Arlington 2nd Ward Elders Quorum

Bulletin

The current Elders Quorum newsletter.

November 2026 Elders Quorum Newsletter

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Arlington 2nd Ward Elders Quorum

November Thanksgiving Thoughts – The wonderful impossibility of giving thanks

“What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits to me? I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call on the name of the Lord. I will take the cup of salvation and will call on the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people, in the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.” (drawn from Ps. 116)

We return thanks to God with our gifts and tithes. The psalm calls it “a sacrifice of thanksgiving,” but what does this mean? It’s impossible to thank God for all his benefits. Nonetheless, we offer up thanksgiving, praise, service, and obedience. These things are but a tiny token of thanks for the benefits Our Lord sacrificed to give to us. Here are three benefits that Psalm 116 mentions:

His cup. In the Garden Jesus said: “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:39). It was the Father’s will that Jesus drink of the cup of death. He spilled out His blood on the cross. By way of the Sacrament, we drink the water in remembrance of His sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. A cup of salvation, indeed! It’s wonderfully impossible to give thanks to the Lord for this eternal benefit. But we thank, praise, serve and obey Jesus because His salvation flows over the brim into our empty cup.

His name. Psalm 116 urges us to “call on the name of the Lord.” That isn’t difficult to do when we take upon us His name through the covenant of Baptism: “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Wherever His name is, there He is. Now wherever you go, whatever you do, not only is His name upon you, but He is with you. Call upon His name, and He is right there to answer your prayer and to listen to your complaint. He is nearer than near to give you comfort and deliver peace. It’s wonderfully impossible to give thanks to the Lord for this temporal benefit. But we thank, praise, serve and obey Jesus because He has given us His holy name.

His people. When we come to the Lord’s house we are “in the presence of all His people…” (Psalm 116:18). There is no such thing as solo Christianity. God always puts us together with His people. In the Old Testament, He took for Himself a people when He called Israel out of Egypt and led them into the Promised Land. Jesus called together a group of twelve individuals to learn together, lean on one another and change the world with the Word of God — and then He sent them out to bring more people into the story. The benefits of being in the presence of God’s people today includes “mutual conversation and consolation.” God’s people speak the truth in love, lend helping hands, encourage each other in the faith and pray for any and every need that arises. It’s wonderfully impossible to give thanks to the Lord for this incarnational benefit. But we thank, praise, serve and obey Jesus because He has gifted us with His people.

May our Lord bless and keep you all, in His holy name, amen.

- With love, Lyndon

Elders Quorum Lessons

Come, Follow Me Lessons

Upcoming Events

Past newsletters

October 2026 Elders Quorum Newsletter

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Arlington 2nd Ward Elders Quorum

Happy October, Brethren

After stake conference, the stake presidency asked us to step up our ministering in homes and in person, not just in reports. Somewhere in this quorum there is a brother who has not been to church in a while and is not sure anyone noticed. He is our assignment and, more importantly, our friend.

When the Savior ministered, He did not wait for people to come to Him. He went to them. He found the man at the pool and the woman at the well. His ministry was almost entirely one person at a time, and that is still how He does His work through us.

The stake presidency shared one simple practice I would ask each of us to adopt: when you visit or reach out, ask, “What can I pray for, for you and your family?” and then pray for those people by name every day. Please also look after the rising generation and anyone newer in the gospel. Mentor them, love them, help them prepare for the temple, and take them with you when you minister, when it fits.

The Fort Worth Temple open house is coming in November; let us elevate our own temple worship, help others prepare, and be ready to invite a friend to the open house when the time comes.

I want to take a moment and bear my testimony to you that I know this church is true and that Jesus died for us, but before his death and after, He chose to focus on the one every chance he got, and he taught us how to minister before it was given to us as our calling in this life. I plead with you to take your families to heart and pray for them; ask them how you can pray for them, and trust the Lord to help you in your call to minister if you don’t suppress that prompting. I love each and every one of you. We can bless those around us if we all come together and minister as Christ taught. I leave this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Brethren, when we minister, we are standing where the Savior would stand if He were here. If anyone in your ministering assignments needs a visit, a ride, a meal, or just a check-in, text us, and we will make it happen. We love you and are grateful to serve with you.

Seth Anderson

Elders Quorum Lessons

  • October 4
    General Conference
  • October 11
    All Who Have Endured Valiantly
    By: David A. Bednar, Quorum of the Twelve
  • October 18
    Eternal Marriage Is an Eternal Journey
    By: Neil L. Andersen, Quorum of the Twelve
  • October 25
    Come Home
    By: Clark G. Gilbert, Of the Seventy

Come, Follow Me Lessons

  • Sept 28–Oct 4: Isaiah 40–49
  • Oct 5–11: Isaiah 50–57
  • Oct 12–18: Isaiah 58–66
  • Oct 19–25: Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20
  • Oct 26–Nov 1: Jeremiah 31–33; 36–39; Lamentations 1; 3

Upcoming Events

  • Oct 3–4, General Conference — Sessions 11 am & 3 pm both days
  • Oct 4, 4:30 pm Stake Missionary Coordination
  • Oct 6, 6 pm Forest Hill Relief Society Activity
  • Oct 9, 7:30pm Game Night at the Forest Hill Building, All are invited, bring a game bring a treat, this is hosted by Elders Quorum and some refreshments will be provided
  • Oct 11, Fast Sunday
  • Oct 11, 7 am Stake Council; 1 pm Ward Youth Council; 2:30 pm Stake Youth Leadership Committee; 4:30 pm Stake Youth Council
  • Oct 16, 7 pm Arlington 2nd Ward Relief Society Activity
  • Oct 18, 12 pm Ward Council; 4:30 pm Mission Prep (ages 14–18), Stake Center
  • Oct 21, 7 pm Combined Younger-Aged Activity
  • Oct 25, 7 am High Council; 4:30 pm Stake Seminary Inservice
  • Oct 25, 6 pm Singles Potluck and Fireside; 6 pm Stake Choir Practice