Priesthood.

Something has been on my mind lately. Elder Bednar's talk entitled, ThePowers of Heaven, quoted a Prophet, David O. McKay saying: “If at this moment each one of you were asked to state in one sentence or phrase the most distinguishing feature of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, what would be your answer?” (“The Mission of the Church and Its Members,” Improvement Era, Nov. 1956, 781). "The response President McKay gave to his own question was the “divine authority” of the priesthood."

If the Priesthood is the most distinguishing feature of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or the Mormon Church, then-why? What's so special or important about that above all other things? Among other answers, I believe it's because all the saving ordinances and special blessings we can receive on this earth to prepare us for Heaven are given through Priesthood power being exercised: baby blessing, baptism, reception of Holy Ghost, endowment in the Temple and Sealing of marriage. Not to mention other blessings one can receive when sick or need guidance. The ability and usage of the Priesthood is almost too hard to enumerate.

I’m a woman, so obviously I cannot hold the priesthood. Lately, some women have taken offense to that. They believe that the absence of the Priesthood somehow lessens them. In whose eyes? If it’s man’s eyes they are worried about, then they need to refocus their priorities. It should be God’s eyes that they are worried about. And God has designed the Priesthood to men for good reason. If you’re still worried about what that reason may be and cannot figure it out after searching, then just go on a thing called faith. Men and women are created differently, thank goodness. To be honest, there has been a couple times where I thought I could do something just as well as the guys alongside me. I was very wrong. They are stronger physically-I cannot shovel as hard, walk as long, lift as much as they can. But, to be honest, I don’t think they have as much patience with screaming children, figuring out meals week after mundane week, or the ability to run on as little sleep for the better part of a year as a woman...and then voluntarily choose to do that again. Now, there are some exceptions to the generalities, but for the most part, men have different strengths than women. And that plays out well with the Fathers responsibility to preside and provide for the family and the Mothers to nurture the children.

 I happen to have lived with someone holding the Priesthood in my home at all times. There was never a time when I couldn’t just go to a room inside the house, and ask for a blessing. I have never been at a disadvantage just because I didn’t have the Priesthood. The men cannot use the Priesthood on themselves, so just by having it does not give them some kind of advantage that the rest of us are not able to receive. I admire the way some men honor their Priesthood. Not all men are created equal and not all men hold their Priesthood with the same honor. Those that do, are blessed and able to bless. Even some of Christ’s 12 Apostles had to learn this lesson: Matt 17:14 ¶And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,

  15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he ^afalleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

 16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

 17 Then Jesus answered and said, O ^afaithless and ^bperverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

 18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

 19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your ^aunbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have ^bfaith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this ^cmountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be ^dimpossible unto you.

 21 Howbeit this ^akind goeth not out but by prayer and ^bfasting.

I’m sure they weren’t out doing something wrong. And they were obviously preaching so they were being proactive…not lazy or slothful. But they still had something to learn about the POWER  that comes with the AUTHORITY of the Priesthood. Authority does not guarantee Power. The disciples who came to Jesus after the man left with his son learned that very lesson.

Elder Bednar also quoted another prophet, President Ezra Taft Benson, and said:

“It is not enough to receive the priesthood and then sit back passively and wait until someone prods us into activity. When we receive the priesthood, we have the obligation of becoming actively and anxiously engaged in promoting the cause of righteousness in the earth, because the Lord says:

“‘… He that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned’ [D&C 58:29]” (So Shall Ye Reap [1960], 21).

“President Spencer W. Kimball also pointedly emphasized the active nature of the priesthood: “One breaks the priesthood covenant by transgressing commandments—but also by leaving undone his duties. Accordingly, to break this covenant one needs only to do nothing” (The Miracle of Forgiveness [1969], 96).

The men who hold the Priesthood should be different. They should be separate and distinct from those who do not. That’s not to say that there aren’t good men out there who do not hold the Priesthood, and that all men who do hold the Priesthood are good. However, the very act of a man who holds the Priesthood laying his hands on another man to confer the power of the Priesthood to another, is special. It forever grants that man access to the very Powers of Heaven. He can assist in washing someone’s sins away, have command over the body’s immune system, seal two people with a power that will be in force after we die, and give a personal revelation to someone as a guide map to use throughout their life.

After a personal story regarding a conversation Elder Bednar had with his dad, he said, his dad had a “correct assumption that men who bear God’s holy priesthood should be different from other men. Men who hold the priesthood are not inherently better than other men, but they should act differently. Men who hold the priesthood should not only receive priesthood authority but also become worthy and faithful conduits of God’s power. “Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord” (D&C 38:42).

Imagine a conduit:

And the Priesthood acts as a direct conduit of heavenly power that can stream from His throne directly to us. That is how special that power is…and what a bold declaration we give that this Church is the only one found with that power.   

Men who are worthy, are given a great gift. The very power by which this earth and our bodies were created is the same power that worthy Priesthood holders possess. There are, of course, different degrees and keys associated with this power, but it stems from the same source…and one must learn well their duty and how to obtain power with their conferred authority before they can advance in their Priesthood. Maybe it’s like graduating to a bigger size conduit. You gain a greater capacity to bring down more blessings from Heaven.

I teach 11 year olds at Church. I’m new at it. I only have about 3 Sundays under my belt. But, when we talked about the Priesthood being restored to the earth, there was a certain boy that is usually not a very good listener…but this time, he was listening-and with a sponge-like attitude. It was as if he could sense that the Priesthood was something to sit up and pay attention to. It was something that distinguishes the goats from the sheep. Something to be serious about and know well the duty he was about to be recommended for. I cannot put into words the excitement I feel for the time when my little boy will be recommended, and found worthy for the Priesthood. I hope in this home, he will get a real good sense of what the Priesthood does by watching his father and how wonderful that gift is by watching his mother. I hope to support the Priesthood. I’m not entirely sure what that all entails. But it sounds like if I do it right, my husband’s Priesthood authority will have the capacity to develop great power. If it’s Power from Heaven, sign me up. Get me on the list. Let me know how to increase that kind of power. I’d like to do my part to support my husband in his effort to honor his Priesthood.

For a great portion of the history of the world, a relatively few men have held the Priesthood. And out of those few, we have some pretty remarkable records of what they were able to do with their Priesthood…people healed and even raised from the dead, seas calmed, gates to Heaven opened through baptism, and small things like preaching, prophesying so that others will know what to do to prepare for the future so they will experience a feeling called peace in place of fear. Matthew could have been referring to the Priesthood when he said in 22:14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Heaven won’t be reserved for only those who were able to move a mountain or cure leprosy. In The Book of Mormon, there’s a book called Alma and in 37:6 a prophet says, “Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.” That probably also can apply toward the Priesthood. Home teaching, month after month, may bring about a change that a single, great event could not. Partaking of the sacrament is a small and simple thing…but by it, we gain forgiveness and a life more near Christ...possibly one right next to Him forever. That’s pretty great stuff.  

Doctrineand Covenants says in 123rd section:

15 Let no man count them as small things; for there is much which lieth in futurity, pertaining to the saints, which depends upon these things.

 16 You know, brethren, that a very large ship is ^abenefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves.

 17 Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us ^acheerfully ^bdo all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the ^csalvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.

In Preach My Gospel, it defines Priesthood as: “the power and authority given to man to act in God’s name for the salvation of His children.”

This Church has that power and authority. This Church has men who act in God’s very name and by the power that these men hold, I and my family, have the chance at salvation. Without these men and the power they hold, it is not possible to gain entrance through the pearly gates. God is governed by laws, and there are no shortcuts or byways. Only one path has been declared by God to give access to a Celestial life. And that path must be accompanied by, watched over, and guarded by men who hold the Priesthood. And the only way to access that Priesthood is through this Church. It distinguishes us from all other Churches on the earth. And it’s power is available to be felt by any who would wish to receive a blessing. I have personally been the fortunate recipient of a few blessings that have altered the course of my life. I would not be the same without the Priesthood.

Prayer is Powerful

http://nathangreenestudio.com/tag/lincoln-praying/

I was watching The Eternal Christ by Truman G. Madsen and he was discussing Christ's Intercessory Prayer. The disciplines had just eaten the Passover meal, which was the best they had probably eaten in awhile. They had repeated all the phrases they go over during that time, including thanking God for "our" deliverance (they didn't say "their deliverance" as in the Israelites back then, but it was a current pronoun they used; remembering that it was a blessing still to be delivered from slavery in Egypt-although they were in a different slavery at the hands of their Pharisee and Sadducee leadership to which Christ had come to free them from, but that's a different story.)
And this is reminiscent of what we do during Sacrament meeting...repeat the same phrase from an event that happened thousands of years ago to which we continue to reap a blessing from.

Truman Madsen said that he was with an apostle when he described seeing the Last Supper and was struck with the tenderness he saw Christ exhibit during that night. It makes sense...He washed the Apostles' feet and then wanted them to know that although He was going to die and they would be scattered, they would not be comfortless-He would send a Comforter and they would have peace, not like the kind the world gives, but a heavenly kind. Christ knew He was about to face the hardest and darkest night this world has yet or will see, and yet He was worried about his group of disciples. He wanted to make sure they were comforted. That they could find peace.
   And you know what, I don't think that tenderness and concern has ceased once He ascended into Heaven. He is an unchangeable God. He has not stopped caring about whether we feel alone, comforted, and find solace in a troubled world. So when taking the Sacrament, and thinking about that night that Christ blessed and broke the bread Himself and gave it to His close friends, it reminds me that He still cares.
   He has given us the Sacrament as a weekly reminder...He doesn't want us to forget!!!...that He is tenderly watching over us and promises to send us the Comforter as our constant companion...if we will allow it into our lives.




So the disciples had finished a nice meal, one of the best all year, went through many recitations of Passover, and then were taught new doctrine from Christ about a Comforter about to come to them once He left for Heaven, that they were about to be scattered, then tells them of His death and Resurrection and that He is the Son of God. There was quite an emotional and physical weariness from all the day's events. So when they get to the mount, they were all exhausted. No wonder it was hard to stay awake. But someone was awake and recorded what He said.
"For I have given unto them the ^awords which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I ^bcame out from thee, and they have ^cbelieved that thou didst send me.

I ^apray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which ^bthou hast given me; for they are thine. Neither ^apray I for these alone, but for them also which shall ^bbelieve on me through their word;

That they all may be ^aone; as thou, ^bFather, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be ^cone in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be ^aone, even as we are ^bone:

 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made ^aperfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast ^bloved them, as thou hast loved me."

Does the tone of the prayer sound like the Lord as described by the Israelites after being freed from Pharaoh's rule?
 Exodus 15
The Lord is a man of ^awar. Pharaoh’s ^achariots and his host hath he ^bcast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the ^cRed sea...they sank into the bottom as a ^astone.

Thy ^aright ^bhand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. 

And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as ^astubble.

Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.

Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. The people shall ^ahear, and be afraid:

(then they continue with):
sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of ^bPalestina.
Then the ^adukes of ^bEdom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall ^cmelt away. ^aFear and ^bdread shall fall upon them.
 (As if to say, if you just destroyed the Egyptians, everyone else will cower and be afraid to mess with us because you have our back).

 But later in Exodus 20, all their praising of God turned to fear and they said to Moses when he came down after receiving the 10 commandments,
"And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God ^aspeak with us, lest we die."
 THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF GOD! They believed Him to be a man of war who would rather sink a bunch of worthless captains as lead to the bottom of the Sea and consume people as stubble....just to protect them. But then when it came to God offering to speak to them, they would not. It was not God who distanced Himself or tried to make himself unknown or hidden. It was the people. They thought he was full of wrath when dealing with Pharoah's captains and they must have still held that idea when they thought of meeting Him at Mount Sinai.
God wants to be with us, comfort us, teach us and help us. He does not enjoy destroying people. I doubt he was singing like the Israelites. He was more likely saddened that some of His own creations were drowning.


When Alma prayed to God to help his son, Alma the younger, an angel appeared to Alma the younger and told him specifically that "the Lord hath head the prayers of his people...for he has prayed with much faith...that the prayers of his servants might be answered according to their faith". (Mosiah 27:14)
God did not hire someone else to be his telecommunicator for Him. He has more kids than we can count, yet He wants to hear every one of our pleas.
Doctrine and Covenants 90:1 says, "Thus saith the Lord, verily, verily I say unto you my son, thy sins are forgiven thee, according to thy petition, for thy prayers and the prayers of thy brethren have come up into my ears.

In Matt. 23:37 Jesus said, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"

And in 2 Nephi 9:41 gives another glimpse of what kind of Man is listening on the other end of that prayer, "O then, my beloved brethren, ^acome unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the ^bway for man is ^cnarrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the ^dgate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.

I enjoy reading how Christ prays to His Father...He knew the right relationship. In Bible Dictionary under Prayer, I have always wondered what it really meant when it said, "As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7:7–11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship."

What does a prayer look like that is natural and instinctive?
What are the so-called difficulties about prayer?

If you read Matt 7:7-11, seems like we can receive alot from our Father in Heaven if we understand this relationship.

 7 ¶^aAsk, and it shall be ^bgiven you; ^cseek, and ye shall find; ^dknock, and it shall be opened unto you:

 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that ^aseeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask ^abread, will he give him a stone?

 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

 11 If ye then, ^abeing evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Continuing in Bible Dictionary, "Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings."

Prayer, to a loving, tender, watchful Father in Heaven, from an obedient child can secure for ourselves and for others so very many blessings.  He always picks up the receiver when we call. We will never find a busy signal. And can you imagine speaking to a divine Heavenly Being who awaits what we have to say and then blesses us with what will help us the greatest? Think about what is happening! He employes no servant as the prayer taker, and as oft as we will gather, He will receive us. He is tireless and an enduring optimistic. 

Prayer is a way to obtain the "highest of all blessings". That sounds like being able to live with Him once we die. If we do prayer right...because there are difficulties with prayer/ways to not pray correctly....then we can come to know Him and be one with Him...just as Christ prayed for that night in Gethsemane. We use prayer to align our will to His. Like Elder Bednar said,Revelation is communication from Heavenly Father to His children on earth. As we ask in faith, we can receive revelation upon revelation and knowledge upon knowledge and come to know the mysteries and peaceable things that bring joy and eternal life (see D&C 42:61). The mysteries are those matters that can only be known and understood by the power of the Holy Ghost (see Harold B. Lee, Ye Are the Light of the World [1974], 211). There may be things in our character, in our behavior, or concerning our spiritual growth about which we need to counsel with Heavenly Father in morning prayer. After expressing appropriate thanks for blessings received, we plead for understanding, direction, and help to do the things we cannot do in our own strength alone. For example, as we pray, we might:

• Reflect on those occasions when we have spoken harshly or inappropriately to those we love the most.
• Recognize that we know better than this, but we do not always act in accordance with what we know.
• Express remorse for our weaknesses and for not putting off the natural man more earnestly.
• Determine to pattern our life after the Savior more completely.
• Plead for greater strength to do and to become better.

Such a prayer is a key part of the spiritual preparation for our day.

At the end of our day, we kneel again and report back to our Father. We review the events of the day and express heartfelt thanks for the blessings and the help we received. We repent and, with the assistance of the Spirit of the Lord, identify ways we can do and become better tomorrow. Thus our evening prayer builds upon and is a continuation of our morning prayer. And our evening prayer also is a preparation for meaningful morning prayer."

He also said, "Simply saying prayers is quite a different thing from engaging in meaningful prayer. I expect that all of us already know that prayer is essential for our spiritual development and protection. But what we know is not always reflected in what we do. And even though we recognize the importance of prayer, all of us can improve the consistency and efficacy of our personal and family prayers." 

"Such meaningful prayers are instrumental in obtaining the highest blessings God holds in store for His faithful children."

We are given a commandment to Pray Always. Remembering the nature of the Person to whom we are praying will help our prayers become natural and instinctive....not repeated, quick and without much thought. Using Prayer like Elder Bednar explained, will help us grow more united with God....which will allow us to receive Eternal Life-to know God. And that is one of the highest blessings I can think of. What a wonderful gift we have been given to Pray. It is our blessing and privilege, not a mundane task to do before starting our day or ending it. God does not treat them lightly and once we come to know who is on the other end, we can't wait to go back and talk with Him some more. It will be a sweet thing to see Him face-to-face when we die and return to Him and not have to feel like we need to build a relationship with this stranger, for He has so obviously not been far from our thoughts.

a

Gratitude

Lately, I've been learning more about and earnestly trying to have more gratitude. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude. What an amazing principle it is. I thought it was more of a thing of saying 'thanks' when someone did something nice for you. How little did I know. My husband and I were asked to give a talk in Sacrament meeting, our 4th time in under a year, and this time, instead of asking for help to prepare a talk, I asked for help to learn the doctrine. I wanted to really understand Gratitude and not just prepare a talk on it. Marjorie Hinckley was right, Gratitude will give you a touch of refinement that can come in no other way.
Being grateful, and making more conscious efforts to do so, has helped me see more of and be grateful for, the blessings that I normally take for granted or think are commonplace. I have most definitely found out that what our Prophet Thomas S. Monson promised was true, I have gained a closer relationship with Heavenly Father in looking for, acknowledging and showing thanks for His blessings He has so very freely and frequently given me. What a lucky and looked over girl I am.
My dad once taught me about Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life and how we do not need to look around for what else the world or anyone else has to offer. I've tasted of God's love. I loved it. It was sweet. Why should I look anywhere else for happiness, success, or acceptance? Yet, everytime I choose to allow myself to wish for or want the material things or luxuries this life seems to so freely offer, I choose to look elsewhere for happiness. With a grateful heart, I would see no lack, but a life rich with all the things I need and a few areas overflowing. This makes me happy. Not the comparing to others or what's out there, not giving into advertising's gimmicks to make me think that what I currently have isn't good enough, modern enough or attractive enough. On whose standard? Well, with my heart becoming more and more full with gratitude, I'm having less time and room for wanting, wishing or feeling a lack for more. I like this new feeling. The Prophet's words and promises are true. I think I'll let this trend stick around.

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God is real

I recently went through a few events in my life that were fairly difficult. I knew that I should turn to God and trust in Him and He would answer my prayer. I personally wanted a miracle to occur and for my spouse to be healed without having to go to the hospital. I knew the money that we would have to spend on the many hospital bills would set our other hopes aside for awhile longer. We had just finished paying for the last 2 hospital bills (lung collapse and removal of bone cement that was placed when a tumor took the bone) and this next round of hospital bills was not a welcome site, nor very "fair" in my mind. I was praying so hard that God would just heal him so that he would not have to go to the hospital again and knew that God had the power to do so. We said a prayer together and called our home teachers over so that they would exercise the Melchizedek priesthood which they hold to give him a blessing. I prayed several times before they got to our home that God would heal him through His priesthood power which these men would exercise. After the blessing they left and my husband decided that he didn't feel too terrible, but not completely healed, so we would wait until the next day. Upon barely getting my eyes open the next morning, I asked him if he felt better. He said no, and we packed up our things and dropped the baby off at a friend's house to go to the hospital. After the xray we were told that his lungs had collapsed again, but not as bad this time. Instead of a chest tube, they put him on oxygen and told him he would have to be monitored and then take another xray the following day to see if improvement has been made. The following day it was only 25% better. I was worried that they were going to keep him for 2 days, not find enough improvement and then put a chest tube in him which would keep him for several more days. I felt frustrated at not knowing what was going to happen and torn between being with him and taking care of the baby. I continued to pray earnestly that God would heal him and that my husband would be able to return back home soon. I did not want to burden my sister or friend much longer to take care of our baby but at the same time I did not like the idea of leaving him all alone in the hospital for so long. I decided that if this was a test of my faith and commitment to God and obeying His will instead of mine, I would show God through my actions that I believed that He was still mindful of us and our individual situation and that there was some reason which I did not quite understand yet for these many setbacks.

I knew that just because I read my scriptures, said my prayers, went to church and paid my tithing that I would be free from trials. This was a heavy one to me, but I was anxious to show God, not just tell Him, that I was willing to submit to His will and do all that I was asked or endured and do so cheerfully. It changed everything once I decided that trials will not change or disappear, but how I react to them can make or break me. It is not the trial that is the determiner of how strong or faithful I am, it is how I react to the trial. I read in 1 Nephi 11:17 "I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless I do not know the meaning of all things". Isn't that what faith is all about? Believing in something that I cannot see, or quite understand? I know God is there and that He heard every one of my pleas to Him to heal my husband and give me strength. He felt just as horrible as I did and just as much pain as my husband felt. He grieves when we grieve and He rejoices when we rejoice. Just after my husband came home from the hospital after a 4 day stay, I asked God for some help with something very small, but meaningful to me, and He answered it beyond my expectation. I still don't know the reason for the trail, but I do not that my relationship with my Heavenly Father was strengthened and my faith in Him grew. I feel like Nephi-not knowing the meaning of all things, but do know that God loves all His children. Knowing this has made all the difference. I know that this was not the end of my trials, but I do have faith that God is very mindful of each and every one of us, our individual situations and feels our pains as well as our joys. He is our Father in Heaven and like a perfect Father, knows what is best for us in the eternal viewpoint. Prayer is the way I am able to speak with such a kind and attentive Father in Heaven, and scriptures is one of the ways that He speaks to us. I know that Christ too suffered something very great and more than I can comprehend, and asked His Father in Heaven to also take it away from Him, but that He would willingly submit to God's will. To follow Christ is not always the most easy way to travel, but it is very worth it. He is the creator of the world and has many children on the earth to attend to. I take great comfort in knowing that although He commands even the elements on the earth, He also takes the time to listen to my quiet pleas and finds no greater joy than helping His children come and learn more of Him.

Questions Welcomed!

This is the beginning of a blog dedicated to answering and discussing topics related to the Doctrine and Practices that the "Mormons", The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, believe in. I am not hired by the Church, nor have I been asked by the Church to run this Blog. I do this of my own free will and mainly because there are ALOT of misconceptions about the Mormon church. I know that many have 'heard' or 'seen' things about the Mormon people or the Church as a whole, and while some of these things are true, there are regrettably many that are not. One of the best ways to find out whether these things are true, is to ask a practicing Mormon. The Church has a website: Mormon.org where you may find out about the Doctrine and Beliefs of the Church as well as ask questions to a missionary (See the 'Ask a Question' link on the top of the mormon.org website). So in addition to that option, I hope to run this blog so that if there be any who would like to ask a member in a spirit of curiosity or clarification, that is why I am here.
The best way to begin would be to let you know of our core beliefs. These are called the Articles of Faith and came about because "The Prophet Joseph Smith first wrote them in a letter to John Wentworth, a newspaper editor, in response to Mr. Wentworth's request to know what members of the Church believed. They were subsequently published in Church periodicals. They are now regarded as scripture and included in the Pearl of Great Price" (lds.org).

1 We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2 We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5 We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6 We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7 We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
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.
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.
10 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13 We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

I have been taught these things my whole life, but amazingly, I continue to grow in my belief of these Articles of Faith the more I strive to live by them. One can only truly know of the truth of these things by 'trying it out', living by it. This is what Christ Himself taught during His Mortal Ministry in John 7:17, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." The only way to know of the truth of a principle or doctrine, is to 'do' it, live what it says. This shows God that you are willing to exercise your faith in something that you do not have proof of and we have His promise that He will let us know. I have personally experienced the wonderful gift of receiving an answer from God. It is one of the most prized gifts we can hope to attain. A Heavenly answer from a Loving Heavenly Father to one of His children. He knows us by name, and as Christ said in Matthew 10:30 "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered", He knows us even more than we know ourselves. The God I am taught to believe in and worship in this Church is a very Real, Loving, Kind, Just and Merciful God. He actively hears my prayers-every single one that I offer to Him, and He will answer if we are sincere, have faith and real intent- meaning that we intend to act upon the answer we receive whether that be to go to Church, repent, read the scriptures more; that we will put actions to our words (James 2:17-20).