Sunday was the first time we meet our ward bishop or any of those guys and we were in priesthood, and my bishop, who is a very good man I love him dearly, said something interesting about proxy work. He said, "A lot of Christians and people form other faiths don't understand proxy work or how you can be baptized for someone else." He continued, "To them I like to say that Christ was the ultimate example of proxy work He did for me what I could not do for myself, and because he did I can and will be saved. The same pattern is fallowed in going and doing baptism for the dead. You are doing something for some else that they can't do for themselves."
The whole idea of proxy work show how great the wisdom of our God. It allows us to serve and help others with something that is drastically important I also am extremely great that god allows proxy work with the atonement if not we all would be one hundred percent and completely screwed.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Paratroopers
I received an interesting analogy from a scoutmaster at Timberline this year.
He said that we are, as the children of Ephraim, Paratroopers dropped to a Telestial world from a Celestial sphere.
Now that's an interesting Idea.
Here are a few things I've thought about since:
Ok, so we are Paratroopers now usually this entails a mission yes? Well as far as my limited knowledge goes Paratroopers or Special units are used most often for Reconnaissance or Recovery. Well Since we are sent from an all knowing commander in chief Reconnaissance is probably not the one. So Recovery. "And I say unto you how great will be your joy if ye bring save one soul unto me" Ok so I'm paraphrasing a little but it makes sense. It aligns with our commander in chiefs goal to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."
Now a few things are key to a behind the enemy lines mission. First, and we've all heard this before, is communication. What is Satan always trying to do. Mess with our communication back to our heavenly father (commander in chief). Another thing I would consider important if I got stuck behind enemy lines would be to get a small tight group of other Paratroopers with me to help out and support each other. Sound like families? So what group would the enemy want to destroy. (I don't even need to start listing the ways Satan is after the Family).
Ok. Nothing new. But Interesting. Another thing the Paratrooper analogy entails is when the battle starts. Um...Its already going. We know it has because we talk about the first stage of the battle from before this earth was created. Well we've been 'saved' for this 'last day' for a 'special purpose'. So the battle started Long before we got here. We dodged bullets as we were on our way (Abortion) and we continue to dodge bullets every day. There is not much rest when we are stuck behind enemy lines.
Now we know a few key things that will help. One what our mission is. As I've said we are to bring as many back as possible. We know, and this is the second thing, That we will win. We were sent before the 'air strike' if you will to get as many out as we can before the Commander in Chief decides its time to cleanse this area. So how do we fight. The same way we did and were trained in in that celestial world we came from. "and by the power of their testimonies and by the blood of the lamb they over came Satan" again...not word for word but it gets the point across.
Well. Wait. What about Secret Combinations. What about Government control. What about depression...Well we are behind enemy lines. If I was in Germany in WWII I wouldn't worry so much about going up and spitting in Hitlers face and calling him dirty names and telling him to change is police state. I'd worry about getting my tight group of commando's out (Family) and Try to help as many of my buddy's, civilians or anyone willing to listen to get out of there!
So It's not doctrine...But it's a pretty cool way to look at our situation here on this earth. At least I thought so.
He said that we are, as the children of Ephraim, Paratroopers dropped to a Telestial world from a Celestial sphere.
Now that's an interesting Idea.
Here are a few things I've thought about since:
Ok, so we are Paratroopers now usually this entails a mission yes? Well as far as my limited knowledge goes Paratroopers or Special units are used most often for Reconnaissance or Recovery. Well Since we are sent from an all knowing commander in chief Reconnaissance is probably not the one. So Recovery. "And I say unto you how great will be your joy if ye bring save one soul unto me" Ok so I'm paraphrasing a little but it makes sense. It aligns with our commander in chiefs goal to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."
Now a few things are key to a behind the enemy lines mission. First, and we've all heard this before, is communication. What is Satan always trying to do. Mess with our communication back to our heavenly father (commander in chief). Another thing I would consider important if I got stuck behind enemy lines would be to get a small tight group of other Paratroopers with me to help out and support each other. Sound like families? So what group would the enemy want to destroy. (I don't even need to start listing the ways Satan is after the Family).
Ok. Nothing new. But Interesting. Another thing the Paratrooper analogy entails is when the battle starts. Um...Its already going. We know it has because we talk about the first stage of the battle from before this earth was created. Well we've been 'saved' for this 'last day' for a 'special purpose'. So the battle started Long before we got here. We dodged bullets as we were on our way (Abortion) and we continue to dodge bullets every day. There is not much rest when we are stuck behind enemy lines.
Now we know a few key things that will help. One what our mission is. As I've said we are to bring as many back as possible. We know, and this is the second thing, That we will win. We were sent before the 'air strike' if you will to get as many out as we can before the Commander in Chief decides its time to cleanse this area. So how do we fight. The same way we did and were trained in in that celestial world we came from. "and by the power of their testimonies and by the blood of the lamb they over came Satan" again...not word for word but it gets the point across.
Well. Wait. What about Secret Combinations. What about Government control. What about depression...Well we are behind enemy lines. If I was in Germany in WWII I wouldn't worry so much about going up and spitting in Hitlers face and calling him dirty names and telling him to change is police state. I'd worry about getting my tight group of commando's out (Family) and Try to help as many of my buddy's, civilians or anyone willing to listen to get out of there!
So It's not doctrine...But it's a pretty cool way to look at our situation here on this earth. At least I thought so.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
The Hole
This is a humorous cool story
On the first day... a man walks down a street...
Suddenly the world goes dark. He thinks he is lost.
Then he realizes he is in a deep hole. He tries to find his way out, and it takes a very long time. Once he is out the day is gone ... so he walks back home.
On the second day... the man walks down the same street.
The world goes dark again. He is in the hole again.
He takes a while to recognize where he is.
Eventually he finds his way out... and so again he walks back home.
On the third day... the man again walks down the street.
He knows the hole is there and pretends not to see the hole... and closes his eyes. Once again he falls into the hole, and climbs out ... and walks back home, the day lost once again.
On the fourth day... the man walks cautiously down the street.
He sees the hole and this time walks around it. He is pleased.
But the world goes dark again. He has fallen into another hole.
He climbs out of the second hole, walks home ... and alas... falls into the first hole. He gets out of the first hole... and walks back home... to think.
On the fifth day... the man walks confidently down the street.
He sees the first hole..... and recognizes it.
He walks around it... but forgets the second hole, which he walks directly into.
He gets out immediately... and walks straight back home - to weep and hope.
On the sixth day... the man walks nervously down the street...
The hole is there and he thinks "I won't fall into the hole again"... and walks around the hole. He sees the second hole, avoids the second hole... but as he passes, he loses his balance... and falls in. Climbing out he walks back home ... taking the time to carefully avoid all the holes.
On the seventh day... the same man goes for a walk....
... and chooses to walk down a different street.
How often are we all like this man? By being a spectator of this it's funny and the guy looks like an idiot. But I know all too often I make the same mistakes over and over and over again simply because I am too proud to do things differently or to choose a path where I know that I will not be tempted to make that mistake. So just think about the path you are choosing, is it the same one you have chosen many times before and fallen in to the same holes, if so find a different road to walk on that doesn't have the holes.
(*wow that was deep....honestly*)
On the first day... a man walks down a street...
Suddenly the world goes dark. He thinks he is lost.
Then he realizes he is in a deep hole. He tries to find his way out, and it takes a very long time. Once he is out the day is gone ... so he walks back home.
On the second day... the man walks down the same street.
The world goes dark again. He is in the hole again.
He takes a while to recognize where he is.
Eventually he finds his way out... and so again he walks back home.
On the third day... the man again walks down the street.
He knows the hole is there and pretends not to see the hole... and closes his eyes. Once again he falls into the hole, and climbs out ... and walks back home, the day lost once again.
On the fourth day... the man walks cautiously down the street.
He sees the hole and this time walks around it. He is pleased.
But the world goes dark again. He has fallen into another hole.
He climbs out of the second hole, walks home ... and alas... falls into the first hole. He gets out of the first hole... and walks back home... to think.
On the fifth day... the man walks confidently down the street.
He sees the first hole..... and recognizes it.
He walks around it... but forgets the second hole, which he walks directly into.
He gets out immediately... and walks straight back home - to weep and hope.
On the sixth day... the man walks nervously down the street...
The hole is there and he thinks "I won't fall into the hole again"... and walks around the hole. He sees the second hole, avoids the second hole... but as he passes, he loses his balance... and falls in. Climbing out he walks back home ... taking the time to carefully avoid all the holes.
On the seventh day... the same man goes for a walk....
... and chooses to walk down a different street.
How often are we all like this man? By being a spectator of this it's funny and the guy looks like an idiot. But I know all too often I make the same mistakes over and over and over again simply because I am too proud to do things differently or to choose a path where I know that I will not be tempted to make that mistake. So just think about the path you are choosing, is it the same one you have chosen many times before and fallen in to the same holes, if so find a different road to walk on that doesn't have the holes.
(*wow that was deep....honestly*)
Monday, July 6, 2009
Palmyra Is Awesome
So today I went to Palmyra and it was one of the coolest things I have ever done. We started out the day going to the Palmyra temple and you can see the sacred grove from inside the lobby of the temple. It is the only temple that has a window that has a clear see thew window.
Then we went to the sacred grove. That was pretty cool. It was different then what I thought it was going to be though, they don't have a X marks the spot of where it all happened, its just this grove that you walk around in and ponder, and pray it was a very neat experience. Plus the temple is almost literally a stones throw away from the sacred grove. I know that what brother Joseph said he saw in that grove, really did happen, and because it happened everything else he said is true.
Then we visited the home of Joseph Smith which is really kind of cool, the house they built after the farm was finished. Is 85% original I literally have stood on the same floor as prophet would have stood on. To me that's kind of cool.
Then I went to see the place where the Book of Mormon was first printed. That was one of the coolest tours I have seen. They teach you all about how they would print and bind it, and it is a very long process. At the end of the tour they have the a little art gallery and they have the original painting of Moroni burying the plates, and of Christ coming to the Americas it was cool.
Then we went to the Hill Camorah and that was a lot of fun. it is a little hill only 100-150 feet elevation rise and it is highest thing I have seen the entire time I have been here.
Then we went to the David Whitmer farm in Fayette. And like everything else I have seen this trip was amazing. They told us how the church was reorganized here and told us how this was also the same place where the three witnesses received their vision of the gold plates. It was really cool all day I have stood where angles have stood and could feel of the sacredness of these places.
It was interesting tough when we got here we checked in to our hotel and asked the guy at the front desk what the easiest way to get to Palmyra was, (we are about 10 min. out from palmyra) and he did know. I thought how sad is this you are 10 minutes away from one of the most sacred places on earth and you don't even know about it. Something happened there that changed my life and all of eternity, and you don't know about it. It has given me a desire to serve a mission and educate the world about what I know.
Then we went to the sacred grove. That was pretty cool. It was different then what I thought it was going to be though, they don't have a X marks the spot of where it all happened, its just this grove that you walk around in and ponder, and pray it was a very neat experience. Plus the temple is almost literally a stones throw away from the sacred grove. I know that what brother Joseph said he saw in that grove, really did happen, and because it happened everything else he said is true.
Then we visited the home of Joseph Smith which is really kind of cool, the house they built after the farm was finished. Is 85% original I literally have stood on the same floor as prophet would have stood on. To me that's kind of cool.
Then I went to see the place where the Book of Mormon was first printed. That was one of the coolest tours I have seen. They teach you all about how they would print and bind it, and it is a very long process. At the end of the tour they have the a little art gallery and they have the original painting of Moroni burying the plates, and of Christ coming to the Americas it was cool.
Then we went to the Hill Camorah and that was a lot of fun. it is a little hill only 100-150 feet elevation rise and it is highest thing I have seen the entire time I have been here.
Then we went to the David Whitmer farm in Fayette. And like everything else I have seen this trip was amazing. They told us how the church was reorganized here and told us how this was also the same place where the three witnesses received their vision of the gold plates. It was really cool all day I have stood where angles have stood and could feel of the sacredness of these places.
It was interesting tough when we got here we checked in to our hotel and asked the guy at the front desk what the easiest way to get to Palmyra was, (we are about 10 min. out from palmyra) and he did know. I thought how sad is this you are 10 minutes away from one of the most sacred places on earth and you don't even know about it. Something happened there that changed my life and all of eternity, and you don't know about it. It has given me a desire to serve a mission and educate the world about what I know.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
God is a God of Miracles
"And now, O all ye that have imagined up unto yourselves a god who can do no miracles...........Behold I say unto you.....God has not ceased to be a God of miracles"
"if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles. And the reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should trust. "
These are Mormons words. And I would like to add mine to them. The last week, week and a half God has shown unto me many mighty miracles, and one in particular that there is no other way of describing it then it was from a loving Father in Heaven who was very much aware of the righteous intentions of a small band of boy scouts. Due to the sacred nature of these miracles I won't make a post describing them, but if any would like to hear about them I have no problem sharing them with you.
I know that if we are righteous, the Lord can and will cause miracles to happen for our own good. But the miracle he gives is not necessarily the same miracle we want to have. This is where faith comes in to play, know that God will have all things work out for our good, even if its not what you think is good for you. I know that if we put our trust in the Lord he can do all things, including calming the winds and the seas.
"if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles. And the reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should trust. "
These are Mormons words. And I would like to add mine to them. The last week, week and a half God has shown unto me many mighty miracles, and one in particular that there is no other way of describing it then it was from a loving Father in Heaven who was very much aware of the righteous intentions of a small band of boy scouts. Due to the sacred nature of these miracles I won't make a post describing them, but if any would like to hear about them I have no problem sharing them with you.
I know that if we are righteous, the Lord can and will cause miracles to happen for our own good. But the miracle he gives is not necessarily the same miracle we want to have. This is where faith comes in to play, know that God will have all things work out for our good, even if its not what you think is good for you. I know that if we put our trust in the Lord he can do all things, including calming the winds and the seas.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Will We Be Saved?
We don't need to get a complex or get a feeling that you have to be perfect to be saved. You don't. There's only been one perfect person, and that's the Lord Jesus, but in order to be saved in the Kingdom of God and in order to pass the test of mortality, what you have to do is get on the straight and narrow path--thus charting a course leading to eternal life--and then, being on that path, pass out of this life in full fellowship. I'm, not saying that you don't have to keep the commandments. I'm saying you don't have to be perfect to be saved. If you did, no one would be saved. The way it operates is this: you get on the path that's named the "straight and narrow." You do it by entering the gate of repentance and baptism. The straight and narrow path leads from the gate of repentance and baptism, a very great distance, to a reward that's called eternal life. If you're on that path and pressing forward, and you die, you'll never get off the path. There is no such thing as falling off the straight and narrow path in the life to come, and the reason is that this life is the time that is given to men to prepare for eternity. Now is the time and the day of your salvation, so if you're working zealously in this life-though you haven't fully overcome the world and you haven't done all you hoped you might do--you're still going to be saved. You don't have to do what Jacob said, "Go beyond the mark." You don't have to live a life that's truer than true. You don't have to have an excessive zeal that becomes fanatical and becomes unbalancing. What you have to do is stay in the mainstream of the Church and live as upright and decent people live in the Church--keeping the commandments, paying your tithing, serving in the organizations of the Church, loving the Lord, staying on the straight and narrow path. If you're on that path when death comes-because this is the time and the day appointed, this the probationary estate--you'll never fall off from it, and, for all practical purposes, your calling and election is made sure. Now, that isn't the definition of that term, but the end result will be the same.. BRM "PROBATIONARY TEST OF MORTALITY" 1/10/82, 11
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