Benefits and Blessings of Scripture Study - the reason why we're told to study the scriptures daily

I recently (yesterday) spoke in Church about feasting on the word and its benefits. I wanted to share some of the notes I took (mostly quotes) about scripture study as I prepared for the talk- much of what I shared was from these quotes. I don't have links and references in all of these, but you can search on Google or LDS.org and find any of these talks- leave me a comment if there is one you can't find and I'll send you a link.

Scripture study brings us closer to God by increasing our faith, testimony, and spirituality.

-Elder Eyring: “The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ, and we learn about Him in its pages. We know that it has great power. It has the power to change lives. It has the power to convert. If you read it with an open heart, you will know that it is the word of God and that it is true...Another reason to study it regularly, for me at least, is that I can pick up the Book of Mormon, open to any page, read, and the Holy Ghost bears personal witness to me that it is the word of God. I know the Lord is speaking. I know the Book of Mormon is what it claims to be.”

-Elder Bednar: “Studying and feasting suggest a focus and an intensity that reach far beyond casual reading or quick perusing. Studying and feasting, followed by sincere prayer and steadfast application of the truths and principles we learn, yield personal resolve, spiritual commitment, and the bright light of testimony. Studying, learning, praying, and appropriately applying gospel truths are all key elements in the process of coming unto the Savior.”

-President Harold B. Lee: “If we’re not reading the scriptures daily, our testimonies are growing thinner, our spirituality isn’t increasing in depth.”

-President Spencer W. Kimball taught: “I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns”

-Elder Bateman of 12: There are certain blessings obtained when one searches the scriptures. As a person studies the words of the Lord and obeys them, he or she draws closer to the Savior and obtains a greater desire to live a righteous life. The power to resist temptation increases, and spiritual weaknesses are overcome. Spiritual wounds are healed.

Scripture study helps us overcome temptation

-Nephi answered his brothers’ questions about the tree of life in 1 Ne 15:24 “And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.”

(explains how) -Elder Eyring: “The Holy Ghost confirms to us the word of God when we read it. That confirmation, repeated often, strengthens our faith. And it is by faith that we overcome obstacles and resist temptation.”

Scripture study helps us receive personal revelation and guidance from the Lord

-(two major ways the Lord guides us) Elder Kendrick of 70: “Our Heavenly Father continues to communicate with us through revelation. These revelations are communications of divine directions. They may come to us personally or through the voice of the Lord’s chosen servants...Those revelations received by prophets are given to us in the form of scripture or by the voice of the living prophets. Thus the scriptures become a road map, a set of divine directions to assist us on our journey through mortality and our return trip home.

-Elder Hales: “For when we want to speak to God, we pray. And when we want Him to speak to us, we search the scriptures; for His words are spoken through His prophets. He will then teach us as we listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit...If you have not heard His voice speaking to you lately, return with new eyes and new ears to the scriptures. They are our spiritual lifeline.”

-Sister Cheryl Lant (Gen Primary President): “I find that if I pray not only to have a witness of the truthfulness of the scriptures but also to have the Spirit with me as I read, my sensitivity is heightened, and I see ever so much more clearly. I can see where I am in my life and where my Heavenly Father wants me to be. I can understand principles of truth, and I can see how to make the needed changes in my life. I can feel assured that the Lord will help and strengthen me to accomplish the task.”

-President Benson, in the April 1986 general conference, expressed these thoughts: “However diligent we may be in other areas, certain blessings are to be found only in the scriptures, only in coming to the word of the Lord and holding fast to it as we make our way through the mists of darkness to the tree of life.”

-Remember President Hinckley’s promises that he made to the members who committed to read the Book of Mormon: “an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God.”

-When Elder Eyring was asked how studying the scriptures had benefited him personally, he responded: “The scriptures were one of the ways God spoke to me—even when I was a child—about my needs, my situation, and my life. They still are. Since our needs change over a lifetime, God has different things to tell us at different times. Sometimes I go to the scriptures for doctrine. Sometimes I go to the scriptures for instruction. I go with a question, and the question usually is “What would God have me do?” or “What would He have me feel?” Invariably I find new ideas, thoughts I have never had before, and I receive inspiration and instruction and answers to my questions.“

-Eyring: “Going to the scriptures to learn what to do makes all the difference. The Lord can teach us. When we come to a crisis in our life, such as losing a child or spouse, we should go looking in the scriptures for specific help. We will find answers in the scriptures. The Lord seemed to anticipate all of our problems and all of our needs, and He put help in the scriptures for us—if only we seek it.”

Scripture study teaches us to recognize the Lord’s voice

-David McConkie (sunday school presidency) in a conference address last year taught: “The Lord has commanded us to search the scriptures, to feast upon them, and to treasure them up. As we earnestly search and ponder the word of the Lord, we will have His Spirit with us. We will become acquainted with His voice.
Soon after I was called to be a stake president, our stake presidency received training from an Area Seventy. During the training, I asked a question to which he responded, “That is a good question. Let’s turn to the Church Handbook of Instructions for the answer.” We then went to the handbook, and there was the answer to my question. A little later in our training, I asked another question. Once again he responded, “Good question. Let’s turn to the handbook.” I did not venture to ask any more questions. I thought it best to read the handbook.
I have thought since that the Lord could give a similar response to each of us as we go to Him with concerns or questions. He could say, “That’s a good question. If you will review Alma chapter 5 or Doctrine and Covenants section 76, you’ll remember that I have already spoken to you about this.”
Brothers and sisters, it is contrary to the economy of heaven for the Lord to repeat to each of us individually what He has already revealed to us collectively. The scriptures contain the words of Christ. They are the voice of the Lord. Studying the scriptures trains us to hear the Lord’s voice.”

-The Lord himself taught that the scriptures are his voice (D&C 18:34–36.): “These words are not of men nor of man, but of me; …“For it is my voice which speaketh them unto you; for they are given by my Spirit … , and by my power you can read them one to another. …“Wherefore, you can testify that you have heard my voice, and know my words.”

Why Study the Scriptures?

Feasting Upon Sweet Scriptures
In contemplating the phrase "feast upon the words of Christ" it's easy to wonder how one really feasts upon the scriptures. Anyone can read the scriptures. With a little bit of additional effort it isn't too hard to study the scriptures. But what does it take to feast upon the scriptures? Anyone who reads the scriptures much knows that they taste good. What I mean by that is that you feel the truth of what you're reading and it makes you feel good. But to feast on the scriptures, they'd have to be delicious to you and Alma teaches us how they can:

"Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me." (Alma 32:28)

Alma compares the word of God (the scriptures) unto a seed. If you bring the word into your heart and believe the word, it will continue to enlarge your soul, enlighten your understanding, and finally begin to be delicious to you. This is a process that takes time - it doesn't happen overnight. 
The Psalmist said it another way, "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalms 119:103). If we're to feast upon the word, I think it's safe to say the scriptures need to be sweet honey to our taste.


A Reservoir of Living Water
Read this masterful discourse given by Elder Bednar: A Reservoir of Living Water.


Consider how important water is to sustaining physical life. The Savior referred to his word as the "living water." Elder Bednar: "And as water is necessary to sustain physical life, so the Savior and His doctrines, principles, and ordinances are essential for eternal life. You and I need His living water daily and in ample supply to sustain our ongoing spiritual growth and development." 
I like the analogy that the scriptures are a reservoir of living water. We know that the Savior is the fountain of living water, so it makes sense to consider the scriptures a reservoir where His word is stored and readily accessible for our consumption. 

The Book of Mormon Helps us Grow Closer to God

Regarding the Book of Mormon, the Prophet Joseph Smith said that “a man would get
nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book” (introduction to the
Book of Mormon). The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. By reading this book, we get to know Christ and gain a greater appreciation for his atoning sacrifice for us. We also learn how we can follow him, become more like him, and gain eternal glory with him. As you study the words of the Book of Mormon, you will receive personal revelation, inspiration that will bless your life. As you pray to know of the book's truthfulness, the Holy Ghost will touch your heart and testify to you that it is true.
The prophet of my youth, President Gordon B. Hinckley declared: 

“Those who have read [the Book of Mormon] prayerfully, be they rich or poor, learned or unlearned, have grown under its power. . . . Without reservation I promise you that if you will prayerfully read the Book of Mormon, regardless of how many times you previously have read it, there will come into your hearts . . . the Spirit of the Lord. There will come a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to his commandments, and there will come a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God” (“The Power of the Book of Mormon,” Ensign, June 1988, 6).

President Hinckley also said in the same discourse:

"While the Book of Mormon speaks with power about the issues that affect our modern society, the great and stirring burden of its message is a testimony, vibrant and true, that Jesus is the Christ, the promised Messiah. The book bears witness of him who walked the dusty roads of Palestine healing the sick and teaching the doctrines of salvation; who died upon the cross of Calvary; who on the third day came forth from the tomb, appearing to many; and who, as a resurrected being, visited the people of the Western Hemisphere, concerning whom he earlier had said: “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.” (John 10:16.)" 

Guided by the Holy Spirit

I just wanted to jot down a few thoughts about President Boyd K Packer's (one of the 12 Apostles) talk "Guided by the Holy Spirit" - for the full text of his message click here.

President Packer hit the nail on the head when he said, "Some claim we are not Christians. They either do not know us at all or they misunderstand." The name of our church is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and everything we do centers around the Savior, Jesus Christ, so to claim that Mormons aren't Christian is as absurd as the belief that Mormons have horns.

He continues: "In the Church every ordinance is done by the authority of and in the name of Jesus Christ. We have the same organization as did the primitive Church, with apostles and prophets." This is critical to understand- Jesus Christ established his Church while on the earth 2000 years ago with apostles and prophets. That Church eventually fell into apostasy after the Apostles were martyred. The Church of Jesus Christ has been restored in these, the last days via a new prophet of our time, Joseph Smith. This is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"Every one of us can be guided by the spirit of revelation and the gift of the Holy Ghost...If you are carrying some burden, forget it, let it alone. Do a lot of forgiving and a little repenting " President Packer teaches that we all can be guided by the Spirit to make changes in our lives. A little pondering and reflexion will quickly bring to our minds areas for improvement in our lives. Forgive, repent, forget. The Spirit will guide you to know how to change to become more perfect like the Savior of the World.

Avoiding Sin

Let's see what Helaman taught to his sons, Nephi and Lehi, in the Book of Mormon. Specifically, I'll study this from the passage Helaman 5:5-13 to see how Helaman taught his sons to avoid sin.

First we must have a firm testimony of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer. Helaman lived before the Savior came. He taught his sons: "remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world" (Helaman 5:9).

Then comes the powerful teaching that we should apply into our lives to avoid sin:

"12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." (Helaman 5:12)

We must build our testimonies on the rock of Jesus Christ because the storms of temptations and sin will without doubt attack us. The promise is that if we build our foundation on Christ, we cannot fall. This is the message that Heleman sought to instil within his sons. I believe it is a recipe for success in life and freedom from sin.

How Can I Avoid the Evils that Threaten my Family?

I am going to study the words of Alma to his son Corianton in Alma 39 to see what answers to this question I can find.

Alma gives this counsel to his son, but it applies to everyone in regards to how we need to develop self-mastery or self-control:

"9 Now my son, I would that ye should repent and forsake your sins, and go no more after the lusts of your eyes, but cross yourself in all these things; for except ye do this ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. Oh, remember, and take it upon you, and cross yourself in these things." (Alma 39:9)

When he says cross yourself it's like we say "check yourself" today. Exercise self-mastery, self-discipline, and self-control. Teach your family to do the same, just as Alma is teaching his son. Alma tells Corianton to hang out with his brothers and follow their examples since they're living righteously. I think it's always easier to avoid evils when you put yourself with a good crowd that is striving for the same thing.

Alma tells him to "turn to the Lord" and to "acknowledge [his] faults" in verse 13. And some great advice for us to remember: "Seek not after riches nor the vain things of this world; for behold, you cannot carry them with you" (Alma 39:14).

Strengthening Your Marriage Through the Teachings of Jesus Christ

As I've been trying to show with some of the most recent posts, the Book of Mormon answers the questions of the soul. To learn about strengthening relationships - even with our spouse, we can turn to the Book of Mormon. Let's see what the Savior taught in 3 Nephi 14:

"3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother: Let me pull the mote out of thine eye—and behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast the mote out of thy brother’s eye." (3 Nephi 14:3-5)

Marriages go sour when husband and/or wife are selfish and prideful. What the Savior describes above often results from both selfishness and pride. It's easy super easy to see the faults in others, especially those we know best, and who do we know better than our spouse? We can get caught up in a little flaw our spouse may have without realizing that it's small compared to our own flaws (which are many). So here is one way to interpret this: "Once you're perfect, then go ahead and try to fix your spouse's problems." This will definitely help any marriage.

Here's a tip I'm sure you've never heard, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!" Or as the Savior taught: "Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets" (3 Nephi 14:12). If you want your spouse to respect you, then you better show respect first. I'm sure you get the idea.

Lastly, I believe this applies well to the counsel here about strengthening your marriage:

"24 Therefore, whoso heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock—
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the bsand—
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it." (3 Nephi 14:24-27)

If your marriage isn't built upon the rock, then how do you expect to withstand the tempests that are sure to come? For more about strengthening family relationships, visit http://mormon.org/family/.

Balancing Family and Career

This is an interesting dilemma faced by millions of the world's working men and women. Jesus Christ gave some great instruction that can be prayerfully applied to this dilemma. It's found in the New Testament and also in the Book of Mormon. In fact, it is one of the first things the Savior taught to the Nephites when he visited them after his resurrection. I'm referring to his teachings in 3 Nephi 13.

Jesus taught:

"19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal;
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." 3 Nephi 13:19-21

What do you treasure? For what treasure do you pursue your career? Is it something that can be corrupted or stolen? Or is your treasure of an eternal nature? Remember that status, riches, fame, and everything the world offers is just temporary while our families can be together eternally (see http://mormon.org/family). Wherever you place your treasure, or whatever you value most, that's where your heart will be. From personal experience, the greatest happiness and peace comes from putting God and family first.

"24 No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon." 3 Nephi 13:24

Who is your master? Who do you chose to serve? I have a feeling this question can be answered by how you spend your time and resources. Serving God and making him your master will place your family at the forefront of your life. Other master's are not so generous.

Jesus talks about the lilies and the birds and how they are provided for without worrying. His point is not that we shouldn't need to work, but rather that we should do the best we can, and he will provide for us (3 Nephi 13:25-32). Too many people fear that they will suffer financial hardships if they do not have their career as top priority. The opposite is true- when you put God and family first, your career improves (as does every other aspect of your life).

Remember: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you" (3 Nephi 13:34). As I said before, put God and family first and the rest will fall into place. That's a promise from God.

Finding Peace and Joy

What does the Book of Mormon teach us about how we can find peace and joy in our lives? I'm going to study some of the words of the prophet and king, Benjamin in Mosiah 2 and Mosiah 4.

King Benjamin taught his people "to keep the commandments of God, that they might rejoice and be filled with love towards God and all men" (Mosiah 2:4). This shows the connection between obedience to God's commandments and joy (rejoicing). Remember the greatest commandments, according to Jesus Christ, are to love God and to love our fellow-man. This creates an interesting cycle: we must love God and all men to keep the commandments, and keeping the commandments will fill us "with love towards God and all men." We here a lot about sin and pride cycles, so it's refreshing to see a righteousness and love cycle where the more obedient we are the more we'll love God and others, and the more our love increases, the more obedient we will become. That's a joyful cycle that will lead us to become more like our perfect exemplar, the Savior.

King Benjamin tells his people, "as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls" (Mosiah 4:11). So what caused the "exceedingly great joy" in their souls? Coming to know God, knowing His goodness, tasting of his love, receiving forgiveness (repenting) of our sins. That is an inspired recipe for "exceedingly great joy."

He then gives his people another formula for joy and peace in Mosiah 4:11-13. To summarize:
If

• We remember the greatness and goodness of God and his patience towards us
• We humble ourselves into the "depths of humility"
• Pray daily to God
• Stand steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come

Then

• We shall always rejoice,
• Be filled with the love of God
• Be forgiven of our sins
• Grow in the knowledge of the glory of God and that which is just and true
• We will not injure one another
• We will live peaceably
• We shall treat everyone fairly

In connection with this if/then promise, King Benjamin tells parents to provide for their children, teach them to keep the commandments, not quarrel, and not worship/follow Satan. Parents should "teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another" (Mosiah 4:14-15).

This verse is one of my favorite scriptures and powerful wisdom shared by Benjamin:

"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 happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it." (Mosiah 2:41)  

Those who obey God's commandments are blessed and happy; in fact, they are "blessed in all things." If they endure to the end faithfully, then they receive a state of never-ending happiness. Who in this world does not desire happiness in this life and in the life to come? The way to achieve it is obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Find out more about God's plan of happiness here: http://mormon.org/plan-of-happiness/.

Do Infants Need to be Baptized?

The answer to whether we need to baptize our infants is no. In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Mormon uses very clear terms to explain to his son, Moroni, that baptism is not necessary for children (Moroni 8).

Mormon inquired of the Lord concerning the baptism of children and the response of the Lord was, "Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin;" (Moroni 8:8). Mormon then explains that "it is solemn mockery before God, that ye should baptize little children."

Mormon continues:

"19 Little children cannot repent; wherefore, it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are all alive in him because of his mercy. 

 20 And he that saith that little children need baptism denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atonement of him and the power of his redemption." (Moroni 8:19-20)

Since baptism is unto repentance, it makes sense that babies should not need baptism because they are innocent and incapable of sin.

Why Does God Allow Bad Things to Happen?

I know this is a common question asked after the death of a loved one, a natural disaster occurs, or some other tragedy takes place. We must remember that God never causes bad things to happen, so the question is "why does God allow bad things to happen?" At the root, it comes down to God giving us agency and not forcing anybody to do anything- we have to make choices because that's one of the reasons we're here on earth. Let's see what else we can learn from the Book of Mormon to help understand the answer to this question.

Lehi explains to his son Jacob that the devil, evil, wickedness, and all bad things exist for a reason- to provide us with "an opposition in all things" (2 Nephi 2:11). The reason this opposition is so important is that "the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other" (2 Nephi 2:16). So in order for me to truly have agency, I must have choices. If choices or options do not exist, then how can I have agency or the freedom of choice? So, the devil provides us with opportunities to choose poorly while God seeks to guide us to choose righteously through the influence of the Holy Ghost and also the light of Christ, also known as our conscience. Everyone is born with a conscience, knowing right from wrong, so that we can choose for ourselves and be held accountable for those choices.

I think it's also important to remember that even bad things can and do turn out alright in the end. It's true that our trials make us stronger and we can learn so many valuable lessons from our mistakes. Lehi told Jacob, "Nevertheless, Jacob, my first-born in the wilderness, thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain" (2 Nephi 2:2). I believe that this is true for all of us if we endure our afflictions well.

A Biblical example of this is the Fall of Adam and Eve. They transgressed God's command to not eat of the forbidden fruit, yet much good has come of that transgression. If not for them eating of the fruit and being kicked out of the Garden of Eden, we would not have ever been born (2 Nephi 2:22-25).

Lehi describes - basically as his final words to his sons - agency and our freedom of choice:

27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and call things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself. 

28 And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit; 

29 And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom. 

30 I have spoken these few words unto you all, my sons, in the last days of my probation; and I have chosen the good part, according to the words of the prophet. And I have none other object save it be the everlasting welfare of your souls. Amen. (2 Nephi 2:27-30)

Simply put, choose good! Choose God!

Two prophets who were preaching as missionaries ran into this same question. Many of those converted to the true gospel of Christ were being burned at the stake by non-believers. Amulek turned to Alma and essentially asked, "Why is this awful thing happening? Can't we call upon God to put an end to it?" God's answer, which came through his prophet Alma can also help answer the question we're discussing: "The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day" (Alma 14:9-11).

Similarly, God revealed to the prophet Moroni, "For the Lord suffereth the righteous to be slain that his justice and judgment may come upon the wicked; therefore ye need not suppose that the righteous are lost because they are slain; but behold, they do enter into the rest of the Lord their God" (Alma 60:13).

The experience of Alma and Amulek is especially hard to comprehend. Those people being burned to death were good, righteous people who had recently given their hearts over to God and would not deny him. Yet God allowed wicked men to kill them. We must remember that God is at the helm, meaning he sees the complete "big-picture" with a perfect perspective. All things are present to God because he can see the past, present, and future. He acts in our best interest.

If we live our lives righteously, we will never have to fear because any and all bad things that may befall us will end up being for our good.

What Is the Purpose of Life?

This is a big question that most people have at some point in their life: What is the purpose of life? I'm going to study the words that Amulek taught in the Book of Mormon in Alma 34 to see what can be learned about the purpose of life.

First we must realize that because of the fall of Adam and Eve, all mankind is in a fallen and lost state. We commit sin and not one of us can avoid that. In this fallen state we are unable to return to God's presence, which is why we are "lost." For this reason, God has lovingly provided a way to overcome our fallen state. He provided a Savior for us, who of course is Jesus Christ. His perfect atonement (sacrifice for us) allows us to become clean and perfected in him if we follow his gospel by having faith in Him, repenting, and being baptized (Alma 34:8-15). So I guess we can classify that as one purpose for us during this life: follow Christ's gospel so we can return to God and be saved.

To put this one more way, in terms of mercy and justice, the atonement provides mercy, which can "satisfy the demands of justice." So, "he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption" (Alma 34:16).

Where do we start? Amulek says, "cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save. Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him" (Alma 34:18-19). The first step is to pray to God in humility asking for his help and his mercy. I'd even suggest meeting with missionaries; in fact, Amulek was a missionary when he taught this lesson! Click here to contact the missionaries in your area.

Amulek gives a big warning to the people he teaches. He tells them: "If ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and import of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need- I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain and availeth you nothing..."(Alma 34:28). So more is required of us than just faith and repentance, we must use our means in this life to help those less fortunate than ourselves.

The next point Amulek makes is also with very strong language that I won't paraphrase because that would only take away from it. He warns us against procrastinating our day of repentance:

"32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.
33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.
34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.
35 For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked." (Alma 34:32-35)

Some more counsel on how to live our lives to fulfill our purpose here (Alma 34:38-40):

• "Humble yourself"
• "Take upon you the name of Christ" (you do this through repentance and baptism)
• "Worship God," regardless of where you are
• "Live in thanksgiving daily"
• "Be watchful unto prayer continually, that ye may not be led away by the temptations of the devil"
• "Bear with all manner of afflictions" (patiently endure trials)

Is There Life After Death?

To study the question "Is there life after death?" let's read the words of the prophet Alma to his son Corianton in Alma 40 in the Book of Mormon.

Alma teaches his son that all men will resurrect: "Behold, there is a time appointed that all shall come forth from the dead. Now when this time cometh no one knows; but God knoweth the time which is appointed" (Alma 40:4).

The next question he answers is what happens between death and the resurrection? He teaches, "the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life" (Alma 40:11).

For the righteous: "the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow" (Alma 40:12).

For the wicked:

13 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil—for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house—and these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil.
 14 Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this estate, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection. (Alma 40:13-14)

So the righteous and wicked remain in a state of happiness or misery from death until the resurrection. Alma then continues by explaining what the word resurrection really means: "it meaneth the reuniting of the soul with the body ... The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame" (Alma 40:18, 23)

This resurrection is a precursor to the final day of judgment: "the dead shall come forth, and be reunited, both soul and body, and be brought to stand before God, and be judged according to their works" (Alma 40:21).

How Can Believing in Jesus Christ Help Me?

To study the question "How can believing in Jesus Christ help me?" I'm going to study Alma 36 in the Book of Mormon, which contains the words of the prophet Alma to his son, Helaman.

I can imagine the intense emotion of a father testifying to his son of the thinks he believes and knows to be true. His words are motivated by the love of a father for his son. With this intensity he begins, "My son, give ear to my words; for I swear unto you, that inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land" (Alma 36:1). In order to keep God's commandments, one must believe in God and that the commandments are His. I also know that keeping His commandments leads to prosperity in all aspects of life.

He continues, "I would that ye should do as I have done, in remembering the captivity of our fathers; for they were in bondage, and none could deliver them except it was the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he surely did deliver them in their afflictions" (Alma 36:2). I think this is a very important point that Alma makes. Their ancestors at times were in captivity by their enemies and the only way they were able to escape was through the deliverance of the power of Jesus Christ. Believing in and turning to Jesus Christ can deliver us as well in our time of need. This is another powerful benefit of believing and trusting in the Savior of the world.

"And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day" (Alma 36:3). If we believe in Jesus Christ and put our trust in him, then this promise is available to us as well- we will be supported in our trials, troubles, and afflictions. I know that for me, this is the time when I most need help, and I am grateful that the Savior has been there time and again to lift me up and support me when I'm having a rough time.

Believing in Jesus Christ and laboring with him to help bring to pass the salvation of others fills your soul with "exceedingly great joy" (Alma 36:25).

And another reason to believe in Jesus Christ- listen to how it has helped Alma throughout his adult life:

"27 And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me." (Alma 36:27)

And lastly, from this chapter, I learned that believing in Christ will help me to "raise me up at the last day, to dwell in glory" (Alma 36:28). And isn't that what we all hope for? To learn more about Jesus Christ visit http://mormon.org/jesus-christ/.

What Does Jesus Expect of Me?

To answer this question, I'll reference the words of the prophet Jacob, son of Lehi, in 2 Nephi 9 in the Book of Mormon.

In order for me to be able to "inherit the kingdom of God" and have my "joy be full forever," I need to have faith in Jesus Christ and "endure the crosses of the world" (2 Ne 9:18). I believe that enduring the crosses of the world means living a righteous and virtuous life even in a world that doesn't respect that lifestyle. Persecution and discrimination are inevitable for those who follow Christ, so I must be willing to do what it takes and have the faith necessary to live my beliefs.

Jesus expects all men to have faith, repent, and be baptized (2 Ne 9:23) so they can be saved in the kingdom of God. We should also keep the commandments of God and not waste our time here on earth (2 Ne 9:27). Remember that to be carnally-minded is death and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal (2 Ne 9:39).

Jacob invites, "O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One" (2 Ne 9:41). The Lord expects me to come unto him. The way to come unto the Lord is through faith, repentance, and baptism. It requires keeping His commandments and living the best I can. I must also prepare myself for judgment day:

"46 Prepare your souls for that glorious day when justice shall be administered unto the righteous, even the day of judgment, that ye may not shrink with awful fear; that ye may not remember your awful guilt in perfectness, and be constrained to exclaim: Holy, holy are thy judgments, O Lord God Almighty—but I know my guilt; I transgressed thy law, and my transgressions are mine; and the devil hath obtained me, that I am a prey to his awful misery." (2 Ne 9:46) 

He also expects us to have our priorities straight. Do our decisions about time and money bring us closer to Him and to the happiness that we seek? Jacob counsels:

"51 Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness." (2 Ne 9:51, emphasis added)

Lastly, I learn from this chapter in the Book of Mormon that Jesus expects me to have a cheerful heart and an attitude of gratitude: "Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice" (2 Ne 9:52).

Is there a God?

To examine this question, let's read Alma 22 in the Book of Mormon, which gives an account of some missionaries who teach the gospel to a king of the Lamanites in the ancient Americas.

In verse 7, Aaron asks the king, "Believest thou that there is a God?" The king seems uncertain but is willing to believe the words of Aaron. Aaron answers the question with "Behold, assuredly as thou livest, O king, there is a God."

The king seeks to understand and asks Aaron if God is the Great Spirit that had brought their forefathers to the Americas from Jerusalem. Aaron answers affirmatively and using the same phrase "Great Spirit" in order to help the king understand, he explains in verse 10, "Yea, he is that Great Spirit, and he created all things both in heaven and in earth."

Read what happens next:

17 And it came to pass that when Aaron had said these words, the king did bow down before the Lord, upon his knees; yea, even he did prostrate himself upon the earth, and cried mightily, saying:
 18 O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day. And now when the king had said these words, he was struck as if he were dead.  ...

23 Now this was done in the presence of the queen and many of the servants. And when they saw it they greatly marveled, and began to fear. And the king stood forth, and began to minister unto them. And he did minister unto them, insomuch that his whole household were converted unto the Lord. 

Also, there was a prophet, who was a king among the Nephites, named King Benjamin that also taught to believe in God. King Benjamin declared:

9 Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend. Mosiah 4:9

The Book of Mormon clearly teaches that there is a God. Reading the Book of Mormon will not only help you to know that there is a God and that he loves you, but it will also help you build a relationship with God. After all, he is your Heavenly Father and yearns to be a part of your life. Get a free copy of the Book of Mormon here: http://mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon/.

How the Bible and the Book of Mormon are Testaments of Jesus Christ

Much of the Christian world believes in the Old Testament and the New Testament. These books, or collections of books, are testaments of the Savior of the World, Jesus Christ. In this dispensation (the last days) we've been blessed with another testament of Jesus Christ, The Book of Mormon. Both books are written by prophets and apostles who were called of God to preach and write his doctrine. In both cases the doctrine centers around Jesus Christ and his gospel plan through which salvation can be obtained.

In the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 29 explains really well the purpose of having the Bible and the Book of Mormon as two witnesses of Christ. Verse 8 says:

"Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also." 2 Nephi 29:8

This passage in 2 Nephi explains that God remembers all his people wherever in the world they may be. He speaks to them and commands them to write His words. We should not complain about receiving more of His word as it is another testimony of Him.

In the New Testament, Paul declares, "To [Jesus Christ] give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." He clearly teaches that God calls prophets to witness of Jesus Christ. This is the purpose of scripture, both the Bible and Book of Mormon. Anyone who has a problem with God giving us another witness of Jesus Christ is in danger of rejecting his holy prophets who speak His word.

What does this mean for you!?
This means that you have another testament of Jesus Christ to help you draw closer to God and learn his gospel plan for you. The Book of Mormon has helped me grow so much closer to God; in fact, the book has changed my life and helped me become who I am today. It can help you as well- I know it can. Put it to the test- request a free copy of the Book of Mormon by visiting http://mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon/.

What does the Bible say about the Book of Mormon?

The Bible Talks about Jesus Visiting the People Recorded in the Book of Mormon
John 10:16 talks about "other sheep" that Jesus said were of a different fold than the Jews. He told the Jews that he must also bring them in so that there was "one fold, and one shepherd." I believe this was referring to other people in a different area of the earth, in the American continents. I believe this for three reasons:

1. He was already among his sheep while among the Jews, so he was not referring to the Jews as "other sheep." Further, Jesus said that he was only sent to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24), which means not to the Gentiles. The people inhabiting the Americas are a branch of the house of Israel (tribe of Joseph- see 1 Nephi 5:14).

2. Jesus visited the Americas after his resurrection. You can read all about it in 3 Nephi 11 in the Book of Mormon.

3. Most importantly, Jesus himself said that this is the case in 3 Nephi 15:21 while among the Nephites in the Americas. He told the Nephites, "And verily I say unto you, that ye are they of whom I said: 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." It doesn't get much clearer than that.

The Bible talks about the Sticks of Joseph and Judah becoming One
In Ezekiel 37:15-17 a prophecy is given about the union of the Bible and the Book of Mormon. The word "stick" in this context likely refers to wooden writing tablets used during this time. The phrase "Stick of Judah" would be the writings of the Jews, known to us as the Bible. Remember, it wasn't called "the Bible" back then and most of it didn't even exist yet. The Bible does not contain a record of Joseph, so I expect most Bible scholars and historians would assume that these records had been lost thousands of years ago.

The great truth is that they were not lost. The "stick of Joseph" - or scriptural account of the descendants of Joseph - is the Book of Mormon. And the prophecy has literally been fulfilled as I carry my Book of Mormon and Bible in my hand as one. As I mentioned previously in this post, the Book of Mormon contains the record of a people who were descendants of Joseph and were guided by the hand of the Lord to the Americas. Their record became the Book of Mormon.

Isaiah in the Bible Prophesied of the Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon
Isaiah prophesied of a people "speaking out of the dust" (Isaiah 29:4). I believe that he is referring to the Nephite people who lived in the Americas and wrote what is now the Book of Mormon. Around AD 400, the prophet Moroni buried the Book of Mormon, which was written on metal plates, in a stone box beneath the earth. They were preserved there until the latter-day prophet Joseph Smith was led to them and translated them by the power and gift of God in AD 1829. The Book of Mormon was literally buried in the earth and now has been brought forth "out of the dust" to speak to us.

Isaiah prophesied further about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon later in the same chapter. Isaiah wrote: "And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed" (Isaiah 29:11). The Book of Mormon had a portion of it which was sealed and remains sealed to this day. Martin Harris met with Charles Anthon, a professor in New York City and expert in ancient writings. Martin Harris presented him with some of the characters from the Book of Mormon and Joseph's translation of them. Anthon asserted that the translation was true and asked to translate the plates himself.  Martin informed him that part of the plates were sealed and he unknowingly fulfilled prophecy with his response, "I cannot read a sealed book!" (Joseph Smith- History 1:63-65).

Isaiah continues in verse 12: "And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned." Isaiah sees the boy Joseph, who didn't have more than a Jr. High education and felt overwhelmed by the calling to translate ancient scripture into English. Isaiah continues to describe the time in which the Book of Mormon was restored and the "marvelous work and a wonder" that He performed through his prophet Joseph Smith to restore his Church to the earth (Isaiah 29:13-18).

The Book of Mormon is the Keystone

President Ezra Taft Benson, who was our prophet during my younger years, taught that the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion in 3 ways: (1) Witness of Christ, (2) Fulness of doctrine, and (3) Foundation of testimony.

Witness of Christ
The Book of Mormon bears witness of the divinity of Jesus Christ- really that is its central purpose. It testifies of His reality with power and clarity. The Book of Mormon has helped me build a personal relationship with the Savior.

Fulness of Doctrine
The Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the doctrines required for our salvation, and it's written simple and plain enough so that even children can learn the pathway to salvation. The Lord said to the Prophet Joseph Smith that the Book of Mormon contains the "fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ" in Doctrine and Convenants 20:9.

Foundation of Testimony
Any honest seeker of truth can read the Book of Mormon and pray to God to know if it is true. Praying with a sincere heart will lead to a divinely given testimony of the truth of this book. I know that this promise given in the Book of Mormon by the prophet Moroni is true because I've pray to God to find out if the Book of Mormon is true and he has testified to me on many occasions that it is by the power of the Holy Ghost. He has filled me with feelings of peace, joy, comfort, and love in answer to my prayers. By knowing that the Book of Mormon is true, I also know that the prophet who translated the book, Joseph Smith, must have been a true prophet of God. For a false prophet could never produce a true book (Remember Jesus taught that by their fruits, ye shall know them). The Book of Mormon is definitely a fruit of the prophet Joseph Smith. And through that testimony of the Book of Mormon, I also know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Kingdom of God, which has been re-established on the earth in these last days. And by the succession of prophets since Joseph Smith, I know that Thomas S Monson is a true prophet of God on the earth today.

This is why the Book of Mormon is the keystone.

Why Are There So Many Rules?!

From Elder Arnold's talk "What Have You Done With My Name". This is one of his wife's stories:

“When I was 15 years old, I often felt that there were too many rules and commandments. I wasn’t sure that a normal, fun-loving teenager could enjoy life with so many restrictions. Furthermore, the many hours spent working on my father’s ranch were seriously dipping into my time with my friends.

“This particular summer, one of my jobs was to ensure that the cows grazing on the mountain pasture did not break through the fence and get into the wheat field. A cow grazing on the growing wheat can bloat, causing suffocation and death. One cow in particular was always trying to stick her head through the fence. One morning, as I was riding my horse along the fence line checking on the cattle, I found that the cow had broken through the fence and gotten into the wheat field. To my dismay, I realized that she had been eating wheat for quite some time because she was already bloated and looked much like a balloon. I thought, ‘You stupid cow! That fence was there to protect you, yet you broke through it and you have eaten so much wheat that your life is in danger.’

“I raced back to the farmhouse to get my dad. However, when we returned, I found her lying dead on the ground. I was saddened by the loss of that cow. We had provided her with a beautiful mountain pasture to graze in and a fence to keep her away from the dangerous wheat, yet she foolishly broke through the fence and caused her own death.

“As I thought about the role of the fence, I realized that it was a protection, just as the commandments and my parents’ rules were a protection. The commandments and rules were for my own good. I realized that obedience to the commandments could save me from physical and spiritual death. That enlightenment was a pivotal point in my life.”

I really like this story because of the message it teaches. It is so easy to see the happy hours, late nights out, and Sunday boating that our friends enjoy and thing to ourselves, "The grass looks so much greener outside the fence." Satan is skillful at making sin (both sins of commission and sins of omission) appear glamorous and fun. He does everything in his power to get us to forget that "wickedness never was happiness." If we see the rules, guidelines, prophetic counsel, laws, commandments, etc as a restrictive fence keeping us from the "pleasures" of the world, our perspective can and likely will lead to a fatal and foolish end as we "break through the fence" to our own demise. God knows that the other side of the fence contains nothing but misery and therefore has given us the fence to protect us from that misery. It is important to keep this in perspective so that we can be grateful for the fence and it's protective influence in our lives rather than resenting it and looking for any way to climb over or break through it.

God has given us Holy Scripture and inspired Prophets to protect us as we journey along the path that will keep us happy and lead to eternal joy. I know that obedience leads to happiness. Jesus taught that you too can know this for yourself: "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine... John 7:17".

Don't Spurn Revelation

From 3 Nephi 29:5-6:

5Wo unto him that spurneth at the doings of the Lord; yea, wo unto him that shall deny the Christ and his works! 

6Yea, wo unto him that shall deny the revelations of the Lord, and that shall say the Lord no longer worketh by revelation, or by prophecy, or by gifts, or by tongues, or by healings, or by the power of the Holy Ghost!

To spurn means to reject or scorn. If you spurn the Savior of the world, you better be prepared for the consequences. This part jumped out at me: "wo unto him that shall deny the revelations of the Lord, and that shall say the Lord no longer worketh by revelation..." Sadly, there are so many people, even Christians, who spurn the Lord because they deny that he still speaks today through revelation and through his mouthpieces, the prophets.

We can pray to God and have our prayers answered to us. Are not those answers revelations? If I pray for God to help me understand something difficult and my mind is enlightened to be able to comprehend it, is that not revelation? Inspiration? Doesn't that suggest that God does still speak to us?

Whenever God's truths have been on the earth, God has had prophets on the earth. Through these prophets he reveals his will and the prophets preach and write it down. That's how the Bible came to be. Since this has been God's pattern since the beginning of time, why do people now, even Christians, claim that God has changed and no longer speaks his truth through prophets? Do we no longer need God? Has he forgotten us? Abandoned us? NO! God loves us. He wants to help us in our lives. He still communicates with us through revelation, and he still communicates with us through his holy prophets!

Revelation is real. Prophecy is real. Gifts of the Spirit are real, including the gifts of tongues and healings. The power of the Holy Ghost is real. WO be unto those who deny the Lord and these realities. I know that they are true, and they are meant for us.

Find out more at http://mormon.org/.

Rest Unto Your Souls by Per G Malm

The full text of the talk can be found here.

"To find rest unto our souls includes peace of mind and heart, which is the result of learning and following the doctrine of Christ, and becoming Christ’s extended hands in serving and helping others. Faith in Jesus Christ and following His teachings give us a firm hope, and this hope becomes a solid anchor to our souls. We can become steadfast and immovable. We can have lasting inner peace; we can enter into the rest of the Lord."

Don't we all want peace of mind and heart? I agree with Elder Malm that we must follow the doctrine of Christ and be instruments in His hands to serve those around us.

"Along our way we are aided in our choices through the sustaining influence of the Spirit. Now, if we choose to act contrary to the light and understanding that we have, we will experience a bad conscience, which of course does not feel good. But a bad conscience is a blessing in that we immediately are reminded that it is time to repent. When we are humble and desire to do what is right, we will be anxious to act promptly to change our ways, while those who are proud and who may seek “to become a law unto [themselves]” (D&C 88:35) will allow Satan to lead “them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever” (2 Nephi 26:22) unless the spirit of repentance enters their hearts. To follow evil influences can never result in a feeling of peace simply because peace is a gift from God and it only comes through the Spirit of God. “Wickedness never was happiness” (Alma 41:10)."

My previous post was about having the Gift of the Holy Ghost. This influence can guide us to make right choices; however, none of us our perfect and at times we slip up. As much as we hate a guilty conscience, it really is a blessing to us if it leads us to sincere repentance. But if we are proud, then Satan will lead us in a downward spiral that can be difficult to escape. Just as the prophet Alma taught in the Book of Mormon, truly "Wickedness never was happiness."

"When we learn to handle the small and simple daily things in a wise and inspired way, the result is a positive influence that will solidify harmony in our souls and build up and strengthen those around us. This is so because everything which invites us to do good “is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore [we] may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God” (Moroni 7:16)."

Choose the right and you'll always have the peace you seek. Wear yourself out in the service of others and your soul will find the rest it seeks. It may sound counter-intuitive, but it's true! I learned that it's true on my mission.

Receive the Holy Ghost by Elder David A Bednar of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles

For the full text of this discourse, click here.

Elder Bednar wrote:

The gift of the Holy Ghost is bestowed only after proper and authorized baptism and by the laying on of hands by those holding the Melchizedek Priesthood. The Lord declared:

“Yea, repent and be baptized, every one of you, for a remission of your sins; yea, be baptized even by water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost. …

“And whoso having faith you shall confirm in my church, by the laying on of the hands, and I will bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost upon them” (D&C 33:11, 15).

The Apostle Paul made this practice clear to the Ephesians when he asked:

“Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

“And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.

“Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

“When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

“And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them” (Acts 19:2–6).

I really like the truths taught by the experience shared by the Apostle Paul. Clearly John the Baptist had authority from God to baptize. We know he possessed the Aaronic priesthood. But even John himself taught that someone great was to come, someone who could bestow the Gift of the Holy Ghost, or baptism of fire. He was referring to Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. In this scripture, Paul is speaking to some good people who were baptized by paul but had not yet received the Holy Ghost nor been baptized into Christ's church. So, even though they had been previously baptized unto repentance by John, they required a second baptism by Paul, who possessed the Melchezedic Priesthood, in order to join the Church of Jesus Christ and to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

I could never do Elder Bednar's talk justice with this blog post, so please read it. Here is the thesis for the remainder of his talk and he then proceeds to explain each step in detail: 

"What should we do to make this authorized admonition to seek for the companionship of the third member of the Godhead an ongoing reality? Let me suggest that we need to (1) sincerely desire to receive the Holy Ghost, (2) appropriately invite the Holy Ghost into our lives, and (3) faithfully obey God’s commandments."

The Gift of the Holy Ghost

The Holy Ghost testifies of truth, so anyone can feel the power of the Holy Ghost when hearing or learning truth. The Gift of the Holy Ghost is much more than this; it is the "right to have, whenever one is worthy, the companionship of the Holy Ghost"(Bible Dictionary, "Holy Ghost"). This means that the Holy Ghost can be with you all the time to guide, protect, and help you in your life.

In order to qualify for the Gift of the Holy Ghost, you must be baptized by the proper priesthood authority (click here to learn about the priesthood authority). Following baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost is given by the laying on of hands, the same way that Jesus Christ taught as recorded by the New Testament. I direct you to Acts 8:14-17:

14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

 For more information and scripture references about the laying on of hands, please refer to the Bible Dictionary: Laying on of Hands.

The Holy Ghost has guided me in my life, and I testify that it is worth any price to gain this gift, one of the greatest of all the gifts of God bestowed upon mankind in this life.

Personal Revelation

From studying "Chapter 4: Recognize the Spirit" in Preach My Gospel.


Joseph Smith taught: "This is the principle on which the government of heaven is conducted--by revelation adapted to the circumstances in which the children of the kingdom are placed" (History of the Church 5:135). I had to reread that a couple of times to fully understand what he was saying- let me explain by paraphrasing this quote: "This is how things are done in heaven--specific revelation is given to us based on our unique situations in life." This teaches that God is both aware of our unique circumstances and also loves us and cares about us enough to provide us with guidance to overcome our trials and our problems. This is the essence of personal revelation.

NOTE: After you are baptized and receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, you are entitled to the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost in your life as you keep God's commandments. The Holy Ghost, which you may have with you at all times according to your righteousness, is the very medium through which God bestows upon us personal revelation. In that sense, personal revelation is very conditional on personal righteousness.

Have questions? Want to know more? Feel free to ask! http://mormon.org/chat/