"He Lives!"

In the spirit of the day of fast when we seek to satisfy our spirits even more so then other Sabbaths. This day we indeed crucify the flesh and seek to feed the spirit. We feed each other with our stories of faith and in the bearing of testimonies.
In a court of law witness' testimonies are taken at face value and can convict or set free. This day I seek to both convict the heart and free the soul.

First I confess of my weakness and sins and how as Nephi states, "O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities. I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me. And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted." (2 Nephi 4: 17-19) 

I wish to focus on the "nevertheless", I know that Jesus is the Christ! I have known this forever but yet do I still struggle to embrace fully the fulness. 

Go with me to Pontiac, MI. I found myself serving in an area and a people who had not responded to the gospel message in many years, and many who had accepted in the past had fallen away. I began to question whether I had been mistaken in my being out there preaching this "strange" gospel. I fell to my knees to speak to the only Being who I knew I could rely on. I asked the Father again, "is Joseph Smith really a prophet?" Is the Book of Mormon really true?" "Why am I out here?" Before I raised from my prayer I heard the words, "Elder, Jesus is the Christ." If other words were spoken I did not hear it. That was enough for me. I felt the Holy Spirit, who's mission is to testify of truth and surely I heard the words that I had a Savior and that my title "Elder" was recognized by heaven. 

I went back to work and testified of those things that had been witnessed to me. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. I know that the Book of Mormon is another witness of Jesus. I know that the Church to which I belong was restored by Jesus Himself. 

In my witnessing, I also realize of the goodness that other faiths bring into the lives of its people, I simply state that Jesus has provided more and has invited us to partake of more. 

Thus, in my weakness I bear witness with all the love and strength that I posses, and invite all to come unto Christ fully. He Lives!

In the Holy and Saving name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Invite to the Feast

Shortly after His baptism Jesus went to the wilderness to commune with the Father. He went fasting, which lasted 40 days. Then came the devil tempting Him, asking Jesus to turn stones into bread to feed His body. Jesus responded, "It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." Luke 4:4
This seems very relevant to this time of year that we celebrate how two very different peoples came together to break bread.
The problem that we face is that the many calories that we intake over the next few days do not last. Hours later the body craves more, we just cant get enough! We are never full for very long, but Jesus promised the people of His day, "I am the bread of life...I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." John 6:52-53
For those who hunger and thirst after righteousness are promised to be filled. Nephi teaches us how we are to move forward. He states, "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
While celebrating the heroic act of the the pilgrims let us remember why many of them battled the seas, famine, and disease, to worship their God according to their conscience. While others came for a sense of success, and riches. The promise from the Word states that we can have all those things in Christ. Freedoms unknown and riches untold are ours!
Come feast upon the word. If we do this we will find ourselves invited to the feast and marriage of the Lamb. Where Jesus Himself stated, "Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them." Luke 12:37 Yes, He will serve us! Oh how I look to prepare myself for the society and the culture there. If we fail to do so, how uncomfortable will we find ourselves. For what will you speak about to the brother to your left or the sister to your right at the dinner table? The local sports team, or the newest fashion of shoes? Fortunately neither of those things are found there.
I invite you to feast now to prepare yourself for that great feast. This will be a real feast with real food, not some metaphor, but a real celebration. We are all invited.

The Song Of Redeeming Love!

I have come to believe that sin not only keeps our Father from us but even more so it keeps us from Him. I say more so, because He is ever willing to help us along, even in the midst of temptation, if you pause to hear, you will hear His voice gently nudging you to stay clear of danger. Because of the attributes of foreknowledge and the ability to see the end from the beginning, He knows what we may become. While on the opposite hand sin clouds our minds and causes us to doubt His love, and our worth. This is the great danger! Have you ever broken a commandment, and then stopped praying, and reading and attending church? It wasn't because He left you, but you felt He could not love a sinner. That is the great lie, that is how Satan binds us until it is everlastingly too late. When you sin you need Him even more, these are the times when we should read more, and pray more, and fill our lives with things that invite the Holy Ghost.
In those moments when yet again we have failed to live up to the standard, I ask that we pause for a moment and ponder the fact that He already knew our failings, yet He still sent His Son. He knew we would be rebellious, thus He provided a way. If then He already knew, we must trust that in all our filth, He sees His daughter or son.
Sin keeps us from returning to Him because of what it does to our hope and faith. Without these two it is impossible to move towards Him. It destroys our faith in ourselves, then we hopelessly flounder trying to change ourselves, which cannot be done. It cannot be done to the degree that is needed to be ready for celestial glory.
The ancient prophet Alma asked the people of his day if their souls have had the privilege of singing the song of redeeming love. He then asked if they did have that great experience, if they still were able to do so. This is a soul searching question, that we should ask ourselves daily.
Before you retire every evening, you should ask yourself, "do I feel so now?" Let not a day go by where you do not seek to draw closer. Do not let the doubts of sin keep you from His love.
As always I speak these things by experience. I know how transgression and sin cloud judgment. I also know that the moment we decide to move forward, He is there to extend His arm of mercy. They both are extended, opened wide awaiting for an embrace. He needs no sleep, takes no vacation, and never turns from us.
I am convinced that because of the many mansions in my Father's house, there are not many of us who will not inherit a kingdom of glory. When you look around this day, week, this life, remember those are your brothers, and your sisters. We are literally children of a loving God who simply asks us to love one another, and to not judge, and to help one another in all of our trials.
In my sins and transgressions I remember that I have a redeemer, who paid the ultimate price for my eternal happiness, so I go on until either I am rejected or hear the words, "well done thy good and faithful servant..."

Peace, Be Still!

Ever present in my mind is, what do I say to my children later in life? How do I help them to understand my inner most desires? How can I lead them to what I've come to know as happiness? So I write! I do this for them, this is what keeps me going in the daunting task. Especially when I invite others in on my inner most feelings and few take a peek.
This night when I awoke to see the clock reading 3:30, with all of the individuals on my mind that I care for, those whom I have been called to serve, and also friends and family, I sought to know how I can help. I opened my electronic scriptures to see what inspiration I could have in my desire, and my mind began to think of how 1 year ago I was also up in the middle of the night but last year the scene was much different. In fact just about every night I was up at 3am vomiting, crouched over a toilet in pain. Then I thought about the November before, and the same thing, and the November before that, way back to 6 years before.
I thought of how since 2006 I have had issues that should have broken my will to carry on, certainly at the time I was broken, yet here I am. I thought of how my loving companion has had to deal with my depression, and my hopelessness, my paralyzed mind, and the long hospital stays. How she had to deal with individuals whispering to her mind how she'd made a horrific decision in marrying me, and how that must have surly seemed so during this time, yet she kept the faith. Faith in me, in her covenants, and most importantly in Christ.
When she speaks of those times, in Ogden, Roy, Bountiful, and some of West Point, some of it I do not remember. We have named those years the "dark ages", for that is what they were. I do however remember the battles of dragging myself out of bed to get to work, and the crying, and the medications that held me hostage. I remember the pleadings with Heavenly Father to help me be able to get to church, to be able to go to the store without feeling threatened. It was a hell! I do remember the feeling of worthlessness, and the judgments, I remember that. I do have fond memories also of having opportunities to share the gospel. The times when I did feel the warmth of the sun. I took those opportunities because they were so rare, and they gave me hope.
I write this to remember, to remember how merciful the Lord has been to me. While we have struggled dearly, I realize there are others who have tread through much deeper waters, and remained much more valiant and faithful than I. I see the wisdom now in my suffering, it was to soften my heart, to be patient to those who likewise suffer. To lift the hands that hang down, to offer the example of my experience as a witness that we can still go on believing.
In all of this I wish to say that I struggled mightily with my faith, not in my testimony that Jesus is the Christ, but in my willingness to continue to follow Him. It was so hard to mentally be there when physically, and mentally I was in shambles, when I saw how my wife and children needed me and I could not help. In a time when education was to be obtained, and careers started, I lay on the floor completely at the mercy of circumstance.
In all of that though, here I am, fighting on, still bearing witness that in all of life's storms Jesus still is the master of the raging seas, and at His command doth the winds and the waves obey His will as He says unto them, "Peace, be Still."
So may it be in your life, let His words speak to your raging seas, "Peace, be sill!"

The Economy of Heaven

The Mission Statement:
"To Bring to Pass the Immortality and Eternal Life of Man" (Moses 1:39)

There are peaks and valleys in this economy. The valleys are termed "apostasy", the rebounds would be a new "dispensation." We are currently in the final dispensation. This one was promised to be the most fruitful and richest. Those that would participate in this one would be responsible for accomplishing all that is needed for the King to return. That all things would be gathered in from all other dispensations, "That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him..." (Ephesians 1:10)

The currency is love and there is no scarcity of this resource, it is found in abundance and it multiplies as you share it. This is how the mission is accomplished, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)
 
In this economy there is work for all, "Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;...And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work." (D&C 4: 3,5) There is no room here for those seeking their own glory in this economy, but we work for the good of the whole. The qualities of those here are gentleness and humility. All those called into this economy are placed in positions of real responsibilities (caring for the souls of Father's children) according to their talents and are encouraged to obtain more talents. "And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more..." (Matthew 25:20-23) All are blessed by all, and thus we all go on to perfection.

This is much more sustainable. This is the way of Christ. He lives. Remember the currency is love. We are asked to pray for this love until we are filled with it. I love this work, it is much more rewarding and fulfilling.

Proving...

Abraham was shown the planning stages of our existence here. He saw "One like unto God", our Savior. In that council the Savior explained that an earth would be made as a place of proving for all of Father's children.
It is obvious from this scripture that we were not yet good enough, that there was more that we needed to learn and to do. There is something to be said of experience, for we read in Alma 7:13 that, "Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance..." In other words, By the Spirit His judgments would be just but it was necessary for Him to come to know in the flesh, how to heal us, by experience.
We learn very early on, the doctrine that God knows all, then if all is known why allow us to leave to come here? Why not just judge us on that foreknowledge? I say it is because we are not proving to God, but to ourselves what we are capable of becoming. When faced with a temptation or flaw we are to work those issues out through the process of real change. We learn in Ether 12:27 that the Lord allows weakness to be in us so that we may be humble. When we come to Him in humility He transforms that weakness into strengths. This too is a process!
I think of the way a recovering alcoholic becomes a strength and mentor to others that are battling the disease. When they have tempered the habit they become strengths to others. When the repentant soul testifies of the power of Christ's healing power we are strengthened by those words. His word is verified in these things.
In seeking true change in this process we must seek to be an active partner in the transformation. It is not enough to simply ask for a weakness to become a strength, the Lord expects us to work at it also. One can not become physically strong without exercise, so it is spiritually. How is a flaw ever really overcome if He simply removes it with no effort on our part? What happens then with the next challenge arises, (for there will be many) and we have no experience or strength to draw from? It is essential that we overcome with Him, for we are taught that the power to do good is within us D&C 58:27-28.
This lesson is learned in the raising of Lazarus. John 11 Jesus asked that the stone which covered his tomb be removed, Jesus did His part as He called Lazarus forth. Lazarus responded and came forth, Jesus then proceeded to ask that his grave clothes be removed. Surely it would have been easier to command the stone and his burial garments to be removed by His word only, but He allowed others to assist in this great miracle. I say unto you a greater miracle is had when a son or daughter of God overcomes some lifelong challenge or character flaw.

This is the way of the gospel. To prove to ourselves that we will follow all of His commands, and overcome all thing with His loving help. He has promised in that same section of the D&C, "For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven. Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation. For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand."

Jesus is our loving Christ!

 

Unrealized Dreams

South Carolina Gamecock running back Marcus Lattimore's injury reminded me just how devastating life can be and how in a moment it can all change. Long sought after dreams and childhood goals can come to naught instantly. In October 1995 I left St. Petersburg, FL seeking for a better life for myself. I saw myself heading down that path I promised I would never travel. I decided to pack up and head to KY to the job corps there. I was promised to learn a good trade and to be placed in another city to start a career once I completed my education. I took the test for my GED in Nov passed and finished up a trade by March, I was ready for a new adventure.
Hopes were dashed though, I was only 17 and could not legally be sent to live on my own. I was so upset, I felt that they'd lured me out there and lied about the opportunities that lay ahead. In my immaturity I would not listen to reason to just take another trade and wait 3 more months. I decided to go back home. I came home angry, with a chip on my shoulder. My thoughts were something like this, "there is no hope for a black man in this country", "there's no escape from the hood"...etc. With those thoughts I lost all hope and fell back into the ways those thoughts take you.
At the time I was devastated and the consequences of those next 3 years have been a headache for me. But because of those situations I am better able to see the hand of our loving Father. As I read in Mosiah 24 last night I felt impressed and have heard the same many times that my life went the way it did to show me that none could deliver me from bondage except it was by the power of an unseen hand. I now see the wisdom of it all. That now I can be a living witness of the real power of His deliverance. That is my call, to live my life in a manner to show that there is a God, who is concerned about us here and now. The God that I honor is not a god who requires us to bow before him day and a night endlessly praising him with our words. His heaven is filled with beings who "do", who work to fulfill His work. His work is to bring about our eternal happiness.
His plan has not only eternal, but also temporal salvation. He is concerned about our careers, our education, our appetites, and our simple desires. He is concerned about these things because having these in order will secure eternal education, and refined appetites, and our work will never cease as His never ceases.
You see my friends, whatever station in life you find yourself, whether from a ghetto or the hills of suburbia, the Lord placed you there to stand as a witness. He knows your desires and where you are is the place were you are most likely to realize your true potential, if you seek His strength. 
This is why I love Him, because He is concerned for how were are here and now, and not just were we will live eternally. You can lean on his ample arm daily, because He is there.

Behold Your Little Ones

After His resurrection, 40 day ministry, and finally His dramatic exit from Jerusalem, the Savior went home. Undoubtedly to a warm and festive welcome from all the hosts of heaven. He had overcome all! I can only imagine though that the ceremonies and feast were short lived as that there was yet still work to do on the Earth.  He received further instruction from the Father that He would need to visit now as a resurrected being, all the house of Israel.
We have in our possession one such account. This was among the people here living in the land of ancient America. They had waited for 600 years for the promised Messiah to show Himself and to give them further direction. He did so, and what He taught them was the same message; the need for repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and love. They'd waited so long and the message was simple.

During His visit we have a very moving account of the tender love that He has for children. We read that, "he commanded that their little children should be brought. So they brought their little children and set them down upon the ground round about him, and Jesus stood in the midst; and the multitude gave way till they had all been brought unto him. And it came to pass that when they had all been brought, and Jesus stood in the midst, he commanded the multitude that they should kneel down upon the ground...he himself also knelt upon the earth; and behold he prayed unto the Father, and the things which he prayed cannot be written, and the multitude did bear record who heard him. And after this manner do they bear record: The eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father; And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father. And they arose from the earth, and he said unto them: Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full. And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them. And when he had done this he wept again; And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones. And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them." (3 Nephi 17: 11-24)

A few chapters later we read, "And it came to pass that he did teach and minister unto the children of the multitude of whom hath been spoken, and he did loose their tongues, and they did speak unto their fathers great and marvelous things, even greater than he had revealed unto the people; and he loosed their tongues that they could utter." (3 Nephi 26:14)

Today I witnessed that same miracle as I saw child after child one by one having their tongues loosed and spake unto us, their mothers and fathers marvelous things. They witnessed of Jesus and of how keeping His commandments would assure us happiness here and eternal life there with them. The Holy Ghost did bear record that what those little 4 to 11 year old children spake were true. I was moved.

A Call to Love

As I drove back home from taking the kids to school yesterday I noticed the trees burdened with the snows that had recently fell. They were caught unprepared by not having ample time to drop their leaves. The scene almost instantly had me thinking of the burdens that we all carry. Some because we have made wrong choices and others only because we are mortal and are subject to the trails that living brings, sickness, poverty, riches, death...etc. Many of these trees had no one to help and thus they bowed beneath the load and some limbs could not hold the weight and tumbled to the ground. Some of those broken limbs causes more damage to unexpected individuals.
So it is with our burdens, when there are none to help they become too much to bear and we too break under the heavy load. Some of us may be too proud to ask for the needed help, while others of us are pleading for it. In either circumstance Christ stands waiting for us to unload them upon Him. In His carrying of the cross it was symbolic of His willingness to carry all of our burdens too. Come unto Him. He has repeatedly stated that the arms of mercy are extended all the day long (Alma 5:33)

Those of us that have entered the waters of baptism and have taken upon us the name of Christ are under obligation and covenant to bear one another burdens. To mourn with those that mourn, and to be witnesses of Him wherever we may find ourselves. Whether we are rich or poor, we have been blessed with gifts of the Spirit to accomplish this great work. The Lord is calling upon us to be the savor or the world. To hold up right principles. To be kind and gentle, to love one another in a world that is in so much need of it. I only write to remind us to not allow the things that divide us to define us, but let our common belief and covenant heal all of our Father's children. I love Him, because He first loved me. I love you because He loves us. I know He lives.

Come Follow Me

This is the invitation to us all, like the early disciples who left their boats filled with fish and their nets that needed mending, to follow Christ. The very phrase itself denotes that we are to go we He has gone and were He ultimately ended up, gaining eternal life.
We have many leaders in our time who beckon us to follow them but alas in many instances they themselves will not do or go as they would have us. This is not so with Jesus. We read in Alma 7: 11-13 "And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind...And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities...Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh..." What this means is, that our Father, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost "know" all things but yet it was so important the He experience trials, sorrow, hunger, and disappointment, so He would really "know" what it is like to be man. To know how to heal us and to help us in our daily walk. We read that Jesus wept with His friends at the death of their brother. He knew that Lazarus would be raised in just a few moments, yet He wept! He has real feelings, those same feelings that we all have.
This is why I follow Christ, because He has walked the path and knows the way. He understands my sorrow. I can not say in the day of judgment that He just doesn't get it. He walked amongst us and yet did no sin. He was crucified and yet no word of anger escaped His lips, instead the words are "Father, forgive them..." So when He says to love your enemies, He has moral authority, because He was able to love. He says unto us, repent and be baptized because before He preached it, He was baptized, even though there was no sin in Him. He asks us to pray always, and this is what we find Him doing throughout His life. How many times is it mentioned that He was found, either in the synagogues or the Temple, often. He was always found doing good.
This is a leader we can truly follow, not because He says but because He does what He says. He is trustworthy and left His home to come to earth, to be ridiculed, spit upon, scourged, left friendless and alone on the cross, even the Father for a moment withdrew from Him, and thus in his agony crying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Matthew 27:46 And finally to die. His whole life was dedicated to us. It was a gift in so many ways. To show us the way, and to ultimately do for us what we can not do for ourselves, atone for our sins. I love Him, I know He loves us and all He does is invites us to follow Him because His way is the way of happiness. He is real!

The Invitation

Last night while laying in bed I thought upon my life when I was a youth. I do this often but something was different this time. It felt more like a dream instead of memories. It dawned on me that I'm gaining some traction in my fight against my sins and shortcomings. That the healing that I've been seeking is progressing. I had to thank Father for His patience with me and His willingness to stick it out with me while I work out my salvation, literally in "fear and trembling." Philippians 2:12

I woke up this morning with this thought on my mind, how blessed I've been these past few years. Then I thought of how important it is to let others know of the constant struggle there is had when an individual is trying to live by the laws of the Gospel.  The laws of the Celestial Kingdom where our Father lives requires perfection. We must rid ourselves of selfishness, greed, unholy lusts...etc... These things take time, so this is why He calls upon us, DAILY, to repent. What I've discovered is that when we begin to accept His ways the word "repent" becomes an invitation and not a word that feels like a thorn. We are invited to come to Christ all the time Alma 5:33.We are invited to come unto to Christ and be perfected in him through His mercy and grace.

We are taught that this is the time for us to prepare to meet God, that today is the day and there will come a time when no work can be performed. That day does not come however until we are resurrected. We have until that time to overcome everything that keeps us from fully being committed. Some of us will need that much time to overcome. Paul taught in 2 Corinthians 12 of the weaknesses he had but that someday they would be made strengths. While Jesus' body lay in the tomb His spirit was in the world of spirits where we all go to await the day of our resurrection. There, he organized and taught and sent others to those who had not qualified for His presence. Thus in His infinite mercy giving us a little more time to get it right. We find this in 1 Peter 3:18-20.

The drawback to waiting till then is that it takes much longer. Elder Melvin J. Ballard taught,

"Some folks hope they may lose their sins in the grave. There is no hope that sins will be lost in the grave, for 'as we lay our bodies down so shall we take them up again,' it is written.

What we will discover is this, that the spirit takes upon itself the habits of the body. There are many spirits that have come into mortality free, that have become enslaved through yielding to the cravings of the flesh. They will find when they come out of the body that they are tainted and tinctured with all the lust and desires of the body. Instead of being free to rise to glorious heights, they are more or less earthbound, craving the things that they have yielded to in the flesh, and they will discover too that after they have stepped out of this life they are separated from the body and have no power over that element, but the reformation will have to go forward in the spirit. They will also discover that every emotion and feeling will be intensified when they have passed out of mortality, so that it will be much more difficult to conquer and master and overcome when we go out of this life than here and now.

This is the one and only time most fitting and appropriate. Now is the time to repent.

Another thing we will discover is that when we are separated from this body we will feel in bondage...

Man and woman will not come up in the resurrection of the dead until they have conquered and mastered and have overcome. That is why it will take some a thousand years longer to get ready for their resurrection than others who will come forth in the morning of the first resurrection. So there is not only safety and protection against the assaults of the enemy of our souls here and now by adhering to these simple gospel principles which the Master has given. Such adherence will not only steel and fortify us against all the assaults of the enemy of our souls and protect us in this present conflict but will also bring us eternal joy and happiness; for blessed is he that overcometh, for unto him shall all things be given.

Let us therefore uphold these standards. Let us cleave to them and we shall discover that though Satan shall rage in the hearts of men—and he will—we shall stand in holy places and shall not be moved and shall be with the victorious."

So we see the need to start today, this is why Father has sent angels, prophets, teachers, parents, and missionaries, so that we may have time to work out the sins that so easily lead us astray. 

I know that Jesus has done His part, but we must still do ours by repenting ans leaning on his power and promises that we can do better. I love Him. 

Poetry

Soften your hearts, open your ears cause the fulness of the gospel is here. Shed a tear as the Holy Ghost falls upon you, feel His presence as He testifies of truth. What's the fruit? Love, Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance, against such there is no law and in Christ there was no flaw. So who can find fault? Before you can find the mote in the eye of your brother you've got to discover your own beam, cause things aren't always what they seem. Me, I desire to be...like, The Redeemer, King, Creator, The Mediator, Sin Hater, Yea the Grave Slayer...He overcame the pains of sin and death to take living breath. The first step in bridging the gap between God and man, The Only Begotten. The Son of Man, Lamb of God...hold to the iron rod, have your feet shod. With inspiration and the preparation of the plan of salvation. It takes dedication and meditation of the Holy Writ the testimonies of the prophets, you go it so live it.
I'm bringing you the truth sometimes it hurts like a bad tooth. I'm bringing you the promise of a guy named Moroni, yea read, ponder, pray, everyday. Come listen to what the voice from the dust hath to say, We preach of Christ, We teach of Christ, rejoice in Christ and look to Him for the remission of our sins. We were told He could bring us back to the fold, so to us sin is a no, no. We've got to live the high road which leads to life eternal...

The Power of One

What would have happened had the Lord found a few righteous individuals in the land of Sodom and Gomorrah? They would have been spared! We learn from the book of Genesis that Jehovah warned Abraham that He was about to destroy the inhabitants of that land. Abraham being concerned with the souls of them found in those cities tried the Lord, Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? Genesis 18:24 What I love about the following exchange between the two is that Abraham is willing to stand up for a people who God Himself thought were too far gone. This is in essence the spirit of the Gospel. Going all out for all of our brothers and sisters.
Finally Jehovah tells Abraham that if He can find just TEN righteous souls that He would spare the whole of the city. Only ten decent people were needed in order that the whole might be saved. I have thought on this a lot. We live in a time of much trouble, hate, and wickedness, it is hard to escape from it. So many of us falter because of the difficulty in navigating a righteous life. But I plead with you to hold on.
 Some of us find ourselves in situations where we may be the only soul holding unto the promises we have made. These situations may be in our family as a spouse has turned away, or your parents have left the path of righteousness and children have abandoned the way of safety. We may find ourselves at work with individuals who also profess Christ but for one reason or another have not fully embraced His teachings. We must strive a little longer!
You must strive because you are the one holding it all together. Your prayers for your co-workers, your children, your spouse. If you cease who will step in your place? Your prayers are the prayers which hold back the destroyer, your faith is honored by Father.
One man, Noah heard the voice of God and built a boat and because of him man is still found in the world and animals too! One Family obeyed the voice of their father and fled Jerusalem, by them a record was kept and many will be saved because of that record. One boy wanted to know what church to join and he was directed by angels and Jesus to restore the fulness of Christ's gospel. One prayer opened the dispensation of the fulness of times, ushering in the last days and the final time in which Christ would attempt to gather His sheep in one. One Savior even Jesus left His home above to come and be a sacrifice for all. So I say there is a great power in the power of one righteous soul.

Be that one. Be the one for all that you love and honor.

Our Capacity for Joy

The scriptures are full of examples of those who faced great challenges and temptations, many who overcame and many more who were overcome for various reasons. My mind has been impressed lately on two occasions where the individuals who held on for just a little longer were blessed with the opportunity to enter into the presence of the Lord and were taught great things. Moses conversed with the Lord and was taught the purpose of the creation of this world and how the Father had created many worlds, but he at the time was only permitted to know of the dealings of this earth. After the conversation was ended Moses found himself without strength for many hours thus we see here that he was truly in God's presence and not in vision.
Once Moses gained his strength came Satan tempting him to worship him. Moses understood that this was not to be done but in a great display did Satan give an uproar which brought Moses to fear his perceived power. In his fear he saw the bitterness of hell and called upon God more earnestly. Finally he gained enough strength and courage as to dismiss Satan in the name of the Son.
This was a great test for Moses in which he passed! After this encounter God came again unto him and told him that he had been "Chosen" to do a great work and was to be mightier than "many waters." He was also promised that Jehovah would be with him all his days. What a great promise!
Even more recent was there an example of a young boy enduring that last struggle before the blessing came that he sought. Joseph Smith, in 1820 kneeling in a grove of trees in New York State, USA at the age of 14. Pleading with God to know what church he should join. While praying he states that some dark presence engulfed him and bound his tongue so that he could no longer speak and that he was just about to give in but decided to cry unto his God just a little more earnestly and no sooner did he do that than a "pillar of light" appeared and dispelled the evil. He states that he saw 2 beings in the light. One of them introduced the other as His Son and told Joseph to hear His message.
What joy they must have felt knowing that holding on for just a little longer they were able to behold marvelous things. Things that we all desire. Since Adam was cast out of His presence man has sought to be brought back into it. This is the nature and the need of the Gospel, if followed faithfully it will bring us into His presence.
The Father has promised a fullness of joy to those who are fully committed. How could it be any other way? I realize that we fall and sometimes the blessings we seek come despite of our failures. But how much more joy do we have when we have been faithful? Does not the blessing seem just a little sweeter and more appreciated? So it will be when the judgment is set. If we have not been fully engaged in the work we would not be fully prepared nor comfortable in the presence of Father.
I liken it unto taking the beggar who has spent the last 20 years of his life on the streets daily seeking the help of others and his only companion has been the bottle. Dressing him in the finest clothes, trimming his beard and giving him a nice warm shower. Preparing him outwardly for the presidential inaugural ball in the which all the dignitaries the world over will attend. When he arrives you send him on his way to mingle freely. Just how comfortable will he be? How prepared would he be? How much joy would be had? In all likelihood it would be a hell unto him.
Thus it will be in the judgment and individuals will seek to be with those who are most like them. To which our Father has made a place for us all. We will be given all the joy and glory in which we have prepared ourselves for and to which our souls have grown to receive. Those of us who have this knowledge ought to seek to grow our capacity for joy until we have become like Jesus who is our redeemer, advocate, and brother. They love us.

A Small Moment

I struggle daily in my walk, I assume we all do. I often look at others with success in their different endeavors and often wonder why I can not be as successful as some. I wonder why I lack in talents. It is even more difficult when great trials arise that must be faced and overcome. Not only must I endure them but they must be endured cheerfully as to achieve the greatest growth.
When I do fall into the pool of self pity I am almost instantly reminded of others who faced greater challenges. I think of the words spoken to a prophet who was in prison, "Thou art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee, neither charge thee with transgression, as they did Job."  Doctrine and Covenants 121:10 A quick reminder that things could be worse and that we ought to find the good that yet remains. 
Job was a "perfect" man as is spoken of him in the scriptures. He had everything in life that was needed for comfort. Satan came unto the Lord and said Job wouldn't be so good if the Lord would remove all of the blessings he was afforded. The Lord but Job to the test and allowed many terrible things to happen to him yet he remained faithful in all things. 
Here is what Elder Neal A Maxwell meant when speaking of being humble both "UP" and "DOWN". Wherever we stand in life whether times are good and we have plenty or when the storms of life arrive and wipe us out. We must remain humble and patient. If we remain faithful we will find just as it was in the end with Job, that every loss endured well is made up a hundred fold.
If we will remember that the greater the pain we endure the sweeter the joy of relief and in the process we will have acquired a greater capacity of enjoyment just like Jesus. Trials stretch the soul which afterwards is never the same. While we struggle with our various trials and transgressions lets us endure them well, for as that same prophet was told, they are but "a small moment and if thou endure it well God shall exalt thee on high."

Try the Spirits

People often suggest to me that the choice I made nearly fourteen years ago was erroneous. That somehow I am mistaken. I can't help but do a little introspection at those times, not because I am doubtful but to be converted all over again, I welcome these occasions!
The apostle John counsels us to, "believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." 1 John 4:1 What I read here is that we are to sincerely seek the truth in the teachings. You can not do so with out trying to live it. Now I realize that most of the questions come by others who have a desire for good to become of my life but, I do become a little incensed when some approach me with this attitude at times. I feel that way when I think of where I was spiritually and temporally. I ask myself, "where were they when I was wallowing in poverty and hopelessness? Where were they when I was pleading literally everyday for the Lord to send someone to show me the way?" They and their way was nowhere to be found. In fact I may have entered their houses of worship and did not find the peace that I sought. You see this was not the first place I sought. I really did go and I really did "try" but I did not find.
I sought so earnestly until that Sunday in a church in Gulfport, FL when my friend and I looked at each other, he waiting for what my thoughts where, when I shook my head and said, "these are good people but something is missing." When service was over we walked to the convenience store got two beers and two black and mild cigars. I remember twisting the cap off of the drink in despair saying, "I don't think Jesus' church is on the earth." We were weary! We were searching but no one was there to teach us the fullness so we decided that we would just try to live as best we could and when we died we would ask that He understand but that we had looked for His way.
That night I said the same thing in my prayers that I was done looking because the church that He founded, the one I read about in the bible is not recognizable in my world. So again I think and ask who could I run to for solace? No one, until two young men knocked on my door dressed in white shirts and ties with a black name tag on the pocket that read "Jesus Christ." They came claiming that Jesus had done something in our day not just two thousand years ago. That they had a way to lift me above my surroundings, that He had raised up and called Prophets and Apostles. Not only did they claim that but they brought something with them, the Holy Ghost was with them. It was so powerful. The message so sweet and refreshing. The Spirit too testified that what they were saying was true. They then said something that really was different, "don't take our word for it, go to your knees ask God in your own personal prayers. He will  let you know again by the power of His Holy Spirit."
I did that, and He did speak of the truth. I can not deny those things. I am more sure of that than anything else in this life. I recognize just how precious my witness and testimony is, in other words just how fragile it is. It is more tender than a sprouting plant. If neglected it will wither away and will not reach its true potential. Thus I will not be able to enjoy its fruits. So I nourish it with the Word everyday. I remember where I was before they knocked on my door. You see I did indeed try that spirit and it is of God!

Virtue of the Word

In my life I have come to understand that change is easy when you are going the wrong way. But when a desire to do good and to make it happen comes about it is difficult. I liken it unto fighting against gravity. It takes an airliner jet much force to get into the air, and once there in order to remain it still takes much energy and maneuvering. If an engine blows it would be disastrous and it does not take much for the fall, in fact doing nothing will bring you down.
So it is in our lives. If we are doing nothing for change we will inevitably fall. We are taught though that change can be had and that if we work with our Father He will help us. In fact He is anxiously waiting for the moment we ask. The book of Alma says,  And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God. Alma 31:5
If we would truly be better we must start with the word. Daily feasting upon the teachings of the Savior. He has given us more than one witness. We have the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, The Pearl of Great Price (and it is indeed a Pearl), we are also counseled to seek out many other good books in which the Lord has stated contains knowledge and wisdom, yes we are free to seek truth and light where ever it is found. We as Christians do not hold a monopoly on morality and truth. We are however truly blessed to have so much. We are told to feast upon the words of Christ, and with the many entrees he has provided we should never become tired of the same meal for it is a buffet in which we may choose a course.

Turning Our Hearts

In the celebration of the Jewish passover which is an annual festival where they remember and tell the tale of their escape from Egypt, they have a tradition of leaving a seat open for the coming of the prophet Elijah. This act is based upon a promise from the Lord in which he stated that before the Messiah (who in the Christian tradition is Jesus while Jews are waiting on the promised One) should come that He would send the prophet Elijah. The mission of Elijah at his coming would be according to Malachi, "turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." This prophecy has come to pass. Not only did the Lord send Elijah, but also did Moses come and commit his dispensation and other prophets who held responsibilities in the Kingdom anciently. They committed the responsibilities to Joseph Smith in 1836. The promise of Elijah is that men and women would began to seek out their kindred dead. That people the world over would begin to wonder where they came from and seek their fathers.
We can see its fulfillment on TV, the Internet and other types of media. There are now TV shows dedicated to showing celebrities their ancestors and people sit down to watch it. Websites that focus on genealogy are either 1 or 2 in most traffic generated.  There is indeed a spirit in the world in which people want to know.
Elijah's coming wasn't simply to turn our hearts just for intrigue but that there was a sacred work that was to be done for those who did not have an opportunity in life to hear the message of peace. We find it taught in Paul's writing about baptism for the dead. Paul in teaching about the surety of the resurrection asks the people of his day in 1 Corinthians chapter 15:29, "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?" Paul says that there are individuals going into the waters of baptism for those who have passed on. Thus showing that God is indeed merciful to all yet all must still obey the commands. The command is that all must repent and be baptized for the remission of sins.

Peter teaches that while Jesus was dead He went to the spirits in prison and taught those that died without a knowledge of His teachings."By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water." 1 Peter 3:19-20... Here we see again that He is merciful and just in His dealings with His children. He has provided means that salvation can be brought to all who ever lived. In our day we too enjoy the blessings of helping our ancestors by going in to temples like the one at the bottom of this post.

The Lord said in Malachi that the earth would be cursed if not for this turning of the hearts and I wish to speak on this. It is indeed a curse to not know where you descend from. African Americans of all people feel this most. It is a great tragedy in which we find ourselves. Because of slavery I find it very difficult to trace my history. I am able to go back a few generations but all of a sudden a barrier is placed in the way. This is indeed a thorn in my flesh. That many of my people will go on waiting for the great work to be done for them. I pray for the day that we too can join the rest of the world in the joy of our heritage. 

There is so much more to the Gospel of Jesus Christ than baptism and church on Sunday. We are called to labor with our might in doing all that is necessary for the salvation of every soul. Father did not send us here to fail and His grace is sufficient. He has laid out a plan in the which everyone ever born will hear the message and have an opportunity to accept it. So the teen who dies in a suicide bomb attack in Kabul will too hear of Jesus and His message of peace. He lives and loves us and has prepared the way.

Cardston, Alberta

 

What Lack I yet?

Today a few of us spontaneously gathered in my office at work. We stumbled on the subject of race. Friends often ask me if I run into racism, of course I do. Good people even struggle with it. I gave of an example of a leader having an issue with my marriage and one of my coworkers asked if I found another congregation to worship. No I didn't, I would never allow someone else to rob me of my blessings. If I became offended I would have removed myself from communion with Father while another would be allowed to continue to enjoy. Often times people offend not knowing so they are able to continue to enjoy because ignorance is indeed bliss.  The coworker who asked the question stated that he considered himself pretty open minded and accepting of most all people but that he had a real problem with "racist." He said though after hearing how I thought nothing of it He might need to rethink his position. Meaning maybe he ought to be more accepting of them also.
That got me thinking that we all have something to work on even when we think we are "there" on a particular subject. I came home tonight and opened my electronic scriptures for a moment and read a little of the book of Matthew chapter 19.
There is a young man who approaches the Savior and asks what he needed to do to gain eternal life and the Savior gave the basics, you know, don't steal or kill or lie...etc. The young man replied, "All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?" From this we can assume that the man would have made it when the time of his death came, he undoubtedly was taught from his parents to do and be good, simply he was an honorable young man. Jesus answered him, "If thou wilt be perfect..." he was told to sell what he had and give to the poor and to follow Him. He couldn't do it. That one thing that kept him back from full commitment.  For him it was his money what is yours?
In the book of Alma chapter 22 something happens that amazes and humbles me. I seek such faith in my life. A king was taught by a young man and his brother and when he was taught the words of eternal life exclaimed, What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy. Did you catch what he said, I will give up all that I posses! I was so impressed that a man in his position would give up his crown to serve the King of Kings. As you read a little further he really got to the root by saying, O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day.  I will give away all my sins to know thee! Elder Neal A Maxwell once stated that all we really have to give anyway is our wills because everything else already belongs to Him. He also taught the sacrifice of animals anciently were to show us that we needed to put the animal in us on the alter of sacrifice. Give away it all to come to know him. 
He has promised that if we come to Him He will show us our weaknesses and then if we will work with Him, He will make them strong. Yes it mat hurt but let Him build us up.  Until we seek Him and ask of Him what and where are we lacking we will remain only half done. Who among you is able to enjoy a fruit that is not fully ripe? Thus in the end unfortunately it too is cast aside for something more fulfilling.
I have learned and am sure that I will continue to learn that trying to live with one foot in the kingdom and one in the world just makes life too hard. We then lift our hands to heaven and cry and say, "there can be no God because I have not seen His hand." You simply must choose one side. 
I am acutely aware of my many struggles and great sins yet I still seek His face. I have made a commitment to myself that when I fall I will continue to rise and come to Him until either I am finally rejected or hear the words, "well done thou good and faithful servant, Thou has been faithful over a few things I will make the ruler over many." 
I love Him and seek to emulate His ways, they are good and provides real peace in a tumultuous world. 

Like Unto A Net

Today I spent an hour on the grounds of the Jordan River Temple. I went to read a little and to remove myself from the daily grind for just a while. I find it refreshing to spend a little energy daily with my thoughts in that other world that I'm seeking. Because it was closed today it was more quiet than normal. I however was quite impressed while I was leaving as I thought of the individuals who were also there undoubtedly for the same reason as me.
When I first arrived there was a Soldier dressed in fatigues, cap off head down I could only imagine the horrors he has seen if he has been fighting for us, as I approached there was another brother dressed in jeans and a button down shirt with cowboy boots. When he sat down at a bench he pulled out his electronic scriptures. As I was leaving two women maybe a mother and daughter were approaching they were of Asian descent. I thought of the Savior's words found in Matthew chapter 13, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind..."
In His gospel and Church there is room enough for all, every nation is invited to attend the feast. It is amazing to me how universal (literally) His message is. I think of the old sci-fi movies of aliens and how they always "come in peace", this message is a message of peace. Never did He take up weapons nor call down legions of angels to "save" Him. He simply moved forward in Love. He even rebuked His chief Apostle Peter as soldiers came to take Him that fateful night, "for all they that take up the sword shall perish with the sword." The only sword we are commanded to wield in His name is the "sword of the spirit." In fact the prophet Alma taught, And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.
I am moved by the faith of the people of Ammon who were willing to put it all on the line and simply kneel down before their enemies and die than to shed blood especially the blood of those they knew were not prepared to meet their maker. That is faith! 
Because the gospel is meant to gather in all people in all parts of the world we who have it ought to be concerned by what happens in far away Uganda. They are our brothers and sisters too. We should be soft when speaking of others cultural and political differences when understood these things add to the beauty of the Kingdom. Who in our world would find beauty in only one color in all of nature. Think of the beauty of the spring with its pinks and purples, then the fall with its oranges and reds, variety adds to beauty.
Though variety adds beauty we can be assured and have security that God does not change. He is the same as He ever will be. His words are the same, "go ye into all the world..." Not just America the whole earth will be filled with His ways. His way is the way of peace and prosperity for all. His way is the same for all. His net is big enough for all cultures and races. We are taught that not only this world but every world that Jesus has had a hand in creating will be brought into the Kingdom. He is truly the Lord of the universe thus making his gospel truly universal. I know He is real. I have seen real miracles, I have heard His voice. It is an amazing thing the things I've seen and been able to witness. I do not know what I have done to be apart of this great work, but I am grateful to Him for saving my physical life a few times. I sense it was to simply witness of Him, He brought me out of darkness into His beautiful light of which I seek to walk in daily.

What say ye.

Living Witnesses

As time rolls on I am reminded often just how far I am from my goal, yet at the same time I am moving ever closer. I have a overpowering desire to be better yet the flesh is weak. My faith is such that I believe the Lord is able to do anything except for me. I believe what He says till it is a promise for me. I at times slack in my faith so I cry out sincerely as the father who's son was inflicted with a dumb spirit, "Help thou my unbelief." At times in the midst of trials I am fearful of the outcome even when I hear the quiet whisperings and the memories of just how He has never failed me. He has never gone back even when I have continued to fall.
The scriptures and history is full of examples of people overcoming through faith. We learn from history that others overcame by "doing". James teaches that "faith without works is dead." He brings it home even more so when he states, "the devils also believe and, tremble" In other words, it is not enough to simply say it but we have to live it and when trials come as they will inevitably come we must stand firm.

In the book of Mosiah chapter 23 we learn a very valuable lesson. This is a group of people who had recently given up their homes and city, family and friends, to follow Christ. They had all made a covenant to serve Him and their fellow men. In the midst of making these promises they were commanded to flee for their lives because of a wicked king. They did so willingly. They founded a new city and were prospering, quietly living their religion. They were dedicated but we read, "Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith. Nevertheless whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people." 

We can rest assured that if we are faithful we will be tried by the Lord. I believe He does this so that we might learn for ourselves just how committed we are to the cause. He already knows. We learn later on that when we thrive in those situations we can become witnesses of His power and mercy to others. We will indeed stand as a living testimony that He lives and loves us. Living witnesses are more important and have a greater affect upon the hearts and minds of the people in their day.  People can speak with them and ask them, "did that really happen?"

Let us so live to be worthy to stand as an example of our Father's reality, that when He needs a witness we will stand the challenge that will be before us and partake of the bitter cup while not becoming bitter ourselves. 

He is real! Jesus really is His Son and He was able to overcome all things including death. Let us be faithful in our difficult circumstances so that we may be a living witness.

Striving in Gentleness

Everyday we see fighting amongst the children of men. We find it so difficult to seek common ground which is so tragic. We all have one thing in common but so often fail to realize it and that is that we are all His children. Lets start there. Now, I'm an under no illusions that this will solve all of the worlds problems because we know that siblings will fight. They will quarrel in the back seat of the car, they will argue over the last piece of candy and at times even come to blows. But yet they still feel a sense of kinship and when the moment has passed and they come to themselves you see them once again expressing their love and appreciation for one another.
It is even more tragic for those of us who profess to be Christian. There is no need to point fingers at another faith and say they are absolutely wrong. There is no room for this nor is there time, we have to great a work ahead of us and most of us believe that we are in the final days. Besides are we not all fallen and seeking to find our way home. Again here I understand that we can not all be completely right while espousing contradictory doctrines but can we not seek to bring about His love on the grounds of what we have in common as in, "Do unto others...", and "love thy neighbor."

In the book of Timothy chapter 2 Paul teaches, "But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth..."

Is Paul not saying here "do not bash!" It is clear that we ought to teach others with love and patience and to let the Lord work with them on a full conversion. We ought to however seek to bring peace and not strife to our siblings. We ought to work together no matter what religion we are to ease the suffering, to share of our abundance, and  of our talents which we have been blessed with. Are we not taught that, Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

In other words ease the burdens of others, be mindful of those in need. This is how we live our religion not by bashing someone's seemingly "awkward" beliefs. Jesus taught His disciples that if they judged another they would be judged with that same judgment. 

I say let us join hands in lifting the hands that hang down, it does not matter why they are hanging. Bring some light and peace in your part of the Lord's vineyard, this is why you are there to serve all those you meet. Will you join me?

What say ye?

Honor

The Apostle Paul and his writings are a great asset unto the Church of Christ. He did understand the Law of Moses so greatly as to when he was finally able to set aside his prejudice he saw how it all did indeed point to Jesus as being the promised Christ. Paul was converted by the word, though his experience with the resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus was a very important step. As he began to look at the prophecies he could clearly see that it was He who was promised. He had truly come to fulfill the law.

Paul taught much about the role of the Priesthood and the offices that pertain to the Priesthood while always explaining that Jesus was the great High Priest who did truly atone for all the people. In his expounding on the topic he taught clearly that "no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." In Exodus we learn that Moses was commanded by the Lord to consecrate Aaron and his son to the office of "Priest" and that it would be their duty (Aaron's posterity) to hold that office forever. Later in the book of Numbers speaking of one of Aaron's grandsons named Phinehas we read, "And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel..."  Then in the book of Joshua we find the Lord reaffirming that same promise through the new prophet, "But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of the Lord is their inheritance."
Thus we see through the ancient text that not all were honored to hold that office just those which whom the Lord said should and would. They did not either take this honor unto themselves but they were set apart from all the other tribes and it was their sole duty to serve the people. They were there to set an example unto all of the house of Israel. Their lives were dedicated to service in the temple in preparing and making offerings and sacrifice.

Thus we come to our day and the Priesthood is in our time also. Jesus ordained His Apostles with this authority and they returned to earth as resurrected beings and they too, as Jesus did to them, placed hands on heads to ordain new Apostles. This authority was as we see anciently not freely given to all men until the time finally came when the Lord in His wisdom gave His will for it to be so. Now all worthy men in all the world are invited to be His servants. The honor in which we give to Him is in service to His children. This is the nature of the call. All those that are willing to serve are invited to do so. Come let us work together in bringing about goodness on the earth, let us work together in love to bring hope and a little joy into the lives of our fellow brothers and sisters. There is so much pain and suffering in the world and we can do so much good.
The Lord will work with us going before us in preparing others to hear His message which we call "The Good News".

What say ye?

I Had a Dream!

In the year 1997 I found myself in place I would wish on no one. I spent some time with no where to go literally. I had no place to lay my head. I would drink myself into a drunken stupor just to not have to think of my situation. There were nights where I would just wander down to the beach and look for a spot to close my eyes for a while. It was humbling. Friends would let me sleep on their floor. Thankfully this did not last long, but where I ended up was not much more comforting, Jail.
I was humbled even more, now I'd lost my freedoms and future possibilities because of the label that would forever follow me. But what I came to learn is that Father has no boundaries in which His children can go. He has so much love for us that He will send others to find us. There is no place too far for Him to travel.
I had been there for about three months when one night I had a dream. It began with me being shown around a room by a guide. He pointed me to a statue of "The Virgin Mary". She was holding the baby Jesus. I had a very strong impression that I was to teach others about the child. I was then taken down a hallway by this individual and I could hear very loud cheering. It grew louder and more intense till finally I came to a window in which I could see out. There was a sea of people who were in the act of cheering and encouraging an individual who was dressed like a wizard. He was dressed in all white with hat on in the fashion of a "dunce" cap. The more he spoke the more intense the crowd became. I could not make out what he said. There came a time in which the weather began to be affected. It began to thunder and lightning with hail. The earth began to shake and he would gesture as the Nazis of the Third Reich would greet each other (Hail Hitler). There then began the raining of blood.
I looked around in the room in which I was and noticed that others were with me and they too were frightened. We all looked at each other and for some reason I said "we should pray". They agreed but there was no one there who wanted to or knew how. They said, "you should do it". I was not comfortable with that but decided I would. We knelt down in a circle and as soon as "amen" was said. We opened our eyes and there was peace. You could hear the birds singing out that same window and it seemed like a beautiful spring morning  we felt at peace. I exclaimed, "I told you, I told you that all we needed to do was pray!"
I woke up and I heard a voice as clear as I had ever heard, "Marlow, you are to be a preacher."
I didn't know much about Jesus other than the stories I grew up with and from occasional reading, like he died on the cross for us type things. But I knew that He had called and that I needed to do all in my power to heed the call. So here I am preaching...

Many are called but few are chosen.

What say ye?