Who is REALLY in Charge Here?

Just in case you were wondering, I do not like sports.

However I do like looking at symbols, and most sports teams have an animal as the symbol of the team.

Lion

Penguins

Bears

So why do we used all these animals as a symbol of strength for the team? We are higher on the totem pole than they are right?

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."
-- Genesis 1:26

So if we are the ones who attach specific symbols to animals, wouldn't God help us learn through symbols as well?

Christ sacrificed His life for us Vicariously.  His suffering can take away our sins.

In the same way He commanded us to be baptized.  This allows us to follow His example more fully.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
-- Acts 2:38


There must be an opposition in all things.  Think about it, if you never got hurt at all, would you really know what it felt like not to be in pain?  If you never saw the sunshine, would dark clouds really be that gloomy?  If you were never alive, would you be able to die?

 "For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things.

If not so, ..., righteousness could not be brought to pass,

 neither wickedness,

neither holiness nor misery,

neither good nor bad.

Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one;

wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead,

having no life neither death,

 nor corruption nor incorruption,

happiness nor misery,

neither sense nor insensibility."

-- 2 Nephi 2:11

So there is opposition in all things, and they compound in one.  The Ankh is an ancient Egyptian symbol of life, but it closely resembles a cross which we see today as a symbol of death.  This is where we may easily see that opposition must be a part of mortality.  Through the Resurrection of Christ we shall all be made alive, but with His Death on the cross He would never have been Resurrected.

God can see everything.  Below is the Eye of Ra as well as the 'All Seeing Eye' that is on the back of American currency.  Egypt again has the ancient form of a symbol we recognize today.  They knew that God could see everything, and used this trait to depict Ra, the false 'Sun God' of Egypt.

As we read the scriptures, we should look for those symbols that help us to understand the True nature of God, as well as our purpose in life.  These Symbols will make it so we know exactly who is in charge here on Earth, and it is the same person who has been in charge forever.

Pray About It . . . What Does it Mean to Pray ? ? ?

Prayer is one of the ways in which we as Humans receive Revelation.

The Bible Dictionary states the following about Prayer :

        "As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7:7–11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings.

        Christians are taught to pray in Christ’s name (John 14:13–14; 15:7, 16; 16:23–24). We pray in Christ’s name when our mind is the mind of Christ, and our wishes the wishes of Christ—when his words abide in us (John 15:7). We then ask for things it is possible for God to grant. Many prayers remain unanswered because they are not in Christ’s name at all; they in no way represent his mind, but spring out of the selfishness of man’s heart."

Prayer is something we should do out of love.  When we love the savior we will pray to the Father for forgiveness when we have done something wrong.  When we love our neighbors we will pray for them even when they are not in need of help.

The pattern of Prayer that Christ taught His diciples was to pray to the Father, in the Name of Christ.  Much like a letter to a dear friend.  We speak freely and sometimes emotionally in personal prayer.  We can say whatever we want our Father to hear.  We give Thanks for our blessings, and we ask for those things we still need help with.

I hope that we might each find a new desire to pray, and to speak with our Heavenly Father more often.

This is my prayer for everyone, in the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks: "Love and law"

General Conference is coming up on the 31st of March and the 1st of April.

Here is a previous Conference Talk from Elder Oaks.

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

What to DO When We Struggle

"And it came to pass that the Lord God caused 

that there should be a furious wind blow 

upon the face of the waters, 

towards the promised land; 

and thus they were tossed 

upon the waves of the sea before the wind.

And it came to pass that they were many times 

buried in the depths of the sea, 

because of the mountain waves which broke upon them, 

and also the great and terrible tempests 

which were caused by the fierceness of the wind."

Ether 6:5-6

We all struggle in life sometimes, and the winds and the waves and the storms come upon us with the fierceness of wolves.  However as these trials and temptations are beating upon you, look to Christ, that sure foundation, "whereon if men build they cannot fall." (Helaman 5:12)

"And it came to pass that when they were buried in the deep 

there was no water that could hurt them, 

their vessels being tight like unto a dish, 

and also they were tight like unto the ark of Noah; 

therefore when they were encompassed about by many waters 

they did cry unto the Lord, 

and he did bring them forth again 

upon the top of the waters."

Ether 6:7

If you are having a bad day, say a Prayer.

Meditation on the Law of the Lord

"But his delight is in the law of the Lord; 

and in his law doth he meditate day and night."

-- Psalms 1:2

How do we delight in the Law of the Lord?

As I was reading this scripture I thought about this question.  I wondered how it applied to me.  I could see that by obedience to the commandments of God I am indeed a happier person, but do I delight in the Law or just act out of fear?

The second half of this verse states that the individual meditates day and night in the Law.  During the times of the Old Testament the 'Law of God' was what we know as the 'Law of Moses'.  So it is saying that we should be meditating, or thinking about, the Law of Moses day and night.

Well what about now?  We don't follow the Law of Moses anymore, so does this scripture become void?

NO.

We are supposed to meditate the Higher Law, taught by Christ and His Apostles.  This makes it so that we can always be thinking good uplifting thoughts.  It is when we stop thinking about the Laws of God that we start thinking carnally and cultivate desire to sin.

So to delight in the Law of the Lord is to desire to 'do good continually'. (Alma 19:33)  It becomes something that we are happy about, and willing to do, rather than being told to over and over again.

As we meditate in the Law of the Lord by reading His scriptures and pondering their meanings, we will grow closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ, and be more able to follow His example.

Read a verse or two of scripture each morning and then think about it throughout the day.  I promise it will help in every aspect of your life.

Why Mormons Build Temples

So Temples have been around for a long time, but most people still don't know what they are for.  Basically Temples are built for sacred ordinances.  Many people are confused because we don't talk much about the temple, this is because is sacred, not secret.

This video is about why we have temples.  Please watch it and see what is said about the things that take place at the Temple.



Throughout History God has commanded His people to build temples.  The first actual stucture for this was the Tabernacle of Moses.  Later Solomon built a temple for the same purposes.  In the Book of Mormon we read that they also built Temples on the American continent.

"And I, Nephi, did build a temple;

and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon

save it were not built of so many precious things;

for they were not to be found upon the land,

wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon’s temple.

But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon;

and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine."

-- 2 Nephi 5:16

The work done in the temple allows us to feel closer to God, and receive strength against temptation.  The Temple is also a place to receive direction from the Lord.

Ancient Temple in the Americas

Today the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints builds many Temples to make the blessing that come from going to the Temple more available.  They look different from each other, but they are all used for the same purpose.

Below are pictures of some of the modern Temples I have been to.....

Salt Lake City Utah

Salt Lake City Utah



San Diego California



Boise Idaho



Brigham City Utah



Idaho Falls Idaho



Logan Utah



Nauvoo Illinois




Manti Utah

 

Orlando Florida



Ogden Utah

 

Provo Utah



Seattle Washington

 

St. George Utah

  

Winter Quarters Nebraska



Twin Falls Idaho

Gila Valley Arizona

Hamilton New Zealand

Brisbane Australia

Nashville Tennessee