Church today--9/30/12

Sacrament meeting

With General Conference being convened next weekend, today was designated as Fast Sunday and today's meeting was for testimony bearing.  Speaking of testimonies, Elder M. Russell Ballard taught, "To gain and forever hold on to a testimony of gospel truths is worth whatever price in spiritual preparation we may be required to pay."

  Sunday School

Lesson 38:  We were encouraged to be true disciples of Jesus Christ by following His example and by living the higher law that He taught to the Nephites. Jesus taught the Nephites how they must live to be His true disciples. He tells them that those who hear and do His sayings are like a wise man who builds a house on a rock. 

  Combined session

The subject for meetings that fall on the fifth Sunday of the month is determined by the bishopric to meet the needs of the members. Today, the time was used to instruct members of the Relief Society, elders quorum, and high priests group in a combined meeting about missionary work.  Speaking during the session were the High Priest group leader (Herman Kanahele), Elders Quorum president (Dayle Turner), Relief Society president (Laola Kau), ward missionary David Suficiencia, and Ward Mission leader Joshua Steffen.

EQ Service in Kahaluu

How many priesthood holders does it take to weedwhack a yard?  Well, it turns out the answer is ten, specifically two high priests, four Elders, and four of the Aaronic priesthood. This happened yesterday at the 2-acre property in Kahaluu of a member of the ward.  Starting at 7 a.m. (with a break for breakfast at 8 a.m.), the weedwhacking mission was accomplished in a couple of hours.   The EQ Presidency would like to thank all those that were able to come out and help. If you need help with anything please contact anyone of us. All of our information is listed under the tab above.

Fireside for President and Sister Workman

There was a fireside tonight at the Waikalua Chapel, with the featured speakers being President H. Ross Workman and Sister Kaye Workman of the Laie Hawaii Temple.  The focus of both their talks was on covenants, with Sister Workman testifying that if we keep the covenants we make in the temple, our children will be together with us for eternity.  Using the story of Ruth from the Old Testament as the framework, President Workman also testified about the vitalness of keeping covenants "to the letter" as Ruth did, with promised blessings to be bestowed.

Aloha and mahalo nui to the Workmans for their service to the Lord here in the past five years.  Best wishes in their future callings.

Church Today 9/23/12

Sacrament Meeting

Today's meeting featured the High Priests of the Ward.  Speaking today were President Herman Kanahele, who asked priesthood brethren, "Are we stuck in neutral?   Are we treading water?" or "Are we strengthening and nourishing our priesthood?"  Second, Brother Frank Correira bore testimony of a time, while on the way to the Laie Temple, that he and his wife were spared from the fury of a tidal-wave-like flood near Waikane.  "We were on the Lord's errand and knew all would be well," he said.   The concluding speaker was Brother John Laimana, who spoke of intelligence, quoting D&C 130:18-19.  The meeting concluded with all the High Priests of the ward singing the hymn "I Need Thee Every Hour." 

Herman Kanahele, High Priest Group Leader

Frank Correira

John Laimana

Sunday School

•   Lesson 37, the purpose of which was to help us understand the fulfillment of Samuel’s prophecies and the blessings available to those who come unto the Savior. 

Elders Quorum

• Today's EQ Lesson was based on the talk "Having the Vision to Do" by Elder O. Vincent Haleck  of the Seventy who said, "As we gain a vision of ourselves as the Savior sees us and as we act on that vision, our lives will be blessed in unexpected ways."

•  Announcements
• Service on 9/29 Sat.  Meet @ Temple Valley McDonald's at 6:45 a.m.  We will help weedwack and rake grass/weeds on a ti leaf farm on Ahaolelo Road in Kahaluu. 
• Team-ups with missionaries for home visits to ward members.  9/27 Thurs.  6 pm.  Call Joshua Steffen (ward mission leader) or the EQ presidency if you want to participate.

Church today 9/16/12

Sacrament meeting

• Brother Rocky Baso spoke about the greatest miracle of all: a person's change of heart.  He told the story of a man he knew who experienced the miracle of a changed heart and came unto Christ.
• Sister Kuulii Hanohano quoted the Savior in John 3:5: Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. She shared her experience doing baptisms for the dead with the youth of the ward at the Laie Hawaii Temple yesterday.

• Elder DeeJay Pasikala (above), recently returned from a two-year mission to the Cebu Philippines Mission, spoke about his experiences there.  He also made reference to a talk by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, who counseled:  "God doesn’t care nearly as much about where you have been as He does about where you are and, with His help, where you are willing to go."

• Brother Jonathan Aki, a member of the Stake High Council, was the concluding speaker, made reference to Lehi's dream (1 Nephi, 8) and reminded us that, like the people in the dream, we, too, are on the strait and narrow path, and must "continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until [we come] forth and [fall] down and [partake] of the fruit of the tree."

Sunday School

•  Lesson 36: Today’s lesson discussed the opposition faced by the believers among the Nephites. Some people endured in spite of all opposition, while others received great blessings yet quickly “turned from their righteousness” (3 Nephi 7:8). From the chapters we studied, we were reminded of the importance of remaining faithful in spite of trials and temptation.

Elders Quorum

•  Announcements:  
• Team-ups with missionaries for home visits to ward members.  9/19 Wed.  7pm.  Call Joshua Steffen (ward mission leader) or the EQ presidency if you want to participate.
• Fireside.  7pm on 9/23 Sunday at Waikalua chapel.  Ross W. Workman and Sister Workman, the Laie Hawaii Temple President and Temple matron, will be the featured speakers.
• Service.  9/29 Sat. 7am to 9am at a member's farm in Kahaluu.  
• Fast Sunday on 9/30
• General Conference on Oct 6 and 7.  General Priesthood Meeting will be broadcast at the Keolu Hills chapel at 6 pm on 10/6 Saturday.
• Ward Temple Night.  7 p.m. at the Laie Hawaii Temple.  President Workman will speak to us and we will attend the 8 p.m. endowment session.
• Lesson:
• Chapter 19: Temporal and Spiritual Blessings from the Word of Wisdom.
• The Word of Wisdom is loving counsel from our Father, who knows all things.
•  The Lord promises mental and physical health to those who obey the Word of Wisdom
• Obeying the Word of Wisdom strengthens our faith and spirituality.
• By obeying the Word of Wisdom, we prepare for eternal life.
• The best way to teach our families to obey the Word of Wisdom is to obey it ourselves.

May We Always Have His Spirit

Do you know how to recognize when the spirit is with you and when it is not?

Read more...

Church today 9/9/12

Sacrament meeting

• Brother Puna Tani spoke about the importance of education "that ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you" (DC 88:80).
• Sister Kawehi Filiaga spoke about virtue which leaves people "Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men" (DC 121:35).
• Sister Gloria Carlile quoted President Dieter F. Uchtdorf who characterized happy people as "those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments. They are the ones who, thread by daily thread, weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder throughout their lives. These are they who are truly happy."
• Brother Dayle Turner spoke about the importance of preparation, citing President David O. McKay's counsel about the Personal Priesthood Interview everyone will have the the Savior.

Sunday School

• Gospel Doctrine lesson 35 which reminded us of the importance of repenting, turning to the Lord, and following the prophets.

Elders Quorum

• Makana Tani was ordained an Elder (his dad Glenn did the ordination)
• Kaanoi Walk was released as EQ second counselor.
• Gene Tamashiro was set apart as EQ second counselor.
• Lesson on Staying on the Lord's Side of the Line. 
• Announcements:
• 9/12 Wednesday.  Ward Temple Night.  7pm Laie Temple.  All members with current temple recommends are encouraged to attend.
• 9/13 Thurs. Team-ups with Missionaries.  All invited to participate.  6:45 p.m.  Meet at Magalogo's residence on Heupueo Place. 
• 9/15 Saturday.  Baptisms for the Dead.  6am Laie Temple. All Elders with current temple recommends are encouraged to attend.

Service--Adopt a highway

Twelve is the number of Apostles in the Quorum of the Twelve.  Twelve is also the number of volunteers who came out to pick up trash along Likelike and Kahekili Highways today as part of our quorum's service to the community in the state's Adopt-a-Highway program.

Mahalo for your service! 

“The Lord is keeping His promise to you as you keep yours. As you serve others for Him, He lets you feel His love. And in time, feelings of charity become part of your very nature. And you will receive the assurance of Mormon in your heart as you persist in serving others in life that all will be well with you.”  President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, “A Witness,” Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2011, 68.

Brother David Suficiencia

Brother Gene Tamashiro and others along Likelike Hwy.

Church Today -- 9/2/12

Sacrament Meeting

• D&C 20:70 reads, “Every member of the church of Christ having children is to bring them unto the elders before the church, who are to lay their hands upon them in the name of Jesus Christ, and bless them in his name.”  Today, receiving a name and a blessing from elders of the church was Saydee Kamakanamaikalani Steffen, the daughter of Joshua and Nola Steffen.
  
• Elder Steven R. Covey once remarked that "it’s instructive that the monthly testimony meeting is preceded by fasting and renewing our covenants. Also, bearing testimony in such a meeting is more than expressing appreciation, as beautiful and appropriate as being grateful may be. It involves expressing a conviction, declaring one’s position, expressing the soul’s deepest convictions born of the Spirit that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that Joseph Smith and his successors were called to be prophets, and that the Church is led by Jesus Christ."  Such declarations and expressions of conviction were made today.

Sunday School

• Gospel doctrine lesson 34 highlights:
  
  • The people are righteous and are blessed with peace and prosperity.
  • The Nephites become proud and wicked.  Nephi calls them to repentance.
  • The Lord gives Nephi the sealing power.  The unrepentant Nephites face warfare and famine.
  • The Nephites humble themselves and repent.

Elders Quorum

• 1st Sunday Business Meeting Minutes
  • Service:  Adopt-a-Highway.  9/8 Saturday.  Meet @ 8a.m. at Kaneohe Burger King.
  • Baptisms for the Dead:  9/15 Sat. Laie Hawaii Temple.  Meet there at 6 a.m.
  • Emergency Prep Workshop.  72-hour kits.  9/18 Tues. 8 p.m. @ Waikalua.
  • Missionary Challenge vs Relief Society.  Oct 1 to Dec 29.
  • September 2012 1st Presidency Message. 
  • Proposed:  Activity involving food (i.e. cooking and/or eating); Sports Activity (e.g. flag football) vs or with 2nd Ward EQ;  "Teach Your Talent" activities (e.g. pig hunting, gardening, fishing, Hawaiian sites, etc.)