God the Father, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost

I have recently read a few things on other blogs here and here concerning the nature of God, the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. I am a simple person. I know of only one way to test whether a principle be a true principal—to ask. Or as James taught: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed” (New Testament | James 1:5 - 6) and as Moroni taught: By the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things” (Book of Mormon | Moroni 10:5).

I have asked God about the nature of the Godhead. I know through the power of the Holy Ghost that Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are separate beings. Of this I testify, because I know of no truer or purer way to convey how I feel and what I know, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

God is Love

During this Christmas season the word “love” has permeated my mind very often. One of the characteristics of God taught to us in 1 John 4:8, “God is love.” But what does this mean? Is part of God’s character literally “love”? Does he embody all that love could be? I am not sure, though it is certainly worth contemplating what “God is love” truly means. I would guess there are several meanings. However, what I do know is that Heavenly Father set the ultimate example of love: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (New Testament | John 3:16). I cannot imagine having to give up my first born. Furthermore, I cannot conceive what it would be like to give up my first born knowing beforehand how the Savior, Jesus Christ would suffer.

Since “God is love,” how does the “great commandment in the law” apply, which I treated earlier this month? How do we “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind”? I think there are many ways we can express our love for him. One very telling way is described very plainly by the Apostle John: “If ye love me, keep my commandments: (New Testament | John 14:15). We have the opportunity to show God through our choices and our actions that we love him, or “ye shall know them by their fruits. Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit” (New Testament | Matthew 7:16 - 17).

President Ezra Taft Benson said in the April 1988 General Conference:

“To love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength is all-consuming and all-encompassing. It is no lukewarm endeavor. It is total commitment of our very being—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—to a love of the Lord.

The breadth, depth, and height of this love of God extend into every facet of one’s life. Our desires, be they spiritual or temporal, should be rooted in a love of the Lord. Our thoughts and affections should be centered on the Lord.”

The second great commandment is to love your neighbor. So how do we love our neighbor? Nephi, in the Book of Mormon taught: “Wherefore, the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love” (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 26:30). Furthermore, Moroni taught: “But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him” (Book of Mormon | Moroni 7:47).

It is my opinion that the next verse in Moroni tells us why the first two great commandments are so great. First, “my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ.” In other words, we must choose to take action, but not half heartedly, but with “all the energy of the heart” in prayer. Then, after we have shown our faith, we are “filled with this love . . . which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ.” Then verse 48 continues with the most exciting part: “that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure.” In other words we will be true followers of God, so much so that “we shall be like him.” If we are like God, then we will have attained some, if not all of his attributes, love being one of them.

President Gordon B. Hinckley wrote:

“Love is of the very essence of life. It is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Yet it is more than the end of the rainbow. Love is at the beginning also, and from it springs the beauty that arches across the sky on a stormy day. Love is the security for which children weep, the desire of youth, the cement that binds marriage, and the smoothing oil that prevents devastating friction in the home; it is the peace of old age, the sunlight of hope shining through death. How rich are those who enjoy it in their associations with family, friends, church, and neighbors.”

This Christmas season is a wonderful time for us to remember to love our neighbors and to show charity, which is “the pure love of Christ.” May I submit to you that showing love through the same charity and service you show during this season as part of your daily life will make you become closer to God as you develop this Godly attribute. President Hinckley also wrote: “Love is the only force that can erase the differences between people.”

I know this is a true statement. I know that love can heal many wounds. If we have kindness and love filling our hearts, we will only desire to follow all of Heavenly Father’s commandments because we love him. Because we love our fellow man, we will only desire to serve them, and not to trespass against them. I know that through actively seeking to love more completely, marriages will be better. I know that by exhibiting greater love, bonds with children will be stronger. I know that showing our love for the Lord by following his commandments causes us to be filled with the Holy Ghost, the same Holy Ghost which testifies of all things true. I know that my Redeemer lives and loves me and I love him. I share this with you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Faith in Christ

I have planted that figurative seed spoken of by Alma, referred to in the previous post. I testify that my Savior lives! I know that Jesus Christ died for my sins. I know that I will live again because Christ broke the bands of death with his resurrection. I know that Jesus personally knows who I am, truly understands my sufferings, and is always there for me. He is the greatest big brother I could ever have. Jesus Christ set the ultimate example when he, an all-powerful God, chose to be humiliated in the worst of imaginable ways so we could repent of our sins, be resurrected, and live with him and Heavenly Father through eternity! I testify that Jesus Christ is my Savior and King. I believe in Christ with all of my heart, might, mind, and strength. I know that he loves me and I love him. I share this testimony of Jesus Christ in his name. Amen.

Faith

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Hebrews, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (New Testament | Hebrews 11:1). Alma the Younger of the Book of Mormon taught: “faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true (Book of Mormon | Alma 32:21). Later in the same chapter, Alma challenges all of us to put faith to the test by comparing faith to a seed:

27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.
28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.
29 Now behold, would not this increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge.
30 But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow (Book of Mormon | Alma 32:27 - 30).

I have a testimony that if you will truly “experiment upon the words,” if you seek the truth, you will find it. If you wish to know if The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God’s true church on this Earth or if it is not, plant the seed of the word. In other words, read the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ and if this seed does swell within you and sprout, or if you feel like you are reading the truth, confirmed to you by the Holy Ghost, you will surely know that it is good. It is my testimony that you can discover what is truth by, as Alma taught, “exercising a particle of faith.” Your life will be blessed as you choose to have faith. I offer these words in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

The First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we have thirteen statements describing some of our most important and basic beliefs. We call these the “Articles of Faith.” The fourth Article of Faith states:

We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost (Pearl of Great Price | Articles of Faith 1:4).

My Favorite Hymn—I Believe in Christ

I feel my Savior's love every time I hear this song.

I Believe in Christ
by Elder Bruce R. McConkie

1. I believe in Christ; he is my King!
With all my heart to him I’ll sing;
I’ll raise my voice in praise and joy,
In grand amens my tongue employ.
I believe in Christ; he is God’s Son.
On earth to dwell his soul did come.
He healed the sick; the dead he raised.
Good works were his; his name be praised.

2. I believe in Christ; oh blessed name!
As Mary’s Son he came to reign
’Mid mortal men, his earthly kin,
To save them from the woes of sin.
I believe in Christ, who marked the path,
Who did gain all his Father hath,
Who said to men: “Come, follow me,
That ye, my friends, with God may be.”

3. I believe in Christ—my Lord, my God!
My feet he plants on gospel sod.
I’ll worship him with all my might;
He is the source of truth and light.
I believe in Christ; he ransoms me.
From Satan’s grasp he sets me free,
And I shall live with joy and love
In his eternal courts above.

4. I believe in Christ; he stands supreme!
From him I’ll gain my fondest dream;
And while I strive through grief and pain,
His voice is heard: “Ye shall obtain.”
I believe in Christ; so come what may,
With him I’ll stand in that great day
When on this earth he comes again
To rule among the sons of men.

Knowledge of the Truth

The Holy Ghost has confirmed to me many times that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God’s true church on this Earth. However, I often feel like I do not know as much as I should about the scriptures. I found comfort in this observation by Alma the Younger of his long time friends, the sons King Mosiah: “They had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God (Book of Mormon | Alma 17:2).” As simplistic as it is, I know it to be a true principal that “a sound understanding” will be achieved by “searching the scriptures diligently.” When I evaluate only the past year of my life, my understanding of the gospel and its doctrine has increased substantially. I challenge you to “search the scriptures diligently” so that you might “wax strong in the knowledge of truth” by “knowing the word of God.” I know that the action on our part of diligently searching will result in the knowledge of the truth. This is my testimony that I offer in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

What I Love About Christmas

It is not presents, decorations, lights, or candy, though those are all wonderful things. What I love is people. I love that many many people strive to be more like Christ by putting others before themselves. This is truly the spirit of Christmas. As Moroni wrote:

45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—
47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him (Book of Mormon | Moroni 7:45 - 47).

I do not know what could be greater than having the “pure love of Christ”. I hope that we can all try to become more like Jesus Christ. I know that if I will strive to have charity in my heart, I will grow nearer to Jesus Christ as I become more like him. I pray that we can all have the “pure love of Christ,” in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Love

Love is the one word central in the first and second great commandments of the Lord:

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself (New Testament | Matthew 22:36 - 39).

I know that when we learn to love the world is a better place. Disputes will be avoided. Hate will end. Happiness is the result.

I know that when I make a greater effort to love I am happier, as are those around me. I know that my marriage is stronger as I strive to show my wife love by serving her and my children are happier and learn to love when I show them loving by serving them. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians: "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another" (New Testament | Galatians 5:13).

Our Heavenly Father and our brother Jesus Christ set the ultimate examples of love. Heavenly Father sent his only son begotten in the flesh knowing exactly what pains he would endure. Jesus Christ willingly agreed in the life before this to be tortured and humiliated at the hands of men. I believe that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ did these things out of love, with such a depth that we cannot understand. I sincerely hope that each of us on this Earth will strive to love one another as Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love each of us. It is my testimony that love brings down walls, breaks barriers, softens hearts, leads to charity, and is the cure for what ills this world. I write this my testimony, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.