Joseph Smith had first-hand knowledge of God. He saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ face-to-face. But even before the First Vision, Joseph Smith had a strong belief in God. He was raised in a religious home where they would read the Bible and pray as a family. This helped young Joseph see God in everything around him. He saw the hand of God in the earth, the moon, the sun, the stars, the animals, and especially in man who was created after God's own image.
Joseph Smith taught that we must comprehend the character of God in order to fully comprehend ourselves. He said, "Having a knowledge of God, we begin to know how to approach Him, and how to ask so as to receive an answer. When we understand the character of God, and know how to come to Him, He begins to unfold the heavens to us, and to tell us all about it. When we are ready to come to Him, He is ready to come to us." He also revealed:
"God Himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! That is the great secret. If the veil were rent today, and the great God who holds this world in its orbit, and who upholds all worlds and all things by His power, was to make Himself visible,—I say, if you were to see Him today, you would see Him like a man in form—like yourselves in all the person, image, and very form as a man."
The Prophet Joseph denounced the apostate concept of three Gods in one body. Due to the First Vision and other revelations, Joseph Smith was able to testify of the true nature of the Godhead. As it says in D&C 130:22, "The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us." The three members of the Godhead are not one physically, but are one in purpose. They each have a specific role in the Godhead: "[It is] the province of the Father to preside as the Chief or President, Jesus as the Mediator, and the Holy Ghost as the Testator or Witness."
Because the Prophet Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in person, the knowledge of the true character of God has been revealed again in our day. It is our privilege and responsibility to get to know God in order to gain "life eternal".
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Let's Try Again
Well, I meant to post here every week, but I got busy during the holidays. I probably focused too much on the worldly parts of the holidays (buying gifts, etc), and not enough on the spiritual ones. At least we did read the Christmas story as a family on Christmas Eve. Here's a video of that:
Now I'll start posting again, hopefully weekly, but at least more often than these last couple of months.
Now I'll start posting again, hopefully weekly, but at least more often than these last couple of months.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
I Can Do All Things Through Christ (New Testament Lesson 40)
Follow Christ
Throughout Paul's writings, he encourages the saints to follow Christ by being unified and showing love to one another. We can see that Paul truly understood that charity is "the pure love of Christ".
Paul also taught of the importance of humility. We should not do anything for "vainglory", but instead focus on helping others and building the Kingdom of God. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of humility. Even though He had the power to save Himself, He submitted Himself to the will of the Father and died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins.
Working Out Our Own Salvation
Paul stressed working out our own salvation with fear and trembling when speaking to the Philippians. But if you read his words in Ephesians 2:8-9, he seems to contradict himself. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." What seems to be a contradiction is made perfectly clear when compared with other scriptures. James emphasizes having both faith and works because neither is whole without the other. Probably the most succinct explanation of the relation between faith, or grace, and our works is found in the writings of Nephi. 2 Nephi 25:23 reads "...we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."
Sacrifice and Rejoicing
Paul counseled the Philippians to "rejoice in the Lord" and then starts talking about sacrifice. What does sacrifice have to do with rejoicing? Aren't those two things opposites? The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, "A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation; for, from the first existence of man, the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things” (emphasis is mine).
Being Thankful
Throughout his epistles, Paul exhorts the saints to be thankful. As we near the Thanksgiving holiday here in the United States, we are reminded of all the blessings in our life. How appropriate it is that the Christmas holiday, in which we worship and show our gratitude to Jesus Christ, should fall soon after Thanksgiving. Regardless of the time of year, we should always hold in remembrance those things the Lord has done for us and also given to us.
My Thoughts
There was so much to cover in this lesson that I couldn't mention it all. The 3 epistles in this lesson (Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon) really focus on Christ and His love for us. They also teach us how to be like Him. With the holidays fast approaching, let us think on what Christ would do and try to emulate Him, especially in regards to our fellowmen.
Throughout Paul's writings, he encourages the saints to follow Christ by being unified and showing love to one another. We can see that Paul truly understood that charity is "the pure love of Christ".
Paul also taught of the importance of humility. We should not do anything for "vainglory", but instead focus on helping others and building the Kingdom of God. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of humility. Even though He had the power to save Himself, He submitted Himself to the will of the Father and died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins.
Working Out Our Own Salvation
Paul stressed working out our own salvation with fear and trembling when speaking to the Philippians. But if you read his words in Ephesians 2:8-9, he seems to contradict himself. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." What seems to be a contradiction is made perfectly clear when compared with other scriptures. James emphasizes having both faith and works because neither is whole without the other. Probably the most succinct explanation of the relation between faith, or grace, and our works is found in the writings of Nephi. 2 Nephi 25:23 reads "...we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."
Sacrifice and Rejoicing
Paul counseled the Philippians to "rejoice in the Lord" and then starts talking about sacrifice. What does sacrifice have to do with rejoicing? Aren't those two things opposites? The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, "A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation; for, from the first existence of man, the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things” (emphasis is mine).
Being Thankful
Throughout his epistles, Paul exhorts the saints to be thankful. As we near the Thanksgiving holiday here in the United States, we are reminded of all the blessings in our life. How appropriate it is that the Christmas holiday, in which we worship and show our gratitude to Jesus Christ, should fall soon after Thanksgiving. Regardless of the time of year, we should always hold in remembrance those things the Lord has done for us and also given to us.
My Thoughts
There was so much to cover in this lesson that I couldn't mention it all. The 3 epistles in this lesson (Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon) really focus on Christ and His love for us. They also teach us how to be like Him. With the holidays fast approaching, let us think on what Christ would do and try to emulate Him, especially in regards to our fellowmen.
Monday, November 12, 2007
For the Perfecting of the Saints (New Testament Lesson 39)
The dispensation of the fulness of times
A dispensation is a period of time when the Lord has at least one servant on the earth who holds the keys of the priesthood and is authorized to administer the gospel. Now is the dispensation of the fulness of times because all of the things from previous dispensations that are necessary for our salvation have been restored. In Ephesians 1:10, Paul said, " That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him." Some things which are being gathered in our time include scriptures (the Book of Mormon has been restored to be another testament of Jesus Christ), Church members (the stakes of Zion are growing tremendously), records of the dead (the Spirit of Elijah has truly touched the people of the world, not just the members of the Church), and families (being sealed in the temple).
Jesus Christ as our cornerstone
Jesus Christ is our cornerstone and the prophets and apostles make up the foundation of the Church.
President Boyd K. Packer taught: “The ministry of the prophets and apostles leads them ever and always to the home and the family. … The ultimate purpose of all we teach is to unite parents and children in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they are happy at home, sealed in an eternal marriage, linked to their generations, and assured of exaltation in the presence of our Heavenly Father.”
Unity between husband and wife and between parents and children
Just as Christ loved the Church, husbands and wives should love each other. They should be willing to lay down their lives for each other. Even more importantly, they should be willing to do everything in their power to make each other happy every day of this life.
Parents should also love their children and provide for them.
My thoughts
Paul does a really good job of focusing on Jesus Christ. Christ really is the cornerstone of our faith. We should always try to emulate Him. One thing we can learn from him is love for our fellowmen, especially those of our own family. I'm glad that we've been placed on this earth in families and that we live in a time when the true Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored along with the foundation of prophets and apostles who receive revelation to guide us.
A dispensation is a period of time when the Lord has at least one servant on the earth who holds the keys of the priesthood and is authorized to administer the gospel. Now is the dispensation of the fulness of times because all of the things from previous dispensations that are necessary for our salvation have been restored. In Ephesians 1:10, Paul said, " That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him." Some things which are being gathered in our time include scriptures (the Book of Mormon has been restored to be another testament of Jesus Christ), Church members (the stakes of Zion are growing tremendously), records of the dead (the Spirit of Elijah has truly touched the people of the world, not just the members of the Church), and families (being sealed in the temple).
Jesus Christ as our cornerstone
Jesus Christ is our cornerstone and the prophets and apostles make up the foundation of the Church.
President Boyd K. Packer taught: “The ministry of the prophets and apostles leads them ever and always to the home and the family. … The ultimate purpose of all we teach is to unite parents and children in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they are happy at home, sealed in an eternal marriage, linked to their generations, and assured of exaltation in the presence of our Heavenly Father.”
Unity between husband and wife and between parents and children
Just as Christ loved the Church, husbands and wives should love each other. They should be willing to lay down their lives for each other. Even more importantly, they should be willing to do everything in their power to make each other happy every day of this life.
Parents should also love their children and provide for them.
My thoughts
Paul does a really good job of focusing on Jesus Christ. Christ really is the cornerstone of our faith. We should always try to emulate Him. One thing we can learn from him is love for our fellowmen, especially those of our own family. I'm glad that we've been placed on this earth in families and that we live in a time when the true Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored along with the foundation of prophets and apostles who receive revelation to guide us.
A Change of Direction
Well, I've been thinking for a while what to do with this blog and I've decided to make it more of a spiritual blog. I plan on writing about lessons and talks at church, what I read in the scriptures, and other spiritual experiences I have. I won't get really personal since this is a public blog, but hopefully it'll help me focus more on what's important. Maybe it'll help someone else also who reads this blog.
I'll start posting soon.
I'll start posting soon.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Customizing
Well, I've customized my blog a little now. I figure I'll try making a little money on the side with the Google ads on the right. If they get too annoying I can always get rid of them. I'm also thinking that the colors need to be changed a little. I'll play around with it some more and see what looks nice.
A Beginning
I've been starting and leaving websites and blogs for a while now. I'm always excited to start a new one and get my thoughts out for the world to read, but then after a while I get busy doing other things and posting stuff doesn't seem as important. Hopefully this blog will be different.
My wife has a blog on here that she updates frequently. It's called "Kaballit Nunaat". You can see it at http://whelmar.blogspot.com/.
I hope I can organize my thoughts better by posting to this blog and, who knows, maybe someone will actually enjoy reading what I write. Stranger things have happened!
My wife has a blog on here that she updates frequently. It's called "Kaballit Nunaat". You can see it at http://whelmar.blogspot.com/.
I hope I can organize my thoughts better by posting to this blog and, who knows, maybe someone will actually enjoy reading what I write. Stranger things have happened!
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