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  1. Baptism of My Sweet Daughter…

    May 8, 2011 by Ben Tanner

    Because I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and a holder of the Melchizedek priesthood,  my Bishop used his priesthood keys and authorized me to baptize my first born child Eden yesterday.  In the church we believe that children should not be baptized until they have reached the age of accountability.  That age was given by revelation as eight years old. (See D&C 68:27)

    Since the day Eden was born, we have taken great care to teach her about our Heavenly Fathers plan.  We have taught her about faith, repentance,  baptism, and the Holy Ghost.  We have had countless family home evening lessons on these and other principles of the gospel.  We try to read the scriptures as a family every day and hold family and personal prayers.
    All the while, we have stressed the importance of Eden making this choice on her own.  We have tried to help her recognize the Holy Ghost when it is present testifying of the truthfulness of the gospel to her heart.  She has been blessed with a mother that is a fantastic example.  It’s been a very tender thing to see her gain a testimony.

    When she was really little and the Spirit would touch her heart she would say things like “my eyes have water in them and I don’t know why” to now where she can’t wait to tell us her testimony during Family home evening.

    I am so grateful for my little princess.  She really is a daughter of the living God.  I testify that Baptism is they gate by which you should enter.  When it’s performed by those who have the proper authority and the person who is baptized has faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, has repented of their sins, and is ready to make a sacred covenant with the Lord.

    • Moroni 8:25

      25 And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins;

    • Doctrine and Covenants 39:6

      6 And this is my gospel—repentance and baptism by water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which showeth all things, and teacheth the peaceable things of the kingdom.

    • Moroni 6:33 And none were received unto baptism save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end.

    • Mark 1:4

      4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

    • Romans 6:4

      4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

    • Colossians 2:12

      12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

    • 1 Peter 3:21

      21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

    • Doctrine and Covenants 112:29

      29 And he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not, and is not baptized, shall be damned.

    • Mosiah 25:18

      18 Therefore, Alma did go forth into the water and did baptize them; yea, he did baptize them after the manner he did his brethren in the waters of Mormon; yea, and as many as he did baptize did belong to the church of God; and this because of their belief on the words of Alma.

    • 2 Nephi 31:5

      5 And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!

    • Galatians 3:27

      27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

    • Ether 4:18

      18 Therefore, repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and believe in my gospel, and be baptized in my name; for he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned; and signs shall follow them that believe in my name.

    • Acts 2:38

      38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

    • John 3:5

      5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

    I invite you to be baptized into the Lords Church.  To find out how, talk to the missionaries.

    In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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  2. Easter

    April 24, 2011 by Ben Tanner

    On this Easter Sunday.. I simply want to say.. That I know He lives.  Jesus is the Christ.  He love’s you.  He will cleanse you.  He will heal you.  He will change you.  He will forgive you.  He will make you into  more than you can ever make of yourself.  He is the way, the truth, and the life.
    No one will come to the Father but by Him.  The way to Jesus, is Faith, Repentance, Baptism (by those with the proper authority), the receiving of the Holy Ghost, and enduring in faith to the end of your life.  If you will do this, you will have access to the Living water… the Bread of Life, Grace… even the Savoir of your soul.  If if you have Jesus, you have salvation.

    In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

     

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  3. To This End Was I Born…

    April 17, 2011 by Ben Tanner

    http://youtu.be/KTuiupCmAHk

     

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  4. He is Risen…

    April 10, 2011 by Ben Tanner

    Please Watch this…

    And read this…

    http://lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/he-is-risen?lang=eng

     

    I testify of the same! In the name of  Jesus Christ, amen

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  5. Callings in the Church

    March 27, 2011 by Ben Tanner

    The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints uses a lay ministry.  This means that the leadership in the church is made up of volunteers who are not paid.  Each member of the church who is living the standards are eligible to be “called” to different positions in their local or regional congregations.  A Melcezidek priesthood holder could be called as a Bishop who presides over the local congregation at one point in their lives and then released and subsequently called as a teacher in the Sunday School.

    Although important, these callings are not to supersede  the responsibilities each member has to their own family. Each calling is given under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost.  The Bishopric prays over the calls that need to be made a ward (local congregation) and then are given inspiration from the Lord as to who should be called to those callings.

    No one is forced to have a calling, but instead they are offered the opportunity by the bishopric and are able to accept the responsibility or decline it.  My wife and I have made it a practice never to turn down a calling when it is offered by the servants of the Lord.  Because of this practice, our lives have been gratley enriched and we have learned a great deal.

    We have had opportunities to serve in many different callings and have been stretched and have grown a great deal because of it.  We have both has some of our most sacred spiritual experiences while serving where the Lord has asked us to.  It isn’t always easy, but I’ve learned that when I focus on the Lords work and building His kingdom, I open up the door for Him to bless me and work on my problems.  He is able to fix all of them and is able to give me the strength I need to endure any difficulty.

    I testify that this is the Lord’s true church.  I don’t say that with an arrogant attitude, but rather very humble one.  It humbles me to know that I have a knowledge gives me great responsibility.  I love the Lord and His never-ending blessings.

    In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

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  6. Among the Thorns…

    March 20, 2011 by Ben Tanner

    In Matthew Chapter 13 we read of several parables among which is the Parable of the sower:

    3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

    4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

    5 Some fell upon astony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

    6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

    7And some fell among athorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

    8 But other fell into good ground, and abrought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

    9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

    Later in the same chapter we are given the interpretation:

     

    18 ¶aHear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

    19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, andaunderstandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and bcatchethaway that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

    20 But he that received the seed into astony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

    21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for whenatribulation or bpersecution ariseth because of the word, by and byche is offended.

    22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this aworld, and the bdeceitfulness ofcriches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

    23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he thataheareth the word, and bunderstandeth it; which also bearethcfruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

    Volumes could be written and probably have been written about this parable.  But I would like to focus on one small part today.. the part that deals with the seed that was sown among the thorns.

    and the care of this aworld, and the bdeceitfulness of criches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

    Is your seed being choked by the cares of the world?  What are the cares of the world?  The “decietfulness of riches” is specifically mentioned. As a father I can empathize with the those who are tempted to focus all their attention on making a living.  It’s difficult to make sure that not only your families immediate needs are met, but also that you have enough laid up in store for the future.  However the problem here doesn’t seem to be one of working too much but more so of where our focus is.  It seems that when we focus our attention on the cares of this world, we lose sight of the eternal focus we need.  Thus as the scripture says, we become “unfruitful.”

     

    We start serving ourselves instead of the Lord.  The key here is that everything in this life is temporary, along with the cares of this world. We need to base our choices on an eternal perspective rather than what seems important right now.  Another scripture says:

    Luke 12:34

    34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

    And remember, that the Lord is concerned mainly with our hearts.  I testify that if we put our focus on the Lord and His kingdom rather than building up our own kingdoms, that the Lord will bless you and prosper you not only in the world to come, but starting today.

     

    In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

     

     

     

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  7. Service…

    March 13, 2011 by Ben Tanner

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  8. Come, Ye Disconsolate Hymn #115

    March 6, 2011 by Ben Tanner

    Come, ye disconsolate, wher – e’re ye languish;
    Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel.

    Here bring your wounded hearts;
    here tell your anguish.

    Earth has no sorrow that heav’n cannot heal

    Joy of the desolate,
    Light of the straying,
    hope of the penitent,
    fadeless and pure!

    Here speaks the Comforter,
    tenderly saying,

    “Earth has no sorrow that heav’n cannot cure.”

    Here see the Bread of Life;
    see waters flowing forth from the
    throne of God, pure from above.

    Come to the feast of love;

    come, ever knowing

    Earth has no sorrow but heav’n can remove.

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  9. Home Teachers, Lester, Ruth, Virgil, and Gladys

    February 27, 2011 by Ben Tanner

    I grew up in a small southern Utah town called Kanab.  Is it a beautiful little community nestled in the red rocks of southern Utah.  Our home faced south and just to the west of us lived an old couple named Lester and Ruth Johnson.  These were not your typical elderly couple.  Although they were bent over with age and health problems, they were always going about doing good.  My father would have to travel down to California for work and sometimes would have to be gone for months at a time.  But Lester and Ruth would look after our family.  Lester and another older gentlemen named Virgil Riggs were our “Home Teachers”.

    In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, men are assigned families to look after, visit, and teach.  Women are also assigned to visit other Women in the local congregation to support each other and help one another.  When done effectively, Home and Visiting teachers can provide great service for the families they are assigned to.

    Most the time, home teachers are more the same age as the families they are teaching.  In our case however, my Dad was a High Priest so we were assigned two home teachers that were older.  High Priests on average are older because they are men of experience in the church who have served in many different high profile capacities.

    Lester and Virgil were so old that I, at first, viewed them as just nice old men just doing their job.  However as time went on, I began to learn amazing lessons from these two and their wives.

    When we were sick, they would arrive to our house and lay their arthritic, worn, and hard working hands our heads to pronounce priesthood blessings.  One day, during a very hard time financially for our family, Ruth, Lester’s wife came and asked if my mother had any old bottles that she could use for canning.  My Mother gave her a large box of bottles thinking she was being of service to Ruth.

    However, a few hours later Ruth showed up at the door with the cans full of freshly canned food from their huge garden.  Their garden was about a quarter acre… which might not seem large to some, but for two people in their 80’s it was quite a large area to keep up with.

    Virgil and Gladys were no less helpful and industrious.  They also had a large garden and fruit trees that were well pruned and intricately taken care of. Both of these couples used the bounty of their gardens to see to it that families around them were fed.  But more than the sacred priesthood blessings, more than the food, and more than the regular visits, the thing I miss most about them is the sound of their laughter and the love they showed to me.

    These were very happy people.  They were not wealthy but they were so happy.  Their happiness came from the selfless giving and service they gave.  Well I grew up, went to college and served a mission.  But I had a chance to visit Kanab and I brought my soon to be bride with me Jessica.  We went to visit Lester and Ruth in their home and by this time Lester had completely lost his eye-sight.  But he gave me a big hug and so did Ruth.  Their bodies were racked with pain and the troubles of very old age…. but they were still happy.

    Lester was still taking his daily mile walk which he had memorized now that he was blind.  In fact, it was a short time later, Lester was taking his daily walk and he died of a heart attack while on the walk.  It seems tragic, but to me there was not better way for my mentor, friend, and great example to go.  He died doing.

    I know that Ruth, Virgil, and Gladys never stopped either.  I pray that I will always be found showing the love of the Savior to those around me like these amazing people.  I know that if I do, I will always be filled with happiness as they were and as I know they still are.

    In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

     

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  10. Families Can Be Together Forever

    February 20, 2011 by Ben Tanner

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