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!

God's Patience, Timing and Understanding is King!

I heard a quote recently and have to agree with it 100% because it's true, of which I testify! For God answers prayers and his answers are always YES to me but he says YES in many ways. Yes, as in "not right now but soon." or "I have something better planned for you." but for every good thing we desire of him, his answer is NEVER NO... but always yes. Just best if done within the parameters he has set for us and that we too should be patient. "Do not confuse God's patience by their absence. His timing is perfect, and his presence is constant. He is always with you!" A companion verse of scripture could also be this... "Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be afraid of them, for the LORD your God goes with you, not leave you nor forsake you." Deut 31:6 What else needs saying?

My Children's Book is now an eBook - RTYEP in "The Last Eagle To Fly." $3.99

http://tinyurl.com/oadpggx - Thank you, #Authorhouse! http://tinyurl.com/oadpggx

Ralph, The Young Eagle Prince in The Last Eagle to Fly, By J.R. Nelson / Illustrated by Jared Johnson

BOOK REVIEWS:

"What a phenominal book to teach our children and grandchildren the laws of life. The story of Ralph is inspiring and we should all want to have our families read this series of books in our homes.We believe that these books will be read to children around the world for years to come. This is an absolute home run!"

Reid and Yvonne Nelson

"As parents to 11 children, we have read many books to young people. One of the joys of a parent is being able to read a book to a child. The "Ralph" series may just be the next book that America falls in love with. J.R. Nelson might be the next Dr. Seuse."

Dave and Valerie Johnson "Business owners"

"Kids love the idea of flying. They have this inner universe, exploring all possibilities in their mind. To them flying is as much reality as is swimming, just that you do that in the air."

Lydia Proschinger, Success Coach www.myspace.com/JaneInSerendipity

"It is about time that a childrens book with subject matter as important as this is presented to children and their parents. It is an easy read that also teaches children some very profound vocabulary words and their deep meanings. A highly recommended book for young developing minds." GerryRobert.com http://theldslife.blogspot.com/2013/07/my-childrens-book-is-now-ebook-rtyep-in.html

Open debate Between "AreZee Isme" vs "TheLdsLife"

YouTuber "AreZee Isme" writes:

Date:07/19/13 Message:

I understand your position. What you fail to realize is that Christians have made a covenant with Christ to make disciples of all men. To fail to spread the true gospel means failing to keep their covenant. LDS are fine people. Exemplary citizens. What Christians want is for LDS to realize their beliefs are heretical. We want to see you in Heaven. Would you have us stand idly while believing you are headed to perdition? That would be more than merely "rude". Eternity is at stake. Your missionaries try to lead others into accepting the false teachings of Joseph Smith. Christians cannot stand by and let that happen without at least trying to lead you back into the fold of orthodox belief. It is out of great love and concern for you that Christians must and will continue witnessing to LDS of the true faith in Crust.

Rebuttal:

Above all, know this: that, Truth is truth even if nobody believes it. Just ask Noah and his family... but I digress.

While appreciate your concern which seems so plausible especially when one listens to the way their pastors makes us sound or perhaps what another YouTube'r has had to say about us, it should always and more directly be about to which source are we getting our information. All must walk the path of discovery however it is usually the path least traveled that makes all of the difference.

When Joseph Smith went to a grove, he asked God about which church he should join and not "how can I help you establish the true one." I know by the power of the Holy Spirit that this did happen and so can you.

Just as Samuel the boy prophet did become so, so did our modern hero just as in the days we read about from the Bible. And as the Apostle Stephen surely saw God the Father and his son, Jesus Christ in a vision so did Joseph Smith. I know this apart from any man's opinion, apart from my father's words or the words of his father before him.

While you may have been given carefully crafted sermons on "how to reach out to your Mormon brethren" be the more you spend time with actual members of the church, the more the Ed Decker's or the Shawn McCraney's of the world appear to be 1 card short of a deck of cards.

You're welcome to listen to their witness alone, which is your choice, or the witness that we LDS give to all men but between you and I, I think John's words on the matter help to illuminate any mis-understood concept that may exist between how we interpret the scriptures and how others in the remaining 20,000 different sects of Christianity choose to interpret them. (1 John 5:9)

One must not need suppose that because we LDS differ in how we interpret or understand the scriptures that ours is much less permissible than the rest of main stream Christianity.

Questions for All:<i>What think y'all of the words in 1 John?

Can we men truly become objective thinkers enough to seek a witness from God above that of all other men?

It could be the opinions of men that a man who was born blind must have sinned before coming to the earth or perhaps his parents had sinned.

Wouldn't we need a great clarifier to know the truth behind this and any other matter?

Are Mormons damned to hell, in your minds, simply because this is something you are told about us?

If you use scriptures to support yours or their ideas about us, how much greater are you than they who used the "law" or the scriptures that were available to them in their day to condemn Jesus and crucify him?

A lot of damage can be and was done anciently in the name of God, using his scriptures as a weapon. Can we agree at least on this? They TOO thought that their behavior was justified in the scripture.

God desires that we should be prudent and to thoroughly seek him out APART from the opinions and ideas of other men, I should think. Question for AreZee Isme:

How much of what others tell you has helped you form your opinion about the Mormons?