Anaheim California Stake Community

The wonderful youth of the Anaheim Stake chose SERVICE as the theme for their 2021 Youth Conference. In addition to acts of service for people, they wanted to do something that would benefit animals in some way. They decided to help the SoCal Animal Response Team (SCART) which is a group that started an animal pet pantry which distributes free food once a month to pet owners who are having a hard time feeding their pets. The idea began in response to an abnormally large nu...mber of pets being dropped off at shelters as COVID hit because people lost jobs and could no longer afford their furry family members. The youth decided to hold a car wash as part if the conference and donate all proceeds to SCART. SCART was thrilled as the youth presented a check for $2,564.08 towards the cause. Thank you Anaheim Stake Youth!!!

Justin, who is getting baptized soon, his wife Miracle, and their friend Daysi, who is taking the lessons at their temple tour last week!

Christmas Day is usually a time to ponder messages like peace on earth and good will toward men. But on December 25, 1832, Joseph Smith’s mind was occupied with the threat of war. South Carolina had just defied the United States government and was preparing for battle. And the Lord revealed to Joseph that this was only the beginning: War, He declared, will be poured out upon all nations. It seemed like this prophecy would be fulfilled very soon. But then it wasn’t. Wi...thin just a few weeks, South Carolina and the U.S. government reached a compromise, and war was averted. But revelation is not always fulfilled at the time or in the way we expect. Nearly 30 years later, long after Joseph Smith was martyred and the Saints had moved west, South Carolina did rebel and civil war followed. Since then, war throughout the world has caused the earth [to] mourn. While the prophecy was ultimately fulfilled, the value of this revelation is less in predicting when calamity will come and more in teaching what to do when it does. The counsel is the same in 1831, 1861, and 2021: Stand ye in holy places, and be not moved. See more

Ever since the priesthood was restored in 1829, Latter-day Saints had been blessed by that sacred power. They were baptized, confirmed, and called to serve by priesthood authority, much like we are today. But having access to priesthood power is not the same thing as completely understanding it, and God had more He wanted His Saints to understandparticularly with the coming restoration of temple ordinances. The 1832 revelation on the priesthood, now Doctrine and Covenants 84, expanded the Saints’ vision of what the priesthood really is. And it can do the same for us today. After all, there is a lot to learn about the divine power that holds the key of the knowledge of God, that makes manifest the power of godliness, and that prepares us to see the face of God, even the Father, and live.

Enjoy K-1 Speed Racing , TWO dances , great food , YSA from 14 stakes , devotionals , service project , abundant life workshops , and more as we all gat...her in OC for the The Abundant Life - YSA Conference! Register now at www.lds-sa.org! Address: 23 Lake Rd, Irvine, CA 92604 Starts: August 6th @ 6pm Only $20 if registered by July 25th at www.lds-sa.org! Overview! Friday Evening - Backyard BBQ Bash & Games - Concert and Dance - Elder Bednar Kickoff Fireside Saturday All Day - Brad Wilcox Morningside - "Abundant Life" Workshops - BYU Dunk Team Show - Multiple Service Projects - K-1 Speed Racing AND Dance , Sunday Worship - Sacrament Meeting and Lunch - General Authority Devotional - Closing Social and Refreshments https://fb.me/e/1H0P97wfo

In March 1832, the Lord called Jesse Gause to be a counselor to Joseph Smith in the Presidency of the High Priesthood (now called the First Presidency). Doctrine and Covenants 81 is a revelation to Brother Gause, instructing him in his new calling and promising him blessings for serving faithfully. But Jesse Gause did not serve faithfully. So Frederick G. Williams was called to replace him, and Brother Gause’s name was replaced with Brother Williams’s name in the revelation. ...That may seem like a minor detail, but it implies a significant truth: Most of the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants are addressed to specific people, but we can always seek ways to apply them to ourselves. The Lord’s counsel to Frederick G. Williams to strengthen the feeble knees can turn our minds to the people we might strengthen. The Lord’s counsel for members of the United Firm to bind yourselves by this covenant in order to meet the Church’s temporal needs can turn our minds to our own covenants. And the Lord’s promise that He would be bound when ye do what I say can remind us of His promises to us when we obey. That’s as it should be, for the Lord also declared, What I say unto one I say unto all. See more

What will happen to me after I die? Nearly every religion in the world addresses this question in some form or another. For centuries, many Christian traditions, relying on Biblical teachings, have taught of heaven and hell, of paradise for the righteous and torment for the wicked. But can the entire human family really be divided so strictly into good and bad? And what does the word heaven actually mean? In February 1832, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon wondered if there wa...sn’t more to know on the subject. There certainly was. While pondering these things, the Lord touched the eyes of [their] understandings and they were opened. Joseph and Sidney received a revelation so stunning, so expansive, so illuminating, that the Saints simply called it the Vision. It threw open heaven’s windows and gave God’s children a mind-stretching view of eternity. The vision revealed that heaven is grander and broader and more inclusive than most people had previously supposed. God is more merciful and just than we can comprehend. And God’s children have an eternal destiny more glorious than we can imagine.

Ever since he was a boy, Joseph Smith faced criticseven enemiesas he tried to do God’s work. But it must have been particularly heartrending in late 1831 when Ezra Booth began publicly berating the Church, because in this case the critic was a former believer. Ezra had seen Joseph use God’s power to heal a woman. He had been invited to accompany Joseph on the first survey of the land of Zion in Missouri. But he had since lost his faith and, in an attempt to discredit the Pr...ophet, published a series of letters in an Ohio newspaper. And his efforts seemed to be working: unfriendly feelings had developed against the Church in the area. What should believers do in a case like that? While there is not one right answer for every situation, it seems that quite oftenincluding in this case in 1831part of the Lord’s answer is to defend the truth and correct falsehoods by proclaiming [the] gospel. Yes, the Lord’s work will always have critics, but in the end, no weapon that is formed against [it] shall prosper. See more

Does anyone else find it extremely scary and awkward to share the gospel with close friends? I served a mission, and still, in my regular life, I’m almost usele...ss in this department. Haha! I’m so excited to watch this tomorrow and get ideas on how to spread the love! I need to be inspired, because as of now, it feels quite hard to do. His yolk is easy, His burden is light. I’m here for it! See more

While it is true that God’s ways are higher than ours, and we should always submit to His will, He also encourages us to think and act for ourselves. That’s one lesson Jared and his brother learned. For example, the idea of traveling to a new land that was choice above all the earth seemed to start in Jared’s mind, and the Lord had compassion and promised to grant the request, saying, Thus I will do unto thee because this long time ye have cried unto me. And when the br...other of Jared realized how dark it was inside the barges that would carry them to their promised land, the Lord invited him to suggest a solution, asking a question that we usually ask Him: What will ye that I should do?. The message seems to be that we shouldn’t expect God to command us in all things. We can share with Him our own thoughts and ideas, and He will listen and give His confirmation or else counsel us otherwise. Sometimes the only thing separating us from the blessings we seek is our own veil of unbelief, and if we can rend that veil, we may be surprised by what the Lord is willing to do for us. See more

There is Work to be Done by Reid Petersen

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, I have become more aware of the importance of keeping a stocked food storage. Now I make less trips to the supermarket but will buy more in bulk. I have learned and exercised how to budget our family finances better by trying to live within our means, and I also forced myself to learn how to create new things and started a side business at home which is helping supplement our income (self-reliance). All these things were inspired by the teachings of the church leaders in the past, and I’m so glad that I listened to the impressions of the Holy Ghost when I did. -Janet Ropati

COME, FOLLOW ME - LESSON 43: Mormon and Moroni knew what it felt like to be alone in a wicked world. For Moroni the loneliness must have been especially severe after his father died in battle and the Nephites were destroyed. I even remain alone, he wrote. I have not friends nor whither to go. Things may have seemed hopeless, but Moroni found hope in his testimony of the Savior and his knowledge that the eternal purposes of the Lord shall roll on.

2020 "Luz de Las Naciones" cultural event shown digitally.

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The Church will be hosting virtual concerts on Temple Square this Christmas season. Click the link below to submit your performance! https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org//call-for-christmas-pe

COME FOLLOW ME - LESSON 42: Mormon spared us the full account of the awful scene of wickedness and bloodshed that he saw among the Nephites. But what he did record in Mormon 16 is enough to remind us how far righteous people can fall. Amid such pervasive wickedness, no one could blame Mormon for becoming weary and even discouraged. Yet through all that he saw and experienced, he never lost his sense of God’s great mercy and his conviction that repentance is the way to re...ceive it. And although Mormon’s own people rejected his pleading invitations to repent, he knew that he had a larger audience to persuade. Behold, he declared, I write unto all the ends of the earth. In other words, he wrote to you. And his message to you, today, is the same message that could have saved the Nephites in their day: Believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. Repent and prepare to stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. See more

This whole experience has been challenging. However, it has also been a wonderful blessing. It has helped me to slow down and appreciate all the little things that are easily taken for granted in the hustle and bustle of my life. I have had more time to spend with my kiddos playing games, laughing, singing, being silly and enjoying their youth! We have also enjoyed the benefits of Bishop working from home, too. This experience has helped bring our family so much closer together and I will be forever grateful for this time! -Samantha Tanielu

Helping Hands Service!

COME FOLLOW ME | LESSON 41: The teachings of Jesus Christ are not just a beautiful philosophy to ponder. They are much more than thatthey are meant to change our lives. The book of 4 Nephi provides a stunning example of this, illustrating just how thoroughly the Savior’s gospel can transform a people. Following Jesus’s brief ministry, centuries of contention between the Nephites and Lamanites came to an end. Two nations known for dissension and pride became one, the children of Christ, and they began to have all things common among them. The love of God did dwell in the hearts of the people, and there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God. This is how the Savior’s teachings changed the Nephites and the Lamanites. How are they changing you?

Jordan and I have talked many times about having a positive point of view during this time. It's been so easy for us to say, "This has been such a hard time! I got laid off part time and you got completely laid off!" But we try to not frame our view that way. We have decided to focus on the good. Here is our "good list": 1. We both get to be at home with our 15-month-old twins. For me, this is an absolute blessing and joy. When I was working full time, I was gone from home fr...om 6:30am to 6:30pm Monday to Friday. My babies go to sleep at 7pm. I was getting NO TIME with them. Now I get to wake up with them, spend time with them, and really bond. That is priceless. 2. Our home-centered church is flourishing! We have really had the opportunity to test this out! Having our priesthood holder pass the sacrament in our home is a privilege. I am also so happy to bring the spirit into our home. 3. I have really had the opportunity to work on relationships with my family and friends in ways I had never explored before. We've played online games, spoken on the phone instead of just the occasional text, and really valued each other’s "virtual" company. It's all about outlook! -Katy Flores