Oh Say, What is Truth?

Oh say, what is truth? 

'Tis the fairest gem

That the riches of worlds can produce

and priceless the value of truth will be when

The proud monarch's costliest diadem

Is counted but dross and refuse.

We are all searching for truth. It is what we all aim for, it is what we want to obtain, and it is what we dream about. Truth, where can one find it? How can we obtain it? What are we willing to do to hold it in our hearts and never let go? Is there a sacrifice not great enough to obtain such a blessing? 

Jesus Christ likened truth unto a mustard seed, "Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and where unto shall I resemble it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it." (Luke 13:18-19)  

The mustard seed is a very small seed. However, when it grows it becomes a shrub that will cover any field that it is planted in. The birds that lodge into the shrubs, or bushes, do find food and shelter in their branches. It is the same with us. This small source of truth, the seed of truth, has become known around the world. Truth is found in many different sources, and it is being spread by many different methods. With 50,000 plus full time missionaries around the world using all sorts of media such as the Internet, via Facebook and blogs, standard paperback books, via pamphlets and copies of the Book of Mormon, and their own heart felt testimonies, they have been able to help spread the good word to all the world. They have the truth and they want to share it, and they promise that all those that will lodge onto the truth will also find the spiritual food and shelter they have been searching for.

Oh say what is truth? It is security, peace of mind, comfort in trying times, and the true direction that we should follow in this life. I bear you my testimony that the truth has been restored through a prophet that was called of God to do so. His name was Joseph Smith, Jr. He, by the power of God, translated the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, so that we may know to what source we can ultimately find truth. That ultimate source that the Book of Mormon points to is God the Eternal Father, and His Son Jesus Christ. For more info check out www.mormon.org.

Overcoming Trials

When I think of the stories in the scriptures of prophets and great men and women overcoming great obstacles I often think of the following stories: the young boy David taking on the gigantic Goliath (1 Samuel 17), the innocent queen Esther and her courage to face the king (Book of Esther), Daniel and his bravery in the Lion's den (Daniel 6), Jonah and his adventure in the belly of the bug fish (Book of Jonah), Peter walking on water to approach Christ (Matthew 14:25-31), the raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 11), and Naamon and the search for a cure of his terrible leprosy (2 Kings 5). All these stories from the Bible each illustrate different morals that we can apply in our lives. However different these stories may be, one principle of the gospel remains constant: have faith in Christ, and He will deliver you from your trials.
1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that  ye may be able to bear it." Often times we relate this scripture with our trials, instead of using the word temptation we substitute it with trials. "There hath no trial taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tried able that ye are able..." It is true. God won't give us more than we can handle, but sometimes it seems that we are given too much! So how can we be sure that this is true, and that God will "make a way to escape, that [we] may be able to bear it?"
Let's look at the story of Job. He was a man of wealth and posterity. He was faithful, and God blessed him greatly for it. The Holy Bible says that Job was "perfect" (Job 1:1.) It is unfortunate that such a perfect man was tried in the way that he was. He had what he thought was everything, and then he lost it all; children, crops, servants, health, and property. However, as we continue to read the account of Job we recognize that even through all his trials he never cursed God or gave up in his faith. Ultimately it was Job's faith that prevailed and he was blessed a double-fold of what he already had! So why was Job tried? So that God could bless him with more. Job would not have grown without the trial, neither can we grow with out our trials.
"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you" (John 14:18.) This was the promise Christ gave to His disciples shortly before He was taken away to be crucified. He was going to leave them physically, but He would not leave them spiritually. He promised them His comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, to lead and guide them in their daily lives. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart: and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6.) If we put our faith in Jesus Christ, He will comfort us and give us guidance. Whether our trials be death, facing an enemy, illness, or some other tragedy, know that Jesus Christ is there for all of us in our darkest of times. May we always remember the words of Jesus Christ, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me" (John 14:1.) Let us believe in Jesus Christ, and He will help us overcome our trials.