I would like to welcome everybody to this year’s Gospel Doctrine curriculum; Doctrine and Covenants and Church History. Please spend some time looking around. I hope that you will visit often and invite many to visit as well. This year the Stake Presidency has made several goals for the Stake. My desire is that as the Gospel Doctrine teacher for this year that I focus my teaching efforts to help support these goals. These goals are as follows: 45 prospective Elders receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, 45 covert baptisms, 45 couples be sealed in the Temple. If there is any lesson that we can learn form the restoration of the Gospel it is that the restoration of the Gospel in the dispensation is about Temple blessings, progress in the Church, and missionary work. If you divide the above number by how many Wards we have in the Stake that leaves the Lakeside 8th Ward with the responsibility of 5 in each area. So let’s focus our efforts to help bring about the success of these goals.
Thank you.
Lee D Houghton
P.S. Those of you who are familiar with blogging it’s good to have you. The same rules apply please use proper blogging style. If you know somebody who would like to participate but is unfamiliar with the blogging world please help them out and please take the time to introduce them to this blog. I will be filtering the comments daily but this will not be a restricted blog; therefore, you will not need to register. So if you need to create a screen name please feel free to do so.
Every January all over the world we as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter Day Saints begin a new course of study for Gospel Doctrine. This will be an exciting time as we discuss the Doctrine and Covenants and Church History. In general 2008 has been a good year for Latter Day Saints but we also have experienced increased opposition with stories about polygamous groups in Texas, the presidential campaign, Prop 8 filling the headlines of newspapers and television screens across the world. As technology advances so increases the intensity of the magnifying glass of public scrutiny. And finally the death of a beloved Prophet. Is it any wonder that our souls feel tired and bruised, our testimonies feel drained, and hope drained.
From the time I received word that I would be released from a calling that I truly loved and hoped would never be released from, I have thought about my desire to integrate new technology with the study of the gospel. It is a delicate balance that I must strike, on one hand certain technologies are perfectly suitable and easy to integrate into Gospel study and on the other hand there is something to be said about holding the scriptures in your hands and literally the eyes become windows to the soul.
When I was asked to become the Gospel Doctrine teacher I started to think about my Grandmother. She had taught the Gospel for many years but suffered a debilitating illness in her latter years. I thought about how she would have loved what technology has to offer us today and her first thought would be how to use it to save more souls. She would have used blogs, the internet, podcasts, laptops, projectors, Power Point, Photoshop, and all the other advances we use today in everyday life. But she would know how to temper it with prayer, service, kind words, a powerful testimony, and knocking on doors. Face to face belly to belly was her way.
There are three purposes for this blog. First, as Elder Holland declared last year January at the adult session of Stake Conference, ” I know that there are those of you out there within the sound of my voice who are suffering, you lay awake at night praying for the sun to rise”. He was speaking to me, and as I lay awake at night praying for the sun to rise I may write something of benefit for those who are also awake at the very same moment you may find something of value to help you sleep. I also hope that those who are contemplating may find security in growing their testimony from here and desire to join us on Sunday. I also hope that those who are curious about the Savior’s church can find some information that is useful. Boyd K. Packer stated in general conference 1985, “As I grow in age and experience, I grow less concerned over whether others agree with us. I grow ever more concerned that they understand us. If they do understand, they have their agency and can accept or reject the gospel as they please”.
So please come often and invite others to come.
Lee D Houghton
Blog guidelines. Each page has a distinct purpose so if you are new to this site let give you some tips to make your visit more enjoyable:
1-The application page is reserved for comments from class members and guest bloggers who have a gained a real appreciation for a concept that they have learned and applied from their studies. We want to know how your life has changed or improved from applying something new.
2-The discussion page is reserved for discussions about the questions found in the class member guide.
3-The extra material section is just that, extra material. I occasionally come across material that I cannot cover in class because of time or it is too secular in nature. I will make that information available here.
4-This weeks lesson will be the construction zone for the upcomming lesson. You can watch me as I grow the lesson live out in the open. until it is ready to present in class. The previous weeks lessons will be fully developed lessons that are the lesson actually used in class.
5-So you have multiple locations to leave your comments please do so but make sure you leave where you intended to leave them.
6-Have fun and enjoy yourself, and above all share with others.
