Christmas Music Video--Do You Have Room for the Savior?

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

Marriage and Divorce

Lifting Burdens: The Atonement of Jesus Christ

Sunday Thoughts ~ 14 Fundamentals in Following the Prophet

(Address given Tuesday, February 26, 1980 at Brigham Young University)

My beloved brothers and sisters. I am honored to be in your presence today. You students are a part of a choice young generation—a generation which might well witness the return of the Lord.

Not only is the Church growing in number today, it is growing in faithfulness and, even more important, our young generation, as a group, is even more faithful than the older generation. God has reserved you for the eleventh hour—the great and dreadful day of the Lord (D&C 110:16). It will be your responsibility not only to help to carry the kingdom to a triumph but to save your own soul and strive to save those of your family and to honor the principles of the inspired constitution of the United States.

To help you pass the crucial tests which lie ahead, I am going to give you today several aspects of a grand key which, if you will honor, will crown you with God’s glory and bring you out victorious in spite of Satan’s fury.

Soon we will be honoring our prophet on his 85th birthday. As a Church we sing the hymn, “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet.” (Hymn no. 196). Here then is the grand key—Follow the prophet—and here are fourteen fundamentals in following the prophet, the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

First: The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.

In section 132 verse 7 of the Doctrine and Covenants [D&C 132:7] the Lord speaks of the prophet—the president—and says:

“There is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred.”

Then in section 21 verses 4–6 [D&C 21:4–6], the Lord states:

“Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me;

“For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.

“For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you.”

Second: The living prophet is more vital to us than the Standard Works.

President Wilford Woodruff tells of an interesting incident that occurred in the days of the Prophet Joseph Smith:

“I will refer to a certain meeting I attended in the town of Kirtland in my early days. At that meeting some remarks were made that have been made here today, with regard to the living prophets and with regard to the written word of God. The same principle was presented, although not as extensively as it has been here, when a leading man in the Church got up and talked upon the subject, and said: ‘You have got the word of God before you here in the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants; you have the written word of God, and you who give revelations should give revelations according to those books, as what is written in those books is the word of God. We should confine ourselves to them.’

“When he concluded, Brother Joseph turned to Brother Brigham Young and said, ‘Brother Brigham I want you to go to the podium and tell us your views with regard to the living oracles and the written word of God.’ Brother Brigham took the stand, and he took the Bible, and laid it down; he took the Book of Mormon, and laid it down; and he took the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and laid it down before him, and he said: ‘There is the written word of God to us, concerning the work of God from the beginning of the world, almost, to our day. And now,’ said he, ‘when compared with the living oracles those books are nothing to me; those books do not convey the word of God direct to us now, as do the words of a Prophet or a man bearing the Holy Priesthood in our day and generation. I would rather have the living oracles than all the writing in the books.’ That was the course he pursued. When he was through, Brother Joseph said to the congregation; ‘Brother Brigham has told you the word of the Lord, and he has told you the truth.’ ” (Conference Report, October 1897, pp. 18–19.)

Third: The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.

God’s revelation to Adam did not instruct Noah how to build the Ark. Noah needed his own revelation. Therefore the most important prophet so far as you and I are concerned is the one living in our day and age to whom the Lord is currently revealing His will for us. Therefore the most important reading we can do is any of the words of the prophet contained each month in our Church Magazines. Our instructions about what we should do for each six months are found in the General Conference addresses which are printed in the Church magazine.

Beware of those who would set up the dead prophets against the living prophets, for the living prophets always take precedence.

Fourth: The prophet will never lead the Church astray.

President Wilford Woodruff stated:

“I say to Israel, the Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as president of the Church to lead you astray. It is not in the program. It is not in the mind of God.” (The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, pp. 212–13.)

President Marion G. Romney tells of this incident which happened to him:

“I remember years ago when I was a bishop I had President Heber J. Grant talk to our ward. After the meeting I drove him home … Standing by me, he put his arm over my shoulder and said: ‘My boy, you always keep your eye on the President of the Church and if he ever tells you to do anything, and it is wrong, and you do it, the Lord will bless you for it.’ Then with a twinkle in his eye, he said, ‘But you don’t need to worry. The Lord will never let his mouthpiece lead the people astray.’ ” (Conference Report, October 1960, p. 78.)

Fifth: The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or diplomas to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.

Sometimes there are those who feel their earthly knowledge on a certain subject is superior to the heavenly knowledge which God gives to his prophet on the same subject. They feel the prophet must have the same earthly credentials or training which they have had before they will accept anything the prophet has to say that might contradict their earthly schooling. How much earthly schooling did Joseph Smith have? Yet he gave revelations on all kinds of subjects. We haven’t yet had a prophet who earned a doctorate degree in any subject. We encourage earthly knowledge in many areas, but remember if there is ever a conflict between earthly knowledge and the words of the prophet, you stand with the prophet and you’ll be blessed and time will show you have done the right thing.

Sixth: The prophet does not have to say “Thus saith the Lord” to give us scripture.

Sometimes there are those who argue about words. They might say the prophet gave us counsel but that we are not obliged to follow it unless he says it is a commandment. But the Lord says of the Prophet, “Thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you.” (D&C 21:4.)

And speaking of taking counsel from the prophet, in D&C 108:1, the Lord states:

“Verily thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant Lyman: Your sins are forgiven you, because you have obeyed my voice in coming up hither this morning to receive counsel of him whom I have appointed.”

Said Brigham Young, “I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children of men, that they may not call scripture.” (Journal of Discourses, 13:95.)

Seventh: The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.

“Thou has declared unto us hard things, more than we are able to bear,” complained Nephi’s brethren. But Nephi answered by saying, “The guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center.” (1 Ne. 16:1–2.)

Said President Harold B. Lee:

“You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may conflict with your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life … Your safety and ours depends upon whether or not we follow … Let’s keep our eye on the President of the Church.” (Conference Report, October 1970, p. 152–153.)

But it is the living prophet who really upsets the world. “Even in the Church,” said President Kimball, “many are prone to garnish the sepulchres of yesterdays prophets and mentally stone the living ones.” (Instructor, 95:527.)

Why? Because the living prophet gets at what we need to know now, and the world prefers that prophets either be dead or worry about their own affairs. Some so-called experts of political science want the prophet to keep still on politics. Some would-be authorities on evolution want the prophet to keep still on evolution. And so the list goes on and on.

How we respond to the words of a living prophet when he tells us what we need to know, but would rather not hear, is a test of our faithfulness.

Said President Marion G. Romney, “It is an easy thing to believe in the dead prophets, but it is a greater thing to believe in the living prophets.” And then he gives this illustration:

“One day when President Grant was living, I sat in my office across the street following a general conference. A man came over to see me, an elderly man. He was very upset about what had been said in this conference by some of the Brethren, including myself. I could tell from his speech that he came from a foreign land. After I had quieted him enough so he would listen, I said, ‘Why did you come to America?’ ‘I am here because a prophet of God told me to come.’ ‘Who was the prophet?’ I continued. ‘Wilford Woodruff.’ ‘Do you believe Wilford Woodruff was a prophet of God?’ ‘Yes, sir.’

“Then came the sixty-four dollar question, ‘Do you believe that Heber J. Grant is a prophet of God?’ His answer, ‘I think he ought to keep his mouth shut about old-age assistance.’

“Now I tell you that a man in his position is on the way to apostasy. He is forfeiting his chances for eternal life. So is everyone who cannot follow the living prophet of God.” (Conference Report, April 1953, p. 125.)

Eighth: The Prophet is not limited by men’s reasoning.

There will be times when you will have to choose between the revelation of God and reasoning of men—between the prophet and the professor. Said the Prophet Joseph Smith,

“Whatever God requires is right, no matter what it is, although we may not see the reason thereof until long after the events transpire.” (Scrapbook of Mormon Literature, vol. 2, p. 173).

Would it seem reasonable to an eye doctor to be told to heal a blind man by spitting in the dirt, making clay and applying it to the man’s eyes and then telling him to wash in a contaminated pool? Yet this is precisely the course that Jesus took with one man, and he was healed. (See John 9:6–7.) Does it seem reasonable to cure leprosy by telling a man to wash seven times in a particular river, yet this is precisely what the prophet Elisha told a leper to do, and he was healed. (See 2 Kgs. 5.)

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa. 55:8–9.)

Ninth: The prophet can receive revelation on any matter—temporal or spiritual.

Said Brigham Young:

“Some of the leading men in Kirtland were much opposed to Joseph the Prophet, meddling with temporal affairs …

“In a public meeting of the Saints, I said, ‘Ye Elders of Israel, … will some of you draw the line of demarcation, between the spiritual and temporal in the kingdom of God, so that I may understand it?’ Not one of them could do it …

“I defy any man on earth to point out the path a Prophet of God should walk in, or point out his duty, and just how far he must go, in dictating temporal or spiritual things. Temporal and spiritual things are inseparably connected, and ever will be.” (Journal of Discourses, 10:363–64.)

Tenth: The prophet may well advise on civic matters. When a people are righteous, they want the best to lead them in government. Alma was the head of the Church and of the government in the Book of Mormon; Joseph Smith was mayor of Nauvoo and Brigham Young was governor of Utah. Isaiah was deeply involved in giving counsel on political matters and of his words the Lord himself said, “Great are the words of Isaiah.” (3 Ne. 23:1.)

Eleventh: The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.

The learned may feel the prophet is only inspired when he agrees with them, otherwise the prophet is just giving his opinion—speaking as a man. The rich may feel they have no need to take counsel of a lowly prophet.

In the Book of Mormon we read:

“O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.

“But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.

“And whoso knocketh, to him will he open; and the wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches—yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them.” (2 Ne. 9:28–29, 42; italics added.)

Twelfth: The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.

As a prophet reveals the truth it divides the people. The honest in heart heed his words but the unrighteous either ignore the prophet or fight him. When the prophet points out the sins of the world, the wordly either want to close the mouth of the prophet, or else act as if the prophet didn’t exist, rather than repent of their sins. Popularity is never a test of truth. Many a prophet has been killed or cast out. As we come closer to the Lord’s second coming you can expect that as the people of the world become more wicked, the prophet will be less popular with them.

Thirteenth: The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency—The highest quorum in the Church.

In the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord refers to the First Presidency as “the highest council of the Church” (D&C 107:80) and says “whosoever receiveth me, receiveth those, the First Presidency, whom I have sent …” (D&C 112:20).

Fourteenth: The prophet and the presidency—the living prophet and the First Presidency—follow them and be blessed—reject them and suffer.

President Harold B. Lee relates this incident from Church history:

“The story is told in the early days of the Church—particularly, I think, at Kirtland, Ohio—where some of the leading brethren in the presiding councils of the Church met secretly and tried to scheme as to how they could get rid of the Prophet Joseph’s leadership. They made the mistake of inviting Brigham Young to one of these secret meetings. He rebuked them, after he had heard the purpose of their meeting. This is part of what he said: ‘You cannot destroy the appointment of a prophet of God, but you can cut the thread that binds you to the prophet of God, and sink yourselves to hell.’ ” (Conference Report, April 1963, p. 81.)

The Lord's voice through an Apostle! ~

Yesterday was a really neat experience to be in the midst of an apostle of Jesus Christ's church. Elder Dallin H. Oaks came to the University I attend and spoke to us about religious freedoms and freedom of speech. He is a very powerful speaker and was once a U.S. Supreme Court Judge.

He spoke about our Constitution and how it was inspired through God to preserve America and allow for the Restoration of the gospel to occur. He touched on many topics of today's society and brought in a global perspective. It was an awesome experience and I got to shake his hand after the devotional ended.

From lds.org:

An apostle for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said religious freedom is being threatened by societal forces intimidating those with religious points of view from having a voice in the public square. Elder Dallin H. Oaks made the comments today in a major address to Brigham Young University-Idaho students on the importance of preserving the religious freedoms guaranteed by the United States Constitution.

The 179th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be held in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday and Sunday, October 3-4, 2009.

For complete details please click below:

http://www.lds.org/broadcast/gc/0,5161,8870,00.html

God's Words Never Cease: The Bible, the Book of Mormon, and Continuing Revelation

What Matters Most

Faith abounds~

On Monday I had another amazing missionary experience. I was once again out selling alarm systems door-to-door on the same street as Saturday. Around 6pm I knocked into a very sweet young mom who happened to be single with a 7 year old and 4 year old. As we were filling out paperwork for the alarm the topic of school came up. I told her I went to BYU-Idaho and she said, "So you're Mormon?" I replied, "yes, I am, do you know any?"
She then proceeded to tell me that she knew some growing up but didn't fully understand why we are different than other Christian faiths.

I asked if I could share what we believe and she gladly agreed informing me that she keeps an open mind and has been praying for answers/guidance since adversity and divorce plagued her in the past 4 years. She is a strong Christian with a lot of faith! :)

I was happy to receive a strong witness/confirmation from the Holy Ghost that I was again sent to share the message of the Restoration of Christ's gospel and church back to the earth. What a wonderful feeling of peace and joy~being an instrument in God's hands! I felt as though I was sent to share with her the Restoration of Christ's gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith and the bringing forth of The Book of Mormon.

Jesus Christ ordaining His apostles with Priesthood Authority...New Testament

A strong witness came over me and I felt a deep and sincere charity for my new friend. I informed her that I had a Book of Mormon in my trunk for her, (one of the 2 copies the full-time missionaries had given me the night before), and would bring her back a copy before leaving the neighborhood that night.

Joseph Smith's First Vision 1820, Palmyra, New York

She agreed to take a copy, read, and pray and I am so grateful I could share in this experience with her...Thank you!!! May God bless you in your investigation of the Church and The Book of Mormon!

Restoration of the Priesthood authority

Quorum of the Twelve Apostles - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Christ's gospel taught in both world's amongst prophets of old...

Holy Bible verse:

1. Matt. 18: 16
   16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three ^awitnesses every word may be established.

Book of Mormon verse:

1. 2 Ne. 29: 8
   8 Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the ^atestimony of ^btwo nations is a ^cwitness unto you that I am God, that I remember one ^dnation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two ^enations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.

Heavenly Father is preparing His children all across the earth to hear His message of The Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Prophet Joseph Smith has restored Christ's original gospel and church in it's entirety! The Book of Mormon is a tangible witness of evidence that this event DID occur. Here is Moroni's promise at the end of The Book of Mormon....

Moroni 10:3-5 (Moroni's promise to all)
3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how ^amerciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ^bponder it in your ^chearts.

4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ^aask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not ^btrue; and if ye shall ask with a ^csincere heart, with ^dreal intent, having ^efaith in Christ, he will ^fmanifest the ^gtruth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may ^aknow the ^btruth of all things.

After I left her home I knocked a few more doors and came across another middle-aged woman who is a Catholic. She discovered I was a Mormon after talking a few minutes and I told her I was headed back to school as well. She then told me she dated an LDS member back when she was younger but he got killed in a car wreck. And since then she's never really been told what we believe as Latter-day Saints.

I asked her if I could share what we believe with the new full-color Restoration pamphlet? Barb agreed and said she would be very interested to know our beliefs. I explained to her how God has always called a prophet to lead His children on earth in every dispensation and has not wavered in doing so. I then testified of Joseph Smith and the restoration of Christ's original church and The Book of Mormon. I also witnessed of the truthfulness of living apostles and a prophet on the earth today, Thomas S. Monson. She was excited to hear the "good news"=gospel and walked with me to my car to get my last copy of The Book of Mormon. I asked her what she wanted to share on here and Barb said to tell the world that God will answer your prayers for anything you ask and desire to know?... Another humble, open-hearted daughter of God willing to listen open-hearted and gain new light and knowledge.

My heart was full as she departed back to her home with a copy of The Book of Mormon and a Restoration DVD. I then went back over to the young mom's home to deliver her copy of The Book of Mormon and a DVD. She was anxious and excited to get a copy and told me she would read and pray as well as Moroni has directed.


I added my promise along with Moroni to both of these daughter's of God that they WILL get the answers they're in search of if they read and pray... May Heavenly Father continue blessing you for your goodness and desire to know His will for you!

~Christopher Poulsen

My Sheep will hear my voice~

~PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED~
19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the ^awilderness, and ^brivers in the desert.
-Isaiah 43:19

-San Diego Temple

1. Luke 11: 9
   9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

This past weekend has been one of lifting and strengthening. Miracles do exist... On Saturday morning I woke up and headed out to work to knock doors and market alarm systems in Indianapolis, Indiana. I was unsure where I was going to work for the day because I had knocked out the neighborhood I worked all week. I decided to drive until the car stopped and got out and began knocking.

-Mesa Arizona Temple

Before I left out of my room I prayed that I may have a successful day and be an instrument in the hands of the Lord. I asked specifically if it was the Father's will to lead me to someone whom I could share the gospel with. I always carry pass along cards and Restoration pamphlets, (a small booklet explaining the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.)Later that day I knocked into a mother of three boys and actually woke her from resting. She had dental surgery earlier this week and was resting. I explained the alarm and what I was doing and she liked the idea and invited me in. Her youngest son who is 20 was also home with a friend. He offered me a bottle of water.
As we sat at the dining table the topic of gospel arose instantly and she asked me how we as Latter-day Saints differed from other churches and religions. I shared with her the calling of prophets in every dispensation and how Heavenly Father is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I testified to her of the Restoration of the gospel and priesthood authority to the prophet Joseph Smith. I also witnessed of The Book of Mormon and it's truthfulness. I taught about a living prophet and twelve apostles today and the building of Holy Temples all across the earth.

-Salt Lake City Temple

The spirit of the Holy Ghost was there very strong and she and I both knew that I was God sent to deliver this message to her. She expressed to me how she has been praying and searching for these missing pieces of truth. I then testified that we met for a reason today beyond the alarm system. She agreed and we rejoiced in the miracle of what just took place. I proceeded to answer a few questions of hers that arose and invited her to come to church with us. Yesterday on Sunday morning I led her to church. It was a perfect day for her to visit with fast and testimony meeting. The first person to introduce herself was the Relief Society President. Then, what I thought was a Senior missionary couple walked by and greeted us. Next my three friends walked in and greeted us along with a few other members of the ward.

Directly following Sacrament meeting, I wanted Sister Higgins to meet the "Senior missionary couple," who happened to be the Mission President and his wife. :)

-Moroni burying the brass plates...later to be translated into The Book of Mormon-Another Testament of Jesus Christ

They invited us to the gospel principles class which happened to be on missionary work. After the class, they invited us over for dinner later that day at 5pm and to watch The Restoration video. Sister Higgins stayed with Sister Corey, (Mission President's wife) in Relief Society and had a great lesson on temples.

At a quarter to 5, I called to confirm our 5pm dinner appointment and at first Sister Higgins said she was tired and asked for a rain check. I told her that it meant a lot to me and was a unique opportunity to go to their home for dinner. I knew opposition would be working on her. After a moment she said ok, I'll come but can I wear jeans? I said, "Of course, that is fine!"

We met there a little after 5pm and had a lovely dinner that Sister Corey prepared. We had a great dinner conversation and then watched the Restoration video. The Elders, Elder Lanaro and Huntsman, were very excited to share in this experience as was I. They shared with Sister Higgins the importance of baptism and being baptized by someone who holds the proper authority. They testified of The Book of Mormon and asked her if she would be baptized into God's church after praying about it and finding out if she should...

What an amazing experience this has been and strengthening of my testimony. Heavenly Father works in mysterious ways and all things are in His timetable. I know that He has been preparing Sister Higgins heart and she was ready to hear this message of hope, peace, and glad tidings of joy. As a solid Christian, Sister Higgins is grounded in the Holy Bible and is very familiar with all the stories in the Old Testament and New Testament. She has blessed my life and I am grateful that I was led by the spirit to go and do the will of the Father. I know that she and I met for this special reason and I am in awe pondering the power and wisdom of God.

-Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

I pray that this experience may strengthen those who read it. It has surely strengthened my testimony and desire to be a member missionary and share the restored message of Christ's gospel with as many as I can. I know that God lives and that His Son, Jesus Christ, came and atoned and died for each of us. I know that He too lives and leads His church through our living prophet, Thomas S. Monson. How grateful I am for the workings of a loving Heavenly Father!
Sister Higgins, Know this that YOU are never alone!~

Finding Hope

O Remember, Remember!

Baptism by Immersion!

Baptism~ an essential step in our progression here on earth! This past weekend was one of much rejoicing. I was privileged to go to Mountain Home, Idaho and witness my best friend from high school be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The priesthood power and authority has been restored to the earth and the necessary ordinances for salvation are being performed around the globe. Full-time missionaries are proclaiming the good word and helping bring others to Christ.

In The Book of Mormon, when Christ visited the Americas and came amongst the Nephites they fell down on their knees in worship to Him. He then gave unto them His power to baptize:

3 Nephi 11: 16-23

16 And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying:

17 Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did ^aworship him.

18 And it came to pass that he spake unto ^aNephi (for Nephi was among the multitude) and he commanded him that he should come forth.

19 And Nephi arose and went forth, and ^abowed himself before the Lord and did ^bkiss his feet.

20 And the Lord commanded him that he should ^aarise. And he arose and stood before him.

21 And the Lord said unto him: I give unto you ^apower that ye shall ^bbaptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven.

22 And again the Lord called ^aothers, and said unto them likewise; and he gave unto them power to baptize. And he said unto them: On this wise shall ye baptize; and there shall be ^bno disputations among you.

23 Verily I say unto you, that whoso repenteth of his sins through your ^awords, and ^bdesireth to be baptized in my name, on this wise shall ye baptize them—Behold, ye shall go down and ^cstand in the water, and in my name shall ye baptize them.


The Lord himself outlined what we should do and taught the gospel in its fullness. With the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ the power and authority is on the Earth once again after being taken during the Great Apostasy from the truth.

I am so grateful for The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. It helps clarify the teachings in the Holy Bible and is consistent with what Christ taught. It is an ancient record from the Americas kept during the same time as The Holy Bible.

Happy Father's Day!

The Truth Restored!

Life is a beautiful blessing! Today is sunny and warm, birds chirping, clear blue skies, with the hum of a passenger jet flying by. Beautiful sounds of Sunday hymns are playing lightly in the background as I ponder the beauties of Heavenly Father's creations. The Sabbath Day is truly a blessing and delight! I love Sundays and the peace and serenity they bring to my soul. No worries of work, stress of school, or other worldly distractions...but a day of reflection and deepening of one's faith.

1. D&C 128: 23
   23 Let the ^amountains shout for joy, and all ye valleys cry aloud; and all ye seas and dry lands tell the wonders of your Eternal King! And ye rivers, and brooks, and rills, flow down with gladness. Let the woods and all the trees of the field praise the Lord; and ye solid ^brocks weep for joy! And let the sun, moon, and the ^cmorning stars sing together, and let all the sons of God shout for joy! And let the eternal creations declare his name forever and ever! And again I say, how glorious is the voice we hear from heaven, proclaiming in our ears, glory, and salvation, and honor, and ^dimmortality, and eternal life; kingdoms, principalities, and powers!

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

Another Sunset~ Horizon of eternity

I decided to catch a few more sunset shots this evening! The weather has been so beautiful here in Idaho and it was warm today! Yahoo! I love taking sunset pics as some of you are aware. Thank you for your comments! :) I hope to make calendars as a hobby in the near future with sunset, nature, and wildlife photos.

17 By these things we ^aknow that there is a ^bGod in heaven, who is infinite and ^ceternal, from everlasting to everlasting the same ^dunchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth, and all things which are in them;
~D&C 20:17

As I look upon these beautiful sunsets I cannot help but ponder God's magnificent creations and as I look out on the horizon I have gratitude in my heart for the beauty of the painted sky. I thank Heavenly Father as it makes me ponder eternity for its never ending beauty.

~Christopher

God's Artwork! ~ Simply Magnificent ~

Courtney and I decided to take a Sunday drive around 7:30 pm tonight after a 2 hour nap. We drove around the Burton area and then went down by Bear World and the Snake River. Next we drove out through Menan and around the Buttes ('R' Mountain). During our drive I snapped a few shots. The moose and sunset were my favorite. We saw the moose along a canal bank in Burton.



Sunsets in Idaho are just beautiful! These photos were taken tonight on our Sunday drive!

EASTER BLESSINGS!

HAPPY EASTER!

General Conference was superb, as always!

The prophet, President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors, President Henry B. Eyring and President Dieter F. Utchdorf, the Twelve apostles and some of the quorum of 70's.
The magnificent LDS Salt Lake City Temple
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the Prophet and Apostles, and the quorum of the Seventies!

The Conference Center has trees all over the top of it and gardens...beautiful when the grass is green!

General Conference is a great blessing for Latter-day Saints. Every six months we get the privilege and opportunity to hear the words of God's living prophet and the twelve apostles. It really is unique compared to the rest of society and whats going on around the globe. I had the neat opportunity of going to the conference center in Salt Lake City, Utah and being there at it live. I took all of the above pictures on my weekend visit!

To listen to any of the sermons given by the prophet or apostles please visit http://lds.org You may watch or read them.

Prepare Every Needful Thing!

WORLDWIDE LATTER-DAY SAINT GENERAL CONFERENCE
Hear the Prophet's Voice!

This coming Saturday and Sunday is General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. God's living prophet, his two counselors, and the Twelve Apostles will speak to the world via satellite broadcast as well as on line. You can watch or listen to these brethren speak on April 04 and 05, 2009. For a complete schedule please visit: http://lds.org The President and Prophet of the Church: Thomas S. Monson, 1st Counselor: Henry B. Eyring (with glasses) and 2nd Counselor: Dieter F. Utchdorf

1. D&C 88: 119
   119 ^aOrganize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a ^bhouse, 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;

The gospel of Jesus Christ is RESTORED in its fullness and is a wonderful blessing to all of those who have discovered its existence and have accepted it! My life has been fully enriched because of the doctrines and principles of Christ's gospel.

In Amos we learn that God will do nothing unless it is through His prophets! 7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, ^abut he ^brevealeth his ^csecret unto his servants the ^dprophets. ~Amos 3:7 This has been a TRUTH from the beginning of time when Heavenly Father spoke with Adam, Noah, Abraham, and Moses. Each of these Old Testament prophets held the Priesthood of God and received revelations given from God above to be a spokesman (mouthpiece for God) for the children upon the earth.
Each prophet had a different calling and purpose to fulfill while on the earth! It is no different today. God has restored His church and gospel back to the earth for the final time before Christ's Second Coming.The amazing Conference Center which is huge inside as you can see!
Daniel 2:44-45~ Nebuchadnezzar’s dream is revealed to Daniel—The king saw a great image; a stone cut from the mountain without hands destroyed the image; and the stone grew and filled the whole earth—The stone is the latter-day kingdom of God.
44 And in the ^adays of these ^bkings shall the God of heaven ^cset up a ^dkingdom, which shall never be ^edestroyed: and the ^fkingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall ^gbreak in pieces and ^hconsume all these ⁱkingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the ^astone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made ^bknown to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

1. Adam~ Found in the book of Moses 1: 39-41 39 For behold, this is my ^awork and my ^bglory—to bring to pass the ^cimmortality and ^deternal ^elife of man.

40 And now, Moses, my son, I will speak unto thee concerning this earth upon which thou standest; and thou shalt ^awrite the things which I shall speak.

41 And in a day when the children of men shall esteem my words as ^anaught and ^btake many of them from the ^cbook which thou shalt write, behold, I will raise up another ^dlike unto thee; and they shall be ^ehad again among the children of men—among as many as shall believe.

2. Noah~ Found in 2 Peter 2:5

5 And spared not the old world, but saved ^aNoah the eighth person, a preacher of ^brighteousness, bringing in the ^cflood upon the world of the ungodly;

3. Abraham~ Found in Galatians 3:8

8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the ^aheathen through faith, preached before the ^bgospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all ^cnations be ^dblessed.

4. Moses ~ Found in Lev. 27:34

1. Lev. 27: 34
   34 These are the commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.

The Lamb of God
5. Jesus Christ ~
John 10:14
14 I am the good ^ashepherd, and ^bknow my ^csheep, and am known of mine.
John 14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the ^away, the ^btruth, and the life: no man ^ccometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 3:16
16 ¶ For ^aGod so ^bloved the ^cworld, that he ^dgave his ^eonly begotten ^fSon, that whosoever ^gbelieveth in him should not perish, but have ^heverlasting ⁱlife.

The Washington D.C. Temple
6. Joseph Smith~

D&C 20: 1-3, 37, 70

1 The ^arise of the ^bChurch of Christ in these last days, being one thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the ^ccoming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the flesh, it being regularly ^dorganized and established agreeable to the ^elaws of our country, by the will and commandments of God, in the fourth month, and on the sixth day of the month which is called April—

2 Which commandments were given to Joseph Smith, Jun., who was ^acalled of God, and ^bordained an ^capostle of Jesus Christ, to be the ^dfirst ^eelder of this church;Joseph Smith and the First Vision:

7. President Thomas S. Monson ~ Current Living Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Thomas S. Monson, “Come unto Him in Prayer and Faith,” Liahona, Mar 2009, 2–7

Photograph by David Newman

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”1 So spoke the wise Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel.

Jacob, the brother of Nephi, declared, “Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith.”2

In this dispensation, in a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord said, “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.”3

This divinely inspired counsel comes to us today as crystal clear water to a parched earth.

We live in troubled times. Doctors’ offices are filled with individuals who are beset with emotional problems as well as physical distress. Divorce courts are overflowing because people have unsolved problems. Human resource administrators in government and industry work long hours in an effort to assist people with their problems.

One human resource officer assigned to handle petty grievances concluded an unusually hectic day by placing facetiously a little sign on his desk for those with unsolved problems. It read, “Have you tried prayer?” What he may not have realized was that this simple counsel would solve more problems, alleviate more suffering, prevent more transgression, and bring about greater peace and contentment in the human soul than could be obtained in any other way.

A prominent American judge was asked what we as citizens of the countries of the world could do to reduce crime and disobedience to law and to bring peace and contentment into our lives and into our nations. He carefully replied, “I would suggest a return to the old-fashioned practice of family prayer.”