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.