Welcome to the Talk Of The Week Club. I began this club as a way to share my love of learning and growing in the gospel of Jesus Christ through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. My hope and desire is for you to learn and grow in your faith and love of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Each Thursday a new talk will be posted, come back, open your heart and mind, allow yourself to receive and I promise you will be spiritually fed.

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Let Us Rejoice Together

It has been a pleasure to share our testimonies with you over the past two years. We pray for you and your families to have a wonderful new year and that you will continue to feel the Savior's love through the talks we share.

Love,
Shauntell, Noni, Sarah, and Alida

This is the fifth Thursday of the month. Which means it is time to think about all the great talks and quotes you've heard recently and share with the rest of us. How you do that is you either write about it in the comments of this post or you can email it to me at talkoftheweek@gmail.com and I will put it in the comments for you.

Below are some great references in finding articles:
LDS.org
BYU Broadcasting

The opportunity to learn the gospel is just as important as the admonition to teach the gospel. In D&C 50: 22, we read the following: "Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together." Let us teach and receive of one another so we can ALL be edified and rejoice together in the sweetness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

I can't wait to be edified by you wonderful friends and family.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Week 52: Gifts




Recently I heard a friend complaining, “I feel guilty if I don’t buy presents for everyone and their brother.  I think I am going to start boycotting presents beginning next year!”
I agree that Christmas has become commercialized and that the true reason we celebrate Christmas has been all but forgotten by the mainstream. Our need to give lavish gifts and gifts in excess has created a "gimmee, gimmee" society that is not in sync with the true meaning of “Christmas Spirit.”   However, I think at the core giving gifts to the ones we love is a wonderful tradition when done meaningfully and without excess.  I think we would be remiss not to acknowledge the many God-given gifts that we have been given and that endure all time.  I also think it’s important to remember, as we share our love with others, the reason we do these things is in similitude of the ultimate gift that was given to us by our Heavenly Father.  He sent us his Son.  

This week’s talk was delivered during General Conference in April 1993 by President Thomas S. Monson and is simply entitled “Gifts”.  Unfortunately, the audio has not been archived for this specific General Conference and therefore it is only available in text format.  I could not pass it up.  Please take the time to read it; I know you will benefit from it as much as I have. 

This beautiful talk helps direct our thoughts to the gifts we’ve received from our Heavenly Father and reminds us that, as stated by President Harold B. Lee: “Life is God’s gift to man. What we do with our life is our gift to God.”

I want to wish a Merry Christmas to each of you.  I pray that as you go about this week you will remember Christ in everything you do.  






President David O. McKay would frequently suggest the need for us to turn from the hectic day-to-day schedule filled with letters to answer, calls to be made, people to see, meetings to attend, and take time to meditate, to ponder, and to reflect on the eternal truths and the sources of the joy and happiness which comprise each person’s quest.
When we do, the mundane, the mechanical, the repetitious patterns of our lives yield to the spiritual qualities, and we acquire a much-needed dimension which inspires our daily living. When I follow this counsel, thoughts of family, experiences with friends, and treasured memories of special days and quiet nights course through my mind and bring a sweet repose to my being.
The Christmas season, with its special meaning, inevitably prompts a tear, inspires a renewed commitment to God, and provides, borrowing the words from the lovely song “Calvary,” “rest to the weary and peace to the soul.”
I reflect on the contrasts of Christmas. The extravagant gifts, expensively packaged and professionally wrapped, reach their zenith in the famed commercial catalogs carrying the headline “For the person who has everything.” In one such reading I observed a four-thousand-square-foot home wrapped with a gigantic ribbon and comparable greeting card which said, “Merry Christmas.” Other items included diamond-studded clubs for the golfer, a Caribbean cruise for the traveler, and a luxury trip to the Swiss Alps for the adventurer. Such seemed to fit the theme of a Christmas cartoon which showed the Three Wise Men traveling to Bethlehem with gift boxes on their camels. One says, “Mark my words, Balthazar, we’re starting something with these gifts that’s going to get way out of hand!”
Then there is the remembered Christmas tale of O. Henry about a young husband and wife who lived in abject poverty yet who wanted to give one another a special gift. But they had nothing to give. Then the husband had a ray of inspiration: “I shall provide my dear wife a beautiful ornamental comb to adorn her magnificent long black hair.” The wife also received an idea: “I shall obtain a lovely chain for my husband’s prized watch which he values so highly.”
Christmas day came; the treasured gifts were exchanged. Then the surprise ending, so typical of O. Henry’s short stories: The wife had shorn her long hair and sold it to obtain funds to purchase the watch chain, only to discover that her husband had sold his watch, that he might purchase the comb to adorn her beautiful long hair, which now she did not have. 1  Go HERE for the rest of this article

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Week 51: Bring Him Home

Hi everyone – This was a Priesthood talk so there isn’t an MP3 but I really wanted to share it with you. I really wanted to get this out to you. “I’ll be home for Christmas…” It reminded me that we all long to be HOME – to return with Heavenly Father and with our Savior. Are we doing what we need to have the light of Christ shine through us?

This is oft times a times a min by min process. There have often been struggles in my home recently as I and my husband strive to be righteous empowering parents to our teen-age son and our other two children. I was humbled by the story of Jack and his father and reflected on how I was/am doing in my parenting.As I read Emily’s story I pondered on how I am doing in being the answer to the prayers of God’s children. I asked for forgiveness and offered a plea to help me do better.

I pray that we will strive to LIVE so that we may hear the affirming words and feel the Spirit bear witness – “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”.

Merry Christmas everyone!



Bring Him Home

President Thomas S. Monson
First Counselor in the First Presidency

Thomas S. Monson, “Bring Him Home,” Ensign, Nov 2003, 56

We can, with the Lord’s help, reach out and rescue those for whom we have responsibility.


My dear brethren, it is a humbling experience to stand before you this evening and to realize that beyond the imposing audience in this, the Conference Center, many hundreds of thousands of priesthood bearers are similarly assembled throughout the world.

While contemplating the responsibility to speak to you, I recalled a definition of priesthood authority declared by President Stephen L Richards. Said he: “The Priesthood is usually simply defined as ‘the power of God delegated to man.’ This definition, I think, is accurate. But for practical purposes I like to define the Priesthood in terms of service and I frequently call it ‘the perfect plan of service.’ ” 1

To Read More Go HERE.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Week 50: The Power and Protection of Worthy Music

This is my favorite time of year. I couldn't help but to turn on Christmas music early in November. Before my family could tease me I declared to them that listening to Christmas music makes me happy. The music from this time of year is so ingrained in my mind and heart that it is the only music I can actually remember lyrics too year round! Many a late night feeding, and rocking of my children have been to the humming and singing of "Silent Night".

How blessed we are to have such beautiful music in our lives. Music has always been a powerful tool for healing in my life. I can list a song for almost every special memory that I have. Songs such as, "Be Still My Soul", "There is a Green Hill Far Away", "My Heavenly Father Loves Me", and " I am a Child of God", have at times come to my mind in answer to prayers. Beautiful music from modern LDS artist's like Jenny Phillips, Hillary Weeks, Jenny Jordan Frogley, Jon Schmidt, and Michael McLean have also given me courage and strength during great challenges and trials.

I would like to add my testimony to Elder Nelson's that worthy music does bring power and protection to our lives. May I challenge us all to review the music that we choose to listen too and remove music that does not invite worthy thoughts or the spirit to dwell in our hearts and minds. We can not be so brazen to think that listening to unclean music will not hurt us. Our minds are very tender and can be harmed by very small negative thoughts. Our only protection is to refuse to put anything that is unworthy into our ears. If you have had an experience with choosing worthy music and would like to share it with us please feel free to leave a comment.

May you all have a very blessed and enjoyable Christmas season and enjoy the precious music that testifies of our Savior, Jesus Christ's birth.

All my love,




MP3 Link



It is a joy for my wife, Wendy, and me to be with you, my dear brothers and sisters. From the BYU Marriott Center in Utah, we are broadcasting to many congregations throughout the world. Thanks to each of you for being with us.

We extend a special welcome to those who will soon be finishing high school and are attending a CES fireside broadcast for the first time. As you enroll in institutions of higher learning and continue your education, I hope you will participate in institute classes so that you may have this strong spiritual resource to balance your secular learning. You will also have opportunities to attend future CES firesides such as this. Take advantage of those occasions. They will enlighten and encourage you.

The title of my message tonight is “Power and Protection Provided by Worthy Music.” This topic is especially applicable to young adults. As you know, people of your age have made many significant contributions as writers, composers, and connoisseurs of worthy music.

Power

The power of worthy music was felt tonight as we sang these words in our opening hymn:

Come, ye children of the Lord,
Let us sing with one accord.
Let us raise a joyful strain
To our Lord who soon will reign.1

Through music we raised our voices in powerful praise and prayer.

Such a hymn provides a pattern of worship that is pleasing to God. His prophet taught us to “praise the Lord with singing, with music, . . . and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving” (D&C 136:28). Read the entire talk HERE and a condensed version is found in the December 2009, Ensign, page 13-17.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Week 49: Opening the Heavens



Hello Friends!

As we welcome the Christmas Season, I have pondered how I can keep my
focus on the Savior and make it one where I am filled with the Spirit
and spiritually nurtured each day. I want so much to hear those quiet
promptings to assist others and to feel connected with My Heavenly
Father each day. I was deeply touched by Elder Kikuchi's article
"Opening the Heavens" in the August Ensign. His insights and testimony
are inspiring and encouraging. I also appreciate his tender sharing of
Elder Melvin J. Ballard's sacred dream. How I have come to treasure
those early morning minutes when I can enjoy my own "Sacred Grove" to
drink deeply from the scriptures and the words of Apostle's and
Prophets. I have found the early morning hours to be the time I am least
distracted by the cares of the day. How grateful I am that we have the
sweet privilege and opportunity of praying to our Father in Heaven
without restriction or limitation. I testify that He does rush to
answer every earnest prayer and that our Savior lives and He stands by
to lift and succor us. How grateful I am for the Gift of the Holy Ghost
in our lives to teach, testify, comfort, and sanctify us.

A blessed Christmas Season to each of you!

Much love,




MP3 Link


Do you want to feel the love of God more powerfully in your life? Do you want to feel more in tune with His Spirit? Do you want to have the heavens opened to you daily?

There is a way you can feel a daily renewal of God’s everlasting love and drink from “the fountain of living waters” (1 Nephi 11:25). It follows a pattern set by the Prophet Joseph Smith when he went to a grove of trees early one morning in 1820 seeking answers to his questions. I speak of a morning devotional time spent in prayer, meditation, and scripture study. If you have a devotional every morning, even if only for a few minutes, you will be deeply blessed. I know this to be true.

Continue reading this article HERE