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  1. What Does the Holy Ghost Feel Like?

    January 8, 2012 by admin

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  2. My Son Eli.

    January 1, 2012 by admin

    So I’m sitting here with my Son Eli.  As I’m writing this, he is 6 years old.  We’ve always been close, but recently he doesn’t like to leave my side.  He likes to copy just about everything I do, and he loves to try to make me laugh.  Eli has always been wonderful.  He has a very calm disposition.  Being a father to such a boy is one of the greatest joys of my life.

    When Eli was born, it was a very difficult delivery. His shoulders got stuck and his oxygen got cut off. He quickly started to run purple in his face.  The mid-wife and I started to panic and we thought we might have to break his big shoulders to get him out. He was almost 10lbs.  Gratefully, the mid wife was able to get him out with the help of a few nurses.  It was so scary.  After he was born he wasn’t responding to stimulation.  He seemed to be dead.

    But he did start breathing and they were able to stabilize him.  I felt the power of God comfort me and tell me that he would be okay.  Through the years, he has had a few developmental delays.  But through the help of his Mother, priesthood blessings, and helpful tutors and teachers he is on track for his age.  In fact as I’m writing this, he is reading almost every word of it. :)

    I know he has a work to do of his own here on earth that will be a blessing to those around him.  He has already been a great example to me.  If you have ever been blessed with the opportunity to be a parent, you’ve doubtless felt the great joy that comes from children.  I will write about my other two children in different posts, but for today I wanted to express my love and fatherly pride in my boy Eli.

    I know that Heavenly Father must be filled with boundless joy because of his Only begotten Jesus Christ.  I’m grateful to feel that same love for my children.  My hope is that we will all follow the example of our Father in Heaven in our parenting.

     

    In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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  3. The Coat

    December 11, 2011 by admin

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  4. “I’m grateful for my Hypoglycemia”

    December 4, 2011 by admin

    We held a testimony meeting today in our church.  A sister got up and decided to bare her testimony.  Among other things, she said that she is grateful for her hypoglycemia.  She explained that through this trial in her life, she has become more patient and loving.  Her level of discipleship is astonished me.  I hope to get to the point someday where I’m genuinely showing gratitude for the trials in life. My weaknesses, sicknesses, or even my temptations.  This will be a signal to me the I am that much closer to my Savior.

    When she said that today I couldn’t help but imagine heavenly choirs shouting for joy, much like when we see our favorite basketball player hit a three point shot, or a slam dunk.  This quiet sister, in my opinion, and in the eternal scheme of things, is much more amazing.

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  5. What’s In A Name?

    November 27, 2011 by admin

    Names are important.  Have you ever looked into the meaning of your own name?  Names are not only useful in helping us identify other people, they play and even more important role in helping us remember who we are.  In the Book of Mormon, the Prophet Heleman explained to his sons why he gave them their names:

    6 Behold, my sons, I desire that ye should remember to keep the commandments of God; and I would that ye should declare unto the people these words. Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first aparents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were bgood.

    7 Therefore, my sons, I would that ye should do that which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them.

    Like Nephi and Lehi, many of us have been named after worthy ancestors who have set great examples for us to follow.  It’s  important that we know that someday we will meet them, and I’m sure they will require an account of just what we did with their names.  But even more important than the names of our ancestors, is the name we take upon us at Baptism.  That is the name of Jesus Christ.

    Once we are a Christian, we have an obligation to live like one.  We will be held to account for how we have represented God’s church, and most especially His sacred name.  My first name is Benjamin.  I was given this name from my father to be named after my fathers best friend, Ben Whitmer.  Ben died in a tragic car accident when my Dad was serving a mission.  Ben had been my Dad’s champion.  He was tall, athletic, and more importantly, he was a true friend to my Dad.  There was a time when my Dad had been injured on the Football field during a game.  It was Ben who picked up my Dad and carried him off the field.

    I’m sure I’m no where near the athlete Ben Whitmer was.  But I’m trying to be a good friend to others like he was.  I once came across Ben Whitmers grave while doing some family history work in New Mexico.  As I slowly walked up to his grave, I wondered what Ben would think of me.   I know that some day I’ll meet him and I hope he will be happy to have shared a name with me.

    I know that if I can stay close to the Savior, relying on His mercy and power, I will be able to do my name justice.   I know that the same blessing is their for the taking for anyone who will put their trust in the Lord.

    In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

     

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  6. Making and Keeping Covenants

    November 20, 2011 by admin

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  7. A Story…

    November 13, 2011 by admin

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  8. The Gathering of Israel

    November 6, 2011 by admin

    Matthew 23:37

    37 …how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

    As Latter-Day Saints.  We believe in the Gathering of Israel.  This is both a spiritual gathering, and a literal gathering.   In Old Testament times, the patriarch Abraham was promised by God that through his seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed.

    That promise was extended to his son Isaac, and then Isaac’s son Jacob.  Jacob was later renamed “Israel” by the Lord.  Israel begat the 12 tribes of Israel and it was through this family that the promises were to be fulfilled.   The Lords blessings were to be theirs if they would keep the commandments given to them.

    These promises included the responsibility to take the gospel to the world.  They also included blessings of specifics lands for inheritance.  Where much is given, much is required.  The Israelite’s were also told that if they did not live by the commandments of the Lord, they would be scattered.  And scattered they were, first with the 10 tribes  of the northern kingdom, by Assyria, and finally with the tribes of the kingdom of Judah by Babylon.

    The Lord scattered Israel  into all of the world.  But the Lord was merciful and promised that in the Latter-days, Israel would be gathered together again.  Israel, subsequently intermixed with peoples all over the earth, with the only Tribe really keeping its full identity being the tribe of Judah. Through this remarkable tribe we have been blessed to have the Holy Bible.

    In 1836, the prophet Moses appeared to Joseph Smith and gave him the keys to the gathering of Israel.  So the work of gathering commenced with missionaries being sent to as many countries as would let them in to preach the gospel and gather Israel in spiritually.  We know as latter-day saints that the literal gathering of Israel to it’s lands of inheritance is also underway and will culminate with Israel receiving all if this inheritance.

    Perhaps the most important gathering though, is the individual gathering that takes place one person at a time as they are converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Has this gathering happened to you? If it hasn’t, I testify that it can.

    All you need to do, is have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repent of your sins, be baptized by immersion by those who hold the proper priesthood authority, receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and keep the commandments until the end of your life (repenting when you fall short).

    Jesus Christ wants to gather you into his church.  He stands with open arms.

    In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

     

    To learn more, click here to talk with missionaries

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  9. Opportunities To Do Good…

    October 16, 2011 by admin

    From a talk given by President Henry B. Eyring…

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  10. God Understands Us Completely

    October 9, 2011 by admin

    15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

    There is a big difference between academic knowledge and applied knowledge.  You can learn about and thing by someone telling you about it.  But to experience that thing is a very different kind of knowledge.  I can tell you about my home town Kanab, Utah.  But if you never visit it, you never see it’s red rocks and beautiful views, you will never really “know” what it’s like.

    In the same way, we all have what the scriptures call “infirmities” or weaknesses and we all experience this mortal life in a way that could not just be taught in a classroom.  I has to be experienced.  We are taught both by Paul in the New Testament (see the quote from Hebrews above), and  more fully by Alma in the Book of Mormon that Jesus Christ did not only come to save us from our sins, but also to help our weaknesses.

    Jesus really took upon himself all the weaknesses of mortality.  He experienced these weaknesses first hand.  He  even was “in all points tempted like as we are.”  But He did not give into temptation.  Beyond our sins, his atonement atoned for our infirmities says Alma:

    Alma 7:12

    12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

    He did this so he could completely know what each of us are going through.  He doesn’t just know in an academic way, but He really does “know” in an applied way.  He know’s exactly how you feel.  His doesn’t just have sympathy for you, but empathy.  He loves you.  His grace is sufficient for you, and your weaknesses.  All you have to do is have faith in Him (Hebrews 11:6) , repent when you falter (revelation 2:5), make and keep covenants to keep his commandments (Romans 6:4), receive the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:17),  and endure to the end.  (Hebrews 3:14)

    In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

     

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