Brothers and Sisters,
I hope that each of you look at this first Sunday of the year as an opportunity for renewal, recommitment and reconciliation. You may need a renewal of faith in humanity or to recommit to your career aspirations or reconcile with a loved one.
Whatever your journey of self improvement, the Savior, Jesus Christ, is there to be your Friend, Confidant and Example. He is a Savior in the life we’re living, not just in the life to come. His grace extends beyond just satisfying the laws of justice on our deficient behalf, but allows us leeway to work through mortality without the crippling guilt associated with our deficiencies.
Utilize this Grace and live in a way that has confidence in the Atonement and in your ability to make small strides of self improvement that enable us to appreciate the world around us more fully and to bless those around us more completely.
In his most recent Christmas devotional, President Russell M. Nelson reminded us of the strength Jesus Christ brings to us on this mortal journey.
“Jesus was baptized in the lowest body of fresh water on earth, symbolizing the depths to which He would go in order to save us and from which He would rise above all things—again, to save us. From His example, He taught that we, too, can arise from the depths of our individual challenges—our sadness, weakness, and worries—to reach the heights of our own glorious potential and divine destiny. All this is possible by virtue of His mercy and grace.”
(“Divine Gifts,” 2020 Christmas Devotional)
As we move forward, let us not dwell backward. Faith leads to hopeful action. Each of us will benefit individually and collectively from an increase in faith.
Today, our sacrament services will move to 10:30 a.m. Families with last names beginning with the letters Q through Z are invited to attend in person at the chapel. Others are invited to participate online at the link below:
http://mywebcast.churchofjesuschrist.org/Events/spanishforkutahriverstake
Click on “River View Sacrament.”
Following the sacrament service, members watching from home are authorized and invited to receive the sacrament at home, administered by worthy priesthood holders of the appropriate office. Those attending in-person sacrament will receive it in the chapel following the service.
Youth Sunday School classes will start at 11:30 a.m. and adult Sunday School will start at 12:00 p.m. Links to those classes can be found at the link below:
https://riverview.valentinejames.net/2020/12/06/sunday-school-class-links/
A couple of additional calendar items to be made aware of:
Jan. 16-17 – Stake conference
More information will be coming soon about the nature of the conference and how to participate.
Jan. 24 – Great to Be 8
This Zoom meeting is for children turning 8 in 2021 and their parents.
Also, we have several full-time missionaries serving from our ward who would appreciate the chance to hear from home. Please consider sending an email of support to them.
Elder Mitchell Young
Illinois Chicago Mission | young.mitchell@missionary.org
Sister Kenia Guzman
California San Bernardino Mission | kenia.guzman@missionary.org
Elder Colton Ricks
Texas Dallas West Mission | cricks@missionary.org
Sister Caitlin Duersch
Georgia Atlanta North Mission | caitlin.duersch@missionary.org
Have a great week and know that the Savior loves you. Move forward with faith!
Bishop Bennett