Sunday Snippet

This week Peta (moi) taught the lesson. The topic was testimony and the resources used were 2nd Peter chapter 1 and a talk by Margaret Hoopes from a 1978 Ensign article "Community and Communing, The Power of Testimony Meeting."
We began by defining a testimony as something we believe or know, it is personal.
Bec Leota read from 2nd Peter 1:1-11
Vanessa, Camilla, Collette, Fran and Debbie read exerpts from the article and Fran, Debbie and Patricia read 2nd Peter 1:12-21.
We then spent some time writing our testimonies.
I read from an 1962 address of President Kimballs on how the council of the twelve have testimony meetings every three months and another testimony meeting the Thursday before conference.
President Kimball "We are fasting. Two of us administer the sacrament and we pass it to each other. And then the testimonies begin. We spend three of four hours, just the twelve of us, bearing testimony to each other. I mention this so you may know that testimony bearing is basic and is an important part of the Church program. If the Twelve Apostles need to bear testimony to each other to express themselves and speak their gratitude to the Lord, Then we need to too, ...to sustain and lift and inspire one another."
President Kimball goes on " I mention this so you do not think that testimony bearing is some little thing that is incidental. This is the church program. It is powerful and mighty ... It is the lifeblood of the organisation and of the Church."
Tina shared that after YW camps when the young women are asked what was the highlight of the camp they usually say the testimony meeting.
"Sharing our testimonies give the Holy ghost a chance to testify to others that the information being conveyed is true. When we bear our testimony we receive new strength and spiritual power."
"We need the time that testimony meeting gives us because strong spiritual feelings take time to develop. President Kimball has said,"Testimonies are feelings, not merely an accumulation of facts.' (The Berlin Spirit, Berlin Mission Jan. 1962) Talking about our feelings lets us pay attention to them long enough to relise how important they are to us. Bearing testimony repeatedly helps that which we know and feel to surface and become a consistent part of us."
When we share our testimony our sins are forgiven and we strengthen ourselves and each other,
we also get to know each other better.



April Announcements
Video Conference
Saturday 9th 1pm, 4pm
Sunday 10th 11am, 2pm.

Thursday 14th pm
Service at Sister Watson's home

Friday 15th
Service at sister Watson's new home

Sunday 17th 7pm
Expression of Easter

Saturday 23rd -- Monday 25th
YSA camp

Tuesday 26th 7pm
Relief Society Activity

Saturday 30th 7pm
International Cultural Night