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Wednesday, December 30, 2015

"Needing Each Other"


Dear Sisters and Brothers – over the past several days over and over the prompting has been to write the following; Inviting each to come for their meetings – to fellowship others – lifting up especially the newer members. This applies to any Church you choose to belong to but since this is from me – it would be my Ward and Stake more especially. As our world is going Heavenly Father needs all those who are enlisted – and His Son and our Savior has said,  “if you love me Keep My Commandments.”   

(Note – remember you can each choose to delete this at any time!)

There is a Commandment given – 3 Nephi 26: 32 And again, the Lord God hath commanded men … that they should not contend one with another;  … and that they should do none of these things; for whoso doeth them shall perish; and also another far more in importance, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.” This we are told is the first commandment. And the second is like unto it, namely, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” [Mark 12:30–31.] 
Therefore my goal is to implore with love – that we each need each other!

We’ve some wonderful members of our Ward – who never attend – each with their personal reasons and each with their own choices. One of the three fold purposes of the Church is the ‘perfecting of the Saints’ which means you and I. Yet with so many non-attending for whatever reasons – this is most difficult to do. Yet, we’re to keep all of the Commandments. Thus neither you nor I can accomplish this Commandment by our self!

Yes we’ve many who attend regularly – and some once in a while. As many know I can only attend for the Sacrament due to my immune system – but it doesn’t mean I do not study – try to assist others – or in other ways participate in building up the Kingdom. Our roles change over the years – and we each are to do what we can.

Let me tell you a true story – it happened to my family and myself. When we first joined the Church over 42 years ago – in a very active Ward – it was filled to overflowing each Sabbath Day – and within every two or three months splits would occur. And with reason each Sabbath Day we would attend with high hopes – and invariably each Sabbath I’d find my bride in the Bishop’s office crying because of the mean things others would say about our oldest son. He was only 1 year old but had multiple birth defects – and people had some mean things to say about our exposing him to their children and scaring them. (Understand this was only a very small but vocal few – but even one is enough that it upset our feeling the spirit. We had serious choices to make – and the number one consideration was that we were going to attend Church every Sunday. The reason was the Church was true in spite of the meanness of some. It was difficult at times – but because we went for the right reason – to the right place and at the right time – we indeed could feel the Spirit that others apparently could not.

(Understand this is what happened to us – and most likely we’re in a very small minority.)
This is the same as today – we go not because of the members (which going for the other members is an excellent reason) – but because the Church is true and every Sunday it is the right place to be – at the right time and for the right reason. Yes we try to greet all - and make them feel welcome – we do all we can to try to lift the Spirit of others – and like some flourish others choose not to do so.

We will never let another interfere with our Testimony (which each must have) for it is our responsibility – and this means to have an active Temple Recommend – to be found fully in the service of our Heavenly Father – and to strive to learn and comprehend more and more of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As I’ve indicated above – each is responsible for their testimony – yet for those new in the Church it is difficult without the strength of other’s testimonies and lifting up – to grasp this mighty change in their life.

Now each of those reading and receiving this must understand that they are fully responsible for their actions or in-actions.  Heavenly Father uses all of us as an example – a good example of a good example or a good example of a bad example – but all of us will be used – and sometimes the adversary steps in and uses us also.
Please understand this is written in love – we’re in the last days and our tribulations will continue to get more difficult the closer we live to the Commandments of God the Father and His Son. We’ll all experience the trials of Abraham – with no exceptions at some point in our lives.

None of us are perfect – we’ve been commanded to become as The Father and the Son are perfect (which in the Greek means – complete/whole) – and thus like them. Most of us feel this is one of the impossible commandments but none are impossible to attain. However, we need each other – to lift up – to cheer up and to set a good example of a good example.
This is the beginning of a new year – many are making resolutions – maybe one of them for each of us could be to reflect on our membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – and where we are in relationship to where we should or could be or would like to be. Nothing is easy which has eternal worth – nothing! However, long ago I learned it is easier to stand up rather than to just lie on the ground and get stomped.

Again nothing will be easy – some will be the same as the last time you encountered them – tuning into the Spirit requires fine tuning – but it is worth it – for each of you and for me and my family. We need to love one another – thus keeping the 1st Great Commandment to Love the Father and the Son.

Remember we’re the membership of those Churches we’ve chosen to associate with and the attendance of most is barely making us stand up and be counted – each of us must be counted – we’ve to sustain our leaders – and the way we do this is to respect them – as being called by the Son – most are only human – but in order for us to sustain we’ve to live to the covenants we made at Baptism – renewing these covenants each Sabbath Day with the Sacrament – honor is what sustains Heavenly Father and the Son – as it also does our brothers and sisters. May God bless each of you this year – if you need help call (912-464-7922) if you’ve questions ask – I need each of you – as you need each of us – your brother in the Gospel of Jesus Christ amen – chuck ingerson

“Needing Each Other”

cji
12/31/15

Shaking hands of hello
extending smiles of hope
concerned questions
of family members
Visiting Teaching
Home Teaching
needing each other
learning names each
discerning new members
inviting the Spirit within
understanding tribulations
jumping into the refiners fire
accepting Abrahams trial
we need each other
for none can do it alone!

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