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.

The Role of a Righteous Father

From an official statement given by the general authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, called "The Family: A Proclamation to the World," we learn of the divine role of a father. "By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families." There are many great examples of righteous fathers found in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. However, I would like to write about one of those fathers from out of the Book of Mormon, his name was Lehi.
Lehi is the first prophet of the Book of Mormon. He, in the beginning had a great family. He had four sons who names were Laman, Lemuel, Nephi, and Sam. By revelation and divine guidance, he was able to guide his family out of Jerusalem and into the promised land. Though he had rebellious children, he spared no effort in teaching them the ways of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He had a vision one night about a tree that bore the most desirous of fruits, even eternal life. Upon walking up to the tree he plucked off the fruit of it and bit into it. "And I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruits" (1 Nephi 8:12). What a righteous father! He partook of something great, and his immediate desire following this realization of this sweet treat was to share it with his family. The account given in the Book of Mormon talks more about the tree and the fruit thereof, but I choose not to focus on that until a later time. Right now I just wish to focus on the miracle that took place. Lehi continued to lead his family in the ways of the Lord. When times were tough, he remained a beacon of light to his family who struggled in darkness. Very seldom did he shirk his responsibility as a father, and in times when he was less than the example to his wife and children he repented and searched for forgiveness from his family and the Lord.
As fathers and husbands, we can not shirk on our responsibilities as parents. We can not partake of something so sweet and desirable and then tuck it away and hide it and keep it for ourselves. It is our responsibility to lead our family to the thing that will bring them true happiness, joy, and peace. The closer we come to our families, the closer we come to the Lord, and true happiness. Pray with your families and spouse, studying the word of the Lord through reading and listening to the scriptures, and go to church often with your family bear testimony to them of the truthfulness of the things they will learn.
As a special witness to Jesus Christ, I know that His gospel, in all its simplicity and glory, we greatly bless our families. For more information on how you can build a more happier home please check out mormon.org/family/

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.

Time

Nothing is as constant as time. No matter what happens in life tomorrow is a new day and a new beginning. Sometimes tomorrow feels like it will never come. I guess that is true. By the time tomorrow comes around it is today, and today is not yesterday. No two days are the same. We can choose for ourselves what we must do for the day ahead. The Lord understands that we make mistakes. He understands that we are not perfect, nor can we be in this mortal existence. However, He knows of our divine potential, and loves us for who we are.

That is the blessing of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ came to the world. He suffered in the garden of Gethsemane for us. He hung on the cross, and was resurrected three days later. He suffered for our sins, pains, afflictions, sorrows, guilt, doubt, loneliness, and torture. He did this so He could heal us. So He could bring comfort unto our souls. It is never too late to start over. It is never too late to ask God for help. It is never too late to find peace in this life. "For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Christ's arms are still out stretched towards us. Let Him carry us through our vale of sorrows.He Can Heal Us

MY SOUL HUNGERED, pt. 2

As a missionary actively serving God everyday I see a lot of struggles that are similar among people. I have to say that the one thing that I see the most common among them is their feeling of abandonment. They feel like God has forgotten them in their struggles. They feel like in their darkest hours that they have been left behind. This is absolutely not true!

No where in the Bible or the Book of Mormon does it say that God will forget His children. Never does it say will He forsake them. It says that, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you" (John 14:18.) That promise is for all of God's children. He will not forsake us. The number one problem why we have problems is because we tend to forget God. How do we forget Him? We do not communicate with Him as often as we should.

"And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray, ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray. But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul" (2 Nephi 32:8&9.)

Pray always. Heavenly Father does listen and will answer your prayers. Try it out, test it, and I promise you as a representative of Christ that you will receive an answer. You will no longer feel alone. You will no longer feel like you have been left in the dark. You will learn to know that Jesus is the Christ, and that He has died and suffered so that you may live again and be comforted in your hardest and darkest of times and trial.

My Soul Hungered, pt. 1

One of my favorite Book of Mormon stories is the story of Enos. He is one of my heroes. His story is a good example of an obedient son remembering the words of his father. It is an account of one who was faithful and who kept true to the faith. Enos was not perfect and in his book he never gave that impression. However, amiss his flaws he tried to do what was right. He prayed, and the power of prayer was made manifested in his account.

Heavenly Father wants all of His children to pray to Him. He loves us and He cares for us greatly. In my next blog entry I will share how prayer has helped me in my own life. However, at this time I want to encourage you to read the Book of Enos found in the Book of Mormon. It is a powerful story.

In moments of our lives we too struggle and wonder where we fit in this universal scheme of things. Our souls hunger for truth, and for placement. We feel the need to belong, we desire to know our purpose, and we relish any truth and peace that we can find. We struggle to know where to go. Enos remembered the words of his earthly father, Jacob, and knew that he had to pray. So he prayed, and Enos records the answer he received after he had prayed. God does answer prayers. He will answer yours, and He will answer the prayers of all those who humbly kneel before Him.

I bear you my testimony that prayer works. It is powerful. I have seen miracles happen because of prayer. Heavenly Father loves you, and cares for you far more than anyone else in the universe. Don't ever feel like He doesn't care. He does listen, and He knows you. Do you know Him? How can you know Him, unless you pray and talk with Him on a daily and personal basis. So pray, and come to know God, and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent because He loves you.

CHRISTMAS! Give me mas (more) Christ!

My favorite holiday is Christmas. It is the one time of year that you can see a bonding take place. A bond between all people, nations, and faiths. It is a time where love is felt and goodness is exchanged one from another. I like reading about the birth of Christ. It is a tender time in world history. Time itself revolves around this most significant event. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of mankind, was born to take away our sins and sadness. "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5) It is my prayer this Holiday season to remember Christ in all that we do, and how we interact with all of God's children.