Elder's Quorum

by Troy Yost, EQ President

The Elders Quorum started the year off with many activities. First and probably foremost has been our Basketball exploits. Without mentioning our win/loss record “mainly because it is just average” we have performed well at each game. Some games we have 20 players, other games we have 4. No matter how many men participate it is always fun to gather together and recapture our glory years. The championship tournament starts Saturday March 28 and hopefully we will have good things to report. Our objective is to perform as well, if not better then the Young Men so we can claim bragging rights.

Upcoming, we have planned an adult pine wood derby, as well as some fun athletic activities for couples and families during the summer months. We anticipate and hope that this will unite us together, and bring happiness and joy in troubled times.

Now for something more on a spiritual note. Recently we had a lesson based on President Uchtdorf’s conference address “the infinite power of Hope”.

“The Scriptures say that there must be an opposition in all things; (2Nephi 2:11.) so it is with faith, hope and charity, doubt, despair and failure to care for our fellowmen lead us into temptation, which can cause us to forfeit choice and precious blessings, “the adversary uses despair to bind hearts and minds in suffocating darkness.” Despair drains from us all that is vibrant and joyful and leaves behind the empty remnants of what life was meant to be. Despair kills ambition, advances sickness, pollutes the soul, and deadens the heart. Despair can seem like a staircase that leads only and forever downward. Hope, on the other hand, is like the beam of sunlight rising up and above the horizon of our present circumstances. It pierces the darkness with brilliant dawn. It encourages and inspires us to place out trust in the loving care of an eternal Heavenly Father, who has prepared a way for those who seek for eternal truth in a world of relativism, confusion, and of fear.”

During these troubled times we need each other’s support, help, and love to maintain hope and a positive outlook. It is easy to know when we need help from others but hard to know when we can be of help. Often a nice word or kind gesture can bring hope to those struggling. Remember that “tough times never last but tough people always do.” Let us all help strengthen each other and together increase our hope.

Elders Quorum

Building a Solid Testimony
by Troy Yost

I have a quote written in a journal that I refer to every so often, it is from Elder Robert D. Hales, “Each of us needs to know what a testimony is, how we can get it, and what our responsibilities are once we have received a testimony.”

After a recent Temple recommend interview I spent some time considering the questions asked, and Elder Hales statement. The majority of the temple recommend questions relate directly to our personal testimonies. Recently, a clear direction has been given by the Brethren on how each of us can strengthen our personal testimonies. First, we have to understand what a true testimony is.

A testimony is a spiritual witness given by the Holy Ghost. The foundation of a testimony is the knowledge that Heavenly Father lives and loves His children; that Jesus Christ lives, that He is the Son of God, and that He carried out the infinite Atonement; that Joseph Smith is the prophet of God who was called to restore the gospel; that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Savior's true Church on the earth; and that the Church is led by a living prophet today.

To many of us who were raised in the Church, having a testimony is taken for granted. Many often presume that the one, or two spiritual experiences in our lives have solidified our testimonies, and they cannot be shaken. We know that a testimony comes through the quiet influence of the Holy Ghost. The results of a testimony can be miraculous and life changing, but the gift of testimony usually comes as a quiet assurance, without spectacular displays of God's power. Even Alma, who had been visited by an angel, and had seen God sitting on His throne, needed to fast and pray so he could receive a testimony through the power of the Holy Ghost (see Alma 5:45–46; 36:8, 22).

A testimony grows gradually through experiences. No one receives a complete testimony all at once. Our testimonies will grow as we show willingness to serve in the Church, and to study the scriptures and pray. It will increase as we obey God's commandments. With this foundation, and our daily attending to it, a testimony will eventually grow to include all principles of the gospel. Following Alma’s example—the simple basics of fasting, praying and studying will solidify our testimonies, and ensure that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is centered in our hearts. A question worthy of asking ourselves often is “do my thoughts and actions reflect my testimony, or are they a true reflection of my testimony?”

Oh that all of us can truly say our testimonies are built upon the rock of Christ, and that we daily follow his teachings and doctrines. What miracles would then come into our Ward, our families, and our individual lives?

Elder's Quorum

Over the last few weeks the Men of the Elders Quorum have had several opportunities to get together and share friendship, good food, and athletic activity together. It is very eye-opening to realize what a diverse group of Elders we have in the ward. On Tuesday night the 18^th of March we had the final scheduled basketball game of the year. I am happy to report that we won by a large margin. Several of us had a hard time catching our breath and keeping up with the younger crowd, but luckily we had plenty of guys and could substitute often.

After these experiences I thought of the friendship and fellowship in the ward, and how important it is to share experiences together; to grow and establish relationships between each other. In the Doctrine and Covenants section 88 verse 133 we see how we should greet each other.

“Art thou a brother or brethren? I salute you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ…in which covenant I receive you to fellowship, in a determination that is fixed, immovable, and unchangeable, to be your friend and brother through the grace of God in the bonds of love, to walk in all the commandments of God blameless in thanksgiving, forever and ever, Amen.”

It is important for us to be strong as friends, to be able to rely on each other not only on the spiritual level while at church but just as importantly in our normal regular life. How we should rely on each other to help when moving “which we are getting good at” to help when landscaping, or any of the regular things we all can use help with. I remember a great home teacher once spent a full day helping my family set up a play set. Can you ask for a better expression of caring and love? The savior said “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” I would suggest we also live for our friends, share experiences, offer help, ask for help and strengthen each other as an Elders quorum, as a ward, as a community.

Elders Quorum Presidency

Elder's Quorum

Focus on Families

Our Stake presidency has done a fantastic job of setting a very clear specific focus for our families this year. This focus can be a simple way for all of us to increase the spirituality and faith in our homes. As an Elders quorum presidency we had the opportunity to sit down with President Wood and discuss some of our goals and objectives for the year. We were greatly impressed with his desire that each family have the spirit in their homes, and how simply this can be done. Our Stake President expressed such a feeling of love and strong desire to see an increase of faith and spirit for each family. While I was pondering on these things I had several thoughts of the eternal impact this can have on each of us. Not only on us but on our children and spouses.

While cleaning out some old files at the first of the year I came across some quotes I had long forgotten about. The first is from Dr. Glenn Doman, a prominent author and scientist that stated, “The newborn child is almost an exact duplicate of an empty computer in almost every way… what is placed in the child’s brain during the first eight years of life is probably there to stay. If you put misinformation into his brain during this period it is extremely difficult to erase it.”
I also found several pages of notes from a conference address by President Thomas S. Monson; he suggests a few things to help in teaching our children. 1) Teach Prayer, 2) Inspire faith 3) Live truth 4) Honor God.

We can all look around us today and see the effects of weak family life in the world today. What a sad state most families are in without a clue of how to improve or where to look for answers. However we have the answers! Inspired leaders and great examples have given us ways to strengthen ourselves, and in turn we can strengthen our spouses and our children. Through this we can have an effect not only on our immediate family but on the community, the country and the world. The statement “there is beauty all around when there’s love at home,” certainly is true. We hope that every Elder in the Silva Valley Ward takes the advice of our Prophet and Stake presidency to heart, and puts forth a sincere effort to lead their families in righteousness. To follow the council given and receive the blessings that are promised to us by inviting the Lord into our lives.

Sincerely,
Elders Quorum