Straight Talk - Straight Up

What are the Similarities and Differences in Mormon Doctrine vs. Other Christians?

Everyone knows the SIMILARITIES between Mormon Doctrine, and Other Christians.(Christian meaning someone who follows Christ and His teachings.)

Jesus Christ is the Son of God.(John 5:19, Luke 1:35)

Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer.(1 John 4:14, Job 19:25)

Followers of Christ have been instructed to have Faith in order to be saved.(Matthew 14:31, Mark 9:23)

Followers of Christ have been commanded to Pray.(John 16:26)

It is a Commandment to only have sex with your spouse, who is to be of the opposite gender.(Leviticus 18:22, Ephesians 5, 1 Timothy 3:2)

"Thou shalt not Steal"(Exodus 20:15)

"Thou shalt not Kill"(Deuteronomy 5:17)

The Bible contains the Word of God.

As well as several other points of Doctrine.


So what are the DIFFERENCES between Mormon Doctrine, and Other Christians.

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christian but is neither Catholic nor Protestant. Rather, it is a restoration of the original church established by Jesus Christ."
-- LDS.org

Unlike Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant Christianity, Mormonism does not include belief in the Trinity, in which the one God consists of three persons. Instead, Mormons believe that the "Godhead" is made up of three distinct beings who are "one in purpose" but not in being.

Faith is more than Belief.  Faith is an Action word.  If we have true Faith in Jesus Christ it will lead us to take Action to live His gospel.

"Faith without Works is dead."
-- James 2:26

Faith leads us to Repent.  The first fruits of Repentance is Baptism.  Baptism also includes Receiving the Holy Ghost by the Laying on of Hands.  Only those who hold the Priesthood can perform these ordinances. (If you are still confused about Mormon views on Priesthood Authority, Click HERE)


Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormons, also Believe in an open Canon.  Whereas most of the Christian world believes that the Bible, and the Bible alone, contains God's word, Mormons believe the the Book of Mormon is also an ancient text of Scripture.  We also believe in a Modern Prophet, just as was had among the Jews from Moses until Christ.  They 'added' scripture all the time as the spake Prophecy and gave instruction to those who were alive at the time.  These ancient Prophets never taught contrary to their predecessors.  We DO NOT add to the Bible, we have separate books of Scripture that give further Light and Knowledge about Christ and His Church.

The statement given in Revelation 22:18-19 pertains only to the Book of Revelation, or the Revelation of Saint John.  If one was to claim that these verses spoke of the entire all 'Scripture', being the Bible, as a whole, they would of necessity have to believe that Moses spoke of 'all Scripture' when he said the same thing in Deuteronomy 4:2:

"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you."

Therefore all scripture should have ended with Deuteronomy 4:2 under this understanding, which is clearly not the way of God.

"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."
-- Amos 3:7
Most Christians believe in Heaven or Hell and that's it.  We believe that the common understanding of Heaven and Hell is not accurate.

Mormons believe that the Plan of Salvation answers the questions of Where did I come from, Why am I here, and Where am I going? 
So Where DID we come from?

"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."
-- Jeremiah 1:5

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God."

-- John 1:1-2

We lived with God before we were born into mortality.  We learned the Gospel and chose to come here to Earth and gain a body so that we might become more like our Heavenly Father.  We also understood that we would not remember anything from before when we were born, causing us to live by Faith.

Why are we Here?

"And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself."
-- Luke 10:27

This life is a probationary state.  We are to Keep the Commandments of God, which includes having Faith in Jesus Christ, Repenting of our Sins, being Baptized by someone holding the proper Priesthood Authority from God, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End of our life.

"Be wise in the days of your probation; strip yourselves of all uncleanness; ask not, that ye may consume it on your lusts, but ask with a firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and living God."
-- Mormon 9:28

"For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors."
-- Alma 34:32

Many say that you only need to declare Jesus as your Savior, this however means He doesn't require anything from us be to speak the word once.  Why then did He say to 'Keep My Commandments'?

"I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work."
-- John 9:4

"And it came to pass that when Jesus had ended these sayings he said unto his disciples: Enter ye in at the strait gate; for strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it; but wide is the gate, and broad the way which leads to death, and many there be that travel therein, until the night cometh, wherein no man can work."
-- 3 Nephi 27:33
Where are we Going?

Most Christians believe that when we die we go to either Heaven or Hell.  This is not exactly right.

Mormons believe that when we die our body goes to the grave, but our Spirit goes to what is called the Spirit World.  The Spirit world has two divisions, being Spirit Paradise, and Spirit Prison.  This Prison could be considered a Hell.

However this perspective explains why Christ told the Thief on the Cross that he would see Him that day in Paradise.  It also explains why the Gospel was Preached to those who already had their time on Earth.

"And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise."
-- Luke 23:43

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;"

-- 1 Peter 3:18-19

"For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit."
-- 1 Peter 4:6

This is where Catholicism gets the idea of Purgatory.  However the idea of praying for those who have passed on is not correct.  We here on the Earth cannot simply Pray for those who have died and have their sins be 'purged'.

The Bible does however declare what is to be done about those who have died without the Gospel of Christ.

"Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?"
-- 1 Corinthians 15:29

Mormons also believe that After Resurrection and Judgement, which come after the Spirit world, that there will be several 'Heavens'.

"I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven."
-- 2Corinthians 12:2

"There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory."

-- 1 Corinthians 15:40-41

This is to show that God will have mercy on everyone, but to those who have kept His commandments He will give the greater blessing.

Only those who have a complete knowledge of truth, and then Turn against it and deny the Gospel of Christ will be condemned to Outer Darkness.

"Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men."
-- Matthew 12:31

This picture depicts everything except Outer Darkness.

With an Open Canon and a Modern Prophet, many things which have not been understood in the past have been clarified.  Every six months we hear the words of a Prophet, General Conference is the first weekend on April and October.

There are few differences of Doctrine, and those that try to point out flaws in Scripture have not read the Book of Mormon with Honesty in their Heart.

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."
-- Matthew 7:15

Why should we Beware of False Prophets, if there will not be any more True Prophets?

I know for myself, by the Power of God, that Thomas S. Monson is a Prophet on the Earth today.  He speaks with God like a friend.  He then declares God's word and His will to all people of the Earth.

"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."
-- Amos 3:7

"And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend."
-- Exodus 33:11

Seek ye Truth, and ye shall find that I LIE NOT.
Proverbs 14:5, Galatians 1:20, 2 Corinthians 11:31

I am in Love - Meg

Have you ever felt that you just can't do anything right?

Well, Meg felt like she couldn't ever make a right choice too.

However, that is why we have the Atonement of Christ.  Even when we make wrong choices, we have the oppurtunity to repent and have our Sins forgiven.

Our subject in question, Meg, has apparently had a bad day with her boyfriend, Hercules, and now she is quite frustrated with men in general. (she is also in service to Hades, and ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24)

Now you see, the Muses(the statues) can see that Hercules is "the Earth and Heaven" and take all their time to convince Meg that she needs to accept him and be with him.

Much as the Prophets have always done.  They teach people and tell them that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, and that only through His Atonement can Mankind be Saved.  He is 'Earth and Heaven'. (see Mark 2:5-12)

One of Meg's arguments is that it is "Too Cliche".  Some people say that they don't believe in the Scriptures because they are just the Cliche old tales of 'good versus evil'.  Why would the Gospel not be cliche?  The Gospel is unchanging and has been around since before Time began.

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."

-- Hebrews 13:8

Some people think that Christians need to "get a grip".  However there is no need to "Cry Your Heart Out" when you live the Gospel.  Christ has already performed the Atonement, which is a Vicarious Ordinance allowing Him to take upon Himself all of Our Sin, Pain, Sorrow, and Weaknesses.

"And he shall go forth,

suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind;

and this that the word might be fulfilled

which saith he will take upon him the

pains and the sicknesses of his people.

And he will take upon him death,

that he may loose the bands of death

which bind his people;

and he will take upon him their infirmities,

that his bowels may be filled with mercy,

according to the flesh,

that he may know according to the flesh

how to succor his people

according to their infirmities."

-- Alma 7:11-12

Many of those who reject the Gospel have felt the Joy that comes from it, but they don't want to have to 'Keep the Commandments', so they just deny the whole thing.

How can we be "way off base" if the Foundation is Christ?  Is He not Big enough, or Strong enough, or Smart enough, to hold all of us the way we should be?

Finally we have those who accept the Gospel, but "At least OUT LOUD, [they] won't say [they're] in love".

If we truly Love the Savior, we should do everything we can to receive Personal Revelation from Him every day.  We should also Search for others who we can share the Gospel with.

Hercules - Go the Distance

Figure out where you belong,

And then go there.

Hercules wanted to feel like he 'belonged' somewhere.  His heart told him that he was more than just the son of a farmer.  He knew that when he found his place he would be 'great' or 'awesome' or 'radical'.  But even having this in his heart he still didn't know what to do about it.

"I will find my way, I can go the distance.

I'll be there some day, if I can be strong.

I know every mile, will be worth my while."

How do we find our way in this Troubled World?

 
How Far do we really have to go?

Heavenly Father has given us the Prophets, both Ancient and Modern, to guide and direct us in His Ways.  We don't have to go very far if we don't want to, we just have to LIVE the Gospel anywhere we are.

We are not perfect at this, but through the Atonement of Christ we will 'be there someday', if we 'can be strong' and LIVE the Commandments.  Every mile WILL be worth our while, but if we don't put any effort into it then there will be no reward to look forward to.

Hercules left his parents to find what he needed to do in life.  As a Missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I have been away from my parents for two years.  As much as I have missed them I also have found out much about myself, and about the ways of God.  Sometimes we need to leave our surroundings and that which is familiar in order to grow in the Gospel. (Matthew 19:5, Mark 10:29-30)

So what are you going to Do?

Start reading the Bible and Book of Mormon everyday?

Show more Kindness to others?

Volunteer your Time in the Service of others?

"And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom;

that ye may learn that

when ye are in the service of your fellow beings

ye are only in the service of your God."

-- Mosiah 2:17

"And the King shall answer and say unto them,

Verily I say unto you,

Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren,

ye have done it unto me."

-- Matthew 25:40



Son of Man

Sometimes we don't see our own potential.

But if we do our best to do what the Lord has planned for us, we can do things that have never been done before.

Tarzan was having a bad day.  We all have bad days sometimes.

Sometimes I have

But, "The Son of Man hath descended below them all." (Doctrine and Covenants 122:8)

Once Tarzan learns that he is the same on the inside as everyone else, he does everything he can to prove his worth to Kerchak.

Sure he has a few mistakes there in the beginning, but as he grows he learns how to be more efficient and also gains more Strength.  Likewise must we start out by acting on Faith, and then grow until we have a Strong Testimony of the Gospel.

"I have fed you with milk,

and not with meat:

for hitherto ye were not able to bear it,

neither yet now are ye able."
-- 1 Corinthians 3:2

A particular set of Lyrics for the clip is, "Son of Man, LOOK TO THE SKY."

Where are we to find the Son of Man?  The Lord addresses Ezekiel as 'son of man' (such as Ezekiel 37:16), but this is lower case and designates the mortality of Ezekiel.  THE Son of Man has ascended to Heaven, and we shall need to Look to the Sky if we are to find Him.  Perhaps the Sky should be herein considered as a Symbol of the Scriptures.

"Which also said, Ye men of Galilee,

why stand ye gazing up into heaven?

this same Jesus,

which is taken up from you into heaven,

shall so come in like manner

as ye have seen him go into heaven."

-- Acts 1:11

Next set of Lyrics to evaluate, "Lift your Spirit, Set it FREE."

We all know, 'Freedom comes with a Price.'  What is the Price of Spiritual Freedom?  And How do we 'Lift our Spirit?

Much as the laws of the land are there to keep us safe physically, the Laws of God are there only to keep us safe Spiritually.  You wouldn't want to be going 112 miles an hour and have an unexpected sharp turn, so the posted speed limit is going to be something like 35-45 miles an hour for your safety.  Sometimes this Law, or Commandment, is uncomfortable.  However, if we choose not to follow it, the consequence could turn out with us badly hurt.

The same is true Spiritually, if we Choose not to obey one of God's Commandments, then we will have to deal with the consequence of our actions.  Doing drugs limits our ability to make other choices.  Having Inappropriate Sexual Relations with anyone results in shame, guilt, and diseases.  There are many blessings which we do not receive if we do not keep the Sabbath day Holy. (Leviticus 26:1-13)

If we Keep the Commandments of God, we the Serpent comes after us he will not have power to harm us, and we will be able to be a blessing to others around us.

"The purpose of the gospel is to make bad men good and good men better, and to change human nature."

-- David O. McKay

In essence, the Gospel of Christ intends for us to BECOME, more like Christ.

Do what Christ has taught, and

"A [son of] Man in Time You'll BE."

Trinity or Godhead ? ?

So I have had quite a few questions about the 'Trinity'.  This post is to help others understand where the Trinity came from and how it was conceived.

"And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me."

-- John 8:16
If I am not alone then there must be another person standing by, and I cannot send myself somewhere, I would just GO there.

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."
-- John 14:26

Again being sent is a command from someone else, and if 'he' (the Holy Ghost) shall bring all things which Christ had said unto them, why would He not have said that, 'I shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have already told you'?

"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."

-- Acts 10:38
To anoint is like giving a blessing.  The priesthood of God is used to bless and help others, not yourself.  Being selfish is against the will of the Lord, and prevents one from exercising the priesthood.  When Christ was baptized by this same priesthood authority, 'God was with him'.  I cannot be with myself, I simply am myself.

"And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased."
-- Luke 3:22
The Holy Ghost has the form of a body all on his own, and if Christ was in the water then how could He be speaking from Heaven.  'Thou' and 'Thee' are pronouns like 'you' and are used when talking with someone else, not yourself.

The notion of the Trinity was conceived by men because after the Death and Resurrection of Christ, His apostles were also killed.  In war if you don't like the King you kill all of the Kings servants as well to prevent them from rebelling against your dominion.  The Jewish senate known as the Sanhedrin condemned Christ, so also afterward they sought to destroy His apostles.  After those apostles were gone there was no one left on the earth with the priesthood authority to speak with God concerning doctrines taught in the scriptures.  So several hundred years went by with honest men giving what they thought about the Bible.

These concepts were than taken to be correct because their was very little opportunity to actually read the Bible itself without having someone else who could read Greek, Latin, or Hebrew.  It wasn't until about 1500 AD that William Tyndale translated the Bible into English.  This even had to be done secretly as the church and national governments did not agree with giving the common folk access to sacred scripture.  Tyndale once said to a priest, "If God spare my life ere many years, I will cause the boy that drives the plow to know more of the scriptures than you!" (source)

This was realized about 300 years later when a 14 year-old farmboy in New York was reading the Bible, which was made possible by Tyndale's efforts to translate it into English. 

Excerpts from the history of how this farmboy, Joseph Smith, learned more about scripture than an educated priest, is as follows.  For the entire record see Joseph Smith History.


"There was in the place where we lived an unusual excitement on the subject of religion.

"During this time of great excitement my mind was called up to serious reflection and great uneasiness; but though my feelings were deep and often poignant, still I kept myself aloof from all these parties, though I attended their several meetings as often as occasion would permit....but so great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was, and so unacquainted with men and things, to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong.

"In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it?

"I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: 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.

"Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible.

"At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to “ask of God,” concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture.

So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally.

"After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God.

"I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

"When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!

"My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right and which I should join.

"I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” "


Joseph Smith was called as a Prophet of God, to restore the church that Christ had established during His mortal ministry.  Through him we have the Knowledge that God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ appeared in the year 1820, side by side.

In regard to the Godhead the scriptures teach that They are each individual, yet one in purpose.  Separate physically, but united spiritually.  Even as I and my mortal father are united in our labors when we go out into the field to work, so also was Christ united with the Father while laboring here in His vineyard.


"Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me."

-- John 8:42

I cannot be my own father.  That would require being of age before I was born.  If God works by natural laws, and is not a God of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), then Jesus Christ could not have also been His own Father.

"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."

-- John 17:20-21

Here Christ prays for His apostles, but not them alone also all who believe on their words.  Therefore there must needs be a way for us to be 'one', or 'united', with each other while still in possesion of our own individual bodies.

"Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God."

-- John 20:17

The Father, the Son, and the Spirit are not each other.  However they each hold the title of God.



Computers and Scriptures

Have you ever wondered why there is more than one book of Scripture?

Why couldn't Moses have written everythuing we need?

Why did other men, Prophets, continue to write more Scripture?

Well, it is kinda like a Computer.

This is a Motherboard.

A Motherboard is what keeps everything together and allows all the other computer parts to function.

This is a Video Card.

This individual Chip processes each pixel on the screen, and tells the computer what to show.

This is a Sound Card.

Everything you Hear comes from this.  Sometimes the Card is the problem, not your volume.

These are RAM sticks.

RAM stands for Readily Accessable Memory.

This is what determines how fast your computer can process things.

The Scriptures act much like a Computer.  Each individual Book of Scripture does what is needed, to help people learn and understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Not every book of Scripture details every single principle of the Gospel, so you must read all of them in order to make the Gospel Functional.

The Video Card could be considered 'Visions'.

"Where there is no vision, the people perish"

-- Proverbs 29:18

The Sound Card could be 'Hearing the Word of the Lord'.

"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God,

that I will send a famine in the land,

not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water,

but of hearing the words of the Lord."

-- Amos 8:11

The Motherboard is the Spirit, keeping everything together.  Without the Spirit we would not have our own personal testimony that the Scriptures are true, and it would be quite difficult to understand how each peace of Scripture fits in with the rest.

The RAM is our mind.  When we learn something from the Scriptures, we need to do whatever we can to remember what we learn, and Apply it into our lives.  It does no good to go to church or to read the Scriptures if we don't act upon what has been revealed.

So just like a Computer has many different parts that make it work, the Gospel calls for a Prophet to reveal the Will of the Lord in Modern times.  Just as the Children of Israel needed Joshua after Moses, and later Elisha after Elijah.  The Lord set Peter as the Chief Apostle, founding the church upon the Rock of Revelation, and after Christ's ascension Peter was the Prophet on the Earth.  The computer of the Gospel is now functioning under the Prophetic Guidance of Thomas S. Monson.

.

There really is only ONE God.

"There is one body, and one Spirit, 

even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

One Lord, 

one faith, 

one baptism,

One God and Father of all, 

who is above all, 

and through all, 

and in you all."

-- Ephesians 4:4-6

There is no need for multiple Doctrines.  There is no need for multiple Interpretations.  There is no need for multiple Institutions.

We have all been Created by one God.  He is our Heavenly Father and loves us dearly.  He has given us Commandments for our benefit.  If we live according to His Commandments we shall find Happiness, Friends, and Peace throughout our lives.

There cannot be more than one way of performing sacred ordinances today, such as Baptism, any more than there was in biblical times.

"And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the Lord."

-- Numbers 26:61

We do not see those who did not obey God's prescribed method die as has happened in days past, but the necessity of priesthood Authority has been taught by all of the Lord's Prophets since the beginning.

We have all been Commanded to diligently study the Scriptures, written by Prophets, that we may know for ourselves what is expected of us. (Joshua 1:8)

It is a Commandment to "Pray unto the Father", and to receive personal direction for our individual lives. (John 16:26)

We have also been Commanded to assemble ourselves, or in other words attend church, so that we may receive guidance from Priesthood Leaders, whom God gives revelation on how to govern the affairs of His church. (Hebrews 10:25)

I know that as we Read the Scriptures, Pray to God our Heavenly Father, and seek Revelation from Him as we go to Church, we will be shown what to do in our own lives.  We will know exactly why things happen, and it will give us more spiritual strength.

lds.org/maps/google

Why Prophets ? ?

Who or What is a Prophet?

A Prophet is someone who represents our Heavenly Father on the Earth and holds all of the Priesthood Keys and the Authority required to govern His church.  They are a Mouthpiece for God.

Why does God call Prophets?

God doesn't want anyone to fall short of their potential.  God will also not cause us to do something that we shouldn't by not telling us that we shouldn't do it, Therefore God speaks to His chosen Prophet and that individual then tells the world what is supposed to take place.

"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."

-- Amos 3:7

What does a Prophet do?

A Prophet receives Direct revelation from our Heavenly Father and then tells others the Word of the Lord.  The Prophet is also the specific individual who directs the Lord's Church on the Earth.

How can we know if a man is a Prophet from God?

By Praying to our Heavenly Father and asking for a Spiritual Witness that the Prophet in question is truly God's chosen representative.  We can also read the Scriptures to understand the Gospel and receive Spiritual impressions as they have been written by past Prophets and Apostles.

So why did all the Prophets go away?

Throughout history, God has chosen prophets, such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, and others, to teach the gospel and direct His Church (Amos 3:7). It is no different today. We all need God’s guidance in a world that is sometimes confusing. Because God loves His children, He continues to send living prophets. Joseph Smith (1805–1844) was the first prophet of our time. Thomas S. Monson is God’s chosen prophet today.

Commandments ARE Blessings

The First law of Heaven is Obedience.  It is by obedience to the laws of God that we receive blessings from Him. 

"There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven

before the foundations of this world,

upon which all blessings are predicated—

And when we obtain any blessing from God,

it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated."

-- Doctrine and Covenants 130:20-21

God gives us commandments for our benefit.  They are instructions from a loving Father in Heaven to help us have happy lives.  He also gives us agency, or the ability and opportunity to choose between good and evil.  When we obey God, we follow the influence of the Spirit and choose to conform to His will.  Obedience to the commandments brings us peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come.  Obedience shows our love for God.  Disobedience brings us sorrow.

"If ye love me, keep my commandments." --John 14:15



God commands us to pray to Him.  You can pray at any time and in any setting.  The Lord has taught us to kneel and pray in the morning and in the evening, as individuals and with our families.  Our Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers.  Through daily prayer we receive divine guidance and blessings.  We should always pray sincerely.  We should also pray with “real intent,” which means we are committed to act on the

answer that we receive.

We pray with faith to our Father in Heaven in the name of Jesus Christ (see Moses 5:8).  Because He is our Father and we are His children, He will answer our prayers.  

We begin our prayers by addressing our Father in Heaven.  We then give thanks for the blessings we have received, and ask for those blessings we need from Him.  We end a prayer "in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

In prayer we speak openly and honestly with our loving Father in Heaven.  We express gratitude and thanksgiving for our blessings.  We may acknowledge our love for Him.  We also ask for help, protection, and direction according to our needs.



The scriptures are written records of God’s dealings with His children as recorded by prophets under the influence of the Holy Ghost.  We show our faith by studying, believing, and obeying God’s revealed word.  We diligently search the scriptures to understand the truth.  We feast upon them because they open the door to revelation and show us what we need to do and become.  We search the scriptures to learn about Jesus Christ and His gospel.  Faith in Jesus Christ is a gift from God and comes through studying and living

His word and His gospel.

"Wherefore, ye must press forward
with a steadfastness in Christ,
having a perfect brightness of hope,
and a love of God and of all men.
Wherefore, if ye shall press forward,
feasting upon the word of Christ,
and endure to the end,
behold, thus saith the Father:
Ye shall have eternal life."

-- 2 Nephi 31:20

Our Sabbath day behavior is a reflection of our commitment to honor and worship God.  By keeping the Sabbath day holy, we show God our willingness to keep our covenants.  Each Sabbath day we go to the Lord’s house to worship Him.  While there we partake of the sacrament to remember Jesus Christ and His Atonement.  We renew our covenants and show that we are willing to repent of our sins and mistakes.

On this day, we enjoy a rest from our labors.  As we attend Church services and worship together, we strengthen each other.  We are renewed by our association with friends and family.  Our faith is strengthened as we study the scriptures and learn more about the restored gospel.

When a community or nation grows careless in its Sabbath activities, its religious life decays and all aspects of life are negatively affected.  The blessings associated with keeping the Sabbath day holy are lost.  We should refrain from shopping on the Sabbath and participating in other commercial and sporting activities that now commonly desecrate the Sabbath.

So lets say that the entire city, town, or village you live in contracted a disease.  Everyone caught this disease, accept your only child.  Your child had an anomaly in their blood that made them immune and could cure everyone else.  But to save everyone else your child would have to die.  Your child decided they would go ahead and do it to save all of their friends.  So after everyone was cured the entire city dedicated one day a week to remember the sacrifice of your child, and on this day no one was supposed to do any work of any kind.

A few weeks go by and everyone has respect for your child's sacrifice, and everyone honors the day that was set apart.  But then the next week comes and as you sit on your porch you see someone mowing their lawn.  This is against the law of observance instated for your child.  How would you react to see them working on that day, rather than just doing it the day before or the day after?  You would probably not be pleased with the way they ignored what your child had done for them.

This is how our Heavenly Father feels when we don't pay proper respect each week for the sacrifice of His Only Begotten Son.  Jesus Christ came and suffered for us, and has asked that we set apart one day each week to honor Him.

"And the church did meet together oft,

to fast and to pray,

and to speak one with another

concerning the welfare of their souls.

And they did meet together oft

to partake of bread and wine,

in remembrance of the Lord Jesus."

-- Moroni 6:5-6

The way we show our desire to follow in God’s way is through baptism and confirmation.  When we are baptized and confirmed, we enter into a covenant that we will take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ and that we will always remember Him and keep His commandments.  We also promise to stand as witnesses of God at all times and to assist those in need (see Mosiah 18:8–9).  In return, God promises the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, and a remission of our sins.

Truth is a knowledge of things as they really are, were, and will be. It does not change with conditions or time. Truth is the same in every age and culture. God is the source of all truth. We can have faith in Him because we know He will teach us only truth. God wants all His children to know the truth. Therefore, He reveals the truths necessary for salvation through prophets and apostles. He reveals truth to us personally through the scriptures and personal revelation.

A prophet is called and chosen by God and is a righteous man with great faith. The Lord reveals truth to him through the Holy Ghost. He commands His prophet to teach truth to all people. Those who believe God’s words as revealed through His prophet are blessed. (see Exodus 4:16, and Hebrews 5:4)

Christ’s Church is built on the foundation of apostles and prophets, who direct the Church by revelation. The Lord called Joseph Smith as the first prophet and head of this last dispensation. His successors who lead The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today are also prophets and apostles. The President of the Church today is a living prophet. We are to have faith in God’s chosen prophet, gain conviction of his divine calling, and follow his teachings.

We have frequent opportunities to sustain Church leaders publicly. Sustain means to support. We are to prepare ourselves so that when the prophets and apostles speak, the Holy Ghost can confirm the truths they teach, and we can then determine to follow the counsel they give us.

Those who listen to and follow the counsel of living prophets and apostles will not go astray. The teachings of living prophets provide an anchor of eternal truth in a world of shifting values and help us avoid misery and sorrow. The confusion and strife of the world will not overwhelm us, and we can enjoy the assurance of being in harmony with God’s will.

Heavenly Father gives us commandments so that we will know what to do and what to avoid in order to receive the blessings He wants to give us like joy, peace of conscience, and lasting happiness.  God revealed to Moses the Ten Commandments to guide His people. (see Exodus 20)  The Ten Commandments are:

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.  Other 'gods' may include possessions, power, authority, or vain ambitions.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Honor thy father and thy mother.

Thou shalt not kill.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

Thou shalt not covet.

These Ten Commandments are still effective today.  It will never be acceptable to go lie, cheat, and steal just because you wanted to.  To kill someone is the worst sin possible other than denying the Holy Ghost. 

God delights in chastity and hates sexual sin.  Chastity includes strict abstinence from sexual relations before marriage and complete fidelity and loyalty to one’s spouse after marriage.  Those who live the law of chastity enjoy the strength that comes from self-control.  They enjoy confidence and trust in their family relationships.  They can enjoy more fully the influence of the Holy Ghost in their lives.  Those who break this law are subject to a lasting sense of shame and guilt that burdens their lives.

Chastity requires faithfulness in thought and action. We must keep our thoughts clean and be modest in our dress, speech, and actions. We must avoid pornography in any form.  We should treat the God-given procreative power and our bodies as sacred.  Those who have committed sexual sin can repent and be forgiven.

 

"And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Be not ye therefore partakers with them."

-- Ephesians 5:2-7

The Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith a law of health called the Word of Wisdom. This law teaches us what foods and substances we should and should not use to maintain the health of our bodies and to keep us free from evil influences. The Lord promises blessings of health, strength, protection against evil, and greater receptiveness to spiritual truths. 

Remember that our bodies are sacred. We should treat them with respect and reverence.  The Word of Wisdom teaches that we are to eat healthy foods. It teaches very specifically that we are to avoid harmful substances, including alcohol, tobacco, tea, and coffee. We must also avoid harmful drugs in any form. People who obey the Word of Wisdom are more receptive to spiritual truths.  Go to Doctrine and Covenants 89, to read the 'Word of Wisdom'.

One of the great blessings of membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the privilege of contributing to the growth of the kingdom of God through paying tithing.  Tithing is an ancient, divine law.  For example, the Old Testament prophet Abraham paid tithes of all he possessed (see Alma 13:15).

To those who pay tithing, the Lord promises that He will “open . . . the windows of heaven, and pour . . . out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10). These blessings may be temporal or spiritual, but they will come to those who obey this divine law.

Tithing means one-tenth, and the Lord has commanded us to give a tenth of our increase, which is understood to mean income, that we may be blessed. The law of tithing gives us the opportunity to help build His kingdom. Our tithes are holy to the Lord, and we honor Him by paying tithing. God promises to abundantly bless those who pay an honest tithe.  Those who do not pay tithing rob God (see Malachi 3:8). They keep for themselves something that rightfully belongs to Him. We should seek first the kingdom of God, and tithing is an important way of doing that. Paying tithing is an expression of our faith. It is an outward sign of our belief in God and His work.

Tithing funds are used to support the ongoing activities of the Church, such as building and maintaining temples and meetinghouses, carrying the gospel to all the world, conducting temple and family history work, youth programs, and many other worldwide activities. Tithing does not pay local Church leaders, they serve without receiving payment of any kind.

Local Church leaders send the tithing received each week directly to Church headquarters. A council comprised of the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve, and the Presiding Bishopric determines specific ways to use the sacred tithing funds.

Great blessings are available to those who obey God’s commandment to fast. Fasting means going without food and drink for a period of time. Usually the first Sunday of each month is set aside as a special day to fast for two consecutive meals, pray, and bear testimony. Fasting and prayer go together. When we fast and pray with faith, we are more receptive to receiving answers to our prayers and blessings from the Lord. He promises us that He will guide us continually. We should fast and pray for specific purposes. Fasting is private and spiritual, and we should not draw attention to the fact that we are fasting.

Pure religion includes caring for the poor. We are to help them meet their physical and spiritual needs. When we fast, we donate money to the Church for the care of the poor and the needy. We call this a fast offering. We give at least the amount of money we save by fasting for two meals. However, we need not limit our contribution to the cost of two meals. We are encouraged to be as generous as our means allow. By caring for the poor, we help fulfill our baptismal covenants and retain a remission of our sins.

Behold, I testify unto you

that I do know that these things

whereof I have spoken

 are true.

And how do ye suppose

that I know of their surety?

Behold, I say unto you

they are made known unto me

by the Holy Spirit of God.

Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days

that I might know these things of myself.

And now I do know of myself

that they are true;

for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit;

and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.

-- Alma 5:45-46

Latter-day Saints everywhere believe in obeying the laws of the country in which they live. Members of the Church are counseled to be good citizens, to participate in civil government and the political process, and to render community service. They do so, however, as concerned citizens, not as representatives of the Church.

Unlimited everything is actually not beneficial.  If there wasn't a speed limit, there would be more problems on the road.  If there was nothing declared wrong with hitting people, we would have a lot of bruised and broken people walking around.  With every law there must be a punishment, because what is the point of saying you can't do something if nothing happens when you do it?

"And when we obtain any blessing from God,
it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated."
-- Doctrine and Covenants 130:21

So by obedience we obtain blessings, and by disobedience we receive punishment.  Sir Isaac Newton 'discovered' that, "For every action the is an equal and opposite reaction."  So any punishment enforced by law must be in opposition of what we did wrong, and equal to the crime.

In order to obey all of the laws of the land we must develop patience.  If we are too anxious to do whatever we want we usually end up getting into mischief.  But if we wait for the next paycheck, we won't be stealing something from the store.  If we are patient we won't be speeding down the highway as fast as possible.  If we are patient we won't be upset when the movie, concert, or party we are attending starts late.

"As parents, we know how unwise it would be to indulge our children’s every desire.
But children are not the only ones who spoil when showered with immediate gratification.
Our Heavenly Father knows what good parents come to understand over time:
if children are ever going to mature and reach their potential,
they must learn to wait."

-- President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

(Continue in Patience, April 2010)

Sometimes it can be very difficult to remain patient and obey the law.