Stay Strong, We All Need Each Other

1. Acts 19”11-12 “Healed by the Touch of a Handkerchief”
When the men of the church honor the priesthood that they are blessed with, they can heal and bless in the Saviors name.

2. 1 Corinthians 2:2-5 “Not with Enticing Words”
I love the fact that no matter our status in life, the gospel applies to all of us in the which we can understand and share at all different levels and still have the same Spirit that will testify of all things. The highest and lowliest of men are equal in the sight of God.

3. 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 “Do Not Keep Company with Fornicators”
I would like to change the word from fornicators to anything that takes us away from the spirit or the gospel. Sometimes we think we are strong enough to be the good in someone’s life, but oft times we wear down and give in to temptations. Not saying we can’t be loving and kind to those that don’t believe and live the same way we do, but we must be careful how we associate with them.

4. 1 Corinthians 9:20-23 “I Am Made All Things to All Men”
I have two thoughts on this. One is ministering. We don’t minister to our sisters or families all the same way. We need to adapt to what they would understand, associate with or touch their hearts and spirit. Another thought…a few years ago we took a temple trip, visiting six temples in four states in one week. We had a significant experience in each temple, but one where I had a most memorable, spiritual experience was in the Los Angeles Temple (maybe because I have been hard of hearing for most of my life). To make a long story short, we ended up in the last session of the day and it was the ASL (American Sign Language) session. It is here that I saw how Heavenly Father accommodates and adapts to all His children.

5. 1 Corinthians 10:10-13 “God Will “Make a Way to Escape” Temptation
I think there are many of us inf not all at one time or another forget this promise. I see a lot of suicide happen because of this hopelessness. We want the hurt to end, no matter what kind of hurt it is. If we can just make it to the “Sunday Will Come” attitude. But personally, I understand how hard that is. But somehow, we need to have faith and find the “escape” in our Savior.

6. 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 “Ye Are the Body of Christ”
I like how they taught this analogy in the Student Manual. Just like a choir, there are several individual parts or talents, but each are necessary to make a blended choir sound beautiful in its diversity. I can’t remember the whole story but, in the book, “Insights from a Prophet’s Life: Russell M. Nelson” then Elder Nelson was sent to another country to help open the church but Elder Nelson felt that he was not the man for the job but he went anyway. The leaders of that nation felt that the church didn’t understand the country because all the church members had served missions and weren’t “converts”. Elder Nelson began to tell them that he was a convert and never did serve a mission as a young man. Because of this interaction, the leader of the nation was willing to work with the church. We just never know when our “talents” or experiences will help another.