Marvelous Mercy

"Mormons" are getting a lot of attention in the world at the moment. The question that continues to arise over and over is: Are Mormons Christian? For a more extended answer to that question visit:

What's a Mormon

For now, I would like to tell you of my own personal conversion to Jesus Christ as my Savior and Redeemer. Like Nephi in the Book of Mormon, "... [I] rejoice in Christ." (2 Nephi 25:26) 

There have been many nights where my soul has been wracked with the anguish that comes from my naturally weak state. Lying awake thinking about all the things that I do wrong, and fail to do to become the disciple of Jesus Christ that I want to be, but seem to fall short of.  However, as I offer up heartfelt prayer to my Heavenly Father, I feel the peace that comes from the Holy Ghost knowing that through my Father in Heaven's only Begotten son I can be shown mercy, and be forgiven for the things I do everyday. This was made real to me through an example that a very good friend gave to me. Click Here to read more about it: Dad's, Debts, and Deliverance

I know my Father in Heaven lives, he sent his Son to atone for the sins of man, and that through his gospel we can be free from guilt and shame. Learn how here: The Gospel of Jesus Christ

See for Yourself

Last Saturday evening I had the rare and wonderful opportunity to baptize a young woman. Over the previous weeks she had studied, pondered, and prayed to our Father in Heaven that he would reveal to her what she should do. We had told her that we knew what we were teaching her was true and that she could know as much as we do. It all came to a climax when we invited her to be baptized and she accepted, committing to enter into the gate that our Father in Heaven has prepared for her. "And now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfill all righteousness in being baptized by water?

 Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.


Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove.

And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them.

And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?

And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son." (2 Nephi 31:6-11)

The joy that I felt when this young woman decided to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized was incomprehensible. It was added to when my missionary companion asked her to write her testimony in his journal. When he read to me what she had written, I could hardly contain the happiness I felt. She said in this simple and short testimony that she had received a strong, pure, and simple testimony that she is a daughter of God, that he loves her, and that he watches over her. This along with other experiences that she expounded helped me to know and to feel the love of our Savior Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father for both her and me. I know our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live, they love me, and they love you. I invite all who read this to come to know our Savior, and follow him just as this young woman did last Saturday evening. Come to know of the truths of His gospel for yourself, He will answer your heartfelt prayers, just as he did with this young woman, and just as He has done countless times for me in the passed. 

To Learn More Click on One of the Links Below

Does God Know Me?

What Does God Expect of Me?

How Can I Know For Myself?

The Miracle of Forgiveness

The other day I was down on my knees begging for forgiveness and mercy from my Father in Heaven when the realization came to me... how can I be forgiven for my wrongdoings when there are still people in my life that I haven't fully forgiven yet?

The Lord tells us, "Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.  I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men." (D&C 64:9&10)

When we take a step back, we realize that we are the ones that are suffering from the anger built up inside. Often it overcomes us manipulates our everyday activities. We are completely held captive by the feelings that have swelled up inside. We change our activities so that we don't have to come in contact with those whom we've not forgiven, we avoid them, we are held back because of our own unwillingness forgive. Yet, if we let it go and forgive as we have been forgiven, we are freed from guilt and pain a reap the blessings that the Lord has in store for those who forgive as he forgives us.

The apostle Peter asked Christ how often he should forgive his brother. The Lord in his infinite wisdom replied, " I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." (Matthew 18: 21-22)

It is also important that we seek forgiveness where necessary. I know from my own experience that it is often harder to seek forgiveness that it is to give it. It's difficult to admit our faults, be humbled, and ask mercy from both those that we've wronged and the Lord. However, when we do so we are relieved from guilt, we are brought into humility, and we recognize the Lord's hand in our lives. True leaders, real men, real women, the best of the best are those who will admit their wrongs and seek forgiveness.

A spirit of love, peace, and comfort will come into your heart as you leave behind the hate, anger, and frustration. As you seek forgiveness and freely give it, you will become a true disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. As such his spirit will surround you and He will become more real to you than he previously has been.

Forgive and be forgiven.

'Tis the Season.... To PLAN!

Another year is nearing it's end, and I'm sure that we're all making our new year's resolutions to be better. That's all well and good, but how often do we stick to the making the dream of a better us come true? Occasionally I'm sure, but probably less often than we'd like. Any worthy goal takes work to achieve, but how do we know what we need to work on to achieve our goal? We Plan!


If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

To plan effectively it takes time and dedication, but without a plan we really don't have a goal. Here are a few simple steps to help you plan for your goal effectively.

1. Pray for guidance- Pray for the help of your Heavenly Father as you work to achieve your worthy goal.

2. Be specific- What are specific things you need to work on to achieve your goal. Such as adjusting your routine, then plan specifically how you will adjust your routine.

3. Expect the unexpected- Plan out exactly what you will do as challenges arise. Anything worth having is worth working for, therefore we can expect that challenges will come, but if we plan and prepare we'll be able to conquer. Captain Moroni in the Book of Mormon is an excellent example of planning as he prepared and fortified the land again his enemies. When they attacked, Captain Moroni and his army conquered them without losing one soul of their own army. ( Read More: Alma 50)

4. Write it down- Planning does absolutely no good if you forget what you've planned. Get a planner or a notebook and write down everything. Be Specific

5. Follow the Plan- Of course the plan needs to be flexible, but be as diligent as possible in following the plan that you have created. If you don't follow the plan then you've just wasted time creating the plan.

6. Never Give Up- In the words of Wiston Churchill, "Never, never, never, never give up" Do all you can to achieve your goal, even when setbacks present themselves.

As we learn to plan to achieve worthy goals, we'll achieve our goals much more often. Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, will assist us as we do our part to work for a goal. Just as our Father in Heaven has a plan for us, we must learn to plan for us. As we do we will achieve greatness and become what our Father would have us become.