A Note from the Author

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Jared

Click here for the Table of Contents

Why Am I Writing a Book?

I am writing this book for my family, loved ones, and friends. I am also writing to anyone who desires to draw nearer to God.  

I am not writing as a church leader, a gospel scholar or for a profit motive. I’m writing based on my experience with the Lord. I’ve learned God is no respecter of persons, answers prayer, forgives sin, provides the gift of the Holy Ghost with the attending gifts of the spirit to all those who love him and keep his commandments, and those that seeketh so to do.

This book is written from the perspective of experience, not an academic commentary. In other words, I am writing about things I’ve learned by experience, not just what I believe in or hope for.  Continue reading →

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Are We Living in the Day Prophesied by Heber C. Kimball?

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Jared

This is the Introduction to an internet book. Click here for the Table of Contents

Are We Living in the Day Prophesied by Heber C. Kimball?

I’ve been exploring the internet going on four years, viewing websites and blogs that present information about the Mormon church. Most of the sites I visit are created and visited  by members and former members of the church. The subject matter of post and the comments made range widely.

On one side of the continuum are sites written and frequented by church members who are filled with faith, on the other extreme are members who have left the church, but can’t leave the church alone. Then there is a large group of members who are in the middle. Their sites are frequented by members whose faith can be described as fragile. Continue reading →

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Testimony-Call Upon the Lord and Cease Not Till You Obtain It

Posted on February 12, 2011 by Jared

Click here for Table of Contents

Note: I’ve used footnotes in this post (26 to be exact). To view a footnote click the number. After reading the footnote click the number again to return.

We live in a day when the following prophecy given by Heber C. Kimball is being fulfilled. He said:

This Church has before it many close places through which it will have to pass before the work of God is crowned with victory. To meet the difficulties that are coming, it will be necessary for you to have a knowledge of the truth of this work for yourselves. The difficulties will be of such a character that the man or woman who does not possess this personal knowledge or witness will fall. If you have not got the testimony, live right and call upon the Lord and cease not till you obtain it. If you do not you will not stand.

The word “testimony” looms large in the vocabulary of Latter-Day-Saints. We are frequently reminded by our leaders that having, and maintaining a vibrant testimony is essential to our salvation. The importance of a testimony is highlighted by the fact that each month, one Sunday meeting is set apart for the “bearing” of testimonies. Continue reading →

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Stephen Hawking’s Doesn’t Think God Is The Creator. If Your Son or Granddaughter Ask You What You Think, How Would You Answer?

Posted on February 5, 2011 by Jared

From CNN World News:

God did not create the universe, world-famous physicist Stephen Hawking argues in a new book that aims to banish a divine creator from physics.

Hawking says in his book “The Grand Design” that, given the existence of gravity, “the universe can and will create itself from nothing,” according to an excerpt published Thursday in The Times of London.

“Spontaneous creation is the reason why there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist,” he writes in the excerpt.

Without doubt, Stephen Hawking’s is a recognized scientist. I think when it comes to science he should be heard. However, when it comes to marriage and parenting I don’t think his thoughts should have equal credibility.  The same goes for his thoughts on theology and many, many other subjects. Continue reading →

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The Power of Hate an Unforgiveness Frustrates the Power of the Priesthood

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Jared

At the end of World War II, Ezra Taft Benson and Fred W. Babbel went to Europe with church welfare supplies. They experienced many miracles which Brother Babbel recorded and then published.

The following account details a remarkable healing and a heart rending failure of love that prevented the healing of a child.

Elder Babbel said: [In late autumn 1946 I gave a talk in the sacrament meeting of the South London Branch] As I was speaking, I had the keen realization that unlimited power was surging through my being. … Little wonder, therefore, that afterwards when I was asked to to bless two of the members present, I felt that there was no limit to the blessing each could receive.

The first of these was a sister in her seventh month of pregnancy who had been bleeding so profusely that both she and her husband feared she might lose the baby prematurely. As I confirmed the annointing, I again felt the tremendous surge of power I have mentioned, and I knew that she would be healed from that very moment. (She later confirmed that she was immediately healed.) Continue reading →

Posted in Example of Faith, Priesthood Blessing | 5 Comments

“…Ye Ask Not, Neither Do Ye Knock; Wherefore Ye are Not Brought into the Light…”

Posted on January 15, 2011 by Jared

If we desire to learn the gospel of Jesus Christ we need to study it like we would any other subject. The familiar process of reading, attending class, writing, and discussing will allow us to acquire information. However, there is a difference between information and understanding. Information is to understanding, what an acorn is to an Oak tree.

Years ago I attended a series of lectures where the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, the Bible, and the Book of Mormon were discussed. I later learned that some of the scholars who lectured were agnostic. This surprised me. I was hard pressed to understand how someone could spend their life studying these subjects and never experience the things of the spirit.

Continue reading →

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One Way Out: An Invitation to America

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Jared

1-10-2011 I just learned about this video. It’s about 4 minutes long. Let me know what you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KWGzSSCgoo

Update:

1-11-2011 All of those who have commented so far haven’t like the first video. The following video is made by the same person. I don’t know him, so I can’t say with certainty if he intended to make a political statement in the first video.

Take a look at this video and let me know your opinion. It’s about 4 minutes long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTVECvTYpN0

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The Philosophies of Men Mingled with Scripture

Posted on January 2, 2011 by Jared

With a new year I find myself reflecting on years past and future. As I do so, I realize that the year immediately before me is the most important year of my live. This is so because the decisions I make this year will either help or hinder my goal to be a true follower of Christ.

As I look about me, and observe my fellow followers of Christ at church, and in the bloggernacle, I am both inspired and concerned. I am inspired by many who successfully navigate the challenges of mortality by taking the Holy Spirit as their guide. They hunger and thirst after righteousness and are blessed with the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Others, cause me concern because their focus is to mingle the scriptures with the philosophies of men. The cost for this is the companionship of the Holy Ghost.

This isn’t a new phenomenon, the Book of Mormon describes this common condition among the Nephites saying:

And there are many among us who have many revelations, for they are not all stiffnecked.  And as many as are not stiffnecked and have faith, have communion with the Holy Spirit, which maketh manifest unto the children of men, according to their faith. Jarom 1:4 Continue reading →

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Pie Jesu

Posted on December 25, 2010 by Jared

As I write this I am listening to Jackie Evancho sing Christmas music. One of my favorite is Pie Jesu. Below is a translation from latin to english that I found on the internet.

I find it very moving and thought I would share it with you.

Click below for Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRM1yotDgB8


 Continue reading →

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We Come Unto Christ By Receiving The Holy Ghost

Posted on December 18, 2010 by Jared

One of the great experiences of life is owning the car of your dreams. In my case, I would like to own a Metallic Blue, Ford Shelby Cobra, with a 427 cubic inch engine.

If I were to purchase this car, I can imagine how I would feel if after taking delivery it didn’t start, and upon raising the hood I found it didn’t have an engine. Of course, I would have a lot of questions for the seller. I would have expected the car to be in working order when I took delivery. How could something so foolish like this happen, would be the question on my mind?

This car tale is a little like the parable of the Ten Virgins. The parable, like my car tale, is about crushed expectations. Fully half of those who expected to go out to meet the bridegroom were unprepared and not allowed to enter the bridal party.

The Savior gave the parable of the Ten Virgins for a reason. President Spencer W. Kimball said it was given as a warning to LDS church members.

The difference between the virgins who were prepared or unprepared to meet the Savior didn’t have anything to do with worthiness. It wasn’t a matter of being good or evil, righteous or unrighteous. The parable states that the difference was that of being wise or foolish. Continue reading →

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