Jesus Christ

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 respective 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 in final... Read the rest of this entry »

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: Read the rest of this entry »  Read More →

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 Christ:... Read the rest of this entry »

Why does the Savior Jesus Christ teach that we must be like little children? Funny, when I was young all I wanted to do was to grow up; now that I am “grown up” my whole life is dedicated to trying to be more like a child. I had the privilege at age three to have my grandmother live with me. To be honest, I don’t remember her being sick at all. I don’t remember her going through chemo and losing her hair. I don’t remember the hospital bed that took over our downstairs room. But I do remember that she was my best friend. I even remember my favorite white t-shirt of hers that had glittery fish on it. I remember calling the cops on her because she cut off the crust of my sandwich, when I wanted it on (true story). I remember playing with her, hugging her, and thinking that she was the bestest grandmother anybody could ever ask for. We need not fear death I did not fear her sickness, or her eventual death at my young tender age. I’m sure I felt... Read the rest of this entry »

In today’s world, people often wonder, “Who is God?” The next questions that often come up are: Does He know me? Do I matter to Him? These are age-old questions, and really the questions of life. If we know the answers to these questions, then we can put our life on earth into perspective. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes inadvertently called the Mormon Church, I believe that God is my Heavenly Father. In the Articles of Faith (13 points of belief that outline basic teachings and ordinances in the Mormon Church), the first one is: “We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.” They are three separate and distinct beings. God is our Eternal Father, our Father in Heaven. If you look “God” up in the Latter-day Saint version of the Bible Dictionary, it says: “[God is] the supreme Governor of the universe and the Father of mankind.” ‘Our Father... Read the rest of this entry »

Most of Christendom is familiar with the prophecies of old which foretold of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the world. In like manner, they are also acquainted with the accounts of the Savior’s actual birth, as these are some of the main passages of scripture that are focused upon, especially during the Christmas season. In that same vein, there are many who do not believe that Mormons (Latter-day Saints, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) are Christian and therefore they must have an entirely different understanding about the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, a careful study of what Latter-day Saints believe and teach will reveal that their understanding of the events surrounding Christ’s birth is in direct line with what the Bible teaches. Prophets Foretold of the Coming Messiah – the Savior of the World Perhaps one of the most familiar passages of scripture in the Bible which reveal the... Read the rest of this entry »

What is the definition of peace? I recently watched General Conference (a conference for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes mistakenly called the “Mormon Church”) and was impressed by one of the talks by a member of The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Quentin L. Cook, who spoke on peace. He said the peace that he was talking about was “not a temporary tranquility” rather, he said, “[peace] is an abiding deep happiness and spiritual contentment” (Conference Report, April, 2013). How Can I Have Peace? About two years ago, I went through one of the hardest trials I have faced in mortality. It was one of those that you feel like the whole world is crashing down on you. The issue has yet to be resolved; but my heart has. How? I found solace not by buying expensive jewelry or seeking power, but by drawing nearer to my Savior Jesus Christ through prayer, scripture study, and service. I testify that as I sought Him,... Read the rest of this entry »

BYU (Brigham Young University) 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. In this series (see below), students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the Book of Mormon in the form of letters to someone they know. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures. In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to speak to all of us of the relevance, power and beauty of the Book of Mormon, a second witness of Jesus Christ and complement to the Bible. The Book of Mormon includes the religious history of a group of Israelites who settled in ancient America. (The names they use are those of prophets who taught the Book of Mormon peoples to look forward to... Read the rest of this entry »

BYU (Brigham Young University) 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. In this series (see below), students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the Book of Mormon in the form of letters to someone they know. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures. In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to speak to all of us of the relevance, power and beauty of the Book of Mormon, a second witness of Jesus Christ and complement to the Bible. The Book of Mormon includes the religious history of a group of Israelites who settled in ancient America. (The names they use are those of prophets who taught the Book of Mormon peoples to look forward to... Read the rest of this entry »

BYU (Brigham Young University) 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. In this series (see below), students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the Book of Mormon in the form of letters to someone they know. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures. In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to speak to all of us of the relevance, power and beauty of the Book of Mormon, a second witness of Jesus Christ and complement to the Bible. The Book of Mormon includes the religious history of a group of Israelites who settled in ancient America. (The names they use are those of prophets who taught the Book of Mormon peoples to look forward to... Read the rest of this entry »