The Gospel

A while back the question was raised, "what do Mormons believe?"  Joseph Smith responded to this question with 12 statements or formally known as the articles of faith.  The forth article of faith states: "We believe the first ordinance and principles of the Gospel are first, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, second repentance, third baptism for the remission of sins, and forth the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands."

It was fascinating to me to study the book of James along with the story of the restoration of the Gospel through the prophet Joseph Smith.  James counseled the Israel that "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."

It was here that Joseph gained an idea of how to find truth: pray and ask.  It brought faith that there was a God and He answered prayers.  It was from this faith that sprung the First Vision and he's faith was made sure.

He then upon knowing of God sought to know if his course in life was in line with God.  Moroni appeared to the boy and latter revealed the Book of Mormon, a book dedicated to the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance.

Through the Book of Mormon Joseph was taught about baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost, upon separately learning of these two and each question being sought with prayer.  Joseph was given the ordinances of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost.

What is the significance of these events?  In each case Joseph came to the Lord in prayer with a question.  The pattern of James was followed all throughout the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The patter was lack of knowledge then prayer then answer. These came significantly in the order of Faith -> Repentance -> Baptism -> Gift of the Holy Ghost.  All in all this is the same pattern that we must follow.  When we lack knowledge pray, ask God, and then follow what is revealed.  Our idea will lead us to experiment with will increase our faith, the answer will increase our faith to act and change and in turn we will draw closer to God.

The Gospel is beautiful and consistent.

Final: How is a Tongue like a Horse

A.

 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

Final: A Few Principles && Doctrines

1. Grace

- Grace is the strengthening enabling power of Jesus Chris.

- The Grace of Christ strengthens us and assists us in doing good works and moving forward.  It also is the enabling power that allows us to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after our own best efforts.

- Because Grace comes through Christ it is first requisite that one have Faith in Christ.

- Ephesians 2:8-9 : For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

-Elder Bednar: In the strength of the Lord and through His grace, I know that you and I can be blessed to accomplish all things.

2. Faith

Final: The Godhead

Dear Friend,

All throughout time God always made Himself known to man.  He parts the veil and reveals Himself to His prophet and then that prophet testifies to the world that God lives and that He loves us.  The greatest news that we share is that God still follows this pattern even in our generation.  The major reason that we believe that that the Trinity is not the whole truth is because the veil has been parted and God has revealed himself again to man in our generation.

Joseph Smith was the first prophet in our day to whom the veil was parted and the nature of the Godhead was made perfectly known.  Consider Joseph’s own words:

I could of had it all!

On my way back from swimming this morning a popular song came on the radio.  One of the lines is very contagious: "I could of had it all..."  It got me thinking as i read in Hebrews for class.  Here Paul is talking to a group of people that feel the law of Moses will save them and he is trying to teach them faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  One of the example of faith that Paul uses is that of Moses and he words almost echo this song i just mentioned, Paul basically says that Moses being in the house of Pharaoh could of had it all, but instead chose to follow the Lord: "esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt... By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

He forsook the world, all of it, for all of it was truly at his finger tips being the son of Pharaoh--ironically to the world this also meant the son of god, for the world called Pharaoh god.  But he chose instead to follow in faith the promises of the true and living God.  The promise of eternal life and exaltation.  He gave up the seeming all for the All.

This is where i got to thinking "What are my Egypts?"  What are the things in my life that i want to hold on to so that i can "have it all?"  As i thought a few came to mind.  Then the question is do i "[Esteem] the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt?"

Then the words of Moses came again to mind as he saw the Lord and learn of the world's and man's true place: "Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed."  He was offered the world! He saw all of Egypt at his hands, Pharaoh was the claimed god of the world who ruled with an iron hand! There was nothing that was denied him!  Yet, Moses with only the sight of God realized: Man is Nothing!  Then the true power of his word: Which thing I never had supposed.  Truly God's promises are far greater than anything in this world and they are never broken!

With this in mind my Egypts don't seem so big and my gratitude for a loving Father and His Son surpass my understanding.  I know they live and love us, In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Careful for Nothing

Careful is an interesting word; it means to be anxious to protect something from harm or danger.  Anxious is an interesting word; it means to yearn or worry about: such as the feeling for breath when the air is thin.

Therefore what dose it mean to be careful for nothing?  It mean to not yearn for anything, in other words, it means to cease to focus on the goals in life and enjoy the now on your way to them.  It means to find joy in the journey; to stop and smell the roses; to find peace now.  So how is this to be done? Paul gives us the answer: "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Philippians 4:6).  As we walk through life give our worries to the Lord let our advance worrying become our advanced prayer and planning.

This council also comes with a promise "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (7).  No greater blessing sometimes than that of peace.

So then the question becomes: aren't we supposed to have high goals and shoot for them?  "What wilt thou have pay the price and take it!" "Aim high in dream and hope!" "Never, never, never give up!"  Don't goals and dreams imply being not content with where one is in life, desiring and longing for more?

I don't have an answer for that...

But here are some more of Paul's words:  "for i have learned, in whatsoever state i am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and i know how to abound: everywhere and in all things i am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need" (11).  It seems then the answer is both.  With the guidance of the spirit, we fill our role in life and reach our greatest potential.  When prompted to move we move and know that there is nothing that we cannot accomplish, and therefore if we are stalled or stopped, or our course is changed, or while we fly--we enjoy the journey and flight--not the end. We trust that our power is infinite for "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (13).  

Lighten the Load

"And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, ALL hope that we should be saved was then taken away..." (Acts 27:20).

It is interesting to me it is in the times of our greatest difficult that the Lords true power is shown in so many ways.  It is also interesting to me that as the circumstances become worse my faith in Him increases.  It is in those times of utter oblivion that I know He always hears me, and by hears i mean shows His power and His hand in my life.

I think it is because He always comes to our aid that He asks us not to murmur.    "Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke..." (Philippians 2:14).  I think for me when i begin to murmur, i am in essence blaming others for my trails and sorrows, as well as my weaknesses.  Murmuring in essence is saying your failures are someone else's fault.  Went i reflect on myself doing this i think how prideful, arrogant, and evil.  It's just not right.

God has given me a clear way to avoid this pitfall and even to over the "cause" of it.  "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (4:6).  He asks me to pray unto Him and share my weaknesses with Him, to offer them to Him.  He then promises peace and strength that knows no bounds, even His peace and His power: "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your [heart] and [mind] through Christ Jesus." (7) "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (13).

Truly there is nothing that we cannot do through Christ and with His help, why complain and why murmur when i know that Christ will personally aid my endeavor and strengthen my weaknesses.  He lives and will always come to our aid. He lightens my load and commands the storm.  O murmur not my soul and let the God of all rule your storm. For He is mighty to save. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Ryan

What's up Ryan!

I hear all the time that the innovation of computers over the last few years is all about how many CPUs one can cram on a single chip, but that has never sounded all that interesting.

However, as i have met new Computer Science majors and have been able to get to know them, I have come to realize it really true.  The more friends you have in a group or class the lighter the load becomes.  How grateful i am to people who are willing to go out of their comfort zone and just make new friends.

For some reason that is hard for a few of us.