By Alan on Apr 25 in Blog tagged Aaronic, author, baptism, celestial, confusion, coovenants, day, dead, destiny, eternal families, eternal marriage, eternal plan, faith, Family, God, great and dreadful, heavenly parents, Holy Ghost, hope, if only knew, Jesus, marriage, Melchizedek, missing, origin, peace, power, premortal existence, priesthood, prophet, Redeemer, religions, resurrection, struggle, suffer, terresterial telestial, The World, to choose, truth, truths, Where Am I Going, Who Am I, Why am I here, word | 1 Comment

If The World Only Knew What They Were Missing

Here we are living in ‘a great and dreadful day’ with higher learning and so many comforts of life.  We have access to so much information and can advance so fast in society.  Yet, there are still so many who struggle and suffer, especially for knowledge and truth about their origin and destiny.  One of the most important needs we have is the knowledge of  who we are, why we are here and where we came from; religion.

If people would just stop and think about life and see those that are truly happy, they will find it is because they have searched their hearts with prayer and in their minds with studying and reading good books, have found peace within knowing that God is there; realizing He has provided the way to return as His children with with an eternal plan where marriages and families can be together forever!  May I share?

Over the history of this world, there have been many religious leaders who felt inspired and caused many people to follow.  Each of us has the right to learn with the freedom and power to choose ’The Way’ we wish to live our lives and believe.  That’s why we came here.  They also become set and immoveable and will not hear or listen to many truths that have come forth.  If the world only knew what they were missing!

Here are 10 facts about 12 major religions.

These pages summarise the main features of the 12 largest world religions, which together are followed by almost 80% of the world’s population. These beliefs are described without passing any judgment on their truth or otherwise. Not included here are so-called “tribal” and African religions (6%), spiritism, the Eastern religions Cao Dai and Juche (less than 1% in total) and non religious (16%). Source for numbers is www.adherents.com.

Baha’i, Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism and Islam

Jainism, Judaism, Parsees/Zoroastrianism, Shinto, Sikhism & Taoism

For more information on the terms “monotheistic”, “darmic” and “taoic”, see the different types of religions.

With all of this confusion in the world and deciding what to believe, is there any wonder why there are so many religions today?  It is not God’s fault but man’s.

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”  
1 Corinthians 14:33

At some point in each of our lives we will each ask these questions:

Who am I?
Why am I here?
Where am I going?

Many ‘Plain and precious truths and  doctrines’ of the gospel have been restored:

The Physical nature of the Godhead

Our creation is in God’s image

Apostles and Prophets

Melchizedek Priesthood

Aaronic Priesthood

Mode of baptism

The gift of the Holy Ghost

Premortal existence

Baptism for the dead

Resurrection

The three Kingdoms of Heaven
(Celestial, Telestial, Terresterial)

Eternal marriage and families

Our potential to become like our Heavenly Parents 

By Alan on Feb 07 in Blog tagged beggar, charity, children, comprehend, darkness, God, humility, impart, Jesus, judge, knowledge, light, love, order, peaceably, poor, prepare, quarrel, quickly, Redeemer, repent, rich, second coming, soberness, spirit, teach, the way, watch | 1 Comment

Light – The Darkness Comprehendeth It Not

I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body—

I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world.

And this is the means whereby salvation cometh. And there is none other salvation save this which hath been spoken of; neither are there any conditions whereby man can be saved except the conditions which I have told you.

Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.

And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them.

And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.

And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.

And ye will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably, and to render to every man according to that which is his due.

And ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin, or who is the evil spirit which hath been spoken of by our fathers, he being an enemy to all righteousness.

But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another.

 And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.

Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—

But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.

For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?

And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.

And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another.

And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life belongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done.

 I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his substance shall perish with him; and now, I say these things unto those who are rich as pertaining to the things of this world.

And again, I say unto the poor, ye who have not and yet have sufficient, that ye remain from day to day; I mean all you who deny the beggar, because ye have not; I would that ye say in your hearts that: I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give.

And now, if ye say this in your hearts ye remain guiltless, otherwise ye are condemned; and your condemnation is just for ye covet that which ye have not received.

And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.

And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.

And I would that ye should remember, that whosoever among you borroweth of his neighbor should return the thing that he borroweth, according as he doth agree, or else thou shalt commit sin; and perhaps thou shalt cause thy neighbor to commit sin also.

And finally, I cannot tell you all the things whereby ye may commit sin; for there are divers ways and means, even so many that I cannot number them.

But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish.

And now, O man, remember, and perish not.

For The Family

By Alan on Jun 19 in Blog tagged be saved, come unto Him, covenatt people, forefathers, Gentiles, Gold Plates, gospel, His people, house of Israel, Indians, Jacobites, Jesus Christ, Josephites, knowledge, messiah, native Americans, Nephites, promises, records, Redeemer, seed, the Bible, The Book of Mormon, their fathers, your day, Zoramites | Comments Off

Native American Indians – This Is YOUR DAY!

“And now, the thing which our father meaneth concerning the grafting in of the natural branches through the fulness of the Gentiles, is, that in the latter days, when our seed shall have dwindled in unbelief, yea, for the space of many years, and many generations after the Messiah shall be manifested in body unto the children of men, then shall the fulness of the gospel of the Messiah come unto the Gentiles, and from the Gentiles unto the remnant of our seed—

And at that day shall the remnant of our seed know that they are of the house of Israel, and that they are the covenant people of the Lord; and then shall they know and come to the knowledge of their forefathers, and also to the knowledge of the gospel of their Redeemer, which was ministered unto their fathers by him; wherefore, they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer and the very points of his doctrine, that they may know how to come unto him and be saved.”  1 Ne. 15: 13-14

Nevertheless, my work shall go forth, for inasmuch as the knowledge of a Savior has come unto the world, through the testimony of the Jews, (The Bible) even so shall the knowledge of a Savior come unto my people— (The Book of Mormon)

And to the Nephites, and the Jacobites, and the Josephites, and the Zoramites, through the testimony of their fathers—

And this testimony shall come to the knowledge of the Lamanites, and the Lemuelites, and the Ishmaelites, who dwindled in unbelief because of the iniquity of their fathers, whom the Lord has suffered to destroy their brethren the Nephites, because of their iniquities and their abominations.

And for this very purpose are these plates

preserved, which contain these records—that the promises of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he made to his people;

And that the Lamanites might come to the knowledge of their fathers, and that they might know the promises of the Lord, and that they may believe the gospel and rely upon the merits of Jesus Christ, and be glorified through faith in his name, and that through their repentance they might be saved. Amen.

 

For The Family

By Alan on May 27 in Blog, Videos tagged God, He is, Jesus, Redeemer, reflections of Christ, savior, The One, the way | Comments Off

Reflections of Christ

By Alan on Mar 23 in Blog tagged Are Mormons Christians, Baptized of John, Book of Mormon, born to Mary, chief cornerstone, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, every child, Gordon B. Hinckley, Jesus Christ, Jesus died, Jesus was resurrected, Mormons, of latter-day Saints, our Deliverer, perfect life, Redeemer, savior, son of God, son of our Heavenly Father, the Bible, The Church of Jesus Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophecy of cChrist, we rejoice oin Christ, we talk of Christ | Comments Off

(OR CLICK HERE!)

A statement in The Book of Mormon sums up our assertion that Mormons are most certainly devoted Christians:

“We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophecy of Christ” (2 Nephi 25: 26).

We seek to emulate Christ. We love the Bible, which testifies of Jesus Christ, and we love The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. With all people of other faiths who love and worship Jesus Christ, we declare with them that we too are Christians.

President Gordon B. Hinckley, prior President of the Church, said:

We are Christians in a very real sense and that is coming to be more and more widely recognized…we have a very vital and dynamic religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. We, of course, accept Jesus Christ as our Leader, our King, our Savior…the dominant figure in the history of the world, the only perfect Man who ever walked the earth, the living Son of the living God. He is our Savior and our Redeemer through whose atoning sacrifice has come the opportunity of eternal life. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pray and worship in the name of Jesus Christ. He is the center of our faith and the head of our Church. The Book of Mormon is Another Testament of Jesus Christ and witnesses of His divinity, His life, and His Atonement.

Mormons believe that Jesus is the actual Son of God, our Deliverer, Redeemer and Savior.

Mormons believe that Jesus was born to Mary, His mortal mother, and that He was the Only Begotten Son of our Heavenly Father.

Mormons believe that Jesus was baptized of John and later told Nicodemus that the only way to enter the kingdom of God was to do likewise.

Mormons believe that Jesus lived a perfect life—the only individual to do so–and that He invited us to come unto Him and follow His example and His teachings.

Mormons believe that Jesus Christ organized a church while He lived on the earth. Mormons believe that the name of that His church was The Church of Jesus Christ, and Mormons believe that the organization of that church was as perfect as He was. Mormons believe that the foundation of the ancient Church of Jesus Christ was “apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2: 20). Thus, Mormons believe that the perfect foundation of The Church of Jesus Christ continues to be “apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.”

Mormons believe that in a supreme act of love, Jesus Christ suffered and died for each of us. Mormons believe that because Jesus sacrificed His life and atoned for us, if we follow Him in the way that He prescribed, we can receive forgiveness of our sins, achieve reconciliation with our Heavenly Father, and qualify to live one day with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Mormons believe that Jesus died and rose from the grave on the third day and thus overcame death by His literal, bodily resurrection. Mormons believe that because of Jesus’ resurrection, He has the power to resurrect every child of Heavenly Father in a marvelous, universal resurrection.

What is anti-Christian about these beliefs?

• Mormons love Jesus Christ as the central figure in their lives.

• Mormons worship and adore Him. Mormons pray to Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ.

• Mormons weekly partake of the sacrament by which they covenant to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, to always remember Jesus Christ, and to keep the commandments of Jesus Christ.

• Mormons take Jesus Christ as their example for living a happy and fulfilled life.

• Mormons seek to bring people to Jesus Christ so He can heal and bless them.

• Mormons have made sacred covenants to devote their lives to Jesus Christ and to emulate and serve Him.

Jesus gave His followers a test by which they could discern who was His true disciple and who was not. “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” Good trees bring forth good fruit and evil trees bring forth evil fruit. “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7: 16-20). Therefore, an investigator needs only to observe the lives of Mormons to see which type of fruit they bring forth. For example,

• Has the investigator ever read The Book of Mormon to realize that nearly every page speaks of Jesus Christ?

• Had the investigator ever attended one of our worship services or listened to the sermons that invariably center on Jesus Christ?

• Is the investigator aware of the Church’s vast humanitarian efforts:Has the investigator listened to the Tabernacle Choir which consistently testifies of and worships Jesus Christ?

  • the thousands of yellow-Tee-shirted “Helping Hands” volunteers

  • the massive education fund to help students in third world countries

  • the enormous storehouses filled with food and staples for the poor

  • Deseret Industries which gives clothing, furniture and other items to the poor

  • the Church’s women’s organizations that extends millions of hours in compassionate service to those in need

  • or the myriad local and Church-wide projects to assist the sick, under-privileged and otherwise needy?

• Has the investigator ever listened to Latter-day Saints’ conversations with each other? Invariably, they default to their love of the Savior and His goodness in their lives.

Yes, Mormons are Christians—some of the most Christian people in the world.

More about “Are Mormons Christians?”

 The question, “Are Mormons Christians?” is of great importance to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If you would like to know more about Mormons with no obligation, please click on the following links:

• Request a free Book of Mormon

• Ask a question

• Meet with Mormon missionaries

• Visit a Mormon church service

If you have other questions about Mormons, click below on Mormon Beliefs, or Mormon FAQ.

Larry Barkdull
Gospel Ideals
For The Family 

By Alan on Dec 17 in Blog tagged Birth, blessing, Book of Mormon, born, eternal being, Father in heaven, first born son, follow him, followers of Christ, in a stable, Jesus Christ, jews, laid in a manger, Lord, meek, mighty works, miracle, Nephite civilization, Redeemer, sacred, savior, simple, son of God, Temples, The birth of Christ, The Family | Comments Off

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Dear friends and families,

As we approach this sacred season of celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, may we reflect on the miracle and blessing He was and is. As I’ve pondered on His holy birth, and the circumstances around it, I am reminded again of how the Lord goes about his mighty works.

The Holy Son of the most glorified and powerful eternal being, our Father in Heaven, was not provided with a wondrous palace, security, wealth and privilege befitting his status as God’s first born son, but rather He showed his everlasting power through the simple, the meek, the lowly and the weak things of this world. His sacred Son wasn’t born amid the tumult and praise of the political, secular or religious superiors of his day, but in obscurity, vulnerability and to parents who were powerless because of their circumstances to provide much more than the most basic necessities of life at his birth.

I am reminded of how the Jews were anticipating a mighty king who was prophesied to deliver them. They presumed that God’s Son would enter this world provided with what men supposed would be needed to carry out this deliverance. Why would they not expect their deliverer to be born to parents who could provide a world-class education, money sufficient to procure status, authority and prestige so that other men would know of his leadership and knowledge and thus follow him?

Instead His Holy Child was born in a stable and lovingly laid in a manger of hay by honest, hard-working parents of common status among the Jewish throngs. Indeed, His pre-mortal status was hidden and utterly concealed from the world. How ashamed many Jews must have felt when they realized they had been looking for the wrong identifying features of this humble Son of God sent to deliver them.

In like manner some have supposed that the Nephite civilization of the Book of Mormon recording should be identified by grand features and majestic ruins, signs of an overpowering and influential people that the world can look to because of their triumphant accomplishments. Yet the Book of Mormon speaks of a humble people who obeyed the Laws of Moses, dressed in inconspicuous clothing, and built homes and temples and cities of wood. It was the unrighteous that built large and spacious palaces to demonstrate their own greatness. In contrast to impressive structures, the righteous Nephites seemed to follow the Lord’s ways in putting people as a higher priority that power; of salvation over worldly possessions.

May we, as followers of Christ, strive to emulate and understand the true power of God’s example of His Son by humbly submitting ourselves and meekly seeking His will, realizing our weaknesses and asking for his grace to attend us. This is, I believe, a most wonderful way to celebrate His birth.

Merry Christmas to all,

The Staff and The Family

By Alan on Oct 26 in Blog tagged apostles, baptized, Christians, cucified, deliverer, eternal marriage, God the Father, I am a Mormon and I'm Christian, Jesus Christ, Jesus was born to Mary, Larry Barkdull, LDS, Mormon, prophet, Redeemer, resurrected, savior, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | 1 Comment

I’m a Mormon and I’m a Christian!

I feel a bit zealous. Here’s why. I finished listening to Conference on a spiritual high, only to enter the following week by reading an individual’s claim that I was not a Christian but rather a cultist. Imagine, everything I had just heard during Conference was “weird,” “underground,” “anti-Christ.” I shook my head in disbelief.

• Had this individual ever read The Book of Mormon?

• Had he ever attended one of our meetings and listened to the sermons about Christ?

• Was he aware of the Church’s vast humanitarian efforts, the thousands of yellow-Tee-shirted “Helping Hands” volunteers, the Perpetual Education Fund, Bishops Storehouse, Welfare Square, Deseret Industries, Relief Society compassionate service, priesthood projects to assist the needy?

• Had he ever listened to Latter-day Saints’ conversations with each other? Invariably, they default to their love of the Savior and His goodness in their lives?

I wished I could have told him that I am continually surrounded by Latter-day Saints who live their lives this way—the Christian way. I don’t hesitate to proclaim that we are among the most Christian people in the world!

Like other Latter-day Saints, I believe that Jesus is the actual Son of God, my Deliverer, Redeemer and Savior.

I believe that Jesus was born to Mary, His mortal mother, and that He was the Only Begotten of the Father.

I believe that He was baptized of John and later told Nicodemus that the only way to enter the kingdom of God was to do likewise.

I believe that He lived a perfect life, and invited me to come and follow His example and His teachings.I believe that Jesus Christ formed a Church—The Church of Jesus Christ—which was as perfect as was He.

I believe that the foundation of that Church was “apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20). I believe that Jesus called these men out of the world and “ordained” them to their holy calling (John 15:16).

To Peter and later to the other apostles and prophets, I believe that Jesus delivered the “keys of the kingdom,” which held the power to “bind on earth” and “in heaven, and “loose on earth” and “in heaven” (Matt 16:29).

I believe that Jesus empowered and instructed Peter and the apostles to employ the “keys of the kingdom” to “teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19).

I believe that I received an authorized baptism by one who had had the actual authority delegated by living apostles.

I believe that Jesus Christ suffered and died for me as a supreme act of love.

I believe that because He atoned for me, and if I follow Him in the way He prescribed, I can receive forgiveness of my sins, achieve reconciliation with my Heavenly Father, and qualify to live one day with my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Moreover, I believe that because of all that Jesus did for me, I can have my wife and family eternally.

I believe that they whom I love the most are bound to me forever by the “keys of the kingdom” held by living apostles and prophets, who have the right and power to “bind on earth” and “in heaven.”

I believe that Jesus rose the third day from the grave and thus overcame death by His literal, bodily resurrection. I believe that because of this, He has the power to resurrect me, my family, and every person who has ever lived on the earth.

What is anti-Christian about my beliefs?

I love Jesus Christ. I worship and adore Him. I constantly seek to bring people to Christ so He can heal them. I have covenanted to devote my life to serving Him. And I am not alone.

To those who doubt our devotion to Jesus Christ and His teachings, we boldly declare that we are both “Mormons”–members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints–and Christians. “We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophecy of Christ” (2 Ne. 25: 26). We seek to emulate Christ. We love the Bible, which testifies of Jesus Christ, and we love the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. With all people of other faiths who love and worship Jesus Christ, we declare with them that we too are Christians.

Here is the testimony of a modern-day apostle, who answers the question: “Are Mormons Christians?”

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If you would like to lend your name to a Facebook group called “I’m a Mormon and I’m a Christian,” click here.

“And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.” 2 Ne. 25: 26

Alan Osmond
For The Family