Thank Goodness For the Gospel

This past weekend, my beloved grandmother passed away. She was the best grandma that anyone could have ever asked for. When I was much younger than today, my mom was going to school and my dad was working, that raised the opportunity for my grandma and me to become very close as she took care of my day after day. Now with her passing I feel so grateful for the years that I was able to spend with her, and I am especially grateful for the knowledge I have of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It gives me a firm hope that I will see her again, and helps me rejoice over her passing knowing that she is now with her sweetheart again as well. The gospel is so simple, yet brings so much hope and happiness into our lives. To learn more click on a link below-

-The Gospel of Jesus Christ

-The Plan of Salvation

-Families

The word "gospel" literally means "the good news". I am so grateful for the good news that I know and I am grateful to be able to share it with so many others.

A Testimony

Today, I feel enlightened to share my testimony of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I know that He is the Savior and Redeemer of the world, and that he suffered all things so that he would now how to help me in my times of need (Alma 7:11-13).

The other night I was reminiscing about some of the experiences that I have had in my life. In each experience I thought about I felt as though I was unable to reach my full potential because of some outside source. I felt short changed because someone else's freedom to choose had limited my ability to succeed, as often happens throughout the course of life. Then a friend brought the Savior to my remembrance, and the Atonement that he suffered. The mistakes and incorrect choices that you and I make everyday led him to have to suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane. The choice that someone very close to Christ made to sell Him for the price of a slave caused Him to be lifted up upon the cross and suffer the pains of physical death. However, the Savior's love for us shined forth out of the pain and the torment that He felt during the moments of suffering. He rose on the third day as a resurrected being and conquered physical death.

Though sometimes I feel that other's choices hold me back and bring me down, I stand comforted to know that one day, as long as I keep trying to be the best I can, I will reach my full potential because of the love of our Father in Heaven for us and because Christ  suffered all things for me and for you (Romans 8:16-17).

Leap Out of Your Shell

I remember making my way to the top of cliff surrounding the waters of Lake Powell in southern Utah. I watched as my friends, one by one, jumped off the edge into the blue water below. My heart raced and I wasn't sure if I would have the courage, when it came to be my turn, to leave the solid ground beneath my feet and plummet to the water 30+ feet below. I stepped to the edge and saw my peers wading in the water, calling for me to follow them. I hesitated for a moment, took a deep breath, and thrust my body into the air away from the wall of the cliff. I fell for what seemed like several minutes but was only a few seconds, and splashed into the water. I made my way to the surface of the lake, relieved and happy to see my friends around me. A feeling of excitement and joy came over me that I never would have felt had I never taken the leap.

In our lives change can be difficult, new situations can be terrifying, and finding our way can be hard. However, if we never take the leap we may never feel the joy and fulfillment that comes from achieving.

When a tortoise sticks out its neck, it risks falling prey to predators. However, tortoise must stick out their necks in order to walk. Despite the fear, tortoise must extend their necks in order to make progress. If they don't stick out their necks, they don't progress.

Likewise, when we find ourselves hiding within our shells, refusing to stick out our necks, we also find that we stay in the same spot. Once, we gather the courage to poke our heads out of our shells and walk, we will also find that become more than we previously were.

Living in accordance with the gospel of Jesus Christ is often difficult, but if we come out of our shells and take the leap then we will find that the Lord will lead us to make correct choices, and will lead us to truth. Alma, a prophet in the Book of Mormon said, "But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon [Christ's] words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of [Christ's] words." (Alma 33:27)

Allow the gospel to bless your life, by giving place for the words of Christ. As you strive to follow him and open yourself to him no matter how difficult it may be, the Holy Ghost will fill you and reveal to you the love that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for you. 

The Floods Come Up

Incredible amounts of rain have poured over the Montana landscape over the passed several days. As a result from the heavy precipitation many streams, rivers, and creeks have flown over their usual boundaries, and water has ended up in the basements of homes and in the streets.

In many of the places where the rivers are beginning to flood, many people have gathered and began to place sandbags, dirt, and other barriers along the banks of the rivers to keep the water from spilling over into the town. If the water did come into town, then many homes would be ruined or even swept away, and many lives would be at risk.

As the floods of affliction and trials pour into our everyday lives, are we taking the time to sandbag and build our barrier against the adversary? Are we built upon the sure foundation, who is Christ, that we will not be swept away in the current of adversity?

In the Book of Mormon, Helaman counsels his sons to build their foundation the rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ. He says, "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)

 

Life's storms will beat upon us, the winds will rush against us, and the floods will come in. However, if we are built upon the sure foundation, the rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ, we will not and cannot fall. Let us build up our barriers against the floods of life by immersing ourselves in the word of God, which is both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Let us call upon God through mighty prayer, not only in the face of trials, but at all times for He knows us, loves us, and with him all things are possible. Let us be built upon Jesus Christ, stand as an "...example of the believers," (1 Timothy 4:12) and be more devoted disciples of our Lord and Savior.

Developing Christlike Attributes: Obedience

In July 1976, Israeli special forces made a daring raid at an airport in Entebbe, Uganda, in which 103 Jewish hostages were freed. In less than fifteen minutes, the soldiers had killed all seven of the kidnappers and set the captives free.

 

As successful as the rescue was, however, three of the hostages were killed during the raid. As Israeli commandos entered the terminal, they shouted in Hebrew, "Get down! Crawl!" The Jewish hostages understood and lay down on the floor, while the guerrillas, who did not speak Hebrew, were left standing. Quickly the rescuers shot the upright kidnappers.

However, two of the hostages hesitated  and were also cut down. One young man was lying down and actually stood up when the commandos entered the airport. He, too, was shot with the bullets meant for the enemy. Had these three heeded the soldiers' command they would have been freed with the rest of the captives.

Obedience is the first law of heaven. It is an act of faith. You may sometimes be required to do things you do not completely understand. It is important in these situations to remember that "...man doth not comprehend all things which the Lord can comprehend." (Mosiah 4:9) If we refuse to head to the counsel of the Lord and keep His commandments, we too will become a casualty in the war against sin and temptation.

As we obey we increase in faith, knowledge, wisdom, testimony, protection, and freedom. The Lord tells us, " I, the Lord am bound when ye do what I say, but when you do not what I say, ye have no promise." The Lord has blessings in store for us if we obey his commandments and cleave to his words.

Just like the Jewish prisoners who were freed when they listened and obeyed the instructions of  the Israeli officers, we too can be freed from personal bondage when we heed the instruction of the Lord. We can be made clean from addiction, made spotless from sin, and be led to glorify God through Jesus Christ, the savior of the world.

Ezra Taft Benson once said, "When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, then God will endow us with power from on high."  God will give us the strength to do everything, if we are obedient to him. Often in the world today, obedience seems to mean that we are made captive or imprisoned. However, being obedient does just the opposite, it makes us free by allowing us to overcome the captivity that is wrought by sin and disobedience to God's commandments. Ezra Taft Benson also relates this story to the principle of obedience:

While flying a kite, I once asked my father, “Dad, what holds the kite up?”
“The String,” he replied.

“No, Dad, the string holds it down, not up.”

“If you think so, let go of the string,” he said, “and see what happens.”

I let go and the kite began to fall! It seems odd that the very thing which seems to keep the kite down is actually what keeps it up. And this is true not only of kites but of life. Those strings that are tied to us, those rules and regulations that seem to hold us down, are actually holding us up.

And certainly in the realm of the spirit, in the field of faith, this same truth holds with even greater force. The word “religion” is said to come from a Latin root meaning “to hold back” or tie back. And this is what religion does. It provides the string to the soaring kite of our spirit; it keeps us from falling! It binds us to great values; it attaches us to great causes; it helps us fly high in the aid of God’s truth and lifts us until our heads touch the stars and our lives take on the beauty of men and women who are bound closely to God.

I add my witness to Ezra Taft Benson's, that as we strive to be obedient and live the laws of the Lord, we will establish an armor around our spirits that will offer protection from temptation. May we all strive to be more obedient, seek the love that our Savior offers us through obedience to his commandments. Through our obedience, he will rescue us.

Developing Christlike Attributes: Diligence

One of the greatest football coaches in history once said, "The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary." Diligence is the principle that drives us to be better, and to work hard for the things that we want to accomplish. It is the steady, consistent, and energetic effort in doing the Lord's work. If we want reap success from the work each of us are involved in, we must be diligent.

Rick Hoyt was born in 1962 to Dick and Judy Hoyt. Rick was diagnosed as a spastic quadriplegic  with cerebral palsy at birth as a result from oxygen deprivation . Dick and Judy were advised to institutionalize Rick because there was no hope of him recovering and living a normal life. The quest then began to help Rick become involved in the community, sports, and education.

In the spring of 1977, Rick told his father that he wanted to participate in a 5-mile benefit run for a Lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident. Far from being a long-distance runner, Dick agreed to push Rick in his wheelchair and they finished all 5 miles, coming in next to last. That night, Rick told his father, "Dad, when I'm running, it feels like I'm not handicapped."

This realization was just the beginning of what would become over 1,000 races completed, including marathons, duathlons and triathlons (6 of them being Ironman competitions). Also adding to their list of achievements, Dick and Rick biked and ran across the U.S. in 1992, completing a full 3,735 miles in 45 days(Team Hoyt)

Just as Dick's diligence is an expression of love to his son. Our diligence is an expression of love to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Pushing forward when we are tired, and living the commandments of the Lord when don't think we can is a great sign of faith.

Through exercising diligence we become more like our savior who was the ultimate example of diligence. He completed his mission on this earth even though he knew that the path he would have to walk would be a long and painful one. When he was about to endure the greatest pain the world has ever known and he said to his father, "..take away this cup from me, nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." (Mark 14:36)  He knew of his divinity and knew the diligence it would take to accomplish the task that was at hand. Yet, he laid the example before us and fulfilled the will of the father by atoning for the sins of the world.

As we press forward with all energy of our hearts, striving to become more like our savior everyday, the love our our Father in Heaven will be manifest through us. We will find that the Lord will make more out of us that we can make out of ourselves. It's not easy, it takes work, but all things are possible through Christ who strengthens us.

Developing Christlike Attributes: Humility

I remember being amazed as I was watching a football game. One of the teams had an incredibly talented tail back. He was very quick and agile. He would be carrying the ball in the middle of the field, and just when you thought the defense had him wrapped up, he'd slip through their grasp and scamper for thirty more yards.

The elusiveness of the tailback closely relates to the Christlike attribute of humility. Humility displays the same type of traits that the tailback did in the fact of just when we think we are humble, we learn that we are not. This tricky trait allows us to rely on God without realizing that we are relying on him. Elder Marlin K Jensen of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints said, "Consciously trying to acquire humility is also problematic. I remember once hearing one of my colleagues... say about humility that 'if you think you have it, you don’t.' He suggested we should try to develop humility and be sure we didn’t know when we got it, and then we would have it. But if we ever thought we

had it, we wouldn't"

This is one of the lessons C. S. Lewis teaches in his well-known Screwtape Letters. In letter XIV, a good man who is being recruited by a devil and his apprentice to their side is growing humble, and the devil remarks that “this is very bad.” With great insight, Lewis has the devil say to his associate, “Your patient has become humble; have you drawn his attention to the fact?"

It seems as though humility is always just out of our grasp. So, how do we develop this evasive trait? Christ helps us to understand when his disciples ask him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He responded by placing a little child in their midst and stating, “Whosoever … shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”(Matt. 18:1, 4)

In this passage the Savior teaches that to be humble is to become like a little child. The Book of Mormon teaches us what it means to become as a little child when it says, "For the natural man is an enemy to God... and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father."

Humility is willingness to submit to the will of the Lord and to give the Lord the honor for what is accomplished. It includes gratitude for His blessings and acknowledgment of your constant need for his divine help. Humility is the ability to become as a little child and submit to will of our Father in Heaven just as children submit to the will of their parents.

Contrary to the world's view on humility, it is not a sign of weakness. Humility is a sign of spiritual strength. When you humbly trust the Lord and acknowledge His power and mercy, you can have the assurance that His commandments are for your good. You are able to be confident that you can do whatever the Lord requires of you if your rely on Him.

Developing Christlike Attributes: Charity and Love

In the book of Matthew in the New Testament, a man asks Jesus, "Which is the great commandment in the law?" Christ answered him saying, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart, and with all they soul., and with all they mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love they neighbour as thyself" (Matthew 22:36-39)

Charity is "the pure love of Christ" (Moroni 7:47). Charity includes Gods' everlasting love for all His children. We need to seek and strive to develop that kind of love. When Charity fills your life, you obey God's commandments along with helping and serving others.

Charity is a gift from God.  The scriptures tell us the we should "pray to the father with all energy of heart, that [we] may be filled with this love" (Moroni 7:48). As you strive to do this and strive to do good works, your love for all people will increase. You will come to feel sincere concern for the happiness and welfare of other people. You will see others as children of God, and you will avoid negative feelings such as anger, envy, lust, or jealousy. You will avoid judging others, criticizing them, or saying negative things about them. You will try to understand them and their points of view. You will be patient with them and try to hep them when they are struggling or discouraged. Charity, like faith, leads to action. You will develop Charity as you look for opportunities to serve others and give of yourself.

Let us all have greater Charity and Love for one another. Finding Charity within ourselves and striving to serve and help others leads us to forget feelings of depression, doubt, fear, sadness, etc. Spencer W. Kimball, a prophet of God said, "The more we serve our fellowmen in appropriate ways, the more substance there is to our souls. We become more significant individuals as we serve others. We become more substantive as we serve others--indeed, it is easier to "find" ourselves because there is so much more of us to find!"

Additional Scriptures

1 Corinthians 13    Bible Dictionary, "Charity"
1 Nephi 19:9           Alma 7:11-13
Ether 12:33-34        Luke 7:12-15

Taken from Preach My Gospel

Developing Christlike Attributes: Hope

What is Hope? Most often, when I would think about what Hope is and what it consists of, I would describe it as a passive feeling associated with doubt and unrest. Most of the time, my Hopes were something I would like to happen, but most surely knew would not come to pass. This is the attitude I had most of my life toward Hope. Until I learned what the word really means.

Hope is more than just a wish, it's a trust. Hope is the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill his promises. Hope is shown through confidence, enthusiasm, optimism, and perseverance. Hope is not only believing, but is also expecting that something will occur.  When you have Hope, you work through trials and struggles and difficulties with confidence and assurance that all things will work together for your good. Hope helps conquer discouragement.

It is not easy to have Hope in this difficult and scary world we live in. It seems as though times are leading us on a downhill course toward destruction. The basic fundamental principles of God or being lost in our society, but we don't have to let the turmoil in the world bring us down in the gulf of misery. As believers and followers of Jesus Christ we can stand with a firm Hope, knowing that all things will work together for our good. He is still the God of the earth and he is mindful of his followers. As long as we do as He asks us and remain steadfast and immovable in our belief in Him and his Gospel, we can have the Hope for a better world.  "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God." (Ether 12:4) Never give up Hope, with God all things are possible.

A modern day apostle, James E. Faust taught:

"Hope is the anchor of our souls... Hope is trust in God's Promises, faith that if we act now, the desired blessings will be fulfilled in the future... The unfailing source of our Hope is that we are sons and daughters of God and that His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, saved us from death" ("Hope, an Anchor of the Soul," Ensign, Nov. 1999, 59-60)  

The scriptures often describe Hope in Jesus Christ as the assurance that you will inherit eternal life in the kingdom of God. " For we are saved by Hope...." (Romans 8:24-25)

Hope now, as we understand it, is in no way encompassed by doubt or fear, but by faith. Just as faith leads us to act it is the same with Hope. Hope is to expect not merely to wish. Let us continue on in the faith and Hope of our Savior Jesus Christ. Knowing will assurance that His promises will be fulfilled, and that we can through Him inherit the Kingdom of God.

Additional Scriptures

2 Nephi 31:20    Alma 58:10-11

Ether 12:32        Moroni 7:40-48

D&C 59:23        D&C 138:14

Heb. 6:10-20     Topical Guide, "Hope"

Taken From Preach My Gospel

Developing Christlike Attributes: Faith in Jesus Christ

Who am I, and what type of person should I become? This question is one that has risen to the surface many times throughout my life. Who should we be? 

Christ answered this question during His ministry among the people of ancient America, as found in the Book of Mormon. He said, "...What manner of men ought you to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am." (3 Nephi 27:27)  

How do you we become like Christ? By developing his attributes. The next nine blog posts will include seven different Christlike attribute and how we can develop them in our own lives. As we strive to develop these attributes, a greater love will come into our lives for Jesus Christ and His atonement, for others, and for ourselves. Obviously, we can never in any way, shape, or form compare to the majesty of the master, but we can strive to be like him.

Faith in Jesus Christ

In order to become like Christ we first need to develop our faith in Christ. When we have faith in Christ, we believe in Him as the Son of God, the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. We accept him as our Savior and Redeemer and follow his teachings. We believe that our sins can be forgiven through Christ's Atonement. Faith in Him means that you trust Him and are confident that He loves you.

Faith consists of not only of BELIEVING  IN CHRIST, but it also means that we BELIEVE CHRIST. What is the difference between believing in Him and believing Him? Believing in Christ consists of believing that He lived and is the savior and redeemer of the world. Believing Christ means that we accept his teachings, trust in him, and have confidence that he did in fact pay the price for each of us. Through Him we can be forgiven of our sins and return to live with Him and our Heavenly Father again. There is more to believing Christ than there is to believing in Christ. Faith includes both believing in Christ, and believing Christ.

"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." (James 2:17)

Faith in Christ leads to action. These actions include repentance, obedience, and service. When we have faith in Christ we trust the Lord enough to follow His commandments-- even when we do not completely understand the reasons for them. We do the things that the Lord asks us to do. We bring about good in our own lives and the lives of others.  Our faith is made known by our diligence in these things. "Believe in God.... believe that man doth not comprehend all this which the Lord can comprehend." (Mosiah 4:9) We may not know the specific reason that the Lord asks certain things of us, but faith is believing that the Lord knows what is best for us and remembering He can comprehend all things.

"And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever." (Moroni 10:7)

Faith is a principle of power. God works by power, but His power is usually exercised in a response to faith. He works in accordance with our faith. Doubt and fear are opposed to faith.

Our faith increases as we search and ponder the scriptures, offer sincere prayer, give dedicated service, and walk in obedience to the commandments.

As our faith increases increases we become better acquainted with Christ and His teachings. As we pray and diligently study the scriptures we learn of His ways, His love for all people, and His commandments. Therefore, we learn how we can become more like him.

Faith also includes confidence in the mission and power of the Holy Ghost. Through faith we receive answers to our prayers and personal inspiration to guide us in our lives.

Faith in Jesus Christ is the first step to becoming more like Him. Other Chrislike attributes follow as a direct result from our faith in Him.  

Additional Scriptures
Alma 32:21     Hebrews 11:1
Ether 12:6       Topical Guide, "Faith"
2 Nephi 25:29  Bible Dictionary "Faith
2 Nephi 26:13  Mosiah 4:6-12
Alma 32          Helaman 15:7-8
Ether 12:7-22  Mosiah 3:17
Mosiah 5:1-15 Helaman 5:9-12
John 14:6         Moroni 7:33
Romans 10:17  Hebrews 11



Taken from Preach My Gospel

Death: The Way to Life

Last Saturday I received a phone call informing me that my uncle had passed away. It was quite a blow to receive such shocking news. I have thought about the loss of my 29 year old uncle, and have felt the sorrow that the loss of a loved one leaves behind.

Elder Russell M. Nelson of the quorum of the twelve apostles in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints taught, "Death separates 'the spirit and the body [which] are the soul of man.' (D&C 88:15.) That separation evokes pangs of sorrow and shock among those left behind. The hurt is real. Only its intensity varies. Some [sorrows] are heavier than others. The sense of tragedy may be related to age. Generally the younger the victim, the greater the grief. Yet even when the elderly or infirm have been afforded merciful relief, their loved ones are rarely ready to let go..." (Doors of Death, April 1992)

I have seen evidence of the Elder Nelson's words both with the tragic loss of my uncle, and in my daily labor as a missionary. An older woman that we visit has been through quite a lot throughout her life. She has dealt with death on more than one occasion, however the loss of her only daughter has left stains of sorrow and grief impressed on her heart. The hurt she feels is indeed real and intense, and it is safe to say that she was not ready to let go of her daughter when the time came for her daughter to leave this mortal existence.  Death is often a hard thing to cope with, but the restored gospel of Jesus Christ offers peace and comfort, along with the hope that we will in fact see our loved ones again.

"Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that 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.

"Yea, this bringeth about the restoration of those things of which has been spoken by the mouths of the prophets.

"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: 11, 22-23)

From these few verses in the Book of Mormon we learn that when we die we are taken home to that God who gave us life. We can find comfort in knowing that our loved ones are in the care of a loving Heavenly Father as soon as they depart from this mortal body. Furthermore, we can find peace in knowing that as all die, all shall be made alive (see 1 Corinthians 15:22). We can find hope through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Our Heavenly Father loves us and knows all to well the pain we feel.  Thomas S. Monson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and Prophet in these days, helps us realize this when he said, "I [express]...my personal testimony as a special witness...God our Father [is] mindful of [us]...He too had a Son who died, even Jesus Christ the Lord; that He is our advocate with the Father, the Prince of Peace, our Savior and divine Redeemer, and one day we [will] see Him face-to-face." (Mrs. Patton-the Story Continues, October 2007)

The Atonement of Christ can bring hope to all of us. Three days after Christ suffered and died for us on the cross, he arose from the dead as a resurrected being. Because Christ overcame physical death by being resurrected so will each of us. We will all live again. "...there is a resurrection therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up by Christ." (Mosiah 16:8)

Christ is life and the light of the world and through him we can gain eternal life, our ultimate goal.  "We were born to die, and we die to live." (Doors of Death; see also 2 Corinthians 6:9) Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us, and Christ is central to that plan. They share the same work and they are one in purpose. Their work and their glory is to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39) Comfort is established when we turn our lives over to our Father in Heaven and realize that we and our loved ones are in His loving hands, and through His Son we can, with our loved ones, return to live with him again.  Times of sorrow are the times that we need Christ the most. He asked us to come unto him saying, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) Through Him we can find rest from our burdens.

I know with all my heart that Heavenly Father has a plan for His children. I know that He lives and that Christ is His literal living Son. I know of the comfort that comes from the knowledge that we are all the children of our Heavenly Father. "The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God." (Romans 8:16) I know that this is true. I know that the Book of Mormon is the words of Christ and through that book we can find rest from our afflictions, and find rest from our pain.

IN MEMORY OF STEVEN BEARDALL 4/11/1981-3/26/2011

"...The Only True God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou Hast Sent"-John 17:3

Throughout the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, there has been speculation around the piercing question: Are Mormons christian?

The Book of Mormon answers this question when Nephi, an ancient prophet, declared "... we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophecy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." (2 Nephi 25:26) Can it be any more clear than that? 

So what do we have to do to recieve this remission of our sins?

"And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrificem to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance. And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefor only unto him that has faith unto repentance is broght about the great and eternal plan of redemption. Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye  may begin to exercise your faith un to repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you." (Alma 34:15-17)  

Jesus Christ wants to extend his mercy toward us, but there are things we have to do. We must not only have faith in his name, but we must also exercise our faith in him through repentance. When we sin we transgress the laws of God. We break one of any of his commandments, thus separating ourselves spiritual from his prensence. When we repent we bridge the gap that we have created and bring ourselves closer to God. The first principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ are faith and then repentance. When we have faith and exercise that faith through repentance, it inturn leads to recieving the first oridinances (sacred ceremony where covenants or promises are made between us and God)  of the gospel of Jesus Christ which are baptism by immersion by the proper authority, and recieving the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. The gospel fits so well together, one thing leads to another, and the end result, if we are true and faithful, is living in neverending happiness with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

This week, while out trying to share this message with the wonderful people of Montana, we came across a man who didn't think we were christians. Somewhere along the way He was sadly misinformed about our religion. He believed that we worship Joseph Smith which is not true in the slightest. Though Joseph Smith was an important person in the founding of our religion and was a key figure in the restoration of Christ's church again to the earth, he had a completely separate purpose to Heavenly Father's plan than does His Son Jesus Christ. We only worship Jesus Christ because he is the savior of the world and the only means whereby we can recieve forgivness of our sins. I want to make it clear to everyone Jesus Christ is at the head of our church and there is no other means whereby we recieve forgiveness.

I know, without a doubt that Jesus Christ is the savior of the world. He did in reality Atone for our sins and through him and him alone we can return to live with our Heavenly Father. He was in fact born in Bethlehem to a virgin mother, He did in fact live a sinless life, He did, on this earth, raise the dead, cause the blind to see, the deaf to hear, and He does have the authority both in heaven and in earth to forgive the sins of man if we turn our lives over to Him and do the things that he asks us to do. I know that while He lived on this earth He eastablished His church. After his death, the church that He set up became extinct and no longer existed upon the face of the earth, but I know that His same church, the very one that He established while on this earth is back again. Through the prophet Joseph Smith the authoriy to baptize, recieve revelation, and call prophets and apostles was restored again to the earth. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is Christ's church again upon the earth. He lives and is at the head of that church. I know that my redeemer lives.  "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3)

Looking Toward God




 

I spent a lot of time thinking about what I should call this blog in an effort to make the title simple and meaningful. While I was thinking about it yesterday an experience I had came back to my memory.



Christ appearing to the Lamanites

 in ancient America

 It was early October of last year. I was attending college at Snow College, and I was going through a difficult time, as many of us often do. I had been through rough times before, but this particular stretch seemed to be taking a toll on me physically, mentally, and emotionally. I was in the pit of despair and didn't know how to lift myself out. During this time I had tried diligently to stay close to God. I called on him in prayer every night before I went to bed, and read from the scriptures everyday. Even with all the prayer and scripture study, I still felt an emptiness inside, and I didn't really know if God knew me or knew how I felt. In a final effort, or last gasp of breath, I fell to my knees. I poured the feelings of my soul out to my Father in Heaven. I asked him in desperation to let me know that He is there, that I'm doing what He wants me to do, and that I will be alright. As I was praying an impression or a voice entered my thoughts. It said, "Read Alma 38:2." Honestly, I didn't, without a doubt, know that this was a spiritual prompting. I had read the Book of Mormon all the way through twice in my lifetime, so I knew that I had read that passage of scripture before, but I had no clue, at this time, what it said. I decided to act on the impression and flipped open to page 304 in the Book of Mormon. The verse of scripture I read brought such comfort and peace to my soul that I knew that it was indeed from God. It was something that He wanted me to know at that moment of distress and grief.  From it I knew with all the surety of my heart that Heavenly Father knows me, Jesus Christ knows me, and Christs church has again been restored to the earth today with the Book of Mormon as evidence of that restoration.  The verse I read said, "And now, my son, I trust that I should have great joy in you, because of your steadiness and your faithfulness unto God; for as you have commenced in your youth to look to the Lord your God, even so I hope that you will continue in keeping his commandments; for blessed is he that endureth to the end."   

I know without a doubt that Jesus Christ lives, and as each of us begin or continue to look toward him he will deliver us from our afflictions. I know that Christ's church is on the earth again today as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and that Jesus Christ is at the head of that church. The Book of Mormon is the word of God, and we can through that book place ourselves closer to God than by any other means. This blog is not for just the active Latter-Day Saint however, but it is for everyone who wants to place their lives in closer harmony with the teachings of Jesus Christ, and anyone who has, or wants to obtain the hope of living with our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ again.

Christ is always there, it's up to us to look toward him

and follow his teachings.