Nothing Without Christ
Tweet In a book titled, Experiencing Christ: Your Personal Journey to the Savior, published in 2009 by Cedar Fort, Inc., and written by Randall J. Brown, (a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes inadvertently called the “Mormon Church”) shares his personal witness of our need for a Savior: Experiencing Our Nothingness How freeing it was for me to know that the Lord did not hold me responsible for earning my own salvation. How grateful I am for the understanding that I am, in reality, powerless to do so without His grace. As we become increasingly aware of the enemies of our souls, we will come to know of our powerlessness to overcome the natural man through our own efforts alone. No mortal being possesses the power sufficient to put off the natural man without the divine help of the Savior. Enabled by the power of the Spirit, Moses experienced the Lord’s presence and tasted the bitter contrast between the Savior’s... Read the rest of this entry »
Following Jesus Christ into the Wilderness
Tweet Have you ever felt like you should do something, even if it doesn’t make sense to do it? For instance, just yesterday I was taking a walk near a temple owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes inadvertently called the “Mormon Church” by friends of other faiths), and I saw a girl sitting on a bench and she looked like she was thinking about something of great importance (something that members of The Church of Jesus Christ—also known as “Mormons” do often at Mormon temples in order to receive answers to prayers). The first time I walked past her I told her she was beautiful, inside and out. She smiled and said thank you, but quickly went back to her deep contemplation look. When I walked past her the second time a voice (not an audible one, just a “feeling” one) said, “go tell her that she can do it!” When I felt that, I quickly shrugged it off with the thoughts, “I already complimented her, I would... Read the rest of this entry »
Reflections on LDS General Conference: Lord, I Believe
Tweet During the first weekend in April, and the first weekend of October of each year, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints conducts its perspective annual and semiannual General Conference of the Church. Each session of the Conference is replete with uplifting and inspiring messages in word and in song that provide nourishment for the hungering soul, and a cool refreshing drink from the springs of Living Water. While listening to the messages presented during the 183rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ held in April 2013, there was a particular message delivered by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (the second-highest presiding group within the LDS Church) during the Sunday afternoon session that seemed to resonate within my soul. The title of his message was Lord, I Believe. “If Thou Canst Believe. . . .” In his gospel account, Mark recounts the story of a loving father, who perhaps... Read the rest of this entry »
Overcoming Anxiety and Depression: Grace from Jesus Christ
Tweet No one quite knows exactly what we are going through, no one except our Savior Jesus Christ. Even if two people are experiencing deep depression, anxiety, or thoughts of suicide, their experiences are different from one another. However, our Lord and Savior does know how succor the needs of every individual in a perfect and matchless way, because He has felt every ounce of pain, sorrow, sickness and sin we have ever felt and will ever feel—He has conquered it all (Book of Mormon, Alma 7:11-12). How can we receive help from Jesus Christ? In a book titled, Experiencing Christ: Your Personal Journey to the Savior, written by Randall J. Brown, and published in 2009 by Cedar Fort, Inc., Brown shares a personal example of going through “an emotional hell” and how he was able to grow closer to Jesus Christ during that time: In January 1990, I experienced a fiery trial. I endured a two-week cycle of continuous panic attacks, during which the desperately... Read the rest of this entry »
Our Challenges Bring Us Closer to Jesus Christ
Tweet Have you ever thought that your spiritual weaknesses might actually help you? In the Book of Mormon, a book revered as sacred scripture by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes inadvertently called the “Mormon Church”), there is a verse that has always stood out to me: And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them (Ether 12:27). This is something that I know is true, for I have seen it happen in my life and the lives of many of my loved ones. I still have many weaknesses that have yet become strengths, but I know that life is a work in progress and we are only able to go “line upon line, and precept upon precept” (2 Nephi 28:30). In a book titled, Experiencing... Read the rest of this entry »
Christ’s Revelations on the Fall: Insights into Mormon Doctrine
Tweet When I was growing up, I remember my parents teaching us about Adam and Eve. How Heavenly Father created them, and put them in the Garden of Eden, and then how they ate the forbidden fruit and were cast out. I remember thinking, “Why’d they have to ruin it for us?” I thought that surely if they had stayed there, then we all would just be living in the beautiful garden, and be immortal. It would be great! Later, though, I came to understand the true doctrine of the Fall, and the important place it holds in Heavenly Father’s plan for each of us. What Exactly Does “The Fall” Mean? In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes inadvertently called the “Mormon Church,” we call these events the Fall because Adam and Eve fell from the presence of God to mortality. Before the Fall, when they were in the garden, they didn’t know good from evil, and were immortal. After the Fall, they had knowledge of good and evil,... Read the rest of this entry »
Life after Death: It’s About Hope
Tweet “What happens when we die?” This is one of the pressing questions about life that people all across the world grapple with every day. Most of the time, we don’t think about it. People we don’t know die, people far away and unconnected with our own lives. Then, when someone we love and care about is facing death or suddenly taken from us, or we ourselves are facing death, this question looms bigger than ever before. Sometimes, the uncertainty of what lies ahead can be overwhelming or even paralyzing. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes inadvertently referred to as the “Mormon Church,” offers an explanation of what happens when we die that brings family and friends peace, hope and comfort. The Spirit and the Body Latter-day Saints, also called Mormons, believe that the body and spirit are two separate things. Our bodies are like a glove; objects that can’t move or touch or feel unless there is a hand in them.... Read the rest of this entry »
Fasting and Prayer: Answers and Increased Faith
Tweet Fasting was hard. Really hard. Going without food or water for 24 hours—that was a whole day! It seemed that no matter how hard I tried, I could never do it. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes inadvertently referred to as the “Mormon Church,” my family fasted every month on Fast Sunday. And it was hard. I had been told that I was supposed to fast with a specific purpose in mind, but I could never think of a good enough reason, so I would use that as an excuse not to fast at all. Then, when I was in high school, life was suddenly getting more complicated. I had to make some big decisions about college and a career, and I was confused. In The Church of Jesus Christ, we believe in and follow our Savior’s example in all things, including fasting and prayer. We believe these actions are important to increase our spirituality and help us draw closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I decided to follow... Read the rest of this entry »
Birth of Jesus Christ: The Light of the World
Tweet The Most Wonderful Time “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” says one popular Christmas song sung by 1960s singer Andy Williams. The song says it’s “the most wonderful time” because of the “holiday greetings,” “parties for hosting,” “caroling out in the snow,” and “loved ones near.” The Christmas season is one of the most magical times of the year, especially in predominantly Christian countries. There is a spirit of giving and happiness, despite whatever hardships have happened during the year. But the real reason that it’s the most wonderful time is because it celebrates the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Born in the Meridian of Time This year, calendars around the world proudly proclaim the year as 2013. 2013 years since the birth of Jesus Christ, to be precise. This system of reckoning time has been in use for thousands of years, and places the birth of Jesus Christ at the center of time. More recently,... Read the rest of this entry »
The Apostasy: A Falling Away
Tweet The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes mistakenly referred to as the Mormon Church) is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, the same gospel and church that Christ established when He was on the earth over 2000 years ago. When the Church was established in 1830, there were hundreds of Christian churches on earth, each professing to have the truth. Joseph Smith, a young man living in New York in the early 1800s, was also puzzled by the number of churches. He decided to pray to God to know which church was true. When his prayer was answered, he was told to “join none of them, for they were all wrong” (Joseph Smith—History 1:19). How could so many churches all be wrong, and all profess to be right? The answer is the Great Apostasy. Prophecies about the Apostasy The Apostasy is an event foretold by both Old and New Testament prophets. Paul spoke of the Apostasy in more than one of his epistles. In 2 Timothy, Paul states that... Read the rest of this entry »