The scriptures mention a lot about a "natural man." What is the natural man? In the "Guide to the Scriptures" it states: "A person who chooses to be influenced by the passions, desires, appetites, and senses of the flesh rather than by the promptings of the Holy Spirit..." We also read that the "natural man is an enemy to God.." (Mosiah 3:19). So yielding to those desires of the natural man is contrary to God's will for us. As a missionary, I have experienced the natural man in a lot of ways, some I didn't expect. To me, the natural man is someone who wants to take the easy road. The "path with least resistance" as they say. The natural man will look for any way to get out of doing something hard. As missionaries, we have a pretty rigorous and strict schedule:
6:15am Arise and pray
6:30-7:00 exercise
7:00-7:55 shower, get dressed, eat breakfast
8:00-9:00 personal study
9:00-10:00 companionship study
10:00-11:00 language study (Spanish)
11:00-12:00 lunch
12:00-9:00pm work, work, work.
That is the schedule we keep, rain or shine, sick or healthy, sore or not, even on Christmas Day, Sunday or your birthday. There are a lot of things in this schedule the natural man doesn't want to do. The natural man doesn't want to wake up before the sun is up, kneel down and pray. He doesn't want to exercise for at least half an hour before 7am every single morning (except Sunday). He doesn't want to be all ready by 8:00 to study for 3 straight hours. He doesn't want to be on his feet non-stop for 9 hours, talking to people on the streets, getting yelled at, kicked out of apartment complexes and ridiculed. What he really wants to do is sleep in, eat whatever and whenever he wants. Sleep instead of study. Stay inside and play video games or watch TV instead of always being on the move, being productive. The natural man doesn't want to be productive and effective. So if the natural man is an enemy to God, we cannot afford to yield to those things that the natural man wants to do. Otherwise, it puts us in a sticky situation with God. In the Bible, 1 Corinthians 2:14 says "...the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit." We can't receive spiritual knowledge or progression if we continuously yield to the natural man. How can we overcome him? Studying the scriptures. Praying. Going to church every Sunday. Fulfilling our callings in the church. And much more.
Now, hear me out. I am not saying that I have completely overcome the natural man. I am far from saying that. Is it hard for me to get up EVERY morning between 6:15 and 6:30am? Yes. Absolutely. Is it hard for me to leave the apartment at noon, knowing it could be 92 degrees outside, and knowing I won't come back for 9 hours? Yes. I fight with the natural man every day. We all do, in our own ways. Do I yield to him sometimes? Yes I do. But I keep fighting. I ain't perfect. We may lose battles here and there. We just have to win the war.
"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." Mosiah 3:19
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
In a World of Chaos, Where Can I Turn For Peace?
Over the past few months, I have come to the realization that this world is becoming more and more chaotic, hectic, selfish, evil, and unreliable. These can be scary times...but they don't have to be. Yes, Jesus is coming again. When? We don't know. All we know that it is soon. It is easy to see that. But we do not have to fear. The Lord tells us in Genesis, "fear not, for I am with thee.." (Gen 26:24). What have we to fear if we are on the Lord's side? Because "...God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Tim 1:7). The Lord protects His servants.
So where can we turn for peace in this world that offers none? To Jesus Christ. His gospel. His plan. His Sacrifice. His word. The gospel is the only thing that can save this world. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, found in its fullness in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is a gospel of hope and strength. It is a beacon of peace. We don't have to fear if we trust in the One who was perfect. Jesus Christ beckons "Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Mat 11:28). We will find rest and peace as we search Him. How do we do this? Read the scriptures. Pray with a sincere heart. If you feel fear, stress, or frustration or anything else...let your Heavenly Father help you. He is always there. He wants to listen to our problems, or fears. Let him. He loves us.
I post this because I am the one that needs this. And if I need it, I doubt I am the only one. I have felt fear for the future lately. But since I have been praying for peace in my heart, I have received it. No matter what happens, God is there. He is mindful of us as His precious children. He will never let us down. All we have to do is trust Him, and look to His Son for guidance...
So where can we turn for peace in this world that offers none? To Jesus Christ. His gospel. His plan. His Sacrifice. His word. The gospel is the only thing that can save this world. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, found in its fullness in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is a gospel of hope and strength. It is a beacon of peace. We don't have to fear if we trust in the One who was perfect. Jesus Christ beckons "Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Mat 11:28). We will find rest and peace as we search Him. How do we do this? Read the scriptures. Pray with a sincere heart. If you feel fear, stress, or frustration or anything else...let your Heavenly Father help you. He is always there. He wants to listen to our problems, or fears. Let him. He loves us.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
The World of "Me" and "I"
We have all heard that pride is the root of all sin. It's true, is it not? When we sin, we are always, in some way, just thinking of ourselves. If someone is drinking, they don't care about other people's opinions, about hurting family and friends, they just want the "buzz" or the "thrill." If someone is committing adultery or fornication, they are only thinking about their own personal pleasure. It all comes back to pride. We live in a world that teaches us that it is OK to think about ourselves, that the world revolves around us. But we know that that is not the case. Alma 38:11 says
"See that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea, see that ye do not boast in your own wisdom, nor of your much strength."
All of us do it. Including myself. I am probably the worst at this, which is why I am studying it this week. Most of the time we think only about ourselves. We have the "what's in it for me?" mentality. We talk about ourselves more than we talk about others. I am as guilty as anyone. But what if we were to stop? Jesus Christ is the perfect example for all of us. What if he just said "Wait a minute, this is way too hard. I am outta here"? We all would be lost, with no hope. And of course, he teaches us to try and be like him. If we are to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father, we must acquire attributes of His Son, Jesus Christ. He always was serving, so selflessly. And you know what they say about service, right? "...when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17) Prideful people don't serve, prideful people don't put others before themselves. We don't have to lay our lives down for someone or save their life to be serving them. We can do daily things to serve others. There are millions of ways to serve each other. A smile. A greeting. A "how are you today?" Remembering someone's name. Remembering someone's birthday. Find a way to make someone ELSE happy. We make ourselves happy all the time. And it feels good to make someone else happy, doesn't it? Why don't people do it more often? Pride is the root of all sin...
This is what I have been studying this week. Humility and pride. Humility is one of the Christlike attributes I have the most trouble with. This was for me. Service is the best medicine!
"See that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea, see that ye do not boast in your own wisdom, nor of your much strength."
All of us do it. Including myself. I am probably the worst at this, which is why I am studying it this week. Most of the time we think only about ourselves. We have the "what's in it for me?" mentality. We talk about ourselves more than we talk about others. I am as guilty as anyone. But what if we were to stop? Jesus Christ is the perfect example for all of us. What if he just said "Wait a minute, this is way too hard. I am outta here"? We all would be lost, with no hope. And of course, he teaches us to try and be like him. If we are to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father, we must acquire attributes of His Son, Jesus Christ. He always was serving, so selflessly. And you know what they say about service, right? "...when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17) Prideful people don't serve, prideful people don't put others before themselves. We don't have to lay our lives down for someone or save their life to be serving them. We can do daily things to serve others. There are millions of ways to serve each other. A smile. A greeting. A "how are you today?" Remembering someone's name. Remembering someone's birthday. Find a way to make someone ELSE happy. We make ourselves happy all the time. And it feels good to make someone else happy, doesn't it? Why don't people do it more often? Pride is the root of all sin...
This is what I have been studying this week. Humility and pride. Humility is one of the Christlike attributes I have the most trouble with. This was for me. Service is the best medicine!
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
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.
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.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Enjoying The Fall
I really do enjoy blogging about things that have to do with the current season or current events. The fall season is just a few days away, can you believe that? It doesn't really feel like it here in Florida. But it is the truth. And with that, I would like to address an issue that really has been an area of controversy over the centuries...the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden...
Now, having been in the South for over a year now, I have come across a plethora of theories regarding Adam and Eve and their decision to partake of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Some say Adam sinned, thus we are all born with the sin of Adam and we are condemned for his choice. Others say it is Eve's fault, thus blaming the entire female gender for our state of sin. Some say it was a figurative "eating of the fruit" meaning something that has to do with chastity. Here's what it really means (meaning I am going to use church doctrine, not my own opinion.)
In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Nephi teaches us that "Adam fell that men might be; and men are that they might have joy." (2 Nephi 2:25) That doesn't imply anywhere that we are born into the sin of Adam. In fact, we are here to have joy. And the church also states in the "Articles of Faith" which is a list of basic beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, "We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression." I think that point is clear.
Now, as far as them partaking of the fruit as a bad thing. Not so. One may think of it as breaking a lower law to keep a higher law. Because we read in the scriptures that they were commanded to "multiply and replenish the earth." Basically they were commanded to have children. They didn't know how to do that because their minds were as children. They were innocent and naive (that is not to say that the act of creating children makes one "not innocent"). It is a blessing that they partook of the fruit. The Book of Mormon teaches us this:
"And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.
Now, having been in the South for over a year now, I have come across a plethora of theories regarding Adam and Eve and their decision to partake of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Some say Adam sinned, thus we are all born with the sin of Adam and we are condemned for his choice. Others say it is Eve's fault, thus blaming the entire female gender for our state of sin. Some say it was a figurative "eating of the fruit" meaning something that has to do with chastity. Here's what it really means (meaning I am going to use church doctrine, not my own opinion.)
In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Nephi teaches us that "Adam fell that men might be; and men are that they might have joy." (2 Nephi 2:25) That doesn't imply anywhere that we are born into the sin of Adam. In fact, we are here to have joy. And the church also states in the "Articles of Faith" which is a list of basic beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, "We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression." I think that point is clear.
Now, as far as them partaking of the fruit as a bad thing. Not so. One may think of it as breaking a lower law to keep a higher law. Because we read in the scriptures that they were commanded to "multiply and replenish the earth." Basically they were commanded to have children. They didn't know how to do that because their minds were as children. They were innocent and naive (that is not to say that the act of creating children makes one "not innocent"). It is a blessing that they partook of the fruit. The Book of Mormon teaches us this:
"And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.
And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.
We are saved from the Fall by Jesus Christ and His sacrifice. If we come to Him and repent, we can over come our own "falls" and return to Him. So we should thank them for taking that step. We are here because of it. Adam and Eve were some of the noblest of the children of God. They should be revered as such. They chose to partake, willingly, knowing the consquences. God knew what was going to happen. It was all part of His amazing plan to bring us into this world that we may enjoy life here as did Adam and Eve. The "Fall" was only the beginning...
Friday, August 31, 2012
Football and Family
God loves us so much. He truly wants us to be happy in this life. That is why He gave us families. Families are ordained of God. (Meaning marriage between a man and woman is a divine principle, not just a nice suggestion). My family means so much to me. Being a missionary, you can't see your family for 2 years. And throughout my mission I have realized times when I took my family for granted. It's the old saying "You don't know what you have until you lose it." I had great parents who taught me the ways of our Lord. I am the oldest of 5 children in my family. I have so many great memories with my family.
The reason why I annoy people with how much I love sports is because I associate my passion for sports with my family. I grew up watching games on TV with my dad, going to Padres games with my family, and just spending quality time together watching a game or going to one. My dad was also my baseball coach in for 6 years. That really meant a lot to me as well. He took the time from work and his church obligations to teach me and my peers the game of baseball.That meant the world to me. He took the time to take road trips and take me to a BYU football game. I have so many great memories that tie in sports with my family. My family is everything.
God intended for all of us to grow in a loving, united family, an atmosphere conducive to the Spirit and to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is not only the chief cornerstone of this church (Ephesians 2:20), but should also be the foundation of each household. God wants all of us to be in a home where a father and mother live together in harmony and love, raising their children together. There are so many broken homes nowadays. This may result from fornication, adultery, alcoholism, or other things. I do understand that there are some instances beyond the family's control, such as death and accidents, that make it impossible to have a father and mother in the home. But for most cases, it can be avoided and should be. The choices we make today effect our families, whether they be current or future families. What are you learning or doing today to better yourself as a father, mother, husband, wife, son, daughter, brother, or sister? Everyone needs to work together to make a family successful. It does not all lie on the parents...
Though my family is imperfect, I always feel loved and cared about in my home. Everyone (for the most part) gets along and at the end of the day, we all love each other. The home is the best place to learn about our Savior and God's plan for us. Much of the world uses their homes for yelling, fighting, abusing, and neglecting. We all will be accountable for how we treat our families, as a child and parent, at God's judgement. I know my parents love me, and they taught me so much about my Savior and about His church. I am grateful for them and their example to me. If I didn't have a home support, I do not know where I would be. Probably not wearing a shirt and tie in 92 degrees in North Florida....
The reason why I annoy people with how much I love sports is because I associate my passion for sports with my family. I grew up watching games on TV with my dad, going to Padres games with my family, and just spending quality time together watching a game or going to one. My dad was also my baseball coach in for 6 years. That really meant a lot to me as well. He took the time from work and his church obligations to teach me and my peers the game of baseball.That meant the world to me. He took the time to take road trips and take me to a BYU football game. I have so many great memories that tie in sports with my family. My family is everything.
God intended for all of us to grow in a loving, united family, an atmosphere conducive to the Spirit and to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is not only the chief cornerstone of this church (Ephesians 2:20), but should also be the foundation of each household. God wants all of us to be in a home where a father and mother live together in harmony and love, raising their children together. There are so many broken homes nowadays. This may result from fornication, adultery, alcoholism, or other things. I do understand that there are some instances beyond the family's control, such as death and accidents, that make it impossible to have a father and mother in the home. But for most cases, it can be avoided and should be. The choices we make today effect our families, whether they be current or future families. What are you learning or doing today to better yourself as a father, mother, husband, wife, son, daughter, brother, or sister? Everyone needs to work together to make a family successful. It does not all lie on the parents...
Though my family is imperfect, I always feel loved and cared about in my home. Everyone (for the most part) gets along and at the end of the day, we all love each other. The home is the best place to learn about our Savior and God's plan for us. Much of the world uses their homes for yelling, fighting, abusing, and neglecting. We all will be accountable for how we treat our families, as a child and parent, at God's judgement. I know my parents love me, and they taught me so much about my Savior and about His church. I am grateful for them and their example to me. If I didn't have a home support, I do not know where I would be. Probably not wearing a shirt and tie in 92 degrees in North Florida....
Friday, August 10, 2012
What a Wonderful World
A lot of people these days do not stop and smell the roses. I have always tried to. I have always been one of those people that, if walking outside at night, will look up in awe at the starry sky. I love camping, I love being outside, I love the simple pleasures in life. What do I think about as I marvel at the night sky, or at the tall cliffs on the shore of California's beaches? I think about their Creator. "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:" (Col 1:16).
God has created all things. From humans, as complex and amazing as our own bodies are, to the simplest plant at the bottom of the rain forest floor in Brazil. This is such a beautiful world. And it is such a gift to live here. We need to have gratitude for the simple things in life that we have, that God has given us. How would you feel if you gave someone a gift and they never thanked you or even expressed joy for the gift? Like dirt, right? I always wonder how our Heavenly Father feels when we are ungrateful towards the wonderful gifts he has given us.
My ability to walk was almost taken from me 6 years ago this month. I will forever be grateful for the simple ability to still be able to run across a basketball court without much effort, or throw a baseball. The old saying goes "you don't know what you have until you lose it." Too many times I have caught myself in that situation. We should thank God for all the things He has given us. We have so much to thank Him for, we must always show gratitude to the one who has given us everything.
My ability to walk was almost taken from me 6 years ago this month. I will forever be grateful for the simple ability to still be able to run across a basketball court without much effort, or throw a baseball. The old saying goes "you don't know what you have until you lose it." Too many times I have caught myself in that situation. We should thank God for all the things He has given us. We have so much to thank Him for, we must always show gratitude to the one who has given us everything.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Eternal Life: It's So Simple
When you think on it, obtaining eternal life, which means to live in the presence of God in a state of never-ending happiness with our families, is pretty simple. There is a difference between simple and easy. I never said it was easy, but simple? Yes. Why do I say it is simple? Because we have the road map to eternal life right in front of us.
God tells us several times in the scriptures how to obtain eternal life. In the book of 2 Nephi, chapter 31, it says
And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do...
Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." (2 Nephi 31:11-12, 20)
We have that promise right there. We shall have eternal life. All we have to do is repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, have faith in Christ, and then endure to the end. It's the only way. But how do we endure to the end? It is simple. This process called the "Doctrine of Christ" which you have seen me mention before (faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end) is actually a cycle. It doesn't end once we are baptized and receive the Holy Ghost. We start over. We try to increase our faith even more. We do that by reading the scriptures and coming to church. We always need to be repenting. We are not perfect. None of us are.
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:8-10).
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:8-10).
Since we can't really be baptized again, we renew the covenants we made at baptism every Sunday when we take the sacrament. That's how we keep living the cycle. We must go to church every Sunday to fully live the doctrine of Christ. As we take the sacrament to renew that baptismal covenant, we are promised the companionship of the Holy Ghost. So you see? It all fits together.
This is a cycle that never ends. We must always be striving to make ourselves better. As we do that, the Atonement of Jesus Christ takes over the rest. Christ is our Advocate with the Father. In Spanish, it says that He is our "abogado." Which means "lawyer." He fights for our side, defends us and will convince the Father that we are worthy to merit eternal life and glory. The question is, are we worthy?
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Man's Best Friend
No, I am not talking about the one that wags his tail when you get home and begs to play outside and chews up your couch. I am talking about a guide. This guide can be our best friend, if we let him...
There are a lot of misconceptions about the Holy Ghost. What is it? Or who is it? What does he/it do? Why is he/it important? A lot of churches teach different things about his role. (Yes, I am going to refer to the Holy Ghost as "he").
He is the 3rd member of the Godhead. Yes, they are separate beings: God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. They all are separate beings but work as "one" in purpose. The role of the Holy Ghost is to show us truth. John 14:26 says: "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." He is there to guide us and teach us. But only if we let him. There are a few requirements on our part in order to receive this guide or "comforter." Peter in the book of Acts says "...repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38). In order to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we must be repent and be baptized. But that baptism must come by the proper authority, as does the reception of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. We need the Holy Ghost in order to get through this life. He is like the flashlight that helps us see the path in front of us. We can avoid a lot of bumps and holes in the road by his guidance. He is that little voice that whispers "Don't do that" when you are about to do something wrong. He is also the feeling of joy and love when you are keeping the commandments and staying on the path. He testifies to us of truth. But here's the catch....
We must always be worthy in order to receive his guidance and inspiration. He does not dwell in "unholy places" as the scriptures say. Elijah describes the Holy Ghost as a still small voice. If we are too busy or too preoccupied, we will miss it. In the Book of Ether, the Lord says "for ye shall remember that my Spirit will not always strive with man." (Ether 2:15). The Spirit will not fight for our attention. If we don't pay heed to his whisperings, he will discontinue dwelling within us. He is like Jiminy Cricket from the movie "Pinocchio." He tries to guide Pinocchio to do the right things, but ultimately the choice is his whether or not to do it. Jiminy lets him do his own thing after a while because he was tired of Pinocchio not listening to him. Such it is with the Holy Ghost...It is also like a quarterback in football. His team is on the road, playing in the opponent's stadium. That crowd can get loud. If the crowd is too loud, the QB will not be able to call the play right, and the offense gets confused or it will result in a penalty. If our lives are too "loud" for the Holy Ghost, he can't call the play. He can't lead you to victory. Quiet the crowd a little and listen to him. You might want to listen to what he has to say. He is always guiding you in the direction your Heavenly Father wants you to go. He truly can be "man's best friend"...If you let him!
There are a lot of misconceptions about the Holy Ghost. What is it? Or who is it? What does he/it do? Why is he/it important? A lot of churches teach different things about his role. (Yes, I am going to refer to the Holy Ghost as "he").
He is the 3rd member of the Godhead. Yes, they are separate beings: God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. They all are separate beings but work as "one" in purpose. The role of the Holy Ghost is to show us truth. John 14:26 says: "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." He is there to guide us and teach us. But only if we let him. There are a few requirements on our part in order to receive this guide or "comforter." Peter in the book of Acts says "...repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38). In order to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we must be repent and be baptized. But that baptism must come by the proper authority, as does the reception of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. We need the Holy Ghost in order to get through this life. He is like the flashlight that helps us see the path in front of us. We can avoid a lot of bumps and holes in the road by his guidance. He is that little voice that whispers "Don't do that" when you are about to do something wrong. He is also the feeling of joy and love when you are keeping the commandments and staying on the path. He testifies to us of truth. But here's the catch....
We must always be worthy in order to receive his guidance and inspiration. He does not dwell in "unholy places" as the scriptures say. Elijah describes the Holy Ghost as a still small voice. If we are too busy or too preoccupied, we will miss it. In the Book of Ether, the Lord says "for ye shall remember that my Spirit will not always strive with man." (Ether 2:15). The Spirit will not fight for our attention. If we don't pay heed to his whisperings, he will discontinue dwelling within us. He is like Jiminy Cricket from the movie "Pinocchio." He tries to guide Pinocchio to do the right things, but ultimately the choice is his whether or not to do it. Jiminy lets him do his own thing after a while because he was tired of Pinocchio not listening to him. Such it is with the Holy Ghost...It is also like a quarterback in football. His team is on the road, playing in the opponent's stadium. That crowd can get loud. If the crowd is too loud, the QB will not be able to call the play right, and the offense gets confused or it will result in a penalty. If our lives are too "loud" for the Holy Ghost, he can't call the play. He can't lead you to victory. Quiet the crowd a little and listen to him. You might want to listen to what he has to say. He is always guiding you in the direction your Heavenly Father wants you to go. He truly can be "man's best friend"...If you let him!
Saturday, July 14, 2012
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.
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.
Friday, May 25, 2012
You See It Everywhere
As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we have a very deep understanding of the gospel, or doctrine of Jesus Christ (or at least we should). When we say the "gospel" do we really know what that means? The Gospel of Jesus Christ has 5 components: faith, repentance, baptism, holy ghost and enduring to the end.
First, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything starts with faith. When we say we have faith in Christ, we are saying we follow His teachings and trust in Him and His Atonement. Because we have faith, we come to church. Because we have faith we read our scriptures and pray. If a farmer didn't have faith that the seeds that he planted would grow into crops, would he plant seeds in the first place? No. Faith "is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1). Faith brings that hope that keeps us going. It all starts with faith. Faith leads us to change to be more like Christ.
Second, repentance. Repentance is changing our lives in a way that will bring us closer to God. We all sin. We are all imperfect. Repentance brings a peace and joy and freedom from the bondage of our sins. In 3 Nephi 7:24, it says, "Now I would have you to remember also, that there were none who were brought unto repentance who were not baptized with water." So in order to fully repent, one must be baptized for the remission of sins.
Third, baptism. Baptism is a commandment of God. But the important thing is to do it by the proper authority. In the book of Matthew, we read that Jesus sought out John the Baptist to baptize him. Jesus knew that John had the proper authority to baptize. He couldn't just walk up to any man and ask him to baptize him. We also know that one must be baptized by immersion. In Matthew 3:16, it says that when Jesus was baptized, he "went up staightway out of the water.." (see Matt. 3:16).
Fourth, the gift of the Holy Ghost. In John, Jesus says that a man must be born of water "and of the spirit" to inherit the kingdom of God. To be born of the Spirit means to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. This gift completes the baptism. The baptism of water and the spirit go hand in hand, one cannot be without the other. The Holy Ghost is given to be a companion, a guide and an influence in our lives. The Holy Ghost testifies of truth, it teaches us through our feelings and thoughts.
Fifth, enduring to the end. In 2 Nephi 31:14-15, it says:
First, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything starts with faith. When we say we have faith in Christ, we are saying we follow His teachings and trust in Him and His Atonement. Because we have faith, we come to church. Because we have faith we read our scriptures and pray. If a farmer didn't have faith that the seeds that he planted would grow into crops, would he plant seeds in the first place? No. Faith "is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1). Faith brings that hope that keeps us going. It all starts with faith. Faith leads us to change to be more like Christ.
Second, repentance. Repentance is changing our lives in a way that will bring us closer to God. We all sin. We are all imperfect. Repentance brings a peace and joy and freedom from the bondage of our sins. In 3 Nephi 7:24, it says, "Now I would have you to remember also, that there were none who were brought unto repentance who were not baptized with water." So in order to fully repent, one must be baptized for the remission of sins.
Third, baptism. Baptism is a commandment of God. But the important thing is to do it by the proper authority. In the book of Matthew, we read that Jesus sought out John the Baptist to baptize him. Jesus knew that John had the proper authority to baptize. He couldn't just walk up to any man and ask him to baptize him. We also know that one must be baptized by immersion. In Matthew 3:16, it says that when Jesus was baptized, he "went up staightway out of the water.." (see Matt. 3:16).
Fourth, the gift of the Holy Ghost. In John, Jesus says that a man must be born of water "and of the spirit" to inherit the kingdom of God. To be born of the Spirit means to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. This gift completes the baptism. The baptism of water and the spirit go hand in hand, one cannot be without the other. The Holy Ghost is given to be a companion, a guide and an influence in our lives. The Holy Ghost testifies of truth, it teaches us through our feelings and thoughts.
Fifth, enduring to the end. In 2 Nephi 31:14-15, it says:
"But,
behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the voice of the Son unto me,
saying: After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the
Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments, by the baptism of
water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and
can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and
after this should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me.
And I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved."
In order to be saved in the kingdom of God, we must endure to the end. Which means coming to church and participating in the sacrament, reading our scriptures, praying sincerely, and repenting constantly. If we do the first 4 steps and don't endure, our journey is meaningless.
You see these 5 steps prominently in the scriptures. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a pattern of living. It's not a one time thing. Be aware of these 5 components of the gospel as you read the scriptures and learn and grow in the church. You see it everywhere.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Raining Blessings
Summer is almost here. The thermometer looks awfully red here in Ridgeland. As we approach the summer months, it is starting to rain a lot more here in the South. I have never seen it rain like it rains here. The rain drops are like water balloons. They are so big and you get instantly soaked! During a storm, it seems that the heavens open and buckets of water poor on unsuspecting missionaries on bikes. But let me tell you just how the heavens can open unto us spiritually. We don't get soaked in this kind of "rain."
In the Old Testament, the Lord told the prophet Malachi:
"Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 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." (see Malachi 3:8-10).
We must "bring [our] tithes into the storehouse..." Tithing has been a principle since the Old Testament. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we are asked by God to pay 10% of our income to the church to build up the kingdom of God. No one in our church gets paid for their services in the church. It is all voluntary. Not even the prophet himself sees a dime. It all goes to the building of temples, church buildings, missionary work and much more.
Some people think it is a big sacrifice to give the church 10% of their money. But think of it this way...isn't everything we own God's anyway? Everything we "own" has been given to us as a blessing from God. Everything is His. How merciful then, is it to only ask for 10% back after He gave us everything? The blessing outweighs the sacrifice. The Lord promises us that He will pour out blessings upon us and He will "open the windows of heaven." It will rain down blessings upon us like a summer storm in the South. That's a promise from the Lord Himself.
I am a living witness of this promise. I was in college, attending Dixie State College in St. George, UT. It was my first semester of college and I realized that it was in my best interest to transfer to BYU-Idaho that next semester. In order to do that, I had to pay fees and also sell my housing contract for the apartment I was currently living in. So I had to sell my contract or I would be on the hook for $1000 for an apartment I wasn't even living in. I had less than $500 to my name. Then, to make matters worse, as I was searching for a place to stay in Rexburg, ID, where BYU-Idaho is, I erroneously signed up for a contract there too. I didn't mean to sign up for that one. So I was told I had to sell that one as well. So now I was left with 2 housing contracts for places I wasn't going to live, the total on my head was about $2000 if I didn't sell them. I needed a miracle. I called the person who I knew wouldn't think I was a complete idiot, and who could help me...my mom. She talked to me and asked me if I had paid my tithing recently. I admitted that it had been months since I had done so. It was long overdue. However, I pleaded my case with my mom, saying if I paid the tithing I owed, I would be left with far less money than I needed to pay off these contracts if I didn't sell them. I would be over $1500 short. She encouraged me to pay it anyway and try the Lord on His promise. So I did. I paid my tithing to the bishop in St. George. I felt better about my decision but the possibility of needing to pay $2000 loomed ominously in the distance. I had been trying to sell those contracts for a month. After I paid my tithing, not a week later, I received phone calls from people wanting my contracts for both places! I sold both of my contracts in less than a week! I didn't have to pay for them myself. I left there debt-free with the universities and also debt-free with God. I know I was blessed because I paid my tithing.
God encourages us to try Him in this promise. I did, and I was blessed. Let us all pay our tithing honestly. God doesn't need our money. This is an issue of faith. Let us show our faith in Him and see if he won't "open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."
Friday, March 23, 2012
Why be a missionary?
Why be a missionary?
So what is up with young men giving up 2 years of their lives to be missionaries? There are several answers to this question.
I am serving a mission because I have been richly blessed because of this gospel. This gospel provides a certain level of happiness that no money can buy. The knowledge that this gospel provides is unlike anything else. We are blessed to have a living, modern-day prophet on the Earth today. This gospel has blessed me so much, and it would be downright selfish if I didn't share it with everyone else. Everyone deserves the blessings that I have received being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We have a Heavenly Father who loves us, each one of us. All of us are His children, and it's my duty and honor to work to bring His children back to Him.
I was raised by amazing parents. They are such an example to me. My dad served a 2 year mission as well. He was my hero growing up. Everything he did, I did. Naturally, when I turned 19, I considered serving a mission, just as he had done. I chose to serve a mission not because anyone told me to, but because I love the Savior. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that His gospel is true and that it can bless anyone and everyone. And I want to share it.
I also like to think about it like this: what about the law of tithing? We give 10% of our increase to the Church. That has been a principle since the days of Malachi (Malachi 3:8-10). So if you do the math, 2 years of a young man's life, around the age of 20, is 10%. So a mission is like paying your tithing of your life to God, who gave you life. Now, this isn't the reason why missionaries serve missions, but I can testify that the windows of heaven have opened and have poured out blessings upon me. (See Malachi 3:10).
I absolutely love being a missionary. It's the best work in the world. I wouldn't trade the experiences I have already had for anything. I love Jesus Christ. I love this Church. I love my Heavenly Father and it is a pleasure to serve Him.
So what is up with young men giving up 2 years of their lives to be missionaries? There are several answers to this question.
I am serving a mission because I have been richly blessed because of this gospel. This gospel provides a certain level of happiness that no money can buy. The knowledge that this gospel provides is unlike anything else. We are blessed to have a living, modern-day prophet on the Earth today. This gospel has blessed me so much, and it would be downright selfish if I didn't share it with everyone else. Everyone deserves the blessings that I have received being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We have a Heavenly Father who loves us, each one of us. All of us are His children, and it's my duty and honor to work to bring His children back to Him.
I was raised by amazing parents. They are such an example to me. My dad served a 2 year mission as well. He was my hero growing up. Everything he did, I did. Naturally, when I turned 19, I considered serving a mission, just as he had done. I chose to serve a mission not because anyone told me to, but because I love the Savior. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that His gospel is true and that it can bless anyone and everyone. And I want to share it.
I also like to think about it like this: what about the law of tithing? We give 10% of our increase to the Church. That has been a principle since the days of Malachi (Malachi 3:8-10). So if you do the math, 2 years of a young man's life, around the age of 20, is 10%. So a mission is like paying your tithing of your life to God, who gave you life. Now, this isn't the reason why missionaries serve missions, but I can testify that the windows of heaven have opened and have poured out blessings upon me. (See Malachi 3:10).
I absolutely love being a missionary. It's the best work in the world. I wouldn't trade the experiences I have already had for anything. I love Jesus Christ. I love this Church. I love my Heavenly Father and it is a pleasure to serve Him.
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