Where Are You Christmas? - The Piano Gal | #LIGHTtheWORLD (ft. Matt and Amber Plus 3)

The Origin, Loss, and Restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ

Jesus organized The Church of Jesus Christ with twelve apostles at its head. He gave them the power to perform great wonders and the authority to act in His name. History records that by 100 A.D. all the apostles had died and the world went dark for the next 1700 years.

BUT THE STORY DIDN'T END THERE. 
LEARN WHAT HAPPENED THAT CHANGED THE WORLD FOREVER.

 

Fort Collins Colorado LDS Temple Open House

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the open house, cultural celebration and dedication dates for the Fort Collins Colorado Temple.

The free public open house for the Fort Collins Temple will begin on Friday, August 19, and go through Saturday, September 10, 2016, except for the Sundays of August 21 and 28 and September 4.

The cultural celebration will be held Saturday, October 15, and the temple will be dedicated the next day on Sunday, October 16, in three sessions, 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. The dedication will be broadcast to members of the Church in Colorado and in the Fort Collins Temple district; the three-hour block of meetings will be cancelled for that Sunday.

Church President Thomas S. Monson announced construction of the temple at the Church’sApril 2011 general conference.

The Fort Collins Temple will serve approximately 44,000 members of the Church from northern Colorado and southern Wyoming.

The temple is located on the southeast corner of the intersection at Trilby Road and Timberline Road, across the street from a Latter-day Saint meetinghouse in Fort Collins.

This will be the second temple in Colorado — the Denver Temple was dedicated in 1986. There are more than 150,000 Latter-day Saints in Colorado.

- Mormon Newsroom

Worldwide Indexing Record - Family History

 For the second year in a row,  I invested some time in this worldwide project of indexing family names.  It is such a joy and reward helping in this great cause.  Whenever  I index names, I feel a spirit of gratitude and peace come over me from these deceased persons.  I know they are truly grateful for the service that we are rendering in their behalf.  Indexing is a simple, selfless act of service that anyone can participate in...

Malachi 4:5-6

 5 ¶Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Millions of the world’s historical records are now freely searchable online thanks to the 72-hour FamilySearch Worldwide Indexing Event—10,447,887 records to be exact.
On July 15–17, more than 116,000 people all over the world logged on to transcribe the historical documents, far exceeding the event goal to reach 72,000 volunteers.
“We were astonished at the number of people who participated,” said Jim Ericson, product manager at FamilySearch. “[These] people selflessly donated their time and skills to help their brothers and sisters around the world gain access to records that will allow them to identify their ancestors.”
Volunteers were from every age group and every continent. Participants from all over, including Australia, Italy, and Mexico, shared experiences and photos on the Facebook event page. Many publicized their participation on other social media platforms using the hashtags #theworldsrecords and #fuelthefind and invited others to join them in the event.
“Many who participated expressed joy at being able to make sure the people in the records they indexed will not be forgotten and may be discovered by their living descendants,” said Brother Ericson.
While the worldwide event lasted only three days, FamilySearch needs volunteers to index 365 days a year. For those who missed the event but would like to get involved, visit familysearch.org/indexing.  - Mormon Newsroom


- C.J. Poulsen

Sapporo Japan Temple to Open for Public Tours

Temple building continues around the globe as the work of the Lord progresses and moves forward.  
Latter-day Saint temples differ from the meetinghouses or chapels where members meet for Sunday worship services. Temples are considered “houses of the Lord” where Christ's teachings are reaffirmed through marriage, baptism and other ordinances that unite families for eternity. Inside the temple, members learn more about the purpose of life and make covenants to serve God and their fellow man. -Mormon Newsroom 

Temples are bringing promised blessings to faithful followers of Jesus Christ all around the world.  This new Sapporo Japan Temple is magnificent and beautiful.  It lights up the night sky that surrounds it.  Just as Jesus Christ brings light into a darkened and fallen world, the temple illuminates the darkness to bring hope and joy to those who exercise faith in following Jesus Christ and in keeping His commandments.  I love to see the many new temples being constructed around the world.  The old testament prophecy from Malachi is surely being fulfilled as family history and genealogy abound.  It is now easier than ever to search out our descendants and ancestry.   Family Search   Ancestry.com

Malachi 4:5-6

 5 ¶Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord;

6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

The First Presidency of the Church has announced the open house will begin on Friday, July 8, and continue through Saturday, July 23, 2016, excluding Sundays.

Sapporo, Japan Temple 

Following the public open house, the temple will be formally dedicated on Sunday, August 21, 2016, in three dedicatory sessions. The day before, youth of the Church in the temple area will perform in a cultural celebration honoring Japan’s history as well as the history of the Church in the country.

The temple is located at 620-50 1 Chome, Ooyachi-Nishi, Atsubetsu-ku Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido, Japan.

The 48,480-square-foot Sapporo Japan Temple sits on 9.8 acres with the statue of the angel Moroni on top of its single spire. The temple will serve more than 8,000 Latter-day Saints who live on the island of Hokkaido and in Aomori, the northernmost prefecture of the main island of Honshu.

The Sapporo Japan Temple is the Church’s third temple in Japan and, when dedicated, becomes the 151st operating temple worldwide. The two other temples in Japan are located in Tokyo(dedicated in 1980) and Fukuoka (dedicated in 2000). - Mormon Newsroom

Who are Mormon Missionaries?

I had the privilege and opportunity to be a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2001-2003.  I served my Hmong brothers and sisters in the California, Sacramento Mission.  It was a great experience of learning and growing for me.  My testimony of Jesus Christ and His restored gospel and church were strengthened immensely.  I saw miracles happen throughout my two years of service and those are days never to be forgotten.

 

 As Elders, we had many great experiences sharing the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and we saw many come unto the waters of baptism and partake of the goodness of God.

Hmong Paj Ntaub = Cloth Flower - This hand stitched embroidery tells the story of the Hmong people illustrating their journey from Laos to Thailand to America during the Vietnam war.

 Today there are over 74,000 full-time missionaries in over 400 missions around the globe.  It is amazing the selfless service that each of these missionaries renders by sacrificing 18-24 months of their young adult life to bring the light of the restored gospel Unto All the World.

The Standard of Truth has been erected.  No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing, persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.  

- Joseph Smith

I am so grateful for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ that rolls forth across the earth to gather the pure in heart into the fold of Christ.  The Savior invites all to Come Unto Him and partake of His goodness and blessings. 

Ephesians 1:10

• New Testament

That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 

            

~ C.J. Poulsen

Mountains to Climb

Not a day goes by that I don't think of my sweet mother...Oh how I miss her!  I miss calling to see how her week is going.  I miss hearing her voice.  I miss seeing her at home when we go visit for holidays.  I miss her cheering me on.  I miss seeing her interact with her grandchildren.  I miss her hug, kiss, and "I love you" after each visit.

Today mark's twenty months since the passing of my dear mother.  On September 1, 2014 she left her mortal body and passed onto the other side of the veil to reunite with many who had gone before her. She has progressed beyond this mortal life into the next phase of her eternal existence.  Although life is fragile and our mortal journey can end suddenly, without much warning, at anytime, the gospel of Jesus Christ brings peace and assurance that we will reunite and live again with our loved ones.  "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." 1 Corinthians 15:22

We never know when we will take our last breath in this life; therefore we should make each day count.  This life is a time for us to prepare to meet God. (Alma 34:32-34) When a loved one passes, it brings new perspective, and we tend to take a step back and analyze our own life and standing with God.  We ponder the bigger picture of who we are and our eternal identity and destination.  I hope to return and live with my mother, loving Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ.  I know this is possible through the exercise of our faith and obedience to the commandments we've been given.

With each new passing day, I feel my mother near and know that she is happy and cheering me on from above.  She is sad to be apart from us, her family, but she wants only the best for each one of us.  I know she loves me greatly and wants me to stay on the strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life.  I know she is busy sharing her testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ with all of its saving ordinances and promised blessings.  She is teaching and sharing with others the importance of family and temple covenants.  She is sharing her testimony of the Holy Bible and Book of Mormon.  She is testifying of our Savior, Jesus Christ and His loving sacrifice and atonement in our behalf.  I am so grateful for this knowledge I've obtained of Christ's gospel through the witness and power of the Holy Ghost.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is so beautiful and truly is "Good News" to all who will listen and accept its glorious message.  For my friends who are suffering and feeling lost or alone, I submit to you that you're never alone.  Perhaps you've recently lost a loved one as well and are grieving their passing.  I testify that they're alive and well and have only separated from their mortal body for a time.  Jesus Christ has broken the bands of death and through His glorious resurrection has promised that same gift to all who come to this earth and die.  We will rise again and live with our loved ones.

Families are central to the message of Christ's gospel.  Our main purpose of being here on earth is to be tested.  We are being tested to see if we will exercise faith in the Savior, Jesus Christ and follow after Him and His teachings.  He wants us to follow Him into the waters of baptism and become members of His church where we can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Once we have become a member of His church we can then continue progressing for more gifts and blessings in His holy temples.  I love the holy temples and the promises and blessings we can receive here if we are faithful.  We can be married and sealed to our eternal companion for time and eternity and have our children sealed to us!  This is great news!  For those who passed beyond the veil of death before hearing this glorious message we can also help them progress!  "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?" 1 Corinthians 15:29

House of the Lord ~ Holiness to the Lord

 Salt Lake City Temple

 Washington D.C. Temple

Rexburg, Idaho Temple

 I know that families can be together forever through sacred, temple sealings.  One of the biggest blessings and benefits of the Restoration of Christ's Church and gospel is the blessings of family history and temple work.

• Ephesians 1:10

  10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
   
• The Biblical prophet Malachi prophesied of the return of Elijah for the purpose of turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers (see Malachi 4:5–6)

  This prophecy was actually fulfilled when the Prophet Elijah appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery (the man who helped Joseph translate the Book of Mormon) in the Kirtland Temple on April 3, 1836. Elijah restored specific powers of the priesthood by conferring them upon Joseph and Oliver. This power is what makes it possible for families to be sealed throughout generations. Through family history work, we can participate in the continuing fulfillment of this prophecy. We can learn about our ancestors, and those who died without the opportunity to hear the gospel and receive ordinances, and increase our love for them. We can be inspired by their stories of courage and faith. We can pass that legacy on to our children.

  

I am so thankful for my knowledge and understanding of God's eternal plan of happiness and salvation.  His teachings anchor my soul and give me light and direction in a darkened world.  I am grateful for the opportunity this technology allows me to share my testimony with you and others.  I know that Jesus Christ lives and loves you and I.  I pray that you may feel peace and comfort.  As always, thank you for stopping by.

~ C.J. Poulsen