In times of tragedy

I

I hadn't planned to blog today, but, given what happened in Newtown, CT early today, I felt I had an obligation to write something that would offer some degree of comfort. I too am hurting, as it hit close to home for my family and I. You see, in May 1968, my 18 month-old sister when her daycare center was destroyed by a natural gas explosion. Because of that I can truly say that I understand the disbelief, pain, and loss they are experiencing tonight. The good news is that there is someone who can relieve that pain . . . our loving Heavenly Father!

 

In a March 2009 address to the Church, First Counselor Henry B. Eyring stated "With all of the differences in our lives, we have at least one challenge in common. We must all deal with adversity." He went on to explain that there may be periods - sometimes lengthy ones - when our lives seem to flow along with little or no difficulty. But, because we're all human, this comfort gives away to distress, periods of good health come to an end, and misfortune arrives. When this distress arrives on the scene - especially if it involves the death of a loved one such as a spouse, child, or parent - it can cause fear or even anger.

 

The best answer I can give for those feeling that tonight is found in the Serenity Prayer:

 



God grant me the serenity

to accept the things that I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

 

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world

as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting He will make all things right

if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life;

and supremely happy with Him

Forever in the next.

 

Amen

 





 

 

Praying to our Heavenly Father (Part II)

How should we pray?

It doesn't matter where you are, whether your prefer to stand or kneel when you pray, or whether you prefer to vocalize your prayer or pray silently you should always pray with a sincere heart. Moroni 10:4 tells us also that we should pray with real intent meaning that were are serious in what we're asking Heavenly Father for and that we're willing to abide by His answer.

 

When we pray to our Heavenly Father, we need to tell Him what we really feel in our hearts, confide in Him, seek forgiveness for our transgressions, plead with Him, thank Him, and express our love for Him. We should not repeat meaningless words and phrases such as was done by the Pharisee's and the Sadducee's (See: Matthew 6:7-8). We should always ask that His will be done keeping in mind that what we desire might not be the best thing for us (See: 2 Nephi 18:20).

 

How are our prayers answered?

Our sincere prayers are always answered. Sometimes this answer is "no" because what we're asking for is not the best thing for us. Sometimes the answer is "yes" and we experience a warm, comfortable feeling about what we should do (See: D & C 9:8-9). Sometimes the answer is "wait a while" or "not right now". Heavenly Father answers our prayers at a time and in a way that He knows will help us most.

Sometimes Heavenly Father answers our prayers using other people. This can be a good friend, a spouse, a parent or other family member, or Church leader. Here's an example: a young mother whose baby was injured in an accident at their home. She had no way of getting her injured child to the doctor. Being new in the neighborhood, she really didn't know any of her neighbors yet. The young mother stopped and prayed for help. Within moments, one of her neighbors came to the door and said "I had a feeling I should come and see if you needed any help." The neighbor was able to help the young mother to get her baby to the doctor.

 In some instances, Heavenly Father will provide us with the power to answer our own prayers. As we pray, we should do all that we can to bring about those thing we desire.

 

 

. “Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers”

Praying to our Heavenly Father (Part I)

Why do we pray

Have you ever stopped to contemplate the question "why do we pray"? Simply put, prayer has been an intergral part of the Gospel since the beginning of time. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, where commanded by an angel of the Lord to "repent and call upon God in the name of His son, Jesus Christ. (See: Moses 5:8) This Commandment has never been revoked and still applies today.

Pray for strength. If we go to the father in prayer with a broken heart and a contrite spirit (See: Ensign - A Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit) and pray for protection from "the snares of the Evil One", God will hear your prayer and answer it (See: 3 Nephi 18:15, Doctrine & Covenants 10:5).

Prayer for the Lord's guidance and help in our daily lives. It is important for us to pray for our family and friends, our neighbors, our work, and other daily activities. We should be mindful to seek protection from our enemies -- including Satan. (See: Alma 34:17-27).

 

We should express love to our Heavenly Father. This helps us, as His children, to grow closer to Him. We should give thanks to Him for our welfare and comfort and His many blessings each day. (See: 1 Thessalonians 5:18)
 

When should we pray?

 

That is the nice thing about prayer, we don't have to wait for a certain time . . . we can do it anytime we want to commune with Heavenly Father. Sometimes you might be alone when your pray where you can pour your heart out to Him (See: Matthew 6:6); other times to pray include: during a church meeting, while we're walking, or preparing a meal. We can keep Heavenly Father in our thoughts at all times (See: Alma 34:27) 

 

There are times when we might not feel like praying. If we are angry, discouraged, or upset, these are the times we should make a special effort to pray. (See: 2 Nephi 32:8-9)

 

We should pray in private at least twice a day. The Scriptures tell us to pray morning, mid-day, and evening. (See:  Alma 34:2)

 

We should pray with our family.  In doing this, our families also receive Heavenly Father's blessing. (See: 3 Nephi 18:2)

 

To be continued . . .

 

I say these things in Jesus Christ' name, Amen!

 

 

 

The story of Joseph Smith -- Part II-B (Sacred Grove)

(Note: text in red are the words of Christ.)

As I stated in Part A of this blog, Joseph searched the Holy Scriptures for an answer on which church he should join. His answer was found in the book of James (See: The Book of James). So, forthwith, he retired to the grove near his home. Said he: "So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful , clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty (1820). It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties, I had never yet made the attempt to pray vocally."

Joseph, after finding that he was alone, knelt down and began his prayer. Soon, thereafter, he was overcome by a power that came over him. Explains he: "I was seized upon by some power which overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak." At the same time he felt this great alarm, he saw a pillar of light directly over his head that was brighter than the sun. The light continued to descend gradually until it fell upon him.

According to the Joseph Smith History (See: Joseph Smith History) no sooner had it (the pillar of light) appeared than Joseph found himself delivered from the power which, moments earlier, had taken control of him. As the settled upon him, he saw two Personages standing above him. One of them spake on to him, calling him by name, and said "This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!"

Remembering his original purpose for coming to the grove, Joseph asked of the Personages which of all the sects was right and which he should join. He was answered that he should join none of them. Joseph explained: "the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt." Explained the Personage: "They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof." Joseph said the Personage again forbade him to align himself with any of them.

I say these things in Jesus Christ name, Amen

The story of Joseph Smith -- Part II-A (The First Vision)

(Note: text in red are the words of Christ)

Recalling his early training, Joseph stated "I was born . . . of goodly parents who spared no pains to instruct me in the Christian religion." But, like many other Christians, his parents recognized that some of the gospel principles taught by Jesus and His Apostles was absent from contemporary churches of their day. In Joseph's hometown of Palmyra, New York, several different denominations were attempting to win over converts. During this same time, Joseph's mother, two of his brothers, and his oldest sister had joined the Presbyterian church. Joseph, along with his dad and brother Alvin, held back and did not join a church at that time. This was due to the fact that Joseph, although young, had a deep concern about his own standing before God and about the confusion among the various denominations.

According to the Joseph Smith History (See: Chapter 1:5; 7-13; See also: Who are Mormons?) "There was in the place where we lived an unusual excitement on the subject of religion. It commenced with the Methodists, but soon became general among all the sects in that region of the country. Indeed, the whole district of country seemed affected by it, and great multitudes united themselves to the different religious parties which created no small stir and division amongst the people, some crying 'Lo here!' and others, 'Lo there!'. Some were contending for the Methodist faith, some for the Presbyterian, and some for the Baptist . . ."  He continued: "While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: 'If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally; and upbraideth not; and it shall be given to him' (See: James 1:5)

Explains Brother Smith: "Never did any passage of Scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teacher of religions of the different sects understood the same passages of Scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible." He added: "At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to 'ask of God," concluding that if He gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not uphold, I might venture."

To be continued . . .

I say these things in Jesus Christ name, Amen

The story of Joseph Smith -- Part I (Early years)

Joseph Smith, Jr.

"The Lord does reveal himself to me. I know it. He revealed himself first to me when I was about fourteen years old, a mere boy . . . . I kneeled down, and prayed, saying, 'O Lord, what Church shall I join?' Directly I saw a light, and then a glorious Personage in the light, and then another personage, and the first personage said [of] the second, "Behold this is my beloved Son, hear him."

-- Joseph Smith, Jr.

Who was Joseph Smith, Jr.? He was a sixth-generation American, his ancestors having emigrated from England to America in the 1600s. They typified the characteristics often associated with early generations of Americans: 1) They believed in God's directive care over them; 2) They had a strong work ethic; and 3) They diligently served their families and their country.

His parents - Joseph Smith, Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith - married in 1796 in Tunbridge, Vermont. The Smith's were a hard-working and God-fearing couple who and began their life together under favorable financial conditions. Soon, however, the elder Smith lost his first farming homestead and the family suffered a number of financial reverses over subsequent years. .As a result, they were forced to move several times as their father attempted to make a living.

Joseph was born on December 23, 1805 in Sharon Vermont and was the fifth of eleven children. He was named after his father. His brothers and sisters were: an unnamed son (who died shortly after birth), Alvin, Hyrum, Sophronia, Joseph, Samuel, Ephraim (who lived less than two weeks), William, Katharine, Don Carlos, and Lucy.

Evidence of Brother Joseph's extraordinary character emerged early in his life. While his family was living in West Lebanon, New Hampshire, typhoid fever (Wikipedia article - typhoid fever) attacked many in the community -- including all of the Smith children. While his siblings recovered without any complications, Joseph developed a serious, secondary infection in his left leg. Dr. Nathan Smith, in nearby Hanover, New Hampshire, agreed to perform a new surgical procedure in an effort to save Joseph's leg. Not wishing for his mother to witness his suffering, he asked his mother to leave the room prior to the start of the procedure. Relying only on his father's reassuring embrace, he endured as the surgeons first bored and then chipped into the affected bone in an attempt to save it. Despite having to walk with crutches for the next several years, the surgery was a success.

Besieged by repeated crop failures, in 1816, the Smith family moved from Norwich, Vermont to Palmyra, New York having to find a more prosperous situation. Explained Joseph: "Being in indigent circumstances, we were obliged to labor hard for the support of a large family . . .and as it required the exertions of all that were able to render any assistance for the support of the family, therefore we were deprived of the benefit of education. Suffice it to say, I was merely instructed in reading, writing, and the ground rules of arithmetic."

I say these things in Jesus name, Amen

Protecting our children from a modern day plague

Before you read any further, take a moment and look at the image that I chose to accompany this blog. These children look so sweet and innocent, yet they face a modern day plague -- pornography. According to the Internet Safety 101 website (Internet Safety 101), on average American children begin consuming hardcore pornography by the age of eleven. I don't know about you, but that scares me! The question is how can we keep our children safe?

Explains Apostle M. Russell Ballard:

“As our children grow, they need information taught by parents more directly and plainly about what is and is not appropriate. Parents need to teach children to avoid any pornographic photographs or stories. Children and youth need to know from parents that pornography of any kind is a tool of the devil; and if anyone flirts with it, it has the power to addict, dull, and even destroy the human spirit. They need to be taught not to use vulgar language and never to use the Lord’s name in vain. Crude jokes overheard should never be repeated. Teach family members not to listen to music that celebrates the sensual. Talk to them plainly about sex and the teaching of the gospel regarding chastity. Let this information come from parents in the home in an appropriate way. All family members need to know the rules and be fortified spiritually so they can keep them. And when mistakes are made, the wondrous Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ must be understood and accepted so that through the complete and sometimes difficult process of repentance, forgiveness and continued hope for the future can be obtained. We must never give up our individual and family quest for eternal life.”

The question is, how can we keep them safe? From an article on the Church's website, Combatting Pornography.org, LDS Family Services offers the following suggestions:

Limit the amount of time your children watch media - Parents and other responsible adults - such as grandparents, aunts, and uncles - need to set limits on the amount of time spent by children watching television, playing video games, or surfing the Internet each day. It is our responsibility to make certain that virtual reality doesn't become their literal reality.

Parents need to spend quality time with their children - Parents need to spend adequate quality time with their children. This insures that they (parents) remain the primary influence in their lives and they are being lead down the wrong path -- either by the media or as the result of peer pressure.

Utilize Internet parental filters - Most newer television sets come equipped with parental control that allow you to control what television shows / stations your children can have access to. Likewise, most Internet browser software also comes equipped with parental controls that allow you to prevent your children from "stumbling upon" sites they should not see.

Hold family councils - Utilize family councils to decide what your family's media standards are going to be.

Take time to watch appropriate media together - Parents - and other responsible adults - need to make time to watch appropriate media with their children. By doing this, we can teach them how to make decisions that will uplift and build rather than degrade and destroy. (See: Let our voices be heard, Ensign, November 2003, Pages 18-19)

Do not place television sets or computers in private areas - By placing television sets or computers is frequently used rooms of the home, we can combat the temptation that might otherwise take place if they were in a more private area such as a bedroom.

Make good media choices - As parents - and adults overall - we need to make good choices as far as the media that we watch, listen to, or view on the Internet. This sets a good example for our children and our family.

I say these things in Jesus Christ name, Amen!

Lets talk about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

“The fundamental principles of our religion are … concerning Jesus Christ that He died was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.”

-- Joseph Smith, Jr.

If I was to write no more in this blog, you now know what members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints believe. But, I will take it further and expand on our beliefs:

Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and the Son of our loving Heavenly Father

We believe that Heavenly Father sent His son, Jesus Christ, to be the Savior of the world (See: John 3:16).Additionally, we believe that God is a loving Heavenly Father who knows His children individually, hears and answers their prayers, and feels compassion towards them. We believe that Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, are two separate beings, but along with the Holy Ghost (Spirit) are one in will, purpose, and love.

We worship Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer and is central in our lives. We accept His grace and mercy and seek to follow His example by being baptized (See: Matthew 3:13-17), praying in His holy name (See: Matthew 6:9-13), partaking of the sacrament (communion) (See: Luke 22:19-20), doing good to others (See: Acts 10:38), and bearing witness to Him through both word and deed (See: James 2:26)

Christ Atonement allows mankind to be saved from their sins and return to live with God and their families forever

We believe that God has a plan for His children to return to live with Him and become "joint-heirs with Christ" (See: Romans 8:17). We believe that Jesus Christ's sacrifice is central to God's plan for our happiness. We view this mortal life as an opportunity to progress and learn -- a probationary period, if you will. We believe that by following His teachings, embracing His mercy, and accepting baptism (as well as other sacraments) that we are cleansed from our sins through Christ's grace and can return to live with Heavenly Father and our families forever.

Christ's original church as described in the New Testament has been restored in modern times

We believe that Christ established His church anciently on the "foundation of apostles and prophets (See: Ephesians 2:20, 4:11-14) with "one faith [and] one baptism" (See: Ephesians 4:5). We believe that the foundation of "one faith" was gradually undermined after the death of Christ's apostles. As a result, the original foundation of authority to lead the church was lost and needs be restored (See: Acts 3:21). Today we preach that the Lord has restored His church with living apostles and prophets, the first of these being Joseph Smith, Jr.

I say these things in Jesus Christ name, Amen.