Jesus Christ

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, and became... Read the rest of this entry »

Brigham Young University (BYU) is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often mistakenly called the “Mormon Church.” As part of their undergraduate coursework, BYU students take multiple semesters of spiritually uplifting, stimulating religion classes. Here, in this column, students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the New Testament and gospel of Jesus Christ in the form of letters to someone they know.  In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to witness to all of us of the relevance, power, and beauty of the New Testament, and God’s plan of happiness for each of us.  We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures. Let us know how these may help you in your own life. Share them with a friend. Savior and Redeemer: The Apostle Paul and Forgiveness In my New Testament class we studied Paul’s first missionary... Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Amanda Keating, a BYU student, studying a volume of scripture known as the Pearl of Great Price, which is written by prophets; members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints “Mormons” revere it as sacred text. This post comes from a book within the Pearl of Great Price known as The Book of Moses; it is an extraction from the translation of the Bible as revealed to Joseph Smith the Prophet, June 1830—February 1831. Heavenly Father Knows Us All In a book of scripture, known as the Pearl of Great Price, Moses was shown the world by the very creator himself, Jesus Christ, and during this time he realized, to a degree, how insignificant he and all of mankind are compared to the greatness and many works of God (See Moses Chapter 1). This idea is supported by Moses saying “And for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed” (see Moses 1:10). However, before Moses was shown some of the creations... Read the rest of this entry »

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes inadvertently nicknamed “The Mormon Church” by the media), like all Christians, believe in studying God’s word in the scriptures daily. The Holy Bible and The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, along with other books containing God’s revelations to ancient and modern prophets, make up the canon of Mormon Scripture. We should feast our minds daily upon the word of God as contained in the scriptures. Sometimes, however, we let worldly voices take over our minds, crowding out the word of the Lord. The World or the Word? The world and the Word offer two different paradigms for living the good life. We all need to pause and see how much time we’re spending in each, and which sources of information fill our minds. How much time are we spending each day listening to the worldly view of the world’s media? How much time do we spend reading... Read the rest of this entry »

Elizabeth Hill has four children is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (inadvertently called by friends of other faiths as the “Mormon Church”) residing in Montana. Have you ever wondered why there are never any small children helping on cooking shows like Rachel Ray and Emeril? Sources tell me the shows would have to be taped from a padded room because you would have to be clinically insane to attempt measuring, stirring and any -ing with the little guys. Anytime you introduce highly powdery elements like flour, sticky ones like honey and slick ones like oil–exciting things are in store. So, why in the world do I allow, even welcome my three girls and one son to assist me in baking/cooking? It has been a process… I have been through phases where during dinner preparation I wanted to install those applause signs (maybe Rachel or Emeril could have one I could borrow!) but I would change the lettering to... Read the rest of this entry »

Keith L. Brown is a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and serves as a High Priest Group Leader in the Annapolis, Maryland Ward. The tiny babe who in Bethlehem’s manger lay was no ordinary child. Some people called Him the son of David. Others called Him the son of Joseph. The scriptures call Him the son of David, the son of Mary, the son of man, the Son of God. He whose name is Immanuel, meaning God is with us, was born to be the King of kings and the Lord of lords. This child was the promised Messiah – even Jesus the Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God. For hundreds of years prophecies had foretold the birth of a Messiah, and on that starry night in the city of David, the One who would fulfill those prophecies was born in a humble stable with a manger as His cradle. In the Book of Mormon, in 3 Nephi 1: 13 we read, “Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall... Read the rest of this entry »

We are not left alone on this earth. Jesus Christ was sent to this earth to give us the strength to overcome challenges, problems, and sin. To overcome sin. He asks us to look to Him with faith that He knows what is best for us. There is a pathway that the Lord Jesus Christ has provided for us so that we might be able to find peace in this life and eternal life in the next life. He has given us the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord prospers all those who follow the gospel of Jesus Christ. In The Book of Mormon, a record of the teachings of Jesus Christ that God gave to the ancient inhabitants of the American continent, it says: And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending... Read the rest of this entry »

Hillary W., member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), and student at Brigham Young University (BYU).  In the first chapter of the Book of Moses, a book of ancient scripture translated by the power of God into a volume called the Pearl of Great Price, we learn of an encounter that Moses had where he came to know God face to face. In this encounter we learn of God’s relationship to Moses. There are many ways that the relationship between God and Moses helps me to feel closer to our Heavenly Father. Moses is explicitly told that he is a son of God. The importance of the gospel is also emphasized through their relationship. Moses trusts God and God trusts Moses. Moses also realizes the necessity of having our Heavenly Father in our lives. Having an example of a mortal man that was here on earth helps me to realize that I can have this same close relationship with our Father in Heaven. When God comes to visit Moses on the mountain,... Read the rest of this entry »

by Jacob L., member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), and student at Brigham Young University (BYU). Often in testimony meeting, we hear members say how they are grateful for the love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Indeed, we have all felt and do feel God’s love for us as we draw nearer to him by obedience to His commandments, and even when we feel we are undeserving of His love. But as I read and reread Enoch’s vision of God, I learned more of the nature of God the Father and Jesus Christ than ever before. Indeed, learning about God our Father that He is magnificent and glorious, that He has passion and eternal feelings, that He can at times feel devastated when we don’t love our brethren and choose to neglect Him. The other piece of doctrine that I have learned from analyzing Moses 7 is that of God’s law in dealing with His people collectively. I will compare the land of Canaan with the people of Enoch.... Read the rest of this entry »

by Eric Kotter, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (“Mormon“), Eric is a student at BYU-Idaho studying communications. Have you ever had just a strong desire to know something? You may be confused with how to do a certain math problem, or it might be something bigger such as understanding how to find more meaning in your life. This is the same way a young 14 year old boy felt. As a young teenager, a boy by the name of Joseph Smith wondered about religion and salvation. He wanted to know and understand the things that God wanted him to do in order to return back to Him. In around 1820, Joseph Smith started to get involved with some of the religious excitement that was going on at the time where he was living in Palmyra, New York. Using his own words from Joseph Smith History it says, During this time of great excitement my mind was called up to serious reflection and great uneasiness; but though my feelings were deep and often... Read the rest of this entry »