Go And Bring In Those People Now On The Plains

[MaidservantX]

I know that we are all basking in the recent April Conference. However, I am also still studying the conference Ensign for October 2006. Pres. Hinckley told the familiar and favorite story of the Willie, Martin, Hunt and Hodgett hand cart companies and how during a conference back then, Pres. Brigham Young basically said that the conference was 'now' going to be to go and rescue the hand cart companies. And every body got up and left the building and started getting ready to go out there in the snows and get those suffering. Pres. Hinckley quoted Pres. Brigham Young's words that was said at the 1856 conference.

"I will tell you all that your faith, religion, and profession of religion will never save one soul of you in the celestial kingdom of our God, unless you carry out just such principles as I am now teaching you. Go and bring in those people now on the plains, and attend strictly to those things which we call temporal, or temporal duties, otherwise your faith will be in vain; the preaching you have heard will be in vain to you, and you will sink to hell, unless you attend to the things we tell you."

How does what Pres. Young was trying to convey still apply to day? Who are out on the snowy plains in our lives and world? What temporal duties must we effect in deed that lead us to celestiality or if undone sink us to hell? Do you really believe that the concept central to what Pres. Brigham Young said is true religion and preaching is just secondary?

I have some thoughts -- I should say this quote has caused quite a few thoughts in me that I was in need of. But I will let you go first. In fact, if you can think of more questions that should be asked in relation to this, feel free. :)

[the_jason]

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." James 1:27

Most of the time I forget this principle. Sometimes I get so caught up in my own family and my own calling that I forget that it's not about me at all. It's about how I help others.

I've never been a perfect home teacher, and until a few years ago when I did go home teaching it was to the most active families on my list. Then I got to thinking: "What good am I really doing?" So I made a change. I'm still not a perfect home teacher, but I make sure I first visit those who most need it. In March my companion and I only visited 3 out of our 6, but they were good quality visits. They were to less-active families, and we really felt the spirit. We felt great about those visits.

Yes, I still have a responsibility to the other families, and I'm working to improve. I do believe, though, that the quality matters more than the quantity.

[a-train]

GO HOME TEACHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-a-train

[MaidservantX]

One way I think of looking at this is to realize that rescuing people in this world is not to rescue them when they don't need help. It is to rescue them when they are stuck in the snow!

We will come across a lot of people who are battered from this world and from their own choices. We will come across the drunk, the stoned, the rebellious, the criminal, the adulterer, the pharisee, etc etc Many people who are far from innocent.

They can be helped. They can be forgiven. We can accept them as children of God. We can help them see their strengths and we can expect them to take up their journey again and forsake their weaknesses. We can bring tons of flour to them and put them in our wagons when theirs are inadequate!

Just a way to think of the principle.

[the_jason]

GO HOME TEACHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-a-train

Thank you President a-train. I'll repent of my slothfulness.

[a-train]

Dude, I am so slothful. My home teaching is pitiful. I have this terrible job that puts me on off hours from the rest of the planet.

-a-train

[BenRaines]

I thought of the GO HOME TEACHING as a cheer not a command.

Over the years my home teaching has been hot and cold until about 15 years ago. Through home teaching, with my son, we worked with a less active family and helped them get back on track to full activity and attending the temple. It was emotionaly rewarding for us but more importantly it was eternally rewarding for them.

Since then I have been a good home teacher. Now my wife and I home teach together, that is what they do with High Priests.

We home teach two single sisters, one with four little children and a family. We home teach on the second Wednesday of the month and made additional visits as needed to fix ceiling fans, bathtub faucets, water softeners, etc.

Ben Raines

[Palerider]

Here in our Stake we have been focused on "getting the water to the end of the row"...the example used from farming....when you have a big garden and how you have to work at getting the water to the end of the row so all the plants or vegetation can have water and grow and be strong etc....during our Council meetings we have been focused on less actives....in all our auxillaries we ask at the begininng...."Who is not here...that should be here"....when the names are brought up then assignments are made for someone to call and check on them. Once the person has done that they report back to their leader etc.....I can tell you this.....over the last 2 years our Branch has grown alot...both in attendance and in convert baptisms. Our little Branch last year almost lead the whole Mission in Baptisms.

[MaidservantX]

Sweet.