Tithing and Indexing

My dear Brothers and Sisters.

I can't begin to express my love and appreciation that I have for my father in heaven for the timing and his constant awareness of me and my family. From time to time, that dark cloud of trouble which hangs over the world allows for rays of sunshine to poke through and brighten our days. This light I am referring to is that of the "Windows of Heaven" which pours out blessings upon the faithful.

IT is both a blessing and a curse, for the Lord is bound when we do as he says but when we do not what he says, we have no promise as the story goes. (Compare D&C 82:10) I struggle through bouts of anxiety and depression and for brief moments, my body allows me to feel of his spirit and his love. I was able to feel that spirit burn within me on one occasion where I was able to perform some work with Indexing. It must have meant that those in question that day were pleased with my work to help their names be noticed by their current living relative who is researching their family tree.

So I get a call last night that my long time team member has now decided to get started in her Nikken business (which is a part of my team of newbies from the year 2013) and a mere 48 hours after I had constrained my wife to write the tithing check which was only held back in reserve for fear that certain bills would not have been paid otherwise. I testify to you that it is no coincidence that my current business success is inseparably connected with the powers of heaven. My only reason to continue in the path that I've been permitted to walk in has been a culmination of faith and faith promoting exercises throughout the year 2013. Indeed, 2013 WAS a year of growth for me! On to 2014 and beyond!

God lives. He is mindful of me and my little family. He has tested me in 2013 and has found that I can be charitable in the face of adversity. That I can give when I don't really have that to give. Abundance is on its way and shall come to me in his own due time! Everything till now has been a series of small stepping stones. One can't make me NOT believe in Tithing because I don't have ears to hear it. If one has a beef with the church or with tithing, then it's time to turn around and put your own faith to the test or to grow it. Faith without works is truly dead.

Updated: January 6th, 2013 I don't do this for the naysayers in particular (the I quit church and I've gained 1 more day a week and got a 10% pay raise, etc...) but I thought that this would benefit the faithful so this is why I'm sharing it with you. It is not to convince but to simply give my father in heaven THANKS that was so duly deserved for giving me these gifts.

The last day of the month, we went to the bank and paid it. We have NO REAL business paying that tithing except for we wanted to be full tithe payers in 2013. God knows we have bills to pay and they went unpaid. Our cable got shut off... but so what. My wife and I both acknowledged the variance and made sure it got placed into the mail on the 31st... checks in the mail. Now what?

Later on that night, I received a text for a sizable order to fill while on my Facebook saying someone wanted to buy something from me last minute. It was for my business. This helped me to personally qualify for an additional international bonus and this will augment my check by a factor of 4x greater thanks to the sale! And on the 2nd of January, I receive an unexpected call from my Dad who is my business partner, saying that we are going to be busy all month of January. Out of the blue, one of my former partners now wanted to get back into the game. They are coming to Portland for 3 weeks and we want to get started seeing some of his people to either form their business locally with us more fully to then return to Boise and start their own office. Coincidence? Not a chance. I hadn't called or talked to them for over 6 months. I sent 1 email their way and this was it. I stand to help create thousands of dollars in revenue with this husband and wife team before January's end and I give credit to the Lord 100% for making the miracle possible! Thanks Lord but I don't need to keep the extra 10% because it's not all about me or what I want. It's about helping to build the kingdom. God knows I've paid it and the windows of heaven are beginning to pour out more blessings upon me just as a bathtub spouts' leak starts out small but inevitably becomes a stream spewing out gallons of water per hour. This is one leak I never intend to fix.

I truly believe that God's statement to his children is just and accurate when he inspired this part of the D&C, when we received this word from the prophet Joseph Smith, "I (the Lord) am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." - D&C 82:10 I'm a living example of success in business and in my personal life by obeying this law of the Lord and the windows of heaven have truly opened themselves to myself and my family such as in all things temporal and all things spiritual.

First Give Me The Heat, then I'll Add The Wood

Evidence before faith... sounds much like something I learned from Earl Nightingale when he would say about the man at the fire place, "First you give me heat and then I'll add the wood." Part of the process is faith. Faith is like putting the kindling, the fuel, and bringing the fire to the fire place.

We wouldn't begin to start building a fire if we did not have faith that it would warm us up once lit. All too often, critics of the church are asking us for the heat when if they intend to build their own fire, they must follow the steps that we did; so if we're warming up by what you think is a non existent fire, then I suppose you just don't know.

“And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche Suggested Reading: Alma Chapters 22, 32

Become As A Little Child!

Something to ponder today. Become As A Little Child Not As A Historian, as a Scribe, as a Master Scriptorien Alone!

The Lord said this, about his gospel.

Matthew 18:3 "...Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Notice that in no place in his scriptures did he say, "Except ye be converted, and become as a scribe... or Except ye be converted and get all of the facts straight." Facts are in the eye of the beholder. We could argue until we were blue in the fact over what facts are right. How does the Lord want us? Meek, submissive, full of love... willing to submit as a child doth submit to his father... faithful, trusting, penitent..."

Observe in your conversations this day whether you think you are defending Christ by helping a Mormon to free himself from bondage or you be a faithful latter-day Saint; and ask, "Am I approaching this man or woman with an eye single to the glory of God by being... the above mentioned attributes?" Am I sufficiently encouraging them to pray, seek wisdom from on high so that the blessings can come upon us all as the dews of heaven?

(Additional scriptures to read and enjoy today; D&C 121:33, (the passage right before the oath and covenant of the priesthood gets overlooked all too often) and the Lord's warning in D&C 38:30... perhaps the reason why some of us are in the precarious position we have found ourselves in by allowing men to shout into our ears and scare us with a voice louder than we proved able to bear. This I leave with all of you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Celestial Kingdom...

Life has it's ways to create distractions and deter us in the way. It has been over 1 year since I have acted out in such a way that proved serious enough to talk with my ecclesiastical authority. This day passes for sure as of the 1st of September. I had a sore repentance and it caused my body and soul much anxiety and depression. I'd like to bear a brief testimony to you all before fast and testimony meeting is to come. I may be doing there as well. Here it goes.

In 2013 My testimony has grown; 1) The Lord answers my prayers and that of my wife. Back in September/October, we decided to have another baby and it had been 8 years since. Our prayer was that she should have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. We asked for a girl and the Lord blessed us with one of his children. I am grateful to be a steward for one of his children and to have her in our family now. Summer is going on 2 months old. I now have a calling in my meeting house as a membership clerk in charge of keeping track of the church membership. (Assistant to the Clerk) and I love serving in the Lord's kingdom with this calling and that of being a father to 4 beautiful children.

2) I have a testimony of Tithing and earnest prayer; that the Lord indeed has and will continue to prosper me in my efforts to take care of my family. Without fail, every month, we are able to qualify for an extra bonus with my company and I attribute paying tithing as part of this benefit. One time, I qualified for that bonus on the first day of the month; out of the blue, as if right out of the Ether, I get a call from one of my cousins who asked me if I could sell him a sleep system. I said SURE! The Lord continues to show me how the windows of heaven may be opened up unto me but until this time, he takes care of me and my family day to day and with patience, I follow. He has never let me go hungry and my bills have all been paid. We always have what we need or want. I have been self employed since June of 2009 and I remain independent on self running on my own steam and this is how one works. Work as if it depended on myself alone but pray as if it depended on God for his help and guidance...

So it ended up being a 1,500 dollar order of which my cut was 20%. It came right before tax season. With that sale, we had our 200-300 extra in profit to then pay for our tax debt which wouldn't be much but it was there and we didn't have to borrow. In this manner has my testimony grown. This and that God helps or helped me to understand the anxiety and depression I was going through and for me to understand that he is ALWAYS there by my side even if my own body was or is incapable. It has been over 1 year since I made a covenant with the Lord to behave more like one of his disciples and more like the Christian man in Israel that I ought to be and the priesthood holder that he would more like me to be. I have a long way to go. I know the power of the atonement is a very real thing; and that God who is our heavenly father is earnestly interested in every single one of us and our lives, based on his ability to snatch me out from the awful hell I had created for myself.

This is my testimony to you of which I leave to you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

He Has Already Paid The Price

By BY ELDER DALLIN H. OAKS

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Adapted from an address given at a June 2001 mission presidents’ seminar in Provo, Utah. "Christ’s atoning sacrifice was for “all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit.” (original article found at http://www.lds.org/ensign/2010/04/the-atonement-and-faith?lang=eng)

The first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Without this faith, the prophet Mormon said we are not fit to be numbered among the people of His Church (see Moroni 7:39). The first commandment Jehovah gave to the children of Israel was “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). We should always put the Savior first. This powerful idea—that we must have faith and put the Lord first in our lives—seems simple, but in practice many find it difficult.

The scriptures teach us that faith comes by hearing the word of God. The word of God, which comes to us by scripture, by prophetic teaching, and by personal revelation, teaches us that we are children of God the Eternal Father. It teaches us about the identity and mission of Jesus Christ, His Only Begotten Son, our Savior and Redeemer. Founded on our knowledge of those things, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is a conviction and trust that God knows us and loves us and will hear our prayers and answer them with what is best for us.

Faith in the Lord is trust in the Lord. We cannot have true faith in the Lord without also having complete trust in the Lord’s will and in the Lord’s timing. As a result, no matter how strong our faith is, it cannot produce a result contrary to the will of Him in whom we have faith. Remember that when your prayers do not seem to be answered in the way or at the time you desire. The exercise of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is always subject to the order of heaven, to the goodness and will and wisdom and timing of the Lord. When we have that kind of faith and trust in the Lord, we have true security and serenity in our lives.

We look first to our Savior Jesus Christ. He is our model. Our model is not the latest popular hero of sports or entertainment. Similarly, our most precious possessions are not the expensive toys and diversions that encourage us to concentrate on what is temporary and to forget what is eternal. Our model—our first priority—is Jesus Christ. We must testify of Him and teach one another how we can apply His teachings and His example in our lives.

The Savior Builds Us Up President Brigham Young (1801–1877) gave us some practical advice on how to recognize Him whom we follow. “The difference between God and the Devil,” he said, “is that God creates and organizes, while the whole study of the Devil is to destroy.” 1 In that contrast we have an important example of the reality of “opposition in all things” (2 Nephi 2:11). Remember that our Savior Jesus Christ always builds us up and never tears us down. We should apply the power of that example in the ways we use our time, including our recreation and our diversions. Consider the themes of the books, magazines, movies, television shows, and music we in the world have made popular by our patronage. Do the things portrayed in our chosen entertainment build up or tear down the children of God? During my lifetime I have seen a strong trend to set aside entertainment that builds up and dignifies the children of God and to replace it with portrayals and performances that are depressing, demeaning, and destructive. The powerful idea in this contrast is that whatever builds people up serves the cause of the Master, and whatever tears people down serves the cause of the adversary. We support one cause or the other every day by our patronage and by our thoughts and desires. This should remind us of our responsibility to support what is good and motivate us toward doing this in a way that will be pleasing to Him whose suffering offers us hope and whose example gives us direction.

Suffering Is Part of Repentance The central idea in the gospel of Jesus Christ—its most powerful idea, along with the universal Resurrection—is the Atonement of our Savior. We are His servants, and it is critical that we understand the role of the Atonement in our own lives and in the lives of those we teach. Essential to that understanding is an understanding of the relationship between justice and mercy and the Atonement, and the role of suffering and repentance in this divine process. The awful demands of justice upon those who have violated the laws of God—the state of misery and torment described in the scriptures—can be intercepted and swept away by the Atonement of Jesus Christ. This relationship between justice on the one hand and mercy and the Atonement on the other is the core idea of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Book of Mormon teaches that the Savior does not redeem men in their sins: “The wicked remain as though there had been no redemption made, except it be the loosing of the bands of death” (Alma 11:41). The Savior came to redeem men from their sins upon the conditions of repentance (see Helaman 5:11).

One of those conditions of repentance is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, including faith in and reliance upon His atoning sacrifice. As Amulek taught, “He that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption” (Alma 34:16). This obviously means that the unrepentant transgressor must suffer for his own sins. Does it also mean that a person who repents does not need to suffer at all because the entire punishment is borne by the Savior? That cannot be the meaning because it would be inconsistent with the Savior’s other teachings.

What is meant by Alma 34:16 is that the person who repents does not need to suffer even as the Savior suffered for that sin. Sinners who are repenting will experience some suffering, but because of their repentance and the Atonement they will not experience the full, exquisite extent of eternal torment the Savior suffered for those sins. President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985), who gave such comprehensive teachings on repentance and forgiveness, said that personal suffering is a very important part of repentance. “One has not begun to repent until he has suffered intensely for his sins. … If a person hasn’t suffered,” he said, “he hasn’t repented.”

Lehi taught this principle when He said the Savior’s atoning sacrifice was for “all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered” (2 Nephi 2:7). The truly repentant sinner who comes to Christ with a broken heart and a contrite spirit has been through a process of personal pain and suffering for sin. He or she understands the meaning of Alma’s statement that none but the truly penitent are saved. Alma the Younger certainly understood this. Read his accounts in Mosiah 27 and in Alma 36. President Kimball said, “Very frequently people think they have repented and are worthy of forgiveness when all they have done is to express sorrow or regret at the unfortunate happening.” There is a big difference between the godly sorrow that worketh repentance (see 2 Corinthians 7:10), which involves personal suffering, and the easy and relatively painless sorrow for being caught, or the misplaced sorrow Mormon described as “the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin” (Mormon 2:13).

We Must Make a Mighty Change Why is it necessary for us to suffer on the way to repentance for serious transgressions? We tend to think of the results of repentance as simply cleansing us from sin, but that is an incomplete view of the matter. A person who sins is like a tree that bends easily in the wind. On a windy and rainy day, the tree bends so deeply against the ground that the leaves become soiled with mud, like sin. If we focus only on cleaning the leaves, the weakness in the tree that allowed it to bend and soil its leaves may remain. Similarly, a person who is merely sorry to be soiled by sin will sin again in the next high wind. The susceptibility to repetition continues until the tree has been strengthened. When a person has gone through the process that results in what the scriptures call “a broken heart and a contrite spirit,” the Savior does more than cleanse that person from sin. He gives him or her new strength. That strengthening is essential for us to realize the purpose of the cleansing, which is to return to our Heavenly Father. To be admitted to His presence, we must be more than clean. We must also be changed from a morally weak person who has sinned into a strong person with the spiritual stature to dwell in the presence of God. We must, as the scripture says, become “a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord” (Mosiah 3:19). This is what the scripture means in its explanation that a person who has repented of his sins will forsake them. Forsaking sins is more than resolving not to repeat them. Forsaking involves a fundamental change in the individual. King Benjamin’s congregation described that mighty change by saying that they had “no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:2). Persons who have had that kind of change in their hearts have attained the strength and stature to dwell with God. That is one definition of what we call being saved. Repentance has been the message in every dispensation. The risen Lord emphasized this to the Nephites in explaining what He called “the gospel which I have given unto you” (3 Nephi 27:13): “Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day” (3 Nephi 27:20). In modern revelation, the Lord explained, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, they who believe not on your words, and are not baptized in water in my name, for the remission of their sins, that they may receive the Holy Ghost, are damned, and shall not come into my Father’s kingdom where my Father and I am” (D&C 84:74).

Forgiveness Is Certain I conclude with a message of hope that is true for all but especially needed by those who think that repentance is too hard. Repentance is a continuing process needed by all because “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Repentance is possible, and then forgiveness is certain. President Kimball said: “Sometimes … when a repentant one looks back and sees the ugliness, the loathsomeness of the transgression, he is almost overwhelmed and wonders, ‘Can the Lord ever forgive me? Can I ever forgive myself?’ But when one reaches the depths of despondency and feels the hopelessness of his position, and when he cries out to God for mercy in helplessness but in faith, there comes a still, small, but penetrating voice whispering to his soul, ‘Thy sins are forgiven thee.’” When this happens, we have the fulfillment of the precious promise that God will take away the guilt from our hearts through the merits of His Son (see Alma 24:10). How comforting the promise in Isaiah 1:18 that “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” How glorious God’s own promise that “he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more” (D&C 58:42). I testify that these words are true, that this message is the doctrine of Jesus Christ, the plan of God our Eternal Father, of which our Savior Jesus Christ is the author and finisher. I testify of Jesus Christ and of His prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, and of the Restoration of the gospel in these latter days through the instrumentality of Joseph Smith.

We cannot have true faith in the Lord without also having complete trust in the Lord’s will and in the Lord’s timing. The truly repentant sinner who comes to Christ with a broken heart and a contrite spirit has been through a process of personal pain and suffering for sin. The state of misery and torment described in the scriptures can be intercepted and swept away by the Atonement of Jesus Christ. When a person has “a broken heart and a contrite spirit,” the Savior does more than cleanse that person from sin. He gives him or her new strength.

Thy Faith, © by Judith A. Mehr Above: Detail from Godly Sorrow, by Douglas M. Fryer. Right: Detail from Christ in Gethsemane, by Heinrich Hoffman, courtesy C. Harrison Conroy Co. Inc.Christ in a Red Robe, by Minerva Tiechert, courtesy Church History Museum

You can ask Heavenly Father in prayer to increase your faith. You can help your faith grow by reading the scriptures (see Romans 10:17; Helaman 15:7-8). Your faith will increase as you strive to live the teachings of Jesus Christ (see Alma 32:28-29).

NO "Doom And Gloom!" - A COURAGE TAKE!

Gordon B. Hinckley said this in one of his talks:

“Don’t be gloomy. Do not dwell on unkind things. Stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. Even if you are not happy, put a smile on your face. ‘Accentuate the positive.’ Look a little deeper for the good. Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, with great and strong purpose in your heart. Love life.” –Gordon B. Hinckley

Pray Often And Live In Peace!

Brothers and Sisters... We must pray often and live in peace. We must thank our creator OFTEN that we have been invited to his revelatory banquet and we can eat and drink milk and honey without price! It is a great blessing and available to all. We do not keep this a secret and we should continue being guilty of sharing these glad tidings with those that we know; even if that only be through examples set!

We live in the days where milk is offered. (See Isaiah 28:6-10) We no longer have to eat at the tables being served the vomit and filth of yesteryear giving us very little nourishment and yet having the basics for our spirit to survive. It never ceases to amaze me how they made it through the dark ages... but we are NOW in the day of the Gentile! (Luke 21:24) and we NOW are as Isaiah saw, the Nursing fathers and mothers, as spoken of in Isaiah as well. (Chapter 49:23)

"Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob." (Isaiah 60:16 ... 16-22 in context)

We are TRULY entering the period of time where Isaiah had seen that the Lord would "hasten his work in his time..." and we can be laborers for him, in his vineyard, or spend our energies worrying! God is STILL IN CHARGE. WITH A SNAP OF HIS FINGERS, HE COULD END ALL OF THE SUFFERING... but he let's us maintain our greatest right ordained by heaven... our agency. We will see death and destruction happening all around us. Because of iniquity, the love of men shall wax COLD; it shall be brother against brother. Much strife and contention may lay ahead but if we continue FAITHFUL to the things that we know to be true, we will be well enough off. If we maintain our high moral standards, the destroying angel will pass by us just as it were during the times of Ancient Israel in the tradition of the Passover.

Case in point: The other day, I took my family to a birthday party about 40 minutes away from our home. Even if we had word of wrong doing in our neighborhood, we could not have made it back fast enough to keep the evil one at bay. The damage that could be done in a seemingly unprotected environment is incalculable but in this case, I had discovered the tender mercies of the Lord. Upon coming home, we discovered 2 police cars parked in our coul-de-sac and that a neighbor had been robbed. We had possibly hundreds of dollars worth of our own possessions in the lawn, in a basketball hoop, sports equipment, yard equipment including a brand new push lawn mower, a Kangaroo Carriage + New Bike... and to top this all off, an unlocked door. Inside also were laid about several things that too could have been taken. For reasons known only to God, our house was spared from being robbed and from having a vast amount of our possessions taken, along with our peace of mind.

My wife and I took an inventory of the things that we are doing, as a family, to live righteously. One of those things was that we pay and honest and full tithe. Among others, we also pray often with our children. We truly know that we should pray often, and the benefit is, "we shall not faint or feign!"

We can either take up the cross and suffer those things with him, spread his word, do indexing, or whatever we can to further the work... or be panicked and buy guns, ammo... food. Preparing for the worst. To which I say, be prepared... but make our preparedness be more as the people of Alma the Elder is concerned vs those who belonged to the people of Limhi. For each escaped the captivity of the Lamanites but one of those groups went with the full support of the Lord. It is a choice yet regarding how we will endure! Let us raise our output and continue to publish peace!

This I say in the name of Jesus Christ, amen!

This has been a mini sermon! (Of course, the scriptures are also laid before you. Enjoy!)

"God Spares Men In Order To Let Them Repent," By Josh Nelson

It was April 7th, 2009 when I was involved in a semi-truck roll over accident.

I received very few injuries, a few stitches in my head behind my ear and a tiny scratch on my left shin. Instead of being in a physical coma, the Lord has had to awaken me out of a spiritual one and this additional time has allowed me that opportunity. I awoke today having been given 4 additional years to be with my beautiful family to which I am eternally grateful. I am thankful nearly every minute, that I am alive, and that I had been spared. I have been permitted to tarry for a wise purpose, maybe only known to God, but for this purpose do I still seek those answers.

I have not always treated well the days of my probation and in some regards, have floundered during these past few years. In some definite ways, I exchanged folly for godliness but in others, yet I had truly not changed my stripes completely. I had not become the new creature, in Christ, that I could have become. I had ceased to care and then subsequently, the spirit of the Lord had withdrawn from me until a great fear had come over me. This past month and a half, I decided to make a change that would alter my course for the better and that this would be the ultimate life changing decision that I feel that my father in heaven would have me do. That I would confront my past in a way that I had never done prior. That I would not only hold fast to the decisions that I had made to be valiant and to remain on the Lord's side, but that I should also have every right and authority to be there acting in full favor of the Lord and under no hypocrisy.

I walked the streets of my neighborhood allowing my soul to be harrowed up in unfortunate events that became my story and that in turn, became my past, and that those errors in judgment and outright rebellion against God and against the things I knew to be true, I found myself in the gall of bitterness and with a dark cloud surrounding me. My soul ached and my eyes were gushing with tears as I described to the Lord my sincerest hopes that perhaps the destroying angel could pass me by and that perhaps I could be redeemed, for I had feared that I too, may have committed the unpardonable sin of denying the Holy Ghost, and sinning against the greater light of knowledge, which I had been so entrusted to bear up in a more triumphant manner. My thoughts brought me all the way through my neighborhood and I found myself pleading and yearning in a way that I previously had never done. The very thought of not being able to return home was demoralizing to me.

I made a choice, and if successful. It should completely release me from the bands of death and hell and abolish the evil one and his hold on me, forever! I came home and recounted to my wife about the things that I had done and about the awful state I had gotten myself into and confessed to her my desire to make this a permanent life long decision and I confessed to her of my fears and my worries. I let her hold me as I rid my eyes of all of my tears until they would no longer flow; they had dried up. We held each other. We prayed together. We resolved to stay together and to be a forever family and that we would work harder to find ourselves once again, in the temple of the Lord and to know that we should be faithful to those covenants and that we would be faithful to each other!

Where I have trembled because of my iniquities, Satan now trembles as he sees one of the weakest saints upon his knees.

I do not glory in having a colorful life but having gone to the furthest of the outer limits and have charted my course towards the great brightness of the heavens at the heart of God's love, I will pick up some stragglers along the way and show them the peace that can surely come so long as my repentance is a faithful and an enduring one.

Today, nearly 4 years after the crash, I declare my independence from the bands of death and of hell. Today, I square up with the Lord and covenant with him that my mistakes should be a thing of the past. That the sins that did so easily beset me are no more and that I dare not offend the Lord. I have set my back towards my days of err and of self-deceit.

I no longer droop in sin. I no longer give cause to the evil one that he may pluck from me the joy and happiness that truly is mine to have, if I would allow it and I do.

I am no longer reminded about my past by anyone that matters but I may remind the devil and all of his angels about their futures and that I will have no part in it. They can count me out. Table for the 1/3 of the hosts of heaven previously cast out now minus 1...

I would like to thank one of my heroes; and thank Nephi for his words as they were recorded and numbered to be 2 Nephi 4:17 til the end, I should think... and also for James. For his words during his short sojourn upon the earth. He taught me to not be double minded. To not try and be of the world and still be of God. I am guilty of the many things, he wrote, in James chapter 4 but as of this Sunday coming, I am guilty of those things no longer!

It is my solemn testimony that God lives, and that Jesus is the Christ. NO force beneath the earth or on the earth can remove me from my place. I have buckled myself in the chair. If I need to use the restroom, I may just hold it. I want NOTHING to remove me from this seat again. Next stop, Eternity!

I say hereby write this and testify to you of these things, and that these words are true and faithful, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

The Truth About Galatians 1:6-9 Re-examined - A Christians Perspective

Pre-message conclusion. The doctrine of circumcision was a hot topic and the cause of heated debates between Paul and Peter. Most Christians like to use this passage of Galatians 1:6-9 to disqualify the claims made by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regarding any and all Angels from being trust worthy or for preaching a different gospel, then to hence, "from such turn away." But with close examination of Galatians, we discover the true reasons why Paul said what he did. Enjoy the article. (This was written by a Christian and is unaware, potentially, that his works have been quoted. I draw conclusions to my own assessment of this scripture passage based on his research. But use this and perhaps do you own research as well! Enjoy!

"Perverting the Gospel" by Larry Ray Hafley

For years, denominational preachers and brethren such as LeRoy Garrett and the Carl Ketcherside have argued that we may have differing views of "doctrinal matters," but that we must agree on the essential elements of "the gospel." In other words, one group may play a piano in worship and another may not; one might practice sprinkling while another church insists on immersion. Such "doctrinal issues" are irrelevant. However, they say, we must agree upon the "essentials" of the gospel (the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ). Let us examine this subject in light of Acts 15 and Galatians 1 and 2. Paul spoke of those who would "pervert the gospel of Christ" (Gal. 1:6-9). When they do so, he said, they are preaching "another gospel." Further, when the gospel is perverted, when "another gospel" is substituted, the result is that souls are "removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ" (Cf. Gal. 1:6; 1 Cor. 1:9; and Gal. 3:1; 5:7).

According to the distinction under review, by "perverting" the gospel and preaching "another," Paul must have had reference to a perversion of the facts of the gospel, i.e., the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. If it be true that the gospel consists of those primary facts alone, while everything else is "doctrine," then the apostle must have been referring to a corruption of those basic gospel features. But was he? No, and here is why:

(1) The specific corruption of the gospel is outlined in Acts 15 when "certain men...said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved" (v. 1; Cf. Gal. 2; 5:1- 4). When they did this, the apostles said, "certain (men)...have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment" (Acts 15:24). In the Galatian letter, Paul agreed that the effect of their "doctrine" was indeed subversive of their souls. "Ye are," he charged, "fallen from grace" (Cf. Gal. 1:6; 5:4).

Thus, one could teach "doctrinal" error (circumcision, law keeping) and still be guilty of perverting the "gospel." But how is that possible if the gospel only consists of three basic facts while all else is doctrine? Those who make that distinction between gospel and doctrine need to tell us!

(2) When the apostles refuted the binding of circumcision, they did so "that the truth of the gospel might continue with you" (Gal. 2:5). Observe, that to deny the doctrinal error of circumcision was to establish "the truth of the gospel." How, though, could that be possible, if the gospel is simply Christ crucified, buried and risen? If the doctrinal error of circumcision had been tolerated, the gospel would not have continued. That being so, those who distinguish between "gospel" and "doctrine" are guilty of making a false dichotomy.

(3) Peter's separation from the Gentiles caused him to walk "not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel" (Gal. 2:14). However, if association with the Gentiles involves "doctrinal" matters only, and not issues of the "gospel," how could his behavior be said to be contrary "to the truth of the gospel"? Peter certainly did not deny the "core" gospel facts, yet he walked not "according to the truth of the gospel."

Conclusion: The "doctrinal" error of circumcision resulted in a perversion of the "gospel" and negated the saving power of the "cross" (Gal. 1:6-9; 3:1; 5:1-4, 7, 11; 6:12-14). Therefore, it is not true that we may be in error in doctrine and remain true in the gospel. Refer to: http://www.bassfishing.org/thebiblespeaks/Articles/Authority/Obey/perverting.htm

If one would consider a faulty interpretation of Gal 1:6-9, then it erroneously could also apply to the Angel Gabriel, why by definition came to Joseph and Mary (not leaders in the Jewish Faith) and spoke of a Messiah who should come, but would later prove to bring to the world a "different gospel!"

Message From Scott Gordon, President of FAIR LDS

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
-----------------------------------
When most members of the Church think of anti-Mormonism, they
immediately flash on sign-carrying protestors outside of Temple
Square, or they visualize a debate on whether faith or works leads
to salvation. The problem with those visualizations is that those
types of protests and discussions aren't the kind of anti-Mormonism
that has any real impact on members of the church. Some are lulled
into a false sense of security believing that their testimonies are
unshakable. It is with that attitude they venture onto the Internet
to read what others have to say about our beliefs. They may soon
discover that the Church and its history is often conveyed in a
fashion that is totally foreign to what they have learned.

Emails to FAIR have included phrases such as, "I recently became
aware of some things from church history I have never heard before,
"or "Joseph Smith doesn't appear to be the person I learned he was
in Primary."

There are things written in books and on the Internet that sound
very damaging to Joseph Smith and others in Church history. Some
members get very upset when they read it and realize they have not
heard it before. They sometimes come to believe that the items have
been hidden from them through some grand conspiracy of deception and
find their testimony shaken.

The truth is that many of the allegations are taken out of context,
are presented with a negative spin, come from less reliable sources,
or are simply false. While some feel they "should' know about it,
there really should be no expectation for the Church to teach things
about Joseph Smith that aren't true, simply so people are familiar
with those claims. False allegations remain false, even if they are
from a long time ago.

For example, perhaps you will read the common claim that there was
no record of the First Vision prior to 1870. The claim is usually
made with absolute certainty and bravado. The average reader doesn't
know that there are over 62 recorded instances of the First Vision
stretching from 1840 to 1870.

http://en.fairmormon.org/First_Vision/Seldom_mentioned_in_LDS_publications_before_1877_(long)

Perhaps you may read that Brigham Young said that he lives "above
the law." What the average reader doesn't know is that Brigham was
talking about living better than the law, not escaping from it.

http://en.fairmormon.org/Quote_mining/Journal_of_Discourses/JoD_1:361:Analysis

There are numerous other examples that can be cited. But, know that
the arguments and negative treatment put forward by the various
books and anti-Mormon websites have been examined and found to be
unconvincing and often dishonest. FAIR exists to continue to expose
those dishonest claims and to help members of the Church find
answers without having to become research specialists.

I hope that you continue to support us in our efforts by spreading
the word about FAIR and letting people know where they can find the
truth about disturbing claims they may hear.

--Scott Gordon
President of FAIR

Finding Strength And Hope Through Christ

No Rest For The Wicked :Quitters Beware!

The Lord is 100% aware of those who try to thwart the work of the Lord. He said as much in the Doctrine and Covenants regarding those who endeavor to stop his will when we read:

How long can rolling waters remain impure? What power shall stay the heavens? As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it up stream, as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints. D&C 121:33

Anti-Mormons Beware! I have your number and I'm dialin' it all day long. Shining light into your eyes and watching you retreat to the darkness. Your works are the works of darkness. You lie about the LDS church and are responsible for keeping MANY honest of heart folks from discovering the restored gospel. One day you'll have to reconcile with that great God, our father in heaven, and have to explain yourselves before the judgment bar.
For the honest of heart! Do your own research and DO SO apart from the opinions, commentary, and words from others. Read the scriptures. Speak with the missionaries and use the Lord's guidance through thoughtful and careful prayer to DISCOVER these answers for yourself. The Lord will answer the prayers of the willing of heart. (See 1 John 5:9, James 1:5-6)
Honest of heart... take note. Enemies to the LDS church work tirelessly to KEEP you from the blessings which our Heavenly Father has for ALL of us. Do not let them pull you into the chasm that they are inevitably going to fall into unless they repent before the end!!!

The doctrines of the church are plainly available to the world. Nothing is kept in darkness. There are not ADDED things that Mormon's are unaware of... just enemies to the church who would have you believe such a farce.

Anti-Mormons (or otherwise people who profess to love Mormons and hope to save them or keep folks from investigating the LDS church) would also be "Enemies To The Church" by nature, they have said the following about us to others and are daily trying to convince them that we believe the following...

1. Mormons worship Joseph Smith.
2. Gordon B. Hinckley was false because he was fooled by the Salamander letter.
3. Mormons force dead people to join the church through temple baptism.
4. Mormons are brainwashed by their leaders and are not allowed to question doctrine.
5. Moroni was an "angel of light" and therefore false (re: Galatians 1:8)
6. Mormons added to the Bible.
7. Mormons are "forced" to pay tithing or risk being excommunicated. (pay and pray)
8. Mormons believe in endless numbers of gods.
9. Joseph Smith wrote the BoM based on a fictional book.
10. Mormons worship Moroni.

Other strange beliefs that they'd like you to think about Mormons:

Mormons believe in another Jesus, you know, the one documented in the New Testament. Mormons believe that their works will save them, even though the scriptures are clear that JESUS died for us and PAID the price of sins.
Mormons vote on other people's rights, even though marriage is defined as beiung between a man and woman ONLY in the Bible.
Mormons believe in many Gods, even though the scriptures are clear that there is only ONE God, Elohim, which btw is a plural noun, go figure. What does ONE mean then?

Contributions by channels: M424Filmcast and MormonAnswerMan

How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. Jude 1:18

¶ Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. Jeremiah 17:5

The Day Of Rest is coming, indeed. I will feel no joy for those who spent their entire lives in the labor of tearing down. God did not send us down to tear it down but to build up the kingdom. The reason why I did this video was to show the WORLD just how silly these zealots REALLY are. The honest of heart will not be duped or fooled. Those who live their lives the way that they CHOOSE to do so are usually MORE inclined to follow after the Ed Decker's of the world vs. Jesus.

The Work of Righteous Women

The work of righteous women ought never to be discounted or ignored. Their roles as Queens and Priestesses unto the most high God ought never to be forgotten. The role of Mother and Wife is the most important one in our heavenly father's plan for all of his children.

What If?

What if Men ceased relying on their own understanding and turned their trust towards God above trusting in the arm of flesh?
2 Nephi 4:34

What if Men starting reading the scriptures as if they were not just words on paper reading them with real intent while praying to the Lord for understanding and having faith that God would give unto them the "gift of prophecy" and of "revelation?"
Moroni 10:3-5

What if Men ceased to read them and interpret them privately using their own wisdom? 2 Peter 1:19-21

What if men began to have unshakable faith in the Lord that he could understand all things and all points of truth free from the opinions of others? Mormon 8: 24

What if men could be found humble enough for the Lord to show them all things? Ether 4: 1, 8, 13

What if when the Lord were to show them all things that these men would actually dedicate their life to God following him with exceeding faith and not just KNOWING the path but were willing to walk the path doing all the Lord's commandments?
1 Nephi 3:7

What if men had the faith to refute the godless; the greatest of those who subject themselves to the will and power of the Devil?
Jacob 7: 5

What if men such faith that it gave them power to move mountains?
Ether 12: 30

What would it do to Satan's dominion if we were all like unto Captain Moroni? Alma 48: 17

What if those who fight against this restored church are also fighting against God? Acts 5:39

What if they fight against Zion under the guise of fighting for God? Isaiah 29:8

What if the Book of Mormon is true and the subsequent restoration of the Gospel that Jesus Christ had taught was now being taught in its fullness and purity? "
I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book."
Joseph Smith, Jr.

The question you need to ask yourself is, "What if?"

What if I'm missing out in the Lord's blessings because of my unbelief? What if Angels are returning to the earth visiting others and not me? What if this Christ I believe in is coming back to a people more prepared than I? What if all the things that are spoken against the church is influenced by Satan? What if there was an Apostasy and I'm on the wrong end of it? What if there are prophets today and I am rejecting them because of my own lack of understanding regarding warnings given by Jesus Christ about future prophets? What if I deny the miracles of God based on my own unbelief because I think that visions and miracles and healings and the visitation of Angels ceased long ago? What if families can be together forever and I'm steering clear from this? What if it's not about Mormonism but its about the restored Church of Jesus Christ? What if this church has been reestablished in the same way it was anciently? What if authority to perform such sacred saving ordinances like baptism has been made available once again? What if I leave life without receiving this sacred ordinance? What if I can just never see myself becoming Mormon? What if I never find the strength to quit smoking, drinking, pornography, or any other vices non-conducive to the spirit of God? What if I remain just a casual follower of Christ obeying some commandments while submitting to other weaknesses... will that be enough? Last but not least... What if I disqualify myself from eternal blessings because I would rather hear the opinions of men never giving thought to ask God for myself if these blessings have truly come to men on earth through his marvelous work and a wonder? (Isaiah 29:11-14)

We all have to make a choice in this life and it will be based on our actions.
"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.
...And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom."
(2 Nephi 2:27, 29)

The Lord has commanded that his people be perfect. (Matt 5:48) He has made it abundantly clear that he will not support a slothful and unwise servant as mentioned in the "Parable of the Talents." He will not recognize those who have not had a proper baptism for there will be many which say, "Lord Lord" but will not enter in.

Do what Moroni suggests...
"...Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot."
Moroni 10:32-33

And IF you do these things, you will become mighty men and women unto God; even like unto the Brother of Jared, of Nephi, of Captain Moroni, of Mormon and Moroni, of Joseph Smith, of Ether, of Paul and Peter, and you will be like unto ALL the best examples that the world had to offer as they followed Jesus Christ. If you follow the Lord Jesus just as they did, in nowise would you NOT receive this heavenly gift of Eternal Life. This I testify to you, in the Holy name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Rome is burning with the "Spirit of God" - Announcement of the Rome, Italy Temple

(Original article at; http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/rome/)

Announcement: 4 October 2008

Construction Status

On December 6, 2009, another special fast was held by members and friends of the Rome Italy Stake for City approval of the Rome Italy Temple. While significant progress has been made, the process is not over. Additional meetings are expected in the month of December. A beautiful design has been completed for the temple, but it is not available for public view. An Italian residence that once stood on the temple site and housed full-time missionaries has already been razed in preparation for the temple complex. (1)

On September 6, 2009, a special fast was held for the temple by members in Rome and many former missionaries and friends in anticipation of a review of the Church's request by City officials later that month. Plans call for a complex of buildings that include the temple, a meetinghouse, and a patron housing facility. Although just a small section of the site was originally permitted for construction of the temple, recent zoning modifications—a miracle in itself—allow the entire parcel of land to be used for construction of these buildings. (2)

On February 24, 2009, Elder Dallin H. Oaks met with all of the missionaries of the Italy Rome Mission in a spiritually charged meeting. That evening, he was the speaker at a special member and investigator fireside. His comments focused on preparing for the temple. He spoke of paying tithing, preparing to be ordinance workers, and of receiving what the temple offers: knowledge, covenants, and promised blessings. He urged all in attendance to pray daily that the hearts of the government officials would be softened in regards to the temple. Elder Oaks had already met with these officials to discuss its construction, which he said went very well. (3)

Temple Site

The Rome Italy Temple will be built on an elevated 15-acre site in northeast Rome near the Grande Raccordo Anulare, the circular road (beltway) that surrounds the city. The picturesque country site, punctuated by an exiquisite stand of olive trees, sits on the outskirts of the city at a freeway interchange. (4)

Building sites in Rome must be examined for Roman ruins before construction is permitted. The inspection is carried out by digging trenches every 10 to 15 feet across the property. The day the temple property was to be inspected, Church members in Rome held a special fast. No ruins were found over the entire property, yet an old Roman village was discovered just 100 yards beyond the property boundary line. The Church purchased the property in the late 1990s. (5)

Temple Announcement

Italian members met the announcement of the Rome Italy Temple with the animated cheering and enthusiasm you would expect to see in a sports arena during a last-second win, explained President Massimo De Feo, president of the Rome Italy Stake, in a recent interview. He also added that since the temple announcement, the Stake is seeing the baptism of full families for the first time. In just the past five years, the number of stakes in Italy has grown from three to six. And temple attendance at the distant Bern Switzerland Temple has been much higher from the Saints in Italy than from any other country in the temple district. (6)

President Thomas S. Monson's announcement of a temple to be constructed in Rome was met with an audible gasp and smiles from the congregation gathered in the Conference Center for the Saturday morning session of the October 2008 General Conference. (7) The Rome Italy Temple will be the first temple in Italy and in the Mediterranean region.

Temple Facts

The Rome Italy Temple will be the twelfth temple built in Europe and the first built in Italy.

A charming home, which stood at the highest point of the temple site, was razed to make way for the Rome Italy Temple. It served for a time as an apartment for the full-time missionaries.

Temple History

The growth of the Church in Italy has not been without its opposition. Just three years after the Saints arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, the first missionaries arrived in Genova, Italy, on June 25, 1850, including Elder Lorenzo Snow, who would become the fifth president of the Church. Over the next three years, 221 people were baptized and organized into three branches. But most proselytizing in Italy stopped in the early 1860s in the face of local opposition and because of a request from Church leaders for Italian members to immigrate to Utah. An attempt to reopen missionary work in Italy in 1900 was refused by the government.

The Church was finally reestablished in Italy in 1951, following the conversion of Vincenzo di Francesca, who happened to find a burned copy of the Book of Mormon with a missing cover and title page. Italians who had joined the Church in other countries began to return to Italy during this period. They attended Church with LDS serviceman stationed in Italy in various branches. By the end of 1964, Church records showed 229 members in Italy. That same year, Elder Ezra Taft Benson, an apostle who would become the 13th president of the Church, petitioned the government for permission to resume missionary work. Permission was granted, and missionaries began to proselyte on January 27, 1965. By 1978, membership has grown to over 7,000 and increased to 14,000 by 1990. Today there are over 22,600 members organized into 6 stakes and 7 districts. (8)

Although missionary work had been allowed in Italy since 1964, the Church began in 2000 the lengthy process of seeking a concordat with the government that would grant it state-sponsored status. This status was granted to the Roman Catholic Church in a concordat signed by Mussolini—a relationship that was perpetuated into Italy's post-fascist constitution. Since 1984, however, the Catholic Church has had to share this level of government recognition with other religions operating in Italy. Approved churches become concordates, which receive tax funds and other rights from the government similar to those received by the Catholic Church. (9)

At a London fireside, Elder Kenneth Johnson of the First Quorum of the Seventy related events that have contributed to the Italian government's official recognition of the Church. In October 2006, he accompanied other high-ranking Church leaders, including Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, to a meeting in Rome to make a case for the Church to the government. President Uchtdorf noted the Church's longtime presence and reputation in Italy, but the presiding government official seemed unmoved. Instead, he related that he had traveled—without announcement—to Salt Lake City in preparation for the meeting. Two Italian sister missionaries had served as his guides on Temple Square. He noted the deep impression left on him by these two Italian citizens, and then inquired when the Church might build a temple in Rome. Once these papers are signed, Elder Uchtdorf replied. The officer signed. In April 2007, Prime Minister Prodi gave his signature, and then it proceeded to Parliament. (10)

With legal recognition still stalled in Parliament in late 2009, the Church took the step of hiring a Washington, D.C., lobbyist to help push through the approval. A. Elizabeth Jones, a former high-level State Department employee and ambassador to Kazakhstan, who is now an executive vice president at APCO Worldwide, is lobbying the U.S. embassy in Italy to support the Church's application. The intesa—an Italian term referring to an "understanding" with the government—would carry certain privileges including facilitating the authorization of bishops to perform civilly recognized marriages and making the renewal of visas for missionaries easier. (11)



1. President and Sister Pacini, "Special Fast December 6, 2009," Facebook 3 Dec. 2009, 7 Dec. 2009
2. President and Sister Pacini, "Fast for Temple," Facebook 28 Aug. 2009, 29 Oct. 2009
3. Karen & Will, Online Posting, e' Felice Italian 28 Feb. 2009, 29 Oct. 2009
4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, "New Temple Site Locations Announced," 7 Oct. 2008
5. "Rome Italy Temple News," Online posting, 9 Nov. 2008
6. Massimo De Feo, "Massimo De Feo—Stake President in Rome, Italy," Mormon Channel: Into All the World 29 Apr. 2009, 13 Jun. 2009
7. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, "Church Continues Temple Building Throughout the World," 4 Oct. 2008
8. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, "First Temple Announced in Rome," 4 Oct. 2008
9. Peggy Fletcher Stack, "LDS Church Wants to Be Official in Italy," The Salt Lake Tribune 9 Sept. 2000: A1
10. John F., "Two LDS Senators in London," Online posting, 21 May 2007, 6 Oct. 2008
11. Carrie Levine, "For Italian Job, Mormons Ask a D.C. Insider for Help," The National Law Journal 6 Oct. 2009, 29 Oct. 2009

(Story Update!!!)

Jane Parker, who is the late Elder Wirthlin's daughter, told us the following story today in Relief Society. She went to a talk by a lawyer for the European Area (each area of the Church has a legal department.) The talk was about the ability to have a temple built in Rome, Italy.

He stated that they knew they needed to have contact with the cardinals of the Catholic Church to see if they would approve or go along with our desire to have a temple built there. He heard of a reception at which the cardinals would be present, and the legal department for the church was also invited. He approached one cardinal
and talked to him about the issue.

The cardinal said, "We will support you in any effort you want because of your support of Proposition 8 in California."

Jane's comment was that she doesn't think the Church people in California who worked so long and so hard on getting that proposition passed and many even suffered persecution probably know that they were the instruments in getting a temple built in Rome, Italy.

Please allow me to add a little more to this inspiring story. (Joseph I. Bentley)

The lawyer mentioned was John Zackrison -- a friend of mine who told LDS attorneys attending our Annual JRCLS Leadership Conf. about this last month. John told us that the Church has owned this temple site for several years. But it was close enough to the Vatican that in order to build a temple there, it required consents from both the Mayor of Rome and the Pope.

At the reception John met the one Cardinal who was charged with approving the temple on behalf of the Pope. The cardinal arranged a followup meeting and John invited the European Area President to attend. He could not attend, but sent his counselor. At the meeting the cardinal soon discovered that both he and the counselor spoke French.
Then they discovered that both of them were from the same city(Bordeaux). And, then, they learned that both had gone to the same school!

Who can deny the Lord's hand in all of this?

Joseph I. Bentley, Director
Orange County Public Affairs

Hold On A Little Longer

For the actual article, visit
http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,2043-1-5024-1,00.html

One of the enduring lessons of the Kirtland period is that our spirits need constant nourishment. We need to stay close to the Lord every day if we are to survive the adversity that we all must face.

Last summer my wife and I took our twin grandsons to Kirtland, Ohio. It was a special and precious opportunity for us to spend time with them before they left on their missions.

During our visit there, we learned to better understand the circumstances of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Saints who lived in Kirtland. That era of Church history is known as a time of severe trials but also supreme blessings.

In Kirtland the Lord bestowed some of the most remarkable heavenly manifestations and spiritual gifts this world has ever experienced. Sixty-five sections of the Doctrine and Covenants were received in Kirtland and surrounding areas—revelations that brought new light and knowledge about topics such as the Second Coming, caring for the needy, the plan of salvation, priesthood authority, the Word of Wisdom, tithing, the temple, and the law of consecration.1

It was a period of unparalleled spiritual growth. Indeed, the Spirit of God like a fire was burning. Moses, Elijah, and many other heavenly beings appeared during this time, including our Heavenly Father and His Son, the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.2

One of the many revelations Joseph received in Kirtland was a revelation he called the "olive leaf . . . plucked from the Tree of Paradise, and the Lord's message of peace to us" (introduction to D&C 88). This remarkable revelation includes the sublime invitation, "Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me" (D&C 88:63). As the Saints of Kirtland drew near unto the Lord, He truly did draw near unto them, pouring out the blessings of heaven upon the heads of the faithful.


A Spiritual Outpouring

Perhaps the culmination of these spiritual manifestations occurred during the dedication of the Kirtland Temple on March 27, 1836. One of those present was 28-year-old William Draper, who described the day as a "day of Pentecost." He wrote: "There was such a time of the outpouring of the Spirit of the Lord, that my pen is inadequate to write it in full or my tongue to express it. But I will here say that the Spirit was poured out and came like a mighty rushing wind and filled the house, that many that were present spoke in tongues and had visions and saw angels and prophesied, and had a general time of rejoicing such as had not been known in this generation."3

These spiritual manifestations were not limited only to those inside the temple, for "the people of the neighborhood came running together (hearing an unusual sound within, and seeing a bright light like a pillar of fire resting upon the Temple), and were astonished at what was taking place."4

Lorenzo Snow (1814–1901), later to be President of the Church, was living in Kirtland during this blessed period. He observed, "One would have imagined that after receiving these wonderful manifestations no temptation could have overthrown the Saints."5

But, of course, great spiritual experiences do not make us exempt from opposition and trials. Just a few months after the temple dedication, a widespread economic crisis shook the United States, and Kirtland felt the effects deeply. Banks failed, leaving many in difficult financial straits. To make matters worse, many of the Saints who were immigrating to Kirtland came with very few material possessions, not knowing what they would do once they arrived or how they would survive.

Before long, persecutions arose and mobs formed against the Saints. Members of the Church—even some of those closest to the Prophet, many of whom were present at the dedication of the temple—apostatized and condemned Joseph as a fallen prophet.

As I walked near the Kirtland Temple with my wife and grandsons, I pondered how tragic it was that some could not remain faithful even after the spiritual manifestations they had witnessed. How sorrowful it was that they could not endure the ridicule and criticism of disbelievers. How sad that, when faced with financial trial or other struggles, they could not have reached inside themselves and found the strength to remain faithful. How unfortunate it was that they somehow lost sight of the miraculous spiritual harvest at the dedication of the temple.


The Lessons

What can we learn from this remarkable era in the history of the Church?

One of the great, enduring lessons of the Kirtland period is that our spirits need constant nourishment. As President Harold B. Lee (1899–1973) taught: "Testimony isn't something that you have today and you keep always. Testimony is either going to grow and grow to the brightness of certainty, or it is going to diminish to nothingness, depending upon what we do about it. I say, the testimony that we recapture day by day is the thing that saves us from the pitfalls of the adversary."6 We need to stay close to the Lord every day if we are to survive the adversity that we all must face.

In some ways our world today is similar to Kirtland of the 1830s. We too live in times of financial distress. There are those who persecute and rail against the Church and its members. Individual and collective trials may sometimes seem overwhelming.

That is when we need, more than ever, to draw near unto the Lord. As we do, we will come to know what it means to have the Lord draw near unto us. As we seek Him ever more diligently, we will surely find Him. We will see clearly that the Lord does not abandon His Church or His faithful Saints. Our eyes will be opened, and we will see Him open the windows of heaven and shower us with more of His light. We will find the spiritual strength to survive even during the darkest night.

Although some of the Saints in Kirtland lost sight of the spiritual experiences they had, most did not. The majority, including William Draper, held fast to the spiritual knowledge God had given them and continued to follow the Prophet. Along the way they experienced more bitter trials but also more sweet spiritual growth until, ultimately, those who endured to the end were "received into . . . a state of never-ending happiness" (Mosiah 2:41).


You Can Hold On

If ever you are tempted to become discouraged or to lose faith, remember those faithful Saints who remained true in Kirtland. Hold on a little longer. You can do this! You are part of a special generation. You were prepared and preserved to live at this important time in the existence of our beautiful planet earth. You have a celestial pedigree and therefore have all the necessary talents to make your life an eternal success story.

The Lord has blessed you with a testimony of the truth. You have felt His influence and witnessed His power. And if you continue to seek Him, He will continue to grant you sacred experiences. With these and other spiritual gifts, you will be able not only to change your own life for the better but also to bless your homes, wards or branches, communities, cities, states, and nations with your goodness.

It may be hard to see that at times, but hold on a little longer, for "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" and wait for Him (1 Corinthians 2:9; see also D&C 76:10; 133:45).

I bear witness of the truth of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and the truth of this, His Church. I testify with all my heart and soul that God lives, that Jesus Christ is His Son and stands at the head of this great Church. We have a prophet on the earth again, even President Thomas S. Monson.

May we ever remember the lesson of Kirtland and hold on a little longer—even when things look bleak. Know and remember this: the Lord loves you. He remembers you. And He will ever sustain those who "endure in faith to the end" (D&C 20:25).


Notes
1. See, for example, sections 45; 56; 76; 84; 89; 97; and 104.
2. See D&C 76:23; 110:2–4, 11–13.
3. William Draper, "A Biographical Sketch of the Life and Travels and Birth and Parentage of William Draper" (1881), typescript, Church History Library, 2; spelling and capitalization standardized.
4. History of the Church, 2:428.
5. Lorenzo Snow, "Discourse," Deseret Weekly News, June 8, 1889, 26.
6. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee (2000), 43.


Ideas for Teaching from This Message

After prayerfully studying this message, consider the needs of those you teach, and choose points or passages from the message that you feel will be most useful to them. The Holy Ghost can help you prepare and teach the message (see D&C 42:14; 43:15–16). In addition to sharing your own testimony, you may feel impressed to ask the people you teach to share experiences or testimonies if they wish. (For other teaching ideas, see Teaching, No Greater Call.)


Youth: Strengthening Your Testimony

Take this self-evaluation quiz to help you think about how you are doing in strengthening your testimony:

Do I desire to believe?
Do I fast and pray for a stronger testimony?
Do I read and ponder the scriptures each day?
Do I try to keep the commandments each day?
Do I try to follow promptings from the Holy Ghost?
Do I bear my testimony when prompted to do so?

Children: Drawing Near to the Lord

In Kirtland, Ohio, the Prophet Joseph Smith received a revelation. The Lord told him, "Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me" (D&C 88:63). One way we can draw near to the Lord is by following His prophet.

Match each picture below with the things President Thomas S. Monson has asked us to do.

Pray
Be kind
Work hard to learn
Help others
Share your testimony
Read the scriptures

As we seek the Lord ever more diligently, we will surely find Him. Our eyes will be opened, and we will see Him open the windows of heaven and shower us with more of His light.

Satan, the father of All Lies!

You you to suggest that Satan hath caught us into the Mormon church, how is it that every effort devised by man is trying to get people away from this? Think again!
Do you even remember that there is a Devil? His name only comes up when the enemies of God fight against his church! A father of all lies and a deceiver? Would he then sooner do this towards someone of the other churches? I say unto you, Nay! He would not see the need to! There are only two churches and two churches only.
The church of God and the Church of the Devil.

Do ye not know there is a war going on? Is it possible that ye have forgotten the foe in which we fight? For he would suggest that no man should do good; no not one. And if that be him keeping ANYONE from receiving exaltation, then he has succeeded in keeping ONE soul from arriving there. He is bound to fall and if ye are near the cliff even the slightest, he will reach out with his whip and do all that he can to drag you down there with him... for misery loves company! (Moro. 7: 17, 30)

He does not sleep. He does not eat. He has ALL time on his hands to enact his hatred upon the family of Adam! For people to think that Satan waits idly by for people to wander onto his turf, you are SORELY mistaken! He desires that ALL men might be miserable like unto himself! He seeks out the weak just as he does the strong. He is SO subtle about it that it doesn't even seem like he takes any interest in you at all!

Ye have probably heard:

God votes for us.
Satan votes against us.
Each of us has to make the "split decision" vote.

He waits. He is patient.
A lie here... a lie there.
A half truth here... a half truth there.

We as members of the LDS church have had enough of what some Christians consider as "dignified action against the LDS" church. I have made a video that I wish to proclaim to all "You Tube" or "BLOGGER" members and invite all to JOIN us and fight against the "father of all lies" and expose Satan who who he is! It is my humble prayer that you watch this video and get enangered against the deceiver for permitting what used to be a god fearing nation to fall into anger one towards another. God is the father of contention. Consider the words of the great King Benjamin of the Book of Mormon when he reads:


And ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin, or who is the devil spirit which hath been spoken of by our fathers, he being an enemy to all righteousness. Mosiah 4: 14


Moroni also suggests:

But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him. Moroni Chapter 7:17


Remember, this is WAR. Satan has declared war against men and winning recruits at an alarming rate! We must encourage our christian bretheren to stand as witnesses of Christ, and aim their weapons away from us and against the Enemy of All righteousness. Then I hoist my " Title of Liberty" high in the air here on blogger as my "You Tube Video"... that we do this so that not ONE more innocent child of God may wander into the "YouTube" page of the wicked and let this man or woman cheat them out of their chance to know the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! One is WAY too many! It is my prayer that we help as many of our brothers and sisters from out of their hands and help them "Come Unto Christ" unto true repentance on his name that they may enjoy ALL the blessings of Salvation which has been made available to us through the revelation of the "everlasting covenant of marriage" as revealed to us by the Prophet Joseph Smith.

We are fighting for our spiritual lives and that of our bretheren. No longer will I stand idly by and watch Satan capture another soul due to Pornography and other lascivious behavior and allow our Christian bretheren to prime their GUNS and FIRE AT US ANYMORE! They are no friend to Christ if their behavior is to slow the plow!
They do not even know that Satan is behind their rebellion! The greatest generals of all times that actually belonged to the enemy were most cunning at being able to convince his troops that he is not the devil deserving of the attack. This is why SO many soldiers followed Hitler in Nazi Germany. He was SO skilled as a speaker and so confident as a ruler, none of his followers dared to go against him, save a few only.
He was crafty... subtle... at first, he played the friend. When the time was right, he did strike his neighboring countries. The Devil works after the same manner.

This is a CALL TO ACTION!

WE must purge Satan from our borders... he is the REAL enemy from within and we must aim our influence towards him even unto "destroy him form our midsts" never allowing him to have power over our hearts again! Let us be like unto Captain Moroni, where it is written,

Alma 48:17: "Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men."

Be ye men and women like unto Moroni that the gates of hell would be shut forever! That no man or woman would entertain the thought of committing sin or any other behavior contrary to the commandments of God!

Today, I declare war against Satan and all those who would be subject unto him.
I will not let another light of the an Innocent man or woman be diminished by the cunning craftiness of man! I can not fight this battle alone! I raise the "title of liberty before you" and encourage you to share this video of which I have prepared.

Watch this... ponder it... and then become enlisted as Christian Soldiers and take up your arms unto battle against the Evil one! We are fighting for our lives... for our friends... and our families.

Let us remember that "the worth of souls is great in the sight of God!"

We must flood this internet with our Goodness, with our prayers and with our love towards them... let us NOT allow ONE MORE child of GOD be brought down to HELL by the evil one or by those who claim to be helping them by dissuading them from learning about the TRUE GOSPEL!

If SATAN did not want members of the LDS church to leave it, then it wouldn't matter to him. It would be a mute point. He'd just sooner let you wander about each faith including the LDS church yet many FIGHT so hard to keep you from its doors. There are many enemies within the church who also cause damage to new member converts as unwitting participants. We all make mistakes but NO mistake about this.

Satan would take little interest in you if you were to move from one church to another just as ONE church from another usually do not quarrel over its membership changes. They get an influx of members month after month, year after year. We do not see many "workshops" set up to destroy the evangelical faith if one is now a Lutheran. It just doesn't happen. Satan doesn't care.

He now does whatever he wants to at his own will and pleasure because he cares not.
He cares not if a man begins a drinking habit, quits going to church or returns to church... but then again he may. It is entirely up to his "own will and pleasure." seeing that a man belongs to ANY church other than the church which CHRIST had prepared for he is jealous of Jehovah forever. He is also angry with all its members or those who belong to the LDS church.

So do the math.

How many times more do churches pick fights with the LDS church? Numerous!
How many anti- Church of Jesus Christ organizations are there? Numerous!

How many anti-catholic LDS groups does the church sponsor? 0 How about protestants? 0
What about its members? Possibly. People are not perfect... but the Lord's church and his gospel is!

Is Satan worried about the apostate? They are usually full of spit fire and vinegar and would make excellent priests unto the most high God. Satan knows our potential for he was with us. He uses our stubborn behavior and our zeal to do what we think is right in his favor. He doesn't even have to work very hard. Once he's put the apostate on his path, he performs MUCH better for him than Satan could EVER do on his own. He is not even worried about the missionaries or the bishop anymore. He has this man hook, line and sinker. He no longer needs much but a simple reminder here and there... whispered into his ear, and Satan says,
"You know, you're right about no horses being among the Indians before columbus!"

And it sparks the fire once more that might have been distinguished.

I once heard a non Mormon say this:

A block a Mormon a day (on youtube) keeps Satan away...

I have to say that they are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!
Satan might get worried for a moment that perhaps myself or any other well meaning latter-day saint happen to come across his page and make a friendship invite.

"The thought comes to his mind: I need to block this Mormon and show him that I can't be convinced! I'll hollar at him and call him a heretic! That'll show him."
Satan then sees that this man or woman has the situation well in hand on their own. They didn't even NEED Satan's help... thus, it keeps him away.

I have something to say to you Apostates! You are hypocrites and liars! You have been deceived by the evil one and he wraps your hands with a flaxen chord and tells you they are bracelets of power! He tells you that he will help loose your tongue and he does this so that you can speak against God and his church! Cursed are ye!
Thou children of HELL! Would would steal the glimmer from the eye of the hopeful. You would lie unto the innocent to keep them from the truth!

Ye are DAMNED for fighting against GOD and forever will be unless you yield to the promptings of the Holy Ghost unto repentance! God gives me authority that I should speak! If ye do not repent and forsake to fight against GOD and his church, you will have no part in the 1st resurrection which is prepared for the righteous! You will confess before the judgment bar that ye were deceived but it shall be forever too late! For a time has been provided unto man that he may repent. If ye waste your days of your probation in the constant struggle against God and his servants, it will not be well with you!

If ye continue to fight against God, then this is an everlasting farewell for my words, along with the words of ALL the holy prophets will condemn you on the last day! God will show you with power and great Glory that the Book of Mormon was prepared for you unto your salvation and that he might not have seen you be beguiled by the serpent unto your destruction but this is and ever has been your decision all along!

Are you with me? If ye are with me, then point your weapons away from the church that is leading the charge against Satan! Cease striving to destroy the church of Jesus Christ and assist us in our ridding Satan ONCE and for all from our very lives!
If ye be with me against our common enemy, then join with me against Satan! It is my prayer that we save as many souls that we can before the war is over so that we may be cleansed from the blood and sins of this generation!

"They that are with them are greater than they that are with us!"
May angels continue to be your support and also may God give you strength to withstand the evil one in the day of your trials before him!

And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty ctorm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall. (Helaman 5:12)

"Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;"
D&C 18: 10


This I pray, in the Name of Jesus Christ... our Captain... Our General.

Amen!





This was the Anthem Version sung by David Cook; Adapted to me:
Words to the Song "Declaration" as I interpret the song to mean to myself:

God's words to me:

I'll take you just the way you are
imperfect words inside the perfect song
I feel you closer than you are
and I've been waiting far too long,
too long
My declaration to the World!
It's my declaration
to anyone whose listening
You're my inspiration
as I stand alone against the world
cause you love,
and you bleed,
and you stole my soul to set me free
It's my declaration

My words to the WORLD!
Do you care what I believe
('cause I'm still breathing)
or that I wear a heart upon my sleeve
sometimes I think you never knew
the only truth I see is-you
It's you

It's my declaration
to anyone whose listening
You're my inspiration
as I stand alone against the world
cause you love,
and you bleed,
and you stole my soul to set me free
It's my declaration

and are there any words to say
that I would ever mean enough
when the light runs from the day
Will the darkness be too much?
Will I ever be enough?

It's my declaration
to anyone whose listening
You're my inspiration
as I stand alone against the world
cause you love,
and you bleed,
and you stole my soul to set me free

It's my declaration
so tell me you can hear these words tonight
It's my declaration!

Official Version: English, with Enya music:



Versions in Spanish:

Version 1, Con el Canto, "Declaration" cantado por "David Cook"



Las palabras de Dios a mí:

Te llevaré a la forma en que está
incluso con palabras imperfectas dentro de la canción perfecta
Me siento más cerca que tú
y he estado esperando demasiado tiempo,

(Mis palabras en el mundo)
Es mi declaración
a cualquiera que esté escuchando
Dios es mi fuente de inspiración
mientras yo me quedo solo contra el mundo
causa que usted ama, y que sangren,
y se robó mi alma para liberar a mi
Es mi declaración

Mis palabras al mundo!
¿Te importa lo que yo creo
(porque todavía estoy vivo todavía)
o que comparto estas cosas libremente
Creo que usted no sabe
la única verdad que veo es que sé que Dios


Es mi declaración
a cualquiera que esté escuchando
Dios es mi fuente de inspiración
mientras yo me quedo solo contra el mundo
causa que usted ama, y que sangren,
y se robó mi alma para liberar a mi
Es mi declaración
y ¿Hay alguna palabra que decir
que yo iba decir lo suficiente
cuando la luz se extiende desde el día
¿La oscuridad ser demasiado?
¿Volveré a ser suficiente?

Es mi declaración
a cualquier persona cuya audición
Eres mi inspiración
como que estoy solo contra el mundo
causa que usted ama,
y sangrar,
y se robó mi alma al para liberar de mi mismo

Es mi declaración para decirme que se puede escuchar estas palabras de esta noche, porque es mi DECLARACIÓN

La Segunda Version con Exitos de ENYA, Cancion de "Paint the Sky With Stars"

Who are your heroes?

Be sure to vote on my poll. Vote only once though!

Kudos!

Josh Nelson