SSS February 9, 2025

 Howdy Hon,

We are just coming off of an amazing 3 days of zone conferences.  I love the gospel and all that it teaches us about the Savior and how we can serve Him and others, especially as missionaries. 

Here are the SSS for February 9, 2025:

1.      We had guests in our little branch today.  The visiting Relief Society leadership taught us using a general conference talk from Elder Gerrit Gong, “Holiness to the Lord in Everyday Life”.  He spoke about:

a.       Living 7 C’s:  communion with God; community and compassion with each other; commitment and covenant with God, family, friends; and friends—centered in Jesus Christ. 

b.      How faith in Christ can bring more happiness (he did not say with no trials), purpose, clarity, inspiration, and fulfillment than not having a spiritual commitment/connection, even “amidst life’s twists and turns”. 

c.       Holiness to the Lord in everyday life draws us closer to the Lord, each other, and prepares us for the time we get to go back to live with God our Father, Jesus Christ, and our loved ones. 

If you would like to read this wonderfully soothing and loving talk, you can find it here.  (I did this from my log in so if you see any highlights just ignore them and make your own).

2.      One speaker today (who spoke in Twi and English) testified that the first place we need to share the gospel of Jesus Christ is in our homes.  We should be sharing the gospel, and even bearing our testimonies to our husband, wife, and children.  When was the last time your family saw you praying, outside of grace for a meal?  On your knees?  When was the last time you bore your testimony to your family, in your own home.   That is the first place our family should learn about Jesus Christ and His gospel.  Church is a needed and amazing place, but it should be to support what the family/individual is already learning at home.  When we come to church, those valuable lessons from home are simply being supported.   

3.     Okay, I’m cheating on this one.  This is the third verse and it says it perfectly.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

If you’d like to listen and sing along the sheet music and recording is here.

 

I hope you have a blessed week.  Remember the Lord loves you very much, and so do I.

 

Love,

 

Sister Ladner, MHC

Ghana Cape Coast Mission

2025

SSS - February 02, 2025

  Howdy Hon, 

Can you believe it is already February?  My goodness, this mission is going by so
fast.  Alright, let's get right into it.  Here are your Steph's Sunday Snippets for today:

1.      When you pray and ask God for direction and he gives it to you, that should be the end of it.  If he gives it to you twice, you’ve gotten your confirmation on the first answer.  Now if you go back and ask him a third time or continue to do so until he does what any parent would do, he says: You know what?  I told you how I feel about this and not to proceed forward with it, but if you are so sure that you want to do it, then fine, okay, go for it.  Now one could get happy and say ‘yes’!  I have the go-ahead.  I made the parents see it my way.  That would be INCORRECT my friend.  What you have actually done is told him you don’t trust his answer: that you, with all your limited knowledge and views of the situation know better.  Therefore, he says: okay.  You really should have heeded my warning and accepted my love and guidance to protect you.  Now… you have to deal with the consequences of your actions.  And let’s be CLEAR, it’s not a punishment for your decisions.  It’s the CONSEQUENCES of your OWN actions that you must be held accountable for.   Psst, you are always free to choose your actions, however, you are never free to choose the consequences.   (Scripture reference Jacob 4:10)

2.      “As we serve with Christlike attributes, we will stand blameless before God and bring salvation to our souls.”   So, what are Christlike attributes?  They’re qualities or traits of the Savior’s nature and character.  How do you find them? Well first off, you have to “seek Jesus”.  How do you do that?  Well, by making a consistent effort to learn about Him.  Then make an effort to become more like Him.  That’s a very good start to learning his attributes and then figuring out how you can develop those attributes in yourself.  When you do this, you will find peace, joy, and spiritual growth.  *I’m going to pick an attribute to work on this week, would you like to join me?  We can write in our journal/bujo/planner which attribute, and then one thing we can work on all week to develop that attribute more in our lives. 

3.      I’ll end with this question for you to ponder:  Who should you fear more, God or man?  When God has given you cause to do something, say something, be something, we can’t afford to be worried about man.  Man, who was created out of the dirt by God himself.  Yes, I know that sometimes that can be scary.  But take courage my friend, God’s work will not be frustrated by man.  He will be there to help you in all your righteous efforts, especially those efforts that move the work of salvation forward.  Think about it, who has more to do with your life now and later, who can give you strength to withstand what the world throws at you, who can give you peace, true peace, who can help you weather the storms, and who can help you rise to the occasion? 

 

Well, it’s time for an extra, don’t you think?  This is part of GCCM Recitations when we have Zone Conferences: “Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that you serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.  Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work”.  D&C 4:2,3

Have a blessed week hon, and remember God loves you and so do I.

 

Sister Ladner

GCCM

Steph's Sunday Snippets - January 19, 2025

 **Sorry for the late post, had an emergency come up!**

Howdy Hon,

Here we are halfway through January already.  

Here are the Steph’s Sunday Snippets for January 19, 2025:

1.      In my testimony a couple of weeks ago, I think I reference James 1:5.  That was part of our scripture study this week.  If there is a big decision to be made in your life, you need to figure out what direction to go in, what the next step should be…  One thing you can always do is get on your knees and pray to God to ask where should I go or what should I do?  Or tell Him, here’s my plan, and ask if it’s a good plan, because the Lord does love effort on our part.  Quite honestly, it doesn’t matter what the question is, God has the correct answers.  Now, bear in mind it may not be the answer you want right then or even the way you want it.  But trust in the fact that he knows more than you; as matter of fact, He knows all.  Sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees, but he can always see it all.  Learn to trust Him, and He will lead you to much better things than you could ever do on your own.

2.      I can remain true to what I know, even if others reject me.  Sometimes others may reject you for your beliefs.  They may try to tell you that you’re just imagining things, that God doesn’t help people like He did back in the biblical days, and that God doesn’t care about me or you.  Do not let others convince you that what you know to be true is not.  Don’t let others’ doubts become your worry.  I know that God is real; I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior; AND I know that God and Jesus KNOW that I KNOW.  So, I can’t be worried about offending man; I must be concerned about denying my Christ and offending my God.  Now who do you think will have more impact on my life now and later?  I KNOW it, whether others choose to know it or deny it.

3.      Testimony – always take the time to share your testimony when you feel prompted to do so, I have to be better at doing this.  But here are some good questions in a talk by Elder Stevenson, “Nourishing and Bearing Your Testimony”.  Ponder these questions for yourself this week; I’ll give you the author’s brief response; he digs in deeper in the talk: 

a.      Do you know and understand what a testimony is?  It’s your belief/knowledge of the truth given as a spiritual witness through the influence of the Holy Ghost.

b.      Do you know how to bear your testimony? You bear your testimony when you share spiritual feelings with others.

c.       What are the obstacles in sharing your testimony? They may include uncertainty about what to say. Feelings of fear come from the adversary.

d.      How do you keep your testimony? Feasting on the word of God, heartfelt prayer, partaking of the Sacrament, feeding your testimony with truth, and asking the Lord how to hear Him better. Make it your highest priority.

You can find this talk here:  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2022/10/55stevenson?lang=eng#title1 It’s a good read and edifying.  In the interest of keeping this post at good length, I did not answer any of the questions, but they are discussed in the article. 

 

I hope you know without a doubt that God Loves you very much, and so do I. 

Have a wonderful week.  I invite you to share your testimony, you can start here if you like or on my Instagram and Facebook post where I post these SSS.

Love ya,

 

Sister Ladner, MHC

Ghana Cape Coast Mission 

SSS - January 12, 2025

 Happy Sabbath to All, 

This has been a beautiful Sabbath day here in Ghana. I was unexpectedly called upon to teach Sunday School this morning. Remember the Boy Scout motto, "Always be prepared"? Well, today, Urh...  But I added a quick prayer to the person’s opening prayer and jumped right in.  Although I have this new space, I will try not to be too lengthy today. 

Welcome to this week's Steph's Sunday Snippets:

 1) “Hearken, O Ye People” was the title of today’s Sunday School lesson.  What is hearken? 

”To hearken means to “hear Him”—to hear what the Savior says and then to heed His counsel. In those two words—“Hear Him”—God gives us the pattern for success, happiness, and joy in this life. We are to hear the words of the Lord, hearken to them, and heed what He has told us!”  

President Russell M. Nelson, what more can I add to that.

2)  The Lord’s voice of warnings: 

• Who are they for?  ALL the inhabitants of the earth!  Remember the Lord is no respecter of persons.  He loves us all and wants to see us all come back to Him. 
• How do we receive them?  Through the scriptures, through his prophets, through your church family, through your ministering teachers, home teachers, Sacrament prayer…
• Why does God give them to us?   A few reasons:  to prepare us for what is coming, increase our faith, instruct us, chasten us, help us repent, and give us more knowledge.  
• Choosing not to follow the Savior’s way can allow negative consequences and influences in your life. 

3)  God has often chosen the weak and simple to do his work.  He chooses those who are ready (sometimes even after a gentle nudge) and willing to do His work.  If we get so educated or trained in a field or get so many initials behind our names (and nothing wrong with that, you should get absolutely all you can, however…) we think we know it all and there is no one better qualified than us to go out there and do whatever.  If your cup is so full that you think you do not need to be poured into then how can you be of service to God and your fellow man?  We should always be ready to receive whatever God has to pour into our cups – blessings, inspiration, revelation for ourselves and those we are stewards over, knowledge, gifts, lessons, etc.  Of course, not everyone will receive calls to be prophets, bishops, presidents, etc.; that is not important.  Being ready, willing, and presenting an open cup to be poured into so that you can help in the Lord’s work of going forward and bringing about His work for the joy and salvation of mankind, IS important.

I hope you have a wonderfully blessed week.  Remember God loves you a lot, and so do I.    

Sister Ladner, MHC

Ghana Cape Coast Mission

 

 

SSS - January 5, 2025

Howdy hon, 

 

A new year had started.  With a new year comes new ideas, challenges, and growth.  

While sharing Steph's Sunday Snippets throughout 2024, there is one thing that really bugged me.  I HATED having to erase parts of my messages to fit into the box on Instagram or things like having my testimony broken into 3 separate posts.   After much pushback from me, I finally took Elder Ladner's advice to put the SSS on a blog of its own.  This blog has no other purpose than to continue to share what I have learned, enjoyed, or pondered on Sundays from church and gospel studies at home.    I will now share the blog post on social media, or you can just come here and check it out each Sunday.  

Shall we begin with the first Steph's Sunday Snippets blog post of 2025!  

1.      What are your gifts from God and how are you using them?  Yes, of course, you have some.  God blesses each of us with many spiritual gifts.  No one gets all the gifts, and sometimes, you may not have gotten the gift you wanted.   He gave us all gifts, but know this - God did not give you gifts for you to keep them to yourself or to ignore them.  He gave them to you to use.  Even if you didn't get the gift you wanted, work with the gifts He gave you and show your willingness to use them for His good.  Then ask Him for the gift you want.  I want the gift of tongues, especially since I have scriptures in 4 languages in my personal collection and I'd like to speak openly with those I serve here in Ghana.  The first and greatest gift He gave you is in John, chapter 3, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  He has given us scriptures to help us find our way, commandments to help us avoid the pitfalls of the world, and repentance for our mistakes... just to name a few.  

2.      Please accept this challenge from our mission president and his wife given to us at zone conference:

o   Take a sheet of paper and write the title "What Gifts Has God Given You" at the top. 

o   Under that, draw a line down the center dividing the page into 2 sides.

o   On the left side, title it, "MY Gifts".  List all your gifts you can think of on the left side of the paper.  I don't mean only popular gifts like singing, dancing, speaking, stuff like that, but dig deep.  This can include such things as: the gift of the Holy Ghost (we all got that one after baptism), the gift of tongues, the gift of listening, the gift of smiling, the gift of organization, compassion, etc., ...

o   On the right side. title it, "How Am I Using Them".  Now on that line of each gift, go to the right side and write what you are doing with that gift.  How are you using that gift to help bring others to Christ, to uplift and encourage others?  

3.       As you go into 2025, think about those gifts often and how you are using them. If you are not, then hop to it, my friend. 

That's it hon!  Remember God loves you so much, and so do I.  

Have a blessed week!

 

Sister Ladner, MHC

Ghana Cape Coast Mission

Merry Christmas from Ghana!

 Howdy Hon, 

Merry Christmas from the Ghana Senior Missionaries, the Ladners.

SSS - December 22, 2024

Hi There, 

Can you believe Christmas is next week?!  Oh, my word, it doesn’t feel like it yet.  I miss not being a part of the Annual Nativity Exhibit back home and seeing everyone take on the spirit of the season.  Sigh, but I love it here in the Ghana Cape Coast Mission field.   The people here are amazing, helpful and always smiling!  I am grateful for God’s little tender mercies like the one in this picture.  One of our young missionaries gave us this wonderful little olive wood nativity.  I know he doesn’t know that I collect nativities and love to volunteer them to be displayed in the annual exhibit.   It brought great joy to me to open this package.  

I was torn between giving three snippets from this week’s studies or simply bearing my testimony of Jesus Christ.  Umm…  Well, it’s the Saviors’ birth next week.  I should bear my testimony of the importance of that in my life. 

I am grateful that a 14-year-old boy, Joseph Smith, had enough of an empty cup that the Lord could pour into it.  A young boy who was lost as to which church to join and read in the scriptures, James 1:5, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” to know whom to ask.  A young boy who had enough faith in a loving God to actually do what it said.  I’m grateful that when a 22-year-old me, a young single mother who desired to know who she was, or more importantly whose she was, she could follow that same verse.  I  needed to know where my young daughter and I should go to become the daughters of God that He wanted us to become: honest and virtuous women of strong faith and actions that represented Him.  I’m grateful for the day I kneeled beside my sleeping daughter’s bed and prayed to the Lord, with a sincere heart, with real intent to act, with faith in Jesus Christ, to a kind and loving Heavenly Father - desiring to know where he wanted me to be, where could my faith in Him grow, where could my relationship with Him be strengthened, where could I learn more of the attributes of the Savior that I needed to develop in my own life, and how I could know the path I needed to be on that would help me to be not just my mother’s daughter, but to be my Heavenly Father’s faithful daughter.

When Jesus Christ stretched forth his arms on the cross to become my Savior, that is something I am unworthy of, yet he still loved me enough to offer himself anyway (not just for me, for you too).  I am grateful for his atoning sacrifice to help a lost daughter to find her way and change her heart, change her mindset, and change her life: a decision I will never forget or regret.   My decision to accept Jesus Christ as my Savior has been the most and the BEST decision, I have ever made.  I continue to strive to be more like Him, to live more like Him, act more like Him, love more like Him and serve more like Him.

I am grateful for the ability to study and learn from the Bible and another testament of Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon.  These books teach me how to live my life as a daughter of God and keep me on a covenant path back to Him. 

I am grateful for my family and a wonderful husband who loves and studies to be a faithful son of our Heavenly Father.  I am grateful for good friends who are always supportive of my choices and who are always a ready ear.  I am thankful for the Wards that have helped and continue to help shape me.  I am grateful for those who have served me in my times of need.  I am grateful for those who have allowed me to grow by serving them in their times of need.  I am grateful for my faith in and my testimony of Jesus Christ as the only way back to our Heavenly Father.  I am grateful to serve a fulltime mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I am grateful to the young missionaries who leave their home, family, friends, school, and life to serve and preach the gospel to all the world. 

May the Lord bless you and may you be willing to accept it.  Remember he loves you, and so do I. 

Afehyiapa (Merry Christmas)

Sister Ladner, MCH

Ghana Cape Coast Mission