God's Plan for Happy Families

My Uncle Bob passed away last week.  He will be sorely missed by the family who loves him so much. I felt quite strongly that I needed to be in Arizona for his funeral, so I made a quick trip down this week. During my layover in Denver my cousin Julie messaged me asking if I could pick up her son that was also coming in late.  Shen then said, "Oh, by the way, Sam (her brother) wants to know if you will speak on the Plan of Salvation.  I said, "sure," and then  spent my next flight working on it.  I told my parents that in a way I prefered to be asked to talk with very little warning since I was sure that the Lord would bless me and He certainly did.  I received insights I had not previously considered.  It is hard to explain the feeling I had giving this message to my extended family.  I felt such a closeness and a feeling of love between all of us.  The text follows:

God's Plan of Happiness

In the scriptures God's plan for his children is referenced in several different ways.  It is known as the Plan of Salvation, the Plan of Redemption but my personal favorite is "God's Plan of Happiness."  The whole point of our existence is that we may experience joy and happiness.  To understand this plan and our place in it, we first must understand the nature of God.

Like his plan, God has been referred to by many different names, such as the Supreme Being, the Great Creator, the Great Spirit, Jehova and many others.  Of all the titles that have been given, the one that He has chosen for us to refer to Him, to honor Him the most is simply, "Father."  

Paul taught:

28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; For we are also his offspring. (Acts 17).

And to the Romans he proclamed:

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Romans 8).

He created our spirits before we came to this earth.  We lived with Him and knew Him but he wanted more for us than just blissfully coexisting in His presence. Like any other Father, my Uncle Bob included, He wants the very best for his children.  He wants us to grow and develop and be even like He is.  This is why he developed the Plan of Happiness.  This is why he told Moses:

39 For behold, this is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

The plan was presented in the councils of Heaven before we were born.  We read in Abraham:

24 And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell;

25 And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;

26 And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.

After Adam wasplaced in the Garden of Eden, Our Father immediately knew that His work was not complete and so He created a family by giving him Eve, the mother of all living.  The very first commandment that they received was to bring children into this new family.  This was not possible in the Garden of Eden.  I truly believe that at some level Adam and Eve understood this dilemma and chose the path that would take them out of their Father's presence and into a world full of heartache, pain, sorrow and even death.  It was a world, though, that allowed God's children to learn, to grow and be part of a family.

Truly, "25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy."

I believe Eve understood this best.  After she and Adam left the Garden, she declared, 

Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient. (Moses 5:11).

Adam and Eve were instructed in the plan by heavenly messengers.  They were told:

56 And it is given unto them (referring to the children of Adam and Eve) to know good from evil; wherefore they are agents unto themselves, and I have given unto you another law and commandment.

57 Wherefore teach it unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence; for, in the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name, and the name of his Only Begotten is the Son of Man, even Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore I give unto you a commandment, to teach these things freely unto your children (Moses 6).

Twice God commanded them to teach the plan to their children.  Early this morning on a plane from Denver to Phoenix, I received an unmistakable impression that this is the message that my Uncle Bob wanted me to share with his children.  With him I testify that 

"God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16)

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15). 

Due to the fall, physical and spiritual death was introduced into the world.  Alone, we would be lost but,

7 Behold, he [Jesus] offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered (2 Nephi 2).

As risen Lord, he declared to the Nephites:

32 And this is my doctrine, whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God.

 As we choose to have faith in Christ and to turn from our sins, we will feel the power of the atonement in our lives.  We will have a natural desire to take part in his ordained ordinances.  We will remember our baptism and commit each and every week to walk in His footsteps as we partake of the sacrament.  His spirit will be with us to guide is in all that we do.  

I testify that the sealing power given to Peter is on the earth today.  This is the promise as found in the 132nd section of the Doctrine and Covenants:

19 ...if a man marry a wife by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, it shall be said unto them--Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, and if ye abide in my covenant, it shall be done unto them in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels to their exaltation and glory in all things, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever. (D&C 132).

This morning as I lay in bed, pondering on the words which I should say, I felt impress to discuss this verse further.  In the next life, we are told that we will no longer be organized in congregations called wards or stakes.  Callings such as Bishop, Clerk or President will be replaced by "Father," "Sister," "Uncle" or "Daughter."  Yes, the reason why families are so important here in this life is because they prepare us how to live in the next.  What we call family reunions now will be simply "church meetings" there.  

My son Devin is currently serving in Russia as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  When he was first called, I worried about him a lot.  I worried for his safety and couldn't imagine sending my young son somewhere where he could be abused or beaten or worse.  About this same time, my other son, Sterling, through family history, found some names of our family to take to the temple.  On a Saturday when he and his mother were away, I went to do the beginning temple ordinances or initiatories for five of those names.  While doing these ordinances, I felt the usual calm peacefulness I feel in the temple until the second name was presented, Clement Crennan.  When I had to say his name, I choked up a bit and as the prayer and blessings were pronounced on my head for him, I felt an amazing warm, tingling feeling all through my body.  I felt a feeling of love and of gratitude.  It was gone as I moved to the next area, replaced by the usual confirming feeling of peace.   When I was done, I decided to take his name through an endowment session.  While waiting, I started reading the Book of Mormon from the first chapter knowing that Clement would be listening and would not have had that opportunity while in mortality. I read the first seven chapters of the first book of Nephi.  The endowment ceremony proceeded in its usual fashion till we arrived at the part where we are instructed how to pray.  During the prayer, the officiator asked that the missionaries around the world would be blessed.  He then asked that the patrons in the company would be blessed and at the end said that we would leave the temple knowing that God's angels would have charge over us.  At that moment I had the distinct impression that God would allow Clement to be that angel for me and for my missionary son.  In the Celestial room, I bowed my head in prayer, thanking my Heavenly Father for such an experience and felt his love wrap around me and confirm to me that what I had felt was real.  My experience ended downstairs reading from the Book of Mormon as I waited for the names to be recorded.  I came to chapter eight and read Lehi's dream of the tree of life.  These familiar words came to me in a new way:

12 And as I [Lehi] partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit.

Lehi's son, Nephi was shown the meaning of this tree and its fruit when 600 years before it occurred he was shown in vision the vigin birth and the life and ministry of the savior.  When asked the interpretation, he responded:

22 Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things. (1 Nephi 11).

Going back to the 132 section of the Doctrine & Covenants when it states that through the sealing power we will "pass by the angels," I used to think that these were sentinels, guarding the entrance to heaven.  This morning as I pondered this verse, my understanding was broadened and I knew that they would not be any old angel, they would be our angels, lining our way to God like a glorious, heavenly parade down Main Street in Magrath on the 24th of July.  Clement will be there, my Grandpa Toomer, who I have felt watch over me from a young age will be there, hand in hand with one of the greatest matriarchs this earth has ever seen and of course, there will be my Uncle Bob.  He will be there waiting for his family with open arms wanting to embrace you with the precious love of God.  

I would like to conclude with the words of a father, Mormon, brought to us by his son Moroni in the concluding chapters of the book of Mormon after he had lost his own father:

47 charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren [or in this case my beloved cousins and family], pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure."  In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Purification and Sanctification through the Atonement

Accessing the Atonement to Overcome Weakness and Sin

My missionary son recently wrote home and asked the following question:

"What is the difference between sin and weakness?" 

It is a great queston that enabled me to ponder and search this week.  I thought I would share my response to him with you.

It is an interesting concept to ponder.  We all have weaknesses. Even the Lord Jesus Christ was born into a weak infant body.  He had to grow and develop just like me and you.  He had to learn to overcome those weaknesses and depend on his Father.  Satan uses those weaknesses to tempt us to sin which will lead us away from God.  As I have studied the scriptures these principles have emerged repeatedly but I was somewhat surprised to understand and see that the process of overcoming sin or weakness is essentially the same.  We need the power of the atonement.  For sin, it is the cleansing and healing power.  For weakness we need its enabling and building power.  The Book of Mormon is certainly instructive.  Consider the psalm of Nephi:

17 Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.

18 I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me. (2 Nephi 4).

The juxtaposition of his weaknesses with temptations and sins is interesting.  This is not a weak man.  This is Nephi we are talking about, a prophet of God.  His strength is rightfully in the Lord:

"20 My God hath been my support"

"30 O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation."

"34 O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh."

We are only weak when we rely on ourselves.  When we yoke ourselves to the Savior, then we can become strong.  God gives us weaknesses so that we will rely on Him. 

Consider Moses:

10 ¶And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

11 And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord?

12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

Moroni described similar feelings as he was worried about his perceived weakness in writing:

"23 And I said unto him: Lord, the Gentiles will mock at these things, because of our weakness in writing; for Lord thou hast made us mighty in word by faith, but thou hast not made us mighty in writing." (Ether 12).  

He then goes on to give one of the greatest quotes in all of scriptures:

27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

Our choice to sin deliberately takes away from the Lord.  Repentance is the process that turns us back and reconciles us to him.  Weaknesses do not require repentance unless we give in to sin.  Recognizing weakness and striving to overcome them is the process of sanctification.  It is not always black and white.  Both of these processes happen concurrently during repentance.  Most sin is habitual in either thought or deed.  As we turn to the Lord and struggle to overcome repeated mistakes we must seek after both the purifying and sanctifying effects of the Savior's atonement.  The Lord can make us whole, can make us better, can make of us more than we could ever imagine we could be.  We must turn and return to the Lord and put ourselves in his hands.  As we do so, we will feel of His love in our life.  The next step is to make his love, our love.  In the words of Mormon:

"48 pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure." (Moroni 7).  

At this point we will begin to turn our thoughts from being directed inward to outward.  

`To Peter, the Lord said,

32 When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren" (Luke 22).

Going back to Nephi, after his psalm he proceeds to use the writings of first Jacob and then Isaiah to witness of the Lord.  He brings his own voice back in chapter 25, adding his own witness of the savior.  At this point Nephi is clearly aware of the source of his strength and is now dedicated to helping others know and feel the same thing:

23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.

26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

Salvation is an intensely personal one on one interaction with the Lord Jesus Christ and yet it will never be complete for ourselves until we reflect the light and love that we receive to others so that they may experience that same joy.  In my estimation it is also the key to continue the enabling process of the atonement.  As we share the gospel with others, the spirit that is inevitably shed forth on the receiver cannot help spill over to the one making the invitation.  As we yoke ourselves to the Savior, we are inevitably yoked to each other through him.  Through his sacred sealing power, this is true on both sides of the veil.  

That was a rather long winded answer to your question.  Thank you for asking it.  It allowed me to study, ponder, search and grow this week.

Serving in the Lord's Church

I have felt a strong impression to share some thoughts I have had in regards to a new responsibility in my life.  I do this cautiously, not intended to be proud or haughty, but rather to share a bit about a sacred process of building the Lord's kingdom on the earth.

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we have a lay ministry.  There are two major tenets to a lay ministry. The first is that the positions of leadership and service in the church are not compensated monetarily.  This includes teachers, choir directors, youth leaders and our priesthood leaders or ministers.  The second is that we do not choose for ourselves where we will serve.  Through prayerful inspiration, revelation, our priesthood leaders decide who should serve in the various positions and ask the member if they would be willing to do so.  We are then free to decide for ourselves and are encouraged to seek the same inspiration to know from God that this is His will for us.  As many of you may know, I was asked to be a bishop of my local congregation (ward) a little over ten years ago.  It was a big responsibility to preside and lead over the whole congregation for five years.  Though it meant a sacrifice of time away from family and of balancing the demands of my occupation as well, it was a tremendous blessing to me.  It enabled me to be an even better father and a better physician also.  

After five years, a new bishop was called by our Stake President.  He, with two counselors, presides over our geographic region and is responsible for overseeing eight congregations in our area.  My new bishop asked me to teach Sunday School which I did for four years, covering the four stand works: The Old and New Testament, The Book of Mormon (another testament of Jesus Christ written by people in ancient America) and the Doctrine and Covenants (a book of modern scripture, revelation in our day).  I loved the opportunity to deeply study and ponder God's word and the chance to share that with my ward members.  When I was released being a Sunday School teacher, I was asked to serve in our nursery, helping 18-36 month old children so that their parents could participate in their classes.  I loved those little children.  I loved singing with them the songs of Jesus, showing them pictures of Him and simply playing with them.  I was only there for a few short months when I was then asked to be the Boy Scout Master for our young men (mostly 12-13 year old boys) where I have been serving for the last two years.  

Serving as a scoutmaster has been one of the highlights of my life.  I have so many fond memories of camping with my father growing up.  The last two years was very time consuming.  We camped once a month as well as having our weekly scout meetings.  We had all sorts of activities as we worked on the badges and advancements in scouting.  I loved arranging to have the boys meet new people and to do things that they had never done before.  I strived to encourage them to think of scouting as a tool to help them become better, to not just earn their eagle scout award but to become an eagle scout.  More than that, I wanted them to understand that ultimately the ideals found in the scout law would help them to become more than an eagle scout, it would enable them to become a disciple of Christ.

This last weekend I was asked to serve in a new capacity, as the first counselor to our new Stake President.  I am still in awe and quite humbled by this new opportunity.  In a letter to my son, who is currently serving a two year mission to the people of St. Petersburg, Russia, I outlined my thoughts as the events unfolded last week.  I have felt that I should share some of those with you as well:

"I just got home from my interview with the two leaders assigned by the headquarters of the church to come choose a new Stake Presidency.  I wasn't sure what to expect.  Would they call me to repentance?  What would they ask?  Many questions came through my mind.  I went there directly from having returned from a scout overnight.  I literally got out of the shower, put on my suit and drove to the church.  They were running a bit behind schedule so as I waited, more and more people showed up.  Our former Stake President who was called to be a new General Authorities was there and it was fun to talk to him.  He told about how he was called and going to training in Salt Lake and pretty much ALL of the General Authorities were there and participated.  It was fun to be in the room full of men who are either bishops or were bishops.  Men of God who have dedicated their lives to serving him.  Any of them could be asked to serve as the Stake President and would do a great job.  

I enjoyed being part of the process today.  I especially enjoyed being able to bear my testimony of the Savior.  What respect I have for these men who showed up today, were given a book of names and 7 minutes to meet with each one.  Through revelation, they will come to he who should serve.  

I'll write more tomorrow.  I am going to rest now.  

Sunday:

Yesterday seems like a really long time ago now.  I fell into a pretty deep coma after finishing writing yesterday.  That night I went to Sterling's Pop Concert at school.  As it was getting started, I received a phone call stating that the General Authorities wanted to meet with me the next morning at 8:30.

Your mom and I figured that it would be a counselor's position but it was hard to fall asleep that night.  When I woke up, I thought, "Oh good, I slept well," but when I looked at the clock it was 4:30 AM.  I stayed there till 5:00 AM and then got up.  I met the General Authorities at the Stake Center.  When I was asked to serve as the first counselor in the stake presidency, my first reaction was, "AWESOME."  I knew both the new president and the second counselor and I couldn't imagine serving with two greater men.  It immediately felt so right."

I was given a few minutes to share my feelings in the meeting to our whole stake that followed.  I wanted to be brief and yet have the Lord's spirit present so that others too could feel the Lord behind this request to serve. After expressing gratitude to those who had served before and especially to my supportive family, I mentioned Devin's advice to me to not worry, reminding me of my previous commitment to the Lord.  I then mentioned that just two nights previous, under a star filled sky, I stood around a campfire with a group of 12 and 13 year old boys and talked about what it means to have a testimony of Christ and what it means to be converted to him.  The spirit came so strong as I then said, "and so my calling in the church has not really changed.  I will now just be doing the same thing with all of you."

I realize that this is rather personal but hope it is received by anyone who reads it in the spirit in which it is intended.  When Jesus was on the earth, he called ordinary men to be his apostles.  They came from all walks of life and so it is in his church today.  We have been promised by our living prophet that "whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies."  I have faith that He will be with us as we serve and that He will guide and direct us in the work that He would have us do.  I invite anyone who may have a desire, to "come and see" the blessings that the Lord has in store for you.  

More information regarding our beliefs and doctrine is available at www.mormon.org.  

My Testimony of Christ

As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ over two millennia ago, I offer my testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.[1]

Having been born of goodly parents, I, like Nephi, was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father and have been highly favored of the Lord in all my days.[2]

My parents are just—for they have taught me through their example and in the nurture and admonition of the Lord—and blessed be the name of my God for it—As a young child, the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning his love for the Book of Mormon and for the Savior of the world, sank deep into my heart.[3]

I was raised in a family where we talked of Christ, we rejoiced in Christ, and we knew to what source we might look for a remission of our sins.[4]

As I read The Lord’s words on the pages of the Holy Scriptures, I knew that they were not of men nor of man but of him.  I have heard the Savior’s voice speak these words unto my soul by his spirit.  I have cried unto him by night that I might know the truth of these things and he did speak peace to my mind.  No greater witness can I have than from God.  I testify that I have heard his voice and know his words.[5] 

As a young missionary, I was ordained of him and sent forth to preach his word by the spirit of truth.  As I preached and others received the Lord’s word, we understood one another and both of us were edified and we rejoiced together.[6]

Verily was his promise fulfilled saying, “and whoso receiveth you, there I will be also for I will go before your face.  I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you to bear you up.”[7]

Oh, how great has been my joy to have brought souls unto him into the Kingdom of our Father.[8] Yea, so much that he has filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.[9]

It was his by his power that my wife and I were sealed by the holy spirit of promise.[10]  As we have trusted in him and leaned not unto our own understanding, always acknowledging him, he has directed our paths.[11]  We have walked and communed with him, and our hearts have burned within us.[12]  I am striving to love my wife, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.[13]

 I have had no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.[14]

Karalee has testified of Christ, quoting, “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”[15]

Rachael was inspired by the Savior to prepare now to serve a mission.  Truly, “a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men. Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.  Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work.”[16]

I witnessed the spirit of Christ inspire Devin, as he rose at Stake Conference without having taken thought beforehand what he should say; but having treasured up in his mind continually the words of life, and it was given him in the very hour that portion that was meted unto him.[17]

I have felt Jesus’ presence in the midst of Sterling and I, as the two of us have gathered together in his name to visit those to whom we have been asked to home teach.[18]  We have learned that in as much as we have done it unto one of the least of these, we have done it unto Him[19]; and that when we are in the service of our fellow beings, we are only in the service of our God.[20]

I bear testimony, as a member of the Lord’s only true and living church[21]—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.[22]

In the blessed name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

---

[1] The Living Christ, 1^st paragraph

[2] 1 Nephi 1:1

[3] Enos 1:1,3

[4] 2 Nephi 25:26

[5] Doctrine & Covenants 18:34-36; 6:22-23

[6] Doctrine & Covenants 50:17,21-22

[7] Doctrine & Covenants 84:88

[8] Doctrine & Covenants 18:16

[9] 2 Nephi 4:21

[10] Doctrine & Covenants 132:7

[11] Proverbs 3:5-6

[12] Luke 24:32

[13] Ephesians 5:25

[14] 3 John 1:4

[15] Isaiah 53:4-5

[16] Doctrine & Covenants 4:1-3

[17] Doctrine & Covenants 84:85

[18] Doctrine & Covenants 6:32

[19] Matthew 25:40

[20] Mosiah 2:17

[21] Doctrine & Covenants 1:30

[22] Living Christ, last paragraph

Knowing His Voice

"And the Lord passed by, and a great strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice" (1 Kings 19:11-12).

One of the most important aspects of knowing the Lord is knowing his voice.  We have a tendency to assume that the most glorious, powerful being in the universe would speak to us in such a way, but he does not.  Elijah learned that he speaks to us in a "still small voice."  The nephites in the Book of Mormon who heard the voice of the Lord described it saying, "it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice, nevertheless and not withstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the very center insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn" (3 Nephi 11:3).  Great blessing await those that will hear the voice of the Lord.  The blessings of Abraham came because "Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge" (Genesis 26:5).  Conversely we are taught, "whoso receiveth not my voice is not acquainted with my voice, and is not of me" (Doctrine & Covenants 84:52).

How then do we become acquainted with the voice of the Lord?  First we must listen with our heart rather than with our ears. When Nephi admonished his brothers for not listening to the voice of the Lord he bemoaned, "ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words" (1 Nephi 17:45). The Lord's voice is felt more than it is heard.  Our hearts must first be turned to him and our minds must be single to his.  "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, saith the Lord" (Isaiah 55:8).

Once our heart and mind is attuned to the Lord, we must then acquaint ourselves with his words.  It has been said that when we pray, we talk to God; when we read the scriptures, we hear his answers.  "Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high.  They can become the key to open the channel to our communion with our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ" (Richard G. Scott, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles).  As we immerse ourselves in the scriptures, God's word seeps deep within our soul; we feel his voice speak to us.  The Lord has declared, "these words are not of men, nor of man, but of me; wherefore ye shall testify they are of me and not of man; for it is my voice which speaketh them unto you; for they are given by my spirit unto you, and by my power you can read them one to another; and save it were by my power you could not have them; wherefore, you can testify that you have heard my voice, and know my words (Doctrine & Covenants 18:34-36).

Another Testament

In a court of law, a witness is asked to testify as to what he or she knows according to what has been seen and experienced.  Do we know Jesus Christ well enough that we could stand as a witness of him?  Those who knew the Savior best were called to be his apostles, special witnesses of Him to testify to all the world.  We read of them in God's holy writ.  For centuries, God's word was collected and passed down as scrolls.  Jesus himself studied and read them as he grew.  In his ministry he taught from and quoted the prophesies concerning his coming.  These scrolls, together, now form what we know to be the Old Testament.  In Jesus' day, those who knew the savior best recorded his words, his actions and his miracles from their first hand accounts.  Those were written down as were the scrolls or "books" of the Old Testament.  Several hundred years after Jesus' death, they were compiled into one book which we now recognize as the "New" Testament.  The Old Testament witnesses of the promise of a Messiah, given to ancient Israel.  The people were given laws through the Prophet Moses to point them towards Christ.  When Jesus came to earth he fulfilled the law of Moses.  The New Testament witnesses of his great atoning sacrifice, of his glorious resurrection and his abounding love for all mankind. Together, they form the Bible.  They both witness of the covenant that God made with his people.  

Does God love us today as much as he did the ancient Israelites?  Are the Israelites the only civilization fortunate enough to receive his word and witness of him?  The God I know loves all of his children.  He will speak to whom he will.  Who are we to place limits on an all powerful, all knowing God?  It is declared in the Old Testament, by Jesus himself and also by the Apostle Paul that by two or three witnesses shall every word be established (Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:5, Matthew 18:16, 2 Corinthians 13:1). The glorious truth is that there is Another Testament of Jesus Christ, even the Book of Mormon.  


The Book of Mormon is the spiritual account of a civilization that left Jerusalem 600 years before Christ's birth, led by a prophet of God.  They crossed the ocean and settled on the American Continent.  They too lived the law of Moses.  After the death and resurrection of the Savior, Jesus came and appeared to them.  Like the apostles of old to whom Jesus appeared and who felt the marks in his hands and in his feet, these people also witnessed of their experience.  It is recorded: 


  "And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.  And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying: Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did worship him" (3 Nephi 11:15-17).

We have this additional witness of the Savior because God speaks to man today.  As He did with Moses, God appeared to the boy Joseph Smith in the year 1820.  He sent to him angelic messengers as he did to Mary and to Joseph and to Jesus himself (see my post Angels).  He was shown where the record of this people had been hidden.  By the power of God, Joseph translated the record which is now known as The Book of Mormon.  Hand in hand with the Old and the New Testament, it is Another Testament of Jesus Christ.  I testify that it is true.  I have felt the spirit of the Lord, confirm its veracity to me in my mind and in my heart.  I have grown to know my Savior through reading its words and living its teachings.

Said the Prophet Joseph Smith, "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book."  I invite all to examine, read and experience for themselves this record.  I invite all to know Christ for themselves.  For more information, please visit http://mormon.org/book-of-mormon/.

The Unknown God?

Altar to "The Unknown God"

Paul, when preaching in Athens, Greece came across an altar with the inscription, "TO THE UNKNOWN GOD" (Acts 17:23).  At this time Athens was considered the cultural and intellectual center of the civilized world yet in all their learning, they failed to grasp the knowledge most important of all, the knowledge of God.  Paul went on to teach them what he considered to be the core, basic tenet of who God is.  He first referred to Him as the creator, not having been created by the works of man.  More important even than having created the universe, he is the creator of men.  He "hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth.  For in him we live, and move, and have our being...for we are also his offspring (vs.26, 28).

In the Doctrine & Covenants, we learn that the "key of the knowledge of God" is held by the greater or Melchizedek Priesthood in the great treatise on the priesthood found in section 84.  We are taught that it is in the ordinances of the priesthood that the power of godliness is manifest (vs. 19-20).  This starts with baptism, it continues with the sacrament.  We grow close to God in the covenants that we make to him in the temple endowment and achieve our highest potential in the culminating ordinance of being sealed to God with our spouse for time and all eternity.  We are told that without this, "no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live" (vs. 22).  I believe it is in this short three word definition of God that the key to knowing him resides.  The scripture simply states, "even the Father."  As Paul told the Greeks, we are not mere creations of God, we are "his offspring."

Mars Hill as seen from Corinth

 A prophet in our day defined our relationship to God by succinctly stating, "all human beings-male and female-are created in the image of God.  Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny" (The Family: A Proclamation to the World).  Being married for eternity, then, is more than the wonderful blessing of uniting families forever, it is teaching us of God's true nature and the potential within us to become like him. The family is more than a convenient social organization to raise children.  It is the core unit in God's plan to teach us who he is and how we can reach our highest potential.  In the scriptures I learn of the God-like qualities of persuasion, longsuffering, gentleness, meekness, love and kindness (see Doctrine & Covenants 121:41-42).  It is in my role as a father that I learn how to live these qualities.  The more closely that I learn to live as God does, the more clearly I can see who God is, the better I can know God, even my Father.