Church today -- 11/27/11

Sacrament meeting:

Who can endure?

• Youth Speakers:  Nalani Stanley and Eric Yugawa.  Nalani told us that "endurance is the key" and made reference to 3 Nephi 15:9 which speaks of looking unto Christ and enduring to the end, and also to a story told by motivational speaker Sean Walker about a young man who wanted something yet whose resolve to endure was suspect.   Eric spoke about gratitude and things he is grateful for including having a loving family, a good school to attend (Iolani), and a nice place to go to church (he made reference to places his brother Craig, serving a mission in Africa, attends church).
• Adult speakers:  Two recently returned missionaries spoke today.  Trisha Carlile, who served at the Temple Square Mission in Salt Lake City, spoke about her experiences, as did Allie Garcia, who served in the Guatemala Mission.   Two good testimonies about faith.

Elders Quorum Announcements:

•  Activity:  Ward Christmas Dinner on 12/10 Saturday.  The quorum's food contributions will be a main dish (chicken enchiladas), the fixings for a taco bar, and desserts.   Quorum members will be contacted for specific food assignments. We also will be providing a game for the keiki (pinata) and also performing a musical number (the latter to be determined).  Bring family, neighbors, and friends to the dinner!
• Service: Christmas caroling on 12/16 Friday for the residents of Kina'ole Estate, a senior housing residence on William Henry Road in Kaneohe.  All Priesthood are welcome to join us.
• Sacrament meeting prayers for December:    Assignments are as follows:  12/4 Tamashiro and Teves,  12/11 Steffen and Hayashida,  12/18 Faumuina & Labatte, 12/25 Bejosa & Kanahele.
• Temple recommend interviews:  With President Kawakami at church on 12/4 from 11am to 12:30pm and on 1/8/12 Sunday 11 am to 12:30 p.m.  All quorum members should strive to have a current temple recommend.
• Christmas Day Church:  Sacrament meeting only.  No other meetings on 12/25/11.  Merry Christmas

Elders Quorum Lesson:

• Was presented by Bill Sellers who used Elder Dallin H. Oak's talk "Desire" as the teaching reference.  Key points of the lesson:  [1] to achieve our eternal destiny, we will desire and work for the qualities required to become an eternal being; [2] Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions. [3] The desires we act on determine our changing, our achieving, and our becoming; [4] It is our actions and our desires that cause us to become something, whether a true friend, a gifted teacher, or one who has qualified for eternal life; [5] The story of Aron Ralston, a mountaineer who amputated his own arm because he had a desire to survive.