The Boon of My Existence

The Boon of My Existence

One of the talks that I wanted to discuss from the October 2011 General Conference was Elder Christofferson's about repentance. One of my favorite all-time scriptures, that I found while trying to gain a better testimony of the gospel, a testimony based in living what I believe to be true, was from Mosiah 16:12-13. In it we read:

12 Having gone according to their own carnal wills and desires; having never called upon the Lord while the arms of mercy were extended towards them; for the arms of mercy were extended towards them, and they would not; they being warned of their iniquities and yet they would not depart from them; and they were commanded to repent and yet they would not repent. 
13 And now, ought ye not to tremble and repent of your sins, and remember that only in and through Christ ye can be saved? 

The reason this verse stuck out to me was because of the image of the Lords arms of mercy being extended repeatedly to us, only waiting for our accepting of His love. To me, Elder Christofferson is saying that when he said that " the invitation to repent is an expression of love." How could it be an expression of love? I think it is because the Lord loves us so much and  because Jesus Christ is the perfect example and way to happiness in this life and the next, He always knows how to show us a better way. So, as He reaches out to us, to hug us and love us, He invites us to change because that is the path to true happiness: repentance and progression. I'm grateful that not only does He offer us His arms of mercy, but that He cheers for us and comforts us along as we strive to improve ourselves, for in the end, we can only do it with His help.

The Privilege of Parenthood

Parent Trap? Nope!

This past General Conference Elder Andersen, one of the Lord's Living apostles spoke on the subject of children. Unlike the worldly trends, our Church places great importance on the rearing and bearing of children, knowing that "it is a crowning privilege of a husband and wife who are able to bear children to provide mortal bodies for these spirit children of God." 

Now that doesn't say that with privilege comes a life of ease. Nope, I would say the opposite is true. If anything, parenthood makes life harder. Perhaps this is what Elder Nelson, a father of ten, partly meant when he said:  

"We came into this life to acquire a physical body. We may fall in love and be married. We may have children and experience the trials of mortal life. (Please forgive me for mentioning children and the trials of life in the same breath. I sense that they are both part of our growing process.)"

Can children be a trial in life? I would answer by paraphrasing Elder Scott, when was anything worthwhile ever easy? Yet, the blessings and profound feelings of love that come with parenthood are life-changing. Prior to being a parent, hearing of the suffering of children hurt, but not as much as hearing of the same when thinking of our own children now. It is such a privilege to love children. My heart ails for those who aren't able to have children, especially when they try so hard to have them in their life. What a blessing of the Lord are these children given to us. Truly, they help us to grow if we allow them. I have a friend that told me that adults don't have kids, kids make adults. I think this is true when the parents 'man up' to their responsibilities as parents.

For Whom the Bell Tolls: You

There's a quote by Brigham Young where he says that "we never began to build a temple without the bells of hell beginning to ring. I want to hear them ring again!” I think that this quote could also be applied to those who are trying to worship the Lord in His Holy Temple. Satan's bells ring for temple worshippers as well. Yet, despite whatever opposition to His work, God will help us through anything if we will depend on Him and our covenants to Him. Elder David A. Bednar, a living apostle, said that what gave the early saints the strength to endure through all their opposition was "the fire of the temple covenant that burned in their hearts. It was their commitment to worship and honorably hold a name and standing in the house of the Lord." I've seen it many times when going to the temple, or even participating in any ordinance leading to the temple, opposition come in whatever form. Yet, if we just push through with God's help, the adverse conditions are to no avail.

To Q or not to Q, that is the question?

What's in a question? I recently reread some of the transcript from the PBS documentary, 'The Mormons', where those who have been excommunicated for intellectual apostasy and wondered where these people went wrong. I think it all started in the kinds of questions they were asking. It appears that the questions they asked and thus the answers they later came to were wrong. Yet, they felt they had reached truth and taught accordingly. This teaching led to their excommunication? So, is it bad to ask a question?

When we look to the scriptures about examples of questions we do good and bad. Think of all the Pharisees tried to do with the Savior. They would always ask Him questions, trying to see if they could hold His answers against Him. The Savior would always see what they were trying to do. And then stump them by asking questions back (Mark 11:28-33). The same kind of trapping questions were given to Abinidi. Their intent is recorded as "they began to question him, that they might cross him, that thereby they might have wherewith to accuse him; but he answered them boldly, and withstood all their questions, yea, to their astonishment; for he did withstand them in all their questions, and did confound them in all their words" (Mosiah 12:19). Their questions were bad because they were trying to justify their own actions and beliefs that were in opposition to God and His prophets.

How do these intellectuals, these September Six, fare the same? By pursuing their research and questions, they effectively put themselves in opposition to God's word by calling into question they doctrines the Brethren had taught. In the end, their questions weren't necessarily wrong, but their conclusions and teachings thereafter were. They were teaching contrary to the living prophets. Hence, why President Packer answers in the documentary, "It's very simple. Down some of those paths, you have a right to go, but in the Church, you don't have a right to teach and take others there." He's essentially saying that we can ask any question we want, but when our answers are in opposition to the Brethren, than that is wrong.

Does that mean we should blindly follow the prophets just because they said so? Hardly. Elder Angel Abrea said this about questioning and blind obedience: "I’m sure that many questions have come to your mind. The truth is that you will not be condemned for wondering or questioning if you make a sincere effort to find the answer. Our mental powers have been given to us to use. Faith based on personal prayer, study, and obedience is more lasting than blind faith; it is more rewarding, and for sure it is better grounded." In reality, we as a Church don't believe in blind obedience. Perhaps, those who rely on others testimonies could be considered as blind, but they are also trusting in someone they love to lead them aright. They are told to eventually get their own testimony, to not rely on others.

Elder Oaks explains that when we follow the prophets it is not blind obedience. He said, "Of course, we have leaders, and of course, we are subject to their decisions and directions in the operation of the Church and in the performance of needed priesthood ordinances. But when it comes to learning and knowing the truth of the gospel—our personal testimonies—we each have a direct relationship with God, our Eternal Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, through the powerful witness of the Holy Ghost. This is what our critics fail to understand. It puzzles them that we can be united in following our leaders and yet independent in knowing for ourselves...We all act upon or give obedience to knowledge. Whether in science or religion, our obedience is not blind when we act upon knowledge suited to the subject of our action. A scientist receives and acts upon a trusted certification of the content or conditions of a particular experiment. In matters of religion, a believer’s source of knowledge is spiritual, but the principle is the same. In the case of Latter-day Saints, when the Holy Ghost gives our souls a witness of the truth of the restored gospel and the calling of a modern prophet, our choice to follow those teachings is not blind obedience." And so the real matter is of testimony not questions. Questions are encouraged. They ideally lead to more truth and not less, as what occurs when apostasy is the result.

God's Greatest Creation

Recently, my wife Amelia brought our second baby into the world, Ana Ruth. My wife and two other women will all be the mothers of newborns by the close of August. Mothers who sacrifice not only their body, but their lives in the raising of children are often unheralded heroes. I'm sure I could show more appreciation to my wife for the work and effort that goes into her being a mother. Truly, women hold a "preeminent role" in our faith, as Elder Quentin L. Cook declared. Using the definition of preeminent, women are eminent above or before others; superior; surpassing. Gratefully, "neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 11:11). 

We men can glean some of the greatness of our superior counterpart. I was once in a meeting with another apostle, Elder Richard G. Scott, who put up a powerpoint slide of a woman being showered on with light from Heaven and the man beside her trying to glean some of the llight from her. The slide made people laugh, but the idea always stuck with me. Women who fulfill their part in God's plan are such inspiring examples to us oft ogre-ish men. At least with women's help and God's, we men can fulfill our divine potential. Thank you to all you women who sacrifice so much to be mothers and wives, especially to Amelia.

Even Harder Than a Mission

So the other day I talked to one of my close friends, Jordan, who is newly married. We hadn't talked in a while so it was a complete shock to hear him talk way differently than he would have before he was married. He talked about how he was invited to go houseboating and how if his wife were in a similar situation he wouldn't want her to go boating with a bunch of guys. I marvelled at how because he is now married he now makes decisions based with his wife in mind as well. What's surprising is that prior to marriage Jordan would do pretty much anything his friends were doing, but now because of a better friend than all of these, his wife, appeasing the friend group pales in comparison. It's just amazing how much marriage can change a person. It's so true what Elder Scott said in last general conference, that "marriage provides an ideal setting for overcoming any tendency to be selfish or self-centered."

Of course marriage, though it is great, is not a walk in the park either. My NY mission president would say that marriage is harder than a mission. My mission was real hard. And I'll agree that marriage is harder, but just as the mission saw great rewards and blessings that far outweigh the hardships endured, so too is marriage. I'm grateful that the Lord led me to Amelia and that as we strive to include the Lord in our lives, we'll continue to overcome all that comes our way and grow more in love and joy.

Choosing Our Wills and Aspirations

One of the talks I really liked from last General Conference was Elder Oaks' about desires. He said that "desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions. The desires we act on determine our changing, our achieving, and our becoming." I suppose this talk was one of my favorites because one of my favorite scriptures is Mosiah 16:12-13. These verses read:

"Having gone according to their own carnal wills and desires; having never called upon the Lord while the arms of mercy were extended towards them; for the arms of mercy were extended towards them, and they would not; they being warned of their iniquities and yet they would not depart from them; and they were commanded to repent and yet they would not repent.

And now, ought ye not to tremble and repent of your sins, and remember that only in and through Christ ye can be saved?"

Now, the main reason I really love these verses is because of the repetition of image of the arms of mercy being extended to us. As much as we reject the Lord, He repeatedly tries to offer us mercy. Yet, I also like how it mentions the idea of carnal wills and desires. No matter how much I grow in the gospel, I still feel like I have carnals wills and desires that cause me to fall “short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Though, I hope, over time as I continue to repent these carnal ways will become less and less, I think that we will just by the fact that we’re mortals, always have to fight the carnal man within us.

I guess I take hope in the fact that though we may be always imperfect and will continually struggle to purge the carnality within us, we can and must be helped by the Savior. Another favourite scripture of mine counsels us that we should “remember...that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved” (2 Nephi 10:24). I’ve definitely made the mistake of thinking that I could perhaps do it on my own, repent and live righteously without the Lord’s help. In fact, I once told God to let me do it on my own, just to prove that I could. I can tell you that I fell farther and faster away from the Lord as a result.

I have felt that as I come closer to the Lord, through repentance and when I feel the Spirit in abundance, that I “have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:2). I suppose it’s a never-ending process, our improvement and progression, and that the desires we cultivate and nurture will determine what we will choose.

Move Over Joe and Jew, Here Comes Tommy

One highlighted theme from this past General Conference was importance of the living prophet of God. The idea that really stuck out to me from these messages was when President Benson was quoted as saying that “the living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works” (“Obedience”). That’s a pretty profound statement. We are to understand that the Stick of Joseph and the stick of Judah, the Bible and the Book of Mormon are not as important to us as the prophetic word of the living prophet of the our day. Obviously, this importance of following the living prophet does not mean to disregard the Bible and Book of Mormon, but if not for a living prophet of God today, then our church might as well not even have the other books of scripture. We need God's word for us today and God's living prophet is God's mouthpiece to all mankind.

Today, our living prophet is President Thomas S. Monson. He is God’s mouthpiece on earth. Another memorable thought from President Benson’s talk was that the living prophet gives us “Today’s News Today”. The living prophet today is able to look out at our world and show was what path we might take today that would be of most benefit not only to members of Christ’s Church, but for all mankind.

Our last prophet was President Gordon B. Hinckley. When I went out on my mission I used to think that his talks were the most boredom-inducing sermons out there. His topics seemed to be sooo simple and basic. I always loved the other apostles’ talks a lot more because I felt they were of more substance. But, over time I began to realize how doctrinally enriched his talks were. The talk that did it for me was his talk from April 2004 General Conference. He framed the plight of mankind in such an inspired way. After that Conference, as a missionary, I began collecting as many Conference ensigns as I could and pretty much had all the Conferences from 1995 to 2004. I then read through all of President Hinckley’s talks further confirming that not only were his talks not just basic, but that they were really inspiring and so bold too. Of all the aspects of my testimony that grew on my mission, the knowledge that President Hinckley was a prophet of God grew most. This knowledge helped me to further grow in love and appreciation for how much God loves us as well.

And now President Monson is our living prophet. He has been our prophet for just over 3 years now. Each prophet seems to have something that has marked their ministry. President Benson was known for “flooding the earth with the Book of Mormon”, President Kimball was known for “lengthening our stride”, Elder Bateman of the seventy said that we couldn’t really pin down President Hinckley to one topic because the breadth of his ministry was so great. Yet, Elder Quentin L. Cook said that he continually made reference to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. What will President Monson be most remembered for? Though his ministry is hardly concluded, we hope, I think it’d be safe to say that the title of President Monson’s biography succinctly summarizes what he would hope the Saints be anxiously engaged in - To the Rescue.

The Divine Gift of Gratitude

What is it about gratitude that makes a difference for better in our lives? I guess it’s because we’re focusing on what we have rather than what we don’t have. It’s expressing gratitude to God and others for everything that is given us. President Monson, the prophet of God for our time, said this past General Conference that “to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven.” He also said that we usually take for granted and show the least gratitude for those people around us that we love most. So, today I am going to express gratitude for the many blessings in my life. I think of the scripture from Moroni where he exhorts people that they “would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts” (Moroni 10:3). I think each person, even those who go through the hardest of trials in life can still find blessings for which they can be grateful. Here are some of my many blessings:

•Choice - The right, responsibility, and results of choice – there was a lot of talk last Conference about Agency. I’m grateful that no matter what I’ve done in my life, that I can still make choices to better myself and that I can be helped by God to do so.
•Possibilities - I guess associated with choice is that there are endless possibilities in life. We truly can do anything we want in life, if we really put the work forth. That's pretty amazing.
•Family –I’m grateful most especially for Amelia’s patience in me, as I try as Elder Christofferson said, to more convincingly love her throughout time. I’m grateful for how she is not only my wife and is ever there for me, but also for how she mothers Fred. I’m also grateful for my siblings and parents. These who have known me longest, both my strengths and weaknesses, each love me though we might not all be the best at showing it at times as well. As Fred has come into our lives, I’ve been especially grateful for how it has changed both my siblings and especially my parents for the better. They love Fred so much, which makes me feel their love too.
•Friends – I love the many friends I’ve made, both in and out of the Church. I cherish so much friends who would do anything to buoy me up. I consider friends to be one of the great blessings of life. I pray that as time goes on, I will become a better friend to any that I come in contact.
•Priesthood Leaders – I’m grateful for leaders both local and from the headquarters of our Church, who have the faith and strength to lead in righteousness, who do not fold under the pressure of popular criticism, who teach what God would have them teach no matter the consequence, who love all and show it by their example. I'm also grateful for the past prophets who have preceded these men(all the way back to Father Adam).
• God and Jesus Christ - I’m grateful for Our Heavenly Father’s constant concern for us His children. I’m grateful that He created a plan whereby all could do whatever they want, that we have that freedom. I’m grateful too though that He always reaches out to us, if we would only reach out to Him. He has especially reached out to us through His Son Jesus Christ. I know that I can never show enough gratitude for Jesus Christ and for how “the chastisement of our peace was upon him” (Isaiah 53). I want to ever and ever strive to show more gratitude for His atonement and love, as He always so patiently strives to show us a better way in life. I’m grateful for the Holy Spirit who testifies of the living reality of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ and they truly live today. I’m grateful for their love that I feel as I strive to do Their will.

I was there when...

Have you ever wondered about being at a famous event in history? Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be there, at that time? Don’t we all? I think it’d be nice to be able to ‘look’ in on any event that we’re told of in history and be able to judge for ourselves whether this or that happened. History, as we’re told, is told by the winners. I’m reading this graphic novel right now that paints a pretty sordid picture of the 500 year resistance that has been waged by the Indigenous peoples against the ‘White Man’. I’ve never heard anyone dog Christopher Columbus before and say that he was a slaver who enabled the killing/raping of many people. It’s interesting cause in our doctrine, the LDS think of him as being inspired to find the Americas. In Nephi’s Vision, he said, “And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land” (1 Nephi 13:12). We interpret that “man among the Gentiles” to have been Columbus. And yet, it is generally understood that Columbus thought that the Americas was India.


There are a few different instances of misinterpreted history even within the Book of Mormon. Ammoron, a king of the Lamanites, accuses the Nephite people of forcing Zoram to come into their caravan. And yet, we know that Zoram loved Nephi and followed him willingly. We also know that after the Nephi/Laman split, that generations after the Lamanites believed the tradition that their Father Laman had been wronged by Nephi. This tradition of lies that was passed down to the Lamanites is why when Ammon and his crew taught the Nephites that it was important for them to help them “to the knowledge of the truth, to the knowledge of the baseness of the traditions of their fathers, which were not correct” (Alma 17:9).

The same occurs today. What is history? As church members we understand the history of the world so differently than most of the world. We believe that the history of mankind has been its acceptance and rejection of God. We believe that these are the last days as we prepare for the Second Coming of Christ. We believe that not only did Jesus live, but that He died for all mankind and was also resurrected. He lives. Elder Christofferson said this last General Conference:

"The scriptures enlarge our memory by helping us always to remember the Lord and our relationship to Him and the Father. They remind us of what we knew in our pre-mortal life. And they expand our memory in another sense by teaching us about epochs, people, and events that we did not experience personally. None of us was present to see the Red Sea part and cross with Moses between walls of water to the other side. We were not there to hear the Sermon on the Mount, to see Lazarus raised from the dead, to see the suffering Savior in Gethsemane and on the cross, and we did not, with Mary, hear the two angels testify at the empty tomb that Jesus was risen from the dead. You and I did not go forward one by one with the multitude in the land Bountiful at the resurrected Savior’s invitation to feel the prints of the nails and bathe His feet with our tears. We did not kneel beside Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove and gaze there upon the Father and the Son. Yet we know all these things and much, much more because we have the scriptural record to enlarge our memory, to teach us what we did not know. And as these things penetrate our minds and hearts, our faith in God and His Beloved Son takes root.”

One day we will have the truth of history. And Satan’s attempts at changing history to a myriad of untruths will be replaced with the eternal truth that God is over all. The history that God has told, as told by past and living prophets, is the truth. Though many may oppose the truth of history, the “truth will endure to the last, /And its firm-rooted bulwarks outstand the rude blast / And the wreck of the fell tyrant’s hopes.”

Dispelling the Enemy

I really loved Elder Holland's talk from this past Conference. He essentially talked about true love vs. lust. Love will endure all trials, lust is always ready to leave when trials begin.

Dispelling the Enemy

Any time people talk to one of these men of God
Not because of fame but the gospel
I shook his hand he asked ‘are you doing good?’
Never would they be guarded or hostile

At this time three girls make their way
In tears try to share their story
Each divorced resulted fruit of pornography
At that point sigh at eternal glory

What a sore subject to relate
Tears at theirs spark action
Wonder why the world mars in mire
Yet the Church cannot sanction

Immorality is so publicly prevalent
Media industry spew from their pulpits
From the same come much of good
Craters that throw us in deep pits

Yet men do not only fall
All can get caught in the web
Text game chat song – pierced
Little by little our virtue we ebb

If this were a full grown tree
Than attack tree not branches
The true culprit is lust
Some say deadliest in art of ashes

Ashes most from family
Love is to be forever
Lust gluts on all about
We become an ever craver

The whoring of love it is
People give up at any price
Trust it's tender victim
Sale of property timed suffice

Action - proximity governs probable
All sources must be banned
Look at righteous old Joseph
In prison he'd rather stand

Know that this is addiction
You need others to help
In the end it is we that choose
Watching steps keeps a whimpered yelp

We keep our fortress the mind
Keep good expel unsought guests
Do and Be where the Spirit is
Have angels seen or not God enlists

Conclusion - Remember the Savior
Always think of Him you win
He suffered you hurt Him too
Repent! With Him you can overcome any sin

Life is a war between good and evil
Legions fight and we each person
Satan desires to have us
He kills by degrees of poison

Like Nephi of old let us say
I am so weak and easily beset
I groan at all my sin
I trust in God thus am set

Revelation Received - Changes Are a Coming

I feel like with my life that I don't know beforehand what I will do, in some senses (1 Nephi 4:6). I don't know what career I will end up with. The Lord revealed strongly through two impressions, during President Uchtdorf's Sunday talk, that I should be a cop. I've started the process, talked to a RCMP recruiter and there might be possible hindrances with that because I've been lazy with the paying of debts that I have. So, if I was to give advice to posterity: stay out of debt and when you are in debt get out as soon as possible because it could have long-lasting repercussions. That advice works with spiritual debts as well (those caused by sin and yes I know we can never fully pay the debt we've incurred-hence the Atonement). Anyways, so I will pursue being a cop, but if I'm stopped by this debt thing, then that's why I don't know where I'm going to end up. The impression of being a cop came when President Uchtdorf spoke of driving around Canada and seeing that not all was beautiful with our landscape or houses(paraphrase). Also, when speaking of reaching out to others, he said we shouldn't care about what we see or smell. I thought about how cops would see and smell much that would be nasty. On the previous example, the vision that came to my mind is that cops go into the worst areas of a town, both spiritually and physically-thus by having, carrying the Spirit into such places as a torch, perhaps some might come out of their holes of despair. Please help me, O lord, lead me, guide me. I hope it can be said of me, that "Nevertheless I went forth" (1 Nephi 4:7).

Conan's Last Show - Be of Good Cheer

Did you see Conan's last show a couple months ago? I was pretty interested in the whole Jay Leno/Conan thing and definitely felt that Jay was not an innocent victim as he said. Perhaps NBC is the big bad orchestrator, but Jay could have walked away from his contract too. He could have stood up to NBC if he really didn't want the show back. I don't even know how Jay's show is doing now, but I know I've become less of a Jay fan as a result of that whole thing

Anyways, I mention Conan's last show because at the very end of the show he gave his heartfelt feelings of his leaving. During this whole Jay/Conan debacle he started harping harshly on NBC's stupidity and perhaps rightly so, but on this last night, he was positive towards NBC and his long history with them. He asked fans to "not be cynical. I hate cynicism. For the record, it is my least favorite quality. It doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But, if you work really hard and your kind, amazing things will happen - I'm telling you, amazing things will happen..."

I really like that. Not only because it was heartfelt but because what he said is true. Though I believe that us Mormons have the fulness of the truth and that through living the restored gospel true, eternal happiness can be found, I also believe that truth is independent of religion and that any time we live by truth happiness can come into our lives. A scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 93:30-31 says the same thing:

"All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, to act for itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise there is no existence.

Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man; because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light."

It is true that if we have hard times if we just stay away from negativity, keep working hard, and be kind to others amazing things will happen. When I saw Conan say this I thought of President Monson, the living prophet of God today, and how he said:

“It would be easy to become discouraged and cynical about the future—or even fearful of what might come—if we allowed ourselves to dwell only on that which is wrong in the world and in our lives. Today, however, I’d like us to turn our thoughts and our attitudes away from the troubles around us and to focus instead on our blessings as members of the Church. The Apostle Paul declared, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

None of us makes it through this life without problems and challenges—and sometimes tragedies and misfortunes. After all, in large part we are here to learn and grow from such events in our lives. We know that there are times when we will suffer, when we will grieve, and when we will be saddened. However, we are told, “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.”

How might we have joy in our lives, despite all that we may face? Again from the scriptures: “Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you.”

...My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith."

President Monson said essentially the same thing as Conan work hard and be positive. Would Conan want to be equated with the teachings of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Probably not, considering they dogged on Orrin Hatch and Mormons for Hatch's Hannukah song. Yet, I love how truth can be found anywhere.

December 23rd a la Pope

Having spent some of the Christmas in Palmyra, New York I've decided to do write a bit about our time there and some thoughts a la Alexander Pope. Above is us in the Sacred Grove. I received feedback that my previous post was a bit wordy. Hopefully this is a bit shorter:

I served my mission in Upstate New York
I say Upstate 'cause it's not the City, dork
I met a lady said he was all 'bout girls and cash
It's sad to see when people believe trash
Prior the mission I never really been east
Called the Cradle, it has a spiritual feast
Here Joseph saw God and and His Son
It's either true or just a big con.

His Vision tells Father and Son are separate
Them as all one confusing to contemplate
Easier to think of Them like Abe and Isaac
Idea of Abe and Abe requires Provasic.
He learned They have bodies of bone and flesh
Else Jesus would not have ate honey and fish
After Ascension Jesus did not leave body on shore
But like Paul said, He "dieth no more."
Jo learned God speaks to man today
Why? Hugh B. queried it this way
Does God love us the same today as then?
Has He the power today as way back when?
Do we need Him as much today as then?
Yes! Yes! Yes! The world is such a lion's den.
Smith found that Christ's Church was no more
Thus rather than Reform, God was to Restore
Of course many loved God and tried their best
Yet for years man told God He was a jest.

So God called Joseph as a prophet
Was he really in it for the profit?
The best proof is the Book of Mormon
Read it, you'll find it not common
It gives peace to those who read
It testifies Jesus is the Christ in very deed
Pray to know and you'll feel the Spirit
Just like science, requires you try it.

Jumping on the Bandwagon

Well, here I am. My wife is a blog addict and so I've decided to see what all the fuss is about. I am not going to be an addict, but I do want to post thoughts every so often. I thought I would put my thoughts about General Conference once in a while. What is General Conference? Let me explain.

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet called by God. To tell his story, he lived in the early 1800's in Upstate New York. There was many different religions to choose from and he wanted to figure out which one was God's. Not all roads lead to heaven, you know (Matthew 7:21-23). He knew the Bible preached that except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he could not enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5). Knowing the Bible contained God's word, he read to find out where to go to find salvation, but every church had their own interpretation as to what to do and where to go to find truth. He found the answer to his quandary in the Bible where it says that if you lack wisdom, ask God (James 1:5). What an obvious answer, eh? Why trust all the men and preachers out there when God, Who knows all, could just tell Joseph what His will was "because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matthew 7:14). Joseph took the hard route. Rather than trust in man, he asked God which church he should join. We call this experience of him praying to know which church to join the First Vision. He prayed in some woods near his home in Palmyra, New York, and miraculously, he was visited by God the Father and Jesus Christ in person. They told him that none of the churches at the time had the fullness of His truth and that through him they were going to restore the truths and authority that had been lost. And so, it happened. Joseph Smith was called to be a prophet of God. He received priesthood authority from those who had it: Peter, James, and John, as well as John the Baptist to begin with. Those same keys of authority they held (Matthew 16:15-19) were given to Joseph Smith and that same authority has been passed to God's living prophet today: Thomas S. Monson. And this work will continue to grow until the kingdom of God is prepared to receive her King.

Gratefully, we don't have to wallow in the many different philosophies that abound in the world either. What is truth today? It's the same it's always been. We, like Joseph Smith, don't have to trust our fellow men, either. We can ask God for ourselves through prayer too. No, we can't talk to Joseph Smith today, but he did leave some great things for our perusal to decide for ourselves if he was a true prophet of God. The greatest evidence that Joseph Smith was a prophet is the Book of Mormon. In short, the Book of Mormon is God's dealings with the Americas at the same time of the writing of the Bible. God had prophets in the Americas, too. Joseph Smith was led to find this book, which was written on gold plates, and he translated them into English by the power of God. The First Vision is another evidence he was a prophet of God. The authority he received from ancient prophets is another. That authority continues today with our living prophets and apostles. Like I said, President Monson (we call the prophet the President of our church) is our living prophet today. One of the things Joseph Smith established while alive was a thing called General Conference. It's where the Church gathered together to hear the word of the Lord from His chosen leaders. This tradition continues today, and besides anything ordinance-related it is probably my favorite church event in being a member of the Church. To hear from our living prophets and seers is a blessing beyond compare. There's a talk by a previous prophet, President Ezra Taft Benson, where he says that a living prophet is more important than a dead one. President Monson's counsel, as well as the other living apostles, is the timely counsel God would have us all, each and every one of Earth's inhabitants, hear and receive God's love and mercy. These tender mercies of the Lord, through the words of His living prophets, is what I dedicate this blog to. My intention is to just put down my ponderings over the messages these prophets of God have given us, especially the living prophet. We aren't like the Muslims, in that we keep Mohammed's name sacred, we do show great deference to President Monson because he is God's Chosen Mouthpiece on earth. What he says really is what God would say (D&C 1:37-38).

I can tell you that I know these things of myself. I have taken the time to study the Book of Mormon as well as test the teachings of this Restored Church for myself. Just as the Savior said we could test His doctrine to see it's validity, we can also test Joseph's doctrine to see if it's from God (John 7:17). As a result of this testing, especially through praying and asking to know if it is true, I have come to know most especially that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. He lives and truly did die for all our sins. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His church on earth. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, hand-in-hand with the Bible, working together to dispel untruths everywhere. Joseph Smith truly was a prophet of God. He wasn't perfect, but he was never heinously evil in any way. But, in his own words, he was never "guilty of any great or malignant sins" (JS-H 1:28). I know that all that we have in this Church is there to bring us to Christ and to be like Christ. That really is the purpose of all that we do in the Church (2 Nephi 25:26; 3 Nephi 12:48).

What does the knowledge of these things bring? Happiness. Joseph Smith said that "happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it." Thus, as we apply the teachings and counsel of these living prophets of God, we will find happiness, true happiness. Isn't that what all men desire in the world, and yet, don't always seem to find? Here will be allotted words that will hopefully inspire and bring the happiness found from heeding the words of living prophets.

Edmund Adolf Tu'inukuafe