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