Teachings of the Prophets

Teachings of Lehi

2011-07-16T17:44:00.001-06:00

Visions & Dreams

Lehi had a vision in which he saw God surrounded by angels, Jesus Christ descend from heaven, 12 apostles following Jesus, and learned that Jerusalem would be destroyed (1 Nephi 1:8-13).
When Lehi received visions and revelations, his "whole heart was filled", his "soul did rejoice", and he praised God (1 Nephi 1:15). Do we take for granted the personal revelation we receive or do we rejoice and praise God with gratitude? Then in verse 18 Lehi goes and preaches what he learned in his vision.
The Lord spoke to him in a dream, "Blessed art thou Lehi, because of the things which thou hast done; and because thou hast been faithful and declared unto this people the things which I commanded thee, behold, they seek to take away thy life." And the Lord commanded him to leave Jerusalem with his family (1 Nephi 2:1-2).
Lehi was told in a dream to send his sons back to Jerusalem for the brass plates (and of course he obeyed!) (1 Nephi 3:2-4).
Lehi received another revelation of the Lord commanding him to send his sons back to Jerusalem a second time, this time to find another family with daughters. (1 Nephi 6:1-2)
Lehi tells his family he has "dreamed a dream; or, in other words" "seen a vision". (1 Nephi 8:3)
The voice of the Lord commanded Lehi where to travel in the wilderness and then provided him with the Liahona (1 Nephi 16:9-10).
Lehi: "For, behold, said he, I have seen a vision, in which I know that Jerusalem is destroyed; and had we remained in Jerusalem we should also have perished." (2 Nephi 1:4)

Prophesying of Future Events

After studying the brass plates, Lehi "was filled with the Spirit, and began to prophesy concerning his seed." He prophesied that the plates (or the record they contain) would "go forth unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people who were of his seed" and that the plates would "never perish" or be "dimmed by time." (1 Nephi 5:17-19)
Lehi prophesied that after the destruction of Jerusalem, many surviving Jews would be carried away captive and would one day return to rebuild their city (1 Nephi 10:2-3).
He prophesied that 600 years later the Messiah, Savior, Reedemer of the World, of whom the prophets had testified, would come to redeem his people. He also prophesied of John the Baptist who would prepare the way and baptize the Savior (1 Nephi 10:4-10).
Lehi prophesied of the scattering of Israel and that his family would help fulfill that prophesy in the "land of promise". He prophesied of the gathering of Israel by the gentiles accepting the gospel and then the Jews (1 Nephi 10:12-14).
When Lehi teaches about the Land of Promise that they have inherited, he prophesies that the Lord has covenanted this land unto all those who would be led thereto in the future. He prophesies that none will come unto this land except they be led by the hand of the Lord. If they should serve God in the land, it will remain a land of liberty, but iniquity will inevitably lead to captivity (2 Nephi 1:5-7).
Lehi prophesies that the land will be kept from other nations for a while. If the people in the land "shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; and they shall be kept from all other nations, that they may possess this land unto themselves. And if it so be that they shall keep his commandments they shall be blessed upon the face of this land, and there shall be none to molest them, nor to take away the land of their inheritance; and they shall dwell safely forever"(2 Nephi 1:8-9).
Lehi prophesies that when the day comes that the people of the land (his posterity) shall reject the Messiah, "the judgments of him that is just shall rest upon them."He prophesies that other nations will come to the land and scatter and kill the people (2 Nephi 1:10-12).

God's Mercy

Lehi proclaimed that God's mercy is over all the inhabitants of the earth, and because of that mercy, God will not suffer those who come unto him to perish (1 Nephi 1:14).
Lehi taught his sons about the mercy of God and pointed out that God was merciful to have spared their lives while crossing the sea and merciful to bring them out of Jerusalem before it was destroyed (2 Nephi 1:1-3).

Things I learn from Lehi

Lehi truly acted when the Lord commanded regardless of how difficult the assignment might be. When he had his vision, he immediately "went forth among the people, and began to prophesy and to declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard" (1 Nephi 1:18). He knew that he would be rejected and his life endangered, but he trusted in the Lord and went and obeyed. I think this example had a profound impact on Nephi as a boy and helped Nephi develop a "Go and do" attitude.
Even Lehi's wife questioned his visions and revelations from the Lord when things did not appear to be going well for their family. I imagine this was a low of lows for them and that having his wife murmur and complain against him was a terribly tough trial. Instead of getting defensive and angry with her, he comforted her by bearing his testimony about the goodness of God and how blessed they truly were. He expressed his faith that the Lord would protect their sons. (1 Nephi 5:2-6)
Lehi recognizes that God is just and that wickedness will always be punished. (2 Nephi 1:22)
I like Lehi's description of his relationship with the Savior: " I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love" (2 Nephi 1:15).

Testified of Christ and his Atonement

Lehi testified that he saw Jesus in vision descending from heaven (1 Nephi 1:9).
Lehi "manifested plainly of the coming of a Messiah, and also the redemption of the world" (1 Nephi 1:19).
He prophesied that 600 years later the Messiah, Savior, Reedemer of the World, of whom the prophets had testified, would come "to take away the sins of the world". He also prophesied of John the Baptist who would prepare the way and baptize the Savior. Also that the Savior would be baptized in a river by water. He taught that Jesus would be slain and then resurrect (1 Nephi 10:4-11).
Lehi tells his son Jacob: "I know that thou art redeemed, because of the righteousness of thy Redeemer; for thou hast beheld that in the fulness of time he cometh to bring salvation unto men." (2 Nephi 2:3). He testifies that the Savior will come and of his power to save.
Lehi tells Jacob that he is just as blessed to have beheld Christ's glory by the Spirit as those who will see the Savior in the flesh (2 Nephi 2:4). The same Spirit bears witness to us of the divinity of Christ as bore witness to those who physically met Him.
Lehi says, "Salvation is Free" (2 Nephi 2:4). This does not mean that we do not have to do anything- because we know we do- but it means Christ freely offers his atonement, grace, and mercy to us. The offer is on the table already and freely available to us; we just need to do our part to accept that sacrifice.

Obedience

Lehi showed that he was obedient to the Lord even when it was a difficult task that the Lord commanded him. Such as preaching to those who try to kill him (1 Nephi 2:1), leaving his home and possessions behind to go into the wilderness with his family (1 Nephi 2:2-3), and sending his sons on a dangerous mission in which they are nearly killed (1 Nephi 3:4).
Obeying without murmuring helps us be favored of the Lord (1 Nephi 3:6).
After returning with his brothers from Jerusalem with the plates, Nephi said of himself and his father: "thus far I and my father had kept the commandments wherewith the Lord had commanded us."(1 Nephi 5:20) Later on after the family of Ishmael joins them, Nephi again says of his father: "And thus my father had fulfilled all the commandments of the Lord which had been given unto him."(1 Nephi 16:8).

Gratitude

After Lehi and his family traveled three days in the wilderness, Lehi "built an altar of stones, and made an offering unto the Lord, and gave thanks unto the Lord our God" (1 Nephi 2:7).
When Lehi's sons returned safely with the plates from Jerusalem, they rejoiced and "did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto the Lord; and they gave thanks unto the God of Israel." Further evidencing his gratitude, Lehi immediately immersed himself in the brass plates. (1 Nephi 5:9-10).
When Lehi's sons returned from getting Ishmael's family, again they expressed gratitude unto the Lord: "they did give thanks unto the Lord their God; and they did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto him." (1 Nephi 6:22)

Powerful, Mighty Testimony

Lehi "did speak unto them in the valley of Lemuel, with power, being filled with the Spirit, until their frames did shake before him. And he did confound them, that they durst not utter against him; wherefore, they did as he commanded them" (1 Nephi 2:14).

The Plan of Salvation

Lehi testified about the fall and need for the atonement: "all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer" (1 Nephi 9:6).

Teaching / Exhorting his Children (and Posterity)

He tells his sons: "O that ye would awake; awake from a deep sleep, yea, even from the sleep of hell, and shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound...Awake! and arise from the dust, and hear the words of a trembling parent, whose limbs ye must soon lay down in the cold and silent grave...But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love. And I desire that ye should remember to observe the statutes and the judgments of the Lord; behold, this hath been the anxiety of my soul from the beginning" (2 Nephi 1:13-16).
This point was very important to Lehi to get across to his children and posterity: "And he hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence." (2 Nephi 1:20)
You can hear the pleading in his voice: "that I might not be brought down with grief and sorrow to the grave, arise from the dust, my sons, and be men, and be determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things, that ye may not come down into captivity;" (2 Nephi 1:21).
Lehi tells his sons to "put on the armor of righteousness", "shake off the chains" that bind them, "come forth out of obscurity", and "arise from the dust."He tells them to stop rebelling against Nephi, who has been righteous and an "instrument in the hands of God." (2 Nephi 1:23-24)
Even though his sons may not of liked hearing this, Lehi gave them this wise counsel: "And now my son, Laman, and also Lemuel and Sam, and also my sons who are the sons of Ishmael, behold, if ye will hearken unto the voice of Nephi ye shall not perish. And if ye will hearken unto him I leave unto you a blessing, yea, even my first blessing But if ye will not hearken unto him I take away my first blessing, yea, even my blessing, and it shall rest upon him." (2 Nephi 1:28-29)

Afflictions

Lehi talks to his son, Jacob, and promises: "thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain."(2 Nephi 2:2) This can be applied to us as well. Knowing the greatness of God appears to be a prerequisite, likely because that leads to faith in Him and hope for the future. God is able to turn any negative into a positive, even when it comes to difficulties in our lives.
Lehi taught that there must be "opposition in all things." Righteousness could not exist without a contrasting wickedness. Or what is good if there is no bad? (2 Nephi 2:11-13)

Benefits and Blessings of Scripture Study - the reason why we're told to study the scriptures daily

2011-06-13T18:08:00.000-06:00

I recently (yesterday) spoke in Church about feasting on the word and its benefits. I wanted to share some of the notes I took (mostly quotes) about scripture study as I prepared for the talk- much of what I shared was from these quotes. I don't have links and references in all of these, but you can search on Google or LDS.org and find any of these talks- leave me a comment if there is one you can't find and I'll send you a link.

Scripture study brings us closer to God by increasing our faith, testimony, and spirituality.

-Elder Eyring: “The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ, and we learn about Him in its pages. We know that it has great power. It has the power to change lives. It has the power to convert. If you read it with an open heart, you will know that it is the word of God and that it is true...Another reason to study it regularly, for me at least, is that I can pick up the Book of Mormon, open to any page, read, and the Holy Ghost bears personal witness to me that it is the word of God. I know the Lord is speaking. I know the Book of Mormon is what it claims to be.”

-Elder Bednar: “Studying and feasting suggest a focus and an intensity that reach far beyond casual reading or quick perusing. Studying and feasting, followed by sincere prayer and steadfast application of the truths and principles we learn, yield personal resolve, spiritual commitment, and the bright light of testimony. Studying, learning, praying, and appropriately applying gospel truths are all key elements in the process of coming unto the Savior.”

-President Harold B. Lee: “If we’re not reading the scriptures daily, our testimonies are growing thinner, our spirituality isn’t increasing in depth.”

-President Spencer W. Kimball taught: “I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns”

-Elder Bateman of 12: There are certain blessings obtained when one searches the scriptures. As a person studies the words of the Lord and obeys them, he or she draws closer to the Savior and obtains a greater desire to live a righteous life. The power to resist temptation increases, and spiritual weaknesses are overcome. Spiritual wounds are healed.

Scripture study helps us overcome temptation

-Nephi answered his brothers’ questions about the tree of life in 1 Ne 15:24 “And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.”

(explains how) -Elder Eyring: “The Holy Ghost confirms to us the word of God when we read it. That confirmation, repeated often, strengthens our faith. And it is by faith that we overcome obstacles and resist temptation.”

Scripture study helps us receive personal revelation and guidance from the Lord

-(two major ways the Lord guides us) Elder Kendrick of 70: “Our Heavenly Father continues to communicate with us through revelation. These revelations are communications of divine directions. They may come to us personally or through the voice of the Lord’s chosen servants...Those revelations received by prophets are given to us in the form of scripture or by the voice of the living prophets. Thus the scriptures become a road map, a set of divine directions to assist us on our journey through mortality and our return trip home.

-Elder Hales: “For when we want to speak to God, we pray. And when we want Him to speak to us, we search the scriptures; for His words are spoken through His prophets. He will then teach us as we listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit...If you have not heard His voice speaking to you lately, return with new eyes and new ears to the scriptures. They are our spiritual lifeline.”

-Sister Cheryl Lant (Gen Primary President): “I find that if I pray not only to have a witness of the truthfulness of the scriptures but also to have the Spirit with me as I read, my sensitivity is heightened, and I see ever so much more clearly. I can see where I am in my life and where my Heavenly Father wants me to be. I can understand principles of truth, and I can see how to make the needed changes in my life. I can feel assured that the Lord will help and strengthen me to accomplish the task.”

-President Benson, in the April 1986 general conference, expressed these thoughts: “However diligent we may be in other areas, certain blessings are to be found only in the scriptures, only in coming to the word of the Lord and holding fast to it as we make our way through the mists of darkness to the tree of life.”

-Remember President Hinckley’s promises that he made to the members who committed to read the Book of Mormon: “an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God.”

-When Elder Eyring was asked how studying the scriptures had benefited him personally, he responded: “The scriptures were one of the ways God spoke to me—even when I was a child—about my needs, my situation, and my life. They still are. Since our needs change over a lifetime, God has different things to tell us at different times. Sometimes I go to the scriptures for doctrine. Sometimes I go to the scriptures for instruction. I go with a question, and the question usually is “What would God have me do?” or “What would He have me feel?” Invariably I find new ideas, thoughts I have never had before, and I receive inspiration and instruction and answers to my questions.“

-Eyring: “Going to the scriptures to learn what to do makes all the difference. The Lord can teach us. When we come to a crisis in our life, such as losing a child or spouse, we should go looking in the scriptures for specific help. We will find answers in the scriptures. The Lord seemed to anticipate all of our problems and all of our needs, and He put help in the scriptures for us—if only we seek it.”

Scripture study teaches us to recognize the Lord’s voice

-David McConkie (sunday school presidency) in a conference address last year taught: “The Lord has commanded us to search the scriptures, to feast upon them, and to treasure them up. As we earnestly search and ponder the word of the Lord, we will have His Spirit with us. We will become acquainted with His voice.
Soon after I was called to be a stake president, our stake presidency received training from an Area Seventy. During the training, I asked a question to which he responded, “That is a good question. Let’s turn to the Church Handbook of Instructions for the answer.” We then went to the handbook, and there was the answer to my question. A little later in our training, I asked another question. Once again he responded, “Good question. Let’s turn to the handbook.” I did not venture to ask any more questions. I thought it best to read the handbook.
I have thought since that the Lord could give a similar response to each of us as we go to Him with concerns or questions. He could say, “That’s a good question. If you will review Alma chapter 5 or Doctrine and Covenants section 76, you’ll remember that I have already spoken to you about this.”
Brothers and sisters, it is contrary to the economy of heaven for the Lord to repeat to each of us individually what He has already revealed to us collectively. The scriptures contain the words of Christ. They are the voice of the Lord. Studying the scriptures trains us to hear the Lord’s voice.”

-The Lord himself taught that the scriptures are his voice (D&C 18:34–36.): “These words are not of men nor of man, but of me; …“For it is my voice which speaketh them unto you; for they are given by my Spirit … , and by my power you can read them one to another. …“Wherefore, you can testify that you have heard my voice, and know my words.”

Why Study the Scriptures?

2011-06-13T18:03:00.000-06:00

Feasting Upon Sweet Scriptures
In contemplating the phrase "feast upon the words of Christ" it's easy to wonder how one really feasts upon the scriptures. Anyone can read the scriptures. With a little bit of additional effort it isn't too hard to study the scriptures. But what does it take to feast upon the scriptures? Anyone who reads the scriptures much knows that they taste good. What I mean by that is that you feel the truth of what you're reading and it makes you feel good. But to feast on the scriptures, they'd have to be delicious to you and Alma teaches us how they can:

"Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me." (Alma 32:28)

Alma compares the word of God (the scriptures) unto a seed. If you bring the word into your heart and believe the word, it will continue to enlarge your soul, enlighten your understanding, and finally begin to be delicious to you. This is a process that takes time - it doesn't happen overnight.
The Psalmist said it another way, "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalms 119:103). If we're to feast upon the word, I think it's safe to say the scriptures need to be sweet honey to our taste.

A Reservoir of Living Water
Read this masterful discourse given by Elder Bednar: A Reservoir of Living Water.

Consider how important water is to sustaining physical life. The Savior referred to his word as the "living water." Elder Bednar: "And as water is necessary to sustain physical life, so the Savior and His doctrines, principles, and ordinances are essential for eternal life. You and I need His living water daily and in ample supply to sustain our ongoing spiritual growth and development."
I like the analogy that the scriptures are a reservoir of living water. We know that the Savior is the fountain of living water, so it makes sense to consider the scriptures a reservoir where His word is stored and readily accessible for our consumption.

The Book of Mormon Helps us Grow Closer to God

2011-06-02T19:14:00.002-06:00

Regarding the Book of Mormon, the Prophet Joseph Smith said that “a man would get
nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book” (introduction to the
Book of Mormon). The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. By reading this book, we get to know Christ and gain a greater appreciation for his atoning sacrifice for us. We also learn how we can follow him, become more like him, and gain eternal glory with him. As you study the words of the Book of Mormon, you will receive personal revelation, inspiration that will bless your life. As you pray to know of the book's truthfulness, the Holy Ghost will touch your heart and testify to you that it is true.
The prophet of my youth, President Gordon B. Hinckley declared:

“Those who have read [the Book of Mormon] prayerfully, be they rich or poor, learned or unlearned, have grown under its power. . . . Without reservation I promise you that if you will prayerfully read the Book of Mormon, regardless of how many times you previously have read it, there will come into your hearts . . . the Spirit of the Lord. There will come a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to his commandments, and there will come a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God” (“The Power of the Book of Mormon,” Ensign, June 1988, 6).

President Hinckley also said in the same discourse:

"While the Book of Mormon speaks with power about the issues that affect our modern society, the great and stirring burden of its message is a testimony, vibrant and true, that Jesus is the Christ, the promised Messiah. The book bears witness of him who walked the dusty roads of Palestine healing the sick and teaching the doctrines of salvation; who died upon the cross of Calvary; who on the third day came forth from the tomb, appearing to many; and who, as a resurrected being, visited the people of the Western Hemisphere, concerning whom he earlier had said: “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (John 10:16.)"

Guided by the Holy Spirit

2011-06-01T06:39:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to jot down a few thoughts about President Boyd K Packer's (one of the 12 Apostles) talk "Guided by the Holy Spirit" - for the full text of his message click here.

President Packer hit the nail on the head when he said, "Some claim we are not Christians. They either do not know us at all or they misunderstand." The name of our church is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and everything we do centers around the Savior, Jesus Christ, so to claim that Mormons aren't Christian is as absurd as the belief that Mormons have horns.

He continues: "In the Church every ordinance is done by the authority of and in the name of Jesus Christ.We have the same organization as did the primitive Church, with apostles and prophets." This is critical to understand- Jesus Christ established his Church while on the earth 2000 years ago with apostles and prophets. That Church eventually fell into apostasy after the Apostles were martyred. The Church of Jesus Christ has been restored in these, the last days via a new prophet of our time, Joseph Smith. This is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"Every one of us can be guided by the spirit of revelation and the gift of the Holy Ghost...If you are carrying some burden, forget it, let it alone. Do a lot of forgiving and a little repenting " President Packer teaches that we all can be guided by the Spirit to make changes in our lives. A little pondering and reflexion will quickly bring to our minds areas for improvement in our lives. Forgive, repent, forget. The Spirit will guide you to know how to change to become more perfect like the Savior of the World.

Avoiding Sin

2011-05-23T06:51:00.000-06:00

Let's see what Helaman taught to his sons, Nephi and Lehi, in the Book of Mormon. Specifically, I'll study this from the passage Helaman 5:5-13 to see how Helaman taught his sons to avoid sin.

First we must have a firm testimony of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer. Helaman lived before the Savior came. He taught his sons: "remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world" (Helaman 5:9).

Then comes the powerful teaching that we should apply into our lives to avoid sin:

"12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." (Helaman 5:12)

We must build our testimonies on the rock of Jesus Christ because the storms of temptations and sin will without doubt attack us. The promise is that if we build our foundation on Christ, we cannot fall. This is the message that Heleman sought to instil within his sons. I believe it is a recipe for success in life and freedom from sin.

How Can I Avoid the Evils that Threaten my Family?

2011-05-20T06:53:00.000-06:00

I am going to study the words of Alma to his son Corianton in Alma 39 to see what answers to this question I can find.

Alma gives this counsel to his son, but it applies to everyone in regards to how we need to develop self-mastery or self-control:

"9 Now my son, I would that ye should repent and forsake your sins, and go no more after the lusts of your eyes, but cross yourself in all these things; for except ye do this ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. Oh, remember, and take it upon you, and cross yourself in these things." (Alma 39:9)

When he says cross yourself it's like we say "check yourself" today. Exercise self-mastery, self-discipline, and self-control. Teach your family to do the same, just as Alma is teaching his son. Alma tells Corianton to hang out with his brothers and follow their examples since they're living righteously. I think it's always easier to avoid evils when you put yourself with a good crowd that is striving for the same thing.

Alma tells him to "turn to the Lord" and to "acknowledge [his] faults" in verse 13. And some great advice for us to remember: "Seek not after riches nor the vain things of this world; for behold, you cannot carry them with you" (Alma 39:14).

Strengthening Your Marriage Through the Teachings of Jesus Christ

2011-05-17T19:42:00.001-06:00

As I've been trying to show with some of the most recent posts, the Book of Mormon answers the questions of the soul. To learn about strengthening relationships - even with our spouse, we can turn to the Book of Mormon. Let's see what the Savior taught in 3 Nephi 14:

"3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother: Let me pull the mote out of thine eye—and behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast the mote out of thy brother’s eye." (3 Nephi 14:3-5)

Marriages go sour when husband and/or wife are selfish and prideful. What the Savior describes above often results from both selfishness and pride. It's easy super easy to see the faults in others, especially those we know best, and who do we know better than our spouse? We can get caught up in a little flaw our spouse may have without realizing that it's small compared to our own flaws (which are many). So here is one way to interpret this: "Once you're perfect, then go ahead and try to fix your spouse's problems." This will definitely help any marriage.

Here's a tip I'm sure you've never heard, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!" Or as the Savior taught: "Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets" (3 Nephi 14:12). If you want your spouse to respect you, then you better show respect first. I'm sure you get the idea.

Lastly, I believe this applies well to the counsel here about strengthening your marriage:

"24 Therefore, whoso heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock—
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the bsand—
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it." (3 Nephi 14:24-27)

If your marriage isn't built upon the rock, then how do you expect to withstand the tempests that are sure to come? For more about strengthening family relationships, visit http://mormon.org/family/.

Balancing Family and Career

2011-05-16T20:44:00.000-06:00

This is an interesting dilemma faced by millions of the world's working men and women. Jesus Christ gave some great instruction that can be prayerfully applied to this dilemma. It's found in the New Testament and also in the Book of Mormon. In fact, it is one of the first things the Savior taught to the Nephites when he visited them after his resurrection. I'm referring to his teachings in 3 Nephi 13.

Jesus taught:

"19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal;
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." 3 Nephi 13:19-21

What do you treasure? For what treasure do you pursue your career? Is it something that can be corrupted or stolen? Or is your treasure of an eternal nature? Remember that status, riches, fame, and everything the world offers is just temporary while our families can be together eternally (see http://mormon.org/family). Wherever you place your treasure, or whatever you value most, that's where your heart will be. From personal experience, the greatest happiness and peace comes from putting God and family first.

"24 No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon." 3 Nephi 13:24

Who is your master? Who do you chose to serve? I have a feeling this question can be answered by how you spend your time and resources. Serving God and making him your master will place your family at the forefront of your life. Other master's are not so generous.

Jesus talks about the lilies and the birds and how they are provided for without worrying. His point is not that we shouldn't need to work, but rather that we should do the best we can, and he will provide for us (3 Nephi 13:25-32). Too many people fear that they will suffer financial hardships if they do not have their career as top priority. The opposite is true- when you put God and family first, your career improves (as does every other aspect of your life).

Remember: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you" (3 Nephi 13:34). As I said before, put God and family first and the rest will fall into place. That's a promise from God.

Finding Peace and Joy

2011-05-15T11:42:00.000-06:00

What does the Book of Mormon teach us about how we can find peace and joy in our lives? I'm going to study some of the words of the prophet and king, Benjamin in Mosiah 2 and Mosiah 4.

King Benjamin taught his people "to keep the commandments of God, that they might rejoice and be filled with love towards God and all men" (Mosiah 2:4). This shows the connection between obedience to God's commandments and joy (rejoicing). Remember the greatest commandments, according to Jesus Christ, are to love God and to love our fellow-man. This creates an interesting cycle: we must love God and all men to keep the commandments, and keeping the commandments will fill us "with love towards God and all men." We here a lot about sin and pride cycles, so it's refreshing to see a righteousness and love cycle where the more obedient we are the more we'll love God and others, and the more our love increases, the more obedient we will become. That's a joyful cycle that will lead us to become more like our perfect exemplar, the Savior.

King Benjamin tells his people, "as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls" (Mosiah 4:11). So what caused the "exceedingly great joy" in their souls? Coming to know God, knowing His goodness, tasting of his love, receiving forgiveness (repenting) of our sins. That is an inspired recipe for "exceedingly great joy."

He then gives his people another formula for joy and peace in Mosiah 4:11-13. To summarize:
If

We remember the greatness and goodness of God and his patience towards us
We humble ourselves into the "depths of humility"
Pray daily to God
Stand steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come

Then

We shall always rejoice,
Be filled with the love of God
Be forgiven of our sins
Grow in the knowledge of the glory of God and that which is just and true
We will not injure one another
We will live peaceably
We shall treat everyone fairly

In connection with this if/then promise, King Benjamin tells parents to provide for their children, teach them to keep the commandments, not quarrel, and not worship/follow Satan. Parents should "teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another" (Mosiah 4:14-15).

This verse is one of my favorite scriptures and powerful wisdom shared by Benjamin:

"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it." (Mosiah 2:41)

Those who obey God's commandments are blessed and happy; in fact, they are "blessed in all things." If they endure to the end faithfully, then they receive a state of never-ending happiness. Who in this world does not desire happiness in this life and in the life to come? The way to achieve it is obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Find out more about God's plan of happiness here: http://mormon.org/plan-of-happiness/.

Do Infants Need to be Baptized?

2011-04-04T21:17:00.000-06:00

The answer to whether we need to baptize our infants is no. In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Mormon uses very clear terms to explain to his son, Moroni, that baptism is not necessary for children (Moroni 8).

Mormon inquired of the Lord concerning the baptism of children and the response of the Lord was, "Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin;" (Moroni 8:8). Mormon then explains that "it is solemn mockery before God, that ye should baptize little children."

Mormon continues:

"19 Little children cannot repent; wherefore, it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are all alive in him because of his mercy.

20 And he that saith that little children need baptism denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atonement of him and the power of his redemption." (Moroni 8:19-20)

Since baptism is unto repentance, it makes sense that babies should not need baptism because they are innocent and incapable of sin.

Why Does God Allow Bad Things to Happen?

2011-04-01T17:22:00.001-06:00

I know this is a common question asked after the death of a loved one, a natural disaster occurs, or some other tragedy takes place. We must remember that God never causes bad things to happen, so the question is "why does God allow bad things to happen?" At the root, it comes down to God giving us agency and not forcing anybody to do anything- we have to make choices because that's one of the reasons we're here on earth. Let's see what else we can learn from the Book of Mormon to help understand the answer to this question.

Lehi explains to his son Jacob that the devil, evil, wickedness, and all bad things exist for a reason- to provide us with "an opposition in all things" (2 Nephi 2:11). The reason this opposition is so important is that "the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other" (2 Nephi 2:16). So in order for me to truly have agency, I must have choices. If choices or options do not exist, then how can I have agency or the freedom of choice? So, the devil provides us with opportunities to choose poorly while God seeks to guide us to choose righteously through the influence of the Holy Ghost and also the light of Christ, also known as our conscience. Everyone is born with a conscience, knowing right from wrong, so that we can choose for ourselves and be held accountable for those choices.

I think it's also important to remember that even bad things can and do turn out alright in the end. It's true that our trials make us stronger and we can learn so many valuable lessons from our mistakes. Lehi told Jacob, "Nevertheless, Jacob, my first-born in the wilderness, thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain" (2 Nephi 2:2). I believe that this is true for all of us if we endure our afflictions well.

A Biblical example of this is the Fall of Adam and Eve. They transgressed God's command to not eat of the forbidden fruit, yet much good has come of that transgression. If not for them eating of the fruit and being kicked out of the Garden of Eden, we would not have ever been born (2 Nephi 2:22-25).

Lehi describes - basically as his final words to his sons - agency and our freedom of choice:

27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and call things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

28 And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;

29 And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom.

30 I have spoken these few words unto you all, my sons, in the last days of my probation; and I have chosen the good part, according to the words of the prophet. And I have none other object save it be the everlasting welfare of your souls. Amen. (2 Nephi 2:27-30)

Simply put, choose good! Choose God!

Two prophets who were preaching as missionaries ran into this same question. Many of those converted to the true gospel of Christ were being burned at the stake by non-believers. Amulek turned to Alma and essentially asked, "Why is this awful thing happening? Can't we call upon God to put an end to it?" God's answer, which came through his prophet Alma can also help answer the question we're discussing: "The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day" (Alma 14:9-11).

Similarly, God revealed to the prophet Moroni, "For the Lord suffereth the righteous to be slain that his justice and judgment may come upon the wicked; therefore ye need not suppose that the righteous are lost because they are slain; but behold, they do enter into the rest of the Lord their God" (Alma 60:13).

The experience of Alma and Amulek is especially hard to comprehend. Those people being burned to death were good, righteous people who had recently given their hearts over to God and would not deny him. Yet God allowed wicked men to kill them. We must remember that God is at the helm, meaning he sees the complete "big-picture" with a perfect perspective. All things are present to God because he can see the past, present, and future. He acts in our best interest.

If we live our lives righteously, we will never have to fear because any and all bad things that may befall us will end up being for our good.

What Is the Purpose of Life?

2011-03-31T17:12:00.000-06:00

This is a big question that most people have at some point in their life: What is the purpose of life? I'm going to study the words that Amulek taught in the Book of Mormon in Alma 34 to see what can be learned about the purpose of life.

First we must realize that because of the fall of Adam and Eve, all mankind is in a fallen and lost state. We commit sin and not one of us can avoid that. In this fallen state we are unable to return to God's presence, which is why we are "lost." For this reason, God has lovingly provided a way to overcome our fallen state. He provided a Savior for us, who of course is Jesus Christ. His perfect atonement (sacrifice for us) allows us to become clean and perfected in him if we follow his gospel by having faith in Him, repenting, and being baptized (Alma 34:8-15). So I guess we can classify that as one purpose for us during this life: follow Christ's gospel so we can return to God and be saved.

To put this one more way, in terms of mercy and justice, the atonement provides mercy, which can "satisfy the demands of justice." So, "he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption" (Alma 34:16).

Where do we start? Amulek says, "cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save. Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him" (Alma 34:18-19). The first step is to pray to God in humility asking for his help and his mercy. I'd even suggest meeting with missionaries; in fact, Amulek was a missionary when he taught this lesson! Click here to contact the missionaries in your area.

Amulek gives a big warning to the people he teaches. He tells them: "If ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and import of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need- I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain and availeth you nothing..."(Alma 34:28). So more is required of us than just faith and repentance, we must use our means in this life to help those less fortunate than ourselves.

The next point Amulek makes is also with very strong language that I won't paraphrase because that would only take away from it. He warns us against procrastinating our day of repentance:

"32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.
33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.
34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.
35 For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked." (Alma 34:32-35)

Some more counsel on how to live our lives to fulfill our purpose here (Alma 34:38-40):

"Humble yourself"
"Take upon you the name of Christ" (you do this through repentance and baptism)
"Worship God," regardless of where you are
"Live in thanksgiving daily"
"Be watchful unto prayer continually, that ye may not be led away by the temptations of the devil"
"Bear with all manner of afflictions" (patiently endure trials)

Is There Life After Death?

2011-03-29T06:50:00.000-06:00

To study the question "Is there life after death?" let's read the words of the prophet Alma to his son Corianton in Alma 40 in the Book of Mormon.

Alma teaches his son that all men will resurrect: "Behold, there is a time appointed that all shall come forth from the dead. Now when this time cometh no one knows; but God knoweth the time which is appointed" (Alma 40:4).

The next question he answers is what happens between death and the resurrection? He teaches, "the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life" (Alma 40:11).

For the righteous: "the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow" (Alma 40:12).

For the wicked:

13 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil—for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house—and these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil.
14 Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this estate, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection. (Alma 40:13-14)

So the righteous and wicked remain in a state of happiness or misery from death until the resurrection. Alma then continues by explaining what the word resurrection really means: "it meaneth the reuniting of the soul with the body ... The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame" (Alma 40:18, 23)

This resurrection is a precursor to the final day of judgment: "the dead shall come forth, and be reunited, both soul and body, and be brought to stand before God, and be judged according to their works" (Alma 40:21).

How Can Believing in Jesus Christ Help Me?

2011-03-28T17:56:00.000-06:00

To study the question "How can believing in Jesus Christ help me?" I'm going to study Alma 36 in the Book of Mormon, which contains the words of the prophet Alma to his son, Helaman.

I can imagine the intense emotion of a father testifying to his son of the thinks he believes and knows to be true. His words are motivated by the love of a father for his son. With this intensity he begins, "My son, give ear to my words; for I swear unto you, that inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land" (Alma 36:1). In order to keep God's commandments, one must believe in God and that the commandments are His. I also know that keeping His commandments leads to prosperity in all aspects of life.

He continues, "I would that ye should do as I have done, in remembering the captivity of our fathers; for they were in bondage, and none could deliver them except it was the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he surely did deliver them in their afflictions" (Alma 36:2). I think this is a very important point that Alma makes. Their ancestors at times were in captivity by their enemies and the only way they were able to escape was through the deliverance of the power of Jesus Christ. Believing in and turning to Jesus Christ can deliver us as well in our time of need. This is another powerful benefit of believing and trusting in the Savior of the world.

"And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day" (Alma 36:3). If we believe in Jesus Christ and put our trust in him, then this promise is available to us as well- we will be supported in our trials, troubles, and afflictions. I know that for me, this is the time when I most need help, and I am grateful that the Savior has been there time and again to lift me up and support me when I'm having a rough time.

Believing in Jesus Christ and laboring with him to help bring to pass the salvation of others fills your soul with "exceedingly great joy" (Alma 36:25).

And another reason to believe in Jesus Christ- listen to how it has helped Alma throughout his adult life:

"27 And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me." (Alma 36:27)

And lastly, from this chapter, I learned that believing in Christ will help me to "raise me up at the last day, to dwell in glory" (Alma 36:28). And isn't that what we all hope for? To learn more about Jesus Christ visit http://mormon.org/jesus-christ/.

What Does Jesus Expect of Me?

2011-03-26T21:10:00.000-06:00

To answer this question, I'll reference the words of the prophet Jacob, son of Lehi, in 2 Nephi 9 in the Book of Mormon.

In order for me to be able to "inherit the kingdom of God" and have my "joy be full forever," I need to have faith in Jesus Christ and "endure the crosses of the world" (2 Ne 9:18). I believe that enduring the crosses of the world means living a righteous and virtuous life even in a world that doesn't respect that lifestyle. Persecution and discrimination are inevitable for those who follow Christ, so I must be willing to do what it takes and have the faith necessary to live my beliefs.

Jesus expects all men to have faith, repent, and be baptized (2 Ne 9:23) so they can be saved in the kingdom of God. We should also keep the commandments of God and not waste our time here on earth (2 Ne 9:27). Remember that to be carnally-minded is death and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal (2 Ne 9:39).

Jacob invites, "O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One" (2 Ne 9:41). The Lord expects me to come unto him. The way to come unto the Lord is through faith, repentance, and baptism. It requires keeping His commandments and living the best I can. I must also prepare myself for judgment day:

"46 Prepare your souls for that glorious day when justice shall be administered unto the righteous, even the day of judgment, that ye may not shrink with awful fear; that ye may not remember your awful guilt in perfectness, and be constrained to exclaim: Holy, holy are thy judgments, O Lord God Almighty—but I know my guilt; I transgressed thy law, and my transgressions are mine; and the devil hath obtained me, that I am a prey to his awful misery." (2 Ne 9:46)

He also expects us to have our priorities straight. Do our decisions about time and money bring us closer to Him and to the happiness that we seek? Jacob counsels:

"51 Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness." (2 Ne 9:51, emphasis added)

Lastly, I learn from this chapter in the Book of Mormon that Jesus expects me to have a cheerful heart and an attitude of gratitude: "Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice" (2 Ne 9:52).

Is there a God?

2011-03-20T19:08:00.000-06:00

To examine this question, let's read Alma 22 in the Book of Mormon, which gives an account of some missionaries who teach the gospel to a king of the Lamanites in the ancient Americas.

In verse 7, Aaron asks the king, "Believest thou that there is a God?" The king seems uncertain but is willing to believe the words of Aaron. Aaron answers the question with "Behold, assuredly as thou livest, O king, there is a God."

The king seeks to understand and asks Aaron if God is the Great Spirit that had brought their forefathers to the Americas from Jerusalem. Aaron answers affirmatively and using the same phrase "Great Spirit" in order to help the king understand, he explains in verse 10, "Yea, he is that Great Spirit, and he created all things both in heaven and in earth."

Read what happens next:

17 And it came to pass that when Aaron had said these words, the king did bow down before the Lord, upon his knees; yea, even he did prostrate himself upon the earth, and cried mightily, saying:
18 O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day. And now when the king had said these words, he was struck as if he were dead. ...

23 Now this was done in the presence of the queen and many of the servants. And when they saw it they greatly marveled, and began to fear. And the king stood forth, and began to minister unto them. And he did minister unto them, insomuch that his whole household were converted unto the Lord.

Also, there was a prophet, who was a king among the Nephites, named King Benjamin that also taught to believe in God. King Benjamin declared:

9 Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend. Mosiah 4:9

The Book of Mormon clearly teaches that there is a God. Reading the Book of Mormon will not only help you to know that there is a God and that he loves you, but it will also help you build a relationship with God. After all, he is your Heavenly Father and yearns to be a part of your life. Get a free copy of the Book of Mormon here: http://mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon/.

How the Bible and the Book of Mormon are Testaments of Jesus Christ

2011-03-19T12:23:00.000-06:00

Much of the Christian world believes in the Old Testament and the New Testament. These books, or collections of books, are testaments of the Savior of the World, Jesus Christ. In this dispensation (the last days) we've been blessed with another testament of Jesus Christ, The Book of Mormon. Both books are written by prophets and apostles who were called of God to preach and write his doctrine. In both cases the doctrine centers around Jesus Christ and his gospel plan through which salvation can be obtained.

In the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 29 explains really well the purpose of having the Bible and the Book of Mormon as two witnesses of Christ. Verse 8 says:

"Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also." 2 Nephi 29:8

This passage in 2 Nephi explains that God remembers all his people wherever in the world they may be. He speaks to them and commands them to write His words. We should not complain about receiving more of His word as it is another testimony of Him.

In the New Testament, Paul declares, "To [Jesus Christ] give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." He clearly teaches that God calls prophets to witness of Jesus Christ. This is the purpose of scripture, both the Bible and Book of Mormon. Anyone who has a problem with God giving us another witness of Jesus Christ is in danger of rejecting his holy prophets who speak His word.

What does this mean for you!?
This means that you have another testament of Jesus Christ to help you draw closer to God and learn his gospel plan for you. The Book of Mormon has helped me grow so much closer to God; in fact, the book has changed my life and helped me become who I am today. It can help you as well- I know it can. Put it to the test- request a free copy of the Book of Mormon by visiting http://mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon/.

What does the Bible say about the Book of Mormon?

2011-03-15T20:48:00.001-06:00

The Bible Talks about Jesus Visiting the People Recorded in the Book of Mormon
John 10:16 talks about "other sheep" that Jesus said were of a different fold than the Jews. He told the Jews that he must also bring them in so that there was "one fold, and one shepherd." I believe this was referring to other people in a different area of the earth, in the American continents. I believe this for three reasons:

1. He was already among his sheep while among the Jews, so he was not referring to the Jews as "other sheep." Further, Jesus said that he was only sent to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24), which means not to the Gentiles. The people inhabiting the Americas are a branch of the house of Israel (tribe of Joseph- see 1 Nephi 5:14).

2. Jesus visited the Americas after his resurrection. You can read all about it in 3 Nephi 11 in the Book of Mormon.

3. Most importantly, Jesus himself said that this is the case in 3 Nephi 15:21 while among the Nephites in the Americas. He told the Nephites, "And verily I say unto you, that ye are they of whom I said: Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." It doesn't get much clearer than that.

The Bible talks about the Sticks of Joseph and Judah becoming One
In Ezekiel 37:15-17 a prophecy is given about the union of the Bible and the Book of Mormon. The word "stick" in this context likely refers to wooden writing tablets used during this time. The phrase "Stick of Judah" would be the writings of the Jews, known to us as the Bible. Remember, it wasn't called "the Bible" back then and most of it didn't even exist yet. The Bible does not contain a record of Joseph, so I expect most Bible scholars and historians would assume that these records had been lost thousands of years ago.

The great truth is that they were not lost. The "stick of Joseph" - or scriptural account of the descendants of Joseph - is the Book of Mormon. And the prophecy has literally been fulfilled as I carry my Book of Mormon and Bible in my hand as one. As I mentioned previously in this post, the Book of Mormon contains the record of a people who were descendants of Joseph and were guided by the hand of the Lord to the Americas. Their record became the Book of Mormon.

Isaiah in the Bible Prophesied of the Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon
Isaiah prophesied of a people "speaking out of the dust" (Isaiah 29:4). I believe that he is referring to the Nephite people who lived in the Americas and wrote what is now the Book of Mormon. Around AD 400, the prophet Moroni buried the Book of Mormon, which was written on metal plates, in a stone box beneath the earth. They were preserved there until the latter-day prophet Joseph Smith was led to them and translated them by the power and gift of God in AD 1829. The Book of Mormon was literally buried in the earth and now has been brought forth "out of the dust" to speak to us.

Isaiah prophesied further about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon later in the same chapter. Isaiah wrote: "And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed" (Isaiah 29:11). The Book of Mormon had a portion of it which was sealed and remains sealed to this day. Martin Harris met with Charles Anthon, a professor in New York City and expert in ancient writings. Martin Harris presented him with some of the characters from the Book of Mormon and Joseph's translation of them. Anthon asserted that the translation was true and asked to translate the plates himself. Martin informed him that part of the plates were sealed and he unknowingly fulfilled prophecy with his response, "I cannot read a sealed book!" (Joseph Smith- History 1:63-65).

Isaiah continues in verse 12: "And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned." Isaiah sees the boy Joseph, who didn't have more than a Jr. High education and felt overwhelmed by the calling to translate ancient scripture into English. Isaiah continues to describe the time in which the Book of Mormon was restored and the "marvelous work and a wonder" that He performed through his prophet Joseph Smith to restore his Church to the earth (Isaiah 29:13-18).

The Book of Mormon is the Keystone

2011-03-13T18:47:00.000-06:00

President Ezra Taft Benson, who was our prophet during my younger years, taught that the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion in 3 ways: (1) Witness of Christ, (2) Fulness of doctrine, and (3) Foundation of testimony.

Witness of Christ
The Book of Mormon bears witness of the divinity of Jesus Christ- really that is its central purpose. It testifies of His reality with power and clarity. The Book of Mormon has helped me build a personal relationship with the Savior.

Fulness of Doctrine
The Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the doctrines required for our salvation, and it's written simple and plain enough so that even children can learn the pathway to salvation. The Lord said to the Prophet Joseph Smith that the Book of Mormon contains the "fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ" in Doctrine and Convenants 20:9.

Foundation of Testimony
Any honest seeker of truth can read the Book of Mormon and pray to God to know if it is true. Praying with a sincere heart will lead to a divinely given testimony of the truth of this book. I know that this promise given in the Book of Mormon by the prophet Moroni is true because I've pray to God to find out if the Book of Mormon is true and he has testified to me on many occasions that it is by the power of the Holy Ghost. He has filled me with feelings of peace, joy, comfort, and love in answer to my prayers. By knowing that the Book of Mormon is true, I also know that the prophet who translated the book, Joseph Smith, must have been a true prophet of God. For a false prophet could never produce a true book (Remember Jesus taught that by their fruits, ye shall know them). The Book of Mormon is definitely a fruit of the prophet Joseph Smith. And through that testimony of the Book of Mormon, I also know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Kingdom of God, which has been re-established on the earth in these last days. And by the succession of prophets since Joseph Smith, I know that Thomas S Monson is a true prophet of God on the earth today.

This is why the Book of Mormon is the keystone.

Why Are There So Many Rules?!

2011-03-06T16:35:00.000-07:00

From Elder Arnold's talk "What Have You Done With My Name". This is one of his wife's stories:

“When I was 15 years old, I often felt that there were too many rules and commandments. I wasn’t sure that a normal, fun-loving teenager could enjoy life with so many restrictions. Furthermore, the many hours spent working on my father’s ranch were seriously dipping into my time with my friends.

“This particular summer, one of my jobs was to ensure that the cows grazing on the mountain pasture did not break through the fence and get into the wheat field. A cow grazing on the growing wheat can bloat, causing suffocation and death. One cow in particular was always trying to stick her head through the fence. One morning, as I was riding my horse along the fence line checking on the cattle, I found that the cow had broken through the fence and gotten into the wheat field. To my dismay, I realized that she had been eating wheat for quite some time because she was already bloated and looked much like a balloon. I thought, ‘You stupid cow! That fence was there to protect you, yet you broke through it and you have eaten so much wheat that your life is in danger.’

“I raced back to the farmhouse to get my dad. However, when we returned, I found her lying dead on the ground. I was saddened by the loss of that cow. We had provided her with a beautiful mountain pasture to graze in and a fence to keep her away from the dangerous wheat, yet she foolishly broke through the fence and caused her own death.

“As I thought about the role of the fence, I realized that it was a protection, just as the commandments and my parents’ rules were a protection. The commandments and rules were for my own good. I realized that obedience to the commandments could save me from physical and spiritual death. That enlightenment was a pivotal point in my life.”

I really like this story because of the message it teaches. It is so easy to see the happy hours, late nights out, and Sunday boating that our friends enjoy and thing to ourselves, "The grass looks so much greener outside the fence." Satan is skillful at making sin (both sins of commission and sins of omission) appear glamorous and fun. He does everything in his power to get us to forget that "wickedness never was happiness." If we see the rules, guidelines, prophetic counsel, laws, commandments, etc as a restrictive fence keeping us from the "pleasures" of the world, our perspective can and likely will lead to a fatal and foolish end as we "break through the fence" to our own demise. God knows that the other side of the fence contains nothing but misery and therefore has given us the fence to protect us from that misery. It is important to keep this in perspective so that we can be grateful for the fence and it's protective influence in our lives rather than resenting it and looking for any way to climb over or break through it.

God has given us Holy Scripture and inspired Prophets to protect us as we journey along the path that will keep us happy and lead to eternal joy. I know that obedience leads to happiness. Jesus taught that you too can know this for yourself: "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine... John 7:17".

Don't Spurn Revelation

2011-03-04T21:01:00.000-07:00

From 3 Nephi 29:5-6:

5Wo unto him that spurneth at the doings of the Lord; yea, wo unto him that shall deny the Christ and his works!

6Yea, wo unto him that shall deny the revelations of the Lord, and that shall say the Lord no longer worketh by revelation, or by prophecy, or by gifts, or by tongues, or by healings, or by the power of the Holy Ghost!

To spurn means to reject or scorn. If you spurn the Savior of the world, you better be prepared for the consequences. This part jumped out at me: "wo unto him that shall deny the revelations of the Lord, and that shall say the Lord no longer worketh by revelation..." Sadly, there are so many people, even Christians, who spurn the Lord because they deny that he still speaks today through revelation and through his mouthpieces, the prophets.

We can pray to God and have our prayers answered to us. Are not those answers revelations? If I pray for God to help me understand something difficult and my mind is enlightened to be able to comprehend it, is that not revelation? Inspiration? Doesn't that suggest that God does still speak to us?

Whenever God's truths have been on the earth, God has had prophets on the earth. Through these prophets he reveals his will and the prophets preach and write it down. That's how the Bible came to be. Since this has been God's pattern since the beginning of time, why do people now, even Christians, claim that God has changed and no longer speaks his truth through prophets? Do we no longer need God? Has he forgotten us? Abandoned us? NO! God loves us. He wants to help us in our lives. He still communicates with us through revelation, and he still communicates with us through his holy prophets!

Revelation is real. Prophecy is real. Gifts of the Spirit are real, including the gifts of tongues and healings. The power of the Holy Ghost is real. WO be unto those who deny the Lord and these realities. I know that they are true, and they are meant for us.

Find out more at http://mormon.org/.

Rest Unto Your Souls by Per G Malm

2011-02-27T21:33:00.001-07:00

The full text of the talk can be found here.

"To find rest unto our souls includes peace of mind and heart, which is the result of learning and following the doctrine of Christ, and becoming Christ’s extended hands in serving and helping others. Faith in Jesus Christ and following His teachings give us a firm hope, and this hope becomes a solid anchor to our souls. We can become steadfast and immovable. We can have lasting inner peace; we can enter into the rest of the Lord."

Don't we all want peace of mind and heart? I agree with Elder Malm that we must follow the doctrine of Christ and be instruments in His hands to serve those around us.

"Along our way we are aided in our choices through the sustaining influence of the Spirit. Now, if we choose to act contrary to the light and understanding that we have, we will experience a bad conscience, which of course does not feel good. But a bad conscience is a blessing in that we immediately are reminded that it is time to repent. When we are humble and desire to do what is right, we will be anxious to act promptly to change our ways, while those who are proud and who may seek “to become a law unto [themselves]” (D&C 88:35) will allow Satan to lead “them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever” (2 Nephi 26:22) unless the spirit of repentance enters their hearts. To follow evil influences can never result in a feeling of peace simply because peace is a gift from God and it only comes through the Spirit of God. “Wickedness never was happiness” (Alma 41:10)."

My previous post was about having the Gift of the Holy Ghost. This influence can guide us to make right choices; however, none of us our perfect and at times we slip up. As much as we hate a guilty conscience, it really is a blessing to us if it leads us to sincere repentance. But if we are proud, then Satan will lead us in a downward spiral that can be difficult to escape. Just as the prophet Alma taught in the Book of Mormon, truly "Wickedness never was happiness."

"When we learn to handle the small and simple daily things in a wise and inspired way, the result is a positive influence that will solidify harmony in our souls and build up and strengthen those around us. This is so because everything which invites us to do good “is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore [we] may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God” (Moroni 7:16)."

Choose the right and you'll always have the peace you seek. Wear yourself out in the service of others and your soul will find the rest it seeks. It may sound counter-intuitive, but it's true! I learned that it's true on my mission.

Receive the Holy Ghost by Elder David A Bednar of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles

2011-02-22T06:44:00.000-07:00

For the full text of this discourse, click here.

Elder Bednar wrote:

The gift of the Holy Ghost is bestowed only after proper and authorized baptism and by the laying on of hands by those holding the Melchizedek Priesthood. The Lord declared:

“Yea, repent and be baptized, every one of you, for a remission of your sins; yea, be baptized even by water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost. …

“And whoso having faith you shall confirm in my church, by the laying on of the hands, and I will bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost upon them” (D&C 33:11, 15).

The Apostle Paul made this practice clear to the Ephesians when he asked:

“Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

“And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.

“Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

“When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

“And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them” (Acts 19:2–6).

I really like the truths taught by the experience shared by the Apostle Paul. Clearly John the Baptist had authority from God to baptize. We know he possessed the Aaronic priesthood. But even John himself taught that someone great was to come, someone who could bestow the Gift of the Holy Ghost, or baptism of fire. He was referring to Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. In this scripture, Paul is speaking to some good people who were baptized by paul but had not yet received the Holy Ghost nor been baptized into Christ's church. So, even though they had been previously baptized unto repentance by John, they required a second baptism by Paul, who possessed the Melchezedic Priesthood, in order to join the Church of Jesus Christ and to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

I could never do Elder Bednar's talk justice with this blog post, so please read it. Here is the thesis for the remainder of his talk and he then proceeds to explain each step in detail:

"What should we do to make this authorized admonition to seek for the companionship of the third member of the Godhead an ongoing reality? Let me suggest that we need to (1) sincerely desire to receive the Holy Ghost, (2) appropriately invite the Holy Ghost into our lives, and (3) faithfully obey God’s commandments."

The Gift of the Holy Ghost

2011-02-17T18:26:00.000-07:00

The Holy Ghost testifies of truth, so anyone can feel the power of the Holy Ghost when hearing or learning truth. The Gift of the Holy Ghost is much more than this; it is the "right to have, whenever one is worthy, the companionship of the Holy Ghost"(Bible Dictionary, "Holy Ghost"). This means that the Holy Ghost can be with you all the time to guide, protect, and help you in your life.

In order to qualify for the Gift of the Holy Ghost, you must be baptized by the proper priesthood authority (click here to learn about the priesthood authority). Following baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost is given by the laying on of hands, the same way that Jesus Christ taught as recorded by the New Testament. I direct you to Acts 8:14-17:

14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

For more information and scripture references about the laying on of hands, please refer to the Bible Dictionary: Laying on of Hands.

The Holy Ghost has guided me in my life, and I testify that it is worth any price to gain this gift, one of the greatest of all the gifts of God bestowed upon mankind in this life.

Personal Revelation

2011-02-13T14:32:00.000-07:00

From studying "Chapter 4: Recognize the Spirit" in Preach My Gospel.

Joseph Smith taught: "This is the principle on which the government of heaven is conducted--by revelation adapted to the circumstances in which the children of the kingdom are placed" (History of the Church 5:135). I had to reread that a couple of times to fully understand what he was saying- let me explain by paraphrasing this quote: "This is how things are done in heaven--specific revelation is given to us based on our unique situations in life." This teaches that God is both aware of our unique circumstances and also loves us and cares about us enough to provide us with guidance to overcome our trials and our problems. This is the essence of personal revelation.

NOTE: After you are baptized and receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, you are entitled to the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost in your life as you keep God's commandments. The Holy Ghost, which you may have with you at all times according to your righteousness, is the very medium through which God bestows upon us personal revelation. In that sense, personal revelation is very conditional on personal righteousness.

Have questions? Want to know more? Feel free to ask! http://mormon.org/chat/

Healing the Sick by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles

2010-06-29T20:05:00.002-06:00

I really enjoyed this talk "Healing the Sick" by Elder Oaks in the April 2010 General Conference. I'll include some of my favorite quotes in this post, but check out the full text by clicking here.

He explains what we believe as Latter-day Saints:

Latter-day Saints believe in applying the best available scientific knowledge and techniques. We use nutrition, exercise, and other practices to preserve health, and we enlist the help of healing practitioners, such as physicians and surgeons, to restore health.

The use of medical science is not at odds with our prayers of faith and our reliance on priesthood blessings. When a person requested a priesthood blessing, Brigham Young would ask, “Have you used any remedies?” To those who said no because “we wish the Elders to lay hands upon us, and we have faith that we shall be healed,” President Young replied: “That is very inconsistent according to my faith. If we are sick, and ask the Lord to heal us, and to do all for us that is necessary to be done, according to my understanding of the Gospel of salvation, I might as well ask the Lord to cause my wheat and corn to grow, without my plowing the ground and casting in the seed. It appears consistent to me to apply every remedy that comes within the range of my knowledge, and [then] to ask my Father in Heaven . . . to sanctify that application to the healing of my body.”

Miracle of Healing is scriptural and modern as well:

Many scriptures teach that the servants of the Lord “shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:18). Miracles happen when the authority of the priesthood is used to bless the sick. I have experienced these miracles. As a boy and as a man I have seen healings as miraculous as any recorded in the scriptures, and so have many of you.

He lists 5 parts of a priesthood blessing: (1) Anointing, (2) the sealing of the anointing, (3) faith, (4) the words of the blessing, and (5) the will of the Lord.

Anointing:

In the New Testament we read that Jesus’s Apostles “anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them” (Mark 6:13). The book of James teaches the role of anointing in connection with the other elements in a healing blessing by priesthood authority:
“Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
“And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up” (James 5:14–15).

Sealing the Anointing:

When elders anoint a sick person and seal the anointing, they open the windows of heaven for the Lord to pour forth the blessing He wills for the person afflicted.
President Brigham Young taught: “When I lay hands on the sick, I expect the healing power and influence of God to pass through me to the patient, and the disease to give way. . . . When we are prepared, when we are holy vessels before the Lord, a stream of power from the Almighty can pass through the tabernacle of the administrator to the system of the patient, and the sick are made whole.”
Faith:

President Spencer W. Kimball said: “The need of faith is often underestimated. The ill one and the family often seem to depend wholly on the power of the priesthood and the gift of healing that they hope the administering brethren may have, whereas the greater responsibility is with him who is blessed. . . . The major element is the faith of the individual when that person is conscious and accountable. ‘Thy faith hath made thee whole’ [Matthew 9:22] was repeated so often by the Master that it almost became a chorus.”
Words of Blessing:

These words can be very important, but their content is not essential and they are not recorded on the records of the Church. In some priesthood blessings—like a patriarchal blessing—the words spoken are the essence of the blessing. But in a healing blessing it is the other parts of the blessing—the anointing, the sealing, faith, and the will of the Lord—that are the essential elements. . .

(I thought this was comforting):

Fortunately, the words spoken in a healing blessing are not essential to its healing effect. If faith is sufficient and if the Lord wills it, the afflicted person will be healed or blessed whether the officiator speaks those words or not. Conversely, if the officiator yields to personal desire or inexperience and gives commands or words of blessing in excess of what the Lord chooses to bestow according to the faith of the individual, those words will not be fulfilled. Consequently, brethren, no elder should ever hesitate to participate in a healing blessing because of fear that he will not know what to say. The words spoken in a healing blessing can edify and energize the faith of those who hear them, but the effect of the blessing is dependent upon faith and the Lord’s will, not upon the words spoken by the elder who officiated.

Will of the Lord:
We must always remember that faith and the healing power of the priesthood cannot produce a result contrary to the will of Him whose priesthood it is...

We do all that we can for the healing of a loved one, and then we trust in the Lord for the outcome.

Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles

2010-06-27T16:38:00.000-06:00

This post includes some key quotes and highlights from the talk "Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul" given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, one of the 12 Apostles, in the April 2010 General Conference. For the full text of his talk please click here.

Elder Holland describes the "moral decay" all around us:

"Most days we all find ourselves assaulted by immoral messages of some kind flooding in on us from every angle. The darker sides of the movie, television, and music industry step further and further into offensive language and sexual misconduct."

He warns that "immoral activity is not just a man's problem, and husbands aren't the only ones offending." He then talks about why lust is considered one of the deadliest of sins:

"Well, in addition to the completely Spirit-destroying impact it has upon our souls, I think it is a sin because it defiles the highest and holiest relationship God gives us in mortality—the love that a man and a woman have for each other and the desire that couple has to bring children into a family intended to be forever.

But lust is characterized by shame and stealth and is almost pathologically clandestine—the later and darker the hour the better, with a double-bolted door just in case. Love makes us instinctively reach out to God and other people. Lust, on the other hand, is anything but godly and celebrates self-indulgence. Love comes with open hands and open heart; lust comes with only an open appetite."

Elder Holland then gives some tips to help:

"Start by separating yourself from people, materials, and circumstances that will harm you. As those battling something like alcoholism know, the pull of proximity can be fatal."
Seek help! "Pray without ceasing. Ask for angels to help you."
"The only real control in life is self-control...If a TV show is indecent, turn it off. If a movie is crude, walk out. If an improper relationship is developing, sever it."
"An old proverb says that a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step,⁵ so watch your step."

I especially liked this warning and counsel:

"Like thieves in the night, unwelcome thoughts can and do seek entrance to our minds. But we don’t have to throw open the door, serve them tea and crumpets, and then tell them where the silverware is kept! (You shouldn’t be serving tea anyway.) Throw the rascals out! Replace lewd thoughts with hopeful images and joyful memories; picture the faces of those who love you and would be shattered if you let them down. More than one man has been saved from sin or stupidity by remembering the face of his mother, his wife, or his child waiting somewhere for him at home. Whatever thoughts you have, make sure they are welcome in your heart by invitation only."

Elder Holland also counsels us to "cultivate and be where the Spirit of the Lord is," including our own homes, and to "go to the temple as often as [our] circumstances allow." Speaking of our covenant that we renew each Sunday:

"We pledge every Sunday of our lives to take upon ourselves His name and promise to 'always remember him.' So let us work a little harder at remembering Him—especially that He has 'borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows . . . , [that] he was bruised for our iniquities . . . ; and with his stripes we are healed.'"

His concluding advice and promise:

"When we face such temptations in our time, we must declare, as young Nephi did in his, “[I will] give place no more for the enemy of my soul.” We can reject the evil one. If we want it dearly and deeply enough, that enemy can and will be rebuked by the redeeming power of the Lord Jesus Christ. Furthermore, I promise you that the light of His everlasting gospel can and will again shine brightly where you feared life had gone hopelessly, helplessly dark."

Watching With All Perseverance by Elder David A Bednar, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

2010-06-13T18:24:00.000-06:00

This was one of the best talks for parents that I have ever heard! I'd like to highlight some of the key points that Elder Bednar made that I really liked. To read the complete talk (and I highly recommend you do), please go to this link.

He gives this talk in hopes of helping parents develop "a spiritual early warning system that can help [them] to be watchful and discerning concerning their children." The system is composed of three basic components: (1) Read and talk to your kids about the Book of Mormon, (2) Bear testimony of gospel truths spontaneously with your children, and (3) Invite children as gospel learners to act and not merely be acted upon. These things will help parents recognize early signals of spiritual growth as well as challenges and help parents to be "better prepared to receive inspiration to strengthen and help" their children.

#1- Reading and Talking about the Book of Mormon
About the power of the Book of Mormon:

"The convincing and converting powers of the Book of Mormon come from both a central focus upon the Lord Jesus Christ and the inspired plainness and clarity of its teachings."

He says that because the Book of Mormon (1) focuses on the Savior and (2) teaches very plainly, it "speaks to the spirit and to the heart of the reader like no other volume of scripture." More benefits of reading the Book of Mormon with our kids:

"Regular reading of and talking about the Book of Mormon invite the power to resist temptation and to produce feelings of love within our families. And discussions about the doctrines and principles in the Book of Mormon provide opportunities for parents to observe their children, to listen to them, to learn from them, and to teach them."

Some of these quotes are just too good to paraphrase, this is how he ends this section:

"Youth of all ages, even infants, can and do respond to the distinctive spirit of the Book of Mormon. Children may not understand all of the words and stories, but they certainly can feel the “familiar spirit” described by Isaiah (Isaiah 29:4; see also 2 Nephi 26:16). And the questions a child asks, the observations a child shares, and the discussions that occur provide crucial spiritual early warning signals. Importantly, such conversations can help parents to discern what their children are learning, thinking, and feeling about the truths contained in this sacred volume of scripture, as well as the difficulties they may be facing."

#2- Bearing Testimony Spontaneously
Elder Bednar explains that "testimony is personal knowledge, based upon the witness of the Holy Ghost, that certain facts of eternal significance are true." What a great definition! As he explains how we should bear testimony to our children, he says that "such occasions need not be programmed, scheduled, or scripted." In fact, it's best when it is spontaneous. He also teaches that a testimony "need not always begin with the phrase 'I bear you my testimony.'" He explains that you should note the reactions of your children as you bear testimony to them- here's why:

"The reactions of children to such impromptu testimony bearing and their eagerness or reluctance to participate are potent sources of spiritual early warning signals. A child’s expression about a lesson learned in family scripture study or a candid statement of concern about a gospel principle or practice can be most illuminating and help parents better understand a child’s specific question or needs. Such discussions—especially when parents are as eager to listen intently as they are to talk—can foster a supportive and secure environment in the home and encourage ongoing communication about difficult topics."

#3- Inviting Children to Act
This is a great illustration of his point:

"Giving a man a fish feeds him for one meal. Teaching a man to fish feeds him for a lifetime. As parents and gospel instructors, you and I are not in the business of distributing fish; rather, our work is to help our children learn “to fish” and to become spiritually steadfast. This vital objective is best accomplished as we encourage our children to act in accordance with correct principles—as we help them to learn by doing. “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God” (John 7:17). Such learning requires spiritual, mental, and physical exertion and not just passive reception."

If you have children, here are some questions to ponder:

"Are you and I helping our children become agents who act and seek learning by study and by faith, or have we trained our children to wait to be taught and acted upon? Are we as parents primarily giving our children the equivalent of spiritual fish to eat, or are we consistently helping them to act, to learn for themselves, and to stand steadfast and immovable? Are we helping our children become anxiously engaged in asking, seeking, and knocking?"

One of the reasons it is so important that our children learn to act on their own is that "the tuition of diligence and of learning by study and also by faith must be paid to obtain and personally 'own' such a knowledge." Our children need to learn to act for themselves in spiritual ways - not just physically - so that they are "prepared spiritually for the challenges of mortality."

In conclusion, I'd like to share Elder Bednar's testimony of these principles:

"The spiritual discernment and inspiration you will receive from the combination of these three holy habits will enable you to stand as watchmen on the tower for your families"

When the Lord Commands

2010-06-06T14:56:00.000-06:00

I would like to share a few quotes from the talk that Elder Bruce A. Carlson of the Quorum of the 70 gave in the April 2010 General Conference entitled "When the Lord Commands". The full text of the talk can be found here.

Elder Carlson quotes the Harold B. Lee, a prophet a few decades back, who said:

"The safety of the church lies in the members keeping the commandments. . . .As they keep the commandments, blessings will come."

Elder Carlson gives three reasons why we sometimes fall short of obeying the commandments of God. The first reason is that we rationalize that the commandment doesn't apply to me. He shares the story of Jeroboam from the Old Testament to illustrate this trap. Jeroboam justified the introduction of satanic worship rituals in order to satisfy the people, believing that the Lord's commandments did not apply to him (1 Kings 12). All of his descendants were killed as a result of his disobedience.

Another reason is that we may feel the commandment is not important. He illustrates this with the story of Naaman from the Old Testament. Naaman was told to wash seven times in the muddy Jordan River in order to be cleansed of his leprosy. He was angry and about to disobey the counsel of the prophet because it seemed such a trite, unimportant act. Lucky for him, he was convinced by his servant to obey and as a result he was cured of his leprosy (2 Kings 5). Elder Carlson promises:

"Obedience to the Lord’s commands, in spite of how trivial or unimportant we believe them to be, will surely bring His promised blessings."

The third reason that he gives is that we sometimes think that a commandment is just too hard. He uses the story of Lehi's eldest sons complaining that the commandment of the Lord to retrieve the brass plates was too hard to accomplish. Of course we know that Nephi, the youngest son, trusted in the Lord and was led by the Spirit to fulfill the commandment and obtain the plates (1 Ne 3-4). Elder Carlson comments:

"At times we may rationalize that the Lord will understand our disobedience because our special circumstances make adherence to His laws difficult, embarrassing, or even painful. However, faithful obedience, regardless of the apparent size of the task, will bring the Lord’s guidance, assistance, and peace."

Let's not forget the Lord's promise to us as we are obedient:

"If you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life."(Doctrine and Covenants 14:7)

Obedience is much more important for us personally, than it is for our Father in Heaven. It benefits us beyond what we can imagine. Elder Carlson ends his talk with this testimony:

"Obedience to the Lord’s commandments provides us confidence in our chosen path, qualifies us for His guidance and direction as we pursue our efforts, and offers us the potential to become like our Savior, Jesus Christ, and return to our Father’s presence."

Helping Hands, Saving Hands

2010-06-06T14:17:00.000-06:00

Elder Koichi Aoyagi of the Quorum of the 70 gave a great talk in this April's General Conference entitled "Helping Hands, Saving Hands." For the full text of the talk, click here.

I just wanted to share the concluding paragraphs, which contain a quote from President Thomas S. Monson and Elder Aoyagi's testimony:

I close with a quote by President Thomas S. Monson: “My brothers and sisters, we are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness—be they family members, friends, acquaintances, or strangers. We are the Lord’s hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us.”

May we follow the counsel and example of the prophet and each day seek out those in need, that we might be the hands of the Lord in helping and saving His children, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I just love that- "we are the Lord's hands." So let's look for ways to help those around us!

The Blessing of Scripture by Elder D. Todd Christofferson

2010-05-27T20:05:00.000-06:00

Quotes and remarks are based on the talk entitled "The Blessing of Scripture" by Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles in the April 2010 General Conference- the complete talk can be found here.

Elder Christofferson begins his message by relating the story of William Tyndale, how he translated the Bible into English, and finally was martyred for it. He also speaks of many others who suffered and risked much to preserve the word of God throughout the centuries. He poses these thought-provoking questions:

"What did they know about the importance of scriptures that we also need to know? What did people in 16th-century England, who paid enormous sums and ran grave personal risks for access to a Bible, understand that we should also understand?"

I wonder how much we really take the Bible and other scriptures for granted when people literally gave their lives in order to have this sacred text and to make it available for us...

The talk's thesis:

"Through the scriptures, God does indeed “show forth his power” to save and exalt His children. By His word, as Alma said, He enlarges our memory, sheds light on falsehood and error, and brings us to repentance and to rejoice in Jesus Christ, our Redeemer."

He then continues to expound some of the ways the scriptures can and should bless our lives:

"The scriptures enlarge our memory by helping us always to remember the Lord and our relationship to Him and the Father. They remind us of what we knew in our premortal life."

"...And as these things penetrate our minds and hearts, our faith in God and His Beloved Son takes root."

"God uses scripture to unmask erroneous thinking, false traditions, and sin with its devastating effects. He is a tender parent who would spare us needless suffering and grief and at the same time help us realize our divine potential. "

Another good quote to get you thinking:

"In Tyndale’s day, scriptural ignorance abounded because people lacked access to the Bible, especially in a language they could understand. Today the Bible and other scripture are readily at hand, yet there is a growing scriptural illiteracy because people will not open the books. Consequently they have forgotten things their grandparents knew."

"His commandments are the voice of reality and our protection against self-inflicted pain. The scriptures are the touchstone for measuring correctness and truth, and they are clear that real happiness lies not in denying the justice of God or trying to circumvent the consequences of sin but in repentance and forgiveness through the atoning grace of the Son of God (see Alma 42)."

This is why the scriptures are so essential to society:

"Where scriptural truths are ignored or abandoned, the essential moral core of society disintegrates and decay is close behind. In time, nothing is left to sustain the institutions that sustain society."

And why they are so incredibly important for us:

"In the end, the central purpose of all scripture is to fill our souls with faith in God the Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ"

"Faith comes by the witness of the Holy Spirit to our souls, Spirit to spirit, as we hear or read the word of God. And faith matures as we continue to feast upon the word."

The role of the Holy Ghost and revelation:

"Therefore, being in the scriptures is one way we receive the Holy Ghost. Of course, scripture is given through the Holy Ghost in the first place (see 2 Peter 1:21; D&C 20:26–27; 68:4), and that same Spirit can attest its truth to you and me. Study the scriptures carefully, deliberately. Ponder and pray over them. Scriptures are revelation, and they will bring added revelation."

Let us not take the scriptures for granted. Let us remember their value in our lives and the benefit that can be ours as we study them. We are so blessed to have the scriptures in so many forms including free online: scriptures.lds.org. "Surely with this blessing the Lord is telling us that our need for constant recourse to the scriptures is greater than in any previous time."

Mothers Teaching Children in the Home by Elder L. Tom Perry

2010-05-23T17:27:00.000-06:00

Quotes and remarks are based on the talk entitled "Mothers Teaching children in the Home" by Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles in the April 2010 General Conference- the complete talk can be found here.

I completely agree with what Elder Perry teaches about how mothers have a great responsibility to teach their children true principles while they are young. I'd like to just share some quotes that I liked from the talk below:

In speaking of his mother and her preparation of Relief Society lessons:

"...she prepared so thoroughly, first, to be an example to her children of diligent Church service and, second, because she recognized that what she learned from preparing her lessons could be used repeatedly for a higher purpose—teaching her sons and her daughters."

"...parents are entrusted with the education of their children and, ultimately, parents must ensure that their children are being taught what their Heavenly Father would have them learn."

"Many activities link the values of one generation to the next, but perhaps the most central of these activities is parents teaching children in the home. This is especially true when we consider the teaching of values, moral and ethical standards, and faith."

"Parents must resolve that teaching in the home is a most sacred and important responsibility. While other institutions, such as church and school, can assist parents to “train up a child in the way he [or she] should go” (Proverbs 22:6), ultimately this responsibility rests with parents. According to the great plan of happiness, it is parents who are entrusted with the care and development of our Heavenly Father’s children."

"Parents must bring light and truth into their homes by one family prayer, one scripture study session, one family home evening, one book read aloud, one song, and one family meal at a time. They know that the influence of righteous, conscientious, persistent, daily parenting is among the most powerful and sustaining forces for good in the world. The health of any society, the happiness of its people, their prosperity, and their peace all find common roots in the teaching of children in the home."

"...you must begin by teaching at the cradle-side. You are to teach by example as well as precept" [quoting Joseph Fielding Smith]

"Our teaching in the home prepares us to teach more effectively at church, and our teaching at church helps us to teach more effectively at home."

"The onslaught of wickedness against our children is at once more subtle and more brazen than it has ever been. Teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ in the home adds another layer of insulation to protect our children from worldly influences."

He concludes with this:

"God bless you wonderful mothers and fathers in Zion. He has entrusted to your care His eternal children. As parents we partner, even join, with God in bringing to pass His work and glory among His children. It is our sacred duty to do our very best."

Just remember, if you're not teaching your children how to walk in light and truth, then they are learning how to walk from friends, classmates, and the media...kind of a scary thought!

Help Them on Their Way By President Henry B. Eyring

2010-05-16T20:41:00.003-06:00

Quotes and remarks are based on the talk entitled Help Them on Their Way by President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency of the Church in the April 2010 General Conference. The talk can be found here.

President Eyring explains that it is much better to teach children while they're young to have faith and obey the commandments:

"So we help God’s children best by providing ways to build faith in Jesus Christ and His restored gospel when they are young. And then we must help rekindle that faith quickly before it dims as they wander off the path."

He illustrates with a story of a woman that came to see him who had deviated from the path of righteousness, had made many mistakes, and wanted desperately to change her life from misery to happiness. She had grown up in the Church before making incorrect choices that led her to stray from it. How much easier it would have been for her to have had support and encouragement as a child than to have to go through the bitter process of repentance and lifestyle change.

He explains that we have a "nearly continuous opportunity to help travelers among God’s children" as we are all constantly trying to stay on the path. Satan fights hard to lead people astray, so we need to help one another out to overcome his evil influence! This is said to perfectly to paraphrase:

"Foreseeing the needs of His children, a loving Heavenly Father placed directions and rescuers along their way. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to make safe passage possible and visible. He called as His prophet in these times President Thomas S. Monson. Since his youth President Monson has taught not only how to stay on the path but also how to rescue those who have been led away into sorrow.
Heavenly Father has assigned us to a great variety of stations to strengthen and, when needed, to lead travelers to safety. Our most important and powerful assignments are in the family. They are important because the family has the opportunity at the start of a child’s life to put feet firmly on the path home. Parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents, aunts and uncles are made more powerful guides and rescuers by the bonds of love that are the very nature of a family."

President Eyring says that "if the children are strengthened with faith and testimony, they will be less likely to need rescue as teenagers. They realize that a strong spiritual foundation can make the difference for a lifetime." This is why it's so important to teach children while they're young and innocent.

If you think that you can't make a difference, you're absolutely mistaken. You can change a child's life. He says, "We all can help. Grandmothers, grandfathers, and every member who knows a child can help. It doesn’t take a formal calling in Primary. Nor is it limited by age. One such woman, as a younger person, was on the Primary general board that helped create the CTR motto." I like how President Eyring describes the help available for teenagers during those difficult teen years:

"The Lord has placed a pattern of rescue and rescuers in His kingdom. In His wisdom the Lord has inspired His servants to place some of the most powerful ways to strengthen us and to put in place the best rescuers as we pass through the teenage years.
You know of two powerful programs provided by the Lord. One, for young women, is called Personal Progress. The other, for Aaronic Priesthood holders, is called Duty to God. We encourage young people in the rising generation to see their own potential to build great spiritual strength. And we plead with those who care about those young people to rise to what the Lord requires of us to help them. And since the future of the Church depends upon them, all of us care."

He mentions how when he was growing up, such programs did not exist and he had few things in his life that challenged him as these programs are meant to challenge youth. He says:

"On reflection I realized that the contents of these booklets are a physical representation of the Lord’s trust in the rising generation and in all of us who love them. And I have seen evidence that the trust is well placed."

How can we help them? He says:

"Of all the help we can give these young people, the greatest will be to let them feel our confidence that they are on the path home to God and that they can make it. And we do that best by going with them. Because the path is steep and sometimes rocky, they will at times feel discouraged and even stumble...

The example they most need from us is to do what they must do. We need to pray for the gifts of the Spirit. We need to ponder in the scriptures and in the words of living prophets. We need to make plans which are not only wishes but covenants. And then we need to keep our promises to the Lord. And we need to lift others by sharing with them the blessings of the Atonement which have come in our lives. And we need to exemplify in our own lives the steady and prolonged faithfulness that the Lord expects of them."

This will not only help them to find joy in their lives, but bring us great joy as we serve them and watch them grow in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Lastly, in closing, I want to share the testimony that he ends with:

"I testify that the Lord loves you and every child of God. This is His kingdom, restored with priesthood keys through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Thomas S. Monson is the Lord’s prophet today. I promise each of you, as you follow inspired direction in this, the true Church of Jesus Christ, that our youth and we who help and love them can be delivered safely to our home with Heavenly Father and the Savior to live in families and in joy forever."

Our Path of Duty by Bishop Keith B McMullin

2010-05-08T13:06:00.003-06:00

My thoughts on a talk by Bishop Keith B. McMullin, April 2010 entitled Our Path of Duty.

This is a talk full of hope. Here is a great quote from his talk:

"For those who eschew evil and live good lives, who strive for a brighter day and keep the commandments of God, things can get better and better even in the face of tragedy. The Savior showed us the way. From Gethsemane, the cross, and the tomb, He rose triumphant, bringing life and hope to us all. He bids us, 'Come, follow me.'"

He also quotes the prophet, Thomas S. Monson:

"President Thomas S. Monson has counseled: 'If we are to walk with head held high, we must make our contribution to life. If we are to fulfill our destiny and return to live with our Father in Heaven, we must keep His commandments and pattern our lives after the Savior. By so doing, we will not only achieve our goal of eternal life, but we will also leave the world richer and better than it would have been had we not lived and performed our duties.'"

Bishop McMullin also quotes Ecclesiastes 12:13:

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

At this point, he focuses his talk more on our duties. He explains that our duty is "what we are expected to do and to be." He goes on to explain this about our duty:

"It is a moral imperative summoning forth from individuals and communities that which is right, true, and honorable. Duty does not require perfection, but it does require diligence. It is not simply what is legal; it is what is virtuous. It is not reserved to the mighty or high in station but instead rests on a foundation of personal responsibility, integrity, and courage. Doing one’s duty is a manifestation of one’s faith."

Sometimes we think that if it's legal, it must be right. How far from the truth is this! Legal is so far from moral and ethical. And we all have a conscience that helps us determine right from wrong. A large part of our path of duty is simply keeping the covenants and promises that we've made with the Lord.

He teaches that the duty of all men is first to God, and then to "one another, to their family, to their church and nation, to all things entrusted to their care."

The last part of his talk explains how we can know our duty in the midst of crisis. The key is prayer. We must pray in faith and as inspired by the Spirit. He concludes his talk with this powerful testimony:

"I bear my witness that our path of duty is clearly marked by an undivided faith and belief in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the power of prayer. This path is to be traveled by all of God’s children who love Him and desire to keep His commandments. For the young, it leads to personal achievement and preparation; for adults, it leads to renewed faith and resolve; for the older generation, it leads to perspective and endurance in righteousness to the end. It equips every faithful traveler with the strength of the Lord, protects him from the evils of the day, and endows him with the knowledge that 'the conclusion of the whole matter [is to] Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.' In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

The Power of the Priesthood by Boyd K Packer

2010-05-02T21:34:00.002-06:00

These are some of my thoughts as I read The Power of the Priesthood, a talk given by Boyd K Packer, Presiding Apostle of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles. Here is the link to his talk.

President Packer says:

"We now number nearly 14 million members. Even so, we are a tiny fraction when compared to the billions of people on earth. But we are who we are, and we know what we know, and we are to go forth and preach the gospel."

We truly are a minority when compared with the billions of people on the Earth, but I think this should only motivate us to step up to our responsibility as Priesthood holders to share the gospel with those around us. Even though we may never have "numbers" on our side, we have the Priesthood, the power of God, which more than compensates. On the same note, I like this quote as well:

"President Joseph Fielding Smith said, 'While it may be said . . . that we are but a handful in comparison with . . . the world, yet we may be compared with the leaven of which the Savior spoke, which will eventually leaven [or lift] the whole world.'"

Here is how President Packer defines the priesthood:

"Priesthood is the authority and the power which God has granted to men on earth to act for Him. When priesthood authority is exercised properly, priesthood bearers do what He would do if He were present...

Authority in the priesthood comes by way of ordination; power in the priesthood comes through faithful and obedient living in honoring covenants. It is increased by exercising and using the priesthood in righteousness."

It is a father's duty to preside in the home in righteousness. He should give priesthood blessings to his family and be involved in their spiritual growth and progression. Here are two stories that President Packer shared in his talk that touched me and taught of the importance of a father fulfilling his priesthood duties to his family- Story 1:

"During the Vietnam War, we held a series of special meetings for members of the Church called into military service. After such a meeting in Chicago, I was standing next to President Harold B. Lee when a fine young Latter-day Saint told President Lee that he was on leave to visit his home and then had orders to Vietnam. He asked President Lee to give him a blessing.
Much to my surprise, President Lee said, 'Your father should give you the blessing.'
Very disappointed, the boy said, 'My father wouldn’t know how to give a blessing.'
President Lee answered, 'Go home, my boy, and tell your father that you are going away to war and want to receive a father’s blessing from him. If he does not know how, tell him that you will sit on a chair. He can stand behind you and put his hands on your head and say whatever comes.'
This young soldier went away sorrowing.
About two years later I met him again. I do not recall where. He reminded me of that experience and said, 'I did as I was told to do. I explained to my father that I would sit on the chair and that he should put his hands on my head. The power of the priesthood filled both of us. That was a strength and protection in those perilous months of battle.'"

Story 2:

"Another time I was in a distant city. After a conference we were ordaining and setting apart leaders. As we concluded, the stake president asked, “Can we ordain a young man to be an elder who is leaving for the mission field?” The answer, of course, was yes.
As the young man came forward, he motioned for three brethren to follow and stand in for his ordination.
I noticed on the back row a carbon copy of this boy, and I asked, “Is that your father?”
The young man said, “Yes.”
I said, “Your father will ordain you.”
And he protested, “But I’ve already asked another brother to ordain me.”
And I said, “Young man, your father will ordain you, and you’ll live to thank the Lord for this day.”
Then the father came forward.
Thank goodness he was an elder. Had he not been, he soon could have been! In the military they would call that a battlefield commission. Sometimes such things are done in the Church.
The father did not know how to ordain his son. I put my arm around him and coached him through the ordinance. When he was finished, the young man was an elder.
Then something wonderful happened. Completely changed, the father and son embraced. It was obvious that had never happened before.
The father, through his tears, said, “I didn’t get to ordain my other boys.”
Think how much more was accomplished than if another had ordained him, even an Apostle."

Fathers need to step up to their privilege and responsibility. Mothers need to help by encouraging their husbands. I like President Packer's call to action:

"We need everyone. The tired or worn out or lazy and even those who are bound down with guilt must be restored through repentance and forgiveness. Too many of our priesthood brethren are living below their privileges and the Lord’s expectations.
We must go forward, confident of the supernal power of the priesthood. It is a source of strength and encouragement to know who we are and what we have and what we must do in the work of the Almighty."

The priesthood power is very real. I've had so many experiences in my life where I have witnessed first hand the power of the priesthood both on the administering and receiving ends of ordinances and blessings. If we do not use the priesthood with which we've been blessed, think of how many people- our families, neighbors, friends- have not been blessed, when they might have been, because of our living below our privileges.

Fathers have a sacred duty to protect their homes and their families, especially against the attacks of Satan, the enemy of all righteousness. In conclusion, this is President Packer's counsel to fathers in this regard:

"You have the power of the priesthood directly from the Lord to protect your home. There will be times when all that stands as a shield between your family and the adversary’s mischief will be that power. You will receive direction from the Lord by way of the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Agency- The Freedom to Choose

2009-03-15T19:34:00.003-06:00

One thing I love about God's plan for us is that he gives us agency. Agency can be simply defined as the freedom to choose for ourselves. God will never force us to make a decision or do something. We choose our actions (but not the consequences).

God could have created a different plan where we would be forced to choose good all the time. There could have been no suffering, sin, or evil. But how would we learn? How would we grow? Without sickness, could we really understand and appreciate health? There must be opposition so that our mortal experience is full of learning and growth.

Ultimately we are choosing daily to follow God or to follow Satan by the actions we make. When we help someone in need, we are obviously following God. When we say unkind words, we are following Satan. The sum of our smaller actions determines the path that we are on.

Lehi, in the Book of Mormon, taught:

"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and call things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself."
2 Nephi 2:27

This teaching clearly explains the consequences of choosing to follow God's plan (through Jesus Christ, the great Mediator) versus that of devil. The choice really is up to us. Living righteously is not the "popular" thing in today's world, which makes it tough. But it is the only way to obtain liberty and eternal life. All other paths, no matter how glamorous they appear, lead to captivity and death (spiritual death).

CTR: Choose the Right!

Why Is LDS Missionary Work So Successful?

2009-03-08T17:03:00.002-06:00

I just read a promise that was given by the Lord through his prophet, Joseph Smith, back in 1840 to a couple of missionaries. This same promise holds true for today's nearly 60,000 missionaries throughout the world. First I'll give the quote, and then I'll explain why I think it is important:

"Do not be discouraged on account of the greatness of the work; only be humble and faithful...He who scattered Israel has promised to gather them; therefore inasmuch as you are to be instrumental in this great work, He will endow you with power, wisdom, might, and intelligence, and every qualification necessary; while your minds will expand wider and wider, until you can circumscribe the earth and the heavens, reach forth into eternity, and contemplate the mighty acts of Jehovah in all their variety and glory."
- Joseph Smith, May 14, 1840

First of all, you must understand what missionary work is. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's church on the earth, so it is doing His work. The same Jehovah that scattered Israel in Old Testament times, is now gathering Israel, just as he promised dozens of times throughout the Bible. This gathering is being done by our missionaries. The house of Israel are all those who convert to Christ's church and choose to gather to it.

This post's title phrases the question, "Why is LDS missionary work so successful?" Well an obvious answer is because it's God's work. This promise quoted above from Joseph Smith is more specific. The promise is that those who are instrumental in His great work [missionary work or the gather], will be endowed with "power, wisdom, might, and intelligence, and every qualification necessary." How can anyone fail with a promise like that from God's prophet?

Think about it. Mormon missionaries are almost all between the ages of 19 and 21. How much does a 19-year-old boy know? How influential and persuasive are 19-year-olds? How smart, intelligent, wise is a 19-year-old kid? Sometimes they think they know everything, but really they are weak. Paul was not far off at all when he said:

"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;"
1 Corinthians 1:27

So, with this explanation, I hope it is a little more clear how our missionaries are so successful. They not only are on the Lord's errand, but they are also filled with his power. Feel free to see for yourself by inviting them to speak to you some time. You'll notice in just one visit that they are empowered from on high.

What Are Our Priorities?

2009-03-05T19:59:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to share a verse that I read 5 minutes ago and that hit me really hard:

"And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better."
D&C 25:10

Even though this was directed to Emma, I think it applies to all of us (if you don't believe me read verse 16). I've had a super busy week with hardly a second to breathe, so when I read this verse it made me ponder about my life for a minute. School is important; Work is important; ASM (the Association for Systems Management) is important. But they are all things of this world. How easy it is to set our focus and main attention on the things of this world when the things of a better are what will bring us happiness and eternal joy.

Life is busy for all of us- I know I'm not the only one. Sometimes all of these good things that keep us busy in our lives are also distracting us from those that really matter. Let us keep our focus on the things of a better world as we go about our busy lives!

Salvation and the Fourth Article of Faith

2009-03-01T14:00:00.006-07:00

The fourth Article of Faith states:

"We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Articles of Faith 1:4

This statement teaches us some basic things about salvation and how it is achieved. There are many people in the world that believe that God has preselected a group of people on this earth to receive salvation and that the rest of us are out of luck unless we are part of that group. What a false, sad doctrine that is! God loves us as our Father and wants ALL of us to return to him. However, he will not force us to be obedient to his commandments and live in such a way that will qualify us for the blessing of returning to him because he has given us agency to choose for ourselves.

God has given us his gospel with steps that we should follow to prove ourselves to him and qualify for his greatest gift, that of eternal life. The first principles and ordinances of the gospel are the first steps in following the path that God has prepared for us to return to him. Not only are they inspired of God, but they also make sense logically.

Faith
First we must have faith in him. We must believe and more importantly do. Faith is an action word that implies that we will not only believe but do as the Lord wants us to.

Repentance
As we begin to have faith in God and in his son, Jesus Christ, we will naturally change to be better. We will want to make changes to leave our old lives behind and start fresh. We will ask God for his forgiveness and as we do this, repenting, he will forgive us.

Baptism
We show our repentance and change of heart through the ordinance of baptism. When we are baptized, we promise to follow Jesus Christ and his teachings. We come out of the baptismal waters clean just as we were when we were born. Baptism opens the door to salvation but does not guarantee salvation.

The Gift of the Holy Ghost
There is a second part of baptism. After we are baptized with water, we must be baptized with fire, or the Holy Ghost. This ordinance is performed soon after baptism. The gift of the Holy Ghost is given by the laying on of hands by someone who has the priesthood authority. It is important to note that the Gift of the Holy Ghost does not just come upon baptized members of the Church automatically. It must be given by the laying on of hands as recorded in the New Testament in Acts 8:16-18.

Of course following these steps, the first principles and ordinances of the gospel will not guarantee salvation, but as I mentioned, these are the first steps that we must take. After we have completed these steps, we have begun on the path that will lead us to eternal life if we press on, enduring to the end. One of my favorite scriptures that talks about this responsibility is found in 2 Nephi 31:20, which reads:

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."

Who is God?

2009-02-22T15:28:00.004-07:00

I want to explore a little bit about what the scriptures teach about God because without a basic understanding of God, we cannot understand our relationship to Him or his plan for us.

God Is the Supreme Ruler and Creator of the Universe
God told Moses very plainly who he was when he said, "I am the Beginning and the End, the Almighty God; by mine Only Begotten I created these things; yea, in the beginning I created the heaven, and the earth upon which thou standest." (Moses 2:1)

In the Book of Mormon, King Benjamin exhorted his people, "Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend." (Mosiah 4:9)

God Has a Body
We know that God is perfect, all-knowing, and all-powerful, but what is his body like? A couple scriptures teach us the answer. In Genesis Moses writes, " Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." (Genesis 1:26-27)

Likeness and image suggests that God and man are similar in their appearance, so God looks like a man, though perfect and glorious. Another insightful scripture is found in the Doctrine and Covenants where the Lord revealed to the prophet Joseph Smith, "The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s..." (D&C 130:22)This scripture goes on to explain that Jesus Christ also has a tangible, physical body like the Father, but the Holy Ghost is a personage of Spirit, without a tangible body.

Other Scriptures about God
There are many other scriptures that teach us more about God. Here are a couple that I like because they testify of his love, mercy, and power:

"And my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name." (Alma 26:35)

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

"O Lord God Almighty, hear us in these our petitions, and answer us from heaven, thy holy habitation, where thou sittest enthroned, with glory, honor, power, majesty, might, dominion, truth, justice, judgment, mercy, and an infinity of fulness, from everlasting to everlasting." (D&C 109:77)

Get to Know God
Jesus Christ taught us that it is very important for us to get to know God and who he is. The Savior said, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3)

The best way to get to know God and Jesus Christ is by studying their words. As we immerse ourselves in the holy scriptures, we will get to know them on a more personal level. I also recommend sincere, heartfelt prayer to pour out our hearts to God and seek his guidance in our daily lives. We can also trust and love God more by committing ourselves to obey all of his commandments, for the Lord said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15)

Families Can Live Together Forever = Eternal Families

2009-02-08T20:42:00.002-07:00

To most of us who have families, it rings true and seems only natural that one of the greatest rewards we could hope to receive in heaven would be having our families there with us. I know I love my family and I can think of nothing I want more than to spend eternity with my wife and our family!

Here's the dilemma for most people: When they are married, the words pronounced in their marriage ceremony is "til death do you part" or "as long as you both shall live." Why? This is because the person performing the marriage does not have the power or authority to bind in heaven what he is binding on earth. He has power only on earth.

God loves us more than I could ever express in a blog post and as a loving father, he wants us to be eternally happy. That means being with those we love. Think of it, living forever without those you love here on earth would be hell, not heaven. This is why God has prepared a way for us to be together forever with our families. This power is priesthood power, or power delegated by God to men. God gave this power to Peter and others in the New Testament:

"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
Matthew 16:19

Other problem: This priesthood authority that Peter and the other apostles were given was lost in the Great Apostacy! The Great Apostacy is when the true gospel of Jesus Christ was taken from the earth because of wickedness. The Jews and Romans killed off all of the apostles who held this priesthood, and it was lost for centuries.

The solution: God in mercy and love has restored his Church, his gospel, and his priesthood in these latter days. Through his prophet, Joseph Smith, in the 19th Century, God restored his priesthood power to bind in heaven what was bound on earth. Now this sacred ordinance, known as sealing, is performed in holy temples throughout the world. What a blessing! I was able to be sealed to my wife in the St. George temple and this makes it possible for us to be together with our future family forever!!!

This blessing of being sealed to your family is available to EVERYONE who prepares themselves and is worthy to enter the temple. Questions? Feel free to comment on this post or invite missionaries to visit and share more about this with you by clicking here.

Parable of the Tares

2009-01-18T16:53:00.005-07:00

We talked about Jesus's parable of the tares today in Sunday School, and it really got me thinking. This parable is a lot more relevant in our lives today than I had previously thought. Here is the parable:

24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Matthew 13:24-30

To make it a little easier, we also have Jesus's explanation later in this same chapter. Let me quote that below, and then I'll talk a little bit about it:

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Matthew 13:36-43

This is an interesting parable because it begins at the time of Jesus Christ, and the end is in the last days and has not yet occurred. So Jesus planted the good seed as he started his Church and soon thereafter it fell into apostacy as the tares began to grow.

The servants in the parable wanted to gather up the tares to protect the wheat. However the wheat was young (just as the Church in the Christ's time was young) and would be damaged greatly by the gathering of the tares. This is because tares and wheat are related crops. They look nearly identical as they grow, so it is hard to distinguish between them. It is not until they are ready for the harvest that they can be told apart. At this point you can cut them all down and separate them easily. This separation is a form of judgment that will be passed upon all people.

Are you a wheat or a tare? This question is perfect for self-reflection. I know that this parable prophesies of the future (which may be closer than we think- though no man knows). An interesting comparison, is that it is hard to tell if those around us are wheat or tares. This is why we should not judge others. Just as the Lord told his servants not to judge the wheat/tares and pluck out the tares, we must not judge our fellow men and identify people as "tares". We never know when someone will change and repent. We may have days when we ourselves behave more like tares than wheat, so we must be forgiving of others who also have "tare" days.

Lastly, we know that judgment comes. Even though it will be after the end of the world, if we die a "tare," there will be no time to repent thereafter. Now is the only time that we can repent and become wheat. So let us not judge others for it truly is impossible to see their hearts (only God looketh on the heart), and let us strive to be found as wheat at the last great harvest!

How is the Mormon Church Different from Other Christian Churches?

2009-01-11T21:05:00.002-07:00

I will try to keep this as simple as possible. Please post a comment or question if you want anything answered or discussed more in depth! (Also feel free to correct me if I have made any errors in discussing Catholicism or Protestantism as I do not wish to misrepresent their histories).

I will briefly discuss the founding of the Catholic, Protestant, and Mormon churches.

Catholic
The Catholic church claims to have received its authority from succession going all the way back to Peter the apostle. No Christians dispute the authority that Christ gave to his chief apostle, Peter. The Catholic church claims that Peter past this authority on and a couple hundred years later the Roman Catholic Church was founded.

Protestant
In the early 16th Century reformers became disenchanted with the apparent corruption in the leadership of the Catholic church, including the selling of indulgences and worship of saints and images. Martin Luther was one of the earliest reformers. Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Catholic church for believing that ultimate authority came from the Bible and not from the Pope. He later founded the Lutheran church. Zwingli and Calvin were two other influential protestant reformers. Basically the protestant faith stemmed from Catholic church and kept some Catholic beliefs while also developing new beliefs based on the Bible. Their claim to authority comes from the scriptures.

Latter-day Saint (Mormon)
The LDS (Mormon) Church is not a Protestant church because it did not stem from the Catholic church or another Christian church. In fact, it is the only Christian church that is not Catholic or Protestant. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded on April 6, 1830 by a latter-day prophet, Joseph Smith.

As a young boy, Joseph was confused by the religious contention that surrounded him in New York during the Second Great Awakening. He wanted to know which church to join and was having difficulty resolving this question using the Bible. One night he read this verse in the New Testament:

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
James 1:5

This scripture convinced him that he must pray to God and ask for the wisdom that he lacked (which church to join). He went to the woods, prayed, and received a miraculous response. God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ appeared to the boy Joseph and answered his question, that he should join none of them. Joseph was chosen to be a prophet in these last days.

Through this prophet, God restored his gospel in its fullness, including the Priesthood (the same authority Christ gave to Peter and the other apostles). The same church organization, structure, and doctrine that Christ established over 2000 years ago was restored to the earth with Prophets, Apostles, Evangelists, Bishops, etc. Just as every prophet that lived before Joseph Smith, the Lord brought forth new scripture for our day, including the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.

Currently, Thomas S. Monson is the living prophet on the earth. The authority that God restored to the Prophet Joseph Smith has been passed down through a succession of prophets and continues with the current prophet. There is also currently a Quorum of Twelve Apostles and the same church organization that Christ had when he organized his former-day church, the Church of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion
I hope that the differences between the churches is apparent, through their histories. I went into more detail about the Mormon church because I know more about its history. The Catholic church is supposed to be a continuation of the original Christian church, the Protestant faith branched from the Catholic church a few hundred years ago, and the Mormon church is a restoration of the original Christian church after an apostacy (falling away) from the truth.

What Is the Purpose of the Book of Mormon?

2008-12-29T19:28:00.002-07:00

I was reading the very last chapter of the Book of Mormon the other day and the third to last verse in the last chapter stood out to me. It reads:

"Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God."
Moroni 10:32

Here as Moroni concludes the Book of Mormon he summarizes the central purpose for the book. The purpose of the Book of Mormon is to bring us (the readers) to Christ. Why? So that we can ultimately be saved by returning to the presence of God.

The Book of Mormon's title page also lists 3 purposes for the Book of Mormon, including the central purpose I mentioned above:

1. "To show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers."

2. "That they [the House of Israel] may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever."

3. For "the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations."

Book of Mormon Title Page

So, once again we see that the central purpose is to bring us to our Savior, Jesus Christ! What a wonderful goal. I know that this book has greatly helped me come to know my Savior and trust in Him.

I found a lot more information about the Book of Mormon here . Usually the best place to get information is from the source, so that link (from the Mormon (LDS) Church is a good source).

Matthew 13:11-12 Why Did Jesus Teach in Parables?

2008-12-21T15:42:00.002-07:00

Often we think of parables as unclear, difficult ways to teach or understand important doctrines? If the Savior knew that some people would not understand his parables, why did he then choose to teach this way? When his disciples asked him why he taught in parables, this was his response, as recorded in the New Testament Book of Matthew:

"He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath."
Matthew 13:11-12

Basically, verse 11 tells us that Jesus did not want everyone to understand what he was teaching. If his teachings are important doctrines, required for salvation, then why wouldn't he want everyone to understand them? Verse 12 reveals his reasoning. He wants to "give" this additional knowledge and understanding to those who "have" some already, or in other words, to those who are already learning his doctrine and making an honest effort to know more, he will give more. This is probably along the lines of not throwing pearls to swine.

Jesus continues by explaining that with those who don't have any (including those who have some but are not doing anything to further increase it), the little that they have is more than they should have, so nothing will be given them, rather what they have will be taken away. This is such a truth in our lives!

If we want to understand one of Jesus's parables, we need to put in some effort- just like the Jews. Many of the Jews heard Jesus speak and faithlessly disbelieved or tried to discredit his teachings. He was not there to teach these disbelievers. He was there to teach the faithful, those who would take the time to study and understand his parables. It makes perfect sense. So, if you want to understand what Jesus was teaching, take the time to prayerfully study it. In our time, we can find many resources on the internet and in books that will also help us understand, but not without effort.

Keep in mind, the truth that Jesus taught about receiving knowledge in general. If we want to continue progressing spiritually, we can't stop studying the scriptures! If we do, it "shall be taken away even that [we] hath." And as we continue studying, it will be given to us, little by little, to understand the doctrines and teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

So keep studying the scriptures and learning- there will always be more you can learn!

No more animal sacrifices? So, what now?

2008-12-14T21:00:00.004-07:00

Animal sacrifices were part of the Law of Moses. When Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law of Moses, he commanded us to give a different kind of sacrifice- a broken heart and contrite spirit.

The Lord commanded the Nephites:

"And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings.

And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost..."

3 Nephi 9:19-20

How do we offer a broken heart and contrite spirit to the Lord?

I believe this means we must be humble, repentant, and willing to do God's will at all times. To be broken hearted, we must not allow ourselves to set our hearts on things of the world with know eternal significance. Our spirits will be contrite when they overcome the sins of the flesh to be in perfect harmony with God's will.

We are not perfect, so this means we will slip up from time to time. To have a broken heart and contrite spirit we must recognize our shortcomings and feel sorrowful enough to fully repent to the Lord.

This is really what Christian living is all about, and this is the sacrifice that is now required of all followers of Christ.

Why Do People Sin When They Know It's Wrong?

2008-12-07T11:41:00.004-07:00

After a short period of righteousness among the Nephites, they began to become wicked again. This verse describes their actions:

"Now they did not sin ignorantly, for they knew the will of God concerning them, for it had been taught unto them; therefore they did wilfully rebel against God."
3 Nephi 6:18

Why do people sin when they know it is wrong to do so? I would love to hear any thoughts that readers of this blog might have- feel free to leave a comment!

I know there are dozens of reasons. Pride, for example, could cause someone to do something wrong knowingly because he or she has a reputation to keep. Someone may justify sins as he or she seeks for power, riches, or prestige.

Satan is a tricky devil, a very good devil at that. He has been doing what he does for a long time, and he has learned how to put attractive wrapping paper and flashy ribbons on the most dangerous packages. One may think that a single pornographic image is harmless, one drink of alcohol won't hurt, or a few slots at the casino is "just for fun". However, any of these actions would allow Satan to tie a small, weak string around your wrists. It is easy enough to break free at any time, so it doesn't worry you. When you take another look at that picture, go out for another drink, or move to the poker table, another small, weak string is added. You know you can break free of those weak strings so you disregard them. As this pattern continues, you find yourself trapped, imprisoned to the father of all lies, the devil. Though it's easy to break free of a couple weak strings, it is near impossible when it becomes a rope.

I guess to summarize that story in a way that answers the question, we too often underestimate "little sins" because we underestimate the devil who is working full time to bring us into captivity to himself.

This reminds me of what the prophet Nephi taught:

"And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell."
2 Nephi 28:21

Too often we have a sense of false security and allow ourselves to be led "carefully down to hell." We don't realize it until it's almost too late.

It is never completely too late, unless we die in our sins, because Jesus Christ atoned that we might be forgiven of our sins if we will repent and follow His gospel.

We can never say "the devil made me do it" but most of the time we can say "the devil convinced me to do it, but I made the choice." Satan won't pay the price of justice for the sins we commit, we will.

Let us open our eyes and realize what little things we may be doing in our lives that put small, weak strings around our wrists. Let's discover the tricks that Satan uses to deceive us and "convince" us to sin.

The Book of Mormon Was Written for Us

2008-11-30T21:26:00.002-07:00

During Sunday School today, a certain verse in the Book of Mormon caught my attention. Moroni wrote this:

"Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing."
Mormon 8:35

As with other prophets, Moroni saw our day. He is speaking to us, those who read the book! With the audience (us) in mind, Moroni, Mormon, and other prophets wrote down their revelations, prophesies, and the events that transpired around them. What better book to read than one written for you, personally?

Not only does this verse clearly state that he was speaking to us "as if [we] were present," but it also tells us that the Lord showed us and our day to him. When he warns us about the snare of pride, it is because he can see the influence of pride all around us and its evidence in our own lives.

So we should read the Book of Mormon because it is God's word through his chosen prophets to us today, in our own time. It speaks to me. It speaks to you. In the same way that the Bible was written for the Jews, the Book of Mormon was written (according to the title page) for "Jew and Gentile"--which includes you and me.

There are links on the side bar of this blog to get your own free copy of the Book of Mormon.

Oh, one last insight that I had from this verse today. Moroni and other prophets saw our day; they saw us and knew what we are like. Let us not forget the more important truth that God knows us perfectly. He always sees us and knows more than just our actions; he knows our intentions and thoughts. If we always keep in mind that God is watching us, we are bound to behave in a more righteous manner in our day to day activities. We are also more likely to heed counsel that comes to us from His chosen servants, the prophets.

The Resurrection - Will I be resurrected?

2008-11-23T17:44:00.004-07:00

One of the big three questions that most everyone asks at some point in their life is "What happens after death?" We wonder if life stops at death, or if it continues eternally. If it continues, what will it be like? Will our mortal actions determine our eternal future?

To be honest, the scriptures are full of answers to these questions. A New Testament verse gives an important insight:

"And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."
John 5:29

John teaches us here that EVERYONE will be resurrected. If we are good, we'll have the resurrection of life, meaning eternal life. If we are evil, we'll have the resurrection of damnation. We will be rewarded according to how we live on this earth.

What is the resurrection?
Simply put, resurrection is the reuniting of the body and spirit. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, was the first to resurrect, breaking the bands of death for all mankind.

The Book of Mormon also teaches this doctrine very clearly:

"Now, behold, I have spoken unto you concerning the death of the mortal body, and also concerning the resurrection of the mortal body. I say unto you that this mortal body is raised to an immortal body, that is from death, even from the first death unto life, that they can die no more; their spirits uniting with their bodies, never to be divided; thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal, that they can no more see corruption."
Alma 11:45

I wish I had more time to continue examining the scriptural teachings about the resurrection, but here are two other great resources about life after death and resurrection and judgment.

Because of the righteous, your city is saved

2008-11-16T20:17:00.003-07:00

"Yea, wo unto this great city of Zarahemla; for behold, it is because of those who are righteous that it is saved; yea, wo unto this great city, for I perceive, saith the Lord, that there are many, yea, even the more part of this great city, that will harden their hearts against me, saith the Lord."
Helaman 13:12

Background
Samuel the Lamanite is on Zarahemla's wall prophesying to the wicked Nephites. As he prophesies, he is speaking for the Lord.

My Thoughts
Basically, Samuel is telling the Nephites that if it weren't for the few righteous people among them, the Lord would destroy them. He clearly states that the majority of the inhabitants are wicked, which means the city is ripe for destruction.

This reminds me of Abraham's conversation with the Lord in Genesis of the Old Testament. In response to the Lord's intention to judge and possibly destroy Sodom and Gomorrah:

"And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?"
Genesis 18:23

Abraham convinces the Lord to spare the cities if there are enough righteous people found therein. Originally they agree on 50 people (in a large city), but Abraham soon haggles the number down to 10. As we know from the next chapter (Genesis 19), Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of their wickedness and lack of righteousness.

Basically what I learn from this is that in modern times, the righteous people of the earth are insurance for the wicked. I believe that the times we live in are every bit as wicked as the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. Perhaps the only real difference between now and then is the strength of the righteous people upon the earth. If there is ever a time when a city, state, or country decides to exile or kill all of the righteous living within its boundaries, there will be nothing to stop God from destroying the entity just as He did Sodom and Gomorrah.

So, to those of us who are striving to live righteously- you are protecting the lands in which you live. To those who live in wickedness- you had better show some respect and appreciation to those around you who are obediently living God's laws because without them your fate would be no different than those of Sodom and Gomorrah. Luckily for you, there is still time to repent and change. You can still be counted among the righteous. Click here for more information.

ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity

2008-11-08T19:33:00.003-07:00

Samuel the Lamanite risked his life to be obedient to the Lord in calling the Nephites to repentance. Under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, he tells them that they will be destroyed if they do not repent. About 40 years later, this prophecy is fulfilled with a tremendous destruction among the Nephites when Jesus Christ is crucified by the Jews on the other side of the world. One point that I want to think out loud about a little bit is part of Samuel's great speech:

"...yea, for ye have sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain; and ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head."

Helaman 13:38

What Samuel says here can be related to people of all parts of the world and in all times. EVERYONE seeks for happiness. Period. That is what motivates us in most everything we do - we think we will be happier as a result. He goes on to explain that the Nephites at this time were looking in all the wrong places. They were trying to find happiness in sin. Analyzing it this way may seem intuitive, but when it's happening to you, it is significantly less obvious.

I want to make two points here:
1. How do people look for happiness in sin today?
2. Where can we find true happiness?

1. How do people look for happiness in sin today?
There are so many things that people do for "pleasure" and instant gratification that cannot possibly last and will inevitably leave a deeper sense of unhappiness. My goal is not to list everything that we can do to look for happiness in the wrong places, but rather identify a few that we might not realize.

Anything we do or use that can cause addictions is a sure sign we are looking for happiness in a place it cannot be found. The obvious addictive substances include drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. Less obvious are coffee and black tea, though they both contain high quantities of addictive caffeine. A common plague that fits this category in society today is pornography. How many people turn to their pornography in hopes of happiness, when in reality they are only satisfying a sinful lust and damning their own souls as they distance themselves further from the Lord and his Holy Spirit?

There are other ways we vainly seek for happiness such as vanity and feeding our pride. We think that if our house is bigger, our car is faster, and our toys are more expensive, then we will be happier. Whoops, that's definitely wrong. The cliche that money can't by happiness it true. How often do we look at future events and say to ourselves, "When such-and-such thing happens or is attained, then I will be happier?" Living for tomorrow will not bring happiness, nor will living in the past. Happiness must be found in the now!

2. Where can we find true happiness?
I'm reminded of a verse in the Book of Mormon that describes the Nephites at a much earlier period in their history when they were living righteously. Nephi describes his people:

"And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness."

2 Nephi 5:27

This is the how we want to live. What can we learn about Nephi's people that made them so happy? Here are just a few things that they did: building a temple to worship God, being industrious and laboring with their hands, and being obedient to God's commandments. These things truly bring happiness. As we put God first in our lives and seek to learn of him and follow his commandments, he will bless us with happiness. Without God we cannot be happy. Period.

So, righteous living brings happiness. Giving meaningful service also brings happiness. To share something personal, one of the absolute happiest periods in my life was when I was fully engaged for a couple years sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others and serving people that I did not even know. I learned to love everyone around me and had a deep desire to help them in their lives and share the happiness that I had found with those around me.

If you are looking for happiness and have been unable to find the lasting happiness that God wants for you, then you need the true Gospel of Jesus Christ in your life. I can promise you that it will help you find Christ in such a personal way that your life will forever be blessed. You will be happy. To learn more, I encourage you to let missionaries visit you and teach you the Gospel of Jesus Christ. From their very first visit, you will feel a difference in your heart and in your life. Click here to arrange for missionaries to share more with you. Also, please feel free to visit www.mormon.org to learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

less than the dust of the earth

2008-10-28T21:44:00.002-06:00

Have you ever wondered what it meant that man is "less than the dust of the earth?" In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Mormon explains very clearly how and why it is that mankind truly is "less than the dust of the earth."

Mormon says that despite God's "great goodness and mercy towards [men], they do set at naught his counsels, and they will not that he should be their guide." Mormon continues, "For behold, the dust of the earth moveth hither and thither, to the dividing asunder, at the command of our great and everlasting God."

So, basically when God commands men to do something, rarely do they obey and follow his instruction, but when God commands the dust of the earth to do something, it immediately obeys his voice. Mormon gives several examples of the mountains, valleys, and seas all obeying God's command, yet men are "quick to do iniquity" and "slow to do good."

This account can teach us a lot about agency. God is all-powerful, so why can't he make us obey him when he commands us to be good? God has given to all mankind agency so that we can choose good from evil. If God were to ever infringe upon our agency, his plan for us would be destroyed because it is based upon our agency and rewarding us according to that which we choose to do during our time on earth.

In conclusion, we have our agency to choose whether to obey God and when we use that agency to disobey his commandments we are "less than the dust of the earth." As we align our will to his and choose to follow Him in obedience, we can rise above the dust of the earth to our true potential as sons and daughters of God.

All quotes were taken from Helaman 12 in the Book of Mormon.

a new blog

2008-10-28T20:46:00.000-06:00

For some time I've been thinking about creating a blog where I could think out loud about a variety of topics, including religion. I have decided that writing about many of the religious ideas that I read about and study will help me to understand them better while also assisting others who may seek to understand some of the truths that God has chosen to reveal to man.

I do not profess that this blog in any way represents the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but rather it is a blog about my views and beliefs as a member of the LDS (Mormon) Church. I will do my best to include citations whenever possible and to explicitly state when my opinion (rather than doctrine) is being expressed.

Please feel free to comment and ask questions!