S A L T L A K E U N I V E R S I T Y 7 T H W A R D - E L D E R S Q U O R U M

M a r c h N e w s l e t t e r

References: See 2 Chronicles chapter 28 for Hezekiah’s father Ahaz, chapters 29-32 for Hezekiah’s reforms and the people’s return to righteousness, and Isaiah 36-37 for Jerusalem’s deliverance from Assyria’s king Sennacherib.

S A L T L A K E U N I V E R S I T Y 7 T H W A R D - E L D E R S Q U O R U M

M e s s a g e F r o m t h e E l d e r ’ s Q u o r u m P r e s i d e n c y

As a brother in the 7th Ward elders quorum, you have a lot of good things to do. Your quorum leaders hope you are finding God’s blessings in all your pursuits. Students are right in the middle of a semester and looking forward to Spring Break. Quorum members work a variety of jobs that are interesting and challenging. Others are involved in searching for jobs, applying for further studies and internships, planning a vacation, or pursuing outside interests. We find ourselves connected to wonderful people who are members of our family, pleasant acquaintances, associates at work or school, and close personal friends. And we all have good prospects in academics and careers, socially and spiritually. In this quorum message, I will bring up the theme of seeking God’s word, followed by an example from the scriptural account of Hezekiah.

What messages have you been receiving from your Heavenly Father? You may be surprised how reverent reflection reveals ongoing revelation reaching out to bless you. Where do you turn when you want more faith to go forward, more wisdom to see through uncertainty, more love to burn away ill will, more peace to spread around you, more aid for your deserving loved ones, more power to advance worthy goals, more joy to inspire a higher view of life’s beauty in full color and promise? The scriptures speak to us personally for our good, and we hear the voice of God. We need individually to seek out messages of truth to benefit us and others. What gospel topic draws your interest? What truths might answer your questions or fuel your worthwhile quests? Expansive themes like loyalty, deliverance, remembering, standards, forgiveness, example, change, covenants, patience, and giving come to my mind. Seeking, receiving, and sharing words of truth from God help us all on our

paths. The sacred record of Old Testament events during the 700s BC provides this type of truth and insight.

In his reign over Judah, Hezekiah relied on the counsel of his modern prophet, Isaiah. Surrounded by the reigning military empire of his day, Hezekiah did his part so the Lord could deliver his people from Assyrian conquest. Fervent prayer and tireless preparation were part of his habit of doing what is right. Upon succeeding his apostate father to the throne at age 25, Hezekiah’s first act was to re-open the temple for a house of prayer and refuge, while calling on the priests to sanctify themselves and return to their solemn duty. He invited the people to turn again unto the God of their fathers who is gracious and merciful, willing to fight their battles with them. The people responded, blessed by the hand of God with unity of heart. Together, they diligently prepared and repaired the city Jerusalem to withstand the threat of siege and invasion. Hezekiah only upheld true traditions of worshipping the living God, and he wanted to include everyone willing to try. He prayed the Lord would forgive and heal those who wanted to worship at the Passover but had not yet properly cleansed themselves. Such prayers and efforts were rewarded with miraculous deliverance. Though the Assyrians maintained control in the Middle East, yet Jerusalem and small region around it were not overcome. This independent enclave in the midst of the Assyrian empire avoided the fate of conquest and forcible relocation that befell their wayward contemporaries in ten tribes of Israel that had lived nearby.

Best wishes to each of you in March. Let’s serve together in the quorum. Let’s be faithful in our own circumstances. Let’s seek out divine truth to guide us.

- Levi Pace

S A L T L A K E U N I V E R S I T Y 7 T H W A R D - E L D E R S Q U O R U M S p o t l i g h t s –

Will be different from now on… we’ll be hearing from the sisters instead of reading about ourselves. (I estimate readership will triple)

K o r i n M c D o n a l d -

Korin is a structural engineer she used to work fo BHB Consulting but, thanks to the economy she is currently unemployed. She likes to listen to All American Rejects but Summertime by Kenny Chesney which is the song she chose to describe her life right now. She love the movie The Italian Job because Seth Green cracks her up and she can’t pass up Mark Wahlberg. Her favorite date so far was carving pumpkins at Sugarshouse park with a guy she met on a camping trip. She pled the 5th when asked about her worst date. She reads mostly the classics: Of Mice and Men, Pride and Prejudice and the Bourne Series.

H a l e y S o r e n s e n -

Haley has a degree in Biology and Criminal Justice, so she’s the one who will track you down if you ever try to get away with eating the last cookie at a mingle. (Ever see CSI folks?) She’s working at ARUP Laboratories. She is into Goo Goo Dolls, 3 Doors Down and Nickelback. The song she chose to describe herself was ‘Gotta be Somebody’ by Nickelback and ‘Fly Away’ by Sugarland. After reading this if when you decide to ask her out make sure you talk to her on the date. It really is that simple. Her favorite reads are Count of Monte Cristo, Crime and Punishment and Harry Potter (how Harry got in the same sentence with the literary greats I’ll never know) but you’ve got to admit she has taste.

S A L T L A K E U N I V E R S I T Y 7 T H W A R D – E L D E R S Q U O R U M

F e b r u a r y :

A c t i v i t i e s a n d E v e n t s : B i r t h d a y s :

Mar 16 – Stake FHE 7pm Mar 1 – Chris Horne Mar 22 – Draper Temple Dedication and Ward Conference Mar 3 – Bradley Tolman Mar 23- FHE Game Night 7pm Mar 5 – Jacob Robins Mar 28 – Institute Red Carpet Date Night Mar 6 – Chris Doxey Mar 30 – Ward Talent Show Mar 7 – Thomas Naranjo Mar 11 – Curtis Lee Mar 13 – Patrick Muir Mar14 – Lance Jeffery Stalker Mar 20 – Renan Utrera de Paula Mar 22 – Jonathan Green Mar 26 – Ben Turner Mar 28 – Tobias Titus Mar 29 – Sean Gale Mar 30 – Daniel Loveridge