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The Voice of Zion April 2026 - The Book of Books  -- The Bible begins with the simple yet profound words, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” With His Word, God called all things into being. Light pierced the darkness, waters were separated, land appeared, and living creatures filled the earth. The refrain “And God said…and it was so” shows the power of His Word to create order and beauty out of nothing. Creation was declared “very good.” Humanity was given a unique place as image-bearers of God, entrusted with the responsibility of caring for creation. The beauty of the world – from the stars in the sky to the fruit of the earth – testifies to God’s wisdom and generosity. Each day of creation was a gift from His hand, culminating in the seventh day of rest, which showed His intention for harmony and peace. Yet the story of creation is not only about the beginning. It points us forward to new creation in Christ. Though sin entered the world and marred God’s perfect work, His promise of a Redeemer assured that creation’s story would not end in ruin. In Christ, the true Light of the world, God begins the work of renewal that will one day be complete in the new heaven and new earth.   Fact Box Beginnings Genesis 1–11 tells the story of creation, the fall, the flood, and the Tower of Babel. They explain the world’s origins, humanity’s brokenness, and God’s first promises of redemption. It is sacred history given by God to reveal His work and His promises.

The Voice of Zion April 2026 - Round the Table -- Youth from the Cokato, Minn., congregation contributed these reflections and questions. In the life of a believer, the word calling or vocation can sometimes sound large or distant, as if it refers only to life’s biggest decisions – career, family, or positions of responsibility. Yet the Christian understanding of calling  is both simpler and deeper. Before anything else, God calls us to be His own: to believe the gospel, to live as His children, and to walk in faith and a good conscience. From this most precious calling flow the many smaller callings that fill our daily lives. God places each person into particular circumstances – into families, friendships, congregations, schools, and communities. Within these places He gives gifts, experiences, and opportunities to serve. Some callings are visible and public, while others are quiet and unseen, yet all are meaningful in God’s kingdom. We can trust that the same heavenly Father who gives gifts also guides our path. We may make plans and wonder about the future, but we rest in the confidence that God knows what we need and leads His children with wisdom and care. Our Gifts, Our Calling Collected by the Cokato Youth Committee Everyone has gifts. Some gifts are visible, others are not. As people, we categorize and value gifts according to our human reason, admiring some while belittling others. But all gifts are needed to serve God’s purpose. Every gift is needed in God’s kingdom. The kingdom of God has always had sufficient gifts because God knows what we need.  A calling is the blend of the gifts we have received and the experiences we have developed. It includes our education, training, job, career, skills, interests, experiences and hobbies. As believers, a calling includes the things we have been asked to do by the congregation. Thus, everyone’s calling is different.  A calling may seem to be something we decide ourselves, something that we stumble upon, or even something that has been laid out before us. But no matter how our calling comes, our calling is the result of God’s hand at work, even when we are unaware. We can securely leave concerns about the future to our heavenly Father. Our most important calling is that God has called us to be His children: to keep faith and good conscience.   We often try to look into the future. This can make us excited, or it can cause doubt and worry. It is good to plan. But our plans often differ from God’s plan. We can look forward to what God will provide for us. We plan, but God decides. It is important to strive to be content with this. We need regular reminders to trust that God will guide His children in the days of tomorrow. For a child of God, the future walks hand in hand with trust. We endeavor in prayer, and in the confidence of God’s grace. What do Young Ones Say? “I would say that calling, gifts, and the future are topics often discussed at haps. Within my friend group we talk about our futures and what God has planned for us. Some wonder what it will look like if they get married, have children, or what their careers will be. I think it is important to trust that God has a plan for us. This is a good topic to discuss while hanging out with our peers. Around the haps age, new God-given gifts start appearing. We may be called to share our gifts for different needs. I think it’s important that we use the gifts God has given, such as playing the piano for haps. The tasks don’t have to be huge. If you are called to use your gifts, big or small, it may be difficult, but God doesn’t give us gifts we can’t handle. I think it’s important to be a willing worker in God’s kingdom.” “When I think of a calling, especially as a young person, I think the most important thing to understand is that God calls us to preciously believe and to be a light to the world. God gives gifts to everyone, and it is important to use the gifts that God gave, but not to boast about them. At haps, we often talk about our futures, things like work, marriage, where we will live, or even where we are going for lunch today. It’s important to remember that only God knows our future, and that we accept what God gives as it comes.” What Does the Bible Say? Despite living a life of heavy trial, Prophet Jeremiah encourages believers to hope for the future, reminding of God’s good care and blessing, and that He promises to guide and protect His children on the way to heaven: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jer. 29:11, NIV) Apostle Paul counsels his young coworker, Timothy, and believers today, of God’s benevolence and grace, and that God’s plan for each person has existed since the dawn of creation: He has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time (2 Tim. 1:9, NIV) From prison in Rome, Apostle Paul exhorts God’s children to live a life that honors our highest calling, the call to faith: As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. (Eph. 4:1, NIV) Apostle Paul explains that the Holy Spirit distributes and employs gifts in God’s kingdom to serve His purpose: There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. (1 Cor. 12:4–6, NIV) Peter urges all believers to freely serve with the gifts we have been given:  Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. (1 Pet. 4:10,11, NIV)

Brian Johnson  |  The Voice of Zion April 2026 - The Sabbath Word 2 -- Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the Lord of hosts. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness. – Zechariah 8:6–8 Zechariah was a prophet of the Old Testament, who proclaimed the coming of the Lord over 500 years before Christ. The Persian king, Cyrus, ended the exile in Babylon with a decree that the Jews could return to their own country and begin the task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and the destroyed temple. Zechariah returned from Babylonian captivity with then-governor Zerubbabel of Judah. Following Cyrus, King Darius continued that encouragement for the Jews to return home and rebuild. Zechariah, Malachi, and Haggai were all prophets who lived and witnessed the events of this time, and they were chosen by God to deliver His will to the people of Judah. They encouraged the people to obey God and to restore the temple as instructed. The people, however, were disobedient and rebelled. Zechariah lovingly rebuked them and exhorted them unto repentance, speaking a message of God’s love and deliverance: “So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. And I am sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction. Therefore thus saith the Lord; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the Lord of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem” (Zech. 1:14–17). Scripture relays of God’s mercy and His desire to forgive and care for His penitent children. Here, He promised to be with His children in the return to their homeland, and to be their God. The book of the prophet Zechariah begins with historical background to the current events. Then, through visions revealed by angels to Zechariah, it speaks to coming events in the New Testament and the end times. For example, the coming of the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, is proclaimed: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass” (9:9). Also, “Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the branch” (Zech. 3:8). This branch is God’s beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Our text reveals how God encourages His own, with the promise of gathering them together and protecting them from their enemies. He will bless those that are obedient to His Word. God does require His children to do their part: to stand in faith. Faith allows us to fight against the enemy and to build and do the work in His kingdom. This is our endeavor today. God promises to help us as we do the work in His congregation and in society, being obedient to His Word. God’s Word is a living and unchanging Word; it is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We wish to believe His promises and to thank Him for His mercy and grace to us today. Like the believers returning from captivity, we are likewise encouraged by God’s instructions, and we journey forward with a hope and a future.

The Laestadian Lutheran Church (LLC) is the central organization of Laestadian Lutheran churches in North America. The website provides information about our faith, mission, organization, and activities. Welcome to our website and welcome to our services! HE IS NOT HERE, BUT IS RISEN LUKE 24:6 LAESTADIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH The Laestadian Lutheran Church (LLC) is the central organization of Laestadian Lutheran churches in North America. The website provides information about our faith, mission, organization, and activities. Here you will find an overview of our publications and links to member congregations. Welcome to our website and welcome to our services! Donate Follow us on Instagram @laestadianlutheran Load More New Hymnal Supplement Now Available The first supplement to Songs and Hymns of Zion (2008) is available digitally as of November 14, 2025. This release marks a significant milestone in the ongoing hymnal development work of the Laestadian Lutheran Church. It brings together familiar melodies, newly translated texts, and brand-new songs written by believers from across North America. Read more about this supplement here. Read The Kingdom of God Is in Your Midst (Luke 17:21– NIV) Carey Simonson | 2026 LLC Phoenix Winter Services - Congregation Evening – Feb. 20 -- The kingdom of God is a very important topic. God’s kingdom is described throughout the Bible and in many articles and sermons. In fact, we could say that every sermon reveals something about God’s kingdom, and God’s kingdom is mentioned by name in most sermons. Furthermore, Jesus used many parables to illustrate the kingdom of God. He told His disciples: “The secret (or mystery) of the kin Presentations Feb 26 God’s Perfect Plan for Our Lives, with a Goal of Heaven Swen Sorvala | The Voice of Zion February 2026 - Home and Family Articles -- Through His allegory of the true vine, Jesus teaches us that we are to remain in His kingdom throughout our lives. The overarching message is clear: each branch must stay attached to the main trunk in order to live. Connected to the life-giving trunk is the source of all nourishment and future hope. Jesus tells us why He gave this example – so that His “joy might remain in you, and that your joy mi Home & Family Feb 3 Faith and Grace in Daily Life Tommi Kinnunen | The Voice of Zion February 2026 - Doctrine and Life Article -- The just shall live by faith. – Romans 1:17 Every person who has ever lived on this earth has been a recipient of God’s goodness and gifts. These blessings are too many to count, and we cannot even begin to know them all, but some include our homes, good health, the beauty of nature, our senses and relationships. We often take many of these blessings for granted, even perceiving them as somethi Voice of Zion Featured Articles Feb 3 February 2026 Update Arvin Pirness | The Voice of Zion January 2026 - News & Notes -- As February begins, we enter the Easter period, a time when our thoughts turn toward Christ and His salvation work for us. The theme for the first Sunday, Unmerited Grace, calls us to reflect on the simplicity of faith. Faith is a precious treasure, and with it comes the quiet joy of believing. This joy does not come from our own efforts, but from God’s gift to us. Martin Luther taught that grace is truly unme News & Notes Feb 3 A Light for Our Reading and Our Faith The Voice of Zion February 2026 - Editorial -- Much of life today happens quickly and online. We read in fragments – headlines, captions, short updates – often moving on before a thought has time to settle. Over time, this shapes how we read and how we listen. Deep, sustained reading becomes harder, and with it the quiet attentiveness that faith itself invites. This matters because Scripture is not meant to be skimmed. God’s Word is not simply information about God; it is the Voice of Zion Featured Articles Feb 3 1 2 3 4 5 International Mission Work Website Every month, tens of thousands of people search the internet for how sins can be forgiven, where the kingdom of God is and what repentance means. To help searching ones find God’s kingdom, and as a means of performing mission work in a digital space, the SRK, SFC and LLC have now launched a new website: kingdomofpeace.net Read more about this new website here. Shop Quick View CD # 83 Lift Up Your Eyes Quick View Hymns Ascending Quick View Time for Words Quick View CD # 81 A Morn of Song Quick View Wait Upon the Lord: Annual Anthology 2024 Quick View In the Shelter of the Hill Hearken – Our Publications App Attention Hearken Users! Some users have occasionally reported usability issues with Hearken, especially on Android devices. We have created a form to help us collect information on these issues, so they can continue to be looked into and solved. If you have experienced issues while using the Hearken app, please take a moment to fill out the form at this link: https://forms.gle/Ht7x5phU2w9C1ptA6 Thank you! We value your feedback. On YouTube Play Video Play Video 02:49:00 2026 LLC Phoenix Winter Services - Thurs Feb 19th Welcome to the 2026 Laestadian Lutheran Church Annual Phoenix Winter Services! The 2026 Laestadian Lutheran Church Annual Phoenix Winter Services will be held at Phoenix Laestadian Lutheran Church in Phoenix Arizona. The Service motto: “Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name” (Luke 24:47) The services will begin Thursday, February 19th and end Sunday, February 22nd. Welcome! https://www.llchurch.org/winter-services Play Video Play Video 05:56:21 2026 LLC Phoenix Winter Services - Sunday Feb 22nd Welcome to the 2026 Laestadian Lutheran Church Annual Phoenix Winter Services! The 2026 Laestadian Lutheran Church Annual Phoenix Winter Services will be held at Phoenix Laestadian Lutheran Church in Phoenix Arizona. The Service motto: “Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name” (Luke 24:47) The services will begin Thursday, February 19th and end Sunday, February 22nd. Welcome! https://www.llchurch.org/winter-services Play Video Play Video 37:21 Winter Services 2026: Marv Wittenberg Welcome to the 2026 Laestadian Lutheran Church Annual Phoenix Winter Services! The 2026 Laestadian Lutheran Church Annual Phoenix Winter Services will be held at Phoenix Laestadian Lutheran Church in Phoenix Arizona. The Service motto: “Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name” (Luke 24:47) The services will begin Thursday, February 19th and end Sunday, February 22nd. Welcome! https://www.llchurch.org/winter-services Play Video Play Video 35:45 Winter Services 2026: Rick Nevala Welcome to the 2026 Laestadian Lutheran Church Annual Phoenix Winter Services! The 2026 Laestadian Lutheran Church Annual Phoenix Winter Services will be held at Phoenix Laestadian Lutheran Church in Phoenix Arizona. The Service motto: “Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name” (Luke 24:47) The services will begin Thursday, February 19th and end Sunday, February 22nd. Welcome! https://www.llchurch.org/winter-services Play Video Play Video 56:15 Winter Services 2026: Adrian Pirness Welcome to the 2026 Laestadian Lutheran Church Annual Phoenix Winter Services! The 2026 Laestadian Lutheran Church Annual Phoenix Winter Services will be held at Phoenix Laestadian Lutheran Church in Phoenix Arizona. The Service motto: “Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name” (Luke 24:47) The services will begin Thursday, February 19th and end Sunday, February 22nd. Welcome! https://www.llchurch.org/winter-services Play Video Play Video 38:55 Winter Services 2026: Juha Alanko Welcome to the 2026 Laestadian Lutheran Church Annual Phoenix Winter Services! The 2026 Laestadian Lutheran Church Annual Phoenix Winter Services will be held at Phoenix Laestadian Lutheran Church in Phoenix Arizona. The Service motto: “Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name” (Luke 24:47) The services will begin Thursday, February 19th and end Sunday, February 22nd. Welcome! https://www.llchurch.org/winter-services Play Video Play Video 11:55:01 2026 LLC Phoenix Winter Services - Saturday Feb 21st Welcome to the 2026 Laestadian Lutheran Church Annual Phoenix Winter Services! The 2026 Laestadian Lutheran Church Annual Phoenix Winter Services will be held at Phoenix Laestadian Lutheran Church in Phoenix Arizona. The Service motto: “Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name” (Luke 24:47) The services will begin Thursday, February 19th and end Sunday, February 22nd. Welcome! https://www.llchurch.org/winter-services Play Video Play Video 36:45 Winter Services 2026: Swen Sorvala Welcome to the 2026 Laestadian Lutheran Church Annual Phoenix Winter Services! The 2026 Laestadian Lutheran Church Annual Phoenix Winter Services will be held at Phoenix Laestadian Lutheran Church in Phoenix Arizona. The Service motto: “Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name” (Luke 24:47) The services will begin Thursday, February 19th and end Sunday, February 22nd. Welcome! https://www.llchurch.org/winter-services

Position Statements INTRODUCTION LLC Position Statement - adopted July 2006 We live a time during which the concept of right and wrong has blurred. It appears that many people accept the philosophy of moral relativism, denying the existence of moral truths. As a result many base their beliefs on the ever-changing tide of popular opinion and thus have no enduring foundation upon which to build their lives. The Bible, once widely respected and esteemed as the foundation for Christian faith, is now commonly believed to have only symbolic value, more significant as a source of history and culture than moral guidance. Our beliefs direct our lives and guide our actions. They have consequences with regard to both eternal life and this life. As individuals and as a society we will reap the consequences of our actions. Thus with heartfelt concern we wish to draw attention to the following issues and present our position on them. GOD'S WORD THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD We believe that the Bible is God's Word. While men have written the Scripture, they have not done so as an expression of their own will, but God has moved them by His Spirit to express His own will (2 Pet. 1:20, 21; 2 Tim. 3:16). God's Word is not to be treated or regarded in the same manner as man's word but rather granted our highest esteem and reverence. GOD'S WORD IS CHRISTIAN FAITH'S HIGHEST AUTHORITY We believe that God's Word is Christian faith's highest authority and thus Christian faith's guiding principles and doctrine must be examined and evaluated in the light of God's Word. GOD'S WORD IS UNCHANGING AND ETERNAL The claim that God's Word is bound to time and shackled to the culture of its time does not do justice to God's revelation. According to Jesus, the content and the message of the Word of God does not change along with changes in the world. God's Word is always timely. We cannot relinquish this principle. Jesus says of the permanence of His Word: “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away” (Luke 21:33). THE CENTRAL MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE IS SALVATION IN JESUS CHRIST The teaching about Jesus Christ and the salvation that God in His love has prepared in Christ is the central message of the Bible. Man is saved alone by grace, through faith, on the merits of Christ. Only faith in Christ justifies man and makes him acceptable to God (John 20:31; Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:8). FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES CONCEPT OF GOD Increasing numbers of people have rejected belief in the Triune God revealed in the Bible. They prefer instead to create a concept of God that conforms to their own notions. We believe that there is no living God beside Him who has revealed himself in Jesus Christ and His Word. God is love. He is also holy, righteous, and unchanging. He hates sin but loves sin-fallen mankind. CONCEPT OF MAN Modern man's self-image has become both more individual-centered and human-centered. Understanding of the fact that man is responsible to both God and his fellowman has dimmed. The view that man is basically good is also widely held. This view is contrary to God's Word. While God created man in His image (Gen. 1:26) and has intended that man live in unity with Him, man was corrupted when the first human pair, Adam and Eve, fell into sin. As a result of this original sin, man's basic nature is no longer good but corrupted by sin and inclined to evil (Gen. 6:12, 8:21; Rom. 3:10-12, 23). It is because of sin that there is so much evil in the world. SIN Sin is one of the principal concepts of the Bible. Simply stated, sin is the falling away of the heart from God. Every person has a conscience and some kind of understanding of right and wrong. The voice of the conscience, however, is corrupted if it is not joined to God's Word. Knowledge of and reverence for God's Word has dimmed in our time and with it people's concept of right and wrong, of sin, has also dimmed. If teaching about sin ceases, man's awareness of his need for God's grace also ceases. MAN'S VALUE IS BASED ON CREATION AND REDEMPTION Because every person is created in God's image (Gen. 1:26) and has been redeemed by Christ, every individual is of value, unique, and irreplaceable regardless of age, position, occupation, race, gender, or other attributes. God wishes us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. True love for our neighbors is to help them when they are in need and to encourage them to live according to God's Word and support them in their endeavor to do so. It also includes warning them of the dangers of living contrary to the will of God (Lev. 19:17; Eph. 5:11; 2 Tim. 4:2). GOD IS LORD OVER LIFE AND DEATH As knowledge increases and technology advances, man strives to take decisions of life and death into his own hands. This manifests itself, for example, in the prevention of conception, the termination of pregnancy, some kinds of gene manipulation, efforts to clone humans, and euthanasia. People have forgotten that God is the Creator and upholder of all, Lord over life and death. He alone has the power to create life and take it away (1 Sam. 2:6; Job 10:12; Ps. 139:13-16). He has not authorized man to control life. The duty of medicine is to protect life, alleviate suffering, and promote and maintain health while respecting humanity. DOCTRINE AND LIFE GO TOGETHER Doctrine and life are closely joined. God blesses those who live according to His will. The gospel brings man freedom in Christ and gives him the power to serve God and his fellowman. It does not give him permission to live in sin (Gal. 5:13; 1 Pet. 2:16). God has lovingly set limits for man, like loving parents do for their children. The grace of God teaches us to reject sin and to live according to the instruction of His Word (Tit. 2:11, 12). CHRISTIANITY IN SOCIETY GOD'S LAW AS A FOUNDATION FOR SOCIETY AND ITS LAWS Just as God has established the so-called laws of nature, which govern the physical world, He has also established a moral law, sometimes called higher or natural law, which governs the lives of men. This law is universal, eternal, and unchanging. God reveals this law to all men by general revelation, that is, through nature, the fate of men's lives, and history (Rom. 1:19, 20; 2:14, 15), as well as in His Word. There it is briefly expressed in the Ten Commandments and even more briefly in Jesus' Two Great Commandments (Matt. 22:37-40). Previous generations have recognized the existence and immutable nature of this higher law. They have understood that by His law God does not seek to hinder and oppress man but rather to protect life and all that which is sacred and precious in life. As a result, they strove to emulate God's law in the laws of our land. Recent generations and their elected leaders, legislators, and judges have challenged or denied the existence or validity of a higher law. Deviating from the truths of God's law and the teaching of His Word shakes the foundations of our society and threatens its survival. THE FEAR OF THE LORD GRANTS SECURITY It is a benefit to our society that this and upcoming generations are given wholesome models for life and secure conditions for growth. These rise from the correct fear of God and from personal faith. “In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge” (Prov. 14:26). SOBER LIVING IS A PART OF CHRISTIAN MORALITY Sober living has always been part of Christian morality. The Scripture warns of the dangers of alcohol and other intoxicants. It teaches that the power of alcohol wars against the will and power of God (Isa. 5:11, 12; 1Cor. 6:10; Eph. 5:18). The use of intoxicants causes immeasurable suffering and hardship in our society, affecting not only the user, but also others around them. Individuals in the public eye, including elected officials, civil servants, and educators, can teach the value of a positive, unimpaired lifestyle by providing an example of sober living in their own lives. MARRIAGE AND FAMILY ISSUES GOD CREATED MARRIAGE AND FAMILY God has established marriage and family in His creation work and they are thus defined and governed by the natural law of God's creation (Gen 2:18, 23, 24). Attempts to redefine marriage and family and to alter or resist their intended purpose thus injure families and society. MARRIAGE-A LIFELONG COVENANT BETWEEN MAN AND WOMAN A fundamental change of values and concepts marked the so-called sexual revolution of the 1960s. Marital fidelity lost its significance. Sexual cohabitation has gained moral acceptance in our society. The fulfillment of nearly all one's inclinations has become permissible. This is manifested, for example, in legislation legalizing same-sex unions. God, however, instituted marriage as a lifelong covenant between man and woman. God's will is that sexual life between man and woman takes place only in the estate of marriage. The Bible always calls sexual relations outside of marriage fornication. DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE God hates divorce (Mal. 2:16). Moses allowed divorce, but, as Jesus explained, he did so only because of the hardness of men's hearts, that is their unbelief, and that it had not been so from the beginning. Jesus taught: “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matt. 19:6; Mark 10:9). The effects of increasing divorce are evident in our society. Truly divorce, in a person's innermost being, is always a wounding and pivotal change-not to mention the degree to which children and youth suffer when their parents part ways. Because God established marriage as a lifelong covenant it ends only when one of the spouses dies. According to the Bible remarriage is acceptable only after a spouse has died (Luke 16:18; 1 Cor. 7:39). HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOR IS SIN The Bible teaches that homosexual behavior is immoral and as such is sin (Rom. 1:24-27; Lev. 18:22). Appeals to God's creation work and genetics do not justify homosexual relations, for even if in some cases the individual may not be responsible for the onset of the homosexual tendency, God's Word nonetheless obligates him or her to abstain from its practice in the same manner that it obligates an individual with normal sexual inclination to abstain from extramarital sexual relations. God does not approve the sexual relations of partners of the same sex and He does not bless such relationships. It is with good reason that the Bible warns against this sin. The increase of homosexuality and its acceptance has always been an expression of moral decline. GOD WISHES TO PROTECT AND STRENGTHEN MARRIAGE AND FAMILIES God's Word seeks to protect and strengthen the family (Exod. 20:12; Prov. 1:8; Eph. 6:1-3). The family forms the fundamental unit of society and strong families are crucial to the health and preservation of society. Our society needs to value lifelong marriage and to support parenthood. Governments, policy makers, and public institutions at all levels should strive to support and strengthen marriage and families. CONCLUSION The Bible teaches that true wisdom begins with the fear of God. He and His Word are eternal and unchanging. A life built upon the enduring values of God's Word brings blessings to both the individual and society: “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov. 14:34). God's Word is a bright and true light. It exposes evil and gives man knowledge of his sin and convicts him of it, but it also tells of the forgiveness and life that God has provided in Jesus Christ and the keys of the kingdom of heaven with which His children forgive penitent sinners on His behalf and thus release them from the bondage of sin.

LLC Operating Plan The Operating Plan outlines the work for the coming year and the video summarizes and highlights material contained in the Operating Plan. Congregation members are asked to share their input and feedback with their congregation delegates. Input from the delegates will be communicated at the LLC Annual Meeting.