Articles of Faith #4

"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."

1. "Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ" (see Alma 32)

Faith is the first fundamental principle of Jesus Christ's gospel.  Without a firm belief in the Savior, nothing else in the gospel is worth it or even possible.  The Book of Mormon prophet Moroni tells us that we "receive no witness until after the trial of [our] faith" (Ether 12:6 read the whole chapter for different miracles wrought by faith!).  Our Savior Jesus Christ created the earth.  He came down to Earth to teach people and establish His doctrine.  He also performed the Atonement and many other miracles.  When doing many of these miracles, especially healing, He did not take full credit for the mighty works.  Christ told the people "thy faith hath made thee whole" (see Mark 10:52)!  So our faith allows Jesus Christ to perform miracles in our lives.  This faith leads to sincere repentance.

2. "Repentance" (See Mosiah 18:20)

Repentance is sincerely desiring and asking for a remission of our sins.  We learn in Romans that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).  Unless we are cleansed of this sin we cannot "dwell with God" (1 Nephi 10:21).  When we humbly recognize our sins before God and ask for His forgiveness, He will grant us the desire of our hearts.  The same way that faith leads to repentance, our true repentance will lead to us making the covenant of baptism.

3. "Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins" (See Mosiah 26:22)
Baptism is the first covenant we make with our Father in Heaven.  A covenant is a sacred promise.  We promise to keep the commandments, take Christ's name upon us, and always remember Him.  In return, our Heavenly Father promises us the Holy Ghost (see Moroni 4:3 and 5:2).  Without baptism, we cannot "enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).  For more on baptism, you can read my blog post, "Fulfill all Righteousness". 

4. "Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost" (see 3 Nephi 28:11)
Jesus Christ promised the Holy Ghost to come after He (Jesus Christ) was ascended into Heaven.  The Holy Ghost provides us with comfort and peace.  After we are baptized by Christ's authority, we can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the same authority.  With the gift of the Holy Ghost, it is like we have Jesus Christ with us always (see the Savior's promise to His disciples in John 14:25-27).  The Holy Ghost has helped and will help all of us to make the right decisions and follow Christ.  Through prayer and obedience to the commandments, we can have that peace with us throughout our lives!

Christ's gospel has been restored!  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is God's kingdom on the earth!  Through His apostles, Jesus has restored His priesthood, making it possible for all of God's children to return with Him someday.  I know this to be true and you can too!  Come unto Christ with faith and repentance in your heart.  Pray to know the truth concerning baptism and prepare to make and keep those covenants.  As you do, I promise that the Holy Ghost will help you know the truth!

For more on The articles of faith see http://mormon.org/articles-of-faith/.

The Articles of Faith #1

"We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost."

This is the first fundamental belief of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.   That God lives, that Jesus is the literal son of God, and that the Holy Ghost testifies of the divinity of our Savior and our "Eternal Father".

God is our Heavenly Father.  We are actually His children.  He loves each of us.  Nowhere is this love shown more than in the words in the book of John "For God so loved the world" (John 3:16-17).  God loves us so much that He sent His son, Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is our Savior.  He is the son of God.  He is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).  He is Jehovah of the Old Testament.  He is the Messiah.  He has suffered for our sins.  He has died on the cross for us.  He has risen from the tomb and He still lives!  He is the Christ!

Concerning the Holy Ghost, the Lord has revealed that "the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.  A man may receive the Holy Ghost, and it may descend upon him and not tarry with him" (Doctrine and Covenants 130: 22-23).  The Holy Ghost's role is to teach us truth.  As God's children, we are to try as hard as we can to have the Holy Ghost with us.  We do this by living worthily and through much sincere prayer.  The Holy Ghost also teaches us truth and comforts us (see the Savior's words recorded in John 14:26-27).

I know that Jesus Christ lives.  I know that His church is restored.  I know that God reveals His word through living prophets.  And I know the peace obedience to that word brings.

For more on The Articles of Faith" see http://mormon.org/articles-of-faith/.

Delicious Rolls and Apostasy

My mom is a really good cook.  While I was growing up she would make lots of good stuff.  Every holiday, she would make crescent rolls.  They are SO good.  As a young tot, I would often volunteer to help in the afore-mentioned rollmaking.  Now, when I say "help" I mean grabbing stuff out of the cupboards (sometimes with the help of a chair for the higher pantry space), melting butter, or rolling up the crescent rolls; just menial tasks suited to my limited ability.  My mother would lovingly prepare the dinner and let me help and learn how to make my way around a kitchen.  This has helped me tremendously in life.  Especially on my mission, I have surprised myself with my limited but adequate cooking skills.  I have taught myself how to fry fish, make omelets and once I even made a bread pudding, which was quite yummy. 

I would like to relate this concept of learning how to cook with the way God teaches us.  We are given a lot of freedom in our lives.  But, like my mother in the kitchen, Our Heavenly Father is ultimately running the show.  Every success we have in life is because of His loving mercy.  When we help others, attend church, and read the scriptures, we are "helping" Him fulfill His eternal purposes.  He even sent His son Jesus Christ as a perfect example to do this.  Through this we grow and learn to be more like Him.

But back to the rolls.  Everybody loved those flaky little morsels of buttery goodness.  And they made it known, mostly by devouring them from off the face of the table.  I would then let the rest of the family (or other house guests) know just who made those rolls.  "I made those rolls" I would say with a grin fixed firmly on my smug little kisser.  I didn't really make those rolls, but I wanted all the credit for myself.  If I had been in charge of making those rolls, dinner wouldn't have been nearly as good.  But my heart "swelled with great pride unto boasting" (Helaman 13:22).

I think it's really easy for us to fall into this same trap in the way God helps us.  When we follow God, we see success.  Many people, and even entire civilizations, take that success for granted and attribute it to their own hard work and labors.  This is how apostasy begins.  When we don't acknowledge God's hand in our lives we start to move away from Him.  While our efforts definitely help, and we can see the difference they have made, without God, none of the joy we have would be of much worth..

I pray that we can all be wiser than I was as a young child.  I hope we can recognize God's hand in our lives and accept His divine assistance.  I know as we do this with faith in Christ we will see increased blessings and heightened joy in our daily, menial tasks.

Families are Forever

If you know anything about the LDS church, you know that we have a strong focus on family.  Families are essential to God's Plan of Happiness for all of His children.  Families are essential for our spiritual progression through this life.  The world is very willing to teach children all sorts of things.  Many things kids can learn in school or on the playground are not exactly in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ.  Profanity, pornography, and downright blasphemy run rampant through our society today.  Without parents teaching moral values in the home, there'd be nowhere to learn them. 

As important as families are here on earth, God has a much more glorious plan for us as brothers and sisters, parents and children.  When a man and a woman are married through the power of God's priesthood, that family can be sealed to each other for all eternity.  The same precious relationships we enjoy in our earthly life will be continued hereafter.  This can only be done, however, through faith in Jesus Christ and love towards each other.

I know that God lives and loves us.  He has made it possible for us to stay together as a family forever.  I know this to be true.  God's priesthood is restored.

For more on eternal families see http://www.youtube.com/user/MormonMessages#p/c/4E784EC0770935C0/0/0J-_f4oRuWI

Joy to the World

It's Christmas time!  It's the best.  I love seeing all the lights around the neighborhood.  I love the Christmas trees lit up in people's windows.  I love the seasonal cookies.  I love the fresh snow (except when I'm behind the wheel).  I like fudge too.  But the best part of Christmas is the music.  I firmly beleive the immortal words of the movie Elf, "the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear"!

Heavenly Father sent His son to the earth.  Jesus Christ is truly the Savior of the World.  This time is set apart by christians (and some non-christians) everywhere to celebrate His coming into the world.  One song that illustrates the joy we should all feel is Joy to the World. 

Joy to the world, the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her king!
Let every heart prepare him room,
And saints and angels sing.

I love this hymn.  Jesus Christ is the king of kings.  I hope we can all follow the advice given here and "prepare Him room" in our hearts.  That is the true Christmas spirit, when Christ enters our hearts.  When this happens is when "saints and angels sing" together the praises of our Father in Heaven and His son Jesus Christ.

I invite anybody reading this to take time amidst all the cookies, fudge, lights, presents, and reindeer to listen to and ponder on these oft-sung Christmas carols.  Your burdens will be lightened and your life will be happier as you more fully understand and accept the importance of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

"Thou art the Christ"

In the sixteenth chapter of the Book of Matthew is recorded a remarkable exchange between our savior, Jesus Christ, and His apostles.  He asks them, "Whom do men say that I the son of man am?".  The apostles give various answers reflecting rumors of the time, "some say thou art John the baptist: some, Elias (Elijah); and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets".  Through their own reasoning, men at the time of Christ came up with many theories about who Christ could be and how He had so much power to heal and perform the miracles He did.  These ideas were an attempt to explain, through man's intelligence how one man could have such power.

Christ then asked His disciples, "But whom say ye that I am?".  The apostle Peter then answered with the most pure testimony of Jesus anybody could give: "Thou art the Christ, the son of the living God".  Peter knew his master and his master's role.  Christ is the son of God.  He is the savior of the world.  He is the long-awaited Messiah.  He is the Christ. 

Along with Peter, I know that Jesus is the Christ.  And that knowledge is available to all.  Christ tells Peter how he (Peter) gained that knowledge: "for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven".  That is how we all can know of Christ's divine role, through a personal witness from God.  In the world today, a lot of people believe different things about Jesus Christ.  A lot of really smart people have different ideas ranging from both positive and negative extremes.  But the way to know for ourselves is the way Peter knew almost 2,000 years ago, we must learn from God.

I know that Jesus is the Christ.  I know He is my savior and redeemer, my advocate with the Father.  I know this through the feeling in my heart through the Holy Ghost.

 "And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things"(Moroni 10:5)

Fulfil all Righteousness

Before Jesus Christ began His ministry on this earth a prophet was sent to "prepare the way" for the Savior of the world.  This man's name was John.  He is commonly known as John the Baptist.  He taught about repentance and he baptized his disciples unto repentance.  John the Baptist held the priesthood authority required to perform this saving ordinance. 

Early in the New Testament account of Jesus Christ's earthly ministry he traveled "from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him".  John recognized the sinless man coming forth to be baptized and didn't feel worthy to perform this act.  Our savior taught a glorious truth when he replied to the baptist, "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness" (Matthew 3:13-15).  (Also see 2 Nephi 31: 5-7 in the Book of Mormon)

I know that the words of Christ are true when he said "except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).  I know that baptism is required of God to return to live with Him in His kingdom.  I know that God's priesthood authority is necessary in performing this sacred ordinance.  I also know that this priesthood has been restored "to fulfil all righteousness" in these latter days.  Jesus Christ lives and His church is restored.

The Restoration

The central message that missionaries share with people is the message of the Restoration.  This restoration is referring to Christ's church on the earth.

When Christ was on the Earth He set up a church.  This was not the first time His church was on the earth (nor would it be the last).  But, as we know, Christ was rejected and crucified.  He left His twelve apostles to govern the church.  These men held the priesthood of God and through them Jesus Christ continued to run His church.  Over time, these twelve men were rejected and killed.  With them went God's holy priesthood.  Without the priesthood on the earth Christ's church was lost.  People set up their own churches and professed them to be the true church.  Many of these pepole were honest, truth-seeking people attempting to do God's work.  Much good has come and will continue to come from these churches.  But without the priesthood of God, they could not act in the name of our savior Jesus Christ.

After nearly 2,000 years, our Heavenly Father showed His love to us by restoring that original church.  God called a prophet through whom He restored that priesthood authority held by Christ's original apostles.  There is a prophet on the earth today.  He is assisted by twelve modern-day apostles.  God loves us.  He has restored His church.  I know this to be true.

God is Our Loving Heavenly Father

God loves us.  He really is our Father in Heaven.  We truly are His children.  I am grateful for this knowledge.  We lived with Him before we came to this Earth.  We are separated from Him now, and we must walk by faith if we hope to return to live with Him someday.

In the Book of Mormon today, I read an example of somebody who has felt God's love.  The prophet, Alma, attempted to teach the wicked people of Ammonihah but was rejected.  He leaves Ammonihah without intending to ever return.  He is obviously pretty upset about the whole situation.  The scriptures recordthat while Alma was "wading through much tribulation and anguish of soul ... an angel of the Lord appeared unto him".  The angel comforted him and told him that he has "great cause to rejoice; for [he had] been faithful in keeping the commandments of God" (Alma 8: 14-15).  So it is with us.  God is happy with us when we do what is right.  He is unhappy when we disobey his commandments.  However he loves us equally either way.  I so bear witness in the name of my savior Jesus Christ.