Faith without works is dead {James 2}

I remember having a deep conversation with a Christian friend in High School about faith and works. He didn't like our emphasis on works and I didn't like their lack of emphasis on it. However, I came out of that conversation a bit more understanding of where he was coming from. Grace and works. They are equally important. One is not better than the other. We can not emphasize one without the other. Even though we work our hardest, we still fall short. On the other hand , we are told to not only be "hearers", but "doers" of the word.

The Mormon.org website describes grace as the following:

The prophet Joseph Smith taught ‘Therefore ye are justified of faith and works, through grace...’ (see JST Romans 4:16). The Book of Mormon teaches ‘For we labor diligently to write to persuade our children, and also our brethren to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace we are saved after all we can do’ (2 Nephi 25:23). The Book of Mormon adds ‘all that we could do [was to] repent of all our sins’ (Alma 24:11). A Book of Mormon prophet named Lehi taught, ‘There is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah’ (2 Nephi 2:8).

We need to exercise faith in God's grace. It is through faith in Him that we return to live with him again. However , in our mission to become perfected through him, we have to put in some work. We cannot grow if we sit idly by on the sidelines. We jump in the journey and pedal the best we can. We have to show we have a desire. (Matthew 7:21)

Works of Righteousness {Paul To the Hebrews, Chapter 13}

1. Remember strangers and those that are in bonds. (v. 2-3)
2. Marriage is honorable. (v. 4)
3. The Lord will never leave or forsake us, so we should be content and not covetous. (v. 5)
4. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. (v. 8)
5. We are sanctified through Jesus Christ's blood. (v. 12)
6. Joyfully obey those that rule over us who have spoken the word of God.  (v. 17)
7. Pray for our leaders [Paul]. (v. 18)

Greater than the Angels - Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews

When Paul returned to Jerusalem, he found thousands of Jewish converts still practicing the Law of Moses. His purpose in writing to the Hebrews was to help the new Jewish converts understand  that the Law of Moses has been fulfilled and that Jesus Christ has replaced it with a higher law and that they should no longer practice this law. 

Jesus Christ is greater than....
*the angels..they are His servants
*Moses. Moses was a faithful servant, Jesus was his Son.
*Prophets. God speaks through prophets, but Jesus Christ is the heir, the creator, and the exact image of the Father.
*High Priests of the Law of Moses - he was a High Priest of Melchizedek. 
*The tabernacle service and traveling of Israel out of Egypt is symbolic of Him.  Bible Dictionary: "The tabernacle service was symbolic (or a shadow) of the real events: (a) The high priest under the law went through the veil into the Holy of Holies; but Jesus, the great high priest, has gone into heaven itself  (b) The traveling of Israel out of Egypt, through the wilderness, crossing over the Jordan River into the promised land, is similar to a man forsaking the worldly things, going through the wilderness of temptation, and finally passing through the veil of death into the celestial kingdom (D&C 84:21–24; see also Alma 37:38–45).

Hebrews 1: He made the worlds. He is the first begotten son. He is the appointed heir of all things. 

Hebrews 2: Our Salvation is made perfect through his sufferings. He suffered temptation so that he may succor us during our temptation. 
Hebrews 4: He has grace to help us in time of need. 
Alma 7: He suffered pain, afflictions, and temptations of every kind so that he may take upon the pains and the sicknesses of people. He will take upon death in order to loose the bands of death which bind us all.  His bowels will be filled with mercy for us. 
D&C 122: He descended below us all. 

Solutions in the Scriptures to Life's Challenges

Problem: Arguments and complaints over petty matters in church meetings or throughout the week.

Paul's Solution: Give comfort and love, have compassion, and try to understand the other person. Be unified. Don't think you are better than others.

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-8, 14-15:

 1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love,being of one accord, of one mind.

 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to equal with God:

 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Problem: Relying on your parent's testimony; their's is good enough.

Paul's Solution: Our testimony requires consistent work. We cannot just say we believe or else when hard times come heading or way, we won't be strong enough on our own.

Scripture: Philippians 2: 12

 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

"A man may say he believes, but if he does nothing to make that belief or faith a moving power to do, to accomplish, to produce soul growth, his professing will avail him nothing...It is to perform daily, hourly momentarily, if necessary the immediate task or duty at hand." (David O. McKay in CR, April 1957)

Problem: An investigator is considering joining the church, but the family will no longer associate with them him if he does.

Paul's Solution: I can do all things in Christ which strengthens me. 

Scripture: Philippians 3 and 4

3: 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Summary:

2 Nephi 32:3

 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

When we have challenges, we can turn to the scriptures and the Holy Ghost will tell us what Christ would have us do. The scriptures apply to us today!

Becoming Creatures in Christ

Paul's Descriptions of the Savior {Colossians 1-2}

*delivered us*translated us*redemption through his blood*firstborn of every creature*creator*head*beginning*made peace*holy*unblameable*unreproveable*treasures of wisdom and knowledge*

Christ has done so much for us, and it is completely up to us to take advantage of what the Lord has given us and then to pass that same love on to other to feel it.

Not Going Anywhere : 

{Helaman 5:12 (Book of Mormon)} and{Colossians 2:7 (Bible)}

"Rooted and built up in him, and established in faith." It doesn't take much to look around and see that all things testify of Christ. As a mom, I like to think of all the daily things I do for my children as strengthening their roots. It's pretty easy for a tree to fall over in a windstorm, but when we invite the spirit in our home daily and teach our children to recognize that spirit, their roots get deeper and deeper. 

Means of Deception

The Gnostic philosophy held was that you couldn't approach God directly - it had to be through the worshipping of angels that were less divine. Paul warns not to be beguiled by this, and that it is just vainly "puffed up" and imagined. We can have direct conversations  with our Father in Heaven through personal prayer.  Nephi points out that this is Satan's plan to lessen our relationship with our Heavenly Father by telling lies that simply aren't true. {2 Nephi 9:28}

.

"Putting On" and "Putting Off" {Colossians 3}

Things we should seek after or "Put On":

Seek affection for things above

Put on the new man

bowels of mercy

kindness

humbleness of mind

meekness

Forebearing

Forgiving

Give thanks

Support and love your spouse

Obey parents

Do things heartily

Things we should avoid or "Put off":

Seek affection for things of the earth

Fornication

Uncleanliness

Inordinate affection

Covetous

Idolotry

Anger

Wrath

Malice

Blasphemy

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Paul's counsel for family relationships:

Husbands, love your wives and be not bitter

Wives, submit to your husbands, as fit to the Lord

Children, obey your parents

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We can learn wisdom and teach each other through singing hymns. It is more than just unifying when we sing together; our spirits can be taught and lifted. Music is a beautiful teacher and can touch the heart like nothing else.

Colossians 3:16

  16 Let the ^aword of Christ dwell in you richly in all ^bwisdom; ^cteaching and admonishing one another in psalms and ^dhymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Baptism {Romans 6}

{Romans 6:1-13}

Paul teaches us that before we bet baptized, we need to repent and stop committing sin.

The ordinance of baptism is very simple but it symbolizes death, burial, and resurrection. It can only be done through immersion because it is through that symbolism that we show our commitment to becoming spiritual reborn. See Baptism, Bible Dictionary

We feel a newness of life by remembering our special day of baptism. It is our first covenant with our Heavenly Father that we will always remember him and keep his commandments. He in return promises that he will always have his spirit to be with us.

Mosiah in the Book of Mormon teaches us that when we are baptized, we are giving away our natural man and through the atonement of Jesus Christ we can become as a child - humble, submissive, meek, patient, and full of love.

Who do we serve?

Paul teaches us that we show who we serve by our actions. Obedience to God's commandments actually give us more freedoms. It may seem more restricting at first, but now looking back on my life, I know that all of my biggest joys are directly related to my choices to keep the commandments.

God Comforts Us in Tribulation

How Paul and Timothy were able avoid despair despite everything...

1.  They know Christ has been there too. "For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ."   {2 Corinthians 1:3-5}
2. God loves us and wants us to grow through our experiences. "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth...If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons." {Hebrews 12: 6-7}
3. Eternal perspective! Faith in Christ is even more powerful than even death.  "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." {2 Corinthians 4:5-17}

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I think when times are the hardest, I recognize how insufficient I am on my own. I turn for help, go on my knees, and have the most sincere conversations with my Heavenly Father. It's all about the opportunities these trials give us to strengthen that relationship with Heavenly Father that we normally wouldn't have had. 

From the video:
"It's our spiritual nature, though, to turn to our God, that gave us life and has given us this mortal experience - to turn to him and either thank him for the happy times or pray for his help during the hard times."

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Jeffrey R. Holland: 
"When suffering, we may in fact be nearer to God than we’ve ever been in our entire lives. That knowledge can turn every such situation into a would-be temple...
Regarding our earthly journey, the Lord has promised, “I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up” (D&C 84:88). That is an everlasting declaration of God’s love and care for us, including—and perhaps especially—in times of trouble."

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Joseph Smith and Paul

The first president of our church, Joseph Smith, found strength in Paul's testimony and ultimately died for his convictions just as Paul. They both were was persecuted relentlessly for leading the Church. In order to cope with their hardships, they both had to have their eyes set beyond  this life. They both understood that this life was meant to be difficult and enduring hardships now is worth the triumphant bigger picture in the end.

Joseph Smith said:

"And as for the perils which I am called to pass through, they seem but a small thing to me... But nevertheless, deep water is what I am wont to swim in. It all has become a second nature to me; and I feel, like Paul, to glory in tribulation; for to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all, and will deliver me from henceforth; for behold, and lo, I shall triumph over all my enemies, for the Lord God hath spoken it." {D&C 127:2}

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Grace & Trials: 

Grace gives us strength where we are weak and cannot carry on our own. Grace is enabling power. Wow. Grace doesn't only make up for our mistakes, but in any difficulty, our Savior has already paid the price. We can cast any burden on the Lord and he will give us rest. 

The Bible Dictionary states that "through the grace of the Lord... through faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, [we] receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means. This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts.

So because of our trials, we become strong through the grace of God. Paul said, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." {2 Corinthians 12:7-10}

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Burdens can become lighter                                                    

In the Book of Mormon, the people of Alma were put to death for praying. They were under horrible circumstances and they asked the Lord for help. He didn't take away their problems, but they made their burdens seem light. {Mosiah 24: 13-15}

Our burdens becoming light. They may not disappear, but they become manageable through the grace of our Savior. How do my burdens become light?

It happens when look outward instead of inward and serve others. It happens when I turn on an uplifting General Conference Talk. It happens in the middle of sacrament meeting and somebody's testimony strikes me to the core. It happens when the Spirit whispers to me that this Gospel is true. It happens when a friend drops off a plate of cookies, or dinner. My burdens have become lighter because I am surrounded by wonderful, supportive people that don't even know it. 

The Sacrament {1 Corinthians 10-11}

When Christ introduced the sacrament to the twelve apostles for the first time {Luke 22:19-20} and  then to the Nephites a few days later in America, {3 Nephi 18: 6-11}he told them that the point of the sacrament was to remember him.

Paul brings up in {1 Corinthians 11} that we shouldn't partake of the sacrament if we feel we have been unworthy. Christ taught this in America too and told the apostles that they should forbid those to take until they have repented. {3 Nephi 18} This may seem harsh, but Paul teaches that doing this will give us a chance to return and improve instead of being in the world. 

For me, the sacrament is a recharge. I'm like a set of old rechargeable batteries that don't last very long. At the beginning of the week, I'm running at full speed and feeling great. But then I mess up. Again, and again, and again. By the end of the week, I'm barely hanging on and I'm feeling worn. Sunday comes, and I partake of the simple ordinance of the sacrament, and I become clean all over again. I remember. I remember what my Savior did for me and I feel so blessed that I can start new. Even though I will fall short again, he will make up the rest.

What the sacrament means to me:

Except from "Believing Christ" By Stephen E. Robinson

"I was sitting in a chair reading. My daughter, Sarah, who was seven years old at the time, came in and said, “Dad, can I have a bike? I’m the only kid on the block who doesn’t have one.”

Well, I didn’t have the money then for a bike, so I stalled her. I said, “Sure, Sarah.”

She said, “How? When?”

I said, “You save all your pennies, and soon you’ll have enough for a bike.” And she went away.

A couple ofs weeks later I was sitting in the same chair when I heard a “clink, clink” in Sarah’s bedroom. I asked, “Sarah, what are you doing?”

She came to me with a little jar, a slit cut in the lid, and a bunch of pennies in the bottom. She said, “You promised me that if I saved all my pennies, pretty soon I’d have enough for a bike. And, Daddy, I’ve saved every single one of them.”

My heart melted. My daughter was doing everything in her power to follow my instructions. I hadn’t actually lied to her. If she saved all of her pennies, she would eventually have enough for a bike, but by then she would want a car. I said, “Let’s go look at bikes.”

We went to every store in town. Finally we found it—the perfect bicycle. She was thrilled. Then she saw the price tag, and her face fell. She started to cry. “Oh, Dad, I’ll never have enough for a bicycle!”

So I said, “Sarah, how much do you have?”

She answered, “Sixty-one cents.”

“I’ll tell you what. You give me everything you’ve got and a hug and a kiss, and the bike is yours.” Then I drove home very slowly because she insisted on riding the bike home.

As I drove beside her, I thought of the atonement of Christ. We all desperately want the celestial kingdom. We want to be with our Father in Heaven. But no matter how hard we try, we come up short. At some point all of us must realize, “I can’t do this by myself. I need help.” Then it is that the Savior says, in effect, All right, you’re not perfect. But what canyou do? Give me all you have, and I’ll do the rest.

He still requires our best effort. We must keep trying. But the good news is that having done all we can, it is enough. We may not be personally perfect yet, but because of our covenant with the Savior, we can rely onhis perfection, and his perfection will get us through."

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I think as we realize we each are just trying to get by with our 61 cents we've earned, we realize how badly we need the atonement by partaking of the sacrament each week. We go to church not to show off how awesome and righteous we are, but to stagger in with our 61 cents in desperation for our Savior to help make up the rest. Then I remember what my Savior has done for me, and I feel motivated to keep on trekking along. That is why I rely so heavily on the sacrament and why I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Principles I found in my readings today.

Principle #1: Our body is a temple - they were bought with a price. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

I just watched this Mormon Message about a newly built temple in South America. I couldn't help but get emotional as I saw the joy in the faces of the faithful members of the church in South America. The promises of the temple are like a fairy-tale, and to have access to it  nearby is like a dream come true for these people. 

I had the thought that this is what it must have felt like when we decided to come to earth to get a body. We learn from this great talk by President Bednar that getting a body is an essential step in our process to becoming like Heavenly Father someday. Part of the test of our life here on earth is how we properly use our bodies. We have been blessed with agency and have to be aware that Satan is fully aware that if he attacks our bodies, he will attack our progression. It doesn't take long to look around us to know how deceiving it's become. 

"Our physical bodies indeed are temples of God. Consequently, you and I must carefully consider what we take into our temple, what we put on our temple, what we do to our temple, and what we do with our temple. And we can learn a number of important lessons by comparing the Church’s temples to our physical bodies as temples." -Bednar

Principle #2: Man and woman were created to be together. (1 Corinthians 11:9)

I am going to quote another great talk by President Bednar. He was the president of BYU-Idaho while attended there and I heard him speak often. 

"After the earth was created, Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden. Importantly, however, God said it was “not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18; Moses 3:18), and Eve became Adam’s companion and helpmeet. The unique combination of spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional capacities of both males and females were needed to implement the plan of happiness. Alone, neither the man nor the woman could fulfill the purposes of his or her creation.

By divine design, men and women are intended to progress together toward perfection and a fulness of glory. Because of their distinctive temperaments and capacities, males and females each bring to a marriage relationship unique perspectives and experiences. The man and the woman contribute differently but equally to a oneness and a unity that can be achieved in no other way. The man completes and perfects the woman and the woman completes and perfects the man as they learn from and mutually strengthen and bless each other. “Neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:11; italics added)."

I know this is a very sensitive subject today, but it is my personal belief that God wouldn't make something right for some people and wrong for others. We are all his children and he knows what will bring us the most happiness in the end. We don't understand why we were given the trials we have been given, but I do know that he has only given us commandments with our happiness in mind. I trust Him with all my heart. 100%. 

Adam and Eve

 Principle #3: Godly sorrow leads to repentance, worldly sorrow is a dead end. (2 Corinthians 7:10)

Paul's improvement challenge: Counsel for Members

{1 Thessalonians 3:12-13}

• Increase in love with one another.

{1 Thessalonians 4:1-12}

• Stay pure. 
• Avoid lust.
• Do not take advantage your brother.
• Be honest and work hard. 

{1 Thessalonians 5:1-22}

• Don't "sleep" but be "sober"- but put on the the armor of faith, love, and hope.
• Warn the unruly
• Comfort the feebleminded.
• Support the weak.
• Avoid even the appearance of evil.
• Be patient toward all men. 
• Rejoice evermore.
• Pray without ceasing.
• Give thanks in everything.

 {2 Thessalonians 3:1-6,11}

• Pray for your leaders that the Lord may be able to use them freely.
• Have order and direction; don't be a "busybody."

My top 3:

• Be honest and work hard. 

Put your feet up, relax, you've earned this! I recently read this book about a woman raising a family in the Western U.S. one hundred years ago when survival meant real blood, sweat and tears hard work... or you starve. I think about them watching me how dependant I am on my microwave and minivan and smart phone. Do I really work hard? I can find ways to work harder, that's for sure. I want to improve on this. Work is so much more satisfying than unproductivity. 

• Give thanks in everything.

"Did I get the message God sent to me? Did I recognize his hand in my life?" I want to live up to President Eyring's challenge of finding the hand of God in my own life everyday. If I take just a minute to give thanks everything he's given me, I think I will find I have a Heavenly Father that really is taking care of me. He loves us so much. The things I get grumpy about are just not worth it!
 

• Have order and direction; don't be a "busybody."

When I was a single adult, I used to feel bad if I wasn't busy. If I didn't have every weekend packed full of important "stuff" to do, I wasn't reaching my full potential. President Monson reminds us that what matters most has very little the length of our to-do list and has everything to do with how we treat each other. As a mom of five little ones, it feels like I have the opposite problem. It's easy to get caught up with all the things I'm not doing when I should be just spend time with them. I really want to have my home be one of order and that my to-do list is full of doing things that "matter most."

The Martyrdom of Stephen

{Acts 6:6-8}  and {Acts 7:51-60}

Two things:

#1: Forgiveness

Stephen's last words were: "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." You can tell he was really converted to Christ's higher law of forgiveness. He makes it look so easy. It doesn't matter what people do to you - let go and forgive. Leave the rest of the judging up to the Savior. This seems to be a common theme in the New Testament. But... it's so haaaaaaaard, right? At the same time, it's so much easier. No grudges, no fuming, no anger...just let it go. If I really do this, I know I'll be a happier person.

#2: The Godhead:

Stephen was "filled with the Holy Ghost", looked up to heaven, and saw Jesus Christ standing on the right hand of God. I love knowing that I can have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, Jesus Christ as my elder brother, and a Heavenly Father as three different beings. I can have a special relationship with each of them separately, yet they are united in purpose. 

On the other side of the world about 200 years earlier...
{Mosiah 17: 7-20}

I remember learning about Abinadi the prophet for the first time as a little girl. I remember feeling completely shocked that he wasn't protected like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. It was a good lesson for me - sometimes we think we know what would be best, and it isn't exactly what the Lord has in mind. I think we hope and pray for miracles, and when they don't come, it just stinks. But then we learn from the rest of the story that good things do come from hard times. We just need to take the time to figure out what we've learned. 

Principles for me today.

Principle #1: We can have a cheerful heart even through life's hardest times because we are never alone.  {Acts 16:25-26}

Can you imagine getting thrown into prison for doing what the Lord asked you to do? How would you handle it? I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be singing. What a lesson of attitude. When everyone turns their back on you, can you have a big enough perspective to remember that in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter? I think of Job's unwavering testimony in the Old Testament. Everything was taken from him, but the one thing that could not be taken away was his testimony.  Through Paul's incredible strength I've learned that if we truly cling on to our testimony of the Savior and understand that Christ suffered for all our sorrow and pain already, we cast our burden on to the Lord and he will give us rest. So maybe we can sing through our trials afterall...

 Principle #2: Our wisdom can often be foolish. {1 Corinthians 1:27}

Wisdom is a funny thing. Isn't it a righteous desire to be wise? What's so bad about it anyway? It seems that today more than ever before we can share our wisdom and thoughts with others with just a few fingertaps. I think the problem is not wisdom, but that it is corrleated with faith. Why is that so often faith has to go away if we replace it with things we've learned? Why can't we have strong faith in something and be learned? I think it is a matter of feeling the spirit. When we feel good inside, the spirit is telling us what we are learning is right. When we are seeking out wisdom but we feel dark and empty, the spirit is warning us that is not good for our spirit and faith. It then leads to doubt and we are left to our own. The bottom line is this - if you question your faith, turn to what you know is true. Just like a little seed, you nurture it. Give it sunlight, water it, and care for it. If you leave it alone and look other places, it won't grow on it's own. Nurture your seed, and you will be filled with fruit that is so much more delciously satisfying than anything else could ever offer.
"The size of your faith or the degree of your knowledge is not the issue—it is the integrity you demonstrate toward the faith you do have and the truth you already know." - Jeffery R. Holland



Principle #3: We are literally the offspring of God. {Acts 17:28}

Principles found in my readings

Principle #1: The Holy Ghost gives us power to be a special witness of Christ. {Acts 1:8}

Principle #2: Miracles happen through the power of the Priesthood under God's will to bless his children. {Acts 3:6-7}

Principle #3: Faith in Jesus Christ strengthens relationships. {Acts 4:32}

This principle stood out to me because the Gospel of Jesus Christ is designed to not only unite families, but everyone you come in contact with. As we follow Christ's teachings to turn the other cheek and to love our enemies - bless those who curse us, we truly will become of one heart and one soul. It is the only way to be happy, no matter how justified we may feel we are in our attitudes toward one another. 

Special Witnesses of the Resurrected Savior (Acts 1-15)

List three additional scriptural accounts of individuals or groups who became witnesses of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. Write the similarities between the scripture accounts you have selected. 

1. Saul {Acts 9} Christ appears to Saul and tells him to stop persecuting believers. and to testify to others in his name. 
2. The Nephites {3 Nephi 19} Christ visits the Nephites in America and tells them to write down the words he has spoken. Again, he tells them to testify of him.
3. Mary Magdeline {Mark 16: 9}  Christ first appears to Mary Magdeline and tells her to go and tell his disciples that he is risen.

List the author of the Acts of the Apostles and why he wrote it.

• Theophilus was commanded to write because he had "perfect understanding of all things from the very first." {Luke 1:3}

Why do you think the doctrine of the Resurrection is so central to the preaching of these witnesses of Christ?

• If there is no resurrection, then Christ is still dead. If Christ is not risen, then our faith is in vain - which gives us no hope and leads us to misery. {1 Corinthians 15:13–14}

Describe in writing the relationship between Christ’s Atonement, His death and resurrection, and His gospel.

• The gospel is that Christ came down to earth by the will of his Father. He paid the price for our sins, died for us and then became resurrected so that we may live with him again. {3 Nephi 27:13–14}

What did the Savior promise His followers just prior to His Ascension? 

• He promised that he would return again and restore the kingdom again on the earth.  {Acts 1:6}

In what ways can you be a modern-day witness of Jesus Christ?

• Apostles were to be ordained as a special witness to the world that the Lord Jesus Christ was indeed resurrected.
• I have had special personal experiences in my life that have helped me come to know that Christ is my brother and loves me to the point of suffering and then overcoming death so that life can continue for all of us after our time here on earth. As I share my love for this beautiful message of hope with others, I too can become a special witness of Christ's resurrection. 

I know Christ is my elder brother and that he overcame death. I am so grateful to have ordained apostles and prophets on the earth today as special witnesses of him.