THE REMNANT. February 2009

Transcription

1 1 Remnant CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day Saints Marlin Texas Branch 204 Live Oak Street Marlin, Texas THE REMNANT February 2009 VOLUME 10 Number 2 THEME: In an Hour When You Think Not SUNDAY MORNING DEVOTIONALS :45AM SUNDAY SCHOOL :00AM SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE :00AM SUNDAY EVENING SERVICE :30PM (WHEN ANNOUNCED) WEDNESDAY EVENING SERVICE :00PM (WHEN ANNOUNCED) AVAILABLE PRIESTHOOD: 1 HIGH PRIEST, 3 ELDERS, 1 Aaronic Teacher February 1, 2009 IN CHARGE COMMUNION SERVICE HIGH PRIEST ARTHUR ALLEN COMMUNION MESSAGE ELDER ROGER SCHUELKE OBLATION REMARKS ELDER RICKEY WELCH February 8, 2009 IN CHARGE MESSAGE ASSISTING IN CHARGE MESSAGE ASSISTING IN CHARGE MESSAGE ASSISTING February 15, 2009 February 22, 2009 ELDER RPGER SCHUELKE HIGH PRIEST ARTHUR ALLEN ELDER RICKEY WELCH HIGH PRIEST ARTHUR ALLEN HIGH PRIEST KENNETH SCAFE TEACHER WATER SHELTON HIGH PRIEST ARTHUR ALLEN SEVENTY CHAD BUTTERY ELDER RICKEY WELCH

2 2 ATTENDANCE Our attendance for January was not as good as we expected. We had several individuals that were ill; however, things are looking better for February. We continue to work on our mission to fill our chapel with new faces. We also continue to encourage others to come and see. TRACT AND TAPE MINISTRY It should be noted that all requests for tracts and tapes must include Name, Mailing Address and Address when ordering from our Web Site at Items requested from the web site are sent to the requestor free of any cost. We suggest you review our home page and review a change that was made in January. FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS Note: Birthday dates are taken from the branch directory. Report missing or incorrect dates to Elder Richard Hoover. Shelby Rosas February 21 Brandon Welch February 3 Rickey Welch February 6 OUR WEB SITE Our web site, continues to be updated. Our Web Site has been registered with the Marlin Chamber of Commerce and now appears under Church s on the Marlin Chamber of Commerce Web Site. For those of you that are new to our Web Site, our Web Site is linked to the General Church Web Site, and can be found under church congregations. The Web Site is updated each month to include new information that may be of interest to members of the congregation as well as too many others. A list of available sermons have been added to our web site and you can now listen to these sermons while using your computer in other work. It is suggested that you visit the Web Site regularly. The Branch News Letter is posted each month. It should be noted that material listed on the web site under Tape and Tract Ministry is furnished upon request free of charge. GENERAL CHURCH WEB SITE Click on to the General Church Web Site for the latest information about activities going on in the general church. Changes are made regularly to the Web Site. You can register with the web site and can receive regular updates by . Please check out all of the information furnished on the Site. FROM THE PRESIDING ELDER Our Mission Statement The Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has been called in renewal to preach the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all who will listen, and to prepare and gather, a righteous people for the building of the Kingdom of God on Earth, Zion. Because of the importance of the above Mission Statement it is being made a part of our bulletins for our Sunday and Special Services. The branch is also providing business type cards for members to be places in their wallets, purses, etc. The Mission Statement can also be found on the Home Page of the General Church Web Site: and has also been placed on the Home Page of the Marlin Web Site: The Marlin Branch will seek to fulfill our mission by pledging to preach the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all who will listen, and try to prepare and assist in the gathering of a righteous people for the building of the Kingdom of God on Earth, Zion. We will seek to place this emphasis on all that we do. We will try to instill and motivate our membership to think of this mission as they prepare their life for the coming Kingdom. Our branch was richly blessed in January. Patriarch-Evangelist Fred Church and his wife, Shirley, visited our branch on January 24 th and 25 th. Brother Church and his wife live in Sweetwater, Texas and travels to Marlin on various occasions where he provides Patriarchal Ministry. We had a wonderful time during their visit in Marlin including lunch and

3 3 fellowship at our chapel following his sermon at our chapel on Sunday. We look forward to having Seventies Sam Dyer, III and Chad Buttery with us on the 22d of February. This will be the first visit of Brother Buttery to Marlin and we look forward to having him bring the Morning Message. Brother Dyer will also be sharing his ministry by teaching our adult church school class. Our branch has also been blessed by having High Priest Kenneth Scafe and his wife, Carolyn, with us during January. It has been great to have them with us. They have added to our church school discussions, been a part of our lunches and fellowship. Brother Scafe is scheduled to bring our 11 a.m. message on February 15th. The Scafe s son, Matthew and his wife Tanya, live in Round Rock, Texas. On January 25 th the infant son of Matthew and Tanya, Connor Eric, was blessed by his grandfather, High Priest Kenneth Scafe, and assisted by High Priest Arthur Allen. What a wonderful day for our congregation. Brother Scafe and his wife live in Independence, Missouri but have business interest here in Texas. A number of our members are looking forward to the General Conference in April to be followed by the Oklahoma Reunion in June. It is hoped that our attendance at these activities will be more then last year. It probably will be difficult to improve this attendance; however, we are already working on this project. The work of the branch goes forward and we are still seeking to fill our chapel and invited our inactive members and friends to Come and See. This question was asked in a sermon on January 12, The question is still valid and has merit for all of us today. WHAT DO WE PREACH TODAY My wife and I were privileged to go to Houston, Texas to attend our Great Grandson s birthday party. He was three years old on the 6 th of January On our way home I asked my wife what she would like for my Subject to be today. As usual she would not tell me. She believes that is my responsibility. I asked her the question because I had considered the matter for the past week. I had not received any special guidance from above; therefore, I asked her the question. As I prepared the bulletin for today, I also read the January issue of the News Briefs and the communication from the First Presidency. As I continued to ponder the question, What do we preach today, I feel that the following scriptures relative to my question are of the up most importance. 1, Surely the Lord God will do nothing until he revealeth the secret unto his servants the prophets. Amos 3:7 Do we believe this? Are we willing to listen to the Prophets Those of the Old Testament, New Testament, The Book of Mormon, the Prophets of the Restoration, and he that has been called and set apart and is with us in the Remnant Church today. How well are we (you and I) prepared for the coming Kingdom of God? We have been studying the little book called, The Endowment, and those of us that have been participating in this study will admit that we are not fully prepared for the coming Kingdom. The Lord has given us the messages of Zion, but we are like the Children of Israel of Old. We just read (even if we do that) the words. These words do not live within us. Surely you, of all people, realize that we must commit our lives to him in the entirety. The problem is that we are not yet ready to commit our all for the kingdom. Here in Marlin, Texas and most other places. 2. The Question can two walk together, except they are agreed? Amos 3:3, We are having a tough time measuring up to this Standard. Just look around you. Within the Restoration Movement we are not unified. Just look at the branch that we came out of. It is now time that All Restoration Saints make the necessary adjustments and quit quarreling and fighting among themselves. WE OF THE REMNANT CHURCH must seek to measure up. Can we here in Marlin, Texas agree on the steps that we must work toward in order that we become unified? Just look at the following items are we agreed on keeping the Sabbath, Tithing, Oblation, the Ordinances and

4 4 Sacraments, the Fundamental Principals and the List Goes on. We must seek to improve our obedience to the Commandments of our God. 3, The Lord Will Roar from Zion ---Amos 1:2 What does that mean to us? We all have an opinion. Let us consider the fact that the Lord speaks through the Prophet. Suppose the commandment came that we are to gather. Would you be willing to gather? THE ANSWER WILL PROBABLY BE NO. Why do I say that? Well, just look at the many times that we have already been asked to gather. We have ignored the commandments to gather. We can all give our own excuses; however, I do not recall there being any excuses accepted, EXCEPT THOSE THAT ARE COMMANDED TO TARRY, 4. Malachi 4:6 for I am the Lord, I Change not. Do we believe and accept an unchangeable Lord? Each time we try to excuse ourselves, from complying with Gods Commandments we are saying that its O.K. the lord will look the other way. People that lived through out the ages have suffered the consequences in believing that it is O.K. not to follow the rules. Look at the following. The Israelite Nation. The people of the Book of Mormon and yes look at the people of the Restoration. The Children of Israel wondered around in the Desert for 40 years before some were permitted into the Promised Land and then because they refused to follow the Commandments the 12 Tribes were divided and you should know the rest of their story? The people of the Book of Mormon were destroyed and the Saints of the Restoration were scattered and driven too and fro. And Look at all of the Groups today, We are so blessed to have a prophet to guide us in this time of History. Yes I could be telling you that all you had to do was to believe, and that God requires nothing of you today. THIS MAY MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD, however, that would not be true. As we leave here today I would like for you to remember that our Lord is unchangeable, that he is the same today and will be forever. Remember that we must prepare for that time when the call comes for us as individuals and or collectively to gather to the Land of Zion. I am sure that the time will come all you have to do is look at what s happening in our world. I know that WE WILL NOT ALL AGREE; however, what matters is that we all work to bring our values up to HIS values. 5. Remember --- that it is not all that say Lord, Lord that will enter into the Kingdom, but rather it will be those THAT KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS. In closing I want all of you to know that I appreciate all that you do for the sake of the Kingdom. I want each of you to consider you will have to answer. Arthur Allen Presiding Elder Marlin Texas Branch Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints E=Mail: allenap@sbcglobal.net Web Site: January 12, 2003 (Revisited February 1, 2009) Presented is a transcript of a radio broadcasts by R.L.D.S. President Frederick M. Smith in 1938 on a pertinent topic that continue to be of considerable interest in this 21 st century Jesus the Liberator from Social Bondage

5 5 Jesus showed the lawyer that our neighbor is found where there is one in need of help. Service to humanity, then, is fundamental to the Christian religion service rendered here, not in the beyond. Lip service avowal of love for God counts as naught, for service to the least of those in need counts for more than the loudest claim. We first become aware of God by seeing our brother, and consciousness of God creates awareness of our obligations toward our fellow-man. It is impossible to love the Father without loving our neighbor. Demonstration of real love of God will issue in service to neighbor. No other conception of godly love could exist in the mind of one who gave to the world the Golden Rule that our social conduct should always synchronize with what we expect from others. It is the essence of what should motivate ideal social conditions. I am come that ye might have life and have it more abundantly was certainly social in content. We would be justified, therefore, in saying that the religion of Jesus is fundamentally social, and any form of society which entails a struggle of individuals for existence is not Christian, though of course work is God given, for in the sweat of our faces must we eat our bread. A ruthless policy of survival of the fittest may be adequate for beastly propagation, but is unworthy of rational beings. We are our brother s keepers, not his destroyers. The Rich Young Man As further evidence that Jesus would place the chief emphasis upon the social aspects of the religion he was teaching, I refer to the incident of the rich young man who came to Jesus and in formal address asked him concerning how eternal life might be obtained. What good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life? Here was a young man who today would likely be termed successful, and perhaps religious, even devoutly so. He was rich, which today passes far too often as being the criterion of success. He had punctiliously kept the Mosaic Law, and yet, under the gripping teachings of Jesus, he had become conscious that there was something lacking. So he said to Jesus, What must I do? He would be saved, and he wanted to know the minimum of effort to bring him escape from destruction. And Jesus said, If thou wilt enter into eternal life, keep the commandments. When the young man said, Which? Jesus repeated five of the Ten Commandments and added one from another place in the law, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The young man then said, All these things have I kept from my youth up, what lack I yet? It is not unlikely that the young man thought he had kept all the things in the law mentioned by Jesus, but doubtless he greatly underestimated the scope of the last one uttered by the Master. For Jesus at once put him to the test, and gave him a suggestion, a promise, and an invitation, by saying, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven and come and follow me. Matt. 19:21 The promise of perfection and treasure in heaven followed the command to demonstrate that his wealth would not stand between him and his duty to the needy. It was a test. God does not want man to put treasure above his Creator in desirability. Deity has not at any time said or indicated that he does not want man to possess great treasure or wealth. But he has said that man should not have idols. Therefore, man must not have love of money above the love for God, and must hold the wealth (or goods) given him as instrument of service in doing full duty to man and Deity. Note Jesus command, Sell that thou hast, and give to the poor. This in other language meant, Devote your possessions and powers to God s service by serving your fellow-man in need. You have so far spent your life in thinking of yourself and laying up goods for your own gratification. You have been devout in your observation of religious ceremony, but that is not enough. Forget yourself and see those around you whom you can help. Your road to God (for this is life eternal, that they might know God) lies in service to them. The answer of Jesus pointed clearly to social duty. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. He could not comply with the master s instruction. Too long had he been taught in the school of self-serving interests. The sorrow followed either because of his inability to comprehend the scope and bearings of the answer, or else from his lack of social consciousness and sense of social duty. The conduct and reaction of this young man are quite typical of far too many today who display the propensity to put a minimum limit on religious activities and a maximum on service to self.

6 6 The Essence of Religion Religion in the Christian sense is comprised of service service to those in need, service to others altruism. And this makes religion much more than meditation, prayer, and observance of ceremonies. It is meditation become dynamic, it is prayer plus the desire to do, it is ceremony followed by action. It is meditation, prayer, and ceremony vitalized and sanctified by beneficent action in service to others. And so the young man could not accept the wonderful invitation of Jesus when he said, And come and follow me, after he had given to the poor. His approach had been wrong. He came down the avenue of selfishness. He would be saved, he would know the minimum of effort to escape destruction. The answer pointed to social responsibility and duty, and his sorrow followed either his inability to comprehend the scope of the answer, or his lack of social consciousness and sense of social duty. To follow Jesus as believer, disciple, and servant, man must hold all his possessions, his life, his conduct, his attitude, and his money at the service of God ready to utilize all in the service of his fellow-man, as full duty to Deity. The young man failed in the test. But he is not alone in that, for many before, and multitudes since, have had their vision of God dimmed by scales of gold on their eyes. Any social order based on selfishness is fundamentally wrong. Who will deny that today the appeal for endeavor is to selfishness? In the school, on the street, in the bank, from the rostrum, in union headquarters, from the pulpit, in the factory, the appeal is largely, if not entirely, to the selfish instinct. Individuals are urged to endeavor, but for reward. Service is urged, but in the line yielding the largest returns to the individual. Professions are chosen for the prospective return, and excellence therein is striven for because larger tolls can be collected, and the struggle is to amass a competency or more, for the power brought or for the chance for early retirement with security from worry or work. Our industry is based on the reward to self and on fear. Men toil in fear of old age and insecurity. What a travesty on the Christian religion. A society ostensibly Christian whose industrial impulsion is fear, or the appeal to self, when Christianity is based on love love of God and neighbor. A New Social Consciousness In recent years there has been in certain circles a distinct awakening of social consciousness, and we might begin to hope that the crest of the wave of selfishness which has swept over the world has passed. Did the great World War mark the time of that crest? Did the great depression further re-arouse men to consciousness that his trust is in God, if his faith is well founded? Mayhap even the present recession may still further arouse interest in Deity on the part of man. We do know that close observers have sensed a steadily progressing revolution of religion, a revolution which holds promise of getting back more squarely upon the basis on which rests the religion of Jesus, for there has come an awakening to the fact that in our attempted evaluation of Christianity, incidentals have been overemphasized and fundamentals shifted to places of secondary or tertiary importance. The original appeal made by Jesus for individual righteousness was for an end. However much we may emphasize the need for personal righteousness, however deeply we may recognize that a prime purpose of the Christian religion is the formation of character on the pattern given us in the life of Christ and in his precepts, a proper envisagement of the religion of Jesus and the evaluation of his life forces us to the conclusion that not even the most refined and most highly developed religious character can live the Christian religion by himself. No man liveth to himself alone. It takes at least two men and God to demonstrate the Christian religion, each man neighbor to the other, demonstrating his love of God in service to his brother. Let us hope, aye, pray, and work, that this conception of the Christian religion is expanding and shall expand in constantly widening circles, until it shall seize the masses of the people of all nations, for then and then only shall war cease, when all shall recognize the deep meaning of those words of Scripture, And hath made of one blood all nations of men, and made man that haply he might successfully feel after God, for when man begins to feel after God, the Spirit of God working in him will open his eyes to the fact that his fellow-men are his brothers and the love of God will issue in serving those brothers. Social reforms have been proposed, but how seldom have these reforms escaped the taint of selfishness. The appeal has usually been made in the vernacular of selfishness. How could we expect otherwise? Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. It is necessary for us to know God, and to know him we must become aware of our brother and his needs. God and our brother are complements. To know God we must see our brother, and to see God we must know our brother, a divine paradox. Except there comes that divine personal renaissance which issued in a social consciousness, the new order of society cannot even be glimpsed, and while we today look with delight upon that revolution in religion which distinctly tends toward a social interpretation of the Christian religion we cannot blink the fact that as yet there are far too few with a pure social consciousness. The majority still think, speak, and act in terms of self-serving interests. The awakening of this social consciousness has tremendous powers of soul expansion. Paul once found his soul expanding to all the universe. May not his ecstatic expansion of soul have arisen from a deep spiritual impress of the social content of the message of Jesus? We do know from our experiences, that that content once grasped lifts one up and out of oneself till the expanded soul readjusts itself in a new birth, a vision of larger things and an activity directed toward social betterment and weal, toward the achievement of a redeemed society, one in which the will of God has perfect play his kingdom come.