September 25, 2011 by admin
1 Cor. 7:8-10
8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made asorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
10 For agodly bsorrow worketh crepentance to dsalvation not to be repented of: but the esorrow of the world worketh death.
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September 18, 2011 by admin
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September 11, 2011 by admin
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September 4, 2011 by admin
My mother is 7o years old. She still refers to her father as “Daddy”. My grandfather, Loren Wells Duke passed away long before I was born. But I feel like I know him. This is because my mother has told me so many great stories about him and her face lights up every time he comes up in the conversation. My mother loved her mother as well, (my grandmother was amazing in her own right). But for the purposes of this post I wish to focus on my grandfather.
He never held any prominent positions in the church or the community. (other than maybe being the town Santa Clause around Christmas time.) But I’ve never met a person who knew him in life that doesn’t just gush over him. He was kind. He was talented. He played 12 instruments. He could have just about any room laughing within minutes. He was an entertainer. He was a fantastic father who didn’t rule with an iron hand but rather with love. He adopted my grandmothers first 5 children as his own and then had three more the last of which was my mother.
He wasn’t a perfect man. Apparently he liked to use colorful words (the four letter type) in his every day language. But no one ever had to guess of his sincerity. He served in the church and certainly loved his neighbors. My grandmother would give him only 25 cents per day for his lunch when he would go to work because if she gave him any more than that, he would give it away.
But why does my Mother still call him “Daddy” instead of ”father” or “Dad”? Because my grandfather loved his wife and children so tenderly that they couldn’t help but call him by the tender childlike name of “Daddy.” This reminds me of another situation where the term “Daddy” was used.
When Jesus Christ was suffering on the cross, he exclaimed “Abba…” Abba is the Aramaic word for “father” but more accurately it means “Daddy”. Even the Son of the Eternal God used this word to call out to His Father. We all have a Father In Heaven, who I think is more like a “Daddy” than a “Dad”. A tender, loving Heavenly parent who really cares about each of us. Not that there is anything wrong with the term “Dad”, but rather that we can approach our Father in Heaven like little children. Jesus encouraged us to become like little children.
So today I’m the father of three Children. They call me Daddy. When my children are 70 years old, will they still call me Daddy?
I hope I can earn that kind of honor. I would be in wonderful company.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
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August 21, 2011 by admin
So I’m in Manhattan right now. I’m here for the next few days on a business trip. I’ve been here before.. but this time it’s a little different. There are posters everywhere. On top of Taxi’s, at subway stations, and at bus stations. Many of them say “I’m a Mormon” It’s part of an effort by the church to promote the church while there has been so much buzz about The Book of Mormon musical.
I got to go to church today in the Manhattan 1st ward. The Holy Spirit was very strong and the members of the church here are amazing. I really enjoyed my time at this ward. In all I spent a little time in central park, 5 avenue, times square, and many more places today. But none of them felt as good as attending sacrament meeting.
I am grateful for the Lord and His church. I hope that I can be a light to others as I know that the faithful saints in Manhattan are.
I the name of Jesus Christ amen.
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August 14, 2011 by admin
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August 7, 2011 by admin
Ere you left your room this morning,
Did you think to pray?
In the name of Christ, our Savior,
Did you sue for loving favor, As a shield today?
O how praying rests the weary!
Prayer will change the night to day;
So when life gets dark and dreary,
Don’t forget to pray.
When your heart was filled with anger,
Did you think to pray?
Did you plead for grace my brother,
That you might forgive another
Who had crossed your way?
When sore trials came upon you,
Did you think to pray?
When your soul was full of sorrow,
Balm of Gilead did you borrow At the gates of day?
–Mary A. Pepper Kidder, LDS Hymn #140
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July 31, 2011 by admin
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July 24, 2011 by admin
John Tanner and Elizabeth Beswick Tanner. My 4th Great Grand Father and Mother. First LDS Tanner's
I am a 6th Generation Mormon. My family has been associated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints since 1832. That is two years after the church was organized. If you take a climb up my family tree you will find many early pioneers. I don’t say this to boast, but rather to bless my God and bring honor to their names.
One Hundred and Sixty-Seven years ago today, the saints first entered the valley of the Great Salt Lake. Today I celebrate their faith. I celebrate their epic story. They moved over hundreds of miles to find safety and the freedom to live their religion.
I am so grateful that I share that same religion. I know that someday I will approach them and need to give an account for how I used the gifts they blessed me with. I only hope that they will be able to smile on my efforts. I don’t seek to compare my trials with theirs. But rather to approach my own trials with the faithfulness that they approached their own.
Heaven knows that I fall short, but I know their is a God in Heaven how loves me, and who has provided a way for all of us to fix the mistakes and sins we make. It is through
Jonathan Oldham Duke, first LDS Duke. My 3rd Great Grandfather on my Mothers side.
the mercy, grace, and merits of Jesus Christ. I honor my family tree today, I honor all pioneers who sacrificed their lives to build the Kingdom of God.
Every person who chooses to exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repent of their sins, is baptized, receives the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and endures to the end of their lives is grafted into this great pioneer legacy of faith. I pray my name might be listed with theirs for all of my decendents.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
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July 17, 2011 by admin
Jesus told Peter that he would deny the Lord three times within a very short time. It’s hard to imagine Peter being willing to deny Jesus even after he was willing to cut off one of the ears of the soldiers ears that were attempting to take Jesus into custody. Peter was a valiant man. He had left all he had to follow the Lord without hesitation. He had followed Jesus through most all the of the trials of His earthly ministry.
Why would Peter show such weakness in the last hours of the Saviors life? The truth is, we are no better than Peter, and he serves as a great example of how we can pick up our selves after we falter and be redeemed through the love of Jesus Christ.
The Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley said:
“My heart goes out to Peter. So many of us are so much like him. We pledge our loyalty; we affirm our determination to be of good courage; we declare, sometimes even publicly, that come what may we will do the right thing, that we will stand for the right cause, that we will be true to ourselves and to others.
“Then the pressures begin to build. Sometimes these are social pressures. Sometimes they are personal appetites. Sometimes they are false ambitions. There is a weakening of the will. There is a softening of discipline. There is capitulation. And then there is remorse, followed by self-accusation and bitter tears of regret. …
“… If there be those throughout the Church who by word or act have denied the faith, I pray that you may draw comfort and resolution from the example of Peter, who, though he had walked daily with Jesus, in an hour of extremity momentarily denied the Lord and also the testimony which he carried in his own heart. But he rose above this and became a mighty defender and a powerful advocate. So, too, there is a way for any person to turn about and add his or her strength and faith to the strength and faith of others in building the kingdom of God” (“And Peter Went Out and Wept Bitterly,” Ensign, Mar. 1995, 2–4, 6).
So let us take comfort in the example of Peter. Let’s remember that even the greatest among us need the atonement of Jesus Christ to be made whole. No matter where you are in your life right now, you can make it right through mercy, merits, and grace of Jesus Christ.
All it takes is Faith, Repentance, Baptism (or a renewing of your covenants), The Gift of the Holy Ghost, and retaining a remission of your sins. (articles of faith)
Mosiah 4:11-12
11And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have atasted of his love, and have received abremission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own cnothingness, and his dgoodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of ehumility, fcalling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing gsteadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.
12And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the alove of God, and always bretain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the cknowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
If you would like to know more about how the Full Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored today please click here to talk to missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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