Study The Scriptures

If someone that you knew came up to you and asked you what the role of the scriptures were what would you tell them? If you had asked me before I came back to church I probably would have told you that they were just good books that people were supposed to read, or I might have said they were just books that were boring. Well if I may I would like to tell you what the real reason scriptures are for. In the Holy Bible we can get a feel of what they are for when we read John 20:31   

 31But these are ^awritten, that ye might ^bbelieve that Jesus is the ^cChrist, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have ^dlife through his ^ename. John has told us that the Bible was written that we might believe in Jesus Christ. In the Book of Mormon a Nephite Prophet named Alma says this about the scriptures.
Alma 33:14  14Now behold, my brethren, I would ask if ye have read the scriptures? If ye have, how can ye ^adisbelieve on the Son of God?

 Isn't that interesting? Both prophets testify the importance of the scriptures and what they are meant for. My friends I can promise you this blessing, if you will read your scriptures for 10 minutes a day you will begin to feel the spirit of the Lord more fully in your lives, you will also find answer to life's greatest questions as well as questions you have personally. I know that what I have written here today is true because I have put the scriptures to the test ever since coming back to church and I am a much better man today then I ever was in my life. If you do not believe my words, then why don't you put me to the test? Besides What do you have to lose? I love you all very much and hope and pray you will read the scriptures more, the scriptures testify of Christ and his divine role and they also testify that eternal life only comes through Christ.

Prayer

This part in the blog is about commandments and will be broken up into quite a few pieces, so I hope you enjoy them. Today I want to talk about prayer. What is prayer? Many people would tell you that it is talking to an unknown person or entity, but prayer is something that is more then that. Prayer is talking to our loving Heavenly Father. Because God loves us he has given a way for us to get all of our concerns and all of our problems off our chest. Basically in a nutshell prayer is something that is for us! Whenever we pray we are keeping a commandment that has been given to us since the beginning of time. Jesus Christ has given us the perfect example on how to pray, in Matthew 6:9-13 the Lord says

 9"After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

 10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

 11Give us this day our daily bread.

 12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

You might have asked this question in your life at one point. Is god real ? Is he there? Does he hear my prayers? If this is the question that you are asking yourself right now, or if you are just wondering in general let me share with you one of my favorite primary songs that I have come to love in my life its called A Child’s Prayer. I would ask that you read the words carefully and ponder them out.

1. Heavenly Father, are you really there?                                              

And do you hear and answer ev’ry child’s prayer?

Some say that heaven is far away,

But I feel it close around me as I pray.

Heavenly Father, I remember now

Something that Jesus told disciples long ago:

“Suffer the children to come to me.”

Father, in prayer I’m coming now to thee.

2. Pray, he is here;

Speak, he is list’ning.

You are his child;

His love now surrounds you.

He hears your prayer;

He loves the children.

Of such is the kingdom,

The kingdom of heav’n

I testify you that Heavenly Father loves you and wants to hear from you. He loves you so much that he wants to bless you with the things that you need/want. I know that as we pray we can feel Gods love and I know that he will answer your prayers. I know this because I have prayed to God and have asked him for the things that I need/want and I have felt of his love and know that prayer is real and that God lives! You too can feel His love if you pray.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

Hello everyone! I know it has been a while since I last talked to you. Today I want to talk about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When I mean Gospel of Jesus Christ I am talking about the teachings that Christ himself taught to us when he was here on the earth. So what exactly was it that Jesus Christ taught us? let me share you what it is we the church believes and then let me show you a few scriptural examples from Jesus Christ, and the Prophets.  Doctrine & Covenants section 4 we read. 4We believe that the first principles and ^aordinances of the Gospel are: first, ^bFaith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, ^cRepentance; third, ^dBaptism by ^eimmersion for the ^fremission of sins; fourth, Laying on of ^ghands for the ^hgift of the Holy Ghost.

As we read the first principle is Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, so how do we exercise that faith? Well to have faith in the Lord we need to believe that he is the Son of God as he said he was, also we need to believe that through his Atonement we can be cleansed from our sins, one more thing we need to believe in  is His teachings and following them.

Second is principle is Repentance. So what is repentance and how do we use it? Repentance is a five step process which is not as easy as it sounds. Let me share with you the ABC's of repentance.

A)Accept what we have done to be wrong, this is the first step to repenting. By accepting or acknowledging what we did was wrong we can begin the healing process.

B)Be sorry for what we did. We need to truly be sorry for what we have done, not sorry for being caught.  Big difference between the two.

 C)Correct the sin/mistake we made. We need to next do all that is in our power to correct what we did was wrong. By doing so we are showing the Lord that we are truly sorry and that we are trying to repent.

C)Confess the sin. Now what I mean by confessing the sin, I do not mean going to a priest and telling him all that you have done, what I mean by confessing the sin is to turn to your Heavenly Father in prayer and ask for forgiveness. It is our Heavenly Father that can forgive sin. Also if needed talk to a Bishop. A Bishop is appointed by God to HELP you by giving guidance... Notice I said Helping you not forgiving you.

D)Don't do it again! I think that is a very simple one.

After we repent we can then go to our third principle which is Baptism. Baptism is something that is very important.  Without Baptism nobody (that is at the age of accountability)  can be save in the kingdom of Heaven. Christ Also said that baptism was a commandment.

lets read matthew 3:14-17

14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15And Jesus answering said unto him, ^aSuffer it to be so now: for thus it ^bbecometh us to ^cfulfil all ^drighteousness. Then he suffered him.

16And Jesus, when he was ^abaptized, went up ^bstraightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the ^cSpirit of God descending like a ^ddove, and lighting upon him:

17And lo a ^avoice from heaven, saying, This is my ^bbeloved ^cSon, in whom I am well pleased.

Notice how Christ says to John "^aSuffer it to be so now: for thus it ^bbecometh us to ^cfulfil all ^drighteousness." Then he suffered him.                 

After Baptism we need to recieve the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands in Acts 8:14-18 

14Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the ^aword of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

 15Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

 16(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

 17Then ^alaid they their hands on them, and they received the ^bHoly Ghost.

  As we can see that the Apostles prayed for the people of samaria, then laid their hands on their heads. 

And finally my friends we need to Endure To The End. It is something that is throughout the Bible if you read it closely, but for this scripture I want to go to the Book of Mormon and tie together all of the Principles that we talked about.   2 Nephi 31:5-10 show us why baptism is important.

5And now, if the Lamb of God, he being ^aholy, should have need to be ^bbaptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be ^cbaptized, yea, even by water!

 6And now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfil all righteousness in being baptized by water?

 7Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be ^aobedient unto him in keeping his commandments.

 8Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the ^aform of a ^bdove.

 9And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the ^agate, by which they should enter, he having set the ^bexample before them.

 10And he said unto the children of men: ^aFollow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we ^bfollow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?

18And then are ye in this ^astrait and narrow ^bpath which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which ^cwitnesses of the ^dFather and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.

 19And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow ^apath, I would ask if all is ^bdone? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken ^cfaith in him, ^drelying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to ^esave.

 20Wherefore, ye must press forward with a ^asteadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of ^bhope, and a ^clove of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and ^dendure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have ^eeternal life.

I know that if we follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ that we will be fulfiling all the commandments that has been given unto us. I know that if we follow them we will be happy and will have eternal life.

The Plan (3)

Hello friends. We are going to talk about our last part of this plan that our Father in Heaven gave to us. and that is where we go when we die. I want to start out by telling you a story.

When I was a young boy my aunt died. She wasn't what I considered to be "old". I asked myself a question that I honestly had no answer to at the time. The question "Where do I go when I die?" Now this had a small impact on my life, but when I was a little bit older there was another death in the family, my Grandma died. This I knew was going to happen because she was "old" But! I found myself asking the same question that I had years ago when my aunt died. "Where do I go when I die?" Well my friends after many years I have finally found the answer to the question that I was looking for. 

In the Book of Mormon we have a few accounts of prophets talking about the spirit world, or a place where people go to and wait for the resurrection.  In Alma 40:1-5 we read the words of Alma the prophet to his son. 


1Now my son, here is somewhat more I would say unto thee; for I perceive that thy mind is worried concerning the resurrection of the dead.

2Behold, I say unto you, that there is no resurrection—or, I would say, in other words, that this mortal does not put on ^aimmortality, this corruption does not ^bput on incorruption—^cuntil after the coming of Christ.


3Behold, he bringeth to pass the ^aresurrection of the dead. But behold, my son, the resurrection is not yet. Now, I unfold unto you a mystery; nevertheless, there are many ^bmysteries which are^ckept, that no one knoweth them save God himself. But I show unto you one thing which I have inquired diligently of God that I might know—that is concerning the resurrection.
4Behold, there is a time appointed that all shall ^acome forth from the dead. Now when this time cometh no one knows; but God knoweth the time which is appointed.

 5Now, whether there shall be one time, or a ^asecond time, or a third time, that men shall come forth from the dead, it mattereth not; for God ^bknoweth all these things; and it sufficeth me to know that this is the case—that there is a time appointed that all shall rise from the dead. You might be thinking great! so we do not get our body till the coming of Christ? well that answer is yes, But! take comfort my friends because in the spirit world there are two places or state of mind that people go to and it is found in the scriptures one is called Paradise which we will hear about from Alma and the second we will hear from Peter about Prison.  

You know what this means don't you? It means that we have to wait before we get our bodies back. So where does our spirit go when we die? We go the Spirit world, and in the Spirit world there are two places we can go to. 

Alma 40:11-12 

11Now, concerning the ^astate of the soul between ^bdeath and the resurrection—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 ^ctaken ^dhome to that God who gave them life.

12And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of ^ahappiness, which is called^bparadise, a state of rest, a state of ^cpeace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.

 12And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of ^ahappiness, which is called^bparadise, a state of rest, a state of ^cpeace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.

So Paradise is a place where those who were righteous go and rest from all the pains of the world and they will have no troubles at all.  Now lets hear from Peter. 

1Peter 3:18-20   18For Christ also hath once ^asuffered for sins, the just for the^bunjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to ^cdeath in the flesh, but quickened by the ^dSpirit: 

19By which also he went and ^apreached unto the ^bspirits in^cprison; 

20^aWhich sometime were ^bdisobedient, when once the^clongsuffering of God waited in the days of ^dNoah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were ^esaved by ^fwater.

 So we have Peter explaining to the saints that Christ suffered for all sins that he might bring us to God. Then in 19 Peter explains to the saints that when christ was quickened by the spirit he went to the Spirits that were in spirit prison and taught them. Now who was taught in Spirit Prison? All the people who chose not to follow God's commandments. To finish up I want to let you hear more from Peter.  

1Peter 4:6    6^aFor for this cause was the ^bgospel ^cpreached also to them that are ^ddead, that they might be ^ejudged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

The Spirits in Prison are given the chance to hear the Gospel in its fullness and then choose to deny Christ or to follow him. So that way we all can be judged.

Ok so you are thinking great! now that I know where my spirit goes after I die what happens when we are all resurrected? 

You are right on track. What happens after we die is we are judged according to our Works, Words, Thoughts  In Alma 12:14   

14 For our ^awords will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the ^bmountains to fall upon us to ^chide us from his presence.

The prophet Alma basically says that everything we do, think, or say is what we will be judged on. After we are judged we are then given our reward. In Heaven there are three places that we can go to or what is known as Kingdoms of glory.  In 1 Corinthians 15:40-41 we read 

40^aThere are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the ^bcelestial is one, and the glory of the ^cterrestrial is another. 

  
 41There is one glory of the ^asun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the ^bstars: for one star ^cdiffereth from another star in ^dglory. 

The celestial body is where those who have gone to the Celestial Kingdom will be able to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and  the Holy Ghost. How do we get there? by being baptised by someone holding the priesthood authority, and keeping the commandments that the Lord has given us. 

Telestial Bodies is where people go to the Telestial Kingdom. They are those who lived good lives and followed Christ, but they decided to not be baptised by someone holding the priesthood, or they chose not to follow the commandments 100% of the way.  They do not have the Fathers presence, But! they still have Christ's presence with them.

Then there is the Terrestrial body. Those who have those bodies go to the Terrestrial Kingdom, and those people are your murderers or those who chose not to follow Christ. Because God loves all of his children he still gives them a place of inheritance. They have no presence of the Father or His son.

I testify to you as one having authority that this is real! The Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth by a living prophet of God. I know that Our purpose for being here on this earth is to learn and to grow by making choices, I also know that this life is indeed the time for us to prepare ourselves to meet God. I can also bare you my witness that when we die our spirits leave our body and goes to the Spirit world to be taught the Gospel, or for those who are righteous to rest from the cares of the world. I know that we are judged according to our words, thoughts, and actions. The three degree of glories is very real and I know all of this because I have read and prayed about these things. You too can know this by praying and asking God the Eternal Father in the name of Christ if these things are not true. By the power of the Holy Ghost you can know the truth of all things.