Here are a few great Mormon-related blogs I've wanted to pass on:
The LDS Church Newsroom Blog: \
http://newsroom.lds.org/blog
The LDS Church newsroom is kept current with news of the Church around the world. They have been collecting various blog posts, editorials, and news articles written by a variety of people, including Mormons and those not of our faith. Fascinating articles addressing so many of the major questions and concerns of the world concerning Mormons today. Articles published in the Economist, CNN, the Washington Post, and many more are collected here.
Another interesting blog with a completely different angle is Stephanie Nielson. My husband went to high school with Stephanie. Several years ago she was in a terrible plane crash. She and her husband miraculously survived, although she had severe burns over most of her body. She has continued to chronicle her life and recovery, and talks about how her faith has made all the difference in her recovery. Watch the video "My New Life" to learn about her experience.
http://nieniedialogues.com/
Friday, November 4, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Prophets and Apostles Speak Today
We just finished another wonderful General Conference.
Every six months, the Church holds a General Conference, where the prophet and apostles give counsel, direction and warnings pertinent to our lives. One theme of this conference was being aware of and avoiding moral relativism, or the idea that there isn't really a right and wrong. Throughout the world, morals that were once largely accepted as right and wrong are now being set aside as people feel that they should do whatever they want.
Conference archives are here: http://lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2011/10?lang=eng
The video is up now, the text will be up later this week.
Some talks that I thought were particularly interesting for friends not of our faith are these:
1. President Monson, prophet and president of the Church, speaks about moral relativism in the Sunday Morning Session
2. Apostle Dallin H. Oaks discussed a number of scriptures about Jesus Christ in the Bible and how the Book of Mormon is a second witness that clarifies the many interpretations of the Bible.
3. Elder Tad R. Callister discussed the Book of Mormon and how we can know of its truthfulness
4. Elder L. Whitney Clayton talked about the phenomenal growth of the Church and how it fulfills prophecy in the Old Testament (King Nebuchadnezzar's dream about the stone cut out of the mountain without hands) and other places.
The last one, the growth of the church, something I have been thinking a lot about. I can remember when the Church reached 10 million members when I was in high school. Less than 15 years later, it's now over 14 million. That's a 50% increase.
I love General Conference. I always feel the spirit powerfully and feel greater peace, hope and direction.
Every six months, the Church holds a General Conference, where the prophet and apostles give counsel, direction and warnings pertinent to our lives. One theme of this conference was being aware of and avoiding moral relativism, or the idea that there isn't really a right and wrong. Throughout the world, morals that were once largely accepted as right and wrong are now being set aside as people feel that they should do whatever they want.
Conference archives are here: http://lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2011/10?lang=eng
The video is up now, the text will be up later this week.
Some talks that I thought were particularly interesting for friends not of our faith are these:
1. President Monson, prophet and president of the Church, speaks about moral relativism in the Sunday Morning Session
2. Apostle Dallin H. Oaks discussed a number of scriptures about Jesus Christ in the Bible and how the Book of Mormon is a second witness that clarifies the many interpretations of the Bible.
3. Elder Tad R. Callister discussed the Book of Mormon and how we can know of its truthfulness
4. Elder L. Whitney Clayton talked about the phenomenal growth of the Church and how it fulfills prophecy in the Old Testament (King Nebuchadnezzar's dream about the stone cut out of the mountain without hands) and other places.
The last one, the growth of the church, something I have been thinking a lot about. I can remember when the Church reached 10 million members when I was in high school. Less than 15 years later, it's now over 14 million. That's a 50% increase.
I love General Conference. I always feel the spirit powerfully and feel greater peace, hope and direction.
The Church of Jesus Christ Upon the Earth
Many people I've talked to are often confused about why we are so anxious to share our beliefs with others, and what makes us different from other churches. Hopefully I can clarify a little here:
We believe that there are many good people and good churches in the world that are not our own. We believe they can have the spirit and that they are coming to know God through their sincere efforts. And we invite them to bring all the good and truth and allow us to add to it.
Here is why. When Christ was on the earth, he organized his church. He called 12 apostles (Matthew 10) and gave them power to act in his name. We call this priesthood authority. Following his resurrection and ascension to Heaven, the apostles led the Church, traveling to the saints in surrounding areas to teach and lead them. One by one the apostles were killed and eventually the priesthood authority was lost from the earth. Then came the dark ages, and rather than the one church Christ established, many churches arose. While many tried to do good things, they lacked the priesthood authority from Jesus Christ.
This is why there had to be a restoration of that priesthood authority. God is a god of order and truth, and He wants His children to be organized under his priesthood authority. God wants to speak to us and guide us just as He did in biblical times, but it had to be through someone who was given that authority to speak for God. Thus the restoration of Christ's church through Joseph Smith.
As Christ's church upon the earth, this is why we are so proactive in inviting all to take part. The blessings are available to all, and we do our best to make it available to all people.
We believe that there are many good people and good churches in the world that are not our own. We believe they can have the spirit and that they are coming to know God through their sincere efforts. And we invite them to bring all the good and truth and allow us to add to it.
Here is why. When Christ was on the earth, he organized his church. He called 12 apostles (Matthew 10) and gave them power to act in his name. We call this priesthood authority. Following his resurrection and ascension to Heaven, the apostles led the Church, traveling to the saints in surrounding areas to teach and lead them. One by one the apostles were killed and eventually the priesthood authority was lost from the earth. Then came the dark ages, and rather than the one church Christ established, many churches arose. While many tried to do good things, they lacked the priesthood authority from Jesus Christ.
This is why there had to be a restoration of that priesthood authority. God is a god of order and truth, and He wants His children to be organized under his priesthood authority. God wants to speak to us and guide us just as He did in biblical times, but it had to be through someone who was given that authority to speak for God. Thus the restoration of Christ's church through Joseph Smith.
As Christ's church upon the earth, this is why we are so proactive in inviting all to take part. The blessings are available to all, and we do our best to make it available to all people.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
10 year Anniversary of September 11
Today President Thomas S. Monson, prophet and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, blogged about the anniversary of September 11 in the Washington Post.
You should read the whole article.
But if you don't, here are a few of my favorite excerpts:
"We felt the great unsteadiness of life and reached for the great steadiness of our Father in Heaven. And, as ever, we found it. Americans of all faiths came together in a remarkable way."
"Our Father’s commitment to us, His children, is unwavering. Indeed He softens the winters of our lives, but He also brightens our summers. Whether it is the best of times or the worst, He is with us. He has promised us that this will never change. "
You should read the whole article.
But if you don't, here are a few of my favorite excerpts:
"We felt the great unsteadiness of life and reached for the great steadiness of our Father in Heaven. And, as ever, we found it. Americans of all faiths came together in a remarkable way."
"Our Father’s commitment to us, His children, is unwavering. Indeed He softens the winters of our lives, but He also brightens our summers. Whether it is the best of times or the worst, He is with us. He has promised us that this will never change. "
"If there is a spiritual lesson to be learned from our experience of that fateful day, it may be that we owe to God the same faithfulness that He gives to us. We should strive for steadiness, and for a commitment to God that does not ebb and flow with the years or the crises of our lives. It should not require tragedy for us to remember Him, and we should not be compelled to humility before giving Him our faith and trust. We too should be with Him in every season.
"The way to be with God in every season is to strive to be near Him every week and each day. We truly “need Him every hour,” not just in hours of devastation. We must speak to Him, listen to Him, and serve Him. If we wish to serve Him, we should serve our fellow men. We will mourn the lives we lose, but we should also fix the lives that can be mended and heal the hearts that may yet be healed."
Check out the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Tom Brokaw on Sunday for their 9/11 special, "Rising Above".Friday, September 2, 2011
God Loves All His Children
Lately I've been thinking about how some of the differentiating doctrines we believe as Latter-day Saints are evidences of God's love for all of His children. Let me explain:
The Book of Mormon: The Book of Mormon is a record similar to the Bible, only of the people living on the American continent, primarily the ancestors of Native Americans. It tells of Jesus Christ's visit to these people following his resurrection and how he taught them the Sermon on the Mount and many other things that he also taught in Jerusalem.
In John 10:16 Christ teaches, "And other sheep I have; which are not of this fold, them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." We believe that the Book of Mormon people are some of the other sheep that would hear his voice.
The Temple: As Jesus taught, baptism is essential for salvation. John 3:5 ". . . Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" But what about those who never have an opportunity to learn of Christ or be baptized? We believe that a loving and merciful God provides an opportunity for ALL of His children to receive the saving ordinance of baptism and other important ordinances. In the temple we perform these ordinances.
Here is a short video, including interviews with two Harvard professors not of our faith, describing why we build temples and how it restores the teachings of temples in the Bible:
A Living Prophet: Just as Adam, Moses, Noah and others spoke for God and led their people, we believe that likewise God has placed living prophets on the earth today to guide and warn His people. Noah warned the people of the impending flood, our prophets prepared us for world financial difficulties. In 1998, President Gordon B. Hinckley, prophet and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, shared the following:
"I want to make it very clear that I am not prophesying, that I am not predicting years of famine in the future. But I am suggesting that the time has come to get our houses in order.
By and large the economy in 1998 was very good and we had little reason to think it wouldn't remain that way. But now we can see the wisdom in not living on the edge of our incomes, in setting aside some savings for a rainy day.
Isn't it wonderful that God loves us, just as He loved people in ancient biblical times, enough to guide us through the tumultuous times we are living in?
Our prophet today is President Thomas S. Monson. For a collection of his recent addresses, visit here
The Book of Mormon: The Book of Mormon is a record similar to the Bible, only of the people living on the American continent, primarily the ancestors of Native Americans. It tells of Jesus Christ's visit to these people following his resurrection and how he taught them the Sermon on the Mount and many other things that he also taught in Jerusalem.
In John 10:16 Christ teaches, "And other sheep I have; which are not of this fold, them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." We believe that the Book of Mormon people are some of the other sheep that would hear his voice.
The Temple: As Jesus taught, baptism is essential for salvation. John 3:5 ". . . Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" But what about those who never have an opportunity to learn of Christ or be baptized? We believe that a loving and merciful God provides an opportunity for ALL of His children to receive the saving ordinance of baptism and other important ordinances. In the temple we perform these ordinances.
Here is a short video, including interviews with two Harvard professors not of our faith, describing why we build temples and how it restores the teachings of temples in the Bible:
A Living Prophet: Just as Adam, Moses, Noah and others spoke for God and led their people, we believe that likewise God has placed living prophets on the earth today to guide and warn His people. Noah warned the people of the impending flood, our prophets prepared us for world financial difficulties. In 1998, President Gordon B. Hinckley, prophet and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, shared the following:
"I want to make it very clear that I am not prophesying, that I am not predicting years of famine in the future. But I am suggesting that the time has come to get our houses in order.
"So many of our people are living on the very edge of their incomes. In fact, some are living on borrowings.
"We have witnessed in recent weeks wide and fearsome swings in the markets of the world. The economy is a fragile thing. A stumble in the economy in Jakarta or Moscow can immediately affect the entire world. It can eventually reach down to each of us as individuals. There is a portent of stormy weather ahead to which we had better give heed."
General Conference, 1998By and large the economy in 1998 was very good and we had little reason to think it wouldn't remain that way. But now we can see the wisdom in not living on the edge of our incomes, in setting aside some savings for a rainy day.
Isn't it wonderful that God loves us, just as He loved people in ancient biblical times, enough to guide us through the tumultuous times we are living in?
Our prophet today is President Thomas S. Monson. For a collection of his recent addresses, visit here
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Finding a Congregation
One of many things that testify to me personally of a loving God is how well He cares for His children through the organization of the Church. When we moved from Utah to California, we didn't have to go church-shopping as so many do, we simply had to look up our assigned congregation. And although the people are different, the doctrines taught are the same, the administration of the sacrament is the same, and the Sunday School classes for adults and children have the same format, schedule, and lesson plans. Our first Sunday we were warmly welcomed by brand-new friends who we knew we could call with any need that arose. It has made moving to a brand new place with our closest family 600 miles away much, much easier.
It makes sense that a loving God would want His children taught consistent doctrines and looked out for in such a close-knit congregation, and that He would want it readily accessible whenever possible. With His truth restored, why should we have to start over and find a new church every time there is a move or other change?
And could anyone organize 14+ million members all over the world without the direction of an all-knowing, all-powerful God ? Certainly not me!
Friday, August 26, 2011
Faith Makes a Difference
In recent months I have had experience after experience reminding me of what a difference my faith makes in my life. The world is a scary place. We are constantly hearing about natural disasters, world financial troubles, wars, and evil all around us. Yet in the midst of this, I feel peace. I feel deep gratitude for my knowledge of God and His plan for us, that I know I am a spirit child of a Perfect, Loving and All-powerful God, I know why I am here on earth, and I know where I am going after this life. I have access to modern revelation through a living prophet and know that as I follow his counsel, everything will be alright.
In establishing this blog, I hope that I can share what I know and give others an opportunity to experience the peace and happiness that it brings to me and my family.
Mormon.org is by far a more comprehensive, interesting, and attractive site for learning about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (you can see my profile here). And the MormonMessages Channel on YouTube is fantastic. But here in my little corner of cyberspace you can see what's on my mind.
In establishing this blog, I hope that I can share what I know and give others an opportunity to experience the peace and happiness that it brings to me and my family.
Mormon.org is by far a more comprehensive, interesting, and attractive site for learning about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (you can see my profile here). And the MormonMessages Channel on YouTube is fantastic. But here in my little corner of cyberspace you can see what's on my mind.
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