Keeping a Friend

Many people who don’t understand our beliefs, feel that our emphasis on doing all we can to keep the commandments, means we believe we are saved by our works.  Elder Bednar corrected this by stating one of the real reasons for keeping commandments.  We keep the commandments to invite the Holy Ghost into our lives.  All of the outward ordinances and other efforts to follow the commandments invite the spirit if we do it for the right reasons.  “Thus everything the Savior’s gospel teaches us to do and become is intended to bless us with the companionship of the Holy Ghost”.  

Really a Plan of Happiness

Last November while I was serving as a missionary Slovenia, my mission president called me to let me know that my grandmother had died the night before.

"If the bible is the word of god, why wasnt it given to man the minute he was created, if god knew all things?" (sic)

Because since the beginning, God has revealed things little by little as the world at large is willing to listen to more of what he has to say. It is known historically, that the Bible was not given to us by God in one lump sum. Instead, starting with Adam, each prophet wrote things down, and they were compiled together by prophets and leaders that came later.

All About Mormons

This is an awesome series for getting the basics down or some review about what we believe.  I just put it together as a playlist on youtube, so it's easier to watch straight through.  My thanks for AllAboutMormons.com for making these.

Why do we die?

My dad explained it something like this once. God has an absolutely flawless immortal, and powerful body. As our Father in heaven he wants us to have one like that too someday. Let's say his body is like a sports car. Like a good Father, God isn't going to give his children the responsibility that goes with driving a sports car, until they've had some practice driving a "beater wagon" (much less valuable car that breaks down a lot). A good example of a beater wagon is in the photo to the right.  The body we have now is that beater wagon. God's given it to us to practice with it during for a short period of time and when that time is over we have to die. That's the only way that we can get out from behind the wheel of the beater wagon and be ready to step into a sports car.