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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Alma 34:17 - What will God grant to us when we exercise faith?

Vs 17 - "Therefore may God grant unto you . . . that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance . . ." What is it that God is going to grant to us? The previous verses talk about the power of mercy over justice, so perhaps verse 17 refer to God's mercy. Perhaps another way to phrase this scripture would be, "Therefore may God grant unto you [His mercy] . . . that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance . . ." Without God's mercy, we would be unable to repent, because justice would take over. But because God is willing to grant unto us mercy, we "may begin to exercise [our] faith unto repentance."

Another interpretation may be that God is granting us the ability to "exercise [our] faith unto repentance" and (continuing on in the scripture) to "call upon his holy name." Using this interpretation, we see that we are incapable of exercising ultimate faith in Him without His help. He must grant unto us the ability to exercise faith in Him and to call upon His name. We were born on this earth with complete agency to act for ourselves, so God allows us the ability to choose to exercise faith in Him, to repent, and to call upon His holy name. He does not force us to choose to follow Him, but He allows us that ability.

Monday, February 21, 2011

How do I "deny myself of all ungodliness?" (2 Nephi 31:20)

In order to live my life to the fullest and gain eternal life, I must live like Jesus Christ lived. I can't live like Him if I don't know Him, so I have to study His life in the scriptures and understand His character as best I can!

Ways to "deny myself of all ungodliness" include:

1. Focusing on others and looking outside myself.

2. Making the most out of life by doing productive things. Each person has potential to become a god or goddess, so we need to practice living lives that will prepare us for heaven.

3. Trusting in God and asking Him for help. Once we understand that God knows everything and that we can place all our trust in Him, there is no reason to follow the ways of the world. It is so easy to get caught up in current fads and ways of thinking, but all that really matters is that we're doing God's will. We should turn to Him for all of our questions and concerns, and He will guide us.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Why Is Jesus Christ's Atonement Necessary?

Christ's atonement was enough that it "satisfied the demands of justice" (Mosiah 15:9). Without the atonement, there would be no mercy--we would have to suffer completely for our own sins. That is a huge deal. Every whit of God's law points to Christ's "great and last sacrifice" (Alma 34:14). The atonement overpowers justice.

However, that doesn't mean that justice doesn't exist. If we don't exercise faith and repent, the demands of justice will take over (Alma 42:22).

The great part is, we always can repent and return to God! All because of Christ's atonement! No matter what we do, no matter how far we stray from God, we can always come back.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

What are the benefits of having the GIFT of the Holy Ghost

In Elder David A. Bednar's General Conference talk, "Receive the Holy Ghost" (Ensign, November 2010, 94-97), Elder Bednar said, "The Holy Ghost does not become operative in our lives merely because hands are placed upon our heads and those four important words ['receive the Holy Ghost'] are spoken. As we receive this ordinance, each of us accepts a sacred and ongoing responsibility to desire, to seek, to work, and to live that we indeed 'receive the Holy Ghost' and its attendant spiritual gifts. 'For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift?' (D&C 88:33)" We must keep the Spirit of the Lord with us so that we can be led in the right direction. Because "everything the Savior's gospel teaches us to do and become is intended to bless us with the companionship of the Holy Ghost."

- The Holy Ghost witnesses of the Father and the Son, giving those who have the gift a stronger testimony of the gospel (2 Nephi 31:18).


- The gift of the Holy Ghost is given only to those who follow Christ and keep the covenants they made at baptism. It is only given to those who follow "the way" of Christ (2 Nephi 31:21).


- The Holy Ghost is one with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, so those with the gift of the Holy Ghost can know what God's will is for them personally (2 Nephi 31:21).


- The Holy Ghost is given to those whom Christ chooses; He chooses those who believe in Him (3 Nephi 19:20).


- The gift of the Holy Ghost sanctifies and cleanses the soul (3 Nephi 27:20).


- When baptized into the Church, a person is baptized by immersion in water, and then baptized by fire through the Holy Ghost (D&C 19:31; D&C 33:15).


- The gift of the Holy Ghost provides other spiritual gifts, such as the gift of tongues, the gift of prophecy, the gift to heal, the gift of faith, etc.


- The Holy Ghost knows all things, so with the gift of the Holy Ghost I can be guided in all things if I just ask (2 Nephi 32:1-5).


Elder Orson Pratt said, "Water Baptism is only a preparatory cleansing of the believing penitent . . . ; whereas, the Baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost cleanses more thoroughly, by renewing the inner man, and by purifying the affections, desires, and thoughts which have long been habituated in the impure ways of sin. Without the aid of the Holy Ghost, a person . . . would have but very little power to change his mind . . . and to walk in newness of life. Though his sins may have been cleansed away, yet so great is the force of habit, that he would, without being renewed by the Holy Ghost, be easily overcome, and contaminated again by sin. Hence, it is infinitely important that the affections and desires should be, in a measure, changed and renewed, so as to cause him to hate that which he before loved, and to love that which he before hated: to thus renew the mind of man is the work of the Holy Ghost" (Orson Pratt, “The Holy Spirit,” in A Series of Pamphlets [1852], Orson Pratt: Writings of an Apostle [Salt Lake City: Mormon Heritage Publishers, 1976], 57.)

In this busy world, I, and so many others, tend to worry about things. It is so easy to get caught up in the demands of life and worry about tomorrow. We too easily lose a positive perspective on life.
The Lord provides the Holy Ghost as a "comforter," so if I have the gift of the Holy Ghost, why worry? The Holy Ghost "filleth with hope and perfect love" (Moroni 8:25-26). Interacting with people, accomplishing goals, and living life are exciting things, and there is no reason to fear. The Lord will always provide comfort.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Inspiration :)

This morning while reading my scriptures I was inspired. I started asking myself a lot of questions about the wording of the scriptures, the meaning of specific words, etc. Then I thought, I wish there was some way that I could keep track of all these questions in one place. I wonder if I could find a job opportunity or somewhere I could analyze scriptures for a living? Then I thought, why don't I start out with a blog? Perfect! Every time I have a question about a scripture, I'll analyze it, research it, and post it on my blog!

I'm an Editing minor and the classes within the minor have really changed the way I think about and analyze texts. I would love to be a scriptorian in the LDS church. I think a blog is the perfect start. I'll expand to this blog weekly, if not daily, as I really sit down and analyze the scriptures.

My ultimate goal is to come closer to Christ. The only way we can come back to Him is by following His example in faith, and what better way to get to know His example by studying His life in the scriptures? I'm very excited to get started with this blog, and I hope that readers find it useful and interesting. The scriptures rock!!