Articles of Faith #9

"We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God"

As Latter-Day Saints, we believe the words of God.   We believe that He created Adam and Eve.  We believe that He visited Moses in the burning bush.  We believe that he led the children of Israel out of Egypt.  We believe that David slew Goliath, that Daniel left the den of lions unharmed, and that Isaiah saw Christ's day.  We believe that Jesus Christ came to the earth.  We believe that He established a church and gave His apostles divine authority.  We believe that He taught many people and performed many miracles in the Eastern and Western hemispheres.  In short, we believe that the scriptures are the word of God.

We also believe the words of the New Testament prophet Amos when he said, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7).  We believe that God still reveals His word through a prophet.  That divine authority has been restored!  We believe what God tells us today through His prophet.  In addition, we believe that God will continue to lead and guide His people.  Just like the saints in the scriptures, if we follow God's prophet, we can know God's will for us.  I firmly believe this and testify of it.

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

I'm in Havre

So I got into Havre on Tuesday evening.  It was really cold.  It was very negative outside in the degrees.  It felt like my earlobes might fall off and shatter on the ground.  I was convinced that this is the coldest place in the universe.  It made me think of why I'm out on a mission.  I would never willingly submit myself to such harsh conditions.  I'm still trying to figure out why anyone would live here.  Don't get me wrong, the people I've met are great and it's a lovely little community, but it's really cold. 

I'm here because the Gospel is true.  Jesus Christ lives and His church is restored!  God has called me, through His prophet, to serve here.  He loves all of His children, especially those who live in really cold places like Havre, MT.

"Arise and Come Forth Unto Me"

In the Book of Mormon there is a touching account of Christ's visit to the American continent.  It is shortly after His ressurection and ascension into heaven.  The Nephites and Lamanites had just been through terrible hardships.  There were many eathquakes, fires, and other natural disasters and a great darkness covered the land the entire time.  All the survivors gathered around the temple.  While they were there Jesus Christ appeared to them.  Shortly after He arrived, Christ invited the entire multitude to "Arise ad come forth unto [Him]" (3 Nephi 11:14).  Accepting his invitation, the entire crowd, one by one, approached Christ and felt the prints in His hands and side.  I love the reaction of the people, they "did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come" (3 Nephi 11:15).  These people knew Christ before He came to them.  They read the words of the prophets, they knew what He would be like. 

Jesus' plea, "arise and come forth unto me" is applicable to all of us today!  We must read of Him, learn of Him, and speak of Him.  We must arise from the darkness of sin, the confusion of the world, and the very real temptations of Satan.  We must understand our true potential and go forth unto Jesus Christ.  I know Christ lives!  As we learn more of Christ and truly "arise and come forth unto [Him]" we, as the Nephites  can "cry out with one accord saying, Hosanna!  Blessed be the nameof the Most High God!" (3 Nephi 11:16-17)

The New Year

It's almost 2011!  That's the new year!  Times like this always remind me of changes I've made in my life.  Changes are good but only if they're for the better.  The prophet Moroni has invited all of us to "come unto Christ, and be perfected in him" (Moroni 10:32).  These are the changes we should all be making in our lives.  If something brings us closer to Christ, it is a good thing. 

After coming unto Christ, we are to "be perfected in him".  The word "perfect" seems unattainable but Christ has commanded us all to "be ye therefore perfect" (Matthew 5:48).  The only way we can do this is through repentance.  Christ has suffered for every wrong choice we've ever made.  We don't need to suffer for those sins because of Christ's atonement.  As we accept that atononing sacrifice we are truly "perfected in him"!  I bear my witness that Jesus is the Christ.  He lives and loves each of us.  As we begin this new year I urge all reading this to "come unto Christ, and be perfected in him".

Be of Good Cheer

Today is Christmas Eve.  Tonight will be a night of much pageantry and celebration.  Much is spoken of Santa Claus, reindeer, presents, candy, trees, elves and mistletoe.  But this Christmas Eve I would like to focus on "The Night Before Christmas" 2010 years ago on the American continent.

A sign was prophesied to come declaring Christ's birth to the Nephites and Lamanites.  There were many who did not beleive in Christ and they persecuted those who did.  The wicked populous assigned a day when all the people who beleived in Jesus would "be put to death except the sign should come to pass".  This obviously caused quite a commotion among the beleivers.  Like christians in the time of Christ and today, their faith was tremendously tested.  The day before that dreadful day, the leader of the church, Nephi, took the oppurtunity to offer up his heart to the Lord.  He was understandably worried about what was happening the next day.  The Lord's answer gives me comfort, "Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world" (3 Nephi 1:9,13). 

"Be of good cheer".  That was what Nephi needed to hear and that is Christ's message to all.  No matter the trial, Christ invites us to "be of good cheer".  Even when releif seems inpossible, "be of good cheer".  Jesus Christ truly has overcome all.  As we come closer to Him we will be happy.  No matter what our circumstances may be, by following Christ we will find joy.

I know that Christ was born of Mary at Bethlehem.  I know He healed many people and performed many other miracles.  I know Christ died for us and I know He lives for us.  And this Christmas Eve I invite all humble followers of the Christ to "be of good cheer" and trust in our savior.

Look to the Light

This Video is great.  It shows how Christ can make a difference in anybody's life.  It shows how anybody can find Christ and refocus on what is important.

Merry Christmas.