Monday 26 September 2016

Sermon: Our Duty As Parents

In the beginning the Lord created male and female and instructed them to multiply and replenish the earth. He told them to look after their children and teach them righteousness.
 
Our Heavenly Father placed the responsibility upon parents to insure that their children are well fed, well groomed and clothed, well trained and well taught. Most parents protect their children with shelter, they tend and care for their diseases, provide clothes for their safety and their comfort, and supply food for their health and growth. But what do they do for their souls?
 
When children go off to school or to play with their friends, parents cannot be totally sure of what the children are learning. But if parents take time at home each evening to explain the gospel program to their children, it will replace the negative things they may learn during the day. As parents we know only to well the daily struggle it is to teach our children the moral principles they need to live a life in the footsteps of God, they do not learn this at school but in the home at the feet of their parents. We like many generations before us must respond today to the wicked situation that we find our children living in today, when such sins as same sex marriage, gender swapping, bisexual relationships and other sinful and prideful activities are encouraged in the world, we must stand firm on the foundation of the gospel and teach correct and just morals to our children, if not all else fails. If it were not for our size I would recommend that all children belonging to this faith be educated at home or within the confines of a church school, however our situation does not allow for this and so we must do as well as we can. Do not despair. Parents can develop respect for others’ property and rights in their growing children by example and precept. Parents who require their youngsters to apologise and return, perhaps even double or triple, that which they have taken, broken, and destroyed, those children will be honourable citizens and will bring honour and glory to their parents. Those parents who themselves respect law and order and observe all the rules can, by that example and by their expression of approval or disapproval, discipline and protect their children against disorder and rebellion. Inner disciplines are substituting for the outer ones as the outer ones become habitual and effective. As one is obedient to his own sound principles, it is far more important and gratifying than obedience to others.
 
We often find men capable of governing a world who cannot rule their own household or the restless minds of their own children and cannot control their own passions. Is it possible that the shocking irreverence of many of the rising generation can be traced to the irreverence of their parents? Can children be expected to be spiritual and religious and reverent if their parents show no such interest themselves. As parents read the newspapers and magazines and see what the world is trying to teach their children, they should become all the more determined that their children not be influenced by such sin and error. Parents should then provide the home life, the discipline, and the training that will offset and neutralise the evil that is being done in the world. As children learn of the ugly things in the world, they must also learn of the good things in the world and the proper responses and proper attitudes. If parents understand that many children do not have family prayers and spiritual attitudes and proper teaching in their lives, then those parents should redouble their energies and their efforts to see that their own children receive good, wholesome training. Let us remember that the scriptures condemn fathers and mothers when they fail to do their duty. Eli, the high priest, was charged with the serious sins of his sons. The Lord whispered through Samuel, “I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house. “Because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.”.
 
How sad it would be if the Lord should charge any of us as parents with having failed to teach our children. Truly a tremendous responsibility falls upon a couple when they bring children into the world. Not only food, clothes, and shelter are required of them, but loving, kindly disciplining, teaching, and training is required. For we are the guardians of these beings, true we create the body but the true personage is and always will be Gods and it is our duty to raise that personage that we have been blessed with in the image of God and in his likeness, so that if he or his son were to grace us with his presence we would no be ashamed of our conduct as parents, for it is our responsibility for the way our children become adults we are the ones who train them and if we neglect that training and do not do it in the sight of God then woe be unto us at the day of judgement and woe be unto the future generations that shall come after us.
 
I pray that we shall stand as guardians and teachers and do as we have bee asked so that our young people grow to stand as we have stood in the sight of God.
 
In The Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Matthew P. Gill
Prophet & First Elder

Friday 23 September 2016

Sermon: Overcoming Adversity

This is the story of Louise Laflamme . She now heads up one of Hawaii’s largest insurance companies. She was first recruited into the industry as a junior aged 17 and quickly became a senior field agent looking after about 50 small personal clients. After a period of learning from a number of
Senior colleagues at age twenty she was moved to senior sales consultant and given a portfolio consisting of about 100 small corporate clients. Over the next 5 years Louise became the first female in the companies history to achieve induction into the world acclaimed MDRT ( Million dollar round table) For producing sales of at least ONE MILLION DOLLARS.
After a further five years and after reaching the position of Vice president she decided to leave and set up her own business in Hawaii . she was now 38 and a mother of two girls and served as a school governor and a local alderman.
I met louise Laflamme at a international MDRT meeting at the Royal Albert hall where she was presiding as international MDRT president. I was proud to be a new member and was thinking I had achieved quite a lot I was 34.
Know you might think that louises story up to now was not that inspiring But, In the middle 1950’s on a small farm in California the Laflamme family worked mainly wheat and corn . The family Consisted of mother and father and two children David 14 and Louise who was 4. On a sweltering summer day the family and the farm labourers had just finished for lunch, Mrs Laflamme served up a hearty meal on trestle tables in the farm yard. They had all taken their seats around the table when Mrs Laflamme noticed her daughter louise was missing. She asked David to go and see where she was after a few seconds david was heard to scream for help.
It was his sister louise she had fallen into a small threshing machine. Later in hospital it was revealed that Louise had lost an arm and both legs and the doctors thought she would not make it through the night. As we know she did live and overcame life changing disabilities to be a mom and a business leader of international renown .
We can learn from Louise Laflamme that whilst we may be challenged in many ways god will lay out a path that can be challenging but at the same time not insurmountable. I hope and pray that we can all mirror louises life and reach for the sky.
In Gods Name. Amen
Elder Philip. A Gill

Sunday 11 September 2016

Official Church Statement: Remembering 9/11

It would be remise of me as the leader of the church if I did not mention that 15 years ago the world stood still, shocked and shaken by what was happening in the United Sates of America in the city of New York. It is important that we mark the 15th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the world trade centre in New York because the worldwide consequences of that day have been immense and have changed our lives forever. The world has not been the same since, we have not know peace since and many lives have been taken in the pursuit of peace since that fateful day.
 
Here we stand on the anniversary of the day when the world changed and imploded, here we stand remembering those that have gone on to a better life. Here we stand people of faith, and religion praying that the world can find a way to make sure that this kind of tragedy would never happen again, but all to often we have found that hate and suffering and pain and evil have won the day. However as people of faith let us gird our faith about us and remember those that have fallen and never forget them and why they fell and as long as we remember why they fell we shall overcome. Since September the 11th 2001 I think there has been bit of New York in all of us so that no matter what happens, with faith we can be stronger and united, and together we can overcome all evils. We will always remember.
 
Matthew P. Gill
Prophet & First Elder

Monday 5 September 2016

Official Church Statement: Child Vaccinations

As the leader of the church and of a faith I am often asked questions on a daily basis on a range of questions some to do with religion others to do with more mundane things however the main thread of these questions is the same what is my counsel on the matters at hand. One question that keeps coming up from time to time and has again this week, is does the church have a stance on child vaccinations? Do we believe in vaccines for children or not? What do I council young parents to do? What have I done with my own children?
 
This is an emotive subject and one that is still rumbling on today despite the governments of many countries trying to kick the issue in to the long grass and cover it up. The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ advises all its members and parents to fully engage in the argument that it raging today about immunisations in children. As a church we would advise young parents to do what is in the best interest if their child and also what is in the best interest of their family. We do not command families to take or not to take up immunisations, however I would advise that they give their children the best chance in life from the very start and for us that would mean not pumping an innocent baby full of chemicals that could and in many cases do harm them. I would never advise any one not to immunise but rather to do it in a way that is best for their child. I would recommend that they be given over a longer period of time rather than all at once as is the prescribed method today. I would advise any parent not to have the MMR triple all in one vaccine but rather to find a clinic that will give their child the vaccines individually over a longer period of time.
 
The Lord has given us as parents guardianship over these young spirits and it is up to us to do what is best for them, not just to do what is easy because the government of the day tells us it is easy but rather to do what is morally and ethically right by our charges and we would therefore encourage our young people to take their time and think about what they are wanting to put in to your child's body and ask the question is it right and is it necessary? As a parent of three young boys I had to ask myself those same questions and with the help of the Lord and the counsel of my wife we decided that we would not allow our children to be subjected to the MMR triple vaccine but rather opt for them individually and at separate times allowing the body and the immune system time to adjust to what was being imposed upon it. I am happy to say that none of my children have suffered because of vaccines in any way, but I believe that is because of the actions we as parents have taken. I know many parents who did not take the actions we took and have regretted it ever since.
 
On a more religious tone. I believe as the leader of the church and the standard bearer of my faith it is my job to make sure tat I am advising the membership of our faith and counselling them in the correct ways and actions that should be taken in this world. I believe that as a church we should have options on issues such as these and for us not to would be a gross neglect of our duty. I believe that as leaders we should have firm views on these subjects and the church as well, and that we should make sure that we stand by those views and support our members in the actions they take. In short The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ would recommend that parents should try and refrain from giving their child the combined triple MMR vaccination and instead do all they can to obtain the vaccinations individually at separate times and try and limit the amount of vaccines your child receives overall.
 
I hope this has answered the question adequately and that you now understand the church's position on this issue. 
 
Matthew P. Gill
Prophet & First Elder

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