Mormons Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ
Tweet The first Article of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often inadvertently called the “Mormon Church,” states, “We believe in God the Eternal Father and in His Son Jesus Christ and in the Holy Ghost” (Articles of Faith 1:1.) The Lord Jesus Christ is the glorious Being adored and worshiped by Latter-day Saints (“Mormons”.) The reestablishment of The Church of Jesus Christ in modern times began by an event known to Latter-day Saints as The First Vision. After studying the tenets of religion and wanting to follow God’s commandment to be baptized, Joseph Smith read James 1:5 which states, “If any of you lack you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not.” Emboldened by God’s promise to answer his sincere prayer, Joseph knelt alone in a grove of trees to ask God which church he should join. Joseph recorded, I saw a pillar of light, exactly over my head... Read the rest of this entry »
How to Pray (and Get Results)
Tweet Growing up, I was taught to recite a little prayer. At the end, I could tack on requests, but I never really gave any thought to getting results from my prayers until I became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From the Mormons (the nickname sometimes used for members of the Church), I learned that most prayers should be two-way conversations, not recited routines given without thought. It was a new way to look at prayer for me. Once I understood that I could talk to God in the same way I talk to others, I also understood it was not a monologue. I was supposed to give God a chance to answer, as well. This was confusing. How would that happen? Sometimes it was obvious. If I needed to find ten more dollars for textbooks and got offered a babysitting job that paid what I needed, I knew I’d gotten my answer. However, what if I only needed advice? How did I get advice in the form of a prayer answer? How to Pray The first... Read the rest of this entry »
Turning to Christ = Receiving Strength
Tweet Randall J. Brown shares in his book, Experiencing Christ: Your Personal Journey to the Savior, and published in 2009 by Cedar Fort, Inc.(pp. 19-20), his insights on how trials and weaknesses turn us to Jesus Christ. As we turn to Christ, He can lift us—regardless of the problems we face. Brown belongs to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes inadvertently called the “Mormon Church”), and is an avid follower and disciple of Christ: Our Father in Heaven does not condemn us for our weaknesses; they are gifts, meant to humble us and turn us to Christ. In fact, it is because of His deep love and compassion for each of us that He sent his Only Begotten Son. The Apostle John wrote, “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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be... Read the rest of this entry »
What Stops the Grace of God from Entering Our Lives?
Tweet What is the grace of God? The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes inadvertently called the “Mormon Church”) teaches that “Grace is a gift from Heavenly Father given through His Son, Jesus Christ. The word grace, as used in the scriptures, refers primarily to enabling power and spiritual healing offered through the mercy and love of Jesus Christ” (see Bible Dictionary). Who wouldn’t want this great gift from God? And yet, there are billions of people who deny the gift that Christ has already paid for. Barriers that Blockade Us from God’s Grace Randall J. Brown, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ, shares in his book, Experiencing Christ: Your Personal Journey to the Savior, and published in 2009 by Cedar Fort, Inc.(pp. 15-17), his insights on some of the barriers that blockade us from receiving the grace of God: Our barriers to the Savior’s grace are the enemies of our souls; they keep us entrenched in battle,... Read the rest of this entry »
Christianity: Becoming Disciples of Jesus Christ
Tweet In the English language, the word “disciple” can be used as both a noun and a verb. When used as a noun, the word refers to “one who embraces and assists in spreading the teachings of another.” In the realm of Christianity, the term suggests “a personal follower of Jesus Christ during his life, especially one of the twelve Apostles.” Used as a verb, to disciple someone means to “guide (someone) in becoming a follower of Jesus Christ or another leader.” And so, it follows that suitable synonyms for the word “disciple” are: follower, pupil, adherent, student, apprentice, and learner. The word “disciple” is very closely related to the word “discipline” which can be defined as “the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior.” Therefore, it could be said that a disciple is a disciplined pupil or adherent. The prophet Mormon, in the Book of Mormon (Another Testament of Jesus Christ), declared to... Read the rest of this entry »
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 »