Look to the Light

I really like this video, you can really see the light that Christ can bring into someones life. The sins of the world can darken the brightest persons day, but Christ is an everlasting light, one that cannot be dimmed or hidden. Jesus Christ is that light, the light that can brighten anyones day. After all we go through, no matter how dark it may seem, we can always find the light, we can always find Christ. I am so grateful for that light, that has brightened not only my day but my life, I know that Jesus is the Christ and that He lives, that each of us can find His light and let it shine to all the world, to make christmas this year a little brighter.

Jacob 3:2

Jacob 3:2

O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever.

 I thought I would share this scripture, it was pretty much just a random find but I liked it. I really like the middle, "lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love", it made me think of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then I thought that gospel means good news. I have had down days, the ones where your head hangs down, the brightness in my heart was gone and I felt empty. For me, being a missionary is tuff some times, I feel sad when I meet someone who is really awesome, but they wont open their heart to receive this good news. I get discouraged and satan begins to win the battle, but that isn't how our Father in heaven wants us to be, He wants to bless us, and He wants us to be happy. That is when I turn to Him in prayer, and remember the words of David in psalms 18:2, The Lord is my ^arock, and my ^bfortress, and my deliverer; my God, my ^cstrength, in whom I will ^dtrust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
 The Lord will build a fortress around us, He will provide strength when needed, and He will deliver us from the grasp of satan. I love my Savior, and all that He does for me to bear me up to lift my head. I feel this way because of the scriptures, they are the guide for each of us in our journey in life, they are the words of God and through them we can truly be filled with His love.

First Presidency Christmas Devotional

President Monson speaks at the 2009 Christmas devotional

First Presidency Christmas Devotional

December 5, 6:00 p.m.

A Light Unto All: A Christmas Gift

Prayer

"I saw a pillar of ^clight exactly over my head, above the brightness of the ^dsun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me...When the light rested upon me I ^bsaw two ^cPersonages, whose brightness and ^dglory defy all description, ^estanding above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My ^fBeloved ^gSon. Hear Him!" Joseph Smith History.


This is the account of Joseph Smith. In this wonderful vision, Joseph saw God the Father, and His Son, the Beloved, Jesus Christ. This visitation was brought on by Joseph's sincere desire to know more. He desired Gods direction in which religious group he should join. In life we all come across time in which we need guidance, either from parents, friends, or even God. I am so grateful for the power of prayer, and the knowledge that my Father in heaven loves me, I have grown closer to God as I have turned to Him for guidance and help. My relationship with Him has become more than just speaking to an unknown being, as I have earnestly looked for Him in everything in this world, I have found His beautiful signature. It is my testimony that God lives, he loves each of us, and He speaks to all. It all begins with a humble prayer.

Fourth Article of Faith

We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

 In the scriptures we learn of these four essential ordinances. The first being faith, I have learned through the scriptures as well as in my own life, that my faith is there very beginning of everything.  For my prayers to be answered, I must first have faith that God will answer me. To be healed through the atonement I must have faith. As we develop our faith in Jesus Christ, it leads us to do, or to act, one of those actions is repentance.  Repentance, is a sincere and honest desire to change or to turn away from sin, and it is by our faith in Jesus Christ that we have that desire, and it is through Jesus Christ that we are healed or cleansed from sin. The next step is baptism, we are not only baptized to follow the example of Christ, but to receive a remission of our sins or forgiveness of our sins. When we are buried in the water, it is symbolic of the burial of Christ, when we rise out, it is symbolic to the resurrection of Christ, in Romans 6 Paul counseled us to "walk in [a] newness of life" as Jesus, (Romans 6:4). With this newness of life, God has provided a gift to aid us in our daily walk. That gift is the gift of the Holy Ghost, this gift is given as it says in the fourth article of faith, by the laying on of hands. This is done by someone holding the priesthood authority of God, which was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness, along with all the priesthood keys to perform such ordinances has been restored through a prophet as God has done in times of old. I know that these ordinances are essential for us to return to live with our Father in heaven,  the scripture testify of this, Gods chosen servants testify of these things, and I testify of these things.

 3 Nephi 11
32 And this is my ^adoctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear ^brecord of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the ^cHoly Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me.

Major New Study of Religion Has Much to Say About Mormons

Major New Study of Religion Has Much to Say About Mormons

3rd article of Faith

 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

We believe as it says in the 2Nephi 2:6,7;
  6 Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.

  7 Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.

 I have a firm testimony of this, that it is only in and through Jesus Christ that we can return to live with our Father in Heaven. I am so grateful for the atonement of Jesus Christ, through the atonement, not only can I be cleansed of my sins, but I will be ressurected along with everyone else. I will have an immortal body. Although we have this blessing to be saved, it does not come without something on our part. We have to be obedient to the laws  and ordinances of the gospel. We have the Ten Commandments, tithing, the word of wisdom, but what are the ordinances? The first and ordinance of the gospel is baptism, it is also requisite to enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:5). Through following Gods laws, and recieving the necessary ordinances, we can through Jesus Christ be saved, and recieve eternal life. 

No.11

Alright, so Im gonna take a little different turn from the usual posts, and fill you in on some of whats going on in my world. This past week, we had transfers, porbably one of the most nerve racking things for missionaries. I have always been nervous around transfer time even when I know Im not going anywhere, I still get worried about who my new companion will be. Its probably really funny to watch me get all bent out of shape, sometimes I wish I could see myself, but then I would probably laugh myself to death. Through all that, I still find comfort. I honestly have found a deep love for reading my scriptures. This last week as things got more and more difficult, I sat thinking to myself what I could do to relax a little. Then, the thought came into my mind that I needed to read my scriptures, I thought, I read every morning, for almost an hour. So I have been reading a little more, I didn't really find anything that stood out or that hit me until today. I didn't even put it all together until just a few minutes ago. So I was reading in Mosiah, and I kept seeing the same word over and over, authority, I thought, yep the priesthood, we have that, it gives us the "authority" to act in Gods name. Ha ha little did I know that God was telling me that our mission president has that "authority" and he is using it to know where to put us. I knew that that was how president did it; prayer, fasting, being called to that position, but God was building my testimony, of the priesthood, of my mission presidents calling, and of the power of the scriptures. I know that the scriptures, can help each of us with everyday struggles, anything.

Lessons I Learned as a Boy

  The lessons I've learned in life can usually be traced back to mistakes I've made, but there are some that I can look back and see that because of the good choices I made, I learned the most valuable lessons. I trace those good choices back to the gospel of Jesus Christ, because the blessing of the gift of the Holy Ghost I have made choices that helped see the hand of God in my own life, and in the life of others. Its my testimony that as we live the gospel of Jesus Christ, we will make less mistakes, and learn more valuable lessons.

Continue in Patience

2nd Article of Faith

The second Article of Faith states; We believe that men will be ^apunished for their ^bown sins, and not for Adam’s ^ctransgression. Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ we dont have to answer to Adam's transgression, but that doesn't remove our personal responsibility for our sins. The awesome thing about the Atonement of Jesus Christ is that we have the opportunity to repent of our sins, we all make mistakes, Im not perfect in any way, but I know that because of Jesus Christ we can be forgiven of our sins. I am so grateful for Jesus Christ, because His Atonement doesn't just cover our sins, anything that we will ever go through, any pains or afflictions, sickness, sadness, anything, Jesus Christ is there for us, to strengthen, to lift, and to love, I know that He has lifted me and strengthend me. And he shall go forth, suffering pains and ^aafflictions and ^btemptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will ^ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him ^adeath, that he may ^bloose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to ^csuccor his people according to their infirmities. Alma 7:11-12

Finding Faith In Christ

http://mormon.org/jesus-christ/#w-60-40 box-full

The First Article of Faith.

The first Article of Faith states; We ^abelieve in ^bGod, the Eternal Father, and in His ^cSon, Jesus Christ, and in the ^dHoly Ghost. I believe in and know that God is our Heavenly Father, who loves and cares for us. Heavenly Father has done many great things for me in my life, but one of the most powerful things for me has been prayer. I know that God is there and that he listens to each of us. Jesus Christ, He is the Son of God, He is the Savior of the world, He is my source of truth and light. I know that Christ Atoned for our sins so that we might be able to live once again with God and our Families eternally. Another way that God has blessed us is by giving the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost testifies of both the Father and the Son, this is one my most favorite gifts that God has given us. The Holy Ghost teaches us truths, "and by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may ^aknow the ^btruth of all things."  Moroni 10:5. I know that God loves each of us, that Jesus is the Christ, and that you can know that too by the power of the Holy Ghost.

We Believe...

"Let us review for a moment how the Articles of Faith came to be. The Prophet was often asked to explain the teachings and practices of Mormonism. “John Wentworth, editor of the Chicago Democrat, asked Joseph Smith to provide him with a sketch of ‘the rise, progress, persecution, and faith of the Latter-Day Saints.’ ” Mr. Wentworth, originally from New Hampshire, desired this information to help a friend compile a history of his native state. “Joseph complied with this request and sent Wentworth a multi-page document containing an account of many of the early events in the history of the Restoration, including the First Vision and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. The document also contained thirteen statements outlining Latter-day Saint beliefs, which have come to be known as the Articles of Faith.” The information sent to Wentworth was not published in the Chicago Democrat, but in the Church newspaper, Times and Seasons, published in March of 1842. “In 1851 the Articles of Faith were included in the first edition of the Pearl of Great Price published in the British Mission. After the Pearl of Great Price was revised in 1878 and canonized in 1880, the Articles of Faith became official doctrine of the Church” (see Church History in the Fulness of Times [Church Educational System Manual, 1993], 256–57)." Elder L. Tom Perry

History of the Church, Vol. 4, pp. 535—541

  1 We ^abelieve in ^bGod, the Eternal Father, and in His ^cSon, Jesus Christ, and in the ^dHoly Ghost.

  2 We believe that men will be ^apunished for their ^bown sins, and not for Adam’s ^ctransgression.

  3 We believe that through the ^aAtonement of Christ, all ^bmankind may be ^csaved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

  4 We believe that the first principles and ^aordinances of the Gospel are: first, ^bFaith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, ^cRepentance; third, ^dBaptism by ^eimmersion for the ^fremission of sins; fourth, Laying on of ^ghands for the ^hgift of the Holy Ghost.

  5 We believe that a man must be ^acalled of God, by ^bprophecy, and by the laying on of ^chands by those who are in ^dauthority, to ^epreach the Gospel and administer in the ^fordinances thereof.

  6 We believe in the same ^aorganization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, ^bprophets, ^cpastors, ^dteachers, ^eevangelists, and so forth.

  7 We believe in the ^agift of ^btongues, ^cprophecy, ^drevelation, ^evisions, ^fhealing, ^ginterpretation of tongues, and so forth.

  8 We believe the ^aBible to be the ^bword of God as far as it is translated ^ccorrectly; we also believe the ^dBook of Mormon to be the word of God.

  9 We believe all that God has ^arevealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet ^breveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

  10 We believe in the literal ^agathering of Israel and in the restoration of the ^bTen Tribes; that ^cZion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will ^dreign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be ^erenewed and receive its ^fparadisiacal ^gglory.

  11 We claim the ^aprivilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the ^bdictates of our own ^cconscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them ^dworship how, where, or what they may.

  12 We believe in being ^asubject to ^bkings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in ^cobeying, honoring, and sustaining the ^dlaw.

  13 ^aWe believe in being ^bhonest, true, ^cchaste, ^dbenevolent, virtuous, and in doing ^egood to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we ^fhope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to ^gendure all things. If there is anything ^hvirtuous, ⁱlovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Joseph Smith