Please, accept this invitation.

Now, more than ever, we need the peace and assurances that Christ brings. Please, do not turn away from this invitation.  I know you need it.  I know, because I need it.

I know you have fears and anxieties, whether financial, political, physical, mental, or emotional.  I have many of these myself.  Perhaps not the same ones you have, but I want you to know that I've dealt with my share.

I know you have regrets and guilts.  Whether you've broken promises or lost relationships.  I've been there.  I'm guilty.  I have regrets for things I've done.

I know you have self-doubts and self-deceptions.  On one hand you feel like you can't accomplish or become what you need to.  On the other hand you tell yourself white lies (or full lies) to deceive yourself into believing you have done no wrong.  Please, know that you have innate worth, and that you can accomplish what you need to.  You can also disabuse yourself of the convenient lies you tell yourself.  I know you can, because I am doing so too.

I'm not saying that I am some great paragon of truth, or guide through life.  In fact, I am, myself, a lost sheep.  But I am also a Child of God, an Heir of God; as are you. (Romans 8:16-17)  I know that God will help His Children in what they need; and that if He will help a wretch such as I, He will reach out in love to all His Children, including YOU.

You are precious.  You are worth knowing who you are and how much love and peace is available to you.

So, please, here is my invitation.  Please take this as a serious, heartfelt offer.  I love you and want you to have the peace, love, and hope that I have found.

"[I] invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true." (The Book of Mormon, Introduction)

This invitation also applies to the Bible (see James 1:5) and to any words that talk, rejoice, preach, prophesy, or write of Christ. (2 Nephi 25:26)  It's not so much about the Book of Mormon, or the Bible, or other holy writ; it's about the message they contain.  It's about Christ's love, peace, and assurance.  It's about His Atonement for you, that you and I don't have to suffer forever for our wrongs towards others (or towards ourselves), that we can be cleansed and become more like Him each day.  More loving, more peaceful, more hopeful, less deceitful, and with less desire to do wrong and to waste away our days.

My invitation comes with a promise:

"Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost.

"Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is His revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's kingdon once again established on the earth, preparatory to the Second Coming of the Messiah."  (The Book of Mormon, Introduction)

I testify that the Spirit does speak to men, that God does again reveal His will through living Prophets for the benefit of you and me, His Children. (see The Living Christ)  I have felt the power of Christ's Atonement in my life and plead with you to seek for that same power yourself.  There is no other source of lasting peace, no other way to be filled with true hope.

Please, look to Christ and live. (Alma 37:47)

New name... again

This blog started as a proselyting and teaching tool while I was a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I originally named it “Go ye into all the world...” to reflect my calling to teach the gospel. This title of course came from Christ’s command to His Apostles after His resurrection. The particular scripture reference is Mark 16:15.  (See also Matthew 28:19-20 and 3 Nephi 11:41.)

When I returned home I had planned on continuing to post on this blog as a way of sharing my testimony and thoughts relating to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I correspondingly renamed this blog “Be thou an example...” from Paul's first epistle to Timothy chapter 4, verse 12.  Paul counseled Timothy to be "an example of the believers" despite his youth.  Similarly, I wanted to use this blog for the same purpose.  However, as can be seen by the minimal number of posts over the last 8 years, I have not been the best at structured, regular writing and posting.

Now, nearly a decade later, I'm considering a new structure to my posts.  I realized that I often have insights either during personal or family scripture study, or during church each week.  There are many of these that are not too personal to share.  Also, I've been praying for a way to share the gospel online and one of these recent Sundays I felt the distinct impression that perhaps part of the reason for some of the insights I find is to share them.

In addition to this desire to share the gospel, I've always had in the back of my mind the idea of writing out the most important things I would want to tell my future children and grandchildren.  In line with this, I'll be using this blog to place my thoughts and insights on the gospel, as that is the most important thing in life that I can share with my posterity.

With a new purpose comes a new name: "That our children may know...."  This comes from The Book of Mormon, in particular 2 Nephi 25:26 quoted 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.

I know that this is truth.  I know that Christ is the ultimate solution.  I know that we will all sin, but that Christ will redeem us if we will but turn to Him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit.  There is nothing so important in life as this.

May the peace of Christ and His Atonement abide with you always.

What I've Learned on My Mission

I want to start with a "Thank You!" to everyone in New York!  Thank you for two wonderful years in your service.  I hope our friendships can continue on and grow, even as we are miles apart.

So, what have I learned during these 24 months away from home?

Several things stand out as of prime importance.

First, we must develop faith, hope, and charity as Paul has taught.  If we have nothing to believe in, no hope for life after death, then our life becomes dark and we are inclined to cynicism.  Such an attitude does not lend itself to the Charity and love that should fill our souls.  "Believe in God; believe that he is... 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." (Mosiah 4:9)  "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)

Second, selfless service is paramount in putting off the natural man, becoming like Christ, and becoming fully converted to His gospel.  Conversion comes as we honestly and consistently live the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The central doctrine of His gospel is His Atonement and selfless sacrifice for us.  This sacred service to us would not have been possible if Christ weren't who He was.  When the selfish natural man in each of us would have turned inward, Christ always turned outward.  For example, despite the pains, abandonment, sorrow, and persecutions of His suffering in the Garden and on the cross, Christ still spoke to the Father on behalf of the Roman soldiers who had treated Him so cruely: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)  If you or I were in such a situation we would be more likely to curse our enemies than to bless them; or at the least not spare a thought for them as we focused on our own recent troubles.
   So how do we change our nature and come to love our enemies and pray for those that despitefully use us? (see Matthew 5:44)  We turn outward as the Savior did and serve without thought of personal reward or gain.  As we lose ourselves for the gospel's sake and for Christ's sake, we will find ourselves. (see Matthew 16:24-25)  We will not find ourselves if we set out to accomplish it.  We will only find ourselves as we lose ourselves in others; and we won't be looking for it to happen.

Third, ultimately it is only the gospel that can solve all our problems and save us.  There are so many problems, so many heartaches and troubles in this world.  Society runs around looking for new and novel ideas to problems that humanity has been faced with since the fall of Adam and Eve.  There is no greater or more powerful answer to all our concerns than the very answer that was given to our First Parents.  Christ and His gospel remain the only way to fully solve every social, civil, and personal problem.  In the gospel we not only find the virtues that are the basis of a sound and happy life, but also the principles of righteous living that bring the blessings of God to us and our families, nations, and world.

Lastly, I know that God the Father is our loving Heavenly Father.  He knows us each individually and desires our happiness and salvation.
   I know Jesus Christ is His Son, our Savior.  His Atonement can cleanse and heal us from the deepest sins and wounds, if we are willing to change what we need to and live His gospel.
   I know the Spirit of the Lord can speak to each of us.  He has spoken to me from time to time.  We can know what we need to know and do.  We can be comforted and encouraged in our daily struggles.
   I know that the church and kingdom of God are on the earth again.  God has restored everything necessary for the salvation of all His children.  We have again among us living prophets and apostles who speak the mind and will of God.  There is consistency and safety in their words because they are God's words.

Please:
   Study the scriptures.
   Pray with full sincerity of heart.
   Keep God's commandments.
   Selflessly serve others.
   and Believe.

Then you will recieve what you ask for, find what you seek, and doors will be opened when you knock.  I promise, in the name of Jesus Christ, that this is true.

Follow the Prophet

Amid clamor and confusion God always provides peace and clarity.  One way He has done this is through prophets.  A prophet is a man whom the Lord calls and empowers to speak His word for the benefit and salvation of His children here on earth.

The Bible is full of prophets.  Adam taught his posterity the gospel and commandments of the Lord.  Noah declared repentance (returning to the Lord's gospel) before the flood.  Moses led Israel out of Egypt and taught them to worship the true God of Israel and not the idols that they had left behind.  Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and others taught and chastened Israel as they cycled from belief to prosperity, pride, and then wickedness.

Christ Himself came to teach His law and establish His church and gospel.  He chose and ordained 12 Apostles (Matthew 10:1-8) and Seventy others (Luke 10:1-2,9) to teach His gospel and proclaim His name.

Today we have living prophets who teach the same gospel and the same commandments of the Lord.  They offer a constant, unchanging voice of clarity in our shifting world.  They declare repentance and teach God's commandments and moral standards despite apathy, apostasy, and moral degeneration in society.

Following the counsel of the Lord's prophets guides us in a safe and happy course through this life.  They are the watchmen on the walls who can see danger afar off. (See D&C 101:45; Isaiah 62:6; Jeremiah 6:17; Ezekiel 3:16-17)  If we listen to their warning voices we will be able to avoid and overcome the snares and pitfalls of the adversary and of the world.

Baptism and Confirmation

Each of us deals with the challenges of life.  We try to learn and make correct choices about how to live our life.  We follow the dictates of our conscience.  However, each of us falls short and makes a wrong choice from time to time.  Actually we all slip up daily, if even only in one small thought.  These sins and mistakes create a burden of guilt and shame in our souls.

We need relief from this shame and guilt.  Repentance is the cost of this freedom.  As we repent, we recognize our mistakes and change our actions to avoid the same transgressions in the future.  As we make the necessary changes in our lives we are led to make a covenant (promise) with God.  We desire to always remember Christ, take upon us the name of Christ, and keep His commandments. (see Doctrine and Covenants 20:37, 77, 79)  We also desire to help and lift and serve everyone around us. (see Mosiah 18:8-10)

This covenant is available through the ordinances of baptism and confirmation.  Baptism cleanses us from our sins.  Confirmation gives us the gift of the Holy Ghost (the Spirit).  The Lord covenants that He will bless us with His Spirit's presence always as we keep our promises to him.  The Spirit will guide and direct us in making righteous choices throughout our lives.

This pattern of repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost is what the Apostle Peter taught on the day of Pentecost.  As the people of Jerusalem heard the Apostles preach "they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?"  Peter replied "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. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."(Acts 2:37-39)

I know that this is the gate by which all must enter to gain eternal life.  I know of the peace that comes as I strive to keep my life clean and fulfil the covenants I made at baptism.  God does love us.  That is why He makes covenants with us that will bring us greater peace, joy, and safety in this life.

Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy

What does the Sabbath mean to me?

Most of all I have the wonderful opportunity to be as clean as when I was baptized by partaking of the sacrament at church.  Also I get to be with and learn from (and sometimes teach) other wonderful members and visitors.  Because of those reasons, the Sabbath becomes a day of refreshment and spiritual upliftment and edification.  As one of our scriptures says: "He that receiveth the word by the Spirit of truth receiveth it as it is preached by the Spirit of truth... Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together." (Doctrine and Covenants 50:21-22)

Experiencing that understanding by the Spirit while at church helps me to strive to keep the rest of the Sabbath just as uplifting.  The Sabbath becomes a day to seek for Spiritual truth and to serve and lift others.  Studying the scriptures, praying and singing hymns helps me to receive that truth which I need.  Activities such as visiting home-bound members and singing hymns for people in a nursing home are a couple ways that I have sought to offer service.

With all of this to do it becomes easier to let go of activities that are not suited to the Sabbath.  These activities are not necessarily bad (indeed, we may participate in them throughout the week), but they don't help lift us spiritually and they don't help us remember God.  Such activities as shopping or attending a sporting event should be kept from diminishing the purpose and meaning of the Sabbath.

We have the promise of the Lord that we will be blessed as we seek to sanctify the Sabbath:

"If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth." (Isaiah 58:13-14)

"Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours... he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come. I, the Lord, have spoken it, and the Spirit beareth record. Amen.(D&C 59:16,23-24; see also verses 9-15)

I know that the Lord fulfills His promises, for I have seen His hand in my life and I know of His goodness and mercy and of His relationship to us as our Loving Father!

The Power of the Book of Mormon

In the Book of Mormon is the Power one needs to come to know the true nature of our Heavenly Father and of His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.  A person can also come to know for themselves, independent of anyone or anything else in this world, that the Book of Mormon is sacred scripture along with the Bible.  As such, it contains God's word and will and His gospel.  You can also know that Joseph Smith was the man whom God called and gave power to translate the Book of Mormon and establish Christ's original church again on the Earth.

With these witnesses you can gain the strength you need to overcome any obstacle that you are faced with in your life.  If you will study daily this divine Book of books and abide by the principles that it teaches, you will have the aid of the Spirit in your life.  You can overcome all things through Christ.

It may sound like a simple answer to what seem like insurmountable problems, but it is a true answer.  I have felt the Spirit and Power of the Book of Mormon in my own life.  I have also felt the absence of the Spirit when I have neglected my study of the Scriptures.

We also have the promise of modern prophets concerning the power that comes from studying the Book of Mormon:

The moment you begin a serious study of the Book of Mormon, you will find greater power to resist temptation.  You will find the power to avoid deception.  You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path.  When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will find life in greater abundance."
     -Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, Nov 1986, "The Book of Mormon--Keystone of Our Religion"

I offer a challenge to members of the Church throughout the world and to our friends everywhere to read or reread the Book of Mormon.... Very near the end of its 239 chapters, you will find a challenge issued by the prophet Moroni as he completed his record nearly 16 centuries ago. Said he:
   “And I exhort you to remember these things; for the time speedily cometh that ye shall know that I lie not, for ye shall see me at the bar of God; and the Lord God will say unto you: Did I not declare my words unto you, which were written by this man, like as one crying from the dead, yea, even as one speaking out of the dust? …
   “And God shall show unto you, that that which I have written is true” (Moro. 10:27, 29).
   Without reservation I promise you that if each of you will observe this simple program, regardless of how many times you previously may have read the Book of Mormon, there will come into your lives and into your homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God.
     -President Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, August 2005, "A Testimony Vibrant and True" 

Endure to the End

Once we have been baptized and confirmed we need to continue on the path to Eternal Life.  We must "press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men."  We are promised that if we "endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." (2 Nephi 31:20)

We "endure to the end" by continually exercising faith, repenting, keeping our commitments and covenants, and following the Spirit's guidance.  In order to have the Spirit's guidance in our lives we must repent of our sins and strive to remain free from sin.  When we are baptized we are completely cleansed from our sins and we promise to keep the commandments.  If we mess up and fall short, we must repent.  We can become clean again and renew the covenant made at baptism by partaking of the the sacrament.

This pattern of faith, repentance, making and keeping covenants, and following the Spirit becomes a way of life.  We draw closer to God and find greater happiness, peace, and joy in our daily lives.  This lifestyle will lead us to Eternal Life in God's presence.



Baptism, Our First Covenant

Faith and repentance lead us to baptism.  As we change our lives we want to keep all God's commandments.  Baptism is a commandment. (see John 3:5 and 2 Nephi 9:23)  This effort to keep all of God's commandments brings us closer to Him.



Baptism brings us closer to God in a couple ways.  First, we are cleansed of all our former guilt and sins and we have a fresh start.  Secondly, we make sacred promises with God called covenants.

When repentance has been sincere, baptism removes all our former guilt and shame.  We are forgiven and cleansed of all prior sins and trespasses against God.  We have come with a broken heart and a sincere desire to learn and God's will for us.  He in turn has blessed us with peace and healing.  With baptism He offers us greater blessings in the future as we continue to improve our lives and follow closer to His will every day.

God makes these blessings available through sacred promises or covenants.  At baptism we make a covenant with God to serve Him and keep His commandments throughout our lives.  As a blessing of fulfilling this promise, God will pour out His Spirit more abundantly upon us. (see Mosiah 18:10)

After baptism we have the opportunity each week at church to renew this covenant.  We do this by partaking of the sacrament.  We once again promise to take upon us the name of Christ, and always remember him and keep his commandments.  The promised blessing that we may always have his Spirit to be with us is also renewed. (D&C 20:77, 79)

Repentance

Repentence follows faith in Jesus Christ.  Repentance is necessary because “no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven” (Alma 11:37).  Because we "trust in the Lord", we change our lives to follow His commandments (Proverbs 3:5-6).

In order to change and repent, we must recognize that what we have done offends God.  We must recognize that we have sinned.  This recognition brings true remorse or "godly sorrow" (2 Corinthians 7:10).  We feel sorry not because we've been caught, but because we know that we have broken God's commandments.

We must always confess our sin to the Lord through prayer.  In cases of serious sin we should confess our sins to our local priesthood leaders.  We should seek their counsel and guidance as we strive to be clean again.

As we work towards being forgiven by God, we must seek the forgiveness of those we may have hurt by our actions.  We should seek to make restitution with them; we should repay or repair what we can.

After all this, the truly repentant person will forsake his sin and strive to never return to it or repeat it again.  "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13; see also Doctrine and Covenants 58:43).

As we strive to leave our sins behind, we will need to fill our time with good things.  In order to receive and keep the strength we need to avoid and resist temptationa and sin, we should keep the commandments of God.  We should live righteously. (see Doctrine and Covenants 1:32)

We have the Lord's promise that as we sincerely repent we can be made clean.  "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18; see also Doctrine and Covenants 58:42)

As the prodigal son returning to his father, through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, we can return to our Father.

Faith in Jesus Christ

What is faith?

It is an abiding trust that the Lord can fulfill His promises to us.  Faith is active.  As we trust the Lord we want to do what He has asked us to do.

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)  "Faith is things which are hoped for and not seen... for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." (Ether 12:6)

When we act in faith and follow the example and teachings of Jesus Christ, we will know that what we are doing is right.  As Christ promised: "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." (John 7:17)

As we truly have faith in Christ, we will want to change those things in our life that give offense to God.  We will want to repent of our sins.

Kingdoms of Glory

God loves us and wants to give us all He has, however we are taught that "no unclean thing can dwell with God." (1 Nephi 10:21)  When we are judged we will be rewarded according to what we have done in this life.  Our Heavenly Father will give us a place of glory in a kingdom of heaven.

If we have accepted the fullness of Christ’s gospel and lived it throughout our lives, repenting of our sins, we can live in the highest kingdom of glory. This kingdom is called the Celestial Kingdom. That is where we can live with God and our families. We can experience a fullness of joy and happiness. We can live the kind of life God lives. The glory of this kind of life is compared to the brightness of the sun.

If we live honorable lives, but are not faithful to Christ and His teachings, then we can inherit the Terrestrial Kingdom. We will live with other honorable people, but we will not live as families. The glory of this kind of life is compared to the brightness of the moon.

Last of all, if we live a life of sin and wickedness then we will receive an inheritance in the lowest kingdom, the Telestial Kingdom. There we will live with others who rejected and disobeyed Christ and His commandments. The glory of this kingdom is compared to the brightness of the stars.

The Resurrection, Judgment, and Immortality

When Christ suffered and died for us, He rose again the third day.  Because of Christ's great love for us, He will give all people the same blessing of rising again from the dead.  This is called resurrection.

When we are resurrected we will receive a perfect, glorified body of flesh and bones.  We will not feel pain or suffer death again.  The resurrection is essential in order for us to come and stand before God to be judged.

We will be judged according to what we have done in life and what the desires of our hearts are.  God will reward us accordingly with a place in heaven.

The Spirit World

At the end of our life here on earth we die, our bodies and our spirits are seperated.  We are the same person after death as we are in life.  We have the same desires, thoughts and feelings.

From the Book of Mormon we learn where our spirits go after death.  A prophet by the name of Alma taught his son about life after death. 

"Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life."  (Alma 40:11)

The place where our spirits live while waiting for the resurrection is called the spirit world.  Alma explains that those who chose to obey God in this life are "received into a state of happiness... called paradise..."  In that state they have "rest from... troubles and... care, and sorrow." (Alma 40:12) Those who chose to disobey God live in a state of unhappiness.

The disobedient and those who did not have the opportunity to hear the gospel in this life will be taught while in the spirit world.



Eventually all will be resurrected and leave the spirit world.  Our spirits will be reunited with our bodies eternally.

The Atonement

Before the foundation of this world Christ was chosen as our Savior.  As part of God's Plan, Christ would redeem us from the fall and bring us back to our Father.  He is "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Revelation 13:8)

Christ's redemption would remove the barriers to living with God that were brought about by the fall.  Namely, death and sin.

All of us here on Earth will suffer death.  Our spirits and our bodies will be seperated.  Christ Himself suffered death.  But He also rose from the dead and became "the firstfruits of them that slept."  Because of His love and grace we are assured that we too will rise from the dead.  Our bodies and our spirits will be reunited forever in a perfect state, just as Christ's body was.  "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (see 1 Corinthians 15:20-22)

Christ also suffered for our sins.  In the garden of Gethsemane the pain was so great that He bled "at every pore" and asked the Father to "remove this cup."  But Christ was faithful and followed the Father's will and partook. (see Doctrine and Covenants 19:18-19 and Luke 22:39-44)

If we are faithful to the Savior and follow His will, we can be cleansed by His grace.  He has asked us to exercise our Faith, repent and turn from our sins, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure in Faith until the end. (see Moroni 7:33-34; 2 Nephi 31:11-13)

Our Life on Earth

This life is a wonderful opportunity!  God has given us this life for our benefit.  His purpose is for us to be able to receive eternal life or eternal happiness in His presence. (Moses 1:39)

God has provided commandments and the Gospel to show us the way that we can be happy in this life and make it back to live with Him in the next life.  However, it is our choice whether we follow what He has said.  God cannot and will not force us to choose good.  That is up to us.

Satan also has a plan.  "He seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself." (2 Nephi 2:27)  He tempts us to sin.  He wants us to break God's commandments because he knows that doing so will bring us misery.  He knows that "wickedness never was happiness." (Alma 41:10)

We will all face trials and adversity.  These trials come as a result of others' choices, of our choices, and as a natural result of the fallen world that we live in.  We can choose how we react.

As we go through life, facing our trials and temptations, we will all sin "and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)  But we can be redeemed!  Through Jesus Christ and His Atonement we will all be resurrected and receive perfect, immortal bodies.  More importantly, our mistakes and sins can be washed away.

Agency and the Fall of Adam and Eve

Adam and Eve were the first of God's children on this world.  God created them in His image and placed them in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:8)  Adam and Eve lived in a state of innocence without pain, sickness or sorrow.  But they also didn't have a full understanding of joy or happiness.

God gave them their agency, the ability to choose for themselves.  He also gave them commandments.  One of these was to not partake of the forbidden fruit -- the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. (2 Nephi 2:15-16)

Satan came and tempted Adam and Eve to trangress God's commandment.  They followed satan's temptings and partook. (2 Ne. 17-19)  Thus they trangressed and fell.  Pain, sickness and death came into the world.  Adam and Eve were able to sin.  Adam and Eve were now also able to choose good and right and to have children and raise a family. (2 Ne. 2:22-23)  They could be happy in this life. (see 2 Ne 2:25)

God knew Adam and Eve would fall. (2 Ne. 2:24)  God knew it was necessary for them so that they could fully know good from evil and choose for themselves.  He provided a way for the fall to be overcome.  He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the price for our sins and to die for us. (2 Ne. 2:26)

Because of the fall we have moral agency.  Good and bad are before us.  We "are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil." (2 Ne 2:27)  We can learn and progress in this life.  Through the plan of redemption we can exercise faith and repent and be brought back to our Father by Christ's grace. (Alma 22:12-14)

Members blogging their testimonies!

Today I ran across a couple links to blogs where members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had fearlessly shared their beliefs.  I wanted to share them with you.


I Really Lived!: I Am a Mormon = I Am a Christian: I am a Mormon.  What does that mean? It means I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It means that am a follower and a disciple of Jesus Christ and I look to Him as my Savior and Redeemer. A lot of people in the world are wondering if Mormons are Christians. Many people believe we are not. I am here to tell you that we are.

Joseph Trevor Antley: Are Mormons Christians: What with the recent controversy over a certain Texas Evangelical minister accusing a certain high-profile Mormon of being a non-Christian — because Mormonism is, according to this minister, a non-Christian cult — I thought I’d briefly address this criticism that has been repeated ad nauseum for the past two hundred years: are Mormons Christians?


There are many more out there who are doing the same thing.  These just happened to be the ones I ran into today.  Please read with an open heart and seek for understanding.

We do believe in Christ and trust in Him as our Savior and Redeemer.  We seek to live what we believe and to share it with those around us.

The Creation



By the power of His Son Jesus Christ, God created the earth. (see Genesis 1, John 1:1-3)  This earth gives us the necessary opportunity of having a body.  While here we are away from God's presence and must walk by faith. (2 Corinthians 5:6-7)  This life is a time of probation and testing. (Alma 34:32-34)  Obedience to God's commandments will lead us safely through this life and back to our loving Heavenly Father.

The first of God's children to be placed on Earth were Adam and Eve.

Pre-earth Life: God's Purpose and Plan for Us

Have you ever wondered if there is more beyond this life; if there is some reason for being here and somewhere to go afterwards?  There are answers to these questions.  They are found in God's plan.

This plan, called the plan of happiness, teaches us that we lived with our Heavenly Father before this life, that we have a purpose for being here, and that we can return to live with our Father again after this life is through.




Each of us are children of an eternal, loving, Heavenly Father.  He loves us and wants us to have the happiness and joy that He has.  He gave us this earthly experience to accomplish that.

He has given us agency, the right to choose our own actions.  While on this earth we can exercise our agency to choose good or evil.  God has also given us the gift of His Son Jesus Christ.  It is only as we choose good and follow Christ that we can return to our Heavenly Father and receive a fullness of joy and happiness.