The ordinance of the sacrament makes the sacrament meeting the most sacred and important meeting in the Church.--- Elder Dallin H. Oaks

How can we have the Spirit of the Lord to guide our choices and keep us on the path?
In modern revelation the Lord gave the answer in this commandment:
“And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;
“For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High”
By participating weekly and appropriately in the ordinance of the sacrament we qualify for the promise that we will “always have his Spirit to be with [us]”
I sense that some in the rising generation and even some adults have not yet come to understand the significance of this meeting and the importance of individual reverence and worship in it.
We are seated well before the meeting begins.
“During that quiet interval, prelude music is subdued. This is not a time for conversation or transmission of messages but a period of prayerful meditation as leaders and members prepare spiritually for the sacrament” “Each member of the Church bears responsibility for the spiritual enrichment that can come from a sacrament meeting”(Liahona, Aug. 2004, 13; Ensign, Aug. 2004, 27).--Elder Russell M. Nelson
President Smith adds: “We cannot retain the Spirit of the Lord if we do not consistently comply with this commandment” (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 2:341).
Our manner of dress indicates the degree to which we understand and honor the ordinance in which we will participate.
Sacrament meeting is not a time for reading books or magazines.
always remembering that this music is for worship, not for performance.
Amusement, laughter, light-mindedness, are all out of place in the sacrament meetings of the Latter-day Saints. We should assemble in the spirit of prayer, of meekness, with devotion in our hearts”
“And this shall ye always do to those who repent and are baptized in my name; and ye shall do it in remembrance of my blood, which I have shed for you, that ye may witness unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.
“And if ye shall always do these things blessed are ye, for ye are built upon my rock.
“But whoso among you shall do more or less than these are not built upon my rock, but are built upon a sandy foundation; and when the rain descends, and the floods come, and the winds blow, and beat upon them, they shall fall” 3 Nephi 18:11-13
This ordinance should always be performed with reverence and dignity.
All who officiate in this sacred ordinance stand on sacred ground.
The sacrament is administered only when authorized by the one holding the keys to this priesthood ordinance.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ever since I joined the Church 24 years ago, I have committed myself to always attend the Sacrament meeting and all the other Sunday meeting every week. I have missed a few mostly because of child births. I have seen some friends who have decided to do other "more important" activities on Sunday, and it did not take long before they fell away from the Gospel. I know I am not perfect at truly keep the Sabbath holy. I am trying. I hope my children will continue to keep the way they have been taught and shown. Having the Holy Ghost with me every moment of my life is important.

Let Him Do It with Simplicity--Elder L. Tom Perry
One of the challenges of this mortal experience is to not allow the stresses and strains of life to get the better of us.

“The best is yet to be”

four basic needs of life, as well as the spiritual benefits of a simplified lifestyle.

The first requirement is food.

The Lord has commanded you to take good care of your body. To do this, observe the Word of Wisdom, found in D&C 89. Eat nutritious food, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. When you do all these things, you remain free from harmful addictions and have control over your life.

Another basic necessity is our clothing

A simplified life that brings spiritual blessings requires the wearing of simple and modest clothing. I believe very casual dress is almost always followed by very casual manners. President N. Eldon Tanner once cautioned us with these words: “Modesty in dress is a quality of mind and heart, born of respect for oneself, one’s fellowmen, and the Creator of us all.

third requirement, that of shelter.

Our income should determine the kind of housing we can afford, not the neighbor’s big home across the street. One of the better ways to simplify our lives is to follow the counsel we have so often received to live within our income, stay out of debt, and save for a rainy day. We should practice and increase our habits of thrift, industry, economy, and frugality. Members of a well-managed family do not pay interest; they earn it.

Thoreau’s final necessity was fuel.

What is required to maintain a sufficient store of spiritual fuel? We must acquire knowledge of God’s eternal plan and our role in it, and then by living righteously, surrendering our will to the will of the Lord, we receive the promised blessings.

In our search to obtain relief from the stresses of life, may we earnestly seek ways to simplify our lives. May we comply with the inspired counsel and direction the Lord has given us in the great plan of happiness. May we be worthy to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost and follow the guidance of the Spirit as we navigate this mortal journey. May we prepare ourselves to accomplish the ultimate purpose of this mortal test—to return and live with our Heavenly Father.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I always thought that it was funny to see the "Simplify" sign in the store that was crowded with tons of stuff they want you to buy. If I take the "Simplify" sign home, I will have to take down a lot things in my house. Anyway, I don't have the "Simplify" sign. I am trying to simplify my house and my life. I believe the counsel Elder Perry gave us can bring peace and true joy into our homes.

I am thankful for health, food, clothing and shelter we have. With all the ups and downs in the wall street, we still can have peace in our hearts and minds. I am happy to live the simple and peaceful life.

This is a test

I am just giving this blogging thing a try. Maybe this can help me organize my thoughts.
I am finally at the stage of my life that I can go to adult religion classes here in our stake during the week. The class is on Thursday at 10:30 am. I thought this is the perfect time of the week for me to bring my focus on something spiritual. I am learning a lot from this class. We are at the beginning of 3rd Nephi in the Book of Mormon. The scriptures remind me how important it is to not only know the gospel is true but also live the gospel.
I also enjoyed the conference last week. I tried to take some notes. I think I will try to listen to it again sometimes soon.