I’m doing something different today: instead of setting a TON of goals, I’ve broke them down into 2 goals at a time with a specific timeline. Then, when I get those two done, I’ll set two more.
One of the things that really gets in the way of my goals is Facebook. Another close 2nd is email. I’m not going to Facebook at all during this 2 goal set and have minimized my email screen to be more productive too.
So far today I’ve done the following:
- Called all the soccer team mom’s to schedule our first practice for Tuesday at 5:00.
- Set my first two goals 🙂
Now I’m working on the next two goals:
- Study scriptures and write in my journal for 30 minutes (I’ve set a timer)
- Work on LI for one hour
Last time I studied, I focused on the talk by Elder Scott titled “The Power of Scripture”.
In an effort to “practice what I preach”, I want to continue studying the words of our current prophets from last General Conference.
Last night I read a couple talks that were awesome – stuff I’d read or heard before but that seemed to have a different meaning and direction this time. The two talks were The Book of Mormon—a Book from God and Teachings of Jesus.
Both these talks were VERY direct, VERY straightforward, and seemed to be VERY targeted at people who say they know what we believe but they haven’t really ever researched from legitimate sources. In fact, in the first talk, it ends with this story:
Some years ago I attended one of our worship services in Toronto, Canada. A 14-year-old girl was the speaker. She said that she had been discussing religion with one of her friends at school. Her friend said to her, “What religion do you belong to?”
She replied, “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormons.”
Her friend replied, “I know that church, and I know it’s not true.”
“How do you know?” came the reply.
“Because,” said her friend, “I have researched it.”
“Have you read the Book of Mormon?”
“No,” came the answer. “I haven’t.”
Then this sweet young girl responded, “Then you haven’t researched my church, because I have read every page of the Book of Mormon and I know it’s true.”
Obviously, as I’ve been studying lately, my religious discussion with Luke continues to come to mind. In the Book of Mormon there are so many answers to life’s questions about who Christ is and what His will is for us.
Is the Book of Mormon for God or the Devil
…we must make a simple choice with the Book of Mormon: it is either of God or the devil. There is no other option. For a moment I invite you to take a test that will help you determine the true nature of this book. Ask yourself if the following scriptures from the Book of Mormon draw you closer to God or to the devil:
“Feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do” (2 Nephi 32:3).
“And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation” (Helaman 5:12).
“Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him” (Moroni 10:32).
Could these scriptures really be written by the devil and the people who support his work?
Christ answered that very question in the New Testament:
“Every kingdom,” He said, “divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every … house divided against itself shall not stand.” And then His compelling climax: “And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?” (Matthew 12:24–26; emphasis added).
If the foregoing scriptures from the Book of Mormon teach us to worship and love and serve the Savior (which they do), how can they be from the devil? If so, he would be divided against himself and thus be destroying his own kingdom, the very condition the Savior said could not exist. An honest, unbiased reading of the Book of Mormon will bring someone to the same conclusion as my great-great-grandfather, namely: “The devil could not have written it—it must be from God.”
Why is the Book of Mormon So Essential if we have the Bible?
This is a good question and a legitimate one from an outsider looking in. I mean, the Bible is the word of God and contains Christ’s teachings, both before His life, during His life, and even after His life. Why would we need “another Bible”?
Have you ever wondered why there are so many Christian churches in the world today when they obtain their doctrines from essentially the same Bible? It is because they interpret the Bible differently. If they interpreted it the same, they would be the same church. This is not a condition the Lord desires, for the Apostle Paul declared that there is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5). To help bring this oneness about, the Lord established a divine law of witnesses. Paul taught, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (2 Corinthians 13:1).
The Bible is one witness of Jesus Christ; the Book of Mormon is another. Why is this second witness so crucial?
How many straight lines can you draw through a single point on a piece of paper? The answer is infinite. For a moment, suppose that single point represents the Bible and that hundreds of those straight lines drawn through that point represent different interpretations of the Bible and that each of those interpretations represents a different church.
What happens, however, if on that piece of paper there is a second point representing the Book of Mormon? How many straight lines could you draw between these two reference points: the Bible and the Book of Mormon? Only one. Only one interpretation of Christ’s doctrines survives the testimony of these two witnesses.
I wonder how my friends would respond to these points?
Does God Still Speak to His Prophets Today?
First off, why wouldn’t He?
I’ve had the question myself about the Apostasy and why He would stop speaking to prophets during that dispensation. I’m sure there are answers and I will research them.
However, in Hebrews 13:8 it reads:
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
So why would he change now?
Mormon also confirms this doctrine and takes it a bit further and more direct here:
7 And again I speak unto you who adeny the revelations of God, and say that they are done away, that there are no revelations, nor prophecies, nor gifts, nor healing, nor speaking with tongues, and the binterpretation of tongues;
8 Behold I say unto you, he that denieth these things knoweth not the agospel of Christ; yea, he has not read the scriptures; if so, he does not bunderstand them.
9 For do we not read that God is the asamebyesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no cvariableness neither shadow of changing? (Mormon 9:7-9)
I’m grateful for this time I had to study today.
I hope I can continue this process and be more consistent.
Nate
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