"The Savior counseled that we should pray for those who 'despitefully use' us (Matthew 5:44). This principle is often overlooked in our prayers. The Prophet Joseph Smith understood it clearly. His petitions were fervent, his motives pure, and the blessings of heaven regular."Daniel Tyler, an associate of the Prophet, recalled an important occasion:" 'At the time William Smith and others rebelled against the Prophet [at Kirtland], . . . I attended a meeting . . . where "Joseph" presided. Entering the school-house a little before [the] meeting opened, and gazing upon the man of God, I perceived sadness in his countenance and tears trickling down his cheeks. . . . A few moments later a hymn was sung and he opened the meeting by prayer. Instead of facing the audience, however, he turned his back and bowed upon his knees, facing the wall. This, I suppose, was done to hide his sorrow and tears." 'I had heard men and women pray—especially the former—from the most ignorant, both as to letters and intellect, to the most learned and eloquent, but never until then had I heard a man address his Maker as though He was present listening as a kind father would listen to the sorrows of a dutiful child. Joseph was at that time unlearned, but that prayer, which was to a considerable extent in behalf of those who accused him of having gone astray and fallen into sin, [was] that the Lord would forgive them and open their eyes that they might see aright—that prayer, I say, to my humble mind, partook of the learning and eloquence of heaven. There was no ostentation, no raising of the voice as by enthusiasm, but a plain conversational tone, as a man would address a present friend. It appeared to me as though, in case the vail were taken away, I could see the Lord standing facing His humblest of all servants I had ever seen. . . . It was the crowning . . . of all the prayers I ever heard' (Juvenile Instructor, Feb. 1892, 127–28)."
-James E Faust, "The Lifeline of Prayer," Ensign, May 2002, 61
28.12.09
27.12.09
A Charitable View on People
An abundance of compassion on the Have-nots and a lacking of jealousy on the Haves.
Excuses
One thing you can for sure not bring into heaven is an excuse for not listening to God. Also, no unclean thing can enter heaven, so all your bad habits will have to be shed from you before you can experience joy eternally. What a thought!
In today's world, we are told that a good life is built on having a lot of stuff, but the Savior says that it is easier for a rich man to go through the eye of a needle than into heaven. Amazing paradigm shift that is!
I love this story the Lord tells us in Luke 14:16-24:
Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
So, from this you can see that those who put off the Lord will be put off by the Lord. It won't matter what excuse you have when you are brought before God to be judged. There is not justification for sins but there is mercy unto the sinner.
The Lord calls everyone to repent. If they do not repent or give excuse then they won't be able to have that delicious supper with the Lord. In the end, will it really matter what you choose instead of God?
“If you have not chosen the kingdom of God first, it will in the end make no difference what you have chosen instead.” -Neal A. Maxwell
Theres also a quote from Woody Allen- "80% of success is just showing up." Which is true in the world but in the church I think the percent would go up a bit to 100%. Showing up. Being there. Doing what the Lord commands is the surest way of successfully avoiding the pitfalls and problems and sins of the world.
In today's world, we are told that a good life is built on having a lot of stuff, but the Savior says that it is easier for a rich man to go through the eye of a needle than into heaven. Amazing paradigm shift that is!
I love this story the Lord tells us in Luke 14:16-24:
Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
So, from this you can see that those who put off the Lord will be put off by the Lord. It won't matter what excuse you have when you are brought before God to be judged. There is not justification for sins but there is mercy unto the sinner.
The Lord calls everyone to repent. If they do not repent or give excuse then they won't be able to have that delicious supper with the Lord. In the end, will it really matter what you choose instead of God?
“If you have not chosen the kingdom of God first, it will in the end make no difference what you have chosen instead.” -Neal A. Maxwell
Theres also a quote from Woody Allen- "80% of success is just showing up." Which is true in the world but in the church I think the percent would go up a bit to 100%. Showing up. Being there. Doing what the Lord commands is the surest way of successfully avoiding the pitfalls and problems and sins of the world.
19.12.09
What the Atonement and Faith in Jesus Christ Mean
"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven."
-Math 5:48
"All have sinned, and come short of the glory."
-Rom 3:23
"Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him."
-Moroni 10:32
First the Lord commands us to be perfect. Then we learn that no one is perfect but Him and God. Then we learn that through Him we are perfected.
Is anyone perfect though? No, even with faith in Jesus Christ we are still prone to forget or put at naught God and His commandments from time to time. Thus, it is our duty to always strive to look to God, remember His word, and repent of our sins to be saved with God. Its not a weekend retreat or here and there belief. We can't pick and choose the times. Narrow is the road and straight is the way. Having faith in Jesus Christ means remembering Him and His greatness and our own nothingness, as King Benjamin puts it-
For behold, if the knowledge of the goodness of God at this time has awakened you to a sense of your nothingness, and your worthless and fallen state—
I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body—
I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world.
And this is the means whereby salvation cometh. And there is none other salvation save this which hath been spoken of; neither are there any conditions whereby man can be saved except the conditions which I have told you.
Atonement means Christ's suffering for our sins so that we won't have to but be perfected by our faith in Him. Its like if we bought something we couldn't afford and instead of going into bankruptcy we turned to someone who had enough wealth and paid for us. We sin, He pays. No one else can pay, for all have sinned and all are in debt.
Two great scripture stories to illustrate our need to depend on Christ more than ourselves or the world-
And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
-John 8:3-11
In the story, we can easily put ourselves in the place of the sinner. Satan wants us to pay for our own sins because then we are in his power. Christ makes the point that we are only to believe in Him and sin no more to be free of the chains of our sins.
If we believe in Him and strive to sin no more then He will not condemn us. So, what we can do is strive to sin no more but also realize that we aren't perfect without Him. Then, we will be perfected in Him. Satan wishes only to throw rocks at us.
Isn't it interesting as well, that He who had no sin had all the rocks throw on Him? Wherein then are we ever justified to doubt or be ungrateful to God?
And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
-Numbers 21:5-9
Once again we can easily place ourselves in the role of the sinner. But, this time the Lord sent fiery serpents to the sinners. Was that punishment? Yes, but it wasn't eternal punishment. All God wanted to do was remind us that it is through Him that we are healed and delivered from our state of uncleanliness. God can easily prove that He is right and we are wrong but what would be the point? He would rather us be righteous with Him than punish us, for our sins. Thus, He gives us this time to repent and look to God for our salvation. Notice that all the people had to do was look at the Serpent to live. Obviously, the Serpent represented Jesus Christ.
"And as many as should look upon that serpent should live, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal."
-Helaman 8:15
"O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever."
-Alma 37:46
-Math 5:48
"All have sinned, and come short of the glory."
-Rom 3:23
"Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him."
-Moroni 10:32
First the Lord commands us to be perfect. Then we learn that no one is perfect but Him and God. Then we learn that through Him we are perfected.
Is anyone perfect though? No, even with faith in Jesus Christ we are still prone to forget or put at naught God and His commandments from time to time. Thus, it is our duty to always strive to look to God, remember His word, and repent of our sins to be saved with God. Its not a weekend retreat or here and there belief. We can't pick and choose the times. Narrow is the road and straight is the way. Having faith in Jesus Christ means remembering Him and His greatness and our own nothingness, as King Benjamin puts it-
For behold, if the knowledge of the goodness of God at this time has awakened you to a sense of your nothingness, and your worthless and fallen state—
I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body—
I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world.
And this is the means whereby salvation cometh. And there is none other salvation save this which hath been spoken of; neither are there any conditions whereby man can be saved except the conditions which I have told you.
Atonement means Christ's suffering for our sins so that we won't have to but be perfected by our faith in Him. Its like if we bought something we couldn't afford and instead of going into bankruptcy we turned to someone who had enough wealth and paid for us. We sin, He pays. No one else can pay, for all have sinned and all are in debt.
Two great scripture stories to illustrate our need to depend on Christ more than ourselves or the world-
And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
-John 8:3-11
In the story, we can easily put ourselves in the place of the sinner. Satan wants us to pay for our own sins because then we are in his power. Christ makes the point that we are only to believe in Him and sin no more to be free of the chains of our sins.
If we believe in Him and strive to sin no more then He will not condemn us. So, what we can do is strive to sin no more but also realize that we aren't perfect without Him. Then, we will be perfected in Him. Satan wishes only to throw rocks at us.
Isn't it interesting as well, that He who had no sin had all the rocks throw on Him? Wherein then are we ever justified to doubt or be ungrateful to God?
And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
-Numbers 21:5-9
Once again we can easily place ourselves in the role of the sinner. But, this time the Lord sent fiery serpents to the sinners. Was that punishment? Yes, but it wasn't eternal punishment. All God wanted to do was remind us that it is through Him that we are healed and delivered from our state of uncleanliness. God can easily prove that He is right and we are wrong but what would be the point? He would rather us be righteous with Him than punish us, for our sins. Thus, He gives us this time to repent and look to God for our salvation. Notice that all the people had to do was look at the Serpent to live. Obviously, the Serpent represented Jesus Christ.
"And as many as should look upon that serpent should live, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal."
-Helaman 8:15
"O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever."
-Alma 37:46
8.12.09
Sighin for Zion
Having been hell bent
To be brought up well spent
My favorite things revolved
Around my being evolved
But progress makes its way
Through dark nights to day
I'm so very pleased
To have received
A new way of thinking
That involves some inkling
Toward a city of light
To teach those of right
About consequences
Of poorly managed finances
Its name is Zion
Which is why I'm sighin'
Its nurturing to the soul
Its loving to the whole
In a society of prosperity
We give heed to God's charity
Living in the present
We should love so omniscent
Man should live on the word
Spoken to all by the Lord
Make haste
To taste
The fruits of what brings
To the heart celestial things
We love to dance
To Zion's chance
Of healing the world
For every boy and girl
Give to those in need
Love in all your deed
Sing the praises of God's mercy
You will witness and then forsee
A city upon a hil
A world with love to fill
The Evergiving Christ will make
A home in our heart to not forsake
Once all are forgiven
In Zion we'll be livin'
To be brought up well spent
My favorite things revolved
Around my being evolved
But progress makes its way
Through dark nights to day
I'm so very pleased
To have received
A new way of thinking
That involves some inkling
Toward a city of light
To teach those of right
About consequences
Of poorly managed finances
Its name is Zion
Which is why I'm sighin'
Its nurturing to the soul
Its loving to the whole
In a society of prosperity
We give heed to God's charity
Living in the present
We should love so omniscent
Man should live on the word
Spoken to all by the Lord
Make haste
To taste
The fruits of what brings
To the heart celestial things
We love to dance
To Zion's chance
Of healing the world
For every boy and girl
Give to those in need
Love in all your deed
Sing the praises of God's mercy
You will witness and then forsee
A city upon a hil
A world with love to fill
The Evergiving Christ will make
A home in our heart to not forsake
Once all are forgiven
In Zion we'll be livin'
23.11.09
Very Moving Scene from Schindler's List
I believe this embodies the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ-
The Scrabble Parable and Gifts from God
I found the greatest eternal truths in the game of Scrabble the other day. My wife and I were playing and my mind quickly thought upon the things of the Gospel and life in general.
While playing Scrabble you receive a certain amount of letters. These letters are given at random and are given to you to use the best you can. When you use the letters you are given more, so as to always have a fill of what you need in order to play the game.
Winning doesn't matter. Just as in life you can play your hardest or try your darndest but you still might lose everything. What matters then is that you do play. Sometimes I found myself not wanting to put down some letters for fear that I might give another an advantage or for fear of looking dumb and not getting enough points.
But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man. Wo unto such, for mine danger is kindled against them.
And it shall come to pass, if they are not more faithful unto me, it shall be taken away, even that which they have. -Doctrine and Covenants 60:2-3
Part of the foundation of the United States is that "all men are created equal" and that every man may be free to pursue life, liberty and happiness. But, we are not all endowed with the same gifts or abilities or even timing as to be equal in greatness. In Scrabble you may think of a great word but just not have the letters or you may have the letters and someone else takes the word or uses it in a way that makes it impossible for you to do the same. This constant change happens in life. Each day we may find familiar surroundings but have different opportunities. We may have different ideas and use time differently. The Lord is aware which is why He asks of us to not fear or hide the talents which we are given. Use it or lose it. We may wait to do something once we are assured a great return but this is not the way to gain favor with the Lord. We must play the talents we have and play them to the maximum or they will turn to our demise.
At the end of Scrabble there is a rule that whatever letters you can't play will be taken away from your total score. I think this same condemnation applies to us in eternities. "But wo unto the rich, who are rich as to the things of the world. And behold, their treasure shall perish with them also." -2 Nephi 9:30
"For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it; or whosoever will save his life, shall be willing to lay it down for my sake; and if he is not willing to lay it down for my sake, he shall lose it." -Joseph Smith Translation Mark 8: 37-38:37
The gifts you have are meant to be played and thats the reason they're given. Not for points to win, or money to be lifted up in pride, but, to be played, to show gratitude toward God, for giving them. As the scripture says "if laborers in Zion labor for money, they shall perish."- 2 Ne. 26: 31
While playing Scrabble you receive a certain amount of letters. These letters are given at random and are given to you to use the best you can. When you use the letters you are given more, so as to always have a fill of what you need in order to play the game.
Winning doesn't matter. Just as in life you can play your hardest or try your darndest but you still might lose everything. What matters then is that you do play. Sometimes I found myself not wanting to put down some letters for fear that I might give another an advantage or for fear of looking dumb and not getting enough points.
But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man. Wo unto such, for mine danger is kindled against them.
And it shall come to pass, if they are not more faithful unto me, it shall be taken away, even that which they have. -Doctrine and Covenants 60:2-3
Part of the foundation of the United States is that "all men are created equal" and that every man may be free to pursue life, liberty and happiness. But, we are not all endowed with the same gifts or abilities or even timing as to be equal in greatness. In Scrabble you may think of a great word but just not have the letters or you may have the letters and someone else takes the word or uses it in a way that makes it impossible for you to do the same. This constant change happens in life. Each day we may find familiar surroundings but have different opportunities. We may have different ideas and use time differently. The Lord is aware which is why He asks of us to not fear or hide the talents which we are given. Use it or lose it. We may wait to do something once we are assured a great return but this is not the way to gain favor with the Lord. We must play the talents we have and play them to the maximum or they will turn to our demise.
At the end of Scrabble there is a rule that whatever letters you can't play will be taken away from your total score. I think this same condemnation applies to us in eternities. "But wo unto the rich, who are rich as to the things of the world. And behold, their treasure shall perish with them also." -2 Nephi 9:30
"For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it; or whosoever will save his life, shall be willing to lay it down for my sake; and if he is not willing to lay it down for my sake, he shall lose it." -Joseph Smith Translation Mark 8: 37-38:37
The gifts you have are meant to be played and thats the reason they're given. Not for points to win, or money to be lifted up in pride, but, to be played, to show gratitude toward God, for giving them. As the scripture says "if laborers in Zion labor for money, they shall perish."- 2 Ne. 26: 31
21.11.09
Gordon B. Hinckley's Warning on Pornography- "A Tragic Evil Among Us"
As I offer concluding remarks I rather reluctantly speak to a theme that I have dealt with before. I do it in the spirit of the words of Alma, who said: “This is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance” (Alma 29:9).
It is in that spirit that I speak to you tonight. What I have to say is not new. I have spoken on it before. The September issues of the Ensign and Liahona magazines carry a talk I gave some years ago on the same subject. Brother Oaks has touched on it tonight.
While the matter of which I speak was a problem then, it is a much more serious problem now. It grows increasingly worse. It is like a raging storm, destroying individuals and families, utterly ruining what was once wholesome and beautiful. I speak of pornography in all of its manifestations.
I do so because of letters that come to me from broken-hearted wives.
I should like to read portions of one received only a few days ago. I do so with the consent of the writer. I have deleted anything that might lead to disclosure of the parties concerned. I have exercised limited editorial liberty in the interest of clarity and flow of language.
I quote now:
“Dear President Hinckley,
“My husband of 35 years died recently. … He had visited with our good bishop as quickly as he could after his most recent surgery. Then he came to me on that same evening to tell me he had been addicted to pornography. He needed me to forgive him [before he died]. He further said that he had grown tired of living a double life. [He had served in many important] Church callings while knowing [at the same time] that he was in the grips of this ‘other master.’
“I was stunned, hurt, felt betrayed and violated. I could not promise him forgiveness at that moment but pleaded for time. … I was able to review my married life [and how] pornography had … put a stranglehold on our marriage from early on. We had only been married a couple of months when he brought home a [pornographic] magazine. I locked him out of the car because I was so hurt and angry. …
“For many years in our marriage … he was most cruel in many of his demands. I was never good enough for him. … I felt incredibly beaten down at that time to a point of deep depression. … I know now that I was being compared to the latest ‘porn queen.’ …
“We went to counseling one time and … my husband proceeded to rip me apart with his criticism and disdain of me. …
“I could not even get into the car with him after that but walked around the town … for hours, contemplating suicide. [I thought,] ‘Why go on if this is all that my “eternal companion” feels for me?’
“I did go on, but zipped a protective shield around myself. I existed for other reasons than my husband and found joy in my children, in projects and accomplishments that I could do totally on my own. …
“After his ‘deathbed confession’ and [after taking time] to search through my life, I [said] to him, ‘Don’t you know what you have done?’ … I told him I had brought a pure heart into our marriage, kept it pure during that marriage, and intended to keep it pure ever after. Why could he not do the same for me? All I ever wanted was to feel cherished and treated with the smallest of pleasantries … instead of being treated like some kind of chattel. …
“I am now left to grieve not only for his being gone but also for a relationship that could have been [beautiful, but was not]. …
“Please warn the brethren (and sisters). Pornography is not some titillating feast for the eyes that gives a momentary rush of excitement. [Rather] it has the effect of damaging hearts and souls to their very depths, strangling the life out of relationships that should be sacred, hurting to the very core those you should love the most.”
And she signs the letter.
What a pathetic and tragic story. I have omitted some of the detail but have read enough that you can sense her depth of feeling. And what of her husband? He has died a painful death from cancer, his final words a confession of a life laced with sin.
And sin it is. It is devilish. It is totally inconsistent with the spirit of the gospel, with personal testimony of the things of God, and with the life of one who has been ordained to the holy priesthood.
This is not the only letter I have received. There have been enough that I am convinced this is a very serious problem even among us. It arises from many sources and expresses itself in a variety of ways. Now it is compounded by the Internet. That Internet is available not only to adults but also to young people.
I recently read that pornography has become a $57 billion industry worldwide. Twelve billion of this is derived in the United States by evil and “conspiring men” (see D&C 89:4) who seek riches at the expense of the gullible. It is reported that it produces more revenue in the United States than the “combined revenues of all professional football, baseball and basketball franchises or the combined revenues of ABC, CBS, and NBC” (“Internet Pornography Statistics: 2003,” Internet, http://www.healthymind.com/5-port-stats.html).
It robs the workplace of the time and talents of employees. “20% of men admit accessing pornography at work. 13% of women [do so]. … 10% of adults admit having internet sexual addiction” (“Internet Pornography Statistics: 2003”). That is their admission, but actually the number may be much higher.
The National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families states that “approximately 40 million people in the United States are sexually involved with the Internet. …
“One in five children ages 10–17 [has] received a sexual solicitation over the Internet. …
“Three million of the visitors to adult websites in September 2000 were age 17 or younger. …
“Sex is the number 1 topic searched on the Internet” (NCPCE Online, “Current Statistics,” Internet, http://www.nationalcoalition.org/stat.html).
I might go on, but you, too, know enough of the seriousness of the problem. Suffice it to say that all who are involved become victims. Children are exploited, and their lives are severely damaged. The minds of youth become warped with false concepts. Continued exposure leads to addiction that is almost impossible to break. Men, so very many, find they cannot leave it alone. Their energies and their interests are consumed in their dead-end pursuit of this raw and sleazy fare.
The excuse is given that it is hard to avoid, that it is right at our fingertips and there is no escape.
Suppose a storm is raging and the winds howl and the snow swirls about you. You find yourself unable to stop it. But you can dress properly and seek shelter, and the storm will have no effect upon you.
Likewise, even though the Internet is saturated with sleazy material, you do not have to watch it. You can retreat to the shelter of the gospel and its teaching of cleanliness and virtue and purity of life.
I know that I am speaking directly and plainly. I do so because the Internet has made pornography more widely accessible, adding to what is available on DVDs and videos, on television and magazine stands. It leads to fantasies that are destructive of self-respect. It leads to illicit relationships, often to disease, and to abusive criminal activity.
Brethren, we can do better than this. When the Savior taught the multitude, He said, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8).
Could anyone wish for a greater blessing than this? The high road of decency, of self-discipline, of wholesome living is the road for men, both young and old, who hold the priesthood of God. To the young men I put this question: “Can you imagine John the Baptist, who restored the priesthood which you hold, being engaged in any such practice as this?” To you men: “Can you imagine Peter, James, and John, Apostles of our Lord, engaging in such?”
No, of course not. Now brethren, the time has come for any one of us who is so involved to pull himself out of the mire, to stand above this evil thing, to “look to God and live” (Alma 37:47). We do not have to view salacious magazines. We do not have to read books laden with smut. We do not have to watch television that is beneath wholesome standards. We do not have to rent movies that depict that which is filthy. We do not have to sit at the computer and play with pornographic material found on the Internet.
I repeat, we can do better than this. We must do better than this. We are men of the priesthood. This is a most sacred and marvelous gift, worth more than all the dross of the world. But it will be amen to the effectiveness of that priesthood for anyone who engages in the practice of seeking out pornographic material.
If there be any within the sound of my voice who are doing so, then may you plead with the Lord out of the depths of your soul that He will remove from you the addiction which enslaves you. And may you have the courage to seek the loving guidance of your bishop and, if necessary, the counsel of caring professionals.
Let any who may be in the grip of this vise get upon their knees in the privacy of their closet and plead with the Lord for help to free them from this evil monster. Otherwise, this vicious stain will continue through life and even into eternity. Jacob, the brother of Nephi, taught: “And it shall come to pass that when all men shall have passed from this first death unto life, insomuch as they have become immortal, … they who are righteous shall be righteous still, and they who are filthy shall be filthy still” (2 Ne. 9:15–16).
President Joseph F. Smith, in his vision of the Savior’s visit among the spirits of the dead, saw that “unto the wicked he did not go, and among the ungodly and the unrepentant who had defiled themselves while in the flesh, his voice was not raised” (D&C 138:20).
Now, my brethren, I do not wish to be negative. I am by nature optimistic. But in such matters as this I am a realist. If we are involved in such behavior, now is the time to change. Let this be our hour of resolution. Let us turn about to a better way.
Said the Lord: “Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.
“The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever” (D&C 121:45–46).
How could any man wish for more? These supernal blessings are promised to those who walk in virtue before the Lord and before all men.
How wonderful are the ways of our Lord. How glorious His promises. When tempted we can substitute for thoughts of evil thoughts of Him and His teachings. He has said: “And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.
“Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you” (D&C 88:67–68).
To you deacons and teachers and priests who are with us tonight, you wonderful young men who have to do with the sacrament, the Lord has said, “Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord” (D&C 133:5).
To all of the priesthood the statement of revelation is clear and unequivocal: “The rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness” (D&C 121:36).
Now I know, my brethren, that most of you are not afflicted with this evil. I ask your pardon for taking your time in dwelling on it. But if you are a stake president or a bishop, a district or branch president, you may very well have to assist those who are affected. May the Lord grant you wisdom, guidance, inspiration, and love for those who so need it.
And to all of you, young or old, who are not involved, I congratulate you and leave my blessing with you. How beautiful is the life that is patterned after the teachings of the gospel of Him who was without sin. Such a man walks with unblemished brow in the sunlight of virtue and strength.
May heaven’s blessings attend you, my dear brethren. May all of us reach out to any who need help, I pray, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Gordon B. Hinckley, “A Tragic Evil among Us,” Ensign, Nov 2004, 59–62
It is in that spirit that I speak to you tonight. What I have to say is not new. I have spoken on it before. The September issues of the Ensign and Liahona magazines carry a talk I gave some years ago on the same subject. Brother Oaks has touched on it tonight.
While the matter of which I speak was a problem then, it is a much more serious problem now. It grows increasingly worse. It is like a raging storm, destroying individuals and families, utterly ruining what was once wholesome and beautiful. I speak of pornography in all of its manifestations.
I do so because of letters that come to me from broken-hearted wives.
I should like to read portions of one received only a few days ago. I do so with the consent of the writer. I have deleted anything that might lead to disclosure of the parties concerned. I have exercised limited editorial liberty in the interest of clarity and flow of language.
I quote now:
“Dear President Hinckley,
“My husband of 35 years died recently. … He had visited with our good bishop as quickly as he could after his most recent surgery. Then he came to me on that same evening to tell me he had been addicted to pornography. He needed me to forgive him [before he died]. He further said that he had grown tired of living a double life. [He had served in many important] Church callings while knowing [at the same time] that he was in the grips of this ‘other master.’
“I was stunned, hurt, felt betrayed and violated. I could not promise him forgiveness at that moment but pleaded for time. … I was able to review my married life [and how] pornography had … put a stranglehold on our marriage from early on. We had only been married a couple of months when he brought home a [pornographic] magazine. I locked him out of the car because I was so hurt and angry. …
“For many years in our marriage … he was most cruel in many of his demands. I was never good enough for him. … I felt incredibly beaten down at that time to a point of deep depression. … I know now that I was being compared to the latest ‘porn queen.’ …
“We went to counseling one time and … my husband proceeded to rip me apart with his criticism and disdain of me. …
“I could not even get into the car with him after that but walked around the town … for hours, contemplating suicide. [I thought,] ‘Why go on if this is all that my “eternal companion” feels for me?’
“I did go on, but zipped a protective shield around myself. I existed for other reasons than my husband and found joy in my children, in projects and accomplishments that I could do totally on my own. …
“After his ‘deathbed confession’ and [after taking time] to search through my life, I [said] to him, ‘Don’t you know what you have done?’ … I told him I had brought a pure heart into our marriage, kept it pure during that marriage, and intended to keep it pure ever after. Why could he not do the same for me? All I ever wanted was to feel cherished and treated with the smallest of pleasantries … instead of being treated like some kind of chattel. …
“I am now left to grieve not only for his being gone but also for a relationship that could have been [beautiful, but was not]. …
“Please warn the brethren (and sisters). Pornography is not some titillating feast for the eyes that gives a momentary rush of excitement. [Rather] it has the effect of damaging hearts and souls to their very depths, strangling the life out of relationships that should be sacred, hurting to the very core those you should love the most.”
And she signs the letter.
What a pathetic and tragic story. I have omitted some of the detail but have read enough that you can sense her depth of feeling. And what of her husband? He has died a painful death from cancer, his final words a confession of a life laced with sin.
And sin it is. It is devilish. It is totally inconsistent with the spirit of the gospel, with personal testimony of the things of God, and with the life of one who has been ordained to the holy priesthood.
This is not the only letter I have received. There have been enough that I am convinced this is a very serious problem even among us. It arises from many sources and expresses itself in a variety of ways. Now it is compounded by the Internet. That Internet is available not only to adults but also to young people.
I recently read that pornography has become a $57 billion industry worldwide. Twelve billion of this is derived in the United States by evil and “conspiring men” (see D&C 89:4) who seek riches at the expense of the gullible. It is reported that it produces more revenue in the United States than the “combined revenues of all professional football, baseball and basketball franchises or the combined revenues of ABC, CBS, and NBC” (“Internet Pornography Statistics: 2003,” Internet, http://www.healthymind.com/5-port-stats.html).
It robs the workplace of the time and talents of employees. “20% of men admit accessing pornography at work. 13% of women [do so]. … 10% of adults admit having internet sexual addiction” (“Internet Pornography Statistics: 2003”). That is their admission, but actually the number may be much higher.
The National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families states that “approximately 40 million people in the United States are sexually involved with the Internet. …
“One in five children ages 10–17 [has] received a sexual solicitation over the Internet. …
“Three million of the visitors to adult websites in September 2000 were age 17 or younger. …
“Sex is the number 1 topic searched on the Internet” (NCPCE Online, “Current Statistics,” Internet, http://www.nationalcoalition.org/stat.html).
I might go on, but you, too, know enough of the seriousness of the problem. Suffice it to say that all who are involved become victims. Children are exploited, and their lives are severely damaged. The minds of youth become warped with false concepts. Continued exposure leads to addiction that is almost impossible to break. Men, so very many, find they cannot leave it alone. Their energies and their interests are consumed in their dead-end pursuit of this raw and sleazy fare.
The excuse is given that it is hard to avoid, that it is right at our fingertips and there is no escape.
Suppose a storm is raging and the winds howl and the snow swirls about you. You find yourself unable to stop it. But you can dress properly and seek shelter, and the storm will have no effect upon you.
Likewise, even though the Internet is saturated with sleazy material, you do not have to watch it. You can retreat to the shelter of the gospel and its teaching of cleanliness and virtue and purity of life.
I know that I am speaking directly and plainly. I do so because the Internet has made pornography more widely accessible, adding to what is available on DVDs and videos, on television and magazine stands. It leads to fantasies that are destructive of self-respect. It leads to illicit relationships, often to disease, and to abusive criminal activity.
Brethren, we can do better than this. When the Savior taught the multitude, He said, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8).
Could anyone wish for a greater blessing than this? The high road of decency, of self-discipline, of wholesome living is the road for men, both young and old, who hold the priesthood of God. To the young men I put this question: “Can you imagine John the Baptist, who restored the priesthood which you hold, being engaged in any such practice as this?” To you men: “Can you imagine Peter, James, and John, Apostles of our Lord, engaging in such?”
No, of course not. Now brethren, the time has come for any one of us who is so involved to pull himself out of the mire, to stand above this evil thing, to “look to God and live” (Alma 37:47). We do not have to view salacious magazines. We do not have to read books laden with smut. We do not have to watch television that is beneath wholesome standards. We do not have to rent movies that depict that which is filthy. We do not have to sit at the computer and play with pornographic material found on the Internet.
I repeat, we can do better than this. We must do better than this. We are men of the priesthood. This is a most sacred and marvelous gift, worth more than all the dross of the world. But it will be amen to the effectiveness of that priesthood for anyone who engages in the practice of seeking out pornographic material.
If there be any within the sound of my voice who are doing so, then may you plead with the Lord out of the depths of your soul that He will remove from you the addiction which enslaves you. And may you have the courage to seek the loving guidance of your bishop and, if necessary, the counsel of caring professionals.
Let any who may be in the grip of this vise get upon their knees in the privacy of their closet and plead with the Lord for help to free them from this evil monster. Otherwise, this vicious stain will continue through life and even into eternity. Jacob, the brother of Nephi, taught: “And it shall come to pass that when all men shall have passed from this first death unto life, insomuch as they have become immortal, … they who are righteous shall be righteous still, and they who are filthy shall be filthy still” (2 Ne. 9:15–16).
President Joseph F. Smith, in his vision of the Savior’s visit among the spirits of the dead, saw that “unto the wicked he did not go, and among the ungodly and the unrepentant who had defiled themselves while in the flesh, his voice was not raised” (D&C 138:20).
Now, my brethren, I do not wish to be negative. I am by nature optimistic. But in such matters as this I am a realist. If we are involved in such behavior, now is the time to change. Let this be our hour of resolution. Let us turn about to a better way.
Said the Lord: “Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.
“The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever” (D&C 121:45–46).
How could any man wish for more? These supernal blessings are promised to those who walk in virtue before the Lord and before all men.
How wonderful are the ways of our Lord. How glorious His promises. When tempted we can substitute for thoughts of evil thoughts of Him and His teachings. He has said: “And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.
“Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you” (D&C 88:67–68).
To you deacons and teachers and priests who are with us tonight, you wonderful young men who have to do with the sacrament, the Lord has said, “Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord” (D&C 133:5).
To all of the priesthood the statement of revelation is clear and unequivocal: “The rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness” (D&C 121:36).
Now I know, my brethren, that most of you are not afflicted with this evil. I ask your pardon for taking your time in dwelling on it. But if you are a stake president or a bishop, a district or branch president, you may very well have to assist those who are affected. May the Lord grant you wisdom, guidance, inspiration, and love for those who so need it.
And to all of you, young or old, who are not involved, I congratulate you and leave my blessing with you. How beautiful is the life that is patterned after the teachings of the gospel of Him who was without sin. Such a man walks with unblemished brow in the sunlight of virtue and strength.
May heaven’s blessings attend you, my dear brethren. May all of us reach out to any who need help, I pray, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Gordon B. Hinckley, “A Tragic Evil among Us,” Ensign, Nov 2004, 59–62
Internet Porn: Worse Than Crack?
Internet Porn: Worse Than Crack?
Ryan Singel 11.19.04
Internet pornography is the new crack cocaine, leading to addiction, misogyny, pedophilia, boob jobs and erectile dysfunction, according to clinicians and researchers testifying before a Senate committee Thursday.
Witnesses before the Senate Commerce Committee's Science, Technology and Space Subcommittee spared no superlative in their description of the negative effects of pornography.
Mary Anne Layden, co-director of the Sexual Trauma and Psychopathology Program at the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Cognitive Therapy, called porn the "most concerning thing to psychological health that I know of existing today."
"The internet is a perfect drug delivery system because you are anonymous, aroused and have role models for these behaviors," Layden said. "To have drug pumped into your house 24/7, free, and children know how to use it better than grown-ups know how to use it -- it's a perfect delivery system if we want to have a whole generation of young addicts who will never have the drug out of their mind."
Pornography addicts have a more difficult time recovering from their addiction than cocaine addicts, since coke users can get the drug out of their system, but pornographic images stay in the brain forever, Layden said.
Jeffrey Satinover, a psychiatrist and advisor to the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality echoed Layden's concern about the internet and the somatic effects of pornography.
"Pornography really does, unlike other addictions, biologically cause direct release of the most perfect addictive substance," Satinover said. "That is, it causes masturbation, which causes release of the naturally occurring opioids. It does what heroin can't do, in effect."
The internet is dangerous because it removes the inefficiency in the delivery of pornography, making porn much more ubiquitous than in the days when guys in trench coats would sell nudie postcards, Satinover said.
Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas), the subcommittee's chairman, called the hearing the most disturbing one he'd ever seen in the Senate. Brownback said porn was ubiquitous now, compared to when he was growing up and "some guy would sneak a magazine in somewhere and show some of us, but you had to find him at the right time."
The hearing came just days after a controversy over a sexually suggestive Monday Night Football ad that has many foreseeing a crackdown on indecency by the Federal Communications Commission.
It is unclear what the consequences of Thursday's hearing will be since it was not connected to any pending or proposed legislation.
Brownback, a conservative Christian, is also scheduled to be rotated off the sub-committee in the next session.
When Brownback asked the panelists for suggestions about what should be done, the responses were mild, considering their earlier indictment of pornography. Several suggested that federal money be allocated to fund brain-mapping studies into the physical effects of pornography.
Judith Reisman of the California Protective Parents Association suggested that more study of "erototoxins" could show how pornography is not speech-protected under the First Amendment.
The panelists all agreed that the government should fund health campaigns to educate the public about the dangers of pornography. The campaign should combat the messages of pornography by putting signs on buses saying sex with children is not OK, said Layden.
However, as the panelists themselves acknowledged, there is no consensus among mental health professionals about the dangers of porn or the use of the term "pornography addiction."
Many psychologists and most sexologists find the concepts of sex and pornography addiction problematic, said Carol Queen, staff sexologist for the San Francisco-based, woman-owned Good Vibrations.
Queen questioned the validity of the panel for not including anyone who thinks "pornography is not particularly problematic in most people's lives."
Queen acknowledges she can name people who have compulsive and destructive behavior centered on pornography, but argues that can happen with other activities, such as gambling and shopping.
Queen also criticized the methodology behind research showing that pornography stimulates the brain like drugs do, saying the research needs to take into account how sex itself stimulates the brain.
"There's no doubt the brain lights up when sexually aroused," Queen said.
Queen too would like to see more money devoted to research on sex, but thinks it is unlikely that researchers on either side of the divide are likely to receive large grants any time soon.
Studies intended to show the harmful effects of pornography must contend with ethical rules prohibiting harm to human subjects, while sex researchers have a hard time getting any funding, unless their study is specifically HIV-related, according to Queen.
Ryan Singel 11.19.04
Internet pornography is the new crack cocaine, leading to addiction, misogyny, pedophilia, boob jobs and erectile dysfunction, according to clinicians and researchers testifying before a Senate committee Thursday.
Witnesses before the Senate Commerce Committee's Science, Technology and Space Subcommittee spared no superlative in their description of the negative effects of pornography.
Mary Anne Layden, co-director of the Sexual Trauma and Psychopathology Program at the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Cognitive Therapy, called porn the "most concerning thing to psychological health that I know of existing today."
"The internet is a perfect drug delivery system because you are anonymous, aroused and have role models for these behaviors," Layden said. "To have drug pumped into your house 24/7, free, and children know how to use it better than grown-ups know how to use it -- it's a perfect delivery system if we want to have a whole generation of young addicts who will never have the drug out of their mind."
Pornography addicts have a more difficult time recovering from their addiction than cocaine addicts, since coke users can get the drug out of their system, but pornographic images stay in the brain forever, Layden said.
Jeffrey Satinover, a psychiatrist and advisor to the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality echoed Layden's concern about the internet and the somatic effects of pornography.
"Pornography really does, unlike other addictions, biologically cause direct release of the most perfect addictive substance," Satinover said. "That is, it causes masturbation, which causes release of the naturally occurring opioids. It does what heroin can't do, in effect."
The internet is dangerous because it removes the inefficiency in the delivery of pornography, making porn much more ubiquitous than in the days when guys in trench coats would sell nudie postcards, Satinover said.
Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas), the subcommittee's chairman, called the hearing the most disturbing one he'd ever seen in the Senate. Brownback said porn was ubiquitous now, compared to when he was growing up and "some guy would sneak a magazine in somewhere and show some of us, but you had to find him at the right time."
The hearing came just days after a controversy over a sexually suggestive Monday Night Football ad that has many foreseeing a crackdown on indecency by the Federal Communications Commission.
It is unclear what the consequences of Thursday's hearing will be since it was not connected to any pending or proposed legislation.
Brownback, a conservative Christian, is also scheduled to be rotated off the sub-committee in the next session.
When Brownback asked the panelists for suggestions about what should be done, the responses were mild, considering their earlier indictment of pornography. Several suggested that federal money be allocated to fund brain-mapping studies into the physical effects of pornography.
Judith Reisman of the California Protective Parents Association suggested that more study of "erototoxins" could show how pornography is not speech-protected under the First Amendment.
The panelists all agreed that the government should fund health campaigns to educate the public about the dangers of pornography. The campaign should combat the messages of pornography by putting signs on buses saying sex with children is not OK, said Layden.
However, as the panelists themselves acknowledged, there is no consensus among mental health professionals about the dangers of porn or the use of the term "pornography addiction."
Many psychologists and most sexologists find the concepts of sex and pornography addiction problematic, said Carol Queen, staff sexologist for the San Francisco-based, woman-owned Good Vibrations.
Queen questioned the validity of the panel for not including anyone who thinks "pornography is not particularly problematic in most people's lives."
Queen acknowledges she can name people who have compulsive and destructive behavior centered on pornography, but argues that can happen with other activities, such as gambling and shopping.
Queen also criticized the methodology behind research showing that pornography stimulates the brain like drugs do, saying the research needs to take into account how sex itself stimulates the brain.
"There's no doubt the brain lights up when sexually aroused," Queen said.
Queen too would like to see more money devoted to research on sex, but thinks it is unlikely that researchers on either side of the divide are likely to receive large grants any time soon.
Studies intended to show the harmful effects of pornography must contend with ethical rules prohibiting harm to human subjects, while sex researchers have a hard time getting any funding, unless their study is specifically HIV-related, according to Queen.
20.11.09
The Experience vs the Accomplishment
I've realized I've had a lot of experiences. I once did stand up comedy, I've been a security guard in the graveyard shift by myself, I've been to the ocean, I've flown in an airplane, I've seen Washington D.C. etc. I could go on and on, as most of us could. Have they all taught me something? Overall, no. Have they been good? Overall, yes. Should I stop asking questions to myself and then answering them? Probably.
As by the title you can see where I'm going with this blog. Experiences are great, but I think accomplishments are greater. Accomplishments are always experiences but not the other way around. This subject has been on my mind lately because I feel inclined to do more accomplishments in my life than experiences. The brethren in the church leadership have said-
I am so thoroughly convinced that if we don’t set goals in our life and learn how to master the technique of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on our life only to see that we reached but a small part of our full potential. When you learn to master the principle of setting a goal, you will then be able to make a great difference in the results you attain in this life. -M. Russel Ballard
Looking back, I can see all my experiences vs accomplishments and can easily assess that I learned a great deal more from my accomplishments. This is because none of my accomplishments came without work and determination. But, my experiences often came and left without any real effort on my part, and left me with little more than a story or a quip.
My greatest accomplishment was probably being called as a missionary for the church, to go to San Diego, learn Spanish, and teach the word. This wasn't just sitting on the street corner and shouting random things about God, this was work. We had to go door to door, with an unknown companion, talk in a foreign language, to foreign people, about a religion foreign to them and have them actually accept a life changing message. We kept records of people we taught, how many lessons we taught, how many people we talked to, what their doubts were, and then report all this to authorities above us. This wasn't just preaching, it was a organized effort that required 24 hour vigilance and not only that you had to know what to say and how to say it in another language and I could go on. Was that an experience? Hell yes. Was it an accomplishment? Yes, but I regret not doing more.
As by the title you can see where I'm going with this blog. Experiences are great, but I think accomplishments are greater. Accomplishments are always experiences but not the other way around. This subject has been on my mind lately because I feel inclined to do more accomplishments in my life than experiences. The brethren in the church leadership have said-
I am so thoroughly convinced that if we don’t set goals in our life and learn how to master the technique of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on our life only to see that we reached but a small part of our full potential. When you learn to master the principle of setting a goal, you will then be able to make a great difference in the results you attain in this life. -M. Russel Ballard
Looking back, I can see all my experiences vs accomplishments and can easily assess that I learned a great deal more from my accomplishments. This is because none of my accomplishments came without work and determination. But, my experiences often came and left without any real effort on my part, and left me with little more than a story or a quip.
My greatest accomplishment was probably being called as a missionary for the church, to go to San Diego, learn Spanish, and teach the word. This wasn't just sitting on the street corner and shouting random things about God, this was work. We had to go door to door, with an unknown companion, talk in a foreign language, to foreign people, about a religion foreign to them and have them actually accept a life changing message. We kept records of people we taught, how many lessons we taught, how many people we talked to, what their doubts were, and then report all this to authorities above us. This wasn't just preaching, it was a organized effort that required 24 hour vigilance and not only that you had to know what to say and how to say it in another language and I could go on. Was that an experience? Hell yes. Was it an accomplishment? Yes, but I regret not doing more.
19.11.09
What Do the Scriptures Say About Money and the Poor?
1 Timothy 6:9
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
Luke 12:15-34
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the
heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Alma 31:28
Alma 1:30
And thus, in their prosperous circumstances, they did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or that were athirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished; and they did not set their hearts upon riches; therefore they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need.
2 Nephi 9:11
But wo unto the rich, who are rich as to the things of the world. For because they are rich they despise the poor, and they persecute the meek, and their hearts are upon their treasures; wherefore, their treasure is their god. And behold, their treasure shall perish with them also.
1 Cor. 10: 24
Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.
James 1:10-11
But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the agrace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
4 Nephi 1:3
And they had aall things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly bgift.
Doctrine and Covenants 104:15-16
And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine.
But it must needs be done in mine own away; and behold this is the way that I, the Lord, have decreed to provide for my saints, that the poor shall be exalted, in that the rich are made low.
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
Luke 12:15-34
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the
heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Alma 31:28
Behold, O my God, their costly apparel, and their ringlets, and their bracelets, and their ornaments of gold, and all their precious things which they are ornamented with; and behold, their hearts are set upon them, and yet they cry unto thee and say—We thank thee, O God, for we are a chosen people unto thee, while others shall perish.
Alma 1:30
And thus, in their prosperous circumstances, they did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or that were athirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished; and they did not set their hearts upon riches; therefore they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need.
2 Nephi 9:11
But wo unto the rich, who are rich as to the things of the world. For because they are rich they despise the poor, and they persecute the meek, and their hearts are upon their treasures; wherefore, their treasure is their god. And behold, their treasure shall perish with them also.
1 Cor. 10: 24
Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.
James 1:10-11
But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the agrace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
4 Nephi 1:3
And they had aall things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly bgift.
Doctrine and Covenants 104:15-16
And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine.
But it must needs be done in mine own away; and behold this is the way that I, the Lord, have decreed to provide for my saints, that the poor shall be exalted, in that the rich are made low.
17.11.09
Heroine
I have a friend who is on Heroin. It never occurred to me that the name also means the feminine hero. What a strange name for a drug. But, drugs are strange. She was a missionary. She taught the gospel. She lived a pure life. She has tons of friends and loves life. Heroin is threatening to take away all the things that are important in life. She has a real good friend. My wife. They were companions and served will all their heart, might, mind and strength. Right now she needs to do that more than anything to fight Heroin. How sad. How unbelievably unfortunate. Heroin never quits. Once it has you, it won't ever let go. All a person can do (in my humble, educated opinion) is grow stronger than the addiction.
What is a hero? A hero is someone who is stronger and needed in a time of weakness or vulnerability. What is Heroin? Its a life sucking villain that eats your fabric of sanity away with each barrier you try to shield yourself from it.
I'm so sad. She was brilliant last night as we had Family Home Evening. She was laughing and looked like a lot of fun but I know on the inside there was this beast, that couldn't wait to get her away from her loving friends and punish her soul by stretching the hole that heroin has punched. This beast is Satan. I feel no need to differentiate the two- Heroin and Satan. For they are one in purpose- to ravish and destroy all that is sacred and good in your life and replace it with an unquenchable fire of despair and pain.
Tonight my friend is in withdrawals. I can see on her face that these are not simple cravings. The look on her face says she is drowning, burning, choking, crying, dying, stinging, harrowing and losing. Why did she fall? That doesn't matter. All that matters is how we're going to catch her. We love her. I imagine God thinking the same things about our (although minor in comparison but gigantic when compared to divinity) missteps and tumbles. He probably sees the future of our behavior on a scale more defined then we ever could and it penetrates His heart all the more. "If only they'd look to the Savior" He says. If only we'd look to the arms that are continually stretched forth before us. Then we'd understand.
Its no use to condemn the sins of others unless we can help the sinner. What do we gain by the sins of others? There is not a clean conscience in the convicting of another. There is not time for the blame game if you love them. Its not a time to point fingers but to stretch out hands in love and friendship. As we strive to help others, we are bettering ourselves. As we try to blame others, we are only diminishing ourselves. I don't blame my friend for doing drugs, although it would've been easier for her if she didn't, but that doesn't matter now that she is on the ropes and getting kidnapped by her addiction. I don't wish to walk away with clean hands and a cold shoulder. Think of the parables the Savior taught- How many good samaritans were there? Just one, out of how many that just passed the dying soul on the ground? Or what about the Prodigal son, whose father welcomed him home from running away, with open arms? In both cases, the person who was righteous didn't care how or why the person was in the condition they were in. They only thought to love and restore them to life. Is it not the same with God? Is it not the same with you?
The thing that most amazes me about this whole ordeal is that my friend ran away for so long from dealing with the addiction. When we run away from a problem, we feed the problem. She has tried so many times before and lost everytime. The addiction whipped her butt. It will continue to whip her butt. But, she has decided to face it. Its going to keep beating her but she can be sustained, she can endure and she will triumph. She will. Heroin has only got her physically. Tonight, she showed that it doesn't quite have her spiritually, because she has faced the biggest opponent that everybody has to fight sooner or later- PRIDE. If we let pride grow it will be all the harder to knock out but if we continue to humble ourselves we won't have to wait until our whole life is on the line to keep pride in it's place.
Her name isn't important because we all are similar to her in this battle. We all have to face our pride and our sins. Its the same fight. Its easier to win if we decide to train for it beforehand. If we wait till its too late we might not make it. I know my friend will make it. She is a hero. A real heroine.
Update: After a few more ravenous events and hardships she has gone through rehab and by all accounts is getting better everyday.
What is a hero? A hero is someone who is stronger and needed in a time of weakness or vulnerability. What is Heroin? Its a life sucking villain that eats your fabric of sanity away with each barrier you try to shield yourself from it.
I'm so sad. She was brilliant last night as we had Family Home Evening. She was laughing and looked like a lot of fun but I know on the inside there was this beast, that couldn't wait to get her away from her loving friends and punish her soul by stretching the hole that heroin has punched. This beast is Satan. I feel no need to differentiate the two- Heroin and Satan. For they are one in purpose- to ravish and destroy all that is sacred and good in your life and replace it with an unquenchable fire of despair and pain.
Tonight my friend is in withdrawals. I can see on her face that these are not simple cravings. The look on her face says she is drowning, burning, choking, crying, dying, stinging, harrowing and losing. Why did she fall? That doesn't matter. All that matters is how we're going to catch her. We love her. I imagine God thinking the same things about our (although minor in comparison but gigantic when compared to divinity) missteps and tumbles. He probably sees the future of our behavior on a scale more defined then we ever could and it penetrates His heart all the more. "If only they'd look to the Savior" He says. If only we'd look to the arms that are continually stretched forth before us. Then we'd understand.
Its no use to condemn the sins of others unless we can help the sinner. What do we gain by the sins of others? There is not a clean conscience in the convicting of another. There is not time for the blame game if you love them. Its not a time to point fingers but to stretch out hands in love and friendship. As we strive to help others, we are bettering ourselves. As we try to blame others, we are only diminishing ourselves. I don't blame my friend for doing drugs, although it would've been easier for her if she didn't, but that doesn't matter now that she is on the ropes and getting kidnapped by her addiction. I don't wish to walk away with clean hands and a cold shoulder. Think of the parables the Savior taught- How many good samaritans were there? Just one, out of how many that just passed the dying soul on the ground? Or what about the Prodigal son, whose father welcomed him home from running away, with open arms? In both cases, the person who was righteous didn't care how or why the person was in the condition they were in. They only thought to love and restore them to life. Is it not the same with God? Is it not the same with you?
The thing that most amazes me about this whole ordeal is that my friend ran away for so long from dealing with the addiction. When we run away from a problem, we feed the problem. She has tried so many times before and lost everytime. The addiction whipped her butt. It will continue to whip her butt. But, she has decided to face it. Its going to keep beating her but she can be sustained, she can endure and she will triumph. She will. Heroin has only got her physically. Tonight, she showed that it doesn't quite have her spiritually, because she has faced the biggest opponent that everybody has to fight sooner or later- PRIDE. If we let pride grow it will be all the harder to knock out but if we continue to humble ourselves we won't have to wait until our whole life is on the line to keep pride in it's place.
Her name isn't important because we all are similar to her in this battle. We all have to face our pride and our sins. Its the same fight. Its easier to win if we decide to train for it beforehand. If we wait till its too late we might not make it. I know my friend will make it. She is a hero. A real heroine.
Update: After a few more ravenous events and hardships she has gone through rehab and by all accounts is getting better everyday.
Benefit of the Doubt
Everybody is a little good and a little bad. Sometimes it seems easy to make someone out to be a bad guy, when they're not all bad, and likewise good, when they're not all good. Why do we wish to label others and judge them? Its easy. Its easier for our minds to label people, so we know how to treat them or to stay away from them. We do it to have control. But, we don't know so much.
We don't know what others are really thinking or what they are capable of doing but the Lord does. The Lord knows us best and gives us time to repent and do good.
Alma taught, "There was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead" (Alma 12:24). God has granted us chance to repent and be righteous. Should we not give others a chance as well?
Nephi said, "I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things" (1 Nephi 11:17).
He also said "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do" (1 Nephi 4:6).
I think the only judgment we can truly trust is that of the Spirit. By following the Spirit we have safety in the Lord. We will be given the wisdom we need and the intelligence to manage all the crazy situations or crazy people we encounter. In the church you always hear people saying things similar to Nephi saying "I don't know why I did it but I had a feeling and was prompted" and oft times it comes to fruition that it was for the best.
Thus, its crucial that we look at others as our brothers and sisters and not enemies, for our only true enemy is sin, not the sinner. For if we hate the sinner we must hate ourselves for we are all imperfect and sinful in God's eyes. But, God sees us for who we are and thus gives us a chance to do good. Amen.
We don't know what others are really thinking or what they are capable of doing but the Lord does. The Lord knows us best and gives us time to repent and do good.
Alma taught, "There was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead" (Alma 12:24). God has granted us chance to repent and be righteous. Should we not give others a chance as well?
Nephi said, "I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things" (1 Nephi 11:17).
He also said "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do" (1 Nephi 4:6).
I think the only judgment we can truly trust is that of the Spirit. By following the Spirit we have safety in the Lord. We will be given the wisdom we need and the intelligence to manage all the crazy situations or crazy people we encounter. In the church you always hear people saying things similar to Nephi saying "I don't know why I did it but I had a feeling and was prompted" and oft times it comes to fruition that it was for the best.
Thus, its crucial that we look at others as our brothers and sisters and not enemies, for our only true enemy is sin, not the sinner. For if we hate the sinner we must hate ourselves for we are all imperfect and sinful in God's eyes. But, God sees us for who we are and thus gives us a chance to do good. Amen.
Sacrifice
“The Important thing is this: to be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are;
For what we could become”
- CHARLES DUBOIS
“Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” (Matt. 19:16).
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (Math 19:21-26)
When God asks us to pay tithing, its not so the church can have money. When God asks us to fast, its not so we can lose weight. When God asks us to do anything, it is for us to remember that it is God we serve and not lesser gods like money, food or ourselves. When we ask God for help, He asks us to give up worldly things, so He can give us heavenly things. If we reject His commandments, we are rejecting His help. If we aren't giving anything to God then we are giving our hearts to the gods of this world and what a poor substitute that is, for the God who created all things.
For what we could become”
- CHARLES DUBOIS
“Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” (Matt. 19:16).
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (Math 19:21-26)
When God asks us to pay tithing, its not so the church can have money. When God asks us to fast, its not so we can lose weight. When God asks us to do anything, it is for us to remember that it is God we serve and not lesser gods like money, food or ourselves. When we ask God for help, He asks us to give up worldly things, so He can give us heavenly things. If we reject His commandments, we are rejecting His help. If we aren't giving anything to God then we are giving our hearts to the gods of this world and what a poor substitute that is, for the God who created all things.
5.11.09
Joy of Creation
I think one of the most challenging things to anyone is how to create a life for ourselves that makes us happy. The scriptures talk about this all the time.
"...men are, that they might have joy." - 2 Nephi 2:25
The reason we're here is to have joy. I find for me the greatest joy I can have is by creating. Who hasn't felt that sense of satisfaction after following a recipe and having the brownies actually taste good? Or who hasn't wrote something for school and worked over the details and then felt good after the teacher wrote a little smiley face? I'm an absolute addict to making art- http://eldigitalartist.blogspot.com/. Its not work for me because its a pleasure, a joy. If we look around the world or just at ourselves we can find plenty of things we've created that stir up a sense of joy in us. But alas, there is "opposition in all things" (2 Nephi 2:11). Sometimes by seeking to create happy lives we fill our lives with mundane or trite things that can't give us that satisfaction of joy of creation to our souls.
Satan always offers poor replacements for the real thing. We might think we can create happiness in ourselves by buying it. This is false, we can't replace sincere love for a sincere paycheck. We might think to eat food to fill an emotional void. This is false. Sure, we might be satisfied and a little plump for a bit, but that feeling soon subsides and we're stuck in the same predicament we were in before (only maybe fatter and more in debt). You can't fill your spirit with material things. You may fill your time with temporal things, but, the Lord warns "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal." (Math 6:19)
Of course, the Lord has the remedy. He says "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it." (Mark 8:35). From the things we create, we are expanding who we are. We are giving our life unto others and thus gaining it. Joy comes from the person we create in ourselves.
When I take a picture (or photoshop a picture, as the case may be) I exercise who I am and am showing a little piece of who I am. There is a quote that says something along the lines of "everything you create or do is a self portrait." How can we excuse ourselves from our creations? We cannot. We are bound to them, just as parents are to their children.
What role is the Lord in our creating? He is the Creator. We are a lineage of celestial heritage. He gave us the creating powers we enjoy. Remember the scriptures say we are that we might have joy. Lets now talk about how this joy is not acquired. The scriptures say "Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness." -(Alma 41:10). Wickedness never was happiness but it sure is fun, right? Yeah, I have a scripture for that too-
And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.
Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark.- 2 Nephi 28:8-9
Notice the doctrines of Satan (and unhappiness) are always vanity centered, consuming for the self, the fleeting things of the world, the fads, the momentary bliss, the trivial, the meaningless and the crude things that flatter our pride, feed our appetites and build up defenses against creating and growing as people. That, is the big difference between the Lord and Satan. The Lord offers us an eternal perspective of joy, while Satan only offers whatever feels good now. On the one hand we are to create, while on the other only to consume to our appetites. We all need to consume, of course, but the problem is when we seek to consume the temporal to our eternal appetites, upon doing that we will be left with an emptiness (once we find out what temporal really means in the eternities). So, the problem with wickedness and why it was never happiness is simply because its fleeting, and destructive to our eternal progress. Its filling our souls with the short lived as a replacement for the eternal life Christ offers.
"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." -1 John 5:11
To acquire the eternal joy (eternal life) of the Lord, we can't buy it, we can't sell it, and we can't obtain it through deception or manipulation. We can only create it. By following the Creator, Jesus Christ.
"I am the way, the truth, and the life" - John 14:6
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." -Psalm 51:10
Surely the Lord cares more about us that we know and wants us to have joy, for that is the measure of our creation.
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?...For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. -Matt 6:30-33
In other words, worry not to surround yourself with comfort in this life, for the Lord will comfort you and give you what you need to live in this life and the next, if you will put Him first.
"And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true." -Mosiah 4:12
Living a Christlike life, faith in Christ, faith in His commandments, doing the things God would want us to do with a pure heart, forgiving, loving your neighbor as yourself, seeking treasure of heaven, turning the other cheek, being humble, being thankful, being virtuous and true, all these things exemplified in the Lord are how we can follow Him and have joy in our creation, or a real and eternal life.
26.10.09
Sensitivity
In the Church we talk a lot about things you should and shouldn't do. In the world, we are bombarded with messages about what to buy, what to think, what to do, how to sleep, what to eat etc. However deafening the messages may seem there is a still small voice we all must adhere to.
When Elijah was fleeing for his life from the wicked Phoenician princess Jezebel, the Lord directed him to a high mountain, where he had a most unusual experience. As Elijah stood upon the mount before the Lord, he felt “a great and strong wind … ; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice” (1 Kgs. 19:11–12).
We often think an all powerful God must only speak through natural disasters or great plagues or wars etc. but as all powerful He is, He knows that we are all individuals and He will not take away our right to choose. So, the war for our hearts is the one He is fighting and even though there may be missionaries all over the globe or loud preachers or strong political pressures, He talks to us through a "still, small voice." He is sensitive to our hearts.
When the resurrected Christ visited His people in the Americas -
it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come. (3 Nephi 11:15).
He says, “I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him.” (Rev. 3:20.) He is a gentle, patient, and loving Person who comes to each of us individually, "one by one". He won't take away our right to choose, whether its to listen and open the door or to not. He won't break down the door or yell to make Himself known. This still small voice is heard through the ears of our spirit. Its found in our hearts of hearts.
This power to choose is known as agency. "Men have power to be agents unto themselves."- D&C 58: 28. It might be a hard thing to realize because we're constantly being asked to live one way or another. But, this is probably the most empowering message we can learn if we wish to be happy- men have power to be agents unto themselves. Sometimes we forget it and get caught up in something that can potentially hurt others. We must be careful how we use our agency for with the use of this power we will be judged before God. I'm always impressed to think of this scripture from the Savior when I think of God's judgment-
Matthew 25:33-40
And he shall set the sheep on his aright hand, but the goats on the left.
Then shall the King say unto them on his aright hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, 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.
So, it is imperative that we use our agency with sensitivity to the Spirit of the Lord. For the Spirit of the Lord teaches us that we must "yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit ... 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." (Mosiah 3:19)
The Spirit is full of Love for others. If we are sensitive to the Lord we will be sensitive to others. This is a HUGE part of being a true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Although, He spoke with authority it was always with love. I know that everything God does is out of love for us for He has said "For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. " (Moses 1:39). He works for us. His whole purpose is to make sure we're happy and delivered from the bondage of Satan. I say if the Lord does it, then we must do it. If He is forgiving so should we be forgiving. If He loves unconditionally then so should we. That is what being a Mormon and a true follower of God is all about. If we do not the things of God then we are not of God and won't be with God. I love Heavenly Father and I know that He loves us and will do anything to make sure we are happy and free. This is the purpose of this blog and my life, to follow God and be like Him as much as I can. I know anyone who does this will find a multitude of wisdom, freedom, hope, love, and purpose.
There is a great quote by Joseph Smith that says "If my life is of no value to my friends, then it is of no value to me." He said this right before his martyrdom when persecution against the Mormons was at a peak and it was hard to find loyal friends. He didn't abandon them or the church and was killed by a mob for his testimony of the divinity of the church and book of Mormon. He truly gave his life for his friends.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
When Elijah was fleeing for his life from the wicked Phoenician princess Jezebel, the Lord directed him to a high mountain, where he had a most unusual experience. As Elijah stood upon the mount before the Lord, he felt “a great and strong wind … ; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice” (1 Kgs. 19:11–12).
We often think an all powerful God must only speak through natural disasters or great plagues or wars etc. but as all powerful He is, He knows that we are all individuals and He will not take away our right to choose. So, the war for our hearts is the one He is fighting and even though there may be missionaries all over the globe or loud preachers or strong political pressures, He talks to us through a "still, small voice." He is sensitive to our hearts.
When the resurrected Christ visited His people in the Americas -
it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come. (3 Nephi 11:15).
He says, “I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him.” (Rev. 3:20.) He is a gentle, patient, and loving Person who comes to each of us individually, "one by one". He won't take away our right to choose, whether its to listen and open the door or to not. He won't break down the door or yell to make Himself known. This still small voice is heard through the ears of our spirit. Its found in our hearts of hearts.
This power to choose is known as agency. "Men have power to be agents unto themselves."- D&C 58: 28. It might be a hard thing to realize because we're constantly being asked to live one way or another. But, this is probably the most empowering message we can learn if we wish to be happy- men have power to be agents unto themselves. Sometimes we forget it and get caught up in something that can potentially hurt others. We must be careful how we use our agency for with the use of this power we will be judged before God. I'm always impressed to think of this scripture from the Savior when I think of God's judgment-
Matthew 25:33-40
And he shall set the sheep on his aright hand, but the goats on the left.
Then shall the King say unto them on his aright hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, 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.
So, it is imperative that we use our agency with sensitivity to the Spirit of the Lord. For the Spirit of the Lord teaches us that we must "yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit ... 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." (Mosiah 3:19)
The Spirit is full of Love for others. If we are sensitive to the Lord we will be sensitive to others. This is a HUGE part of being a true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Although, He spoke with authority it was always with love. I know that everything God does is out of love for us for He has said "For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. " (Moses 1:39). He works for us. His whole purpose is to make sure we're happy and delivered from the bondage of Satan. I say if the Lord does it, then we must do it. If He is forgiving so should we be forgiving. If He loves unconditionally then so should we. That is what being a Mormon and a true follower of God is all about. If we do not the things of God then we are not of God and won't be with God. I love Heavenly Father and I know that He loves us and will do anything to make sure we are happy and free. This is the purpose of this blog and my life, to follow God and be like Him as much as I can. I know anyone who does this will find a multitude of wisdom, freedom, hope, love, and purpose.
There is a great quote by Joseph Smith that says "If my life is of no value to my friends, then it is of no value to me." He said this right before his martyrdom when persecution against the Mormons was at a peak and it was hard to find loyal friends. He didn't abandon them or the church and was killed by a mob for his testimony of the divinity of the church and book of Mormon. He truly gave his life for his friends.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
20.10.09
that they may be humble
Some people might argue that some commandments are harder than others. But its just depends on who you ask.
When I was a preaching the gospel as a missionary in San Diego, I quickly realized that every person is capable of having doubts in any area. Whether it would be just not seeing a need for the Book of Mormon or just not liking some of the other members. We all have a weaknesses.
One of my favorite scriptures-
Ether 12:27
And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
I know that if we turn our lives over to God, He will manifest Himself to us. The hard part though is that we will often see the folly of our ways. Does He show us our weaknesses to make us feel condemned or chastised? Is God just a big bully thats constantly throwing metaphorical pebbles down on us from His cloud? No. He isn't a bully. He is a loving, caring, perfect person.
Then why show us our weaknesses? I hope you were paying attention to that scripture. "That they may be humble" He says.
Humility is essential to living like God. If we are not humble then we cannot receive the word of God for we will be offended by it and by God. We will cover our weaknesses in a cloak of our pride in an effort to excuse ourselves from having to change them.
So again which is the hardest commandment of all? The one you're not following. You can avoid every harmful thing but if you don't remember to be humble then thats your weakness.
When I was a preaching the gospel as a missionary in San Diego, I quickly realized that every person is capable of having doubts in any area. Whether it would be just not seeing a need for the Book of Mormon or just not liking some of the other members. We all have a weaknesses.
One of my favorite scriptures-
Ether 12:27
And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
I know that if we turn our lives over to God, He will manifest Himself to us. The hard part though is that we will often see the folly of our ways. Does He show us our weaknesses to make us feel condemned or chastised? Is God just a big bully thats constantly throwing metaphorical pebbles down on us from His cloud? No. He isn't a bully. He is a loving, caring, perfect person.
Then why show us our weaknesses? I hope you were paying attention to that scripture. "That they may be humble" He says.
Humility is essential to living like God. If we are not humble then we cannot receive the word of God for we will be offended by it and by God. We will cover our weaknesses in a cloak of our pride in an effort to excuse ourselves from having to change them.
So again which is the hardest commandment of all? The one you're not following. You can avoid every harmful thing but if you don't remember to be humble then thats your weakness.
9.10.09
Victims Cause Contentions
If you've ever heard the stories of those on Judge Judy or those that need marriage counseling or those that just fight you will quickly realize that both sides feel they are the victims. Its my thought that only those that have a victim mentality will cause contentions.
Christ spoke out against contentions-
3 Nephi 11:29
For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.
The Savior came to earth to unite us with Him and His Father. That was His divine mission and purpose for living, dying, and resurrecting. A common word for this is Atonement. At-one-ment.
John 17:20-21
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be cone in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
There are so many scriptures to illustrate the point of God wanting us to be united and at one even as He is with His Christ. To do this we must be forgiving, humble, loving, giving, etc. Which means not submitting to our natural reactions of revenge, hate, jealousy, and any other secondary inferior emotions.
Here is a good scripture for that too-
Mosiah 3:19
For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, 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.
Now, we see that the Gospel is an open invitation to let go of your fear, doubt, hate, pride and smallness of soul for something stronger and open. When we are feeling wronged we must remember that a perfect man walked the earth and was condemned and trampled under our feet. We must remember that He went below everything to rise above all His enemies. He is the Savior and we must be like Him to be with Him and be at one.
One more scripture-
Isaiah 53
Christ spoke out against contentions-
3 Nephi 11:29
For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.
The Savior came to earth to unite us with Him and His Father. That was His divine mission and purpose for living, dying, and resurrecting. A common word for this is Atonement. At-one-ment.
John 17:20-21
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be cone in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
There are so many scriptures to illustrate the point of God wanting us to be united and at one even as He is with His Christ. To do this we must be forgiving, humble, loving, giving, etc. Which means not submitting to our natural reactions of revenge, hate, jealousy, and any other secondary inferior emotions.
Here is a good scripture for that too-
Mosiah 3:19
For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, 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.
Now, we see that the Gospel is an open invitation to let go of your fear, doubt, hate, pride and smallness of soul for something stronger and open. When we are feeling wronged we must remember that a perfect man walked the earth and was condemned and trampled under our feet. We must remember that He went below everything to rise above all His enemies. He is the Savior and we must be like Him to be with Him and be at one.
One more scripture-
Isaiah 53
1Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
2For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
In conclusion-
We are not victims to anything but our pride, our selfishness, our hate. When we act out on others we are hurting ourselves, because we are the ones committing the sin. When others act out on us we are not victims if we forgive, if we love, if we give, if we are humble, if we are Christ like and at one with Him.
Be not a victim.
5.10.09
All Abuse of Power is Sin and All Sin is an Abuse of Power
From what I could understand from the Gospel of Jesus Christ, all abuse of power is a sin and all sin is an abuse of power or wasting of an opportunity to lift others up.
Agency is our right to choose, our ability to choose, our ability to learn and grow and it is powerful. When we abuse any God given power we are in danger of destruction to the soul.
Think about it- a computer is powerful but you can use it to gamble, waste time, and look at inappropriate media but it doesn't have to be used for those, in fact you can make a really cool blog with it. Another example is our body. We have this amazing gift of life in a body that grows and heals by itself. Its a gift. But, we can damage it with drugs or by committing fornication or pierce it leaving holes.
I believe if you look at any commandment you will see the Lord trying to help us use our power and not abuse it.
Agency is our right to choose, our ability to choose, our ability to learn and grow and it is powerful. When we abuse any God given power we are in danger of destruction to the soul.
Think about it- a computer is powerful but you can use it to gamble, waste time, and look at inappropriate media but it doesn't have to be used for those, in fact you can make a really cool blog with it. Another example is our body. We have this amazing gift of life in a body that grows and heals by itself. Its a gift. But, we can damage it with drugs or by committing fornication or pierce it leaving holes.
I believe if you look at any commandment you will see the Lord trying to help us use our power and not abuse it.
28.9.09
"To make life sweet today, to give contentment to the heart today, to bring salvation today... today is part of eternity"
Probably the most distinct difference between what Mormons believe and the rest of the Christian world believe is the doctrine that God speaks to man today as He did before in the scriptures, face to face, and without confusion or darkness.
With modern prophets we are able to know what the ancient prophets meant in their counsels and revelation. Also, with modern prophets we benefit from knowing the Lord's will for His people in modern times.
The prophets don't just tell us what not to do. Mostly we're taught what to do, such as forgiving and loving others, putting the kingdom of God before all other activities, keeping the sabbath day holy, serving, giving tithes etc.
The question is thus why? Why should we care? What is the result of doing one thing and not another?With modern prophets we are able to know what the ancient prophets meant in their counsels and revelation. Also, with modern prophets we benefit from knowing the Lord's will for His people in modern times.
The prophets don't just tell us what not to do. Mostly we're taught what to do, such as forgiving and loving others, putting the kingdom of God before all other activities, keeping the sabbath day holy, serving, giving tithes etc.
David O. McKay (prophet of the church till 1970) said that the church was organized "to make life sweet today, to give contentment to the heart today, to bring salvation today... today is part of eternity."
A prophet is defined by anyone that says "if you do this then this will happen and if you do that then that will happen" and as the scriptures teach "by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:20). If you wish to know the truthfulness of a prophet then you can know by the fruits of their doctrine if they are of God or not.
Every time I worry about money I try to give money to someone else or I make sure to pay my tithing (10% of income) and then before I know it I have plenty of money to go around. I would advise against thinking tithing is a get rich quick scheme. But, keep in mind the Lord did reveal to Malachi- "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Malachi 3:10). The lesson is that money doesn't matter as much as faith. Of course if you are consumed with money then it will destroy you. But, if you are consumed in God then you cannot be destroyed. So by keeping the commandments I find that my soul is stronger, my heart purer, and my luck increases. I would invite you to taste the fruits of the counsels of the prophets as well.
27.9.09
Come Now, Let Us Reason Together
This is the premier edition of the Mormon Expositor. I find it very impressive to name this blog after the circulation of a false report, on the church that resulted in a series of events, that led to the martyrdom of the first prophet of this dispensation, Joseph Smith. The aim of this publication is not to encourage more false reports, but to expell them, as well as to uplift and encourage the ongoing of Mormonism in the world.
What are my credentials to expell false reports and to encourage the banner of Mormonism in the world? I'm a mormon. A regular, returned missionary and priesthood holder of the Melchizedek status. I've gone through the temple several times in a variety of ordinances and procedures. I'm a believer in God, Christ, and the Holy Ghost as actual beings that communicate and share insights and wisdom into the hearts of men and the workings of righteousness and wickedness. Basically, I have a testimony of the truthfullness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
I will not be basing my arguments on anything but the witness of the Holy Ghost and faith in Jesus Christ. If you need more empirical evidences of the existence of God or His workings with men then I suggest you visit the findings of FAIR- http://fairlds.org/. I would suggest reading their articles and evidences for your trivia, but keep in mind, if you want to know if the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is truly organized and guided by God, then you will have to go through the same gate all go through that have a testimony of the Church, by asking God directly and exercising faith.
As stated, I wish to uplift and encourage Mormonism. I'm definitely always learning new things about my faith and hope to expose my beliefs so as to say "We're not cultish weirdos" and "We're aware that people might think that, and maybe some are, but, I'm not and I do all right, so, lets reason together."
Key words:
Dispensation- This is a word Mormons throw around a lot and in this context its whenever God gives man the authority to act in the His name and establish His church.
Webster's def - 1 a : a general state or ordering of things; specifically : a system of revealed commands and promises regulating human affairs b : a particular arrangement or provision especially of providence or nature
2 a : an exemption from a law or from an impediment, vow, or oath b : a formal authorization.
Returned Missionary- The Church leaders have commanded that all worthy young men serve a mission in a foreign location for 2 years. In that mission they live on a strict schedule of 6:30 AM to 10:30 PM and are commanded to find, preach, and baptize, with an assigned companion, in an assigned area of the mission. Sometimes having to learn a second language to accomplish this fete.
Melchizedek- From the Church's definition online it says "This greater priesthood was given to Adam and has been on the earth whenever the Lord has revealed His gospel...There are, in the church, two priesthoods, namely, the Melchizedek and Aaronic" (D&C 107:1). The Melchizedek Priesthood, which is "after the Order of the Son of God" (D&C 107:3), is the greater of these. It "holds the right of presidency, and has power and authority over all the offices in the church" (D&C 107:8). It also holds "the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church" (D&C 107:18). It is named after a great high priest who lived during the time of the prophet Abraham (see D&C 107:2–4; see also Alma 13:14–19).
The offices of the Melchizedek Priesthood are Apostle, Seventy, patriarch, high priest, and elder. The President of the High Priesthood is the President of the Church (see D&C 107:64–66).
Men in the Church must be worthy Melchizedek Priesthood holders in order to receive the temple endowment and be sealed to their families for eternity. They have the authority to administer to the sick and give special blessings to family members and others. With the authorization of presiding priesthood leaders, they can bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost and ordain other worthy men to offices in the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods.
When a man receives the Melchizedek Priesthood, he enters into the oath and covenant of the priesthood. He covenants to be faithful, magnify his calling, "give diligent heed to the words of eternal life," and "live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God." Those who keep this covenant will be sanctified by the Spirit and receive "all that [the] Father hath." (See D&C 84:33–44.)
Temple- The temple is a place of worship of the Highest in the holiest of places. There are ordinances and endowments that take place there to bring us closer to God through Jesus Christ. The Lord has commanded that His house be "even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God” (D&C 88:119).
This video might help for understanding as well-
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints- The name revealed to be the church of Jesus Christ restored on the earth through revelation given to Joseph Smith in 1838. “Thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” (D&C 115:4). "Mormons" is a nickname for the followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Key Phrases:
1-“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isa. 1:16–18).
What are my credentials to expell false reports and to encourage the banner of Mormonism in the world? I'm a mormon. A regular, returned missionary and priesthood holder of the Melchizedek status. I've gone through the temple several times in a variety of ordinances and procedures. I'm a believer in God, Christ, and the Holy Ghost as actual beings that communicate and share insights and wisdom into the hearts of men and the workings of righteousness and wickedness. Basically, I have a testimony of the truthfullness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
I will not be basing my arguments on anything but the witness of the Holy Ghost and faith in Jesus Christ. If you need more empirical evidences of the existence of God or His workings with men then I suggest you visit the findings of FAIR- http://fairlds.org/. I would suggest reading their articles and evidences for your trivia, but keep in mind, if you want to know if the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is truly organized and guided by God, then you will have to go through the same gate all go through that have a testimony of the Church, by asking God directly and exercising faith.
As stated, I wish to uplift and encourage Mormonism. I'm definitely always learning new things about my faith and hope to expose my beliefs so as to say "We're not cultish weirdos" and "We're aware that people might think that, and maybe some are, but, I'm not and I do all right, so, lets reason together."
Key words:
Dispensation- This is a word Mormons throw around a lot and in this context its whenever God gives man the authority to act in the His name and establish His church.
Webster's def - 1 a : a general state or ordering of things; specifically : a system of revealed commands and promises regulating human affairs b : a particular arrangement or provision especially of providence or nature
2 a : an exemption from a law or from an impediment, vow, or oath b : a formal authorization.
Returned Missionary- The Church leaders have commanded that all worthy young men serve a mission in a foreign location for 2 years. In that mission they live on a strict schedule of 6:30 AM to 10:30 PM and are commanded to find, preach, and baptize, with an assigned companion, in an assigned area of the mission. Sometimes having to learn a second language to accomplish this fete.
Melchizedek- From the Church's definition online it says "This greater priesthood was given to Adam and has been on the earth whenever the Lord has revealed His gospel...There are, in the church, two priesthoods, namely, the Melchizedek and Aaronic" (D&C 107:1). The Melchizedek Priesthood, which is "after the Order of the Son of God" (D&C 107:3), is the greater of these. It "holds the right of presidency, and has power and authority over all the offices in the church" (D&C 107:8). It also holds "the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church" (D&C 107:18). It is named after a great high priest who lived during the time of the prophet Abraham (see D&C 107:2–4; see also Alma 13:14–19).
The offices of the Melchizedek Priesthood are Apostle, Seventy, patriarch, high priest, and elder. The President of the High Priesthood is the President of the Church (see D&C 107:64–66).
Men in the Church must be worthy Melchizedek Priesthood holders in order to receive the temple endowment and be sealed to their families for eternity. They have the authority to administer to the sick and give special blessings to family members and others. With the authorization of presiding priesthood leaders, they can bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost and ordain other worthy men to offices in the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods.
When a man receives the Melchizedek Priesthood, he enters into the oath and covenant of the priesthood. He covenants to be faithful, magnify his calling, "give diligent heed to the words of eternal life," and "live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God." Those who keep this covenant will be sanctified by the Spirit and receive "all that [the] Father hath." (See D&C 84:33–44.)
Temple- The temple is a place of worship of the Highest in the holiest of places. There are ordinances and endowments that take place there to bring us closer to God through Jesus Christ. The Lord has commanded that His house be "even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God” (D&C 88:119).
This video might help for understanding as well-
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints- The name revealed to be the church of Jesus Christ restored on the earth through revelation given to Joseph Smith in 1838. “Thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” (D&C 115:4). "Mormons" is a nickname for the followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Key Phrases:
1-“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isa. 1:16–18).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)