A New Commandment...

John 13:34-35 "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

While reading in the New Testament I came across this scripture. WE can show our love for God, our discipleship, by love others around us. What a great blessing for us in our time. What an easy admonition from the Savior, Love others as I have loved you. There are times when we are faced with adversity, and the way we chose to respond to that adversity really shows what kind of people we are. If we are living breathing disciples of Christ, or not. If someone around you were being ridiculed for their dress or way of speech, how would you act? What would you do? I recently read another blog that spoke of the Power of One. There is so much that we can do all by ourselves. Much of that relies on how we would act in these kind of situations. Would we offer a kind word and a reprimand for those who are teasing or would we walk on by. As a child I was given this opportunity. While on a bus to school, I was shocked to see boys a few seats in front of me teasing a special needs boy. The boy looked out the window and cried because there was nothing he could do about it. With all the muster and spitfire I had I reprimanded those boys and in one swift motion sat in the seat next to the special needs boy. I was teased and taunted, but the taunting was not even something that i remember, all I remember is that little boy looking at me and smiling. What a great feeling that was for me. So empowering and so humbling. I knew then deep down in my heart that I had amde a great decision in helping this boy.

Now what about in our day and age. many of us are active members of the church and therefore attend church regularly. If a new person comes into your ward or branch how do you treat them? do you welcome them and show them your love and appreciation or do you let them sit alone and wait for someone else to welcome them in. I was once on the receiving end, being new in a ward, and i was shocked to find that no one welcomed me. I attended the ward for over a month before I was even acknowledged. this was a very hard month for me. I was going through some hard personal times, and I was lacking frineds. I thought I would make some very soon in my ward, but it took about 3 months before I had even one friend in that ward. I can tell you from experience that I felt so small and so forgotten and looked over. Insignificance filled my soul and bitterness filled my heart. I made a pack with myself that day to always be welcoming to others int he ward, no matter who they were.

I guess what I am trying to point out is that being a disciple of Christ involves so much more than attending church, reading your scriptures, and praying. It involves serving others, loving others, making sure that others can see that Love of CHrist in your eyes and feel it when you talk to them. a question you could ask yourself is "Do people know I am a disciple of Christ by the way I treat them?" ponder this question, and act on it!! Do something for a family member, neighbor, or friend that shows them your love of Christ!!

Prep Yourself...Wise or Foolish!?

While reading through Mark 13 I found that the Savior gives us counsel/warnings. What is suprising to me is the fact that many people ignore these warnings. in this chapter alone He offers 3 specific warnings for us, as His followers, to heed before He comes again. Warning #1: Dont be deceived. We had a big discussion about this in my New Testament Group this week, about the ways that you can avoid being deceived. One of those ways is to have a solid, sure fire, know-without-a-doubt testimonies, that shakes the people around you when you share it. So dont be deceived! Warning #2: Watch. The word 'watch' is stated many times throughout this chapter, and again I think that the Savior is trying to reiterate something to us that we havent quite gotten yet. He is coming wether we like it or not, and He is coming on His timetable, not on ours. WE need to be as the 5 wise virgins were and have our oil lamps ready and extra oil on hand for when the Bridegroom comes, I have a feeling in the very depth of my soul that it is going to be sooner than later that we all meet Him again! So...take heed and WATCH! Warning #3: Pray. There is only one way to stay close to friends and family and that is by spending time with them, by talking with them on a daily basis and coming up to speed in everything that going on in both your lives. WEll that is the same with our relationship with our Father in Heaven. WE must have a daily, honest, non-repetitive, sincere commune with Him, otherwise we lose track of who we are and where we are going. WE need that constant companion and knowledge in our lives that we are not alone. Prayer is the one way that we can keep that love alive. WE have a direct channel to God! LEts not waste it! PRAY!!

Throughout the scriptures we are encouraged and exhorted to prepare ourselves for the Second Coming of the SAvior. D&C 87:8 States that we need to 'Stand in Holy Places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord comes.' Joseph Smith-Matthew states that in order to not be deceived we need to 'treasure up His word' and again we are exhorted to WATCH, for we do not know when the day of the Lord will come. WE need to be ready, for when that day is here, the days of preparation will be over! D&C 33:17 also states that we be ready and have our lamps trimmed and filled for the day of the Lord. That we pray always, and be faithful in all things! Preparation is the key to success, without it we will be lost at the Great and Terrible day of the Lord!!!

Marriage For Eternity

The Sadducees are in err thinking that there is no resurrection. They also believe that God is the god of death, that living after this earthly life is not possible. They do not believe in angels or in the Spirit. From this we can see that the Sadducees only asked questions of the Savior to vex Him and to catch Him in error. (which of course did not happen) The Sadducees were never really searching out the truth from the Savior, they just wanted to discredit Him.

I think what is meant by Matthew 22:30 is that there will be no more marriages after the resurrection in the temporal world nor in Eternity for those who were not bound eternally in the temporal world. Things will be as they were when Jesus comes again, those who are married for time and not for eternity will not have the blessings of being married eternally in the next life. Those things that are bound in earth, by the right authority, are bound in heaven. This we know for certain.

“In the resurrection there will be no marrying nor given in marriage; for all questions of marital status must be settled before that time, under the authority of the Holy Priesthood, which holds the power to seal in marriage for both time and eternity.” ---James E. Talmage

D&C 132:15-16 describes in full the glory that will come to those who marry only for time while on this earth. Their eternal lives will be spent as angel of God, ministering servants to those who are the chosen elect of God.

How blessed I am to know the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that I can be eternally sealed to the man of my choice and that we can be together for eternity, by loving lives unto the Lord. Hot dang I cant wait until we find each other! Eternity would be lonely without my other half!

Parables

Luke 16:1-12 THe parable of the Unjust Steward. Here the Lord commends those of this generation who are wiser than the children of the world.

Luke 16:19-31 The parable of the Rich man and Lazarus. Charity never faileth. We learn here that charity is one of the main virtues that will get us into the Kingdom of God. Becoming more like God is the purpose of this life, not making our fortune. WE cannot take our fortune with us, but we can take the knowledge that we did well in the sight of the Lord.

Luke 17:11-19 The Ten Lepers. Faith, faith is the main ingredient to make a miracle. There were many people throughout the Bible that had faith. It is no coincidence that Jesus, upon healing the Ten Lepers, asked them to show themselves to the priests. They who had leprosy on their hearts you could say. Many of them did not believe in the power and authority of Jesus Chirst, and such was their downfall. The one man who turned and thanked GOd will for sure be blessed in his next life for his complete and utter faith and gratitude in Jesus Christ.

Luke 18:1-8 Parable of the Unjust Judge. GOd will always ALWAYS always remember the righteous. WE may feel that He is ignorant of our pain and grief, but He is always with us. SHowering us with His glory and comfort. SO is His eye on those who are unrighteous!

Luke 18:9-14 The Pharisee and the Publican. Those who are humble will be exalted over those who are proud.

CHrist's Instruction to the Seventy

Luke 10-14

Christ gave inspired counsel to those who were chosen and called of Him to be Seventy's. He first counsels them to pray so that the people they meet will be ready to hear their message. This is a key principle to follow, if the people arent ready the message won't be received. CHrist also counsels his seventy to speak eloquently, to bless the household before entering and treat all with respect and admiration. The seventy are told to heal the sick, and to clean the cities as they work through them. To heal and preach in every city they were in. They were also counseled to call people to repentance.

Our church is built after that of the primitive church. There were missionaries that taught two by two in Jesus' time as there are now. There was a first presidency and a quorum of 12 apostles. Back then the church was led by Jesus Christ as it is today. The organization is set up the same and will not be changed.

The office of the seventy is a sacred calling of apostolic worth and duty, those in the seventy are called to be special witnesses of Jesus Christ and to travel and to preach abroad, just as in days of old.

Faith, Prayer, Fasting

Matthew 17:14-21 In these scriptures the Savior taught the disciples three things they needed to do in order to heal others. Those three things were faith, prayer, and fasting. Many of the disciples did not have the faith necessary to heal others. This lack of faith also led to other things they were unable to do, like confess the Lords hand in all things, stand up for Christ, or continue to preach His word. Prayer was something they also struggled with, putting their lives into their own hands and not into Gods. The disciples also lacked the humility to fast. Fasting is something that humbles us and brings us closer to God, which in turn can give us the power to do miracles in His name.

3 Nephi 18:20 Also states that with the faith to call on the Lord we can have all things we ask for in righteousness.

D&C 50:29 States that with prayer, faith and purity of heart we can have the power to preform miracles as well.

D&C 42:48 States that thru faith in the Lord Jesus Christ we can do anything.

Basically, through faith we can do anything. Through fasting we can receive the strength we need to succeed in this life. And through prayer we can have a constant channel to God, so that we are never alone.

HE walked on Water!!!

I find it interesting that when the disciples of Jesus first saw him walking on water they were 'troubled' even fearful that He was a spirit of some kind. Peter responded to the Lords voice by commanding Him to show Himself and prove it was Him. You would think that Peter would know his Masters voice. When invited to walk on the water Peter took those first few steps through faith, then partway to the Savior he bagan to sink fearing for his life. Ironic that later on Peter would lack faith and deny Christ 3 times before gaining the faith to continue on. When he began to sink he cried out and reached for the Saviors hand, only to be pulled up and rebuked fo rhis lack of faith. Jesus then asks "wherefore didst thou doubt?" when did you doubt? why did you doubt. Peter knowing all that Jesus was capable of doubted him in a crucial learning moment. If we do as is commanded in D&C 88:67 and keep an eye single to the glory of God then we will never lose faith and we will continue forever to be with Him and even gain exaltation in His sight. It is a simple request and commandment, keep an eye single to teh glory of God. It is a daily choice to choose to be of the world or of God. Each day we make those choices that draw us closer or farther away from Him and it is through those choices we aresaved or thrust down to hell. hate to be so outspoken but there it is!!