I am deeply moved by the beauty of humanity. Oh yes, there is a lot of darkness out there but I choose to see the light. There is light in everyone.
“There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, it doesn't behoove any of us to speak evil of the rest of us" ― Edgar Cayce
As a small child in Primary School at Church I learned a very short but very important song;
What a beautiful message to learn as a small child! I think that as adults we should sing it too! I was happy that my daughter's friend Kailee also serving in the mission field, quoted this particular song to me in her e-mail this week. Kailee is serving her mission in the Philippines - my daughter is in Mexico But their messages to the world are the same, Jesus loves you and as he does so should we love each other! When we love Jesus we love our fellow human beings. It is that simple.
President Thomas S. Monson President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints spoke about this love. He said: "We cannot truly love God if we do not love our fellow travelers on this mortal journey." Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of the faith, said the same...in his advice as to what we, as his disciples, should do in his absence. John 13:33-34 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
I learned another song in the Primary School at Church. It is called as I have loved you, it is a composition inspired by scripture - Matthew 22:37- In this particular scripture Jesus teaches everyone a great lesson. He explains 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
On "LOVE" hangs all the commandments, and all the prophets, on LOVE ! We are all sinners, yet Christ loved us. So also should we, each being sinners, love our fellow men!
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Words: Luacine Clark Fox, 1914-2002
Music: Luacine Clark Fox, 1914-2002; arr. by Jo Marie Borgeson Bray, 1925-1998
What is the Book of Mormon About?
Surprisingly, the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, is not about Joseph Smith, it
is about Jesus Christ. It is another testament of the Savior's visit to the Western Hemisphere. Prior to the Saviors birth,God allowed many peoples to know of him. Though he lived in Jerusalem, and his birth was known and prophesied of the Jews, it was also known to other peoples that God loves and cares about.
What does it Talk About?
It talks about different sets of peoples, and their arrivals and spiritual history, following both Kings and Judges in the land of the American Continent. The many groups of peoples are known as Nephites and Lamanites but it also referances other groups of peoples such as as the Jaredites and Mulikites and others.
When does it take place?
It begins with an Old Testament prophet named Lehi, a contempary of the prophet Jeremiah, who was testifying just prior to the Old Testament Jerusalem being taken captive into Babylon at the time of king Zedikiah. Lehi recorded events taking place on the American Continent beginning around 600BC. The record ends about 421AD. However, records are also referred to within it's pages about other groups on the continent some long before Lehi and his families arrival, one in particular of which is called the Jaredites, who left during the time of the Tower of Babel.
Why is it called the Book of Mormon?
It's full title is "The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ". Mormon was a prophet, the last known prophet of the peoples on the American Continent. Like old testament prophets and kings, records were kept. Mormon abridged all of these records into a book. Each of the chapters in the Book of Mormon are named after Prophets who kept the records. The chapters of the Book of Mormon, though abridged by Mormon, were written by Ancient Prophets.
Why Should I Read it?
The Book of Mormon along with the Bible help us have a clear picture to who Jesus Christ and his Father are. The Bible, though insightful, is full of many events that take place which happen because God is trying to help people to turn to him, and most of the time, throughout the Old Testament, they do not. Though there are many peoples in the Book of Mormon who also are in need of repentance, and the destruction of people because of unrighteousness eventually ends the Book of Mormon record, we get an insightful and better understanding of God and his love for those who are righteous, because of much of the righteousness of the peoples that recorded in it's content. It can be utilized, along with the Bible to gain insight as to God, his true character and His Son Jesus Christ and their unfaltering and unyielding love for each of us.
What are the Gold Plates and Joseph Smith?
Joseph Smith, while calling upon God in prayer, was visited by an Angel, the Ancient Prophet For detailed info on translation click here.
Book of Mormon Stories
art by Jerry Thompson
Mormon, Mormon Told him of a Book, deposited in a rock, under a hill. The account that Mormon had abridged. Mormon instructed Joseph about the record and that it gave the account of the former inhabitants of the American Continent. He was able to obtain the record and translate them. Through a means introduced to us in the Bible in many places Ex 28:30, Lev 8:8, as well as Num 27:21, Deu 33:8 and many others. This means, This means, called Interpreters or Stones in the Book of Mormon Alma 37:21, Ether 3:23 were sealed up in the hill along with the record by the prophet Mormon. The record was written on plates of Gold, that is why they are often refereanced as the Golden Plates. They lay hitten, deep in a hill, under stone and in a stone box, until God found a faithful servenat here in America, in whom He could confide.
What New insight does it Give us on Jesus?
And he Healed Them
Artist Gary Kapp
It helps us to know that many knew of him. It gives us the added insight of Jesus's teachings to a different group of people, it also helps us see consistency and congruity in the gospels of the Holy Bible. The Bible and along with the Book of Mormon are a stronger witness of the truthfulness of Jesus's teachings. Jesus called 12 apostles in the Old World as well as on the Americas. I personally love the teachings of Jesus and the healing of Children in the book of Mormon, and the tears he shed for them recorded in 3 Nephi 17 It helps me to see the great love Jesus has for each of us. The Holy Bible tells us that God is no respecter of persons Acts 10:34., He cares for all of his people, everywhere. It makes perfect sense that Our Father in Heaven would teach others of his Son Jesus, of Jesus's arrival to Earth and of his teachings to all men women and children.
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Does The Holy Bible talk about the Book of Mormon?
Yes! The Holy Bible does talk about the book of Mormon, in many places it references it, but interpretations are often miss understood. I will give you 3 different witnesse as should be the case according to Matthew 18:16. Ezekiel 37:15 - 24 tells us of "sticks", meaning scrolls, It brings all people under the title of one title though in two lands, it references David as a father, and one King (Jesus Christ) being the King of them all. Looking at the entire chapter of Ezekiel 37 gives great insight, the first entries speak of bones, that talk (meaning people, long burred, testifying through ancient records.) It talks of bones coming together and breath in them. wind and prophesy. These records are contained in the Book of Moromon and in the Holy Bible. Isaiah 29:4, 11-12 The story of the History of the Lost Manuscripts of the Book of Mormon helps establish this prophecies fulfillment. also, Jesus spoke of Other Sheep, who would hear his voice and he would bring into the fold John 10:16 The book of Mormon teaches us that the Jews believed this to be the Gentiles but Jesus book of Mormon Peoples he was speaking of them. 3 Nephi 15:21-22.
How Can I know if the Record of the Book of Mormon is True?
You can Read it and ask God, the giver of all truth, if this record about Jesus is a true record from Him. And, as the Book of Mormon Prophet Mormon states, after reading. .."IF you ask with real intent, having faith in Jesus Christ, he will manifest the truthfulness of it unto you, By the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." John 16:3.
Thomas 1:3 "the (Father's) kingdom is within you and it is outside you. When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will understand that you are children of the living Father."
Thomas 1:50...'We are its children, and we are the chosen of the living Father.'
I have been interested in this and other statements of Jesus and from Jesus Christ that point to the fact that we are Children of God.
Are we in fact, children of God? Ask yourself, is this true, ask God, am I your spirit child?
The King James Version of the Bible gives us a number of scriptures which seem to attest to this fact.
Psalms 82:6
I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
Jesus of course taught that we become "Children of the Most High" when we accept his message, he also taught that if we turn from his message we can become children of the devil.
The message that Paul gave to the Hebrews is that God is the father of our spirit. He includes both ideas of coming spiritually and of being spirit children, we can come unto God, and we are his spirit children.
Hebrews 12: 9
Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
The message in Acts is very literal for it speaks of each of us being offspring of God.
Acts 17:29
For as much then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
There is no doubt that God certainly is our Father, Jesus taught us, after his death, when he appeared to Mary Magdalene at the tomb that His Father was not just Mary's Father but the father of all the brethren.
John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
James teaches the same thing. He tells us also that we are made after God's image.
James3:9
Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
Jesus Christ, in being the Savior, saved us from something, besides sin, he saved us by showing us who we really are.
Luke 6:1-2 And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands. And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?
His answer was this... Luke 6:5 "And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath."
but Luke goes on to further explain by telling the story of Jesus healing a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath Day, this gives us the additional needed insight we need to know because we are Gods children we have answers within us.
What did the Savior do before the healing, He asked questions; In this way he was stating very matter of factually, in front of priests of his day, you, the people can know.
Luke 6:9:"... Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?
This is the type of question you would ask a priest or a rabbi, but Jesus Christ is addressing the people. Jesus is asking people to think it out for themselves - you have it within you, you figure it our!
Matthew 12:11 - 12 "...What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
Christ helps the people to reason it out.
I am glad that he has confidence in each of our abilities to reason. You can be inspired!"
Then is the miracle recorded in the text the healing miracle.
Matthew 12:13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole.
Because we are Children of God his spirit dwells in us, 1 Cor 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
He is in you, you are his child, he will answer you. This is the Message spoken by Paul in The Acts of the Apostles. Feelings are how the spirit speaks. Through strokes of ideas we learn of God.
Acts 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they mightfeel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. (Italics added) God, through his son, gave us the ultimate application of the Chinese Proverb: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Jesus didn't give us fish, He taught us how to fish. In fact, he taught us that we are fishermen. We can know truth.
Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
This means, God the Father of Our Spirit has confidence in your ability to listen to the spirit and know truth.
1 John 4:6 6
We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
As we exercise our faith and accept Christ and his atonement we gain more truth. Then as we come to have a knowledge of this truth it will increase...As a well of living water springing up! This is exactly what Jesus told the woman at the well.
John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Personal witness of truth are these revelations in our life.
You can figure it out for yourself Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior knew you could. Why? Because we are Gods offspring! Want to know more... Click Here
The Savior is recorded as saying the words "Come" " Follow Me" and "I am the Way" many times in the gospels.
Come: move or travel toward or into a place thought of as near or familiar to the speaker. Follow: to come after a person or thing proceeding ahead. Way: A method, style or manner of doing something.
Jesus wanted us to do the things that he did, be what he was and proceed in the style and manner that he proceeding in.
Our Heavenly Father's love for us is immense. God loved us so much that he sent his Son (John 4:9-10) And his request of us, is that we simply follow Him What should we do to follow? On the day of Pentecost, those who had felt the spirit of truth wanted also to know exactly this same thing, what do we do next? Peter explains very explicitly the path or the way they are to follow;
Jesus was Baptized, (Matthew 3:13-17 ) Mathew 3:16 Jesus was baptized by immersion.
It pleased the Father that Jesus showed this example Jesus did this so that we would know what we are to do. Jesus was perfect, yet he was baptized. We need to be baptized of the water and of the spirit. We are to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost following Baptism. Peter had that authority or those keys given him, of the Son, to Baptize. As did John at the time of Jesus, in fact it was John who baptized our Savior, Jesus the Christ. recognized John, and praised him, saying that there was not any greater other than Jesus Himself -.
Being Baptized by immersion by one holding the proper authority was the way Jesus did it, and we are to follow.
Baptism is necessary to enter into the kingdom of God. The gate is narrow and the way is straight and not many will find it. (Matthew 7:13 -29) It is important, to be baptized but also to be baptized by one holding the authority of a true priesthood.
"It was to the bank of this river (the Susquehanna, in Missouri) that the Prophet and Oliver Cowdery went on May 15, 1829, to pray about the importance of baptism. In answer to their prayer, John the Baptist appeared to them, conferring the Aaronic Priesthood, the type of Priesthood held of John the Baptist, on them and commanding them to baptize each other. " (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church, Joseph Smith, Chapter 7)
I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is has this priesthood authoirty to baptise. Click Here. If you would like to speak with missionaries in person about this and other truths .
My daughter is on a mission helping people to recognize the need for baptism by immersion by one holding the keys and Jesus's authority. She is very happy to explain to people about The Church of Jesus Christ and about the keys for the authority to be baptized. Missionaries volunteer their time to speak with people and show them the "way" of the gospel. it is free and it is easy. I know that Jesus will bless your life as you ,,, Take the time to listen, and "Come and Follow Jesus's Way. Missionaries can help you learn what the first steps to Baptism are. Ask the Missionaries They Can Help YOU!
I, like many have felt great comfort in these words of Jesus, we have all felt sometimes, weak, persecuted or had reason to mourn due to the difficulties of life. But, in Christ Jesus, my Lord I rejoice!
I remember one lady in New Zealand, Michelle, a beautiful spirit who came forth from waters of baptism her face glowing. She had come unto her Savior and Friend. Her heart was changed.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus Christ tells tells us how important our inner attitudes are. The Beatitudes from this sermon are about attitudes of the heart and purity in truth.
What does it mean to be a "Light of the World?"
To me it means to give all you have to Him. Come to know him, go about doing good for him who died for you. But, more than doing and knowing it is about Being and Becoming...as we become closer to him this will motivate our actions.
The Psalms also help us understand this same message; Psalms 24:3-5 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. LIGHT What is light used for, why did the Savior choose light in his analogy? Light helps us to see clearly, it is also used for heat and it is often used to show enlightenment (a light bulb in a cartoon over a characters head) light can also be reflected upon other surfaces. The Savior is the Light of the World. We can reflect his light as we share it with others. He then becomes our source of enlightenment, heat and clarity, Isn't it wonderful that light, shared, from a candle doesn't run out! It continues to give and give, the fuel source is endless! So is Jesus' light for us forever! Light on a candlestick can grow to a very strong bonfire when shared. It helps us to overcome the coldness and the darkness, It changes our spiritual temperature, I believe Jesus wanted us to see this analogy. Before this message ofLIGHTthe Savior gives a message about SALT Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. SALT Why did the savoir use salt in his analogy what is it used for?In ancient times salt was used as a preservative for food. For ancient Israel, it represented covenants and their preservation with Jehovah.When our actions reflect our belief system we are "the salt of the earth" which retains our Savior, we also remember our promises to Him. If we lose our Savior, we can become bland. Losing savor in this scripture is clearly an analogy of losing our Savior. Salt helps to brings out flavors in a recipe. The Savior helps bring out the best in each of us. Salt also was used for healing wounds. Jesus (the Savior of the World) like salt is the ultimate healer of our emotional and spiritual and even physical wounds as well. As we covenant with him, through baptism, and other ordinances we too, as ancient Israel, promise to Savor our Savior. Savor and Light being altered also eludes to a contamination of His truth. Salt can lose its savor only through mixture and contamination. Light can be diminished only when it is doused or filtered. Evidence of contamination and doused light, an apostasy from the truth, can be found in readings of the epistles to the saints after the death of Christ in the New Testament. Paul to the apostle, Timothy explained what had or would eventually happen to the truths established by Jesus Christ.
(2 Timothy 4:3)For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; This contamination of truth originally established by Jesus Christ is called Apostasy. Note the words of Paul in his second epistle to the Thessalonians. (2 Thessalonians 2:3)Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; We see that the apostasy was already starting, even in Paul's day!
Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. My friend, Michelle, had been turned to the truth because a friend; a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was an example to her, he had kept the Savior in his life, his light was shining and his savior was pure. When we, as missionaries, knocked on her door it it was opened. She said; "I am glad you are here." We taught her of the truthfulness of the restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.I know His message, the one I shared with Michelle, is true and that Jesus Christ's Church has been restored to the earth - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. His Church in the latest days. CLICK HERE to learn more, and come to realize more than before that He LIVES!
President Thomas S. Monson President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints spoke about this love. He said: "We cannot truly love God if we do not love our fellow travelers on this mortal journey."
