Been a few days since I wrote---I had originally intended for this to be an everyday thing, but life has gotten busier than I expected!
I really enjoyed the priesthood session of this year's October General Conference. It featured a missionary choir from the Provo MTC, who sang powerful renditions of "Hark All Ye Nations" and "Go Ye Messengers of Heaven." Then, Elder Russell M. Nelson stood and gave a motivating talk about missionary work.
I've been home from the Texas McAllen mission for more than ten years now, and I've tried to preach the gospel by example since then, but have never felt the spark of missionary work like I did in the mission. Priesthood session reminded me a bit of the excitement and enthusiasm that I once felt as a missionary.
For me, that excitement is echoed in this verse from Jacob 6: "...the day that he shall set his hand again the second time to recover his people, is the day, yea, even the last time, that the Lord shall go forth in his power, to nourish and prune his vineyard; and after that the end soon cometh" (Jacob 6:2).
The Lord has restored his gospel and has sent his servants forth for the last time to prune his vineyard. I'm glad that I had a chance to be a part of that ten years ago when I was a full time missionary, and I hope that I'll be able to take part in the work, in some small way, in the days and years to come.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Counsel me not
I'm still thinking about the allegory of the olive tree in Jacob 5. At one point, the Lord shows the servant the place where he has grafted one of the branches of the original tree into a wild tree. The servant is surprised, because this particular wild tree is located on a poor spot of ground, perhaps the worst in the vineyard. The servant questions the Lord: "How comest thou hither to plant this tree, or this branch of the tree?"
The Lord responds: "Counsel me not; I knew that it was a poor spot of ground; wherefore, I said unto thee, I have nourished it his long time, and thou beholdest that it hath brought forth much fruit."
I think of the times in my life that have been particularly challenging---when I felt like my life was suddenly transplanted onto hard, rocky terrain instead of rich comfortable topsoil. How many times have I complained to the Lord that this particular challenge wasn't in the program, wasn't in my plans, and how could I possibly overcome. I now am beginning to see the wisdom in the Lord's kind but firm response: "Counsel me not, little one. The ground is rocky and barren, and growth will be difficult. But I will take care of you and give you the strength to succeed and become stronger, if you trust me." And ultimately, those challenging times and experiences are the ones that generate the sweetest fruits of faith, testimony, love, and consecration to the Lord and his gospel.
The Lord responds: "Counsel me not; I knew that it was a poor spot of ground; wherefore, I said unto thee, I have nourished it his long time, and thou beholdest that it hath brought forth much fruit."
I think of the times in my life that have been particularly challenging---when I felt like my life was suddenly transplanted onto hard, rocky terrain instead of rich comfortable topsoil. How many times have I complained to the Lord that this particular challenge wasn't in the program, wasn't in my plans, and how could I possibly overcome. I now am beginning to see the wisdom in the Lord's kind but firm response: "Counsel me not, little one. The ground is rocky and barren, and growth will be difficult. But I will take care of you and give you the strength to succeed and become stronger, if you trust me." And ultimately, those challenging times and experiences are the ones that generate the sweetest fruits of faith, testimony, love, and consecration to the Lord and his gospel.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Boldness
President Boyd K. Packer gave a powerful talk at the October 2010 General Conference called "Cleansing the Inner Vessel". In it he warns of the dangers threatening the family, which is central to God's plan for the happiness of his children. He's drawn some criticism from groups who claim that his warning that homosexual behavior is contrary to the plan of happiness was "inaccurate" and "dangerous." Specifically, people are taking issue with his statement that people who are gay or lesbian can change through the power of the Atonement.
The Church's focus when it comes to gay and lesbian issues has always been on behavior, not tendencies and temptations regarding same-gender attraction. The Church has also tried to be clear that there is no room in this discussion for hatred, mistreatment or disrespect for anyone, and I agree. Surely one of the most important parts of living in a civilized society is being able to disagree respectfully about each others feelings and behaviors.
I may feel that smoking, buying groceries on Sunday, drinking alcohol, having sexual relationships outside of marriage are bad choices, and morally wrong behaviors, but I can still treat everyone with respect and dignity regardless of their actions. And individuals, regardless of lifelong temptations, tendencies, and sexual identity can still choose to act in accordance with God's laws, which will bring them happiness here and in eternity. I don't think the Church is saying that it's wrong to experience same-gender attraction. Indeed, we should love, appreciate, serve and bless the lives of all of God's children, regardless of their temptations, tendencies, and even actions. People who experience same-gender attraction are welcome in the Church, and will always be welcome. The Church is insisting, however, that sexual relationships outside of marriage are wrong, and will inevitably bring unhappiness in the long run.
People have been penalized economically for expressing such views in public, and I'm a little uncomfortable sharing them here. But President Packer's bold words, which only come from love of individuals and a desire for them to experience eternal happiness in the context of God's plan for his children, remind me of Abinadi, a Book of Mormon prophet, who said "I say unto you, I will not recall the words which I have spoken, for they are true" (Mosiah 17:9). I stand with you, President Packer.
The Church's focus when it comes to gay and lesbian issues has always been on behavior, not tendencies and temptations regarding same-gender attraction. The Church has also tried to be clear that there is no room in this discussion for hatred, mistreatment or disrespect for anyone, and I agree. Surely one of the most important parts of living in a civilized society is being able to disagree respectfully about each others feelings and behaviors.
I may feel that smoking, buying groceries on Sunday, drinking alcohol, having sexual relationships outside of marriage are bad choices, and morally wrong behaviors, but I can still treat everyone with respect and dignity regardless of their actions. And individuals, regardless of lifelong temptations, tendencies, and sexual identity can still choose to act in accordance with God's laws, which will bring them happiness here and in eternity. I don't think the Church is saying that it's wrong to experience same-gender attraction. Indeed, we should love, appreciate, serve and bless the lives of all of God's children, regardless of their temptations, tendencies, and even actions. People who experience same-gender attraction are welcome in the Church, and will always be welcome. The Church is insisting, however, that sexual relationships outside of marriage are wrong, and will inevitably bring unhappiness in the long run.
People have been penalized economically for expressing such views in public, and I'm a little uncomfortable sharing them here. But President Packer's bold words, which only come from love of individuals and a desire for them to experience eternal happiness in the context of God's plan for his children, remind me of Abinadi, a Book of Mormon prophet, who said "I say unto you, I will not recall the words which I have spoken, for they are true" (Mosiah 17:9). I stand with you, President Packer.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Good fruit is perishable
Another thing that caught my attention about the allegory of the olive tree (Jacob 5) is that bearing good fruit is a temporary condition that requires a lot of continual effort. After being nourished, fertilized, and pruned, the wild branches start to bear good fruit. But after a while, left to themselves, they all return to their natural wild state, and it takes more focused effort by the Lord and his servants to reclaim them.
I think my faith and testimony and commitment to the gospel as an imperfect mortal are that way too---perishable, and dependent on constant nourishment and pruning to yield good fruit. If I ever stop doing the things that add to my testimony---reading and pondering the scriptures, praying, serving in the church, keeping my covenants---then my testimony and faith start to fade, and its much easier to doubt and wander from the path. No wonder our leaders constantly encourage us to be faithful in these daily religious habits and practices. The light of testimony burns bright, but it can quickly start to dim if we don't keep adding oil to the lamp! I look forward to a future day, when the test is over, and my light will never dim again.
I think my faith and testimony and commitment to the gospel as an imperfect mortal are that way too---perishable, and dependent on constant nourishment and pruning to yield good fruit. If I ever stop doing the things that add to my testimony---reading and pondering the scriptures, praying, serving in the church, keeping my covenants---then my testimony and faith start to fade, and its much easier to doubt and wander from the path. No wonder our leaders constantly encourage us to be faithful in these daily religious habits and practices. The light of testimony burns bright, but it can quickly start to dim if we don't keep adding oil to the lamp! I look forward to a future day, when the test is over, and my light will never dim again.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Spare it a little longer
In some ways, as I read Jacob 5, "The Allegory of the Olive Tree", I see my self as one of the wild branches that needs to be tamed. But as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a holder of the Holy Priesthood, I also see my see as one of the servants of the Lord of the vineyard. And I think there are hidden messages in the allegory about the changes that come through the Atonement of Christ to those who work hard to serve him.
We know that the Lord loves his vineyard and wants it to be maximally fruitful and productive. We also know that the state of the vineyard affects him emotionally. He says again and again, "It grieveth me that I should lose this tree", when he sees the trees of his vineyard becoming wild and unfruitful. At one point, despite all he has done, all of his olive trees bear wild fruit, and he weeps, saying "What more could I have done for my vineyard?"
Knowing that, I paid attention to the times when the Lord proposes that he and the servant pluck off wild branches or cut down wild trees and cast them into the fire. Why would he do that? As an omniscient Lord, he knows that the trees and branches will yet respond to his tender ministering and return to productivity and fruitfulness. Why suggest burning the trees and branches when he knows that doing so is premature?
I don't think the Lord actually intends to go out right away and burn trees and branches when he suggests that option as a course of action in verses 26 and 49. Instead, I think he's testing his servant, and giving the servant a chance to acquire and demonstrate the kind of longsuffering, mercy and love that the Lord himself possesses in fulness. The servant, who has become more like his Master during their service together responds the way his Master already intends to act: "Let us prune it and dig about it, and nourish it a little longer, that perhpas it may bring forth good fruit unto thee" (Jacob 5:27) and later, when those efforts fail, "Spare it a little longer" (Jacob 5:50). The Lord immediately responds, "Yea, I will spare it a little longer, for it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my vineyard" (Jacob 5:51).
By serving side-by-side with the Lord of the vineyard, the servant has come to love the trees too, and begins to want only what the Lord wants for the vineyard. I think this is a promise for those of us who are called to service of any kind in the Lord's kingdom. If you work with him and try to do in your service what he would do, your heart begins to change, and you begin to feel what he would feel, and to want what he would want. The Lord is able to perform his own work. He doesn't really need our help, and it would certainly be more efficient for him to do things himself. However, part of what he desires most is for us to become like him, and so he is willing to take on inefficient mortal apprentices and patiently change them into faithful servants who are more like him, all through the power of his infinite atonement.
We know that the Lord loves his vineyard and wants it to be maximally fruitful and productive. We also know that the state of the vineyard affects him emotionally. He says again and again, "It grieveth me that I should lose this tree", when he sees the trees of his vineyard becoming wild and unfruitful. At one point, despite all he has done, all of his olive trees bear wild fruit, and he weeps, saying "What more could I have done for my vineyard?"
Knowing that, I paid attention to the times when the Lord proposes that he and the servant pluck off wild branches or cut down wild trees and cast them into the fire. Why would he do that? As an omniscient Lord, he knows that the trees and branches will yet respond to his tender ministering and return to productivity and fruitfulness. Why suggest burning the trees and branches when he knows that doing so is premature?
I don't think the Lord actually intends to go out right away and burn trees and branches when he suggests that option as a course of action in verses 26 and 49. Instead, I think he's testing his servant, and giving the servant a chance to acquire and demonstrate the kind of longsuffering, mercy and love that the Lord himself possesses in fulness. The servant, who has become more like his Master during their service together responds the way his Master already intends to act: "Let us prune it and dig about it, and nourish it a little longer, that perhpas it may bring forth good fruit unto thee" (Jacob 5:27) and later, when those efforts fail, "Spare it a little longer" (Jacob 5:50). The Lord immediately responds, "Yea, I will spare it a little longer, for it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my vineyard" (Jacob 5:51).
By serving side-by-side with the Lord of the vineyard, the servant has come to love the trees too, and begins to want only what the Lord wants for the vineyard. I think this is a promise for those of us who are called to service of any kind in the Lord's kingdom. If you work with him and try to do in your service what he would do, your heart begins to change, and you begin to feel what he would feel, and to want what he would want. The Lord is able to perform his own work. He doesn't really need our help, and it would certainly be more efficient for him to do things himself. However, part of what he desires most is for us to become like him, and so he is willing to take on inefficient mortal apprentices and patiently change them into faithful servants who are more like him, all through the power of his infinite atonement.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Wild Branches, Tame Branches
I've just started reading the 5th Chapter of Jacob, "The Allegory of the Olive Tree", which is really a story of reconciliation. I think the allegory can mean different things to different people depending on their perspective. In one sense, it represents a macroscopic picture of the history of the world, and the Lord's dealings with the House of Israel and the Gentiles. But there are also lots of little gems all the way through that show you the loving personality of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the power of his Atonement.
The thing that impresses me today is the great power of the Atonement to change us from wild, unproductive branches, into tame branches that bring forth good fruit. To me, the roots of the tame olive tree represent the new and everlasting covenant that God made with Adam, and that he has renewed in each dispensation, with Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The roots also represent the covenant family, and the ancestors who faithfully endured in the covenant, and have now entered their exaltation. The branches represent their posterity, some of whom wander from the Lord and His gospel. But the Lord is under covenant obligation to Abraham, Issac, Jacob, etc. to reach out to and save their wandering posterity. So he does all that he can to preserve the any of the branches that respond to His ministering service. Ultimately, though some of the branches wander, He brings them back into the family, grafting them back in to the tree, and making them one with their covenant ancestors.
At the same time, the Lord wants the new and everlasting covenant to bless not only the covenant family, but all of his children in all of the world. The wild branches represent the Gentiles: people who have not entered into the covenant with the Lord, and the roots of the wild trees may represent their Gentile ancestors, culture, traditions, etc. The Lord provides opportunity for wild branches and wild trees to be blessed by the covenant---He grafts wild branches into the tame olive tree, making them one with the covenant family, and allowing the strength of the roots---the power of his gospel covenant, and his holy Atonement---to work in the wild branches until they bring forth good fruit, and are one with the covenant family. And when he takes tame branches from the tame olive tree, and grafts them into the roots of the wild trees, similar things happen: the goodness of the covenant in these young and tender branches somehow changes the wild roots so that they too bring forth good fruit.
Mercy, healing and change are available through covenant with Jesus Christ, the Holy One of Israel, the Lord of the vineyard. His Atonement is powerful enough to changes our natures, from being wayward, rebellious, and unproductive to being tender, productive, and fruitful. And the power of his Atonement can bring about a beautiful sense of oneness with our families, living and dead, all blessed by the new and everlasting covenant.
The thing that impresses me today is the great power of the Atonement to change us from wild, unproductive branches, into tame branches that bring forth good fruit. To me, the roots of the tame olive tree represent the new and everlasting covenant that God made with Adam, and that he has renewed in each dispensation, with Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The roots also represent the covenant family, and the ancestors who faithfully endured in the covenant, and have now entered their exaltation. The branches represent their posterity, some of whom wander from the Lord and His gospel. But the Lord is under covenant obligation to Abraham, Issac, Jacob, etc. to reach out to and save their wandering posterity. So he does all that he can to preserve the any of the branches that respond to His ministering service. Ultimately, though some of the branches wander, He brings them back into the family, grafting them back in to the tree, and making them one with their covenant ancestors.
At the same time, the Lord wants the new and everlasting covenant to bless not only the covenant family, but all of his children in all of the world. The wild branches represent the Gentiles: people who have not entered into the covenant with the Lord, and the roots of the wild trees may represent their Gentile ancestors, culture, traditions, etc. The Lord provides opportunity for wild branches and wild trees to be blessed by the covenant---He grafts wild branches into the tame olive tree, making them one with the covenant family, and allowing the strength of the roots---the power of his gospel covenant, and his holy Atonement---to work in the wild branches until they bring forth good fruit, and are one with the covenant family. And when he takes tame branches from the tame olive tree, and grafts them into the roots of the wild trees, similar things happen: the goodness of the covenant in these young and tender branches somehow changes the wild roots so that they too bring forth good fruit.
Mercy, healing and change are available through covenant with Jesus Christ, the Holy One of Israel, the Lord of the vineyard. His Atonement is powerful enough to changes our natures, from being wayward, rebellious, and unproductive to being tender, productive, and fruitful. And the power of his Atonement can bring about a beautiful sense of oneness with our families, living and dead, all blessed by the new and everlasting covenant.
Monday, October 4, 2010
See that I have commanded that none of you should go away
We learn from the scriptures that Jesus stands "with open arms to receive [us]" (Mormon 6:17). For me that has been easy to believe as it relates to other people (i.e., he stands with open arms to receive them), but harder to truly believe as it relates to me.
I am often weighed down by my own shortcomings, and my consistent failure to do everything I know I should do, 100% of the time. I know this is not a unique indictment and essentially applies to all of us, but sometimes, my great weakness gets to me.
I felt that way during a recent visit to the San Diego Temple. As I participated in an endowment session, surrounded by fellow church members, all dressed in white, I began to feel a bit out of place, as a flood of my personal failings and weaknesses came to mind. I thought, "I am grumpy when I should be pleasant. I am selfish and self-centered, when I should be selfless. When I serve, I often do so with a desire for notoriety and recognition. I am insincere when I should be sincere. I am doubtful when I should be full of faith..." I felt overwhelmed by all the good things that others are, and that the Lord is, but that I am not.
Then, these words from The Book of Mormon came to my mind: "see that I have commanded that none of you should go away..." (3 Nephi 18:25). I hadn't read this scripture for a long time, but the Holy Ghost brought it to my remembrance word for word, and I honestly felt in that moment that I had heard the voice of the Lord, in the sense that I had received a message from Him that was tailored for me in my moment of need. I began to sense His great love for me; that even with my all great weaknesses, he doesn't want me to go away. Instead he says "come unto me, that ye might feel and see." (3 Nephi 18:25). He wants me to keep showing up, to keep begging for mercy, and to let Him use His atoning power to transform my weakness into strength (Ether 12:27)
The scriptures are full of Jesus' invitations to "come unto me", and I always knew He meant it in a general sense, but now I see that the envelope has my name on it: " Josh, come unto me!"
I am often weighed down by my own shortcomings, and my consistent failure to do everything I know I should do, 100% of the time. I know this is not a unique indictment and essentially applies to all of us, but sometimes, my great weakness gets to me.
I felt that way during a recent visit to the San Diego Temple. As I participated in an endowment session, surrounded by fellow church members, all dressed in white, I began to feel a bit out of place, as a flood of my personal failings and weaknesses came to mind. I thought, "I am grumpy when I should be pleasant. I am selfish and self-centered, when I should be selfless. When I serve, I often do so with a desire for notoriety and recognition. I am insincere when I should be sincere. I am doubtful when I should be full of faith..." I felt overwhelmed by all the good things that others are, and that the Lord is, but that I am not.
Then, these words from The Book of Mormon came to my mind: "see that I have commanded that none of you should go away..." (3 Nephi 18:25). I hadn't read this scripture for a long time, but the Holy Ghost brought it to my remembrance word for word, and I honestly felt in that moment that I had heard the voice of the Lord, in the sense that I had received a message from Him that was tailored for me in my moment of need. I began to sense His great love for me; that even with my all great weaknesses, he doesn't want me to go away. Instead he says "come unto me, that ye might feel and see." (3 Nephi 18:25). He wants me to keep showing up, to keep begging for mercy, and to let Him use His atoning power to transform my weakness into strength (Ether 12:27)
The scriptures are full of Jesus' invitations to "come unto me", and I always knew He meant it in a general sense, but now I see that the envelope has my name on it: " Josh, come unto me!"
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Book of Mormon Witnesses
This is a post from December of last year, just after I started reading the Book of Mormon again---it was on an old blog of mine, but I wanted to include it here as well:
December 31, 2009:
I've just started reading the Book of Mormon again, and listening to a podcast of BYU's Book of Mormon Roundtable Discussions (available here). One of the things mentioned in the Introductory podcast is that when you combine the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Three Witnesses (Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris), and the Eight Witnesses (Christian Whitmer, Jacob Whitmer, Peter Whitmer, Jr., John Whitmer, Hiram Page, Joseph Smith, Sr., Hyrum Smith, and Samuel H. Smith), you have twelve individual witnesses of the Book of Mormon's validity and divine origin.
Another interesting point is that the testimony of Eight Witnesses nicely complements the testimony of Three Witnesses. The Eight saw the plates with their own eyes in broad daylight. Joseph Smith showed the plates to them; they hefted them, turned the leaves, and examined the engravings with their own eyes. The testimony of the Eight is completely derived from what they were able to observe naturally through their physical senses---almost a scientific observation, confirming that the plates did, in fact, exist, and looked exactly like Joseph said they looked.
In contrast the testimony of Three Witnesses was derived from a spiritual experience---the three testified that they saw the engravings on the plates "by the power of God, and not of man." An angel from God came down from heaven and showed them the plates, and they heard the voice of God testify of the truthfulness of the record and the translation.
Critics who believe in God, but have trouble accepting the Book of Mormon could claim that Joseph fabricated what looked like gold plates and deceived the Eight into thinking that they had actually seen an ancient record. But what then of the testimony of the three, who claim to have heard the voice of God declaring that the record was true and the translation correct, and to whom the plates were shown, not by Joseph Smith, but by an angel? And those critics who deny God and the supernatural could claim that the Three were simply hallucinating must somehow explain how Joseph came up with the heavy gold plates that were shown to eight men in broad daylight. In this way the physical testimony of the Eight, and the spiritual testimony of the Three are mutually reinforcing and and strengthen each other against attack from various perspectives.
The text of the Testimony of the Three Witnesses is especially compelling to me (read it here), in part because each man who so testified never denied his testimony, even when that testimony required leaving possessions and family behind, and even when they were disaffected with the Prophet Joseph and could have recanted their testimony in order to hurt him or the Church. Each went to his grave affirming that what he had said years before was true.
Of course none of this proves to anyone that the Book of Mormon is true. But hopefully these Book of Mormon witnesses create enough room to believe that we are willing to try the experiment and find out for ourselves. I'm looking forward to renewing my own witness of the book as I start reading again.
December 31, 2009:
I've just started reading the Book of Mormon again, and listening to a podcast of BYU's Book of Mormon Roundtable Discussions (available here). One of the things mentioned in the Introductory podcast is that when you combine the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Three Witnesses (Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris), and the Eight Witnesses (Christian Whitmer, Jacob Whitmer, Peter Whitmer, Jr., John Whitmer, Hiram Page, Joseph Smith, Sr., Hyrum Smith, and Samuel H. Smith), you have twelve individual witnesses of the Book of Mormon's validity and divine origin.
Another interesting point is that the testimony of Eight Witnesses nicely complements the testimony of Three Witnesses. The Eight saw the plates with their own eyes in broad daylight. Joseph Smith showed the plates to them; they hefted them, turned the leaves, and examined the engravings with their own eyes. The testimony of the Eight is completely derived from what they were able to observe naturally through their physical senses---almost a scientific observation, confirming that the plates did, in fact, exist, and looked exactly like Joseph said they looked.
In contrast the testimony of Three Witnesses was derived from a spiritual experience---the three testified that they saw the engravings on the plates "by the power of God, and not of man." An angel from God came down from heaven and showed them the plates, and they heard the voice of God testify of the truthfulness of the record and the translation.
Critics who believe in God, but have trouble accepting the Book of Mormon could claim that Joseph fabricated what looked like gold plates and deceived the Eight into thinking that they had actually seen an ancient record. But what then of the testimony of the three, who claim to have heard the voice of God declaring that the record was true and the translation correct, and to whom the plates were shown, not by Joseph Smith, but by an angel? And those critics who deny God and the supernatural could claim that the Three were simply hallucinating must somehow explain how Joseph came up with the heavy gold plates that were shown to eight men in broad daylight. In this way the physical testimony of the Eight, and the spiritual testimony of the Three are mutually reinforcing and and strengthen each other against attack from various perspectives.
The text of the Testimony of the Three Witnesses is especially compelling to me (read it here), in part because each man who so testified never denied his testimony, even when that testimony required leaving possessions and family behind, and even when they were disaffected with the Prophet Joseph and could have recanted their testimony in order to hurt him or the Church. Each went to his grave affirming that what he had said years before was true.
Of course none of this proves to anyone that the Book of Mormon is true. But hopefully these Book of Mormon witnesses create enough room to believe that we are willing to try the experiment and find out for ourselves. I'm looking forward to renewing my own witness of the book as I start reading again.
That book is true!
I was sitting in our Stake Center watching Priesthood Session of Conference last night, when I heard Elder Russell M. Nelson speak about missionary work, and our sacred obligation to preach the gospel to all the world. He spoke about traditional missionary opportunities that we can all have by expanding our circle of friends and being open and positive about our membership in the church and willing to share and invite others to "Come and see." He also spoke about taking advantage of all the new internet opportunities to share the gospel---facebook, blogging, mormon.org profiles, etc.
My thoughts immediately turned to blogging, and I felt like it might be a good idea to start sharing things I learn every day during my study of The Book of Mormon. I served a mission in south Texas several years back, but since then I haven't taken the chance to share my testimony often. I've retreated into a fearful pattern of "better not say anything", and I'd like to start to break the silence. The truth is that I do know that The Book of Mormon is true. There are so many insights packed into its pages---ideas, suggestions, and counsel directed specifically to me, in unmistakable ways. So many others could say the same. Moroni, the book's final author, said "I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing" (Mormon 8:35), and so it is. And the only satisfying explanation for it all is the explanation Joseph Smith gave for it. Yes, that book is true!
So, each day, I'm going to share something I learned from The Book of Mormon during the day, and in some small way, share my witness that what was written "by the hand of Mormon" really is the word of God!
My thoughts immediately turned to blogging, and I felt like it might be a good idea to start sharing things I learn every day during my study of The Book of Mormon. I served a mission in south Texas several years back, but since then I haven't taken the chance to share my testimony often. I've retreated into a fearful pattern of "better not say anything", and I'd like to start to break the silence. The truth is that I do know that The Book of Mormon is true. There are so many insights packed into its pages---ideas, suggestions, and counsel directed specifically to me, in unmistakable ways. So many others could say the same. Moroni, the book's final author, said "I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing" (Mormon 8:35), and so it is. And the only satisfying explanation for it all is the explanation Joseph Smith gave for it. Yes, that book is true!
So, each day, I'm going to share something I learned from The Book of Mormon during the day, and in some small way, share my witness that what was written "by the hand of Mormon" really is the word of God!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)