Limited Focus

We often find that lessons in Church only focus on some portions portions of the doctrines that are contained in the lesson manual. In turn it is often the case that the lives of many members also only focus on parts of the doctrine.

Here are a few examples:

• Word of Wisdom - What seems to stand out to people is we don't drink and we don't smoke. We often leave out of our lives the other parts of the code of health like how to eat properly.
  
• Sabbath - Generally we as members of the Church focus on Sunday being a day that we don't work. Some forget to not make others work and most forget that even though it is a day not to work, it is also not a day to play.
  
• Earrings - Most everyone heard President Hinckley say that if women are going to wear earrings they should only wear one in each ear. Many missed that he said if you felt the need to wear earrings that they should be modest earrings.

Lessons are to contain the basics and have limited time constraints, so not every point of doctrine is covered. Our lives should not stop with simple parts of the gospel that are easy for us to live.

Is It a Prayer, a Testimony, or a Talk?

Testimony

Elder Ronald A. Rasband - Presidency of the Seventy

Elder Rasband spoke to us in stake conference in the Browning Center at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.  He mentioned that he was instructed as a youth that I talk should have three things: a scripture, a story or experience, and a testimony.  He showed us how to do this.  He gave a scripture and a story and a testimony and closed.

It made me consider my ongoing desire to differentiate between prayers, testimonies, and talks.  Since Elder Rasband listed story/experience and testimony as two different items, one can deduce that a testimony does not contain stories or life experiences.

Elder M. Russell Ballard - Pure Testimony
My experience throughout the Church leads me to worry that too many of our members' testimonies linger on "I am thankful" and "I love," and too few are able to say with humble but sincere clarity, "I know." As a result, our meetings sometimes lack the testimony-rich, spiritual underpinnings that stir the soul and have meaningful, positive impact on the lives of all those who hear them.

Our testimony meetings need to be more centered on the Savior, the doctrines of the gospel, the blessings of the Restoration, and the teachings of the scriptures. We need to replace stories, travelogues, and lectures with pure testimonies."
...
"Again, please keep in mind that we are talking about sharing real testimony, not just speaking generally about the things we are thankful for. While it is always good to express love and gratitude, such expressions do not constitute the kind of testimony that will ignite a fire of belief in the lives of others."

Elder Jay E. Jensen - Bearing Testimony
"Using the scriptures and the words of the prophets, let us examine what a testimony is and how we should bear it."

"A testimony is usually defined as knowledge or assurance of a truth that a person declares by the convincing power of the Holy Ghost."

"A testimony can be identified by the use of powerful verbs such as know, testify, believe, certify, declare, affirm, bear witness, bear record."
"Generally speaking, a testimony is short, precise, and concise."

President Boyd K. Packer - Teach Ye Diligently, rev. ed. (1991), 323–24.
“We held a series of zone conferences to improve the spirituality in the mission. Rather than schedule instruction on the mechanics of missionary work, we determined to have a testimony meeting. In the last conference, in the testimony of one of the humble elders, I found the answer to the problem. There was something different about the brief testimony of this frightened new elder. He stood for less than a minute, yet I learned from his expression what it was that was missing.

“The testimonies we’d heard from all the other missionaries went something like this: ‘I’m grateful to be in the mission field. I’ve learned a lot from it. I have a fine companion. I’ve learned a lot from him. I’m grateful for my parents. We had an interesting experience last week. We were out knocking on doors and …’ Then the missionary would relate an experience. His conclusion would be something like this: ‘I’m grateful to be in the mission field. I have a testimony of the gospel.’ And he would conclude ‘in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.’

“This young elder was different somehow. Anxious not to spend an extra second on his feet, he said simply, in hurried, frightened words, ‘I know that God lives. I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know that we have a prophet of God leading the Church. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.’

“This was a testimony. It was not just an experience nor an expression of gratitude. It was a declaration, a witness!

“Most of the elders had said ‘I have a testimony,’ but they had not declared it. This young elder had, in a very few words, delivered his testimony—direct, basic, and, as it turned out, powerful.
“I then knew what was wrong in the mission. We were telling stories, expressing gratitude, admitting that we had testimonies, but we were not bearing them.”

Summary
To illustrate what was talked about in these talks I have created a couple of bullet list inspired by the bullet list in Elder Jensen's talk, but with points gleaned from all of the talks.

What a testimony is not:

• A list of things that we are thankful for.
• A list of things that we love.
• Story, travelogue, lecture, talk, or sermon.
• A testimony can be identified by the use of powerful verbs such as know, testify, believe, certify, declare, affirm, bear witness, bear record.
• An admission ("I have a testimony").
• An exhortation.
• A public confession.
• Not a long explanation of how you know.

What a testimony is:

• A testimony is a witness or confirmation of eternal truth impressed upon individual hearts and souls through the Holy Ghost.
• Simply stated, testimony—real testimony, born of the Spirit and confirmed by the Holy Ghost—changes lives.
• Anchored very early to the first principles of the gospel.
• Centered on the Savior, the doctrines of the gospel, the blessings of the Restoration, and the teachings of the scriptures.
• A declaration ("I know").
• Brief and concise.

Prayer
Elder Russel M. Nelson - Lessons from the Lord’s Prayers
"The concept of 'too much and unnecessary' could also apply to the length of our prayers. A closing prayer in a Church meeting need not include a summary of each message and should not become an unscheduled sermon. Private prayers can be as long as we want, but public prayers ought to be short supplications for the Spirit of the Lord to be with us or brief declarations of gratitude for what has transpired."

The Covenant of the Founding Fathers

Does this covenant sound familiar?

"And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor." (Declaration of Independence)

This is the way that things get done. Through our voluntarily serving each other, supporting each other, and being honorable. A pledge is voluntary, not compulsory through being taxed. We pledge our support of each other and God will support us.

No Man Hath Seen God at Any Time

John 1: 18 and 1 Jn. 4: 12 talk of no man ever seeing God. Some use this to dispute Joseph Smith's vision of God the Father and Jesus. They also dispute that in the Joseph Smith translation of the Bible the verse was changed to read:
19 And no man hath seen God at any time, except he hath borne record of the Son; for except it is through him no man can be saved.

Exodus 24:9-11 states that at least 74 people saw Him with Moses.

9 ¶ Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and ^aseventy of the ^belders of Israel:

10 And they ^asaw the God of Israel: and there was under his ^bfeet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as ^cit were the body of heaven in his clearness.

11 And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they ^asaw God, and did eat and drink.

Exodus 33:11 - States that Moses spoke to God face to face.
11 And the Lord ^aspake unto Moses ^bface to face, as a man ^cspeaketh unto his ^dfriend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant ^eJoshua, the son of ^fNun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

Gen 32:30 - states that Jacob saw God.
30 And Jacob called the name of the place ^aPeniel: for I have ^bseen God ^cface to face, and my life is preserved.

Deuteronomy 5:4 - States that Moses spoke to God face to face.
4 The Lord talked with you ^aface to face in the mount out of the midst of the ^bfire,

Modest Earrings

President Hinckley stated, "Do not disfigure yourself with tattoos or body piercings. If girls or women desire to have their ears pierced, they are encouraged to wear only one pair of modest earrings." (For the Strength of Youth, 16)

What is a modest pair of earrings?

Dictionary.com defines modesty as:
–noun, plural -ties.
1. the quality of being modest; freedom from vanity, boastfulness, etc.
2. regard for decency of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
3. simplicity; moderation.

Definition 3 may be instructive for what "modest earrings" means.

When women heard President Hinckley's statement did they think of the types of earrings they owned or just the number of earrings their wear at a time? Did they ask themselves if they had an immodest earrings?

Is a modest earring one that hangs from a hole one has punched in their body (ear) or that one has had someone else punch?

...As Far As It Is Translated Correctly

Part of the 8th Article of Faith states "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly;..."

Often the Church is criticized for thinking that the bible is flawed. I think sometimes we as members do sometimes take that point of view. As I have studied this out I find that the Bible is a miracle that we have what we have in the good condition that it is in. Here I will list some comments on this that I find relating to this part of the 8th Article of Faith.

This statement by Richard R. Hopkins gives us a point of view to ponder about the 8th Article of Faith. "This simple statement speaks worlds more about acceptance of the biblical texts than many realize. It acknowledges that the currently accepted texts, transmitted over the ages from the original autographa (the original pages written by the prophets and apostles, or their scribes), are sufficiently accurate that men need only be concerned about the accuracy of their translation." (Biblical Mormonism, p17)

In commenting on criticisms of the Church which state that we do not use the Bible Hopkins states, "Those who level such criticisms at the Mormon Church and its leaders have little or no practical experience with LDS teaching. For example, at the direction of the very apostles maligned in the forgoing quotations, two years out of every four are spent in the study of the Old and New Testaments at weekly Sunday School classes attended by all adult Mormons. LDS leaders constantly teach from the Bible, about the Bible, and that every Mormon should study the Bible." (Biblical Mormonism, p18)

I would add that our teenages spend two years taking a course on the Bible. Many take that course every school day before school starts, generally around 6 or 7 in the morning.

Another book by the same author is How Greek Philosophy Corrupted the Christian Concept of God, which I have not read yet.

The Worth of Souls

President Monson related this story:
"Early in my service as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, I was attending a conference in the Monument Park West Stake in Salt Lake City. My companion for the conference was a member of the General Church Welfare Committee, Paul C. Child. President Child was a student of the scriptures. He had been my stake president when I was an Aaronic Priesthood youth. Now we were together as conference visitors.

When it was his opportunity to participate, President Child took the Doctrine and Covenants and left the pulpit to stand among the priesthood to whom he was directing his message. He turned to section 18 and began to read: 'Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God. … And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!' 1

President Child then raised his eyes from the scriptures and asked the question of the priesthood brethren: 'What is the worth of a human soul?' He avoided calling on a bishop, stake president, or high councilor for a response. Instead, he selected the president of an elders quorum—a brother who had been a bit drowsy and had missed the significance of the question.

The startled man responded: 'Brother Child, could you please repeat the question?' The question was repeated: 'What is the worth of a human soul?' I knew President Child’s style. I prayed fervently for that quorum president. He remained silent for what seemed like an eternity and then declared, 'Brother Child, the worth of a human soul is its capacity to become as God.' (Ensign September 1997 p 2)

The Da Vinci Code

Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, Professor Emeritus of Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University in his speech, The Da Vinci Code, the Gospel of Judas, and Other Bad Ideas listed some things to remember about the book The Da Vinci Code.

1. The Da Vinci Code is a novel.
2. The Da Vinci Code is found in the fiction section of bookstores.
3. The author has no training making him an expert on the New Testament.
4. The author is not an apostle or prophet.

Some books by Richard Neitzel Holzapfel:

Characterists of a Worthy Career

Mark E. Peterson in One Lord...One Faith said,
"We must remember always that life is more than meat --- and the body than raiment. Our careers may provide the meat and raiment, but it is the gospel which nourishes the soul.

With this in mind --- if I were now preparing for a career --- I would choose a line of employment which would:

Not require Sunday labor.

Nor much night work.

Nor one which would require me to be away from home and family to any great extent.

Nor which would force me to choose close associates who lack proper standards of decency and right.

Nor which would uproot my home and disturb my own routine through frequent transfers.

I would choose a career which would be working to my mind and my soul.

I would seek one intellectual challenge.

I would seek a job in which I could feel I was making a contribution to the welfare of my fellow men as well as to my family and close associates.

I would choose a type of war which I would not be ashamed -- one which would reflect honor upon my family -- one which would make a child of mine say: "I am proud of my dad -- see what he is doing."

I would choose an occupation which would not interfere with the living of my religion nor with my full participation in church activities.

I would want the kind of daily job which would be compatible with my becoming a bishop or a number of a stake presidency in case I were called to such a position.

I would choose the kind of work which would permit me to have a normal life -- with time for companionship and will with my wife and children.

I would remember that good family life --- based on a good marriage --- is essential to the ultimate end of my existence --- and that therefore, my job must never be permitted to interfere with my family life and relationships.

I would want the kind of job which would be compatible with my living a clean life and having a prayer in my heart each hour of the day.

I would choose the kind of job in which I could be honest and fair --- and in which I could close each day's dealings with a clear conscience, knowing that I had done unto others as I would be done by.

In other words, my job would be my servant and not my boss.

It would contribute to my objective in life --- not interfere with it.

It is through the --- and not through our careers --- that we become like God."

Other books by Mark E. Peterson:

Do What Works

"We must recognize which factors and conditions in life will assist us in this endeavor and include them in our life's planning.
And conversely, we must recognize the factors and conditions which will tend to interfere with and obstruct us in reaching our objectives, and eliminate such contrary things from our activities." (One Lord...One Faith p198 paragraph 3-4)

Heaven

Luke 23:43 states
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in ^aparadise.

Some interpret this to mean that the thief was forgiven and went to Heaven. John 20: 17 states

17 Jesus saith unto her, ^aTouch me not; for I am not yet ^bascended to my ^cFather: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my ^dFather, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

It would appear as though on the day he spoke to the thief he had not gone to Heaven, or where the Father is.

John 20: 17. 17 Jesus saith unto her, aTouch me not; for I am not yet bascended to my cFather: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my dFather, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Alma gives us some clarification on this in Alma 40: 21
21 But whether it be at his resurrection or after, I do not say; but this much I say, that there is a ^aspace between death and the resurrection of the body, and a state of the soul in ^bhappiness or in ^cmisery until the time which is appointed of God that the dead shall come forth, and be reunited, both soul and body, and be ^dbrought to stand before God, and be judged according to their works.

Other scriptures that talk about this:
1 Peter 3

18 For Christ also hath once ^asuffered for sins, the just for the ^bunjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to ^cdeath in the flesh, but quickened by the ^dSpirit:

19 By which also he went and ^apreached unto the ^bspirits in ^cprison;

20 ^aWhich sometime were ^bdisobedient, when once the ^clongsuffering of God waited in the days of ^dNoah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were ^esaved by ^fwater.

1 Peter 4
6 ^aFor for this cause was the ^bgospel ^cpreached also to them that are ^ddead, that they might be ^ejudged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

Worshipping a Different Jesus?

One Lord...One Faith by Mark E. Peterson on P53 Last full paragraph through the 5th full paragraph on page 54
"The scripture says there can be but one Lord. Are there more in the churches of today?

"In Present day Christendom there are various Lords and Gods. They differ from one sect to another. One believes in a God described as universal intelligence or mind, without body, parts or passions -- not a person -- just mind, or intelligence. When we die, it is said, our minds are merged into the universal intelligence, and that constitutes immortality. Is that the Christian God?

"Another says there is one God with three means of expression, or three names. At one time he appears as the Father, at another time, as the Son, and as the Holy Ghost at still a third time. But he is only one God, and yet not one God, but three, only one, and he is incomprehensible!

"When they speak of Christ some say he is identical to the Father, some say he still has his resurrected body, others say he has laid it aside, claiming that having a body is not compatible with the celestial order.

"The more we study Christendom as we know it, the more we realize the importance of our finding out for ourselves which church is right, so that we will not be among those to be address by the savior when he says: 'Depart from me, I never knew you, ' even though we may have cried out 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name done many wonderful works?' (Matt. 7:21-23).

"We must choose the true way of salvation, for otherwise we may find ourselves on the broad way which leads to destruction."

These paragraphs made me reflect on times when I have been accused of not being Christian because I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As I have assured them that I believed in the Savior they said that our church believes in a different Jesus, so we are not Christian. As stated in these paragraphs between the various denominations of Christianity you find all sorts of different Jesus' and different God's being worshiped.

The question is would Christ affiliate himself with Christianity if he returned today?

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

The seventh chapter of the book One Lord...One Faith is titled "The Nature of God" has scripture after scripture on why Father, Son, and Holy Ghost being the same being is not scriptural. He uses several versions of the Bible to help illustrate. He also includes his own commentary on the subject. I have included some of them below. They show Jesus talking to the Father or about the Father doing something or about sending the Holy Ghost. It seems clear that these are separate beings that are show to be together in the same place at the same time.

Luke 10:21-22
Matthew 26:39, 42, 44
Matthew 19:16, 17
Luke 2:49, 52
John 7:16-17
Acts 7:55-56
John 14:16-17
John 14:25-26
John 15:26
John 16:7-8

Not Just A Suggestion

I was listening to the First Presidency Message in this month's Ensign and came across this paragraph:
"First, the Holy Ghost remains with us only if we stay clean and free from the love of the things of the world. A choice to be unclean will repel the Holy Ghost. The Spirit dwells only with those who choose the Lord over the world. “Be ye clean” (3 Nephi 20:41; D&C 38:42) and love God with all your “heart, … might, mind, and strength” (D&C 59:5) are not suggestions but commandments. And they are necessary to the companionship of the Spirit, without which we cannot be one."

He quoted some things that we are told to do in the scriptures. He noted that they are not suggestions, but commandments.

I have often felt that the crowd that says all we have to do to be "saved" is to say that we accept Jesus ignores that he has commanded us to do things more than just recognize that He is the Savior. Yet I also find that we Latter-day Saints at times treat the scriptures or the words of the prophets as suggestions as well.

Is sitting in a parked car alone with a person of the opposite sex wrong even if we don't violate the law of chastity? The prophets have counseled us not to do that. Is it a suggestion of a commandment?

What about making out when you are not married? You have not broken the law of chastity, but what have the prophets said?

"We must clearly explain to our children that passionate kissing and “making out” should be left until after marriage. Too many young couples falsely believe that because they are dating or engaged they can relax these constraints. Yet it is during this emotion-filled time that the greatest care should be taken to build and preserve a virtuous relationship.

“'When the unmarried yield to the lust that induces intimacies and indulgence, they have permitted the body to dominate and have placed the spirit in chains. It is unthinkable that anyone could call this love.' (Spencer W. Kimball, 'Love vs. Lust,' in 1965 Speeches of the Year, Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University, 1966, p. 9.)"
(From the December 1986 Ensign Talking with Your Children about Moral Purity)

Are their words a suggestion or a commandment?

Is watching rated R movies wrong, even though there is not specifically a temple recommend question asking if you watch rated R movies? The prophets have counseled us not to do that. Is it a suggestion of a commandment?

Elder Cree-L Kofford Of the Seventyin his July 1998 Ensign article Marriage in the Lord’s Way, Part Two
"All too often, we get ourselves enmeshed in the process of trying to understand why God gave us a particular commandment. We want to rationalize. I don’t know where that is more evident than in watching movies. Young people know they should not watch R- or X-rated movies, and yet time after time I hear them say, 'Well it’s only rated R because it’s violent.' What difference does it make why it is rated R? The fact is, a prophet of God has said not to go to R-rated movies (see, for example, Ezra Taft Benson, “To the ‘Youth of the Noble Birthright,’ ” Ensign, May 1986, 45). That ought to be good enough."

Remember the Sabbath Day, to Keep It Holy.

Exodus 20
7 Thou shalt not take the ^aname of the LORD thy God in ^bvain; for the LORD will not hold him ^cguiltless that ^dtaketh his name in vain.

8 Remember the ^asabbath day, to keep it ^bholy.

9 ^aSix days shalt thou ^blabour, and do all thy work:

10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy ^astranger that is within thy gates:

11 For in ^asix days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD ^bblessed the sabbath day, and ^challowed it.

In Exodus 31:16 the Lord states that it is a "perpetual covenant". Dictionary.com define perpetual as "continuing or enduring forever; everlasting." Verse 17 reenforces this definition in this context: "It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever"

16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual ^acovenant.

17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in ^asix days the LORD ^bmade heaven and earth, and on the ^cseventh day he ^drested, and was ^erefreshed.

Verse 13 also states:

 13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my ^asabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that yemay know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.

Elder Ezra Taft Benson quoted President George Albert Smith, "much of the sorrow and distress that is afflicting and will continue to afflict mankind is traceable to the fact that they have ignored his [God's] admonition to keep the Sabbath day holy" (Conference Report, Oct. 1935, p. 120; quoted in "Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy," Ensign, May 1971, 7).

Why Christ "...Gave Some Apostles; and Some Prophets..."

In Eph. 4: 11 Paul states of Christ:
11 And he ^agave some, ^bapostles; and some, ^cprophets; and some, ^devangelists; and some, ^epastors and ^fteachers;

Why did he set up these offices in his Church?

Verse 12 states that these offices were:
"For the ^aperfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the ^bedifying of the body of Christ: "

Verse 13 states the duration that these offices would be part of his Church.
"Till we all come in the ^aunity of the faith, and of the ^bknowledge of the Son of God, unto a ^cperfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: "

One could hardly call the state of Christendom today "the unity of faith".

Verse 14 states another purpose of these offices:
"That we henceforth be no more ^achildren, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of ^bdoctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;"

These offices were so that there would be an authority as to what the truth is when individuals or congregations disputed the meaning of scriptures.

The scriptures also give us direction as to how church leaders are called.
Heb. 5: 4
4 And no man taketh this ^ahonour unto himself, but he that is ^bcalled of God, as was ^cAaron.

People don't just decide that they are going to be take on one of these offices they must be called of God as Aaron was. Aaron did not go to school to study to lea the people. He was not chosen by the congregation. He was not able to be fired by the congregation. He was called by The Prophet of God and that prophet laid his hands upon him to bestow the responsibility on him.

When Jesus died he left the apostles. He did not leave the individuals with the Holy Ghost alone to figure out God's doctrine. The Holy Ghost only guides for what you have stewardship over. That which God has given you stewardship over, not what you chose to take stewardship over or what a congregation hires you to have stewardship over.

Eph 2:19-20

19 Now therefore ye are no more ^astrangers and foreigners, but ^bfellowcitizens with the ^csaints, and of the ^dhousehold of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the ^aapostles and ^bprophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief ^ccorner stone;

You don't remove the foundation anymore than you would the corner stone.

The Lord Hardened Pharaoh's Heart Exodus 4:21, Exodus 9:7

Exodus 4
21 And the Lord said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those ^awonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine ^bhand: ^cbut I will ^dharden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.

Exodus 9
7 And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.

Does the Lord cause people to sin by hardening their hearts?

Law of Witnesses

I have thought for a while that it was weird that when someone quotes a talk by one person, the quote ends up being from someone else. Today as I was listening to the First Presidency Message in the June 2008 Ensign I found a blurb about witnesses.

"In our own time we have been warned with counsel on where to find safety from sin and from sorrow. One of the keys to recognizing those warnings is that they are repeated. For instance, more than once in general conferences, you have heard our prophet say that he would quote a preceding prophet and would therefore be a second witness and sometimes even a third. Each of us old enough to listen heard President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) give counsel on the importance of a mother in the home and then heard President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) quote him, and we have heard President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) quote them both.3

The Apostle Paul wrote, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (2 Corinthians 13:1). One of the ways we may know that the warning is from the Lord is that the law of witnesses, authorized witnesses, has been invoked. When the words of prophets seem repetitive, that should rivet our attention and fill our hearts with gratitude to live in such a blessed time."

Prophets quote other prophets to give a second witness.

Being Born Again

We had a lesson in church today that I thought was worthwhile to post here for discussion.

The lesson was based on a talk from April 2008 general conference.
Elder D. Todd Chistofferson - Apostle (Audio, Video)

Born Again

The instructor cited the story that Elder Christofferson related about having a retired protestant minister come to his home because the minister was concerned about Elder Christofferson's salvation. He and the minister had talked about what it meant to be born again.

John 3:3-5

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be ^aborn ^bagain, he cannot ^csee the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be ^aborn of ^bwater and of the ^cSpirit, he cannot ^denter into the kingdom of God.

Unless we put off the natural man we have not come to Christ. Does this mean we are perfect and do not make mistakes, but if we have put off the natural man we constantly reach for Christ and strive to do better.

1. Mosiah 3: 19
   19 For the ^anatural ^bman is an ^cenemy to God, and has been from the ^dfall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he ^eyields to the enticings of the Holy ^fSpirit, and ^gputteth off the ^hnatural man and becometh a ⁱsaint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a ^jchild, ^ksubmissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
2. 1 Cor. 2: 14
   14 But the ^anatural man ^breceiveth not the things of the ^cSpirit of God: for they are ^dfoolishness unto him: neither can he ^eknow them, because they are ^fspiritually ^gdiscerned.

Mosiah 5: 2

2 And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty ^achange in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do ^bevil, but to do good continually.

Being born again is a process and not a one time event.

Because We Want To

We had a lesson Sunday and part of it had to do with changing our hearts from being obedient out of duty and being obedient because it is who we are in our hearts (Sunday July 20, 2008 - Services Sullivan Hollow Se...).

I was listening some Ensign articles on the way into work and happened across one in the June issue (The Exquisite Joy of Repentance). There is a line in there that states, "Many years ago I paid my tithing because I felt I had to. Now I realize I can pay it with a heart full of gratitude and with the excitement that comes from knowing that the funds will help build churches and temples."

Will we be blessed for doing it out of duty? I believe we will, even if it is a little begrudgingly. But will will not have a fullness of joy that comes from putting your whole heart into it and doing it out of love for Heavenly Father and love for those we serve.