Archive for March, 2012


Getting Back To Basics

Monday, March 26th, 2012

With March almost over, it is interesting to see how many of our New Year’s resolutions we have been able to fulfill.
 

The concept of New Year’s resolutions brings laughter to some, as many are well aware from much experience in the past how difficult (maybe “impossible”) it is to keep New Year’s resolutions.
 

We are all born with elements of our character that are not in alignment with the Spirit of God, and we have all acted on those elements: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Rom. 3:23.
 

Paul wrote, “For I delight in the law of God after the inner man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” Rom. 7:22,23.
 

It is because of the law of our members (that is, our flesh), that we generally fail miserably when it comes to New Year’s resolutions.
 

But, because we fail does not mean that we then can just resign ourselves to the thought of “that’s just the way I am”. We must be careful to not fall into the category that Paul also warned against in 2 Tim. 3:1-5 where he states that in the last days perilous times would come, that men would have “…a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof”
 

Even the disciples battled against this. In Matthew 17:14-21, a story is related where a man brought his lunatic son to Jesus because Jesus’ disciples could not heal him. Jesus cried out in anguish, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.” When the disciples asked why they could not cast out the devil, the Savior replied, “Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
 

Do we anguish our Savior for our lack of faith? Can we testify that the words of the Savior are true? Jesus said in Mark 9:23, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”
 

Jesus demonstrated His great power during His entire ministry here on Earth. Do we have the faith after more than 2000 years later to know that he can heal us and help us to keep our New Year’s resolutions?



The Law of Witnesses

Monday, March 19th, 2012

From the beginning of time, God has established the law of witnesses to establish every truth, every fact. That such laws were taught from the beginning can be seen in the Bible from the days of Abraham (see Genesis 21:30.) God reiterated this law of witnesses throughout the law of Moses (see Exodus 20:16 & 23:1, Deut. 5:20, Num. 35:30, Deut. 4:26 & 17:6, etc.). Throughout the scripture we are taught to be honest, and to “not raise a false report” (Ex. 23:1).
 

God Himself follows this law, and establishes His truths even though the truth may come from His own mouth. As an example of this, we would use a scripture found in our recent post “The Secret of Abiding”. Here, it was Jesus Christ Himself who made the declaration found in D&C 6:36, “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.”. To this, the Apostle Paul is witness. He states in 2 Cor. 10:5, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
 

It is with great joy that with the law of witnesses we can be absolutely sure of that which is true.



The Secret of Abiding

Thursday, March 15th, 2012

The books of the Bible are replete with golden nuggets of wisdom and power. Read through the light of the Restored Gospel and guided by the gift of the Holy Ghost, one can see truths that few people in the past have been privileged to see.
 

Our Lord and Savior revealed great truths that are key to our success in persevering even unto the end. If we follow not the counsels given through these revelations, then we truly build our houses on the sand. In chapter 15 of the book of John, Jesus reveals to us the parable of the vine. He stated in verse 4, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”
 

Simple observation tells us that a branch that bears much fruit has never separated from the vine during its entire road to maturity. It has constantly been connected, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is an unfortunate fact that many people have yet to understand this concept as it relates to the Savior, and think that sporadic contact, “touching base” as it were from time to time, with the Savior is sufficient for them to produce the fruit that is pleasing to the Lord.
 

We have been called to this world to preach repentance, to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. Mankind needs to understand what true abiding means. Jesus reveals how throughout the Bible, but it is extremely clear and plain in modern day revelations. Jesus stated in D&C 6:36: “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.” This type of abiding takes true humility, faith and trust.
 



One Thing Is Needful

Tuesday, March 13th, 2012

When Jesus returned to Bethany, to the house of his friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus, he was already well into his ministry and a man of no little fame. Many were truly convinced that he was that great prophet spoken of by Moses, the Messiah of the Jews.
 

Upon arriving at his friends’ house he brought his disciples, and the house was filled with people. As Martha felt it was her duty and obligation, she busied herself in trying to serve the great mass of people, while Mary her sister sat at the feet of Jesus.
 

Troubled by her sister’s seeming lack of care for their visitors, Martha came and petitioned the Master saying to him, “Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me.”
 

The Lord’s response to this is a thought worthy to be meditated upon. He said, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things; BUT ONE THING IS NEEDFUL, AND MARY HATH CHOSEN THAT GOOD PART, WHICH SHALL NOT BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HER.” (c.f. Luke 10:38-42)
 

In our busy day to day lives, are we seeking the one thing that is truly needful?