The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ!
28 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
in Book of Mormon, Restoration of the Church Tags: Bible, Book of Mormon, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, Lamanite, Nephite
The Book of Mormon is a historical record of God’s dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas (600 B.C. to 400 A.D.) It is holy scripture comparable to the Bible and contains Christ’s everlasting gospel. Its central message is to convince all “that Jesus is the Christ, the eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations.”
Missionaries like me are handing out copies all over the world, even while you are reading my blog. It’s about the size of a regular paperback book, an inch or so thick. So what is this book? If it’s given out for free, why do so many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints count their Book of Mormon as their most valuable possession? What kind of book can cause so many readers to change their lives, their minds and their hearts? What kind of book can answer life’s seemingly unanswerable questions?
The Book of Mormon is the word of God, like the Bible. Both books contain God’s guidance as revealed to prophets as well as religious accounts of different civilizations. While the Bible is written by and about the people in the land surrounding Israel, and takes place from the creation of the world until shortly after the death of Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon contains the history and God’s revelations to the people who lived in the Americas between approximately 600 BC and 400 AD. The prophets in the Book of Mormon recorded God’s dealings with His people, which were compiled by a man named Mormon onto golden plates.
The Book of Mormon, along with the Bible, testifies that Jesus Christ is our divine Redeemer and that by living according to His gospel we can find peace in this life and eternal happiness in the life to come. The title page states that the Book of Mormon’s purpose is to convince all of us “that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations.” It was written to help us develop a true knowledge of Jesus Christ and His mission on earth. The Book of Mormon reaffirms what we learn from the Bible, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came to earth to help us overcome our sins. The people in the Book of Mormon, the Nephites and the Lamanites, recorded their testimonies of Jesus Christ. Many of the prophets who wrote the records that make up the Book of Mormon saw Christ personally. The climax of the book is when Jesus appeared to all the Nephites soon after He was resurrected. He blessed them, taught them his gospel and said,
“Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world” (3 Nephi 11:14).
I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and that is was translated by Joseph Smith, by the will of God! You too can know of the truthfulness of the gospel! I testify that these things are true, and in closing I thought is was only fitting to have a personal testimony about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith by none other that Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Elder Holland is one of my all-time favorite Apostles, and this testimony that he gives hits me every time, there is no denying his testimony!!! Enjoy!!!
Our True Identity
22 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
in Spiritual Thoughts, Videos Tags: Armor of God, Arts, Bible, Book of Mormon, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Dramas, God, God the Father, History, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, Lds, mormons, President of the United States, Programs, Stripling Warriors, Television, The Ugly Duckling
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf retells the story of the ugly duckling and urges us to reflect on who we really are—sons and daughters of a glorious Heavenly Father. This video really stand out to me when i think about today’s world. People are told that they will only fit in if they look and act a certain way. But we don’t need to change who we are for others. we are all glorious sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, and he loves us all dearly. Think about that, most of us know and say that, but really take a minute or more to really think about it. We are all glorious sons and daughters of our loving Heavenly Father!! He loves us all personally!! If we all take a step back and understand who we are and where we all came from, the world will change!!
President Hinckley, lessons I learned as a Boy
17 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
in Spiritual Thoughts, Videos Tags: Armor of God, Book of Mormon, Christianity, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, God, God the Father, Gordon B. Hinckley, Gospel of Matthew, Great Commandment, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, Lds, lessons, mormons, Old Testament, Religion and Spirituality, Salvation, Stripling Warriors
I love the Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley. He is my favorite prophet! All growing up, I would listen to all of his talks, he is such an inspirational man! He talks with such power and such inspiration, he truly was a prophet of the Lord
Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Matthew 25:40
“Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Matthew 22:36-39
The Gospel Blesses Families
17 Jul 2010 2 Comments
in Restoration of the Church Tags: Armor of God, Arts, Book of Mormon, Christianity, Christianity for Seekers, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Dramas, Earth, Evangelism, Genesis, God, God the Father, Gordon B. Hinckley, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Lds, mormons, Religion and Spirituality, Salvation
“No success can compensate for failure in the home.” –Former Church President David O. McKay
Families are ordained of God. They are the most important social unit in time and in eternity.
God has established families to bring happiness to His children, allow them to learn correct principles in a loving atmosphere, and prepare them to return to Him after they die. Because families are ordained of God, they are the most important social unit in time and in eternity.
Marriage (Genesis 2:18) and family ( Genesis 1:28) are central focal points in God’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children. Your Heavenly Father wants you to do all you can during your time on Earth to prepare yourself to live in an eternal family.
Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on sound principles, like those that Jesus Christ taught. These principles include faith in Jesus Christ, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. A home established on gospel principles is a place of refuge and safety, where the Spirit of the Lord can abide, blessing family members with peace, joy, and happiness (“ The Family: A Proclamation to the World”).
No marriage or family is perfect. When dealing with challenging relationships, it may help to remember that each person on this earth is a beloved son or daughter of God and has a divine nature and destiny. Learning to love and serve your family members, as Christ taught, will help you become more like your Heavenly Father and will help you prepare to live with Him again in an eternal family.
I know personally how much my family has been blessed by the gospel, and how much the gospel means for my family. Whenever times are tough, i can always turn to my family for love and support. This also makes it easier to find my way back to my Heavenly Father and pray to Him for His guidance and support. I know that this church is true with all my heart, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that Heavenly Father loves and knows each and every one of His children and wants us all to return to live with Him someday. I leave these words in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
The First Vision/ Restoration of the Church
17 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
in Restoration of the Church Tags: Armor of God, Book of Mormon, Christ's Second Coming, Christianity, Christianity for Seekers, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Earth, First Vision, Generation, God, God the Father, Gordon B. Hinckley, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, Lamanite, Lds, mormons, Nephite, Religion and Spirituality, Salvation, Stripling Warriors, United States
The First Vision/ Restoration of the Church
In 1820, as He had done throughout history, Father in Heaven again chose a prophet to restore the gospel and the priesthood to the earth. He called a young man named Joseph Smith, and through him, the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth.
Joseph Smith lived in the United States, which was perhaps the only country to enjoy religious freedom at the time. It was at a time of great religious excitement in the eastern United States, and Joseph Smith’s family members were deeply religious and constantly sought for truth. The Holy Bible taught that there was “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” ( Ephesians 4:5), but many ministers claimed to have the true gospel. Joseph attended different churches, but he was confused about which church he should join and desired “to know which of all the sects was right” ( Joseph Smith—History 1:18). He later wrote:
“So great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was . . . to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong. . . . In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it?” ( Joseph Smith—History 1:8, 10).
As Joseph sought truth among the different faiths, he turned to the Bible for guidance. He read, “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). Because of this passage, Joseph decided to ask God what he should do. In the spring of 1820 he went to a nearby grove of trees and knelt in prayer. He described his experience: “I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, 
above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. . . . When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” ( Joseph Smith—History 1:16–17). In this vision God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith. The Savior told Joseph not to join any of the churches, for they “were all wrong.” The Savior stated, “They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof” ( Joseph Smith—History 1:19).
Although many good people believed in Christ and tried to understand and teach His gospel, they did not have the fulness of truth or the priesthood authority to baptize and perform other saving ordinances at that time. They had inherited a state of apostasy, as each generation was influenced by what the previous one passed on, including changes in the doctrines and in ordinances, such as baptism.
Joseph Smith’s First Vision marked the beginning of the Restoration of Jesus Christ’s Church to the earth. In subsequent years, Christ restored His priesthood and reorganized His Church. He has continued to reveal truths to His prophets and to restore the blessings that were taken from the earth for a time.
The Apostle Peter prophesied of the “restitution of all things” before Christ’s Second Coming ( Acts 3:19–21). The Restoration of Christ’s Church on the earth has made available the opportunity for all to once again receive all of the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This is the reason why I get up each and every morning with the purpose of spreading forth Thy restored Gospel as a full time missionary!! I know that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ in the Sacred Grove in 1820. This Church is true, Heavenly Father has restored the fullness of the gospel to us in this last dispensation. Nothing in this life has brought me as great comfort and happiness to know that I am a member of His restored gospel, that I hold His Holy Priesthood, that I try my hardest to follow each and every one of His commandments, and that HE Loves Me!!! I say these things in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
Why Mormons build Temples
17 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
in Temples Tags: Architecture, Arts, Book of Mormon, Christianity, Christianity for Seekers, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Earth, God, God the Father, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, Lamanite, Lds, Lord, mormons, Religion and Spirituality, Salvation, Second Coming of Christ, Stripling Warriors, Temple
Temples are literally houses of the Lord. Throughout history, the Lord has commanded His people to build temples. The Church is working to build temples all over the world to make temple blessings more available for a greater number of Heavenly Father’s children.
Message from the First Presidency, President Erying
16 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
in First Presidency Messages Tags: Armor of God, Book of Mormon, Christianity, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Doctrine and Covenants, God, God the Father, Gordon B. Hinckley, Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, Lds, mormons, Mosiah, Prayer, Religion and Spirituality, Salvation, Second Coming of Christ, Stripling Warriors
One of the great tributes the Savior can give is to call us “friends.” We know that He loves with a perfect love all of His Heavenly Father’s children. Yet for those who have been faithful in their service with Him, He reserves this special title. You remember the words from the 84th section of the Doctrine and Covenants: “And again I say unto you, my friends, for from henceforth I shall call you friends, it is expedient that I give unto you this commandment, that ye become even as my friends in days when I was with them, traveling to preach the gospel in my power” (D&C 84:77).
We become His friends as we serve others for Him. He is the perfect example of the kind of friend we are to become. He wants only what is best for His Heavenly Father’s children. Their happiness is His happiness. He feels their sorrow as His own because He has paid the price of all their sins, taken upon Himself all their infirmities, borne all their troubles, and felt all their longings. His motives are pure. He seeks no recognition for Himself but to give all glory to His Heavenly Father. The perfect friend, Jesus Christ, is completely selfless in offering happiness to others.
Each of us who has made the baptismal covenant has promised to follow His example to bear one another’s burdens as He would (see Mosiah 18:8).
In the next few days you will have many opportunities to be a friend for Him. It may be as you walk on a dusty road. It may be as you sit down in a railroad car. It may be as you look for a place to sit in a Church congregation. If you are watching, you will see someone carrying a heavy burden. It may be a burden of sorrow or loneliness or resentment. It may be visible to you only if you have prayed for the Spirit to give you eyes to see into hearts and have promised to lift up the hands that hang down.
The answer to your prayer may be the face of an old friend, one you have not seen in years but whose needs suddenly come into your mind and heart and feel as if they are your own. I’ve had that happen to me. Old friends have reached out to me across the miles and the years to offer encouragement when only God could have told them of my burden.
Living prophets of God have asked us to be faithful friends to those who come into the Church as converts and to go to the rescue of those who have drifted away. We can do it, and we will do it if we always remember the Savior. When we reach out to give succor and to lift a burden, He reaches with us. He will lead us to those in need. He will bless us to feel what they feel. As we persist in our efforts to serve them, we will more and more be given the gift of feeling His love for them. That will give us courage and strength to reach out again and again in faithfulness.
And, in time and in eternity, we will feel the joy of being welcomed to the company of His faithful friends. I pray for that blessing for all of us and for those we will serve.
13 Articles of Faith
16 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
in Church Articles Tags: Armor of God, Articles of Faith, Bible, Book of Mormon, Christianity, Christianity for Seekers, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, God, God the Father, Great Commandment, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, Lamanite, Lds, mormons, Nephite, New Jerusalem, Religion and Spirituality, Salvation, Satan, Second Coming of Christ, Stripling Warriors
Two years before he died, the Prophet Joseph Smith wrote them in a letter to a newspaper editor, John Wentworth, who had asked for information about the Church.
Ever since the Articles of Faith were written, they’ve inspired and directed us in the basic principles of our gospel. They enhance our understanding of certain doctrines and help us commit to living them. They invite further thought. And they’re a good tool for explaining our beliefs to people unfamiliar with them.
- 1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
- 2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
- 3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
- 4. 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.
- 5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
- 6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
- 7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
- 8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
- 9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
- 10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
- 11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
- 12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
- 13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul-We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
These outline what our church believes in, if any of you have any questions or comments, please feel free to drop me a line. Can’t wait to hear from you!!!
LIFE IS GOOD!!!!
Serving our fellow man
16 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
in Spiritual Thoughts Tags: Armor of God, Book of Mormon, Christianity, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Evangelism, Forgiveness, God, Great Commandment, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, King Benjamin, Lamanite, Lds, Nephite, New Testament, Religion and Spirituality, spiritual thought, Stripling Warriors
Serve Others
Jesus Christ taught his disciples, “He who seeketh to save his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” (JST, Matt. 10:39). This great and true counsel, given in three of the four New Testament Gospels, focuses on our keeping the commandments. Yet it promises us that as we lose ourselves in serving God by serving others, we will find our way to exaltation.
In his farewell address, King Benjamin taught this same great truth to his people more than a hundred years before Jesus Christ’s mortal birth: “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17).
In fact, this general idea is so widely recognized in the world that social counselors everywhere often teach that discouragement and despair can sometimes be overcome by turning our attention away from ourselves and toward serving others. Of course, those with serious depression and clinically diagnosed emotional illness cannot be cured by merely focusing their attention elsewhere. But for many of us, discouragement or a case of the blues can be overcome by thrusting ourselves into a project in which someone else is the beneficiary. Some of the most rewarding work any of us will ever do is that which, when it is completed, we can look back on and can see how much someone else gained from it. In the process, optimism and hope about ourselves and life seep into our souls.
When we serve others, help them, strengthen them, we are in service to God. As He said, when you have done to the lest of these, you have done it unto me. We can serve God by serving others.
The Two Thousand Stripling Warriors!!
15 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
in Scripture Stories, Stripling Warriors Tags: 2000, Alma, Armor of God, Book of Mormon, Christianity, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, God, God the Father, Great Commandment, Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, Lamanite, mothers, Nephite, Programs, Religion and Spirituality, Salvation, Second Coming of Christ, Stripling Warriors
In the Book of Mormon, there is a true story about 2,000 young men with bravery, courage, and an unshakable faith for God! And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted. Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him. These young men gathered together and promised to defend the liberty of their people and the Nephites.
One of the most important parts in these verses is in verse 20, “this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.” Not only did they have courage, but they were honest and true in all that they did! They knew the commandments of the Lord and always strived to obey them. In doing so, they had the Spirit of the Lord with them, and with the Lord, all things are possible!” … they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them… And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it… And now it came to pass that we, the people of Nephi, the people of Antipus, and I with my two thousand, did surround the Lamanites, and did slay them; yea, insomuch that they were compelled to deliver up their weapons of war and also themselves as prisoners of war… But behold, to my great joy, there had not one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with the strength of God; yea, never were men known to have fought with such miraculous strength…”Also, these men loved their mothers (as do I, I love you Mom)!!!! They had all these great attributes because their Mother’s taught them accordingly! Their Mothers knew that they needed to teach their children the ways of the Lord, as doing so, they raised what would later become the two thousand stripling warriors, men of mighty valor! WE DO NOT DOUBT OUR MOTHERS KNEW IT!! They had never fought in a battle before, nor did they have much experience concerning the matter. But because they cared more about their families lives then their own, and they were taught by their Mothers that the Lord would deliver them, they had full faith that they would win the battle and spare the lives of their families!These Sons truly loved their families, just like I do! I really can relate to these Young Men, I too was taught about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ growing up, and I have an unmeasurable love for my family! They mean everything to me, I highly doubt I would be even close to the man I am today if it weren’t for the love and care of my Mother and Father! I would be willing to do anything for my family, even if it meant laying down my life for them, I would! I am a Momma’s boy through and through, I love her to death, She is the best Mom a son could ask for! All the many happy joyful memories I have growing up, all the times she kissed my “Ouchies” better, Every night when she would read a book to me before bed time, sing me silly songs, each time she wiped away my tears, each time she gave me medicine when I was feeling sick, or gave me comfort when I was lost and felt alone! I love my whole family with every last fiber in my being!! I am truly grateful for all they do and what they have raised me to become!!! I Love my Heavenly Father, and I feel His love with me each time i do what is right! These things I bear testimony in the sacred name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, AMEN!!!!!!
