Overcoming The World
By Alan on Apr 06 in Blog tagged Adam and Eve, body, choice, choose, commandments, enemy to God, eternal life, evil, God, good, Heavenly Father, Jesus, last days, multiply, natural man, overcoming, physical, physically, replenish, Satan, savior, spirit, spiritually, test, The Plan, The World, world | Comments Off
Overcoming The World
“The Lord created all things spiritually before he created them physically.” (Moses 3:5).
The fall of Adam and Eve was foreseen by God, our Heavenly Father, and “was a necessary step in the plan of life and a great blessing to all of us”. We lived as spirit children before this world and accepted this condition when we supported Heavenly Father’s plan of life.
Because of the Fall, we are were blessed with physical bodies, the freedom to choose between good and evil, and a commandment to ‘multiply and replenish the earth’ with the opportunity to gain eternal life. None of these privileges would have been ours had Adam and Eve remained in the garden.
“We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.” (2nd Article of Faith)
After Adam and Eve ‘fell’ from the presence of God and became mortal, we needed a Savior so we could live again and return to our Father in Heaven. Jesus Christ was chosen to be our Savior before the world was created.
In order to “choose between good and evil”, Satan, the father of lies who was denied a physical body, was allowed to exist here on earth and to tempt the souls of man to do evil and to live in everlasting misery with him thus completing the law of “opposites in all things”. He teaches that there is no sin, that it’s natural and if it feels good, do it.
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14
“Neither can any natural man abide the presence of God, neither after the carnal mind.” D&C 67:12
“For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.” Mosiah 3:19
“And thus did I, the Lord God, appoint unto man the days of his probation—that by his natural death he might be raised in immortality unto eternal life, even as many as would believe.” D&C 29:43
We are blessed to be living during these last days; often called “a great and dreadful day”. My brothers and I wrote a song for “The Plan” album called “It’s Gotta Be The Last Days.” The lyrics of what “some day it will be”, have now all been fulfilled! The fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and all righteousness has now been restored to the earth and so has the fullness of all wickedness!
This life is a TEST! Just as answers to a test at school must be hidden, our memory of our pre-exisence life was hidden ‘for a wise purpose’. Our ‘test’ in life is about our freedoms and in choosing good versus evil. We all will make mistakes and Jesus knew it. Thus, He gave His life to pay the price for our sins if we would but with faith come unto Him and repent, be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost, and to endure to the end, controlling the natural man and woman.
Marriage is ‘ordained of God’ and a partnership with God. It is most important. When the union of man and a woman co-create a life, one of God’s spirit children enters that child’s physical body as well giving it life. This brings responsibility and accountability for that spirit. The misuse in causing or terninating a life has serious responsibility and consequences!
God is “the same yesterday, today and forever” and so are His commandments. With His ‘Plan of Happiness’, our spirit bodies will one day return back to heaven. The body cannot live without the spirit and so when it’s time to return, we will physically die; but, we continue to live spiritually. Jesus is the way and reason we all will be resurrected because of His atonement. When we do, our spirits will be reunited once again with our physical bodies never to be separated again. We will be judged by our hearts and those choices we have made and will be assigned to dwell in one of God’s mansions in heaven or sent to outer darkness or hell with Satan. Those who have taken upon themselves further binding covenants in the House of the Lord, will be reunited as families for all eternity.
I have enjoyed many years of sharing my music and talents with many people around the world. I have great memories of traveling with my family and making so many forever lasting memories and trusting friends. I still love and enjoy music, creating live events, productions and publishing, and feel it most important ‘at such a time as this’ to ‘not fear man, but to fear God’, and to be honest and share with everyone those truths that last forever that give purpose and reason for living. I have always promised myself to be ‘a publisher of truth’. To fear God is to love God; which I do!
Our success and careers in life are important but most importantly is the success of the eternal assignments of life from within the family as a mother and a father. We are born, nurtured, educated, we explore, experience and learn; we fall in love, marry, and with the proper union of a man and a woman and a partnership with God, we are able to bring forth life that lasts forever; a posterity. Besides being a commandment, this is ‘God’s work and glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man’, of which we are. He is a Creator. As a pony always becomes a horse, a chick a hen, and ‘like father like son’; ‘like mother like daughter’, we become like our heavenly parents; even creators of life. This is why we are here.
We are not here by chance but by design. As God’s spirit children, we experience life now housed within a physical body so we can create; learn good from evil, choose the way we wish to live, and work at overcoming the world ever progressing forward becoming more like our Heavenly Parents. It is God’s Plan of Happiness. Some may have trials in life and not get all of these opportunities and priveleges or be able to enjoy them but, God is mindful of everyone and as only He can, He has ‘the way’ and ‘the plan’ for them and all of us if we but trust in Him. May we not lose our focus by only trying to succeed in life that we get caught up with the pleasures, honors, and greed of this world and forget why we are really here!
Ever since my brothers and I started performing music at a young age, we would always gather together and offer a word of prayer before we set foot on the stage and ask the Lord’s blessings to be with us and those in the audience. We prayed that they might feel the love that we had for them and sence our purpose as a family in sharing the great message of the Lord through our lifestyle and music. As Suzanne and I publish various ways to help “strengthen the family”, we ‘sanctify the Lord God in our hearts and are ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in us with meekness and fear’.
It is our prayer that we all will be seekers of truth, pray always, and “overcome the world” as we prepare for the second coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Again, God is the same yesterday, today and forever and so are His Commandments. Let’s pass this “TEST” of life and turn this “TEST” into a “TEST imony” of Jesus Christ that we may live eternally with Him once again. God’s doctrines are true. If one does not agree, it’s only that they don’t understand them. May we each seek the Lord’s words and ways by reading the scriptures, knock on His door through prayer with any questions with humble tears asking for help with our challenges, and receive through the Holy Ghost those answers and guidance knowing that with faith all things are possible to those that love the Lord is my prayer.
May God be with you till we meet again,
Alan Osmond
“Strengthening The Family” – Spiritually
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Romans 1:16
Winning The War Against Evil
By Alan on Feb 17 in Blog tagged angels, armour of God, Christ, darkness, devil, dragon, evil, evil day, faith, flesh and blood, fought, God's kingdom, gospel preparation, high places, history, John the Revelator, last days, of God, peace, powers, Premortal life, principalities, righteousness, rulers, salvation, serpent, spirit, stand, the war, the whole, the whole armour, war, warriors, wickedness, Winning, world | Comments Off
You were entrusted to come to the earth in these last days to do again what you did before—to once again choose good over evil.
The flood of pornographic filth, the inordinate emphasis on sex and violence are not peculiar to North America. The situation is as bad in Europe and in many other areas. The whole dismal picture indicates a weakening rot seeping into the very fiber of society.
Legal restraints against deviant moral behavior are eroding under legislative enactments and court opinions. This is done in the name of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of choice in so-called personal matters. But the bitter fruit of these so-called freedoms has been enslavement to debauching habits and behavior that leads only to destruction. A prophet, speaking long ago, aptly described the process when he said, “And thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell” (2 Ne. 28:21).
Good Versus Evil
You and I have come into the world at a most significant time. We are entering the final stages of a great war. This war commenced before the foundations of the world and has been pursued with awful consequence throughout the world’s history. I speak of the war between the followers of Christ and all those who deny Him as their God. 1
John the Revelator wrote concerning this war:
“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
“And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” 2
It was Satan who instigated this premortal war. He did so by rebelling against our Father’s plan of salvation for His children and rejecting the Christ, who was designated to effectuate the plan. Tragically, a third of our Father’s children followed Satan. 3 Yet two-thirds did not. You were among these, and with them have come to earth to pursue the Father’s plan of happiness.
Unfortunately, Satan’s war did not end with his expulsion from heaven. As John observed, Satan and his followers were “cast out into the earth” 4 and have come here with “great wrath.” 5 The evidence of their wrath can be seen in the blood and horror that has afflicted man from the beginning of time.
So profound and extensive have been the wounds suffered among men that God Himself wept as He surveyed man’s condition. 6
We now find ourselves in the last days of this earth’s temporal history. In a coming day, our Father’s Son will return to the earth from which He was rejected and reclaim it as His own. 7 In that day, He will subdue Satan and his legions and usher in a thousand years of peace and righteousness. 8 In anticipation of that day, God has restored His kingdom to the earth one last time.
While God’s kingdom has been established on the earth in times past, the people to whom the kingdom was previously committed were unable to keep it. This time, however, is different. The prophetic promise is that this time God’s kingdom will not be lost but will overcome the world. 10
To ensure its ultimate success, the final restoration of God’s kingdom has been commenced with unprecedented spiritual power 11 and is being sustained by that same spiritual power and something more. Reserved to come forth in these last days and labor for our Father and His Son are some of the most valiant and noble of our Father’s sons and daughters. Their valiance and nobility were demonstrated in the pre-earth struggle with Satan. There, “being left to choose good or evil,” they “[chose] good” and exhibited “exceedingly great faith” and “good works.” 12 Such are the traits that are now needed to sustain the work of God in the earth and to save the souls of men from the intensifying wrath of the adversary.
You are the strength of the Lord’s house, His warriors!
You are those who chose good over evil and who exhibited “exceedingly great faith” and “good works.” And because of your personal history, you were entrusted to come to the earth in these last days to do again what you did before—to once again choose good over evil, exercise exceedingly great faith, and perform good works—and to do so in behalf of the kingdom of God on the earth and your fellowman!
Satan knows that “he hath but a short time.” 14 Therefore, Satan is marshalling every resource at his disposal to entice you into transgression. He knows that if he can draw you into transgression, he may prevent you from marrying and securing your future children in the faith. He knows that nothing can overthrow God’s kingdom “save it [be] the transgression of [his] people.”15 Make no mistake about it—the focus of his war is now on you—you who seek to “keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” 16
The days that lie ahead are “perilous.” 17 In this regard, President Boyd K. Packer has observed:
“I know of nothing in the history of the world to compare with our present circumstances. Nothing happened in Sodom and Gomorrah which exceeds in wickedness and depravity that which surrounds us now.” 18
In referring to the perils of our day, I do not intend to inspire fear, but soberness. Being sober means being earnest and serious in assessing your circumstances and careful and circumspect in weighing the consequences of your actions. Soberness therefore yields good judgment, as well as measured conduct.
So, as we enter the final climactic stages of the war against Satan, be sober. Understand that you cannot partake of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco. You cannot participate in pornography or other immoral activity. You cannot lie, cheat, or steal. You cannot use false, demeaning, or dirty language. You cannot deface your body with tattoos and other piercings. You cannot do these things and be victorious in the battle for your own soul, let alone be a valiant warrior in the great struggle for the souls of all the rest of our Father’s children. 23
Understand that there is only one way to win the war against Satan, and that is to win it in the same way it was won in the beginning.
When victory was finally achieved in the War in Heaven, a loud voice was heard to declare:
“Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ. …
“For they [referring to Michael and his angels] have overcome him [referring to the devil] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; for they loved not their own lives, but kept the testimony even unto death.” 24
Do not miss the significance of this declaration. Satan was overcome in the beginning by (1) faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice, (2) testimony of Him that was steadfastly kept to the very end, and (3) consecration of oneself to the Lord and His work. If this was the means for defeating him in the beginning, you can be sure that this is the one sure way to defeat him now. 25
These are your days! Do not squander them! Be sober! Take “the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall … quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” 31 Then “fight the good fight of faith.” 32 And when you have done all, “stand” 33 still and “see the salvation of the Lord.” 34 I assure you that His salvation will come, delivering you and yours from every evil.
- Breastplate of Righteousness
- Shield of Faith
- Sword of the Spirit
- Shoes of Peace and Gospel Preparation
- Helmet of Salvation
JAMES J. HAMULA
For The Family
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Space Station Commander Provides Tour Of Orbital Laboratory
By Alan on Jan 18 in Blog tagged all things, eternal, everlasting, framer of heaven and earth, God, heaven, kingdoms, laboratory, orbit, space, space station, tour, world | Comments Off
Space Station Commander Provides Tour Of Orbital Laboratory
“And there are many kingdoms; for there is no space in the which there is no kingdom;
and there is no kingdom in which there is no space, either a greater or a lesser kingdom.”
D&C 88:37
“By these things we know that there is a God in heaven, who is infinite and eternal,
from everlasting to everlasting the same unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth,
and all things which are in them.”
D&C 20:17
Charles Tate
For The Family
Remembering 9/11 In A Volatile World
By Alan on Sep 11 in Blog tagged 9/11, remembering, volitilw, world | 1 Comment
Remembering 9/11 in a Volatile World
Eleven years ago today, terrorists shattered America’s sense of safety. Generations who did not remember Pearl Harbor suddenly knew the shock of an attack on U.S. soil.Brothers, fathers, cousins, wives, and daughters were lost. And more sisters, mothers, husbands and sons would give their lives in the years that followed as they fearlessly joined the fight against terrorism around the world.Because of the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform—and the hours put in scanning intelligence documents and patrolling the streets by our servants here at home—America has thus far avoided another 9/11. Since that day, at least 51 terrorist plots against the country (that we know of) have been foiled. Terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden has been eliminated.But as the U.S. withdraws from Iraq and Afghanistan, the world is not becoming a safer place.Pakistan continues to serve as a safe haven for terrorist groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Taliban, and the Haqqani network, threatening to jeopardize everything the U.S. has fought for in Afghanistan since 9/11.In a new Issue Brief taking stock of the war on terrorism, Heritage security experts Michaela Bendikova, Lisa Curtis, and Jessica Zuckerman warn:
The campaign has certainly seen its share of successes in addition to the bin Laden mission. Drone strikes have helped to disrupt al-Qaeda operations and planning. But the U.S. must concentrate simultaneously on “uprooting extremist ideologies that support terrorism, collecting information from captured terrorists, and convincing the Pakistanis to conduct joint operations that deal with the threat,” the authors write. Continued terrorist sanctuaries inside Pakistan’s borders remain a threat.At home, we cannot combat terrorism under “a law enforcement paradigm that focuses on reactive policies and prosecuting terrorists rather than proactive efforts to enhance intelligence tools and thwart terrorist attempts long before the public is in danger,” they write. This strategy fails to recognize the true nature of the threat posed by terrorist groups (such as al-Qaeda and al-Shabaab) and state-sponsored terrorism, while thwarting terrorist travel and financing remain the most effective ways to protect the homeland.Unfortunately, the reality is that terrorism—without the face of a particular nation—is not the only threat America faces. Iran and North Korea continue to invest in capabilities designed to kill Americans and our allies. Syria is wracked by civil war and has the potential to destabilize the entire Middle East.If we are to meet this volatile world with a determination to protect U.S. citizens, our priorities must shift. The defense budget has already absorbed about half of all spending cuts even though it represents less than a fifth of the federal budget. If U.S. forces are weakened further, the country will be unable to maintain its superpower status.Today, we remember those we have lost. Tomorrow, we must honor their memory by strengthening our defenses for those who do not yet know the horror of an attack at home—so that they never will.Gilbert P. Howe
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Where Is Our Country Heading?
By Alan on Jul 22 in Daily Inspiration tagged chose evil, corrupted, country, destruction, for good, Get NoiZ, good, government, happiest people, heading, laws, noisy, numerous, open mouths, stand up, the people, turn the world around, voice, world, Zion | Comments Off
Where Is Our Country Heading?
“For as their laws and their governments were established by the voice of the people, and they who chose evil were more numerous than they who chose good, therefore they were ripening for destruction, for the laws had become corrupted.” Helaman 5: 2
It is time to GET NOIZ (Noisy) and to
open our mouths and stand up
for the good in this world!
Let’s TURN THE WORLD AROUND!
When we do . . . “NOIZ” will also turn around
and become
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
“The Happiest People that ever lived!”
“And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.
And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.” 4 Ne. 1: 15-16
For The Family
A Prophet Of Yesterday Speaks Truthful Words Of Today!
By Alan on May 15 in Blog tagged constitution, destruction, Freedom, God, history, laws, liberty, morality, prepared, rights, social, Today, truth, world | Comments Off
A Prophet of yesterday speaks truthful words for Today! – Ezra Taft Benson
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Our past Prophets knew our day, TODAY!
We must be involved in Civic Affairs! … AND VOTE!
For The Family
Mitt Romney – Presidential Hopeful With Leadership For The Family
By Alan on Nov 11 in Blog tagged defending the American Dream Summit, Leadership for The Family, Mitt Romney, nation, of one heart, Presidential Hopeful, strengthen families, world | Comments Off
Mitt Romney at the
Defending the American Dream Summit.
Mitt Romney GOP Presidential Hopeful
Leadership for The Family
“Let the residue continue to preach from that hour, and if they will do this in all lowliness of heart, in meekness and humility, and long-suffering, I, the Lord, give unto them a promise that I will provide for their families; and an effectual door shall be opened for them, from henceforth.” D&C 118: 3
Alan Osmond
For The Family
World Of Giving
By Alan on Sep 06 in Daily Inspiration tagged Alan Osmond, charity, One Heart, world, World of Giving | Comments Off
“WORLD OF GIVING”
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“And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind,
and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.”
Moses 7: 18
For The Family
Are You Prepared as a Family for the Tomorrows ahead?
By Alan on Jun 20 in Blog tagged change, food, money, needs, prepare, storage, the way, trust, water, world | Comments Off
We live in a most exciting and challenging period in human history. As technology sweeps through every facet of our lives, changes are occurring so rapidly that it can be difficult for us to keep our lives in balance! It is essential that we plan for the future with our personal and family preparedness!
Do you have “Family Home Storage”? Our Prophet has said:
“Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to “prepare every needful thing” (see D&C 109:8) so that, should adversity come, we can care for ourselves and our neighbors and support bishops as they care for others.
“We encourage members world-wide to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings.
“We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your savings. Do not go to extremes; it is not prudent, for example, to go into debt to establish your food storage all at once. With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve.”
—The First Presidency, All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage, Feb. 2007, 1
Good council from an ancient prophet once said, “O Be Wise . . . what more can I say.”
-They say, “The government will to take care of you”. “Trust not in the arm of flesh”. You and your family will end up having to take care of yourselves!
-Put some food, water, and money away for rough times that will come.
-Are your lamps full with “oil”? 2 Sam. 22: 29 “For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness.” (If you have a testimony and relationship with The Lord, He will guide you! HE is “The Way”!)
-Pray always! The Lord and the Holy Ghost will lead and guide you!
Join in and “Share how to Prepare”!
Let’s “Get NoiZ” for GOOD and become self-sufficient in these turbulent times!
The Phone Call. Be Wise When Making Choices.
By Alan on Feb 19 in Blog tagged answers, be wise, children, choices, fame, Family, farmer, fortune, Freedom, God, happiness, happy, home humble, Jesus, life, love, marriage, ponder, poor, pray, rich, spirit, super star, world | 1 Comment
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Do you have some important choices to make? Do you want to be rich? Do you want to be happy? What should I do for a living? Where should I live? What does the world think? What does God think? What do I think? What’s this life all about? Who am I? I want to be popular, yet I don’t want to lose my soul.
Dear Father in heaven. Please hear my prayer. I know hard times are coming. I don’t want to miss out at my young age but I want those things that are long lasting and worth having. Who is the one that I should marry? Can I even afford a family? I need some answers Father. What would you have me do? It’s a Great and Dreadful Day! The storms of life are upon us. What’s going to happen to me? Please show me The Way. I trust in my Lord Jesus.
“Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life. 2 Ne. 10: 23
O be wise; what can I say more? Jacob 6: 12
CLICK TO LISTEN: “It’s Gotta Be The Last Days”
