Keep the Ten Commandments

The Lord gives us commandments to teach us how to serve Him and how to treat those around us.  Some of the most well-known of these commandments are the 10 commandments.  These commandments are still in force today.  Obeying them will bring the promised blessings of happiness and peace in this life.

Quoting from Exodus 20:3-17 (see also Mosiah 12:33-37 and Mosiah 13:11-24), the 10 commandments are as follows:

• "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (verse 3)  Other gods may include our money, our position or power in life, or our possessions.
• "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image..." (v. 4)
• "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain..." (v. 7)  Clean, wholesome language is pleasing to God.  It also reflects our personal values. Language that makes light of sacred things or that degrades others is demoralizing and demeaning; not just to others, but to our own soul as well.
• "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God..." (v. 8-10)  Our worship and activities on the Sabbath reflect our personal commitment to follow the Lord.  We should lay aside the entertainment and activities of the week and focus on spiritual, family, and service centered activities.
• "Honor thy father and thy mother..." (v. 12)  The family is the basic unit of society.  More importantly it is a central part of God's Plan of Salvation.  Strive to love and serve your family.
• "Thou shalt not kill." (v. 13)  Violence in any form drives away the Spirit.  Pay attention to your personal attitudes and actions towards others.  Also consider the content of the media that you spend your time on.
• "Thou shalt not commit adultery." (v. 14)  Immorality is just as dangerous to our welfare as any other sin, vice, or disease.  We should decide now to be chaste.
• "Thou shalt not steal." (v. 15)
• "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." (v. 16)  We should be completely honest in all our doings.  As we strive for honesty we will be recognized as someone who has integrity and is trustworthy; someone whom the Lord can trust.
• "Thou shalt not covet..." (v. 17)

As we honestly strive to obey God's Commandments we will learn of their truthfulness. (see John 7:17)  Choose this day to serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)



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.

Study the Scriptures

The scriptures are written by prophets whom the Lord inspires through the Holy Ghost.  They record God's dealings with His children.

Just as God inspired men in the "Old World" to write scriptures, He inspired men in the Americas who kept a record of God's teachings and gospel in their land.  The "Old World" record is the Bible.  The record from the ancient Americas is the Book of Mormon.  Both testify of Christ and teach His gospel and commandments.

In addition to these records, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints espouses the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price as scripture.

As we study the scriptures we learn God's will and purposes for each of us.  We receive personal revelation for our own lives.  Daily study of His Word is a wonderful habit that brings blessings of knowledge, peace and direction.

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)

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.

God's Love for All His Children

We are all children of a loving Heavenly Father.  Because of that love He has always called Prophets to testify of His Son.  Christ Himself came to minister among men.  A record of His life, death, and resurrection is contained in the Holy Bible.  The Bible testifies of Christ's divinity.

Another record is now available in our day.  This record is the Book of Mormon.  It is another testament of Jesus Christ.  It tells of God's dealings with His children in the Americas.  God called prophets among them.  These prophets testified of Christ's life, death, and resurrection.  They also prophecied that Christ would visit God's children in the Americas after His resurrection.

The testimonies of Christ that are contained in the Book of Mormon have changed my life.  I know of God's love for every person in every nation: that includes me.  I know I am loved and watched over by a Father of infinite wisdom, compassion, and mercy.  I know that Christ did feel my every sorrow and heartache. More importantly I know that if I follow the Savior I can return to my Father.

I also know that God has still called living prophets in our day.  If that were not so, then the Book of Mormon would never have come forth.  If God had not called a prophet today, His priesthood power would be absent from the earth.  But I know that He has restored all things pertaining to His church and gospel.

God loves all His children.  Prophets spoke of Christ.  Prophets still speak of Christ.  We have two witnesses to these truths, namely, The Holy Bible and The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

A Prophet Speaks Today!

We have the wonderful opportunity this weekend to hear from living Prophets.

Just as in the Bible, God leads His people by the words of "His servants the Prophets." (Amos 3:7)

"Come, listen to a prophet's voice!" (Hymns, 21)

More information on General Conference can be found here.

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ

One great difference between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and any other Christian church is our scriptural canon.  We believe in and use the Bible.  It's testimony of Christ's life and of His divine Messiahship is an indespensible witness.  We also believe that God inspired prophets on the American continent to teach His gospel and to testify of Christ.  Their words were recorded and handed down from generation to generation.  Eventually the records of their words were abridged on golden plates by a prophet-historian named Mormon.  He entrusted this record to his son Moroni who finished the record and hid it away.

Three years after his vision of the Father and the Son, Joseph Smith knelt in His room to pray.  He was visited by Moroni and, among other things, was shown the location of the golden plates.  Joseph sought out the place that he had been shown and was met there by Moroni.  Eventually the plates were entrusted to Joseph and he began to translate them by the gift and power of God.

In 1830 the translated account was published as The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

I know that this Book is a true record, that it was written by prophets just like the Bibile was.  I also know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of the Lord.  He could not have translated the Book of Mormon without the help of God.  I know that the priesthood power and authority of God has been restored and that the fullness of God's power and blessings is found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The fullness of that gospel is taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Most importantly I know that Christ is my Savior, the Redeemer of the world.  I know He loves me and each and every one of God's children.

You can know the same things by the power of the Holy Ghost.  If you will sincerely read the Book of Mormon and pray to know of its truth you can receive the witness of the Holy Ghost. (see Moroni 10:3-5)

The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through Joseph Smith

In the early 1800s God again showed His love for His children by calling a prophet.

As a young man, Joseph Smith honestly sought for truth.  His family was deeply religious and studied the Bible regularly.  Joseph investigated the many churches in his vicinity and studied the Bible to find which church to join.  The Bible taught that there would be "One Lord, one faith, one baptism..." so he sought that faith. (Ephesians 4:5)

While reading in the Bible, he came across James 1:5, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God; who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him."  Trusting that the Lord would give freely to those who ask and not chastise them for asking, he determined to "ask of God."

On a clear spring morning in 1820 Joseph retired to a grove of trees near his home.  There he knelt and offered a spoken prayer.  He later described his experience in these words:

"I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.... When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!" (Joseph Smith-History 1:16-17)

Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.  They spoke to him and answered his questions concerning which church was right and which he should join.  Joseph was told that he "must join none of them" (JS-H 1:19).  None of the churches then standing had the priesthood authority of God.  This authority would be restored through Joseph Smith.

At later times Joseph Smith received the Priesthood under the hands of John the Baptist and Peter, James, and John.  These men came as angels and conferred the necessary Priesthood to baptize, give the gift of the Holy Ghost, and run the Church.

Joseph Smith was also led to a sacred record kept by the ancient inhabitants of the Americas.  He translated this record by the gift and power of God and published it as The Book of Mormon.  This Book is a fruit of  Joseph's work as a prophet of God.

Most importantly this Book supports the Bible in testifying of Christ's reality and divinity!

The Great Apostasy

After Christ's ascension into heaven, the Apostles were left to establish and maintain the Church.  They had been given authority and power by Christ to teach and baptize everyone who would believe.  They went forth and met with the saints and established congregations of saints throughout the known world.

But there were soon problems and divisions.  False doctrines were taught and spread.  The Apostles did their best to keep the doctrine pure and unified, but eventually the people rejected the Apostles as they had rejected Christ.  Those who believed and followed the Apostles were persecuted and many killed.  The Apostles themselves were killed or exiled.  The widespread wickedness and the rejection of these ordained servants of God led to the withdrawal of God's priesthood authority.  There was no longer the authority or power to baptize or to preside over the church.

There were still honorable people who searched for truth, but because of wickedness, pride and corruption, the fullness of Christ's Gospel was lost.  Honest seekers of truth did the best they could to follow the truth that they could find.  Uninspired men made unauthorized changes to the scriptures and the ordinances of the church.  Conspiring men purposefully mislead people, often to their own profit and gain.  Many churches were established, but none had the authority of God or the fullness of His truth.

The scriptures foretold that these things would occur.  Amos 8:11-12 speaks of this loss of truth as a famine.  It tells that men will seek truth but not be able to find it.  Christ's Apostles foretold this falling away.  Paul wrote to Timothy of a time when men "will not endure sound doctrine." (2 Timothy 4:3-4; see also 1 Timothy 4:1-3, Acts 20:28-30)

The Apostles also knew that a time would come when the Gospel would be restored.  Peter spoke of "times of refreshing" and "the times of restitution of all things." (Acts 3:19-21)  God loves all His children, so when the time had come that men would again listen to His prophets He would establish His church.

The Savior's Earthly Ministry

In the centuries preceding Christ's birth, the world had again fallen away from the truth of the gospel.  When Christ came to earth, he again established His church and taught His gospel.  He gave us an example of how to live.  Most importantly, he suffered and died for our sins and was resurrected on the third day.

At the beginning of His ministry Christ was baptized of John, who had the authority to do so. (Matthew 3:13-15)

Christ went and called twelve men whom He ordained as His Apostles.  He gave them priesthood power and authority to teach His gospel and establish His church. (see: John 15:16; Matthew 10:1; Luke 9:1-2)

Christ "went about doing good." (Acts 10:38)  He healed the sick, raised the dead and cast out devils.

Eventually, like many of the prophets before, He was rejected.  In the last days of His life Christ would suffer for our sins, he would feel the pain and sickness of every human being (Alma 7:11-13), he would sweat "as it were great drops of blood" (Luke 22:44).

Then he would be betrayed, beaten and sentenced to death.  He would be hung on a cross and there He would die for us.

His body would be buried in a borrowed tomb and the tomb would be sealed and guarded. (Matthew 27:57-66)  But still, Christ was resurrected and came forth from the tomb on the third day!

Christ showed His resurrected body unto many, including His Apostles.  Christ taught His Apostles and sent them forth: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them...Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you..." (Matthew 28:19-20)  Christ then ascended into heaven and left the church in the care of His duly ordained Apostles.

Heavenly Father Reveals His Gospel in Every Dispensation

One of the great ways that God shows His love for us is by calling Prophets.

Prophets are called and chosen by God.  They are ordained with the priesthood, the power of God delegated to man to do His work.  They are given the keys, or authority, to run His church and teach the gospel.

Prophets speak the words of God for our benefit.  They teach us His commandments and show us the way back to Him, through Jesus Christ.  The prophets have always prophesied of Christ and His coming.  They wrote their prophecies down and these writings were kept and read through the years.  We have many of these today in the Bible.  We also have words of prophets in the Americas as contained in the Book of Mormon.

When people reject the Prophets they fall into apostasy or disbelief.  This can happen individually or as communities and nations.  Throughout the scriptures we see this happening.  Adam taught his family the gospel, but eventually his posterity rejected his words.  When Noah was preaching, the people did not accept him.  Noah's family was righteous and after the flood they continued in righteousness for a while.  Eventually the gospel was rejected again.

We can protect ourselves from apostasy.  We can know that the words of the Prophets are true.  We can pray to ask God, in the name of Christ, if the scriptures are His words.  We can ask to know that He loves us and that this is the way He reveals His plan for all His children.  If we pray, God will confirm that the scriptures are His words.  He will also reveal to us how we can apply the teachings from the scriptures in our daily lives.

Central to all these teachings is the life, ministry, and atoning sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

We Believe: The Word of God

"We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God." (Articles of Faith 1:8)

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I know the Bible is a record of Christ's life and ministry.  It contains His teachings which constitute His gospel.
   However, through the translations and revisions of uninspired men, errors have entered the Bible.  Some of the doctrines contained in the Bible are unclear.  Other doctrinal truths have been removed altogether.  In a way it is a miracle that we have the Bible at all today.  But we do have it, and it is a wonderful blessing in the lives of millions around the world.

Today we have the wonderful gift of a second witness of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  The Book of Mormon is a testimony of the ancient people of the Americas proclaiming the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The Book of Mormon clarifies the doctrines taught in the Bible.  It testifies of and supports the Bible. (see 1 Nephi 13:21-23)
   Anyone can come to know the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.  As the introduction to the Book of Mormon states:

   "We 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. 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. (See Moroni 10:3–5.)
   "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 kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the second coming of the Messiah."

I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God, as is the Holy Bible.  I know that they testify of Christ and that He lives!

Revelation

"We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God." (Articles of Faith 1:9)

The principle of revelation is the principle upon which Christ's church is built.  As Christ said to Simon Peter "flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven....and upon this rock I will build my church..."  Through Peter's faith he knew, by the Spirit of God, that Jesus was "the Christ, the Son of the living God."  (Matthew 16:16-18)

And so it is with us.  We have the word of God as revealed to and recorded by prophets in Old Testament times and by the Apostles in New Testament times.  We have the Book of Mormon, which testifies of Christ and upholds the Bible.  We also have living Prophets and Apostles today.  We can act in Faith upon all the words of God as spoken by His ancient and modern prophets.  We can ask about their truth and validity.  We can seek a personal witness of their callings as Prophets and of Christ's divine Sonship and life.  We can receive, as did Peter, revelation confirming truth.  "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)

I have personally studied the scriptures, I have prayed to my Heavenly Father, and I have received a witness that the scriptures do contain the word of God, that Prophets speak His words, and that the fulness of Christ's gospel is upon the Earth.
   I know Christ died for us, but I also know He was resurrected the third day and is our Living Lord and Savior.