandments, and that because of transgression, man had fallen. 13 And Aaron did expound unto him the scriptures from the creation of Adam, laying the fall of man before him, and their carnal state and also the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the world, through Christ, for all whosoever would believe on his name. 14 And since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth… 15 And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? … Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy. 17 And it came to pass that … the king did bow down before the Lord, … saying: 18 O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, … Why do these discussions always begin with Adam and Eve? Note: What did Aaron give up to bring it to him? Why must “knowing” be followed by sacrifice?

7. Elder Featherstone When we really believe that Christ will take upon Himself our afflictions, our illnesses and sicknesses, we will do what Alma and King Lamoni's father did. We will go to Him who can take the weight of our trials and sufferings from us. The Master in His loving goodness will surely bring relief to the innocent victims of horrible deeds as to those who transgress. That is true justice. Incomparable Christ: Our Master and Model, 7-15.

8. Prominent Psychologist… It's good for a child to be in the company of people who are crazy about him for a substantial number of hours every day." (Psychology Today, March 1977, p. 43.)

9. President Eyring I've known a few prophets. You'll hear them criticized and attacked, and people will sometimes talk about their failures or their weaknesses, because they're not perfect. But I'll tell you this: Each time I'm with any of those whom you sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators, I'm struck with how the atonement of Jesus Christ has worked in their lives. There is a kindness, a desire to give their all and to do what the Lord would want, to bless and help and care about people that is beyond what they could have done by just wanting to change or resolving to change. The Atonement is real, it works in people's lives, and you don't have to be an Apostle or a prophet to have it work. If you will begin to do the things he would have you do, you really will find that your desire to do evil will decrease. I testify that you don't need to be afraid or discouraged. The Atonement is real. As you steadily do the things the Lord would have you do, a change will occur in you, and Satan's ability to lead you into the things that will destroy you and bring misery to you will become lessened. To Draw Closer to God: A Collection of Discourses, 105-110.

10. C. Richard Chidester I once counseled a man whose outlook and behavior were so accusing that he frequently swore at his wife and children with the vilest of swear words. I met with him and his wife for a couple of sessions, trying to help him understand and overcome his accusing mentality. But he took offense, called me names, and stormed out of my office. His wife subsequently asked for a separation, and he ended up living with his parents. I never expected to see the couple again. Needless to say, I was shocked almost beyond belief when he called me on the phone two months later and said he was ready for more counseling! After apologizing for his former behavior, he explained what had been happening to him. Staying with his parents had helped him see himself more clearly. As he watched them continuously put each other down and accuse and strike out at each other, he began to realize that he had been acting just like they had always done. Soon he hated to go home at night because of his parents’ behavior. He also became more aware of the same accusing behavior in others, especially the people he worked with. He observed that his colleagues spent much of the day gossiping and complaining and putting each other down. As he began to miss his family, his heart gradually began to soften, and he felt remorse for the way he had treated them. Scenarios of the times he had physically and verbally abused his wife and children flashed through his mind, and he became haunted by the need to make up for his intolerable behavior. His sorrow increased until he began to feel that it was almost more than he could bear. When he came to me for help, it was obvious that he was experiencing a change of heart. For the first time, he was admitting to himself how awful his behavior had been. Of course, he had really known it all along. But he had deceived himself into believing that his wife, children, and circumstances were to blame for his misery and unhappiness. He had convinced himself that if people only understood him better and were more compassionate he wouldn’t have had the problems he did. Caught in a paralyzing web of misery and self-pity, he had failed to see himself as the architect of that web. He was ripe for change. As he responded to the workings of the Spirit within him, his heart continued to soften. It didn’t take many sessions of counseling or much prompting from others for him to make positive and lasting changes. (Ensign, 1984)