Monday, March 17, 2008

How to Obtain Self-Mastery, According to the Scriptures

Become as a child with the qualities of submissiveness, meekness, humility, patience, being full of love and yielding to the enticings of the Holy Ghost (Mosiah 3:19), bridle your passions (Alma 38:12), pray always (D&C 10:5), don’t ask for things when you know better (D&C 8:10), choose to stop committing wickedness (D&C 88:121), be diligent in your duties (D&C 107:99), let your heart be softened by doing charity which gives you more ability to stop doing evil (D&C 124:116), submit yourself to God the Father (James 4:7, Matt. 26:39), be temperate, in other words use moderation (1 Cor. 9:25), answer and speak softly (Prov. 15:1), take up your cross, outwardly living faithfully (Matt. 16:24), follow the Savior in word and deed (Matt. 16:24), remove any unholy thing from yourself (Mark 9:43), behave well, do not put yourself first, do not create or think evil (1 Cor. 13:5), control your tongue and do not use deception (1 Pet. 3:10).

Sunday, March 02, 2008

Those Who Keep the Commandments and Trust God Will be Lifted Up

In Alma chapter 36, Alma the Younger promises teaches wonderful truths to his son Helaman that apply to each of us. In verse 1 Alma instructs: “I swear unto you, that inasmuch as ye keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land”. Continuing in verse 3 he teaches: “I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.”

I know these are true principles because I have seen them in my life. As I have improved in keeping the commandments, the Lord has certainly prospered my family and I in the land. I do not think I realized it at the time because it was not some big event. Rather, slowly through time God blesses us. Upon reflection of where we have been and how considerably our situation has improved, certainly beyond my capabilities alone, it is clear that we have been “prospered in the land”, or our spiritual and economic situations have considerably improved as my family and I have strove move completely to keep the commandments.

Concerning the second principal spoken of in verse 3, while we have prospered in the land, it is not like is has come easily. It certainly has not. There have been many trials and tribulations. However, as we have followed the commandments by having faith in and trusting in God as Lehi taught, “and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain” (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 2:2). This is certainly what God does.

I testify that when we strive to follow God’s commandments and when we trust in him during the hard times, he will bless us greatly! I know this is true. I have seen in my own life. I share this in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Saturday, March 01, 2008

A New Website Devoted to Jesus Christ With the Testimonies of His Prophets

A new website has been created by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as "The Mormons" about our Savior Jesus Christ. Please visit this new website "Jesus Christ, The Son of God". There you can learn many things about the Prince of Peace, the King of Kings, the Messiah, our Lord and God, including the opportunity to read inspiring testimonies from Christ's modern day prophets. You may also draw nearer to the Saviour by reading through the list of names and titles of Jesus Christ with scripture references below (all linked, of course!) that he is referred to throughout the scriptures from the LDS Bible Dictionary:

Names, Titles, and Concepts of the Lord Jesus in the O.T.
Seed of the woman, Gen. 3: 15.
The Prophet, Deut. 18: 15-16.
Emmanuel, Isa. 7: 14; Isa. 8: 8; cf. Matt. 1: 23.
Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Isa. 9: 6.
Everlasting Father, Isa. 9: 6.
Prince of Peace,Isa. 9: 6.
Stem of Jesse, Isa. 11: 1 (see D&C 113: 1).
Mighty One of Jacob, Isa. 60: 16.
Servant of the Lord, or of Jehovah, Isa. 42: 1-7; Isa. 52: 13-15; Zech. 3: 8.
The Lord our Righteousness, Jer. 23: 6; Jer. 33: 16; Mal. 4: 2.
The Messiah, Dan. 9: 25.
The Messenger of the covenant, Mal. 3: 1.
Holy One, Ps. 16: 10.
Holy One of Israel, Isa. 1: 4.
Blessed of God, Ps. 45: 2.

Names, Titles, and Concepts of Christ of Jesus in the Gospels and Acts
The son of David, the son of Abraham, Matt. 1: 1.
The son of Mary, Mark 6: 3.
Joseph’s son, Luke 4: 22; John 1: 45; John 6: 42.
The carpenter’s son, Matt. 13: 55.
The carpenter, Mark 6: 3.
Jesus of Galilee, Matt. 26: 69.
A Nazarene, Matt. 2: 23.
The beloved Son of God, Matt. 3: 17; Matt. 17: 5; Mark 9: 7; Luke 3: 22.
The Son of the living God, Matt. 16: 16.
Son of the most high God, Mark 5: 7.
The Son of the Blessed, Mark 14: 61.
Son of the Highest, Luke 1: 32.
God’s holy child Jesus, Acts 4: 27,30.
Only begotten of the Father, John 1: 14,18.
One with the Father, John 10: 30.
The Lord’s Christ, Luke 2: 26.
The Christ of God, Luke 9: 20.
The chosen of God, Luke 23: 35.
The Messias, John 1: 41; John 4: 25.
God’s anointed, Acts 4: 27.
The Lamb of God, John 1: 29, 36.
A teacher come from God, John 3: 2.
He that cometh in the name of the Lord, Luke 19: 38; John 12: 13.
Meek and lowly, Matt. 12: 19.
The prophet of Nazareth, Matt. 21: 11.
A prophet, John 4: 19; John 9: 17.
The prophet, John 7: 40.
Governor that shall rule Israel, Matt. 2: 6.
King of Sion, Matt. 21: 5; John 12: 15.
Emmanuel, Matt. 1: 23.
The consolation of Israel, Luke 2: 25.
Savior of Israel, Acts 13: 23.
The Savior of the world, John 4: 42.
Lord of all, Acts 10: 36.
Lord of the sabbath, Mark 2: 28.
Rabboni, John 20: 16.
The Word, John 1: 1, 14.
The Light, John 1: 7-8.
The bread of life, John 6: 35, 41, 48.
The living bread, John 6: 51.
The light of the world, John 8: 12; John 9: 5; John 12: 46.
The door of the sheep, John 10: 7, 9.
The good shepherd, John 10: 11, 14.
The resurrection and the life, John 11: 25.
The way, the truth, and the life, John 14: 6.
The true vine, John 15: 1.
The vine, John 15: 5.
The Holy One and the Just, Acts 3: 14.
The Just One, Acts 7: 52; Acts 22: 14.
The Prince of Life, Acts 3: 15.
A prince, Acts 5: 31.
Judge of quick and dead, Acts 10: 42.
A righteous man (by the centurion), Luke 23: 47.
That deceiver (by the Jews), Matt. 27: 63.
A sinner (by the Jews), John 9: 24.
A Samaritan (by the Jews), John 8: 48.

Names, Titles, and Concepts of Christ in the Epistles.
A propitiation through faith, Rom. 3: 25; 1 Jn. 2: 2.
The end of the law for righteousness, Rom. 10: 4.
The deliverer, Rom. 11: 26.
Lord both of dead and living, Rom. 14: 9.
A minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, Rom. 15: 8.
The power of God and the wisdom of God, 1 Cor. 1: 24.
Wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption unto us, 1 Cor. 1: 30.
He sanctifieth the people by his blood, Heb. 13: 12.
Our passover, 1 Cor. 5: 7.
By whom are all things, and we by him, 1 Cor. 8: 6.
By whom God made the worlds, Heb. 1: 2.
The spiritual rock, 1 Cor. 10: 4.
The head of every man, 1 Cor. 11: 3; cf. Eph. 4: 15.
Captain of man’s salvation, Heb. 2: 10.
Propitiation for the sins of the whole world, 1 Jn. 2: 2; 1 Jn. 4: 10.
One body, 1 Cor. 12: 12.
The firstfruits of them that slept, 1 Cor. 15: 20, 23.
The forerunner, Heb. 6: 20.
The Lord from heaven, 1 Cor. 15: 47.
Not yea and nay, but in him was yea, 2 Cor. 1: 19.
The image of God, 2 Cor. 4: 4.
The express image of God’s person, Heb. 1: 3.
The only wise God our Savior, Jude 1: 25.
Who knew no sin, 2 Cor. 5: 21; Heb. 4: 15.
Separate from sinners, Heb. 7: 26; did no sin, 1 Pet. 2: 22.
Blessed for evermore, 2 Cor. 11: 31.
Consecrated for evermore, Heb. 7: 28.
Who gave himself for our sins, Gal. 1: 4.
Suffered for us, 1 Pet. 2: 21.
Bare our sins in his own body, 1 Pet. 2: 24; 1 Pet. 3: 18; 1 Pet. 4: 1.
The seed of Abraham, Gal. 3: 16; Heb. 2: 16.
Of the seed of David, 2 Tim. 2: 8.
Made of a woman, made under the law, Gal. 4: 4.
Our peace, Eph. 2: 14; the chief cornerstone, Eph. 2: 20.
A living stone, disallowed of men, but chosen of God and precious, 1 Pet. 2: 4,7.
An offering and sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savior, Eph. 5: 2.
Foundation of the Church, 1 Cor. 3: 11.
The head of the Church, Eph. 5: 23.
The Savior of the body, Eph. 5: 23.
The Savior, Philip. 3: 20.
Savior of the world, 1 Jn. 4: 14.
The hope of glory, Col. 1: 27.
Who sitteth on the right hand of God, Col. 3: 1; Heb. 1: 3; Heb. 10: 12; Heb. 12: 2.
Who is passed into the heavens, Heb. 4: 14; Heb. 8: 1; Heb. 9: 24; 1 Pet. 3: 22.
Our life, Col. 3: 4.
Which delivereth us from the wrath to come, 1 Thes. 1: 10.
Who died and rose again, 1 Thes. 4: 14.
Who was raised from the dead, 2 Tim. 2: 8.
Who came into the world to save sinners. 1 Tim. 1: 15.
Who gave himself for us, Titus 2: 14.
Tasted death for every man, Heb. 2: 9.
The mediator between God and men, 1 Tim. 2: 5.
Appears in the presence of God for us, Heb. 9: 24.
God manifest in the flesh, 1 Tim. 3: 16.
The great God, Titus 2: 13.
The brightness of God’s glory, Heb. 1: 3.
In whom is salvation, 2 Tim. 2: 5.
Appears in the presence of God for us, Heb. 9: 24.
God manifest in the flesh, 1 Tim. 3: 16.
The great God, Titus 2: 13.
The brightness of God’s glory, Heb. 1: 3.
In whom is salvation, 2 Tim. 2: 10.
Author of eternal salvation, Heb. 5: 9.
Hath obtained eternal redemption for us, Heb. 9: 12.
Who shall judge the quick and dead, 2 Tim. 4: 1.
Is ready to judge the quick and the dead, 1 Pet. 4: 5.
The righteous judge, 2 Tim. 4: 8.
Heir of all things, Heb. 1: 2.
Upholding all things by the word of his power, Heb. 1: 3.
By himself purged our sins, Heb. 1: 3.
Put away sin by the sacrifice of himself, Heb. 9: 26.
His blood cleanseth from all sin, 1 Jn. 1: 7.
Better than the angels, Heb. 1: 4.
Made lower than the angels for the suffering of death, Heb. 2: 7, 9.
The first begotten, Heb. 1: 6.
Crowned with glory and honour, Heb. 2: 9.
Made higher than the heavens, Heb. 7: 26.
A merciful and faithful high priest, Heb. 2: 17.
Apostle and high priest of our profession, Heb. 3: 1; Heb. 4: 14; Heb. 10: 21.
Able to succor them that are tempted, Heb. 2: 18.
Worthy of more glory than Moses, Heb. 3: 3.
Tempted in all points as we are, Heb. 4: 15.
A priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec, Heb. 5: 6; Heb. 6: 20.
Hath an unchangeable priesthood, Heb. 7: 24.
Learned obedience by the things which he suffered, Heb. 5: 8.
Surety of a better testament, Heb. 7: 22.
Mediator of a better covenant, Heb. 8: 6; Heb. 12: 24.
Mediator of the new testament, Heb. 9: 15.
Able to save to the uttermost, Heb. 7: 25.
Ever liveth to make intercession, Heb. 7: 25.
Holy, harmless, undefiled, Heb. 7: 26.
A minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle, Heb. 8: 2.
A high priest of good things to come Heb. 9: 11.
Offered himself without spot, Heb. 9: 14.
A lamb without blemish and without spot, 1 Pet. 1: 19.
Shall appear the second time without sin unto salvation, Heb. 9: 23.
He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified, Heb. 10: 14.
He hath consecrated a new and living way, Heb. 10: 20.
The author and finisher of our faith, Heb. 12: 2.
The same yesterday, today, and forever, Heb. 13: 8.
Suffered without the gate, Heb. 13: 12.
The great shepherd of the sheep, Heb. 13: 20; 1 Pet. 5: 4.
The shepherd and bishop of souls, 1 Pet. 2: 25.
The Lord of glory, James 2: 1.
Angels, authorities, and powers being made subject to him, 1 Pet. 3: 22.
Left us an example, 1 Pet. 2: 21.
The word of life, 1 Jn. 1: 1.
Sent that we may live through him, 1 Jn. 4: 9.
In him is eternal life, 1 Jn. 5: 11, 20.
An advocate (Gk. Paraclete) with the Father, 1 Jn. 2: 1.
The propitiation for our sins, 1 Jn. 2: 2; 1 Jn. 4: 10.
He that came by water and blood, 1 Jn. 5: 6.
Hath given us understanding that we may know him that is true, 1 Jn. 5: 20.

Names
, Titles, and Concepts of Christ in the Apocalypse.
The faithful witness, Rev. 1: 5; Rev. 3: 14.
The first begotten of the dead, Rev. 1: 5.
He that liveth and was dead, Rev. 1: 18; Rev. 2: 8.
The prince of the kings of the earth, Rev. 1: 5.
Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, Rev. 1: 8, 11; Rev. 21: 6; Rev. 22: 13.
Which is, and which was, and which is to come, Rev. 1: 8; Rev. 4: 8; Rev. 11: 17; Rev. 16: 5.
The Almighty, Rev. 1: 8; Rev. 4: 8; Rev. 16: 7.
The first and the last, Rev. 1: 17; Rev. 2: 8; Rev. 22: 13.
He that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, Rev. 3: 7.
The Amen, Rev. 3: 14.
The beginning of the creation of God, Rev. 3: 14.
That liveth for ever and ever, Rev. 4: 9.
The Lion of the tribe of Judah, Rev. 5: 5.
The root of David, Rev. 5: 5.
Root and offspring of David, Rev. 22: 16.
King of kings, and Lord of lords, Rev. 17: 14; Rev. 19: 16.
Faithful and true, Rev. 19: 11.
The word of God, Rev. 19: 13.
The bright and morning star, Rev. 22: 16.