------ Forwarded message -----
From: Noel Rowlatt
nandjrow@bigpond.com
September @019 Australian Restoratin News
Attached is our September Newsletter.
With kindest regards and many thanks,
In gospel bonds,
Noel Rowlatt
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AUSTRALIAN RESTORATION NEWS
SEPTEMBER, 2019
Around and About the Centre Place by High Priest Paul J. Gage, Independence, Missouri.
God's Blessings upon all the Saints of Australia, I trust the good Lord God Almighty has been and continues to bless each of you in His special way, as you go through each day. I doubt there is a person in the world who does not have daily struggles in dealing with life. How marvelous it is that we have Jesus Christ as our Savior, Shepherd, Light, Life, and all the other names by which He is known. I love, so much, the promise in DC 83:15 C. It tells us that there is no part of our lives that go without His watch care and protection also, angels around us to bear us up.
Brothers and Sisters, of all ages, don't ever forget how valuable and precious you are, as one individual, to our Lord, Jesus Christ. He knows our every struggle, doubt, fear, concern, etc. and is always true to His promise. He was praying for each of us in John 17:20. As He was praying for the disciples then, He also prays for you and me, because it says, " For them also which shall believe on Me through their word." We know the disciples, after Jesus ascended into Heaven, took the gospel to the world and the Church was established in many areas, and the rest is history. We belong to the Church of Jesus Christ today because someone shared the same gospel they had received from another and so the gospel is now to us in our day to share with all we can.
Jesus came to save us from our sins, so He knew we would sin. Many times we get down on ourselves and feel unworthy. That is when we need to go to God in mighty prayer and repentance and ask forgiveness for our sins. It is a promise that when we sincerely repent, He will forgive us. I like the scripture in Philippians 1 especially verse six. Read the whole chapter and be revived in Christ. You can pull up the lyrics to this song on the net. Look for "He who began a good work in you.” I also like I Corinthians 10:13 for the promise of Jesus. Many people misquote this verse by leaving off the last sentence. He shows us the way out of temptation. That verse is the same in the King James Version as it is in the Inspired Version, so no follower of Christ has to remain "lost," because the "way out" is to run to Jesus.
The reunion and camp season is history....His Story! Do you have a testimony of "His Story?" Share it. The Pastors of Zion Summer preaching series has also concluded. It ran from June 16-August 11. There were some excellent sermons during the series as well as at the In-town reunion. The final service was a youth service with a number of very good testimonies from the youth about their camping experiences this past summer. Many services were live-streamed and are available for viewing. The website is http://www.waldoavenuerestorationbranch.org
Centre Place Restoration School has started the fall session under the leadership of Brother Dan Schoenemann. This is his fourth year. Enrolment is up which is great news. They have a matching fund program to begin upgrading the sanctuary, pews and lighting. If anyone wants to help, let me know or you can contact Brother Schoenemann at CPRS.
September is a very important month, for the Church, because it was September 21, 1823, that Joseph Smith Jr was visited by an angel and told about the plates, from which came the Book of Mormon. You can find Joseph's testimony of this marvelous experience in Church History, Volume 1, Chapter 2. This would be a good time for each church member to review this part of our history. If you don't have the Church History Volumes, you can pull it up on CenterPlace.org and go to the library. September 14-15, 2019 is also the annual CRE priesthood retreat in Kirtland.
The missionary groups are all still functioning. ARM is planning another mission to Africa. Eric and Pam Odida from Kenya were with us for the in-town reunion. GEM has a current mission to Germany and England this month. LAMB is active in Central America and Mexico. Seventy Juan Reyes and wife, Tina, from Mexico were with us for the In-town reunion. SEAAM is planning a mission to Mindanao in the southern Philippines in October. There is also a mission to Nepal and India this fall. Brother Ram Baral, from Nepal was with us for the in-town reunion.
For those who may not yet know, Sister Judith Hawley is now Sister Judith Davis. She was married to Elder Bob Davis of the Lexington, Missouri Restoration Branch on Sunday August 18, 2019. They will be living in Odessa, Missouri and attending the Lexington Branch. Another item of news: Elder Dan Schwartz is serving as pastor at the Belton, Missouri Restoration Branch this year. May The Lord be praised for all the blessings we received that week! To God be the Glory!
God bless and keep you til we meet again.
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Riches From The Scriptures by Elder Neil Kerswell, Queensland, Australia Vol 4 Chapter 3 Atonement
Many years ago I taught a class at a Reunion at Mount Glorious just outside of Brisbane. It was great to get away from Brisbane where temperatures can reach 37 degrees Celsius, and be extremely humid that time of year and go up the mountain where it was much nicer. The class was on the atonement, many of the ideas originated in High Priest brother Loving, from Coorparoo Branch. He wrote a book with much greater detail and understanding than what we will share today. However I hope you find it interesting. Description - The ‘atonement’ is the heart of Christian theology which means simply: God created man: man fell: God planned to redeem him and Jesus Christ was the way through which redemption was accomplished.
Creation
[Genesis 1:27] And I, God, said unto mine Only Begotten, which was with me from the beginning, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and it was so.
[Genesis 1:28] And I, God, said, Let them have dominion over the fishes of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
[Genesis 1:29] And I, God, created man in mine own image, in the image of mine Only Begotten created I him; male and female created I them.
[Genesis 1:30] And I, God, blessed them and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
From these words we see that God has Creative Power, upon which all existence rests. As created beings we are in the likeness of God, not by accident or chance, but by design and creative purpose. It is easy to see why Satan influences worldly people today to dismiss our creation and say it was chance over long periods of time, choosing to believe in a state of chaos rather than a state of intelligent creation under the authority of God Himself.
What is the purpose of our creation?
[2 Ne 1:115] Adam fell, that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.
[2 Ne 1:116] And the Messiah cometh in the fullness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall.
God made mankind that they might have joy. The fullness of Joy God intends for us is Eternal Life with Him in this world and the next. The need for a saviour is raised here, giving us to know we are accountable beings over a stewardship of life.
Fall of Man
God gave Laws unto Adam and Eve, the purpose of law is found in D&C 85: 8A-B
[Sec 85:8a] And again, verily I say unto you, that which is governed by law, is also preserved by law, and perfected and sanctified by the same.
[Sec 85:8b] That which breaketh a law, and abideth not by law, but seeketh to become a law unto itself, and willeth to abide in sin, and altogether abideth in sin, can not be sanctified by law, neither by mercy, justice, or judgment; therefore, they must remain filthy still.
True law initiated by God, Preserves, Perfects, and Sanctifies those whom it governs. In the absence of law, the strongest oppress the weak because of a lack of moral consciousness. Law begins a knowledge of good and evil. Man was given a simple test of obedience to God’s law in the beginning. However Satan the father of lies sought opportunity to destroy the works of God by alienating man. Thankfully God knew of his plan and from the very beginning prepared a way for man’s escape.
[Genesis 3:6] And now, the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field, which I, the Lord God, had made.
[Genesis 3:7] And Satan put it into the heart of the serpent, for he had drawn away many after him; and he sought also to beguile Eve, for he knew not the mind of God; wherefore, he sought to destroy the world.
[Genesis 3:8] And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden. And he spake by the mouth of the serpent.
[Genesis 3:9] And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which thou beholdest in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
[Genesis 3:10] And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die; for God doth know, that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
[Genesis 3:11] And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it became pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make her wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat.
[Genesis 3:12] And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they had been naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
[Genesis 3:13] And they heard the voice of the Lord God, as they were walking in the garden, in the cool of the day.
[Genesis 3:14] And Adam and his wife went to hide themselves from the presence of the Lord God, amongst the trees of the garden.
[Genesis 3:15] And I, the Lord God, called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where goest thou? And he said, I heard thy voice, in the garden, and I was afraid, because I beheld that I was naked, and I hid myself.
[Genesis 3:16] And I, the Lord God, said unto Adam, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldst not eat, if so thou shouldst surely die?
Satan could not use today’s tactics of doing away with God entirely in the minds of people, because Adam and Eve knew God existed. God visited them and spoke to them face to face from time to time in the Garden environment. Therefore Satan sought to destroy the works of God by using a twist on God’s law to expose Adam and Eve to God’s Justice and Punishment which cannot be denied; therefore he hoped to destroy what God had started. Satan told Eve you shall not surely die and that her eyes would be opened to know Good and Evil like God. This was partly true, they didn’t die immediately in the physical sense and Law does bring a knowledge of Good and Evil. However Satan failed to tell her the instant they sinned they died spiritually separating themselves from the presence of God because God is holy and cannot look upon sin in the least degree of allowance. They were created to live forever in the beginning, however with the effects of sin in their natural bodies they would die physically many years later because sin brings death.
[Gen 3:28] And I, the Lord God, said unto mine Only Begotten, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and partake also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever;
[Gen 3:29] Therefore, I, the Lord God, will send him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken;
[Gen 3:30] For, as I, the Lord God, liveth, even so my words cannot return void, for, as they go forth out of my mouth, they must be fulfilled.
[Gen 3:31] So I drove out the man, and I placed at the east of the garden of Eden, cherubim, and a flaming sword, which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Spiritual Death is to be separated from God in His Fullness of light and truth. After what Adam and Eve had done, they could no longer live in the fullness of God’s presence. This wasn’t their end though, God’s wisdom, love and Mercy would prevail with all whose hearts were humble and willing to listen and seek obedience. God could not allow them to partake of the Tree of Life and live forever being enemies to God. We must die to the things of this world through Repentance and Baptism
Genesis 4:4-13
[Gen 4:4] And Adam called upon the name of the Lord, and Eve also, his wife; and they heard the voice of the Lord, from the way towards the Garden of Eden, speaking unto them, and they saw him not; for they were shut out from his presence.
[Gen 4:5] And he gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God; and should offer the firstlings of their flocks for an offering unto the Lord.
[Gen 4:6] And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord. And after many days, an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying, Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him, I know not, save the Lord commanded me.
[Gen 4:7] And then the angel spake, saying, This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth;
[Gen 4:8] Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest, in the name of the Son. And thou shalt repent, and call upon God, in the name of the Son for evermore.
[Gen 4:9] And in that day, the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam, which beareth record of the Father and the Son, saying, I am the Only Begotten of the Father from the beginning, henceforth and forever; that, as thou hast fallen, thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will.
[Gen 4:10] And in that day Adam blessed God, and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth; saying, Blessed be the name of God, for, because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again, in the flesh I shall see God.
[Gen 4:11] And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying, Were it not for our transgression, we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.
[Gen 4:12] And Adam and Eve blessed the name of God; and they made all things known unto their sons and their daughters.
[Gen 4:13] And Satan came among them, saying, I am also a son of God, and he commanded them, saying, Believe it not. And they believed it not; and they loved Satan more than God. And men began from that time forth to be carnal, sensual and devilish.
Adam & Eve received a great hope in their redemption, and instilled in their children faith in God and the message of the good news of Christ. However the battle with evil would be ongoing through upcoming generations.
Redemption in and through Jesus Christ
Redemption is the act of bringing something back, regaining possession of something once possessed. God created man and gave him Agency (freedom of choice.) Satan knowing this tempted Eve to use her agency selfishly and in turn tempted Adam. By their disobedient choice they became servants of sin or in other words they had bowed their knee to Satan and fulfilled his evil desires. Therefore they had God’s punishment brought upon them. They died spiritually first, being separated from God who gave them life & intelligence. Secondly they died physically many years later, giving them opportunity for repentance while they were still alive.
Redemption in the case of man meant opening the opportunity for him to be reborn spiritually and resurrected (reunited body and spirit) from physical death. Christ made all this possible. For by the actions of man sinning brought death in the flesh. Christ took upon himself sinful flesh and was sinless, therefore condemning sin in the flesh. Being raised to life and opening the door unto all who would be obedient unto repentance and follow their Lord and their Redeemer, down into the waters of baptism, symbolically burying the man of sin and rising anew. Being born of God’s spirit in preparation for receiving a glorious resurrection. Being changed in the twinkling of an eye.
Terms in relation to Atonement
Law: The body of rules recognised by its inhabitants as binding on members. God’s law is true, preserves and protects the obedient. Where there is law there inevitably must be agency. Agency implies the existence of intelligence to understand the purpose and effect of law. Without which the law is nullified and the virtues of obedience non-existent.
Redemption: The act of bringing back, regaining of something once possessed. (We are God’s twice, He made us and when we left him and couldn’t get back of our own accord, he then bought us with the greatest price! Himself.
Justice: Fair dealing with deserved reward or punishment.
Punishment: Being punished, suffering pain or loss.
Mercy: More kindness than justice requires, kindness beyond what can be expected or claimed, kindness or mildness shown to an enemy, Pity.
Repentance: Is the relinquishment of any practice, from the conviction that it has offended God. Repentance implies reform “ceasing to do evil and learning to do good”. Genuine repentance involves bringing restitution to any injured parties resulting from our sin. True repentance is a condition of god’s forgiveness to all who know of his ways.
To help with further understanding on the atonement please read (2nd Nephi 1:61-128, Alma 19: 82-106 for an inspired description). May this information be blessed to the understanding of all who read in Jesus name, Amen.
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Tamworth News submitted by Sr. Helen Archer.
We continue to Meet each week in our homes. Deacon Roy and Sister Daphne Schubert are back home now from their holiday. We met with Brother Bob each week while they were away. They had a lovely time and caught some fish and had some relatives come and visit them. We had a lovely Service on Sunday at the Archers residence with Elder Peter Archer Presiding and a lunch after. Brother Bob is in Sydney with his Sister for a visit.
We also celebrated Brother Bob”s Birthday with his family on the weekend of the 8th of August.
Peter and Helen were invited to a handing over a property of the Aboriginal Land Council being handed over to the Local Aboriginal Lands Council. Peter and David do work on their machinery out on the property quiet often. It was held on the property 50kms West of Tamworth. They have done a lot of work on the facilities and have made it so they can have functions like Weddings and camps there. We have a lot to do with the manager of the farm and family and enjoyed watching the ceremony and the local School children dancing traditional Aboriginal Dances . There was also a lunch afterwards.
Please continue to pray for rain for Tamworth as it us urgently needed, Thank you
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Victoria News. Church of Jesus Christ Restoration Branch. Kelvin View, Euroa.
Reported by Elder Murray Broughton, Pastor
21-7-19. Church in Euroa--at our home.
Text Matthew 5 : 50..Ye are therefore commanded to be perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect. Service on Commandments.- old and New Teatament . Second Book of Nephi ,Third Nephi & D.C.
28 -7- 19.Church at Kelvin View Hall.
Class on [ one true church]. John vision of the Church
Revelation Chapter 12 D&C 32: 2 . D&.C 1 : 5.
Mother of Harlots - Revelations Chapter 17 . seven heads -Mountains in Rome.
31-7 -19. Bible Study in our Home.
Acts chapter 8 and Chapter 9
4- 8- 19. Church at Kelvin View Hall. Sacrament Service
Sermon - Acts 10: 38-42..-- John 6: 48 -51.
11-8 -19. Church in Euroa in our home. Sacrament Service
Sermon 1 Peter 1: 19-25. 1 John 3: 1-4.
We picked up Sr. Dawn Mackrell ,92 years old and we had lunch together after service.
18- 8 - 19. Church at Kelvin View Hall
Sermon - Matthew Chapter 5 ,and some of Chapter 6
Christ teaching on the mount.- Beatitudes.
followed by Bussiness Meeting. .
I thank you all for remembering me, and praying for me, I am walking now without walking stick: Also
abig thank you to all who have given to help the work in the Philippines.
Philippines News-- We had the sad news our Nephew passed away in Agno, Philippines..
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Special Page commencing next month for the Australian Unattached in the next issue.
Last month we announced a new section in The Australian Restoration News with the aim being to help you, our Australian Church members who don’t have the opportunity of receiving regular ministry and fellowship. Be assured that you are an integral part of the body of Christ. We are allocating a page each month specifically with your needs in mind. We needed a special person to head this up and we are very happy to announce that Sr, -Melissa Game who lives in the Newcastle Area, has enthusiastically agreed to produce that segment of our Newsletter. For those of you who may not have met Melissa, you will find she is a very personable and caring young lady who is very easy to talk to. She would love to hear from any saints in Australia who are isolated. About 10 years ago she edited and printed the Australian News until she and husband David had two children, This is your opportunity to broaden your personal involvement with fellow members of the church. Melissa will include her contact details in the next month’s Newsletter. In the meantime her home phone number is 02 4981 8810
(I can hardly wait for next month to come around to view Melissa’s page! Editor)
Please include in your daily prayers the following people who are in need of a blessing Gwen Whately, Gary Rowlatt Alma & Janice Kerswell George Parker Jonathon Page
Audrey Kerswell Adrienne & Robert Windsor Michael & Patty Fulton Gregory Mackrell, Kevin Dowell. Jennifer Sutor
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST RESTORATION BRANCH, KINGSTON 17-19 Juers Street, Kingston, Queensland. Pastor: Elder Alma Kerswell. Phone 07 3800 1151
ACTIVITY SCHEDULE. SEPTEMBER 2019.
Sun. 1st. 10.00 a.m. COMMUNION SERVICE. Elder G.Melling asstd.by Priest G.Kerswell
Musical Item for Service. Linda Myers
Sun. 8th. 9.50 a.m. Hymn Sing: Elsie Melling Flowers: Rebecca Melling 10.00 a.m. PREACHING SERVICE. Elder N.Rowlatt asstd.by Elder N.Melling
Musical Item for Service. Rebecca and Cathy Melling
11.10 a.m. Class. Elder N.Churchill
Sun. 15th. 9.50 a.m. Hymn Sing: Bethany Melling Flowers: Janice Kerswell
10.00 a.m. PREACHING SERVICE. Elder A.Kerswell asstd.by Elder N.Rowlatt
Musical Item for Service. Glenn Kerswell
11.10 a.m. Class. Elder N.Melling
Sun. 22nd. 9.50 a.m. Hymn Sing: Rebecca Melling Flowers: Del Churchill
10.00 a.m. PREACHING SERVICE. Elder N.Churchill asstd.by Elder N.Melling
Musical Item for Service. Linda Myers
11.10 a.m. Class. Priest G.Kerswell
Sun. 29th NO SERVICE
BRANCH NEWS and ANNOUNCEMENTS for Kingston Branch..
Birthdays. Happy Birthday Wishes to the following people on their Special Day in September
Happy Birthday Wishes to the following people on their Special Day.
Emma Kerswell on the 9th. Gwen Whately on the 14th. Roslyn Lakelin on the 23rd.
Lee Churchill on the 27th. Joshua Kerswell on the 30th.
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Contributions to the Australian Restoration News need to come by the 20th of the month and must be submitted by email if possible.Email details are nandjrow@bigpond.com.au Phone contact: 07 3824 8386
We would love to have contributions from isolated members in Australia; articles or testimonies or just greetings. We would also like to hear from American saints who have ministered in Australia.
If you do not have access to an internet facility and would like to post your article to me, I will try and have it typed and included, but I would need to receive it by the 18th of the month for inclusion in the next issue. Postal details are as follows: Noel Rowlatt, 6 Wetheral Place, Alexandra Hills. Q4161
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