I don't really know where to begin with this one. Any success as a father, church member, priesthood holder, husband, or in my career that I have enjoyed or that I may yet enjoy in my life, I owe to my Savior. Faith in him makes all things possible, and without him there would be no good in my life, or in the world. Faith in him allows us to have hope in trying times. It gives me strength to be a kind man and a pleasant person when circumstances or natural inclination might give an excuse to be otherwise.
Hymn Number 198 in the LDS Hymn book, "That Easter Morn", describes some of my feelings:
That Easter morn, a grave that burst
Proclaimed to man that "Last and First"
Had ris'n again, and conquered pain.
This morn renews for us that day
When Jesus cast the bonds away
Took living breath, and conquered death.
Thus we in gratitude recall
And give our love and pledge our all
Shed grateful tear, and conquer fear.
I testify that Jesus lives, that he loves us, and that through him the Father's plan of salvation and exaltation for man is put into effect. He cam, he taught, he suffered and died, he broke the bands of death to allow a resurrection for us all. He took upon himself the penalty for our sins, and also took upon himself all of the pains of mortality, that through his grace we may be made pure and at one with our God. He is God's Son, and literally a God himself, and offers us the opportunity to be heirs with him of godhood.
I feel to say, along with Elder Bruce R McConkie, "... in a coming day I shall feel the nail marks in his hands and in his feet, and shall wet his feet with my tears... I know... that he is God's Almighty Son, that he is our Savior and Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through his atoning blood and in no other way."
My Savior is my Hero, and he is the source of the power and goodness in all of my other, lesser heroes.
So, it is this testimony that comforts us, gives us peace during turmoil and strength during trial. It enables us to know the intended end for which we exist, which is to become as our Father is, and gives us courage to live for this goal. It enables repentance and improvement, love and charity, righteousness and mercy.
This, then, is but a part of what I feel. I ramble on and an in attempt to put my feelings into words, yet I fall short.
I love him, and want to be like him.
In his holy name, even that of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Sunday, August 11, 2013
What the Priesthood Means to Me
First, the doctrine associated with the priesthood, as I understand it, is that it is God's own power, delegated to man to further the salvation and exaltation of mankind. Those who hold the priesthood are thus our Father's legal agents - it is a sort of power of attorney. As such, we have great responsibility to act as he would act, as he directs, and to be worthy in every way of this great trust.
Through the priesthood, the great saving ordinances of baptism, confirmation, and the temple ordinances are made available to his children. Also, comfort is given through priesthood acts not essential to our salvation, such as father's blessings, blessing of the sick, dedications of homes and graves, etc.
The priesthood is to be used always in the blessing of others, and not with any self-aggrandizement. It is not meant for us to use it for dominion over others. We don't give ourselves priesthood blessings - it is all meant for the service of others.
The priesthood is also the organization of government in the church. The various offices and callings provide a framework through which the Lord himself can direct the church through worthy agents at all levels from local to worldwide.
It is also the power by which God does all his work, from creation of worlds to atonement to control over the whole universe. And worthy men, in the next life, will grow in the priesthood until they have this same power.
The Melchizedek Priesthood is received with an oath and a covenant. The man covenants to magnify his calling in the priesthood, obey the commandments, and "live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." God then makes an oath that all who are faithful to this covenant will receive "all that the Father hath", including godhood itself.
Now, I want to write about some of my personal feelings on all this. I can't really comprehend the eternal aspects of it, so I don't think about them as much as I should. What I do understand is that, in the here and now, the ability to provide priesthood blessings to my wife and children is a great comfort and blessing. The knowledge that I am sealed by priesthood authority to my immediate family and my extended family, so that I can dwell with them forever, is an even greater comfort.
The opportunity to serve in any calling in the church, such as teacher or clerk, is another privilege, and a great responsibility.
In short, the blessings of being a faithful priesthood holder in mortality are great, more so than any other activity in my life, and more than I can comprehend.
The blessings to come in eternity are even beyond that - the Lord truly rewards his faithful servants.
Through the priesthood, the great saving ordinances of baptism, confirmation, and the temple ordinances are made available to his children. Also, comfort is given through priesthood acts not essential to our salvation, such as father's blessings, blessing of the sick, dedications of homes and graves, etc.
The priesthood is to be used always in the blessing of others, and not with any self-aggrandizement. It is not meant for us to use it for dominion over others. We don't give ourselves priesthood blessings - it is all meant for the service of others.
The priesthood is also the organization of government in the church. The various offices and callings provide a framework through which the Lord himself can direct the church through worthy agents at all levels from local to worldwide.
It is also the power by which God does all his work, from creation of worlds to atonement to control over the whole universe. And worthy men, in the next life, will grow in the priesthood until they have this same power.
The Melchizedek Priesthood is received with an oath and a covenant. The man covenants to magnify his calling in the priesthood, obey the commandments, and "live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." God then makes an oath that all who are faithful to this covenant will receive "all that the Father hath", including godhood itself.
Now, I want to write about some of my personal feelings on all this. I can't really comprehend the eternal aspects of it, so I don't think about them as much as I should. What I do understand is that, in the here and now, the ability to provide priesthood blessings to my wife and children is a great comfort and blessing. The knowledge that I am sealed by priesthood authority to my immediate family and my extended family, so that I can dwell with them forever, is an even greater comfort.
The opportunity to serve in any calling in the church, such as teacher or clerk, is another privilege, and a great responsibility.
In short, the blessings of being a faithful priesthood holder in mortality are great, more so than any other activity in my life, and more than I can comprehend.
The blessings to come in eternity are even beyond that - the Lord truly rewards his faithful servants.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
What the Knowledge that We Are Children of God Means to Me
We are children of God. As the Father of our spirits, he loves us. We dwelt with him for ages before we came to this earth. He knows each of us, better than we know ourselves. This is why he came up with the plan of salvation, by which we may become like him. This is why he asked his firstborn, Jesus, to provide an atonement for our sins. This is why he has given us scripture, prophets, the church, prayer, and all of the other blessings that lead us to worship Him in truth and righteousness.
The knowledge that I am a spiritual child of God lifts me. It gives me hope and comfort when life is hard. It gives me a goal, which is to live and behave as a child of God should behave. It makes me understand that all men are literally brothers, who deserve respect and love, and that all women are literally sisters worthy of the greatest respect and honor. It gives me hope when I am not able to obey the gospel as well as I should, because just as no human parent would fault a toddler who stumbles when trying to learn to walk, so our Father looks on us in love and excuses our errors, so long as we are sincere in our attempts to follow him.
Lastly, just as any child grows to be the same kind of being as its parents, we too have the capacity to become like our Heavenly Parents, Gods and Goddesses, and heirs to all of the power, glory, and characteristics of our Father.
If we accept the atonement and are obedient to our Father in all things, repenting when we fall short, we will become like him. We will have numberless spirit children of our own, and create worlds on which they may dwell, and our work and our glory will be the salvation and eternal life of our children.
What greater motivation to love and obey him could we have than this knowledge that we are his children?
The knowledge that I am a spiritual child of God lifts me. It gives me hope and comfort when life is hard. It gives me a goal, which is to live and behave as a child of God should behave. It makes me understand that all men are literally brothers, who deserve respect and love, and that all women are literally sisters worthy of the greatest respect and honor. It gives me hope when I am not able to obey the gospel as well as I should, because just as no human parent would fault a toddler who stumbles when trying to learn to walk, so our Father looks on us in love and excuses our errors, so long as we are sincere in our attempts to follow him.
Lastly, just as any child grows to be the same kind of being as its parents, we too have the capacity to become like our Heavenly Parents, Gods and Goddesses, and heirs to all of the power, glory, and characteristics of our Father.
If we accept the atonement and are obedient to our Father in all things, repenting when we fall short, we will become like him. We will have numberless spirit children of our own, and create worlds on which they may dwell, and our work and our glory will be the salvation and eternal life of our children.
What greater motivation to love and obey him could we have than this knowledge that we are his children?
Sunday, July 28, 2013
What the Saving Ordinances of the Gospel Mean to Me
The saving ordinances of the gospel are:
- Baptism by water and by fire. That is, baptism and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, without which baptism is not complete.
- The temple endowments.
- Temple marriage and sealing.
Other ordinances, such as the sacrament in which we re-affirm our baptismal covenants, and the blessings of the sick, are not required for salvation and exaltation, and thus are not performed in behalf of the deceased in our temples.
The ordinances of salvation are all associated with covenants. We promise to obey our Father's commandments and serve Him faithfully. Our Father, if we will make these covenants and participate in these ordinances, and if we will remain faithful to the promises we make, will make us heirs to all that He has, dwelling with Him in power and glory, and in family units forever.
So, these ordinances make it possible for us to fulfill our highest destiny, which is to become as our Father is. This gives hope and peace in a difficult life. It helps me to know that all of the trials of this life are worth it, and that the goal is worthy of the difficult tasks we face as mortals.
I am very grateful for the privilege of participating in these ordinances and covenants, and hope to live worthily, with my family, of the resultant blessings.
Sunday, July 21, 2013
What Does the Atonement Mean to Me?
To set the context of what I wish to say, I should first set out a summary of my understanding of the doctrine of the atonement.
Our Father's business is all about the exaltation and eternal life of His children. To have eternal life is the be as He is - a God, a parent of innumerable children, a creator of worlds for them to live on.
One of the steps in becoming like Him is to go through our mortal life. But this mortal situation is perilous. We are separated from our Father, and, what's more, we are not able, on our own, to become worthy to return to His presence. We are also subject to physical death - the separation of our spirits from our bodies. We are powerless against the situation.
So our Father provided us with a Savior, a Redeemer, a way out of this situation.
He sent his son Jesus Christ to atone for our sins. A perfect, sinless person was required for this work, and Jesus is the only one who qualifies.
Jesus voluntarily paid the price of sin and of death. He took upon Himself all of the consequences of sin, including the withdrawal of the spirit of God, and the suffering which is demanded by the law of justice. Thus, we hear Him say in his torment, "My God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
Yet He overcame all. He also took upon Himself all of the consequences of mortality, including spiritual and physical illness and pain and injury.
At His resurrection, death was defeated, so that all of us will rise immortal and with perfect bodies. At that point, no one will be ill or deformed or in pain. Also, upon conditions of repentance and the making and keeping of ordinances and covenants, we can become pure as He is, and become kings and queens, priests and priestesses, Gods and Goddesses who reign in glory forever, working for the exaltation of countless numbers of our own children on myriad earths.
The atonement thus makes life possible. It makes Jesus the source of light and life for every living thing in the mortal world and in the eternities.
Now, with that understanding of the doctrine, so far as I understand it and was able to express it in writing, the question is, "What does all of this mean to me?" I will list some thoughts on this, in no particular order.
I and my family have the opportunity to change and improve, to repent and become better people, and to be completely cleansed from those sins of which we repent.
We can be spiritually healed. We can have the Holy Ghost to be with, comfort, and guide us.
We can, at times, when faith and the Lord's will permit, be physically healed. The power of faith and priesthood are made operative through the atonement.
Immortality is certain for all of us, and eternal life is offered to all - it can be had though obedience and faithfulness, though making and keeping covenants.
The atonement is my single greatest source of comfort during hard times. It gives me peace and strength of character that I could not otherwise have.
In summary, the atonement is the only source of life, light, faith, comfort, and hope that we have or could ever need. It is our Father's way of offering us all that He has.
I am profoundly grateful for these precious gifts, without which there could be no light, life or hope in the world.
I bear testimony that this is true, the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Our Father's business is all about the exaltation and eternal life of His children. To have eternal life is the be as He is - a God, a parent of innumerable children, a creator of worlds for them to live on.
One of the steps in becoming like Him is to go through our mortal life. But this mortal situation is perilous. We are separated from our Father, and, what's more, we are not able, on our own, to become worthy to return to His presence. We are also subject to physical death - the separation of our spirits from our bodies. We are powerless against the situation.
So our Father provided us with a Savior, a Redeemer, a way out of this situation.
He sent his son Jesus Christ to atone for our sins. A perfect, sinless person was required for this work, and Jesus is the only one who qualifies.
Jesus voluntarily paid the price of sin and of death. He took upon Himself all of the consequences of sin, including the withdrawal of the spirit of God, and the suffering which is demanded by the law of justice. Thus, we hear Him say in his torment, "My God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
Yet He overcame all. He also took upon Himself all of the consequences of mortality, including spiritual and physical illness and pain and injury.
At His resurrection, death was defeated, so that all of us will rise immortal and with perfect bodies. At that point, no one will be ill or deformed or in pain. Also, upon conditions of repentance and the making and keeping of ordinances and covenants, we can become pure as He is, and become kings and queens, priests and priestesses, Gods and Goddesses who reign in glory forever, working for the exaltation of countless numbers of our own children on myriad earths.
The atonement thus makes life possible. It makes Jesus the source of light and life for every living thing in the mortal world and in the eternities.
Now, with that understanding of the doctrine, so far as I understand it and was able to express it in writing, the question is, "What does all of this mean to me?" I will list some thoughts on this, in no particular order.
I and my family have the opportunity to change and improve, to repent and become better people, and to be completely cleansed from those sins of which we repent.
We can be spiritually healed. We can have the Holy Ghost to be with, comfort, and guide us.
We can, at times, when faith and the Lord's will permit, be physically healed. The power of faith and priesthood are made operative through the atonement.
Immortality is certain for all of us, and eternal life is offered to all - it can be had though obedience and faithfulness, though making and keeping covenants.
The atonement is my single greatest source of comfort during hard times. It gives me peace and strength of character that I could not otherwise have.
In summary, the atonement is the only source of life, light, faith, comfort, and hope that we have or could ever need. It is our Father's way of offering us all that He has.
I am profoundly grateful for these precious gifts, without which there could be no light, life or hope in the world.
I bear testimony that this is true, the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
What My Membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Means to Me
First and foremost, it means the opportunity to know of and take advantage of the atonement of our Savior. It means that I and my family have access to the ordinances of salvation. It means that we know that we are literally our Heavenly Father's loved children, with capacity to become as He is. It means that I am privileged to hold the priesthood, and use it to bless my family and others.
It means that I have been blessed with a testimony of Jesus Christ, the holy scriptures, the prophet Joseph Smith, and modern revelation. It means that we have access to the meetings and organizations of the church, and are given callings and responsibilities that allow us to serve and grow.
It means that my family and I have been sealed through temple marriage so that we can be together forever, and that we can do these temple ordinances for our deceased ancestors.
It means that I can have a patriarchal blessing.
My membership in the church means that I had the opportunity to serve a full time mission for the Lord, and hope to serve a couple mission with my wife when we retire.
It means that I have the opportunity to repent, that I was baptized, that I have had the gift of the Holy Ghost bestowed upon me, and that I have a chance to live so as to build greater and greater faith.
It means that I can know who Jesus and Heavenly Father are, and that I can develop a personal relationship with them.
It means that I have a legacy of ancestors and saints who made it possible for me to have been born into the church and raised to know the gospel.
It means that I live in a community of fellow saints, and am a member of a priesthood quorum who support my family and me, and who we can serve and support in return.
It means that I have the privilege to partake of the sacrament weekly, to attend sacrament meetings, Sunday school, and priesthood meetings.
It means that I get to be in ward and stake choirs.
It means that I have access to prayer, that I have scriptures to read and study, and that we have Family Home Evening weekly in our home.
Of course there is much more, but I think that is enough for this writing, except to emphasize again that it all centers in Christ and his redeeming sacrifice.
In upcoming posts I will expand on many of the themes that have been touched upon here.
It means that I have been blessed with a testimony of Jesus Christ, the holy scriptures, the prophet Joseph Smith, and modern revelation. It means that we have access to the meetings and organizations of the church, and are given callings and responsibilities that allow us to serve and grow.
It means that my family and I have been sealed through temple marriage so that we can be together forever, and that we can do these temple ordinances for our deceased ancestors.
It means that I can have a patriarchal blessing.
My membership in the church means that I had the opportunity to serve a full time mission for the Lord, and hope to serve a couple mission with my wife when we retire.
It means that I have the opportunity to repent, that I was baptized, that I have had the gift of the Holy Ghost bestowed upon me, and that I have a chance to live so as to build greater and greater faith.
It means that I can know who Jesus and Heavenly Father are, and that I can develop a personal relationship with them.
It means that I have a legacy of ancestors and saints who made it possible for me to have been born into the church and raised to know the gospel.
It means that I live in a community of fellow saints, and am a member of a priesthood quorum who support my family and me, and who we can serve and support in return.
It means that I have the privilege to partake of the sacrament weekly, to attend sacrament meetings, Sunday school, and priesthood meetings.
It means that I get to be in ward and stake choirs.
It means that I have access to prayer, that I have scriptures to read and study, and that we have Family Home Evening weekly in our home.
Of course there is much more, but I think that is enough for this writing, except to emphasize again that it all centers in Christ and his redeeming sacrifice.
In upcoming posts I will expand on many of the themes that have been touched upon here.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Seeing and Coming to Know the Savior
I was reading in Doctrine and Covenants, section 88, verses 49 and 50, that "The light shineth in the darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not; nevertheless the day shall come when you shall comprehend even God; being quickened in him and by him. Then shall ye know that ye have seen me, that I am, and that I am the true light that is in you, and that you are in me; otherwise ye could not abound."
I was impressed by the statement that the light shines but we don't comprehend it. Yet we will comprehend, and then know that we have seen Christ.
Then I read in D&C 38: 7-8, where it says: "But behold, verily, verily, I say unto you that mine eyes are upon you. I am in your midst and ye cannot see me. But the day soon cometh that ye shall see me, and know that I am; for the veil of darkness shall soon be rent, and he that is not purified shall not abide the day/"
I was thinking about how the Lord tells us that he is here in our midst but we cannot see him, but we shall see him soon. As I thought about this, it came to me that he is in our lives all the time, yet we do not recognize it. His help and guidance are in a multitude of helps, blessings, and tender mercies, many of them disguised as coincidences. I suspect that when we do see him we shall be amazed at how well we know him, for we will finally see and understand that he has been with us all along, and recognized all the things that he has done for us.
I was impressed by the statement that the light shines but we don't comprehend it. Yet we will comprehend, and then know that we have seen Christ.
Then I read in D&C 38: 7-8, where it says: "But behold, verily, verily, I say unto you that mine eyes are upon you. I am in your midst and ye cannot see me. But the day soon cometh that ye shall see me, and know that I am; for the veil of darkness shall soon be rent, and he that is not purified shall not abide the day/"
I was thinking about how the Lord tells us that he is here in our midst but we cannot see him, but we shall see him soon. As I thought about this, it came to me that he is in our lives all the time, yet we do not recognize it. His help and guidance are in a multitude of helps, blessings, and tender mercies, many of them disguised as coincidences. I suspect that when we do see him we shall be amazed at how well we know him, for we will finally see and understand that he has been with us all along, and recognized all the things that he has done for us.
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