Testimony On The True Meaning of Christmas

Christian Courage

"Meekness is not weakness. It is a badge of Christian courage."

-Robert D. Hales, Ensign November 2008

Honoring Mary the Mother of the Savior

The Last Public Address of an Apostle of Jesus Christ

This is a clip from Elder Joseph B. Wirthin's final public address, and final public testimony. Elder Wirthin passed away on Monday, December 1. He has long been one of my favorite speakers because of his ability to mix his sense of humor and deliver powerful, spiritual messages from God. He was an amazing man.



Seth Adam Smith is the author of this video. I have used his powerful videos many times on this blog. Thanks for your work too Seth.

Where Those Who Seek To Take Away Our Freedom Will Lead Us

"And whatsoever nation shall uphold such secret combinations, to get power and gain, until they shall spread over the nation, behold, they shall be destroyed; for the Lord will not suffer that the blood of his saints, which shall be shed by them, shall always cry unto him from the ground for vengeance upon them and yet he avenge them not.

Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be.

Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up.

For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning."

-Ether 8:22-25

Why We Need Religion

Woe Unto Them That Call Evil Good and Good Evil

Isaiah 5:20 is a scripture that has significantly stood out in my mind of late.

"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"

When a "woe" (or a "wo") is pronounced in the scriptures, it is usually a warning. To me, these statements really stand out. A "woe" says to me, "Hey Scott, stop for a second and pay attention. You probably should read this again and maybe a few more times still, because this is really important".

I never thought homosexuality would become so widely accepted and such a divisive issue that this evil would be called good. To me, this is a very clear issue. Homosexual acts are wrong (see Leviticus 18:22) People, and frankly the adversary, disguise this evil as good calling it "love". Even more, those who do good are being called evil. Members of my religion, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or the Mormons, and many other Christian religions doing good and standing up for what is right have had this good reclassified by many as feelings of "hate", "intolerance", "bigotry", and a slew of other names towards those people with the opposite opinion. In general, as Christians, we do not "hate" people, or we are in fact guilty of sin. Rather, we hate the sinful action.

Just because many people commit a sin, even to the point of it gaining popularity, this does not make the sin change to being right or good.

Am I intolerant for my believe that homosexuality is wrong and sinful? By definition, I am. I am absolutely intolerant of this sin. However, this does not mean I hate or even dislike those who act on homosexual desires. I believe they are wrong in their actions, but I do not dislike them and I certainly do not hate them. I believe many people are what some call "born gay", just as every person on this Earth is born with weaknesses. There is nothing wrong with having weaknesses. The sin is acting on the weakness.

A large number of people act on their weaknesses and are open about it, so much so that 48% of voting Californians voted to change the definition of marriage. This still does not make evil good. Sin is and always will be evil, even if many call it by other names. (For a matter of clarity, no one has ever been trying to take away the rights of California citizens. They all have the right to marry one person of the opposite sex. What those opposing Proposition 8 were and are seeking is a special right to change the definition of marriage.)

And thus we see that the end of days is nearing, as wickedness is becoming more predominant in our society.

I know that God lives. I know that all goodness and morality originates from him at the teachings of his holy prophets and apostles. Many of these words are given to us in the holy scriptures. I know that Jesus Christ lived, suffered for our sins so that we can be forgiven and made whole, died, and rose again on the third day that we might also rise again. I know, as I am not perfect, from personal experience in succumbing to my weaknesses that what the great prophet, and he himself once one of the vilest of sinners, Alma taught "wickedness never was happiness" is true. This is my testimony that I share with you from the depths of my heart. In the name of the Redeemer, Prophet, Priest, and King, even Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ. Amen.

A View of Our Day 1,600 Years Ago

Moroni, the son of Mormon, who the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is named after, had a vision of our world in this present time approximately 1600 years ago. Speaking of when the Book of Mormon should come forth to many on the Earth, he wrote:

It shall come in a day when it shall be said that miracles are done away; and it shall come even as if one should speak from the dead.

And it shall come in a day when the blood of saints shall cry unto the Lord, because of secret combinations and the works of darkness.

Yea, it shall come in a day when the power of God shall be denied, and churches become defiled and be lifted up in the pride of their hearts; yea, even in a day when leaders of churches and teachers shall rise in the pride of their hearts, even to the envying of them who belong to their churches.

Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be heard of fires, and tempests, and vapors of smoke in foreign lands;

And there shall also be heard of wars, rumors of wars, and earthquakes in divers places.

Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be great pollutions upon the face of the earth; there shall be murders, and robbing, and lying, and deceivings, and whoredoms, and all manner of abominations; when there shall be many who will say, Do this, or do that, and it mattereth not, for the Lord will uphold such at the last day. But wo unto such, for they are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity.

Mormon 8:26-31

It amazes and touches me reading these words that ancient prophets so clearly saw our day. I know the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is true scripture from God, that it is a companion to the Bible. I know the true church of Jesus Christ has been restored on the Earth in these the latter days and that this church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know that my Redeemer lives and that he directs his church through his living prophets and apostles, just as he did in prior ages. This is my testimony that I share with you in the name of the Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Joseph Smith's True Vision of God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son

November Ward Temple Night

Friday I had the opportunity to worship at my local temple, the Atlanta Temple, with my wife and her parents during our ward temple night. It was a visit we had planned more than a week earlier. Which, it turned out based upon the week's earlier events in the west, was an opportune time to attend the House of the Lord.

Once inside the temple, I felt throughout my soul what many call "the spirit of the temple". I think people use this phrase because withtin the temple, I am able to feel the Holy Ghost in strength and consistency as I can feel it no where else.

When in the temple, the best way I can describe the Holy Ghost is by one of its other names in the scriptures--the comforter. I felt this very strongly on Friday. It was exceptionally peaceful and comforting to me. I was filled with the Holy Ghost while I was within the temple walls, further strengthening my testimony that Jesus is the Christ, that he truly did live, suffer and die for my sins, set the ultimate example in all things in life and death, and that he does live again!

Attending the temple with my wife and her parents also further strengthened my bonds with each of them. Worshiping together seems to have that effect.

Once we had concluded our worship and we had exited the temple, I felt a significant difference in outside the temple compared to inside of it. There has always been a different feeling inside and out, but this time was (it is most easy to compare and contrast the immediate differences) and is (it still feels different, based upon my memory of how I felt within the temple) especially different. Over time, the world in general has been moving toward a more wicked state. However, based solely on my feelings, the gap between the House of the Lord and the outside world seems to have grown significantly since the last time I felt that contrast, only a month ago. This feeling was and is very clear to me. Things are rapidly changing in this world.

Fortunately, I know that my Savior lives. I know that he lifts me up, that he supports me when I am weak. I know that truth will prevail and that those who seek the truth will find it. I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God, our Heavenly Father, speaks to us through his Holy Spirit. I know that I can, and every single person can, feel the Holy Spirit each and every day. I once had a bishop that counseled us to "have a spiritual experience every day, that if we had not had one all day long, to stay on our knees praying until we had one". I know that by striving to follow this counsel, I have become more receptive the promptings of the Holy Ghost, by which our Father in Heaven leads us. This is my sure testimony that I share with you, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.