A friend of mine has studied many religions--Christian and others. He asked me how he can tell if there is a God.
This is one of the most important questions anyone could ask. Marion G. Romney, an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the Mormon Church) said, "No person is, nor can he be, justified in rejecting [the] teachings and commandments, which have been revealed by the Lord, on the basis that he does not know they are true, because everything the Lord does or says has within itself the evidence of its own authenticity, and every person is divinely endowed with the means to discover that evidence and know for himself that it is true" (Marion G. Romney, "The Way of Life," Ensign, May 1976, 81, https://www.lds.org/ensign/1976/05/the-way-of-life?lang=eng).
When Elder Romney made this statement, he was referring to John 7:14-17, which states:
“Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.
“And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
“Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/7?lang=eng)
What the Savior is saying in these verses is that if an individual wants to know the truth of His gospel, they must live the commandments. Doing so will bring the testimony that is sought.
The means by which that testimony will come is the witness of the Holy Ghost. As is stated in John 14:26, "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things." As we live His commandments, and pray to know if His gospel is true, the Holy Ghost will bear a confirming witness to us.
In the Book of Mormon, a king among the Lamanite people didn't know if there was a God. He obtained the confirming witness that he sought, in response to this pleading prayer: "O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day" (Alma 22:18; http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/22?lang=eng).
In answer to this prayer, the king received a witness that what he had been taught was true. His answer came in a very dramatic way. Such a powerful witness of the truth is unusual. For most people, it comes through a quiet, peaceful, confirming feeling. For those who are sincere and have a desire, as did this king, the answer is sure to come. Perhaps it won't come all at once, but it certainly will come.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Monday, April 15, 2013
Learning from Our Mistakes
"For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief" (Proverbs 24:16).
We all make mistakes. We are all human, and erring is part of the human condition. Only Jesus Christ lived a perfect life.
Therefore, when we do something we regret, we shouldn't be surprised or discouraged. We should pick ourselves up and learn from the mistake. Sometimes mistakes, when confronted in a positive way, can lead to great success.
For example, the story is told of an ice cream vendor who ran out of cups in which to put the ice cream. Obviously his sales stopped abruptly. Then he saw a vendor nearby who was selling waffles. He bought waffles from him and formed a cones from them and resumed selling ice cream. In fact his sales actually increased! When we have the right attitude, a problem can become a gold mine.
Of course, we should never intentionally sin. However, even with our best efforts to obey God's laws, we will fall pray to sin. As the scriptures tell us, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), and, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8). The key is to quickly recognize our sin, repent of it, learn the necessary lessons, so that we don't do it again.
Our efforts to repent and refrain from the sin shouldn't cease if we don't at first succeed. As stated in the first scripture quoted above, we should rise up again and seek God's help and blessing in overcoming our weaknesses. He wants us to succeed and will give His help in overcoming every weakness in our lives.
We all make mistakes. We are all human, and erring is part of the human condition. Only Jesus Christ lived a perfect life.
Therefore, when we do something we regret, we shouldn't be surprised or discouraged. We should pick ourselves up and learn from the mistake. Sometimes mistakes, when confronted in a positive way, can lead to great success.
For example, the story is told of an ice cream vendor who ran out of cups in which to put the ice cream. Obviously his sales stopped abruptly. Then he saw a vendor nearby who was selling waffles. He bought waffles from him and formed a cones from them and resumed selling ice cream. In fact his sales actually increased! When we have the right attitude, a problem can become a gold mine.
Of course, we should never intentionally sin. However, even with our best efforts to obey God's laws, we will fall pray to sin. As the scriptures tell us, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), and, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8). The key is to quickly recognize our sin, repent of it, learn the necessary lessons, so that we don't do it again.
Our efforts to repent and refrain from the sin shouldn't cease if we don't at first succeed. As stated in the first scripture quoted above, we should rise up again and seek God's help and blessing in overcoming our weaknesses. He wants us to succeed and will give His help in overcoming every weakness in our lives.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Obedience to God's Laws Brings Freedom
In reviewing the sermons given in the October 2012 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often called the Mormon Church), one of the statements that captured my attention is this one:
"It is exciting to realize that we can expand our freedom by perfecting our obedience" (D. Todd Christofferson, "You Are Free," Ensign, Mar. 2013, 40).
The reason this is such an interesting statement is that Satan wants us to believe that to obey God's laws limits our freedom. Korihor, one of several anti-Christs described in the Book of Mormon, said, "O ye that are bound down under a foolish and a vain hope, why do ye yoke yourselves with such foolish things? Why do ye look for a Christ? For no man can know of anything which is to come" (Alma 30:13).
It takes little thought to realize that in truth those who are "bound down" are those who choose to reject the loving invitation of Jesus Christ and instead choose to follow Satan.
Those who have chosen to consume harmful drugs know from bitter experience the terrible way they are bound to their addiction in a downward spiral. They become captives of their habit in a prison from which many never escape.
The same can be said of pornography. Jesus said, "Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:28). The Lord gave a similar warning through the Prophet Joseph Smith: "He that looketh upon a woman to lust after her shall deny the faith, and shall not have the Spirit; and if he repents not he shall be cast out" (Doctrine and Covenants 42:23).
In spite of these and other warnings, many choose to consume the filth that is pornography. Many who fall prey to this evil find themselves with an addiction even more powerful than drugs. Having yielded themselves to Satan's lies, they are dragged "carefully down to hell." In their wake, they leave broken promises, broken hearts, and broken families.
Let me hasten to add that Jesus Christ can reach down and lift up those who have become the victims of the adversary's deceptions. Through the power of the Atonement, such individuals, when they have faith in the Redeemer of all mankind, repent of their sins, and walk in obedience to His commandments, can be rescued from their prison of addiction. It won't be easy, but it can be done. His promises are sure. He will never let us down, if we do our part. His "grace is sufficient" (2 Corinthians 12:9) for all who exert their best efforts.
What Elder Christofferson says is true. When we bind ourselves to God through ever increasing obedience, we are given ever greater freedom. Freedom from addictions, freedom to grow and to develop and to become, little by little, day by day, more and more like our Heavenly Father and His Only Begotten Son. True freedom is found in obedience to God and His laws. To believe Satan's lies is to be "bound down by the chains of hell" (Alma 13:30).
As the Savior said to his followers: "If ye continue in my word (in other words if we are obedient), then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free" (John 8:31-32). This is my prayer for all of us--that we may have faith in the Savior, demonstrated by the repentance of our sins and our obedience to His commandments. He can then indeed make us truly free. Through Jesus Christ, "the prisoners shall go free" (Doctrine and Covenants 128:22).
"It is exciting to realize that we can expand our freedom by perfecting our obedience" (D. Todd Christofferson, "You Are Free," Ensign, Mar. 2013, 40).
The reason this is such an interesting statement is that Satan wants us to believe that to obey God's laws limits our freedom. Korihor, one of several anti-Christs described in the Book of Mormon, said, "O ye that are bound down under a foolish and a vain hope, why do ye yoke yourselves with such foolish things? Why do ye look for a Christ? For no man can know of anything which is to come" (Alma 30:13).
It takes little thought to realize that in truth those who are "bound down" are those who choose to reject the loving invitation of Jesus Christ and instead choose to follow Satan.
Those who have chosen to consume harmful drugs know from bitter experience the terrible way they are bound to their addiction in a downward spiral. They become captives of their habit in a prison from which many never escape.
The same can be said of pornography. Jesus said, "Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:28). The Lord gave a similar warning through the Prophet Joseph Smith: "He that looketh upon a woman to lust after her shall deny the faith, and shall not have the Spirit; and if he repents not he shall be cast out" (Doctrine and Covenants 42:23).
In spite of these and other warnings, many choose to consume the filth that is pornography. Many who fall prey to this evil find themselves with an addiction even more powerful than drugs. Having yielded themselves to Satan's lies, they are dragged "carefully down to hell." In their wake, they leave broken promises, broken hearts, and broken families.
Let me hasten to add that Jesus Christ can reach down and lift up those who have become the victims of the adversary's deceptions. Through the power of the Atonement, such individuals, when they have faith in the Redeemer of all mankind, repent of their sins, and walk in obedience to His commandments, can be rescued from their prison of addiction. It won't be easy, but it can be done. His promises are sure. He will never let us down, if we do our part. His "grace is sufficient" (2 Corinthians 12:9) for all who exert their best efforts.
What Elder Christofferson says is true. When we bind ourselves to God through ever increasing obedience, we are given ever greater freedom. Freedom from addictions, freedom to grow and to develop and to become, little by little, day by day, more and more like our Heavenly Father and His Only Begotten Son. True freedom is found in obedience to God and His laws. To believe Satan's lies is to be "bound down by the chains of hell" (Alma 13:30).
As the Savior said to his followers: "If ye continue in my word (in other words if we are obedient), then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free" (John 8:31-32). This is my prayer for all of us--that we may have faith in the Savior, demonstrated by the repentance of our sins and our obedience to His commandments. He can then indeed make us truly free. Through Jesus Christ, "the prisoners shall go free" (Doctrine and Covenants 128:22).
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
The Scriptures How Rare a Possession
I selected the title for this blog because of an article that I read many years ago, titled, “How Rare a Possession—The Scriptures,” .
Many of us take the scriptures for grated. For hundreds of years, the scriptures were only available to a few individuals. Most of those on planet earth had no access to God's written word. A few may have heard them read from time to time, but they couldn't hold them in their hands and read them on a daily basis. It is hard to imagine what that would be like.
We are blessed that there were a few courageous men who were determined to make the scriptures available to the common man. William Tyndale was one such individual. He knew that the scriptures would be a powerful influence for good in the lives of men and women, if they could read the scriptures for themselves on a daily basis. He said, "The nature of God’s word is, that whosoever read it, . . . it will begin immediately to make him every day better and better, till he be grown into a perfect man’” (Quoted in S. Michael Wilcox, Fire in the Bones: William Tyndale—Martyr, Father of the English Bible (2004), xv).
So strongly did Tyndale feel about providing a translation in English of the Holy Bible, that he dedicated his life to completing the work. In fact, he ultimately was executed for having defied the king of England--refusing to the end to renounce his work. His labors have been memorialized in the movie, "Fires of Faith" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLX-aFpRc5Q).
Tyndale's translation is said to have been a major contribution to the work done by a team of scholars commissioned by King James. "One estimate suggests the New Testament in the King James Version is 83% Tyndale's, and the Old Testament 76%" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Tyndale).
Do we really appreciate what a blessing it is to possess the scriptures? If we don't regularly read, ponder, and pray about the scriptures, are we any better off than those who didn't have them?
In the article that inspired the name of this blog, President Spencer W. Kimball said, “I feel strongly that each of us must return to the scriptures…and let them work mightily within us, impelling us to an unwavering determination to serve the Lord" (Ensign, July 1985, 5; http://www.lds.org/ensign/1985/07/how-rare-a-possession-the-scriptures?lang=eng).
I have found that the statements of Tyndale and Kimball are true. As we read the scriptures daily and apply their teachings in our lives, we are strengthened in serving the Lord.
Below are a few citations that teach the importance of the scriptures:
"The holy scriptures . . . are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15).
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).
"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me (Jesus Christ)" (.John 5:39).
"Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope" (Romans 15:4).
What are some scriptural references that have inspired and strengthened you?
I invite us all to make the scriptures part of every day--even if it is only for five minutes. As we study the scriptures in sincerity, we will feel their power in our lives. In a sometimes very troubling world, the scriptures will bring us peace and draw us closer to the divine. They will strengthen us against temptation. They will help us in making small and large decisions in our lives.
Because of the scriptures, I have an unwavering testimony of Jesus Christ. He is God's Only Begotten Son, the Savior and Redeemer of the World.
Many of us take the scriptures for grated. For hundreds of years, the scriptures were only available to a few individuals. Most of those on planet earth had no access to God's written word. A few may have heard them read from time to time, but they couldn't hold them in their hands and read them on a daily basis. It is hard to imagine what that would be like.
We are blessed that there were a few courageous men who were determined to make the scriptures available to the common man. William Tyndale was one such individual. He knew that the scriptures would be a powerful influence for good in the lives of men and women, if they could read the scriptures for themselves on a daily basis. He said, "The nature of God’s word is, that whosoever read it, . . . it will begin immediately to make him every day better and better, till he be grown into a perfect man’” (Quoted in S. Michael Wilcox, Fire in the Bones: William Tyndale—Martyr, Father of the English Bible (2004), xv).
So strongly did Tyndale feel about providing a translation in English of the Holy Bible, that he dedicated his life to completing the work. In fact, he ultimately was executed for having defied the king of England--refusing to the end to renounce his work. His labors have been memorialized in the movie, "Fires of Faith" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLX-aFpRc5Q).
Tyndale's translation is said to have been a major contribution to the work done by a team of scholars commissioned by King James. "One estimate suggests the New Testament in the King James Version is 83% Tyndale's, and the Old Testament 76%" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Tyndale).
Do we really appreciate what a blessing it is to possess the scriptures? If we don't regularly read, ponder, and pray about the scriptures, are we any better off than those who didn't have them?
In the article that inspired the name of this blog, President Spencer W. Kimball said, “I feel strongly that each of us must return to the scriptures…and let them work mightily within us, impelling us to an unwavering determination to serve the Lord" (Ensign, July 1985, 5; http://www.lds.org/ensign/1985/07/how-rare-a-possession-the-scriptures?lang=eng).
I have found that the statements of Tyndale and Kimball are true. As we read the scriptures daily and apply their teachings in our lives, we are strengthened in serving the Lord.
Below are a few citations that teach the importance of the scriptures:
"The holy scriptures . . . are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15).
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).
"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me (Jesus Christ)" (.John 5:39).
"Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope" (Romans 15:4).
What are some scriptural references that have inspired and strengthened you?
I invite us all to make the scriptures part of every day--even if it is only for five minutes. As we study the scriptures in sincerity, we will feel their power in our lives. In a sometimes very troubling world, the scriptures will bring us peace and draw us closer to the divine. They will strengthen us against temptation. They will help us in making small and large decisions in our lives.
Because of the scriptures, I have an unwavering testimony of Jesus Christ. He is God's Only Begotten Son, the Savior and Redeemer of the World.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)