Time Experience Thoughts

Permanent Things: Toward an Understanding of Mormons Editorial from the Newsroom at LDS.org. Religion in America is in a state of flux. The 2008   American Religious Identification Survey   shows that the number of those who claim no religious affiliation nearly doubled from 8.2 percent in 1990 to 15 percent in 2008. In addition, Pew’s 2009   Faith in Flux   survey found that “about half of American adults have changed religious affiliation at least once during their lives.” A study published in 2010 entitled   American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us   maintains that in America “it seems perfectly natural to refer to one’s religion as a ‘preference’ instead of as a fixed characteristic.” CAPTION © 2011 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved In this shifting religious environment it is easy to talk of the fleeting and superficial rather than the deeper foundations of spiritual life. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day S...

How Priesthood Leaders Have Blessed Me and My Family And Helped Us Come Closer to Christ Talk by Scott Vanatter at Oakton Stake Priesthood Leadership Meeting, June 11, 2011 INTRO Melchizedek priesthood leaders are taught that “…this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth . . . the key of the knowledge of God.” That “…in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.”(DC 84: 19-20) Good morning brethren. My topic is, “How Priesthood Leaders have Blessed Me and My Family -- and Helped Us Come Closer to Christ.” My family and I have been blessed by inspired words of ward and stake priesthood leaders. We’ve also been blessed by their dedicated lives – by what they do, by who they are. Their eternal perspective, and their connection with us, has created within us a lively, real world hope. This ‘hope in Christ’ provides us calm assurance that we can do it -- we can live the gospel, repent and progress and come unto Christ…. [1] ORDINANCES As impor...

“Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19) Carrie, Scott and Family http://www.forevermotts.blogspot.com/  (Roseville, CA) Carrie is a busy, stay-at-home mom and blogger. With her blog, she both creates an ongoing family history, and also keeps grandma and grandpa up-to-date. She serves as 2nd counselor in the Young Women organization. Scott, her hubby, works as a financial planner/stock broker at Merrill Lynch. He serves as the ward Elders Quorum President. This past summer he also had successful thyroid cancer surgery, with the related radioactive iodine treatment. “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33.) Scott is of good cheer. Carrie and the boys are very glad to have him with them for a long time to come. Sean (2) and Ryan (4) will be welcoming a new baby brother into the family, due to join them in early April 2008! Carrie and the boys visited us this summer; Scott then joine...