Mosiah 3:24 and 4:3

Verse 24 says," ...They shall stand as a bright testimony..." and verse 3 says, "..and they were filled with joy..." I know that these phrases aren't really located next to each other, but I thought they went along perfectly. Christmas is slowly approaching, and for me, I just have this desire to be as nice and serviceable as possible. Our youth as a whole are planning great service projects for this season! We are standing as bright testimonies amongst a wicked world today, and I know that we will be filled with joy.

Alma 37

In Alma 36 and 37, Alma the Younger is speaking to his son Helaman. I couldn't help but notice how many times he repeated the words "inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land" (vs. 1, 30, 13, 20). And then there is the scripture mastery verse in 37:35- "O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God."
Here is a loving father, pleading again and again for his son to please be obedient. He is promising that obedience is the wisest course, the way to happiness and blessings. This is coming from a father who chose not to be obedient when he was in his own youth. He suffered the fiery pains of guilt and sorrow, chances lost and hearts broken. He learned the lesson the hard way, and here he pleads with all of us to get on the right path - beginning in our youth - and to stay there. I have a testimony of the blessings and joy that come from keeping the commandments of the Lord. Every single commandment is designed for our benefit, safety, and happiness. It's worth it to do what's right, even if we have to stand alone.

Paying Tithing

Due to tithing settlements coming up, I have decided to share some scriptures about the importance of paying our tithing.

D&C 104:14 and 17
Verse 14, I, the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and built the earth, my very handiwork; and all things therein are mine.
Now let's look at verse 17, which says: For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves.

Verse 14 really helps remind us that the Lord truely did create the earth and all that is on it. And everything that we have actually belongs to him. Verse 17 helps us to more fully understand that everything he has given us is enough for us to survive on, if not more than we need. So really it should be no big deal giving just 10% back to him. In my opinion, paying our tithing is the least we could do to thank the Lord for what we have been blessed with. And when we pay our tithing, the Lord has promised to pour out so many blessings, that we will not have enough room to receive them. Not only is paying our tithing a way to thank the Lord for our blessings, it is a commandment. We have the right to choose if we want to obey or disobey the commandments of God, but either way we will have to face the good or bad consiquences of our decision. To conclude my topic, I would like to share two more scriptures pertaining to the importance of being a full tithe payer.

D&C 64:23 and 24
Verse 23: Behold, now it is called today until the coming of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming. Verse 24: For after today cometh the burning, for verily I say, tomorrow all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble, and I will burn them up, for I am the Lord of Hosts; and I will not spare any that remain in Babylon.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

No More Disposition to Do Evil

Those who want to keep up with the two pages a day Book of Mormon reading challenge issued September 12th should be on page 154 or Mosiah chapter 4.

King Benjamin's sermon to his people in the first chapters of Mosiah I think is one of the most powerful sermons in the Book of Mormon. As I have been reading it this week there are so many verses that I want to comment on, but I think chapter 5 verse 2 sums up the impact of all of them, where the people tell King Benjamin:

"Yea, we believe all the word which thou has spoken unto us; and also, we know their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually."

So how do we achieve that mighty change of heart where we don't even want to ever do anything bad, only good? A lot of the answers are in Mosiah chapters 2 - 4. I would exhort all of us (or at least challenge us) to study those chapters and see what we come up with for answers. Just a couple of the things I found were to simply believe in God and that he is (Mosiah 4:9) , to serve others (Mosiah 2:18), to yield to the enticings of the the Holy Spirit (Mosiah 3:19) and to humble ourselves and ask for forgiveness (Mosiah 4:10) and there are many more. I know that if we do this and the other things King Benjamin said that we too can be filled with joy and receive a remission of our sins and have peace of conscience (see Mosiah 4:2) , just as the people of King Benjamin.

Mosiah 16:9

He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death.

Strangely, I can't explain this scripture in words. But I can express that it makes me feel so much love towards my Savior. It also reminds me of his perfect example which he set, and that he will never turn against us or stop loving us. I know that he will always be there and will never forget any of us. I know that he is constantly cheering us on and helping to guide us along our life's journey back to Heavenly Father. I know that he lives, and I truly beleive he will come again. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Jacob 5:54

This verse says "...the roots of the natural branches of the tree which I planted whithersoever I would are yet alive..." Although Satan tries to tell us otherwise, everyone can repent. This verse perfectly supports that! The Lord of the Vineyard was telling his servant about how his trees, although the wild branches had taken over the body, were still good in the roots, they just needed to trim down the wild parts. We are servants who are helping others control their wild branches by setting an example and befriending/ inviting others at church. I have a testimony that we can all repent and find the light and become better people, no matter how much we may have struggled.

Offer Your Whole Souls

I was impressed with a verse I read in Omni this week. In verse 26 it says:

"I would that ye should come unto Christ... come unto him and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved."

A half-hearted offering is not enough for the Lord. We need to follow him all the way with full purpose of heart. We can't be sitting on the fence with one foot in the world and one foot in the Kingdom of God. Even as I write this I'm listening to the tabernacle choir sing one of my favorite songs, "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" which expresses the same idea. One verse says, "here's my heart, Oh take and seal its seal it for thy courts above." It is my prayer that we will all try harder to offer our whole souls to the Lord.

Mosiah 10: 10, 11, and 20

Mosiah, chapters 9 and 10 have both been about wars between the Nephites and the Lamanites. Right now the Nephites are the more righteous people, and the Lamanites are wicked. Anyway, (we're still in the wars) verse 10 says: And it came to pass that we went up to battle against the Lamanites... we did go up in the strenght of the Lord. Verse 11 states: Now the Lamanites knew nothing concerning the Lord, nor the strength of the Lord, therefore they depended upon their own strength. Yet they were a strong people, as to the strength of men.

After you read those two verses I bet you can predict what will happen next, but let's continue.

Verse 20: And it came to pass that we did drive them again out of our land; and we slew them with a great slaughter, even so many that we did not number them.

This scripture really points out that Heavenly Father and his church will always win. Even though at times we may be in a struggle, we will always pull through as long as we remain faithful. I'm so thankful to be a member of this true church. I am thankful to have been born into the family which I am in. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior, and that he will return to the Earth very soon. I know there is a God who dwells in heaven, and that he knows and loves each and every last one of us. I know we have a true prophet, apostles, stake president, and bishop all called by God. I'm thankful for the service they give each of us. I am thankful to have a translated and printed copy of The Book of Mormon. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Jacob 4:4

The verse says, "For, for this intent have we written these things, that they may know we knew of Christ..." This goes along perfectly with the purpose of this blog! We're sharing our thoughts and testimonies with each other as we read the Book of Mormon, the most correct book on earth. It's hard to put ourselves out there and share our testimonies, but we need to so that others can know that we do know of Christ! I want you to know that I have a testimony of Jesus Christ our Savior, and that He died for us. I know the church is true! And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Wake Up! (Jacob chapter 3 )

It's been nine weeks since our scripture challenge to read two pages a day in the Book of Mormon was issued. That would put us at page 126 - Jacob chapter 5.

I was impressed the other day with some of the verses in Jacob chapter 3 that showed a stark contrast between the fate of the righteous and the wicked. Verse 2 has a wonderful promise, "O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever." Imagine the joy in feasting upon the love of God forever! We can, if are pure in heart and receive His word.

On the other hand, Jacob expresses his frustration with those who won't take advantage of that blessing. In verse 11 he says, ".. shake yourselves that ye may awake from the slumber of death; and loose yourselves from the pains of hell..." In essence, Jacob is telling his people to wake up and do what is right.

It's my prayer that we will all chose to feast up the love of God forever rather than the pains of hell. But it's up to us. As it also says in the Book of Mormon, "Ye are free to choose."

Mosiah 2:17

The primary theme this month is serving others happily and willingly. Our leaders encouraged us to remember this scripture which they read to us: Mosiah 2:17 which states, When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

I beleive that this is a very good scripture to remember, and I know that it is the truth. For when we are serving our friends, neighbors, and family that we are actually serving our Father in heaven. I know that service is very important, and that we all need service and all need to give service. I beleive that the scout slogan is very important: Do a good turn daily, and that if everyone in the world really were to do a good turn daily that this earth would be a much better place. Never forget that each and every one of us can make a difference, even by the smallest of things like a wave or a smile. I beleive The Book of Mormon to be the word of God and that we are all God's children. I am thankful to be a Saturday's warrior. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen.

2 Nephi 29:11

This verse says "...for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to thaat which is written." To help with making posts on this blog, I keep a study journal. I could consider that a book which I have written. Same with my journal. So how will I be judged according to what I've written? I'm pretty sure that blogs can be printed as a book, so if this blog is our ward's book, how will we be judged?

We Talk of Christ

The wonderful messages of 2 Nephi chapter 25 for me is the reward that comes after finally getting through all the Isaiah chapters. It explains the significance of those chapters. I especially like verse 26:

"And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."

I have heard of people quote this scripture to those who say Mormons aren't Christians. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. Coming closer to Christ and his teachings are what it's all about, and I have found that no other book does that better for me than the Book of Mormon.