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  1. The Gathering of Israel

    November 6, 2011 by Ben Tanner

    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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  2. I Believe In Things I Cannot See

    October 30, 2011 by Jessica

    New Author Jessica Tanner

    We learn about gravity pretty early on in our lives. When we first try learning to walk we stumble and fall down many times. We don’t see what it is that makes us fall, we just feel the result of falling. As we get older we learn that there are things we can do to avoid falling and we usually take necessary precautions, as most of us don’t enjoy falling. When we get into school we get introduced to a name that explains the reason why we fall down instead of falling up. It is called gravity. Gravity is not something we can hold on to.

    We cannot taste it,hear it or see it. But we know it exists. We have felt it, we have seen the effects of gravity and we continue to see evidence of it all around us, daily. It manifests itself in the rain that falls from the sky and the tears that fall down our cheeks. Gravity affects the young and the old, the sick and the well, the rich and the poor. We can choose to say “I do not believe in gravity” but it will not change its existence.

    I believe in things I cannot see. I may not see God but I believe He exists and I see evidence of Him all around me daily. I see His creations, I see His interventions on the behalf of mankind and I see His hand in my life guiding, helping, protecting, lifting, teaching. One may choose to say “I do not believe in God” but that will not make Him any less real. I would say that in this life we experience both a physical gravity and a spiritual gravity.

    The physical one, the gravitational pull that keeps us on the earth, is not one we overcome. But the spiritual falls we experience from the weight of the world pulling us down can be overcome. It is God’s gift to us—the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ as he wrought the Atonement—that allows us to overcome the downward pull of this other type of gravity that causes spiritually falling. Through the Atonement we can rise up and become like our Savior and He will make our burdens light.

    Alma 32:21

    “And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for thingswhich are not seen, which are true.”

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  3. Opportunities To Do Good…

    October 16, 2011 by Ben Tanner

    From a talk given by President Henry B. Eyring…

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  4. God Understands Us Completely

    October 9, 2011 by Ben Tanner

    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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  5. Godly Sorrow…

    September 25, 2011 by Ben Tanner

    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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  6. What Matters Most

    September 18, 2011 by Ben Tanner

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  7. 9/11 Survivor

    September 11, 2011 by Ben Tanner

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  8. “Daddy” Grandpa Duke

    September 4, 2011 by Ben Tanner

    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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  9. New York, I’m a Mormon

    August 21, 2011 by Ben Tanner

    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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  10. Eternal Marriage

    August 14, 2011 by Ben Tanner

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