Service = Feeling Good

I love the Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley. And the recounting of this touching story from his father's memory keeps that love alive.

In the hectic Early mornings, battling to get ready for school, my mother often would extend me the challenge to give some act of kindness during that day to a fellow pupil(or teacher it didn't really matter). The best types of service being the unknown kinds, where the giver is unknown by the receiver. During these my teenage years she tried, and i hope not in vain, to instill a beautiful value in me and the rest of my siblings. A value that would bring true happiness to her children and those they would come in contact with. Teaching us to feel real happiness by being a tool in God's hands to brighten one of His children's day.

Some scriptures that come to mind-

"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matthew 25:40

"Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Matthew 22:36-39

"...how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work." Alma 26:3

"Have I done any good in the world today?Have I helped anyone in need?Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?If not, I have failed indeed.Has anyone’s burden been lighter today Because I was willing to share?Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?When they needed my help was I there?
Then wake up and do something more Than dream of your mansion above.Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,A blessing of duty and love.
There are chances for work all around just now,Opportunities right in our way.Do not let them pass by, saying, “Sometime I’ll try,”But go and do something today.’Tis noble of man to work and to give;Love’s labor has merit alone.Only he who does something helps others to live.To God each good work will be known."

LDS Hymn Book #223
Text and music: Will L. Thompson, 1847–1909, alt.

Our Everlasting Souls

In the last couple of weeks it seems that I have dealt with people who have had questions about death and what was to come hereafter; Or working with and around those who were dealing with the loss of a loved one themselves. There are some simple teachings from our Savior that I find most relevant and comforting, which I have likely taken for granted. Fortunately the Gospel of Jesus Christ is being preached in all the world so that others might find and secure for themselves the peace, knowledge, and joy that I experience regularly. Everyday souls are finding this peace and understanding, after gaining knowledge for themselves of the Gospels truth and purity.

"If a man die shall he live again?"-Job 14:14 If you have ever pondered on the subject you are not the first, and you will certainly not be the last.
The Book Of Mormon contains one of my favorite scriptures illuminating what is to come for each of us at the end of this mortal life. "Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life." Alma 40:11 And what a joyous occasion that will be for a faithful son or daughter to return to the presence of a Loving Father!

It is important to note that this 'state of the soul' where we exist as spirit beings, is for a relatively brief period of time. We soon enough recieve a perfect glorified body, where spirit and flesh will never be separated again(or die).

One of the most important events in history is marked by one of my favorite moments in scripture. As Mary Magdalene and company entered Jesus' tomb to anoint his body(following his crucifiction), much to their alarm, they found it empty. What comfort must have followed as Angels of the Lord spake,"Why seek ye the living among the dead?" Luke 24:5 -The announcement we receive from two Heavenly Messengers of the reality of our Saviours triumph over death. "He is not here, but is risen."-Luke 24:6 This universal victory over the grave and gift of immortality was to be freely given to all mankind, not to be had by Christ alone. Because of our imperfection and mortality we all must die. But because of Christ' sacrifice and power to redeem, we will all live again. "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."-1 Corinthians 15:22

AUTHORITY.

Have you ever wondered which Christian church of the over 3 million available has the authority given them from God to preach and to baptize(as Christ and John the baptist had)? What happened to the pure, simple teachings of Jesus Christ? What was the resultant state of Christ's church at the end of His and His Apostle's ministries?

Well Jan did have these questions and he discovered the answers.

JAN IN REAL LIFE.

Jesus Christ established His Gospel(Church). Men changed it. God has reached out in love and restored His Church through a modern day prophet to the Earth again.

Visit Mormon.org to learn more.
Or stop your local mssionaries and spend a few minutes with them. . . eh, what's the worst that could happen?

Words of The Prophets

In my previous post I had made reference to two books of scripture known as the Holy Bible and the Book Of Mormon. Most of us are at least semi-familiar with what the Bible is so I will be focusing our attention towards the latter.

• What is the purpose of Scripture(The Holy Bible + The Book Of Mormon)?
  


• Where did the Book Of Mormon come from and what role does it play in Christianity?
  

We have established that God, as our Father watching over us, has a great desire for us to return and live with Him in what we generally refer to as "Heaven." Logically now wouldn't it make sense for God to have given us, his children, some instruction on exactly how we are to make it home to Him again? YES it would! The purpose of all scripture is to help us point our thoughts, words, and actions towards Jesus Christ. "...For this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us. 5 Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name. And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness,.... 6 Wherefore, we search the prophets....and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken..." -(Jacob 4:4-6)

The Bible serves as a testament or witness of Jesus Christ, the reality of his mission to teach/show mankind how to gain Eternal Life, and as the account of his eternal sacrifice that makes it possible for each of us to return,"Home to that God who gave them[us] life."Alma 40:11

The Book Of Mormon acts as a second witness to the Bible, that Jesus is our Saviour by whom we may find true happiness and forgiveness of all our mistakes and weaknesses. And through whom we can then find the power to transform these weaknesses into strengths. The Book Of Mormon is a witness that Jesus Christ' true and living Gospel is on the earth, and that God has once again reached out in love by calling a latter-day-prophet to lead us in these trying times. I would love it if you would all watch this video clip from an Apostle of Christ, of his testimony of this latter-day Book Of Scripture, and the enormity of the reality of this work.

continued...

Is there a God?

First things first.

• Is there a God?
• Who is God?
• What is His purpose for me?

These simple yet profound questions have been the focus and debate among some of the greatest minds the world has ever known. The truth is that these are questions to which God, our loving Father in Heaven, freely gives the answers. In fact it is a great desire of His for us to have a knowledge of Him and His plan for each of us. The Scriptures(Holy Bible) teach us that we are the literal sons and daughters of God and He is literally our Father. (see Romans 8:16-17 , + Hebrews 12:9)
In an ancient set of Scripture that has been translated and revealed to us through a modern day prophet, known as the Book Of Mormon, we find the accounts of 2 great kings who themselves had similar questions as these three we've established. In the Book of Alma chapters 18 and 22, we read of King Lamoni and his father(I invite you to click on the chapter number and read for yourself). Their separate experiences lead them each to the same end, to a knowledge of the existence of God and His love and purpose for them. This understanding changed their hearts and lives forever. We can learn much from the experience of these two men. If we follow their example by showing our faith and willingness to believe on Jesus Christ, meaning we are willing to keep his commandments and follow His example then we also have the promise and privilege of receiving the witness of the Spirit of God Who has great power teach teach God's children the truth of all things. Moroni 10:5

God's plan for us is made very clear and simple in Moses 1:39, where we are informed that all His labor and effort is towards bringing us home to live with him in eternal happiness. Living in Heaven with our Heavenly Father is scripturally referred to as eternal life.
Now knowing that God's mission for you is to have you return to live with him again, wouldn't it make sense for Him to have given you some instruction on exactly how to do that? Well He has. These are the scriptures. The scriptures, The Book Of Mormon + The Bible, are God's instruction to all given through his chosen mouthpieces.

Your Father in Heaven does know, love, and care for you more than you likely realize. He wishes that you as His son or daughter would seek to know and love Him with that same energy of heart. If you do, you will find him and the answers to these and many more questions of the soul. John 17:3