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