YUKON OKLAHOMA STAKE

General Conference is just around the corner. If you would like to participate in preparing for conference in September, please view the calendar below (coming soon).

In the very beginning, the Lord commanded Adam to till the earth and eat his bread by the sweat of his brow. Idleness is one of Satan's greatest tools, and is warned against throughout the scriptures.

Work is rarely fun, and requires discipline, but the  lessons learned from working hard are invaluable. One such reward, that may not be readily apparent, is that work can prepare us to confidently face many challenges life has to offer. Paul taught:

“Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:

“Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us” (2 Thes. 3:8–9).

Great satisfaction can come from learning to do something we thought beyond our capabilities and learning to do it well.

As we learn to work, let us place equal importance  in laboring in the Lord's vineyard. This will not only bless us in this life, but in the life to come.

 We live in a choice land, abounding in prosperity and opportunity, due to the sacrifices made by our forebears. These forebears not only include the Founding Fathers, but the pioneer forefathers who sacrificed much so that we could be blessed.

President Ezra Taft Benson detailed how we might show our gratitude for those who sacrificed on our behalf:

1. Have faith in God - all our successes can be   

    attributed to God.

2. Strengthen our homes & families - work, 

     worship, play and pray together.

3. Work hard, practice thrift and be self-

     sustaining - neither the world nor the 

     government owes man his bread.

4. Preserve the freedoms granted to us by God - 

     serve God & keep His commandments.

In short, " If we truly cherish the heritage we have received, we must maintain the same virtues and the same character of our stalwart forebears—faith in God, courage, industry, frugality, self-reliance, and integrity. We have the obligation to maintain what those who pledged their lives, their fortunes, and sacred honor gave to future generations. Our opportunity and obligation for doing so is clearly upon us" (Ezra Taft Benson).