Mothers Are The Best!

The coolest people in the world are loving mothers.  It's that simple.  Nothing in life can replace the support, love, and encouragement provided by the moms in the world. I know I would be lost were it not for my mother helping and supporting me along the way.  Whenever I have a tough day on my mission, I can take comfort that my mom is praying for me and wishing me the best back home.

One of Christ's last actions was an expression of love towards His earthly mother.  As Jesus was dying on the cross, He saw Mary and the apostle John standing near each other.  The Savior said to "his mother, Woman, behold thy son!  Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home" (John 19:26-27).  In His hour of death, the Savior of the world recognized the importance of honoring and caring for His own mother.  

We should all follow His example.

Easter Hosanna

I love Christmas.  But I love Easter too.  Those are probably the two biggest holidays to any Christian.  The reality of the birth, atonement, and resurrection of the Savior are extremely vital pieces of information to know.  Also, in Montana, the weather around both times of the year is very similar.  I know that Christ lives!  One thing about Christmas that everyone loves is the music.  The joyous strains of that season can be heard for months.  I wish Easter could have the same feel to it.

There's a great song that can be found in the LDS Children's Songbook called Easter Hosanna. It shares the glorious message of Christ's resurrection:

The prophecies of long ago were now at last fulfilled,

When Jesus, risen from the dead, to man Himself revealed.

As He came down from heaven above, white-robed and glorified,

The people of the promised land received their Lord and cried:

Hosanna!  Blessed be the name of the Most High God!

I want to bear my witness of the Savior. He lives!  The accounts of Jesus Christ found in the New Testament are true!  He suffered for our sins.  He was cruelly arrested, tried, and beaten.  Our Lord and Redeemer was crucified and died so that we all might live!  It is through Him and only through Him that we can return to live with our Eternal Father in Heaven.  I know that this is true and that His church is restored!

To learn more about Christ's restored church, visit http://mormon.org/missionaries/

The Articles of Faith #8

"We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God"

In the LDS church, we believe God's word.  God has always spoken through His prophets.  These prophets have taught the people of their time and kept records of their teaching.  The Bible is a compilation of the teachings of prophets, like Moses, Isaiah, and many others.  The Old Testament looks forward to the coming of Jesus Christ and The New Testament tells of His earthly ministry and the ministry of His apostles.  As can be seen in the links provided, these books went through numerous translations and interpretations in the centuries since they were originally written.  Doctrines have been lost and changed.  "Plain and precious things" have been removed from the records through corruption and translation. 

The Bible is "the word of God" and Latter-Day Saints view it as such.  But we also believe that God has said more than what is contained in the Bible.  The Book of Mormon is Another Testament of Jesus Christ.  It was recorded by His prophets on the American continent.  It tells us of God's dealings with His people there.  The prophet Nephi foresaw that people would reject this idea.  He said that they would say "we need no more Bible"(2 Nephi 29:6).  But God, speaking through His prophet, said the following:

"Know ye not that there are more nations than one? ... and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?"

He went on to question those who will reject His word:

"Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another?" (2 Nephi 29: 7-8).


The Book of Mormon is the word of God.  It was translated "by the gift and power of God" (Intro. to the Book of Mormon).  It contains the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!  In addition to the scriptures, we beleive that God still reveals His word today!  He does so through His prophets, just like He always has.  See God's Words Never Cease, the words of a modern Apostle.

I know that as we treasure God's word we can draw closer to Him and find strength through our many trials.  I know that there is power in the scriptures.  I know this because I have read from them.  That is the secret!  You gotta pick them up and read 'em. 

Of this I earnestly testify.

For more on the Book of Mormon, see http://mormon.org/book-of-mormon/
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/.