Sunday, November 15, 2015

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Tijuana Mexico Temple Opens for Public Tours



SALT LAKE CITY — 
The 13th temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mexico opens for public tours starting Friday, November 13, 2015, and running through Saturday, November 28.
Guided tours will be available on Mondays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Tuesdays to Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. There are no tours on Sundays.
If you live in the following region I would highly recommend you make plans to attend the open house and tour the temple.  It will be a great experience.
After the dedication, the temple will serve the 45,000 Latter-day Saints living in the region, including those in Tijuana, Rosarito, Tecate, Mexicali, Ensenada, San Luis Rio Colorado, San Quintín, San Felipe and Guerrero Negro. 

There are currently 148 operating temples throughout the world. Adding the Tijuana Temple will greatly ease the travel difficulties faced by Latter-day Saints who now travel to the San Diego California Temple or to the Hermosillo Sonora Temple.

Mormon Temples: A Conversation with a Church Leader

I love to see the temple and the beauty and light it resonates.  By simply walking on the temple grounds brings a spirit and feeling of peace and serenity.  It is like no place else on earth.  For more pictures and details of the new Tijuana, Mexico LDS Temple please click here:
~ C.J. Poulsen

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Monday, November 2, 2015

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Miami's 8-Lateral Touchdown - Enduring to the end

Miami's 8-Lateral Miracle Kickoff Return Touchdown To Beat Duke


Have you seen this yet?  As a sports fan I love seeing the highlights of well-played games that come down to the wire like this amazing touchdown from Miami.  This was incredible to see the talent and speed of these athletes.  They zigged and zagged to move the ball down the field, score a touchdown, and ultimately walk away with the victory!  Miami ENDURED the final seconds of play because of teamwork, dedication, and diligence to reach their goal and score no matter what!

I love sports and what we can learn from them.  I played both football and basketball while growing up and throughout my high school years.  I was taught many principles that have since helped me in my journey through life.  Maybe you can think of a few lessons you've learned from sports also...? 

Just as this football team ENDURED, I want to talk about ENDURING to the end.  What does this mean to you?  Life is a journey of ups and downs.  We all face challenges and trials that TEST us to our very core.  How do we overcome the blows that life throws at us?  How do we endure to the end and live a life that is full and rich?  How can we leave a legacy and rest-assured we've done all that we can in this life to grow and progress?

 I am grateful for those who have gone before us and left us examples and illustrations of overcoming doubt and difficulty.  We are not left alone on this earth without a play book.  A loving Heavenly Father has given His word to us.  The holy scriptures are filled with faith-promoting stories that help us draw near unto Christ.  If we allow Him into our life, He is on our team to WIN and HE will carry us through the rough patches of life.  Yes...there will be stains on our uniform and YES, we will get knocked down more than once as we face life head on.  But as we get on the strait and narrow path and walk with Jesus Christ we can, with His help, endure to the end.

Click Here for full details of Lehi's Dream

This is one of my favorite stories illustrating Lehi's Dream in The Book of Mormon regarding the last days...it symbolizes the significance of grasping the iron rod (God's word/Scriptures) and enduring to the end so we may taste the fruit of eternal life.  Living in the world but being not a part of it can be very challenging but with God all things are possible.

 



 And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.  D&C 14:7

The Doctrine of Enduring to the End

The gospel of Jesus Christ includes enduring to the end as one of its bedrock doctrines. Jesus taught, “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” 1 And, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.”   John 8:31. 2 Some think of enduring to the end as simply suffering through challenges. It is so much more than that—it is the process of coming unto Christ and being perfected in Him.
The Book of Mormon prophet Nephi taught: “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.” 2 Ne. 31:203

~ C.J. Poulsen  
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Sunday, November 1, 2015

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The Holy Temple ~ a place of beauty and peace


I Love to See the Temple

  1. 1. I love to see the temple.
    I'm going there someday
    To feel the Holy Spirit,
    To listen and to pray.
    For the temple is a house of God,
    A place of love and beauty.
    I'll prepare myself while I am young;
    This is my sacred duty.
  2. 2. I love to see the temple.
    I'll go inside someday.
    I'll cov'nant with my Father;
    I'll promise to obey.
    For the temple is a holy place
    Where we are sealed together.
    As a child of God, I've learned this truth:
    A fam'ly is forever.
    In these beautiful and simple words lie truth for all who will hear the Master's voice and Come Unto Him.  My children love this song and ask me to sing along with them often.  I am grateful for their learning and understanding of these holy temples at a young age. 
    The Holy Temples are sacred edifices where our Heavenly Father's love is manifest.  The temple is symbolic of our Savior, Jesus Christ as they illuminate Light in a darkened world.  They shine brightly as an invitation to all who will come forth and partake of the blessings found therein.  Inscribed above the entrance is Holiness to the Lord - The House of the Lord.
    The temple represents purity and wholeness and is a type of how we should live our lives as disciples of Jesus Christ.  Disciple comes from the root word - Discipline.   Discipline is necessary to conduct a life worthy and righteous to enter His holy house.  
    The following verses speak clearly on what we are admonished (challenged) to do to receive the blessings of the temple:
     
     119 Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;
     120 That your incomings may be in the name of the Lord; that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord; that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High.
     121 Therefore, cease from all your light speeches, from all laughter, from all your lustful desires, from all your pride and light-mindedness, and from all your wicked doings.

    I testify that the temples around the world are the House of the Lord.  His spirit is manifest inside the holy walls.  His work to redeem the dead is being performed daily to bring redemption to those who past through this life without hearing and accepting the saving ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  

    40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
     41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

    The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

     29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? 

    The work of salvation is alive and well.  It is moving forward daily so that God's purposes may be accomplished.  I am grateful for my understanding and testimony of His work and that I can be a part of proclaiming the truth to those who haven't heard.  I invite you to come and learn more about Christ's restored gospel.  It changes man's heart and puts us each on a path to walk with the Lord.  ~ C.J. Poulsen

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