THE REMNANT. May VOLUME 11 Number 5 THEME: I Have Chosen You to Deal Justly One with Another

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1 1 Remnant CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day Saints Marlin Texas Branch 204 Live Oak Street Marlin, Texas THE REMNANT May 2010 VOLUME 11 Number 5 THEME: I Have Chosen You to Deal Justly One with Another 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, 1 ELDER, 1 Aaronic Teacher May 2, 2010 COMMUNION MESSAGE OBLATION REMARKS MESSAGE ASSISTING MESSAGE ASSISTING MESSAGE ASSISTING May 9, 2010 May 16, 2010 May 23, 2010 TBA PRIEST RANDY WELCH TBA

2 2 May 30, 2010 The Women of the Branch are responsible for the service. ATTENDANCE We are very thankful for the support of the Branch Membership and others that attend our service. While our attendance during the last few months has decreased due to various factors, including the Loss of two families that have gathered to Missouri. We were blessed to have several members of The Hearne Restoration Branch to visit with us during this month. TRACT AND TAPE MINISTRY It should be noted that all requests for tracts and tapes must include Name, Mailing Address and E- Mail Address when ordering from our Web Site Items requested from the web site are sent to the requestor free of any cost. We suggest you review our home page and review changes that have been made. MAY BIRTHDAYS Michael Allen May 21 Patricia Baggerly May 6 Kyle Cantrell May 28 Richard Hoover May 24 Ellington Whitaker May 10 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. Lists 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

3 3 Our General Church 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. Our Marlin Branch Mission Statement The Marlin Branch is to provide the most personalized, trusted, valued, comprehensive spiritual ministry for all that Come and See. April was a very challenging month for the Marlin Saints. However, the necessary adjustments were made and the Trail Ride continues. The recent loss of Roger Schuelke and his wife, Deborah, affected our attendance as well as the Priesthood ministry provided by Roger. Recent communication with Roger indicated they have completed their move and are making the adjustments required in their new adventure. We were blessed to have several members of the Hearne, Texas Restoration Branch visit with us during the month as well as two Remnant Church members that attend the Hearne Restoration Branch came and shared their ministry with us. The Marlin Branch was active in the support of the 2010 Relay for Life of Falls County conducted by the American Cancer Society. The Branch not only supports the activity with membership participation but the branch makes an annual contribution to the Relay for Life program. The Branch received an appreciation certificate as one of the program sponsors. High Priest Arthur Allen will be sworn in as a member of the Marlin City Council on Tuesday, May 11 th. He has previously served on the Council for six years, as an interim City Manager, the Mayor of Marlin and a Consultant for the city. It was only after he was asked to serve again by those living in his district that he was persuaded to serve his city once again. We continue to seek to provide the comprehensive spiritual ministry of the Lords Church and continue to seek those that are willing to Come and See. Our branch will continue to meet the many challenges as we all continue the Trail Ride into the future. COMMUNION SERVICE May 2, 2010 (Reviewed May 2, 2010) TODAY is a day that we want to remember. So many things are going on in our world. Just take a look as what is happening:

4 4 a. Peace has been taken away from us in our day. b. Our security as we have known is no longer. c. Look at the increasing debts Private and national. d. Look at what is happening in our Churches All of them. e. Look at what is happening at/in our Governments (Local, County, State and Federal. The list goes on. So here today we come together to renew our relationship covenant with our Lord. It is thru our covenant with him that we can and will receive the strength to face the events which are to come. The scriptures are full of warnings for our day. You only have to look at Matthew Chapter 24 to see where we are heading in our future. So our hope is in Jesus Christ. To day we will eat the Bread and Drink the Wine that represents the Body and Blood of our Lord. He gave his life that you and I may have life in the fullness. It is more important for us today to accept our Lord and be about his business, in my opinion, than at any other time in our life-time. As a Congregation, as a Church, we must place ourselves at the foot of the cross, take up his cross and follow him. This means, at least to me, that we have to put our Lord first in our lives and work hard in helping to build his Kingdom here on earth and preparing our lives while it is yet day when all can work before the night comes when we will no longer be able to change our lives and do those things that we now know to do. (See DC Section 142:5 and Section R-145 for more recent instruction concerning the night will come ). Our lives and our world are being torn apart by as one writer has put it These are portentous times. The lives of many are being sacrificed unnecessarily to the gods of war, greed, and avarice. Our land is being desecrated by the thoughtless waste of vital resources. I think we can see this very thing happening now in our day. We MUST start today at this communion service to place ALL of our efforts in obeying and keeping the commandments of our Lord. Failure to do so will only cause us to become engrossed in activities that will not help in bringing about the Kingdom. In 1934 the Goals of the Church was stated, The final purposes of the church are two: to preach the gospel in the entire world and to build the kingdom of God. See The Priesthood Manual, published in January 1934 by the Herald Publishing House, Independence, Missouri. There are many scripture that support our mission in taking the Gospel to the entire world Matthew Chapter 28 is but one. Further, we have been instructed to seek the Kingdom and establish his Zion. These goals can only be obtained when we have the following: a. An extensive priesthood of devoted, qualified and active men constantly exercising a spiritual ministry in which God is actually revealed.

5 5 b. A converted, informed, and growing church membership. Our vision is our total membership being an active worker and supporter of the work. c. Active branches, districts, stakes, etc, even as God may direct. d. Full compliance with the spirit of the Stewardship commandments. I am sure that you and I could name many others; however, just these four will help us realize that by taking this communion today that we commit ourselves to a task larger than we are and that it is only with the help of our God that we will be able to achieve our mission. We must become involved not only within the Church, but supporting our goals and values in our daily lives. We cannot profess our loyalty with one another and fail to witness to our friends and neighbors. Our Lord is depending on you and me. We must not fail. So here today we find ourselves in the valley of decision. Will that decision be to complete our rededication to our God or will it be just another outward act? The decision is yours. Arthur Allen Presiding Elder Marlin Texas Branch Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints allenap@sbcglobal.net You may have seen this before; however, it is still valid today. PREPARATION Preparation How important is it? The art of preparation is utilized in all walks of life. A mother prepares for the birth of her child, she prepares for his or her first day of school, and she prepares and makes sure the child has all of the necessity of things as the child grows. Preparation continues thru childhood, through the school years, college years, preparation for a profession, marriage, children, home, retirement and the list continues to grow as we look at life from birth until death. As we look at the preparation for life we as a church member must consider our spiritual preparation for this life and the future life in the coming Kingdom of God. So we ask the question, how important is preparation for our spiritual life? My childhood was spent in a home that had no electricity; therefore, no electric lights, and no appliances that required electricity. As I review this matter, I remember that my mother always made sure that the Oil Lamp was filled with oil, that the chimney was clean, the wick trimmed and matches were available so the lamp could be lit as the evening darkness came into the living area. The lamp had to be carried from room to room if it became necessary to leave the current place of assembly of the family to another area of the house.

6 6 In preparing for our spiritual life I am reminded of the parable of the ten virgins and the talents as reflected in Matthew chapter 25. The story reveals that at midnight there was a cry made. Behold the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. The story also reveals that all of those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps; however, there was a problem for five of the virgins. They did not have any Oil in their lamps. They tried to borrow Oil from the five wise virgins, but no oil was available from them and they were told to go to those that sell and buy for themselves. They had not prepared for the coming of the bridegroom. When they returned they were too late, the door to the marriage was closed and they were left out. Even though they were virgins, pure, etc. the story reflected that they had not prepared for this eventual day. The story of the talents also reflects the need for preparation. In this case one servant was given five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability. When the master returned the one that had been given the five talents had gained other five talents, the one that had been given the two talents had gained other two talents. The servant that had been given the one talent had went and digged in the earth and hid his lord s money. The lord gave the two servants a commendation Well done, good and faithful servants enter into the joy of the Lord. The servant that had been given the one talent and had hid that talent was in for a surprise. He was told O wicked and slothful servant and after the Lord had given an explanation to him about the hiding of his talent and what he was going to do with the talent he gave the following instructions Cast this unprofitable servant into outer darkness. It would appear to me that preparation in the above two parables made the difference between life in the kingdom and life in outer darkness. The Lord has provided Priesthood to help us make preparation for that day when the knock occurs. How important is it for us to respond to the call of preparation We are told that the work of preparation and the perfection of my Saints go forward slowly, and Zionic conditions are no further away nor any closer than the spiritual condition of my people justifies. See DC 140:5c. We are reminded that it is still day when preparation can be made for the coming of the Bridegroom. Prepare the Bride, Put oil in your vessels and trim your lamps. But take comfort in the knowledge that a secure foundation is being laid upon which my Gospel shall go forth, even as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands, and that my Zion will unfold before you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. See DC R-146. So here today we are again admonished that all movements toward Zion and the gathering and temporalities connected therewith are within his law, and all things should be done in order. See DC 140:5a. We must make preparation for the coming Kingdom of God; however, in order to make proper preparation we must prepare through study, prayer and fasting and than we must make the walk according to our talk. It is possible to have understanding, wisdom and all knowledge and still be locked out of the Kingdom even as the five unwise virgins and the individual that hid his talent. May God bless us as we continue to prepare for his coming and assisting others to understand the urgency of this preparation? Arthur Allen Presiding Elder Marlin Texas Congregation Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints allenap@sbcglobal.net April 25, 2004