Throughout the scriptures we can read the words of the prophets. For thousands of years, the Lord has seen fit to call prophets. So, what is a prophet, and why does the Lord call prophets?
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Thursday, October 29, 2015
The Book of Mormon...
I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but most people know us as Mormons because of our belief in the Book of Mormon. I have read the Book of Mormon many times and have received powerful witnesses that it is the word of God. Every time I read it I feel God's spirit and am drawn closer to Him. The Book of Mormon teaches me of Christ and confirms my faith in Him. I love this book with all my heart and esteem it as I do the Holy Bible, as scripture and as the word of God. It is a second witness, along with the Bible, that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God. Everything that brings me closer to God through His spirit I hold dear. The Bible and the Book of Mormon are two of those things.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
The Ultimate Irony: The Blind Could See, The Pharisees Could Not...
Scriptural Basis: John 9
Bible Video (if the video doesn't load, refresh the page): Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
There is an amazing account in the book of John, chapter nine. In this chapter, Jesus is walking with His disciples and they pass by a man who is blind, and has been since birth. The disciples stop and ask the Lord who had sinned that this man be blind, being left to a life of utter dependence and begging. The Lord's disciples asked whether he had sinned, or if it was his parents (John 9:1-2).This question is loaded with meaning.
Bible Video (if the video doesn't load, refresh the page): Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
There is an amazing account in the book of John, chapter nine. In this chapter, Jesus is walking with His disciples and they pass by a man who is blind, and has been since birth. The disciples stop and ask the Lord who had sinned that this man be blind, being left to a life of utter dependence and begging. The Lord's disciples asked whether he had sinned, or if it was his parents (John 9:1-2).This question is loaded with meaning.
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Peter, the Rock...
All my life I've been taught that Peter is an example of a man who lacked real faith and who, although passionate in his beliefs, was never able to follow through and demonstrate his faith in a consistent, concrete manner through meaningful actions. This is, of course, is utter nonsense and a tell tale sign that a greater depth of knowledge and understanding is lacking, for Peter was, in my view, one of the greatest prophets and spiritual leaders in his time, or any other.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Bold Claims...No Proof; My Journey
I believe in God...that He exists, and loves me. He is my father, and yours. We all share this divine heritage. I believe that His son, Jesus Christ is my saviour in that He paid the terrible price of my sins and that through His magnificent grace, I can be saved, and in no other way, if I choose to accept and follow Him. I believe that when we treat others with kindness and respect this pleases God, and is a way we can appreciate the love God shows us. I believe the scriptures are the word of God, and that by prayerfully studying them we will be drawn closer to Him. They can help us obtain a knowledge and witness which can be gained in no other way.
I have no tangible proof I can show you or anyone else. Many would ridicule me for my beliefs. They are bold claims. They are claims that are not, and indeed can not be supported by any physical evidence. I am not trying to convince you to believe as I do because even if I wanted to, I couldn't. This knowledge comes from God alone and from no other source. But I would like to share with you my journey and invite you to begin a journey of your own if not yet taken.
I have no tangible proof I can show you or anyone else. Many would ridicule me for my beliefs. They are bold claims. They are claims that are not, and indeed can not be supported by any physical evidence. I am not trying to convince you to believe as I do because even if I wanted to, I couldn't. This knowledge comes from God alone and from no other source. But I would like to share with you my journey and invite you to begin a journey of your own if not yet taken.
Monday, October 19, 2015
Let Your Light Shine...
Scriptural base: Matthew 5:6, Matthew 5:13-16
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel; but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel; but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Friday, October 9, 2015
In This Life, We Are Called To Walk By Faith...
Scriptural base:
Doctrine and Covenants 82:3-4
3 For of him unto whom much is given, much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation.
4 Ye call upon my name for revelations, and I give them unto you; and inasmuch as ye keep not my sayings, which I give unto you, ye become transgressors; and justice and judgement are the penalty which is affixed unto my law.
Alma 32:17-19
17 Yea, there are many who do say: if thou wilt show unto us a sign from heaven, then we shall know of a surety; then we shall believe.
18 Now I ask, is this faith? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for if a man knoweth a thing, he hath no cause to believe, for he knoweth it.
19 And now, how much more cursed is he that knoweth the will of God and doeth it not, than he that only believeth, or only hath cause to believe, and falleth into transgression?
Have you ever wondered why God requires us to walk by faith in this life? In some ways wouldn't it be easier on everyone if the Lord simply made Himself so undeniably available that no reasonable person could believe otherwise? And an explanation about the meaning and purpose of life given that so many struggle in a world replete with injustices, inequities, and yes, terrible evil would, perhaps, provide comfort, knowledge, and courage to those facing the trials of this fractured and imperfect world.
Doctrine and Covenants 82:3-4
3 For of him unto whom much is given, much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation.
4 Ye call upon my name for revelations, and I give them unto you; and inasmuch as ye keep not my sayings, which I give unto you, ye become transgressors; and justice and judgement are the penalty which is affixed unto my law.
Alma 32:17-19
17 Yea, there are many who do say: if thou wilt show unto us a sign from heaven, then we shall know of a surety; then we shall believe.
18 Now I ask, is this faith? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for if a man knoweth a thing, he hath no cause to believe, for he knoweth it.
19 And now, how much more cursed is he that knoweth the will of God and doeth it not, than he that only believeth, or only hath cause to believe, and falleth into transgression?
Have you ever wondered why God requires us to walk by faith in this life? In some ways wouldn't it be easier on everyone if the Lord simply made Himself so undeniably available that no reasonable person could believe otherwise? And an explanation about the meaning and purpose of life given that so many struggle in a world replete with injustices, inequities, and yes, terrible evil would, perhaps, provide comfort, knowledge, and courage to those facing the trials of this fractured and imperfect world.
Monday, October 5, 2015
Loving the Lord With All Our Heart, Soul and Mind...
Scriptural
Base: Matthew 22:37
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalta love the Lord thy God with all thy b heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy c mind.
If you think about the subject with all your heart, it is so broad that it encompasses the very reason we are here and maps a path back to our Heavenly Father. It is the single most important commandment that God has ever given His children and everything literally hangs and depends upon it. Every other commandment given finds its roots in this one thing, that we love the Lord with all our hearts, souls, and minds. Therefore, all of the commandments of God, and the gospel in its entirety, are encompassed by this one commandment. And so the challenge before me is to distill something from the flurry of thoughts and feelings which this subject invokes in myself and any who seriously attempt an understanding of it. I hope you will join me in prayer that the spirit of the Lord may be with us all this day as we discuss the things of God that His will may be done.
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt
If you think about the subject with all your heart, it is so broad that it encompasses the very reason we are here and maps a path back to our Heavenly Father. It is the single most important commandment that God has ever given His children and everything literally hangs and depends upon it. Every other commandment given finds its roots in this one thing, that we love the Lord with all our hearts, souls, and minds. Therefore, all of the commandments of God, and the gospel in its entirety, are encompassed by this one commandment. And so the challenge before me is to distill something from the flurry of thoughts and feelings which this subject invokes in myself and any who seriously attempt an understanding of it. I hope you will join me in prayer that the spirit of the Lord may be with us all this day as we discuss the things of God that His will may be done.
I Am Daddyman...
Daddyman is a name given to me by my children and one by which I am proud to be called. It came about because my children had a desire to know their grandfather who passed away before they were born and even before I married. So, I have, at times, told them stories of their grandfather so they could get a sense of who he was and learn to love him even though he is not with us physically.
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Why A Guy Like Me Writes A Blog Like This...
Why am I writing this blog? Honestly, I'm the least likely of people to begin such a venture. I absolutely hate facebook, have never sent a tweet and don't even own a cell phone. I know...gasp! And even though I maintain a facebook account, months pass between times when I log in. I'm doing this on what many people would term a whim. I'm doing this simply because I feel impressed to do so.
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