The Standard Will Never Be Lowered

   In the game of basketball, the stand that holds up the basketball hoop is called the "standard." In almost every league, organization, or gym, the standard is held at 10 feet high. I have been playing basketball in gyms and churches since I could barely walk. The hoop has always been 10 feet high. I am a basketball fan. More so of college basketball, but I like the NBA too. And what I have noticed is this...no matter if it is little Johnny's 12 year old "rec league" team, or Lebron James and the Miami Heat playing the Los Angeles Lakers, the hoop is always 10 feet high. Isn't that interesting? The hoop isn't lowered based on one's ability to play basketball. Imagine if the hoop was lowered based on who was shooting the ball? So Kobe Bryant plays with the same standard as my high school team's. What can we learn from this? Let me tell you...
   That is exactly how the gospel of Jesus Christ is. The standards are high. Christ expects us to keep a code of conduct that the world doesn't keep. The world wants the standards adjusted, even lowered, to meet their wants. The Lord expects us to love one another, attend church every Sunday, keep the Word of Wisdom, save intimate relations until after we are married, and many other things. Difficult? Sometimes. Unreasonable? Absolutely not. The Lord will never lower his standards just because the world does. We must step up our game. The standard will be "10 feet" and it always will be. Even if we are "Lebron James" spiritually, or if we don't think we have much skill or if we don't care, it will always be 10 feet. It can't be adjusted. Christ expects a lot out of us. Salvation is not free. The best we can do is practice, practice, practice. Why sell our selves short by shooting on a lowered hoop? In the end we will still have to shoot at a 10 foot hoop. We can't sell ourselves short in the gospel. We must put it to practice to master it.

Why Are We Called Mormons?

    The word "Mormons" is the word usually used to describe members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Where did that word come from? Why are we called Mormons? Well good thing I am here, because I will tell you...
    First of all, I will explain where that nickname comes from. As many people know, us members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints believe in additional scripture. We absolutely sustain and uphold the Bible as the word of God. But we know that God had children all over the world, not just in Jerusalem. And we know that He loves ALL of His children. He wants all of His children to know His will and to read from the scriptures. The Bible couldn't be posted on the internet or made into millions of copies to be brought throughout the whole earth back in the time of Christ, so the word spread very slowly. So how did God help His other children receive His word? Easy: The Book of Mormon. The proper title actually is The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. This is a record of God's children here on the American continent. In John, the Savior taught: "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." ( John 10:16). The Savior is referring to the people in the Americas. Prophets here also testified of Christ's coming, life, sacrifice and resurrection. The Book of Mormon is a record of those prophets' testimonies and prophecies concerning Christ. That is important because Christ actually came to the Americas and ministered to the people here. He taught them His doctrine, His way and the way we can get back to heaven. He did this here in the same manner He did it in Jerusalem. This book is essential to know whether or not The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is really the only true church on earth and that Joseph Smith really was a true prophet called of God.
    Now...why is it called the Book of Mormon, thus giving members of the Church this nickname? Mormon was a prophet. He lived on the American continent roughly 300 years after the coming of Christ. He was the one in charge of keeping all the records of his people and abridging it into a smaller book. He took all the records of his people, most of whom were long dead, and compiled them in a way that God commanded him to. That gives us the Book of Mormon. It is called The Book of Mormon because he was its compiler. Mormon explains in his own words: "But behold, I shall take these plates, which contain these prophesyings and revelations, and put them with the remainder of my record, for they are choice unto me; and I know they will be choice unto my brethren." He explains more in detail why exactly he did it in Words of Mormon 1:3-7. He did this for OUR benefit. So we may apply the scriptures to our day. Because of the prophet Mormon's faithfulness, diligence and obedience, we now have another book of scripture to testify of Christ. And this book separates us from any other religion or denomination. I am very grateful for the Book of Mormon and I know it comes from God as more scripture. I invite all to read it and pray about the things it contains.
   

Not Everyone That Saith Unto Me "Lord, Lord..."

   The scripture is clear. Matthew 7:21, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." This scripture is also repeated in 3 Nephi 14:21. The first principle in the Gospel is faith in Jesus Christ. What does it mean to have faith in Jesus Christ? Having faith in Him means you follow Him. You follow His teachings and strive to be like Him. The reason I bring this up is because there are many who say "I believe in Christ, so I'm saved." That is a very broad and generic statement. What does it mean to be saved? What does it even mean to believe in Christ?
   First of all, what is the definition of saved? The dictionary defines "saved" as: to rescue from danger or possible harm, injury, or loss. In that respect, we are all saved thanks to Jesus Christ. Christ rescued all of us from the effects of the Fall of Adam and Eve. He rescued us from physical and spiritual death. So in this sense, we are "saved." But, this does not guarantee us a place in the kingdom of heaven. This does not eliminate our own personal responsibility to act. "For we labor diligently to write, to our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." (2 Nephi 25:23) After all we can do, then we are saved by the blood of Christ.
   Like I said before, having faith in Christ leads you to act and strive to be like Him. And if you have faith in Him, you believe what he taught. But part of having faith is acting on that belief. "Faith, if it hath not works, is dead." (James 2:17). How do we act on that faith? Like I mentioned in previous blogs, the Gospel of Jesus Christ has 5 components: faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. All 5 of those components involve some sort of action. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is one of action. How do we follow Jesus Christ? We do what he says. What does he say? "Now this is the commandment: "Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day." (3 Nephi 27:20). Repent, be baptized and get the Holy Ghost. That is the "action" we must take with the faith we have. It's not enough to say you "believe." Believing requires action. To play professional sports, you can't just say "Yeah, I will play for your team, sure." You must sign a contract, by physically signing your name on the dotted line at the bottom of the contract. The Lord has written a contract for us, He asks us to sign it and follow it. But no one is forced to sign this contract. But I will say this, this contract is way better than a 10-year, $250 million contract. It is a eternal reward for a life contract.