I testify that we have a loving, just, and merciful Heavenly Father, who has prepared a plan for our eternal happiness. And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: . The Lord knows where each piece belongs so that it fits into the plan. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Alma teaches us a significant principle: For behold,this lifeis thetimefor men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day ofthis lifeis the day for men to perform their labors (Alma 34:32; emphasis added). Anyone who wishes to modify their answer to match the LDS perspective can easily undelete it again. And heres how you can. How does a government that uses undead labor avoid perverse incentives? In the case of Heavenly Father, I believe that he doesn't get his power from anywhere he is power in himself. And, finally, may we know that God is God and make our ways His ways is my prayer in the holy name of Jesus Christ. The greatest gift is eternal life (see D&C 14:7). Isaac, the promised seed, was not required to rest his hope upon the promises made to his father Abraham, but was privileged with the assurance of [Gods] approbation in the sight of heaven by the direct voice of the Lord to him. God would "cease to be God" if he were unjust. Believers follow the Eight-Fold Path to heal the . We maintain that the Church of Jesus Christ was established, as the Apostle Paul later wrote, for the perfection and unity of the saints (Ephesians 4:1114). What, then, can the Latter-day Saints contribute to the worlds understanding of Jesus Christ? Then they said to me, Daddy, buy us one just like that! After they understood what it was, something that at first had looked unpleasant to them ended up being something very attractive. According to LDS teaching, why should we worship this God? And that pattern of righteous decision making in turn develops our character. Or what about that girl from high school who started that mean rumor about you? It disturbs me when I hear about any antagonisms. Latter-day revelations show that our Heavenly Father created a great plan of happiness for all His children, a very special plan so that we can return to live with Him. What maths knowledge is required for a lab-based (molecular and cell biology) PhD? I have been moved over and over again by the devotion of the early Saints of the Church and of the pioneers. 5:23. There is, to be sure, a risk associated with learning something new about someone else. I dont think they are necessary. Here are a few references to back that up. Such measures are divisive and do not partake of that Spirit that strengthens, binds and reinforces. . Take time to consider the perspectives that are important in your life. Richards & Sons, 185186), 13:56; emphasis added. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ that gives us the true perspective, one that we can know and trustan eternal perspective through which we will not be deceived. [D&C 78:1719]. Enemies in Disguise? Get thee hence, Satan; deceive me not; for God said unto me: Thou art after the similitude of mine Only Begotten. Photo Credit: Unsplash/Laurenz Kleinheider One common factor that I have often found in these faithful members is the perspective that they have of eternity. How many people in the Christian tradition today would suggest that what Matthew or Luke did in adding to what Mark had written was illegal or inappropriate or irreverent? It is a mistake to consider the Lectures non-scriptural or non-doctrinal. He is the Redeemer. Luke 1:35 states, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you." The Holy Spirit's supernatural work in Mary's body enabled Christ-eternal God-to take on human nature. Some of these scriptures are probably talking about Jesus, but Jesus's power originated from Heavenly Father so it still applies here. Is there a faster algorithm for max(ctz(x), ctz(y))? Christ is called the Father because he was conceived by power of God: He truly desires the fruits of this generation and sculpts wrong behaviors that are accepted and even flaunted in contemporary society and popularized in the media. Okay, you believe in a triune God, that the Almighty is a spirit and that He created all things ex nihilo. Number three:Compromiseis one of the adversarys operative words. At the heart of the doctrine restored through Joseph Smith is the doctrine of the Christ. [JD6:276]. I may believe that Enoch walked with God. May we be able to come to His altar with our sacrifice of a broken heart and a contrite spirit, for meekness does not resist counsel. I mentioned that as the dean of religious education (at that time), I oversaw the teaching of religion to some 30,000 young people at Brigham Young University and that I felt it would be wise for me to be able to articulate properly the beliefs of our brothers and sisters of other faiths. One could come away from a careful reading of the second half of the New Testament somewhat confused on the matter of grace and works, finding those places where Paul seems almost to defy any notion of works as a means of salvation (Romans 4:15; 10:14; Ephesians 2:810) but also those places where good works are clearly mentioned as imperative (Romans 2:6; James 2:1420; Revelation 20:1213). As the five foolish virgins found at midnight, it was too late to buy the needed oil for the lamps. It is a matter of perspective. The religion which our Lord preached took the Jewish conception of a Father in heaven, and gave it a new meaning. In short, Greek Christianity of the fourth century was rooted in Hellenism. [Moses 1:12, 13, 16]. It takes some courage to live the gospel with an eternal perspective. Understanding the plan will help people keep the commandments, make better decisions, and have the right motivation. ", what would the answer be? [iv] Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, comp. Jesus thus had a dual nature. What are you doing here with these huge rocks? he asked. Interestingly, sometimes that distinction isn't significant because the Father and Son are so perfectly unified. rather than "Gaudeamus igitur, *dum iuvenes* sumus! Joseph Smith knew from the time of the First Vision that death was not the end, that life continues after ones physical demise, that another realm of existence a postmortal sphere does in fact exist. We may never resolve our differences on the Godhead or the Trinity, on the spiritual or corporeal nature of Deity or on the sufficiency or inerrancy of the Bible, but we can agree that there is a God; that the ultimate transformation of society will come only through the application of moral and religious solutions to pressing issues; and that the regeneration of individual hearts and souls is foundational to the restoration of virtue in our communities and nations. Once the entire object was visible, you could easily tell that it was a cat, a plant, a piece of fruit, and so on. . More especially we exult in the realization that knowledge and truth and light and understanding concerning Jesus Christ who He was, who He is and what marvels have come to pass through Him have been delivered through additional scriptural records and modern prophetic utterances. As all of us will be tried and tested, how can we find our true anchor, our iron rod, and our safe and holy place to stand? A young wife may feel much pain as she longs to have a child but is unable to, and another may have children easily but find raising them inconvenient and disruptive to her personal plans. We know it is true because we have experienced it personally. The other half he had converted into gold bars. We have to decide what it is that is important to us. For further details on its removal, see The 'Lectures on Faith': A Case Study in Decanonization by Richard S. Van Wagoner, Steven C. Walker, and Allen D. Roberts. [i] Edwin Hatch, The Influence of Greek Ideas on Christianity (Gloucester, Massachusetts: Peter Smith Publishers, 1970), 1, 45. [Sterling W. Sill,The Laws of Success(Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1975), pp. My young brothers and sisters, please, be not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. [xi] Conference Report, October 1985, 104, 107. We believe Jesus selected leaders, invested them with authority and organized a church. He explores possible reasons why Church leaders have felt comfortable quoting Lewis in General Conference more than any other non-Latter-day Saint writer and provides a substantial list of the subjects for which his writings have had special appeal to the Saints. : Alma 7:8 . The Lord told the suffering Joseph Smith: My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. We must not waste the time we have here to work out our salvation. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.9. And do you hear and answer evry childs prayer? I do not hesitate to promise that if you will live up to these standards as believers and performers, your lives will be fulfilling and your efforts fruitful of great good. And Christians who make use of the free will defense for the problem of evil sometimes ask God to get them a job or a spouse, or keep them from being harmed, implying that God should override the free will of others in order to achieve these ends. Occasionally we hear certain Latter-day Saint teachings like some of those concerning the Savior that I have detailed earlier described as unbiblical or of a particular doctrine being contradictory to the Bible. Skousen quotes Doctrine and Covenants 29:36: for, behold, the devil was before Adam, for he rebelled against me, saying, Give me thine honor, which is my power; and also a third part of the hosts of heaven turned he away from me because of their agency; God possesses power over the sea, the earth, the heavens because they honor him. There is some urgency for us to appraise our perspectives, just as when Joshua of old challenged us, Choose you this day whom ye will serve (Joshua 24:15). They were only removed as the result of a fairly arbitrary decision by a committee in 1921. . What we value must be what God values, or in the end it will be worthless. Good morning, brothers and sisters. But the second great commandment is to love your neighbor as you love yourself (Matthew 22:39); it doesnt say to only love those who go to your same church or cheer on the same football team as you. There's seeing with your eyes, but that's the least important kind. It may be of interest to you to know that Utah was the first in the nation to have an arts council that fostered the arts and culture in the lives of its citizens. In summary, the undergirding doctrine of the Book of Mormon is that we are saved by the grace of Christ after all we can do (2 Nephi 25:23), meaning above and beyond all we can do. Psalm 19:1-2 tells us simply but so profoundly, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. I believe that God is an exalted man, that He is a separate and distinct personage from the Son and the Holy Ghost. The complexity, size, power, and grandeur of the universe are God's intentional gifts to us. Editor's Note: CHRISTIAN RESEARCH JOURNAL policy is to capitalize pronouns referring to the biblical God and Jesus, but not to capitalize pronouns referencing essentially unbiblical conceptions of God and "other Jesuses" of false religions. We came to the earth to gain a body. BYU Speeches from your pastor, priest, or other trustworthy counselor, CEO Update: Paving the road forward with AI and community at the center, Building a safer community: Announcing our new Code of Conduct, AI/ML Tool examples part 3 - Title-Drafting Assistant, We are graduating the updated button styling for vote arrows, What is the LDS position on changing doctrine. . 218 University Press Building For us the Jesus of history is indeed the Christ of faith. In the movie version, he returned to his palace, where his queen taunted him about the lack of response from the Egyptian gods, and Ramses spoke this great line: Moses god is God.. We believe that while human works are necessary including exercising faith in Christ, repenting of our sins, receiving the sacraments or ordinances of salvation and rendering Christian service to our neighbors they are not sufficient for salvation (2 Nephi 25:23; Moroni 10:32). When we look beyond a man or a womans color or ethnic group or social circle or church or synagogue or mosque or creed or statement of belief, when we try our best to see them for who and what they are, children of the same God, something good and worthwhile happens to us, and we are thereby drawn into a closer union with the God of us all. We learn from the teachings of the Book of Mormon prophets that He was a man but much more than man (Mosiah 3:79; Alma 34:11), that He had within Him the powers of the Father, the powers of the Spirit (2 Nephi 2:8; Helaman 5:11), the power to lay down His life and the power to take it back up again. We must keep our perspective focused on our God. " President Russell M Nelson #JesusChrist 29 May 2023 23:41:32 The linked site has its own terms of use, privacy policies, and security practices that differ from those on our website. First story of aliens pretending to be humans especially a "human" family (like Coneheads) that is trying to fit in, maybe for a long time? Number two:Beingdeceivedcan keep us from receiving eternal blessings. Is it possible to raise the frequency of command input to the processor in this way? So according to the Lectures on Faith, the source of God's power is faith. [x], It is the more that makes many in the Christian world very nervous and usually suspicious of us. . The Lectures on Faith answer this query very directly and eloquently. And what he sees, we must see also. But it is the more that allows us to make a significant contribution in the religious world. According to the doctrine of the LDS Church what is man's relationship with God. According to LDS teaching, Does God have a God? While no one of us can comprehend how and in what manner one person can take upon himself the effects of the sins of another or, even more mysteriously, the sins of all men and women we accept and glory in the transcendent reality that Christ remits our sins through His suffering. By viewing our lives from the perspective of eternity, we realize that the difficulties we face in mortality are transitory. But I am constrained to do so in the spirit of Him who also was misunderstood and misrepresented. Mormon tells those who do not believe in Christ: And now, I speak also concerning those who do not believe in Christ. Is "different coloured socks" not correct? The Lord has admonished us to learn all things of the worldunder the world, in, and above. Converts to the Church may bring with them all the truth they possess and have it added upon.[xi]. We have a remarkable, inspired, living prophet to give us the Lords perspective. This doesn't have to be the case. Cultivate a spirit of optimism. He sees peoples hearts, and their heartaches and pains. They left or lost most of their earthly possessions. Christ got his power from the Father. [viii] Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 190. The Herald Heavens Speak. All of the prophets, including the Savior Himself, brought new light and knowledge to the world; in many cases, new scripture came as a result of their ministry. A Beautiful Video about the Power of Prayer, Questions of Faith, Not a Crisis of Faith. . [Ibid.]. Of course it is important to have friends, to look well, and to have a comfortable and beautiful living environment, but from ancient times the Lord has told His people not to be idol worshipers. When our children were little, they used to watch a childrens television channel that featured a program called What Do You See? We are living in an environment of earthly viewpoints or vistas or vantage points, and we must step back and see things as they really are. "When we understand the great plan of happiness, we are gaining an eternal perspective, and the commandments, ordinances, covenants, and the experiences, trials, and tribulations can be seen in their true and eternal light." Elder Jay E. Jensen, "Keep an Eternal Perspective" 2. Like immortality, this gift is made possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. pray for your families. rev2023.6.2.43474. We believe Jesus performed miracles, including granting sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, life to some who had died and forgiveness to those steeped in sin. He is a self-sustaining infinite power source. . Faith in Fathers plan gives us endurance even amid the wreckage of such proximate hopes. I hope that we can overcome them.[vii]. For example, people who believe that God cannot change his mind sometimes pray in ways that would require God to do exactly that. We have probably all had the opportunity to do a puzzle. But I feel it close around me as I pray. Joseph Smiths First Vision represents the beginning of the revelation of God in our day. What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? You are about to access Constant Contacts (http://visitor.constantcontact.com). Indeed, suffering isn't easy, but suffering is a part of life. . Subsequently, he watched his prized soldiers and chariots follow in pursuit as the waters closed in upon them and washed them away to perish in the sea. This is a difficult question to answer. . Early in our conversation the minister said something like: Look, anyone knows there are big difference between us. Pray, he is there; Speak, he is listning. revelations made up the majority of the volume and the volumes title Answer Proverbs 16:16 says, "How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!" The Bible urges us often to seek wisdom above all things (e.g., Proverbs 4:7 ). Two attempts of an if with an "and" are failing: if [ ] -a [ ] , if [[ && ]] Why? First off it depends if your talking about Heavenly Father or Jesus Christ. (These are actual quotes), he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words: 1 Ne. The objective was to review all peer-reviewed, scholarly articles on the mental health of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2005 to 2022. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. But if we look upon life as an eternal thing stretching far into the premortal past and on into the eternal post-death future, then all happenings may be put in proper perspective.7, Elder DavidB. Haight told a story about the sculptor Michelangelo to illustrate the importance of seeing everything in proper perspective: As the sculptor was chiseling a block of marble, a boy came every day and watched shyly. 193). [v] Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 121. [D&C 132:2324]. In our home our children liked to do jigsaw puzzles. He believes in heaven, while she believes in nirvana. [Mormon 9:12]. He is the literal Son of God the Father, whose plan He was chosen to fulfill. Making an earthly perspective the center of our universe will result in the same discovery: that it is a false premise. ). 29:10 Full Video Explore More On Jesus Christ, Our Savior and Redeemer Following the Lord's process of decision making results in consistently and powerfully righteous decisions. But addition to the canon is hardly the same as rejection of the canon. Show more compassion. This is OK. It's part of having a dynamic, collaborative and exciting relationship with Him. However, this is not doctrine, this is only what I believe. The old man described his dream and indicated that he had been given special permission to bring this treasure with him. Jesus Christ is the central figure in the doctrine and practice of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The question specifically asks for doctrine, not personal beliefs. I believe that the time to act is now. What was before the beginning that caused the beginning to happen? Most or[S1] all of these ills have moral or spiritual roots. The Bible does in fact contain much that can and should guide our walk and talk; it contains the word and will of the Lord to men and women in earlier ages, and its timeless truths have tremendous normative value for our day. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only (James 1:22). Day after day I do the same thing!, Well, said the reporter, this certainly isnt a very pleasant job. Of course, God is just and good, and will be yesterday, today, and forever, and so all things obey him, and he has all power in heaven and in earth. Is there a reason beyond protection from potential corruption to restrict a minister's ability to personally relieve and appoint civil servants? Always keeping the gospel perspective, he advocated and actively participated in music and dance and theatre and was a skilled craftsman and fine furniture maker. why doesnt spaceX sell raptor engines commercially. Then and only then will we be able to keep our sights on eternal perspectives and avoid distraction. We have many friends and many associations with people who are not of our faith, with whom we deal constantly, and we have a wonderful relationship. From our perspective, the living, breathing, ever-relevant nature of the word of God is linked not to written words, not even to the writing of Moses or Isaiah or Malachi, not to the four Gospels or the epistles of Paul, but rather to the spirit of prophecy and revelation that illuminated and empowered those who recorded them in the first place. Question What is godly wisdom? This makes perfect sense and is consistent and complementary with all other scripture. If we have developed a personal testimony of our Savior, we will have strength to face our problems and challenges. One such song is A Childs Prayer, by Janice Kapp Perry: Heavenly Father, are you really there? To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby. Opportunities for problem solving and creativity must be evident in any complete education. revelations of God, it is curious that the revelations were placed in And what was the response of the Jews of the day? (taken from the Historical Introduction to the 1835 D&C). Those who know God become like him, and have his kind of life, which is eternal life. Values and ideas that worldly perspectives define as acceptable almost always lead us to unhappiness and disappointment. It is interesting to note the sequence in the teaching process. Now we know that the premise that the universe revolves around the earth was a false premise. There are no unimportant gifts. [Henry B. Eyring, Always, CES fireside at BYU, 3 January 1999, pp. Moses knowledge of his identity as a son of God gave him the perspective to see Satan as the impostor he is. (Liverpool: F.D. Again, this is not doctrine, this is only what I have reasoned. Is Not This the Fast That I Have Chosen?, Why Marriage and Family MatterEverywhere in the World, Preserving Agency, Protecting Religious Freedom, Be Fruitful, Multiply, and Subdue the Earth. He is our greatest example, and the only perfect example of how to live and see others as God does. lectures on the subject of faith, first prepared as a course of Eternal life, or exaltation, is to live in God's presence and to continue as families (see Doctrine and Covenants 131:1-4 ). That new scripture did not invalidate what went before nor did it close the door on subsequent revelation. Go to the God's Perspective (topic) playlist. There is a portent of stormy weather ahead to which we had better give heed. We acknowledge and value the good that is done by so many to bring the message of Jesus from the New Testament to a world that desperately needs it. Jesus constantly tried to get people to look beyond mortality and to think of this life in terms of where it fits in eternity. What do we value and care deeply about? Its spires will rise to the sky, and my children and grandchildren will remember that I had a great part in it., Oh, said the reporter, this is a very important thing you are doing.. You are his child; His love now surrounds you. If Luke (in the Gospel, as well as in Acts) or John chose to write of subsequent appearance of the Lord Jesus after His ascension into heaven, appearances not found in Mark or Matthew, are we prone to criticize, to cry foul? Number four:The fourth challenge isdistraction. If so, then he was around before he was created, which makes no sense. Christ counseled the people of Nephi: Go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand (3 Nephi 17:3). 5354]. [BYU commencement address, 15 August 1991, pp. The Premortal Godhood of Christ: A Restoration Perspective . As we come unto Christ by covenant, deny ourselves of ungodliness and love God with all our souls, His graceHis divine enabling power, not only to be saved in the ultimate sense but also to face the challenges of each day is sufficient for us (Moroni 10:32). How does the LDS Church decide what is included in their scriptural canon? 56]. This universe of intelligences honor God, and so he has power. Mohandas K. Gandhi is one such example: His mother taught him that to eat meat was wrong, inasmuch as it necessitated the destruction of life, so Gandhi pledged to his mother that he would remain a strict vegetarian throughout his life. Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Why? In your daily prayers, ask God to help you start seeing people as He sees them. What does it take to get our attention? Does substituting electrons with muons change the atomic shell configuration? Everything that testifies of His divine birth, His goodness, His transforming power and His godhood, we embrace enthusiastically. Matter has gravity. In an effort to satisfy the accusations of Jews who denounced the notion of three Gods (Father, Son and Holy Ghost) as polytheistic, and at the same time incorporate ancient but appealing Greek philosophical concepts of an all-powerful moving force in the universe, the Christian church began to redefine the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. While He walked the dusty roads of Palestine as a man, He possessed the powers of a God and ministered as one having authority, including power over the elements and even power over life and death. Here is another wonderful perspective from President Brigham Young, always clear and direct: I say to the brethren who are leaving home. It is currently Sun May 08, 2022 3:43 pm. . President Gordon B. Hinckley said of the Latter-day Saints: We want to be good neighbors; we want to be good friends. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them. Those who do not have an eternal perspective will always challenge integrity. God's plan exists to help us become as good as we choose to becomewith his desire for us being our exaltation in the celestial kingdom of heaven. Why is it "Gaudeamus igitur, *iuvenes dum* sumus!" But for an adult it seems like the time before Christmas gets shorter and shorter. The authority of scripture is tied to its source. The living God is our loving Father (Heb. From Lecture 1:15:. What do you see when you look at yourself in the mirror? We must not compromise knowledge with expediency. Style Guide Note:When reporting about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please use the complete name of the Church in the first reference. Claudius Ptolemaeus, or Ptolemy, an Alexandrian astronomer who lived between A.D. 100 and 170, tried to explain celestial motion by using the theory that the earth was the center of the universe and that the sun and other planets revolved around the earth. We do not believe that we can either overcome the flesh or gain eternal reward through our own unaided efforts. They had all suffered much difficulty and numerous afflictions; however, their attitudes toward them were very different. From my own perspective, I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me. That wonderful hymn echoes my feelings: Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me / Enough to die for me! (I Stand All Amazed,Hymns,1985, no. God knows you individually. No, because these accounts are contained in the Christian canon, that collection of books that serves as the rule of faith and practice in the Christian world. and commandments of the Lord,[15] or revelations. It is like being in a forest and having a tree in front of us. We can be really hard on ourselves. Remember, God is only going to tell us what we need know. We feel we can differ theologically with people without being disagreeable in any sense. We had read several of his books and had enjoyed his preaching over the years. These inharmonious elements are the result of the coupling of biblical ideas about God with notions of the divine nature drawn from Greek thought. This knowledge of our true identity can change our perspective when we realize how much the Lord loves and values each one of us. We believe that Jesus teachings and His own matchless and perfect life provide a pattern for men and women to live by and that we must emulate that pattern as best we can to find true happiness and fulfillment in this life. that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. Not having an eternal perspective, or losing it, can lead us to have an earthly perspective as our personal standard and to make decisions that are not in harmony with the will of God. God has God's power. Often, less emphasis is placed on the arts. You must feelIf they live, all right; if they die, all right; if I die, all right; if I live, all right; for we are the Lords, and we shall soon meet again. God has given each of us important things to do during our time here on earth. He showed to charity to all men, and Elder Dale G. Renlund reminded us, Only when we see through Heavenly Fathers eyes can we be filled with the pure love of Christ. You can follow in Christs footsteps and show charity to all men by studying HIs life, teachings and testimonies in the scriptures. In the Book of Mormon, the sobering realization that no one of us can make it alone is balanced by a consistent statement that the works of men and women, including the receipt of the ordinances of salvation, the performance of duty and Christian acts of service in short, being true to our part of the gospel covenant though insufficient for salvation, are necessary. It is too easy to be consumed with how we look, how we are connected socially, what kind of clothes we wear, or how we can acquire wonderful possessions. Recently we have been warned again. No matter what you believe, the idea that time has been around for infinity before now is basically impossible to comprehend and the idea that there was a beginning is also impossible to comprehend. We need to do the same. April 30, 2019 2 min read God's Perspective "O LORD you have searched me and known me! The best way to understand how to see as God sees is studying the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Lets be clear on this matter. Brigham Young was a particular supporter of the arts. And they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them.5 Not knowing or disregarding the dealings of God is one way of losing eternal perspective, and murmuring is just one of the symptoms. [Spirituality,Ensign,November 1985, p. 63; emphasis added]. . But weknowthem, in the sense of gaining eternal life, when we enjoy and experience the same things they do. O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man;: Ether 3:4 . The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, And, behold, thou art my son (Moses 1:4). They lived their lives in faith and sacrifice because they had an eternal perspective. and thou shalt know that I am the Lord:for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me. What do you think God sees when He looks at you? Isaiah 55:8-9. So I would argue that the Lectures are still scriptural, despite claims to the contrary. The study of the human body with an aesthetic perspective is also desirable and necessary. Elder Boyd K. Packer observed: We do not claim that others have no truth. In the scriptural account of that evenings events, Christ told of the qualification for gaining eternal life: And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent (John 17:3). Most New Testament scholars believe that Mark was the first Gospel written and that Matthew and Luke drew upon Mark in the preparation of their Gospels. Disclaimer: These are Skousen's insights, based firmly in LDS doctine, but his own beliefs nonetheless. . To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. We must understand the perspective that all knowledge is important, as are the individual gifts and talents given to the Lords children. Oftentimes we look at people through selfish and judmental eyes. The fundamental principles of our religion, he observed, are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that he died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.[v] The glorious news, the glad tidings is that Christ our Lord has come to earth, offered Himself as a ransom from sin and made available deliverance from death and hell. Illustration by Jim Madsen. 9:6, the Lord is able to do all things according to his will: 1 Ne. Suffice it to say, this removal did not follow the law of common consent. We compared and contrasted, we asked questions and we answered questions. According to LDS doctrine, what is the source of God's power? . I remember that one of our children (I wont give his name in order to protect his identity) used to focus on the individual pieces, and when one did not fit in the place where he thought it should, he would become angry and assume it was no good and want to throw it away. It only takes a minute to sign up. Which is what the other answers are trying to say in their answers. Truly, as one Book of Mormon prophet proclaimed, We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins (2 Nephi 25:26). With our edits, and a minor one from me to match the tags that you put in, this is scoped enough to be re-opened. I testify that Jesus Christ is His Son and the Savior of the world. When the figure of David emerged and appeared from that stone, complete for all the world to admire, the boy asked Michelangelo, How did you know he was in there?8. But when he noticed the large and heavy bag that the man was carrying, Saint Peter reminded him that no one could bring any earthly goods with them to this place. Romans 12:2 NIV. Of such is the kingdom, the kingdom of heavn. We no longer fit the image of this world new perspective through God's eyes. We only have so much time in a day, in a year, in a lifetime. School of the Prophets," which was taught by Joseph Smith] held He believed in the refining and edifying influence of the arts. Who do you think you are? they essentially asked. With the deaths of the apostles and the loss of the priesthood, the institutional power to perform and oversee saving sacraments or ordinances, learn the mind of God and interpret scripture was no longer on earth. In all cases we could benefit from taking the time to ponder and pray. In thinking back on what proved to be one of the most stimulating and worthwhile learning experiences of our lives, the one thing that characterized our discussion, and the one thing that made the biggest difference, was the mood that existed there a mood of openness, candor and a general lack of defensiveness. The First Presidency of the Church has stated that "all men and women are in the similitude of the universal . However, when we deviate from this spiritual course, knowingly . indicated that the texts therein were carefully selected from the Human existence cannot be understood in its totality through any one mode of inquiry. Remember the bold testimony and example of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans: I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth (Romans 1:16). He knows what you can be. What perspectives do you have about gaining your education? President SpencerW. Kimball wrote the following: If we looked at mortality as the whole of existence, then pain, sorrow, failure, and short life would be calamity. What can we say that will make a difference in how men and women view and relate to the Savior? As to whether we worship a different Jesus, we say again: We accept and endorse the testimony of the New Testament writers. As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive (Corinthians 15:22). A loving Heavenly Father has made provision for our human weaknesses. Courage is faith put into action, acting on what we believe. The article went on to explain that it was not so much a change in the pollution levels as the fact that the observatory had been moved from the eighth floor to the 23rd floor. And would this mean he created himself? The artists vision of the possibilities encased in the stone allowed him to create a work of art. He could also just be explaining a complicated God-like law of physics in a way that us humans would understand. What are your challenges? There was reaffirmed in the First Vision the fundamental Christian teaching that Jesus of Nazareth lived, died, was buried and rose from the tomb in glorious immortality. Shortly afterward, my husband, the main breadwinner of our family, lost his job. A certain man, having lived a long and productive life, was getting ready to meet his Maker. We hope they feel the same way toward us. To him the pledge he made to his mother was sacred. I believe that the Lord wishes us to be happy and to have joy. From the perspective of being too busy, the action may be to pause and regroup. There are times, of course, when latter-day revelation provides clarification of additional information to the Bible. In essence, we declare that Jesus Christ is the head of the Church and the central figure in our theology. Soon we look back and realize that a year or five years or 10 years have gone by and we are still saying that someday we will get to the things that we wish and need to do. All components of truth and knowledge must be valued. The eternal perspective of the gospel leads us to understand the place that we occupy in Gods plan, to accept difficulties and progress through them, to make decisions, and to center our lives on our divine potential. This is eternal livesto know the only wise and true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent. In 1 Samuel 16:7, the Lord counsels Samuel to, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. God focuses on the inward. There is only one course open to meto die, but never to break my pledge., . comes from within himself. NealA. Maxwell, Brightness of Hope, Ensign, Nov. 1994, 3536. But we were eager to learn where the other person was coming from. Such Platonic concepts as the immutability, impassibility and timelessness of God made their way into Christian theology. ( Morm. New insights always affect old perspectives, and thus some rethinking, rearranging and restructuring of our worldview are inevitable. Most of this is from a sermon "A Personal Search for the Meaning of the Atonement". Obviously, their perspectives were different. Christian friendship is a treasure because it helps us cling to our greatest Treasure. What is the result? . I love the Savior for His gift of salvation for each of us. First Corinthians 3:19 says, "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight." The Book of Mormon has a high Christology; that is, the doctrine of Christ is thick and heavy on the pages of this scriptural record, and the testimony of the divinity of the Lord and Savior is powerful and direct. In a revelation given to Moses, we are told of our Heavenly Fathers declared intention: For behold, this is my work and my gloryto bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.1 According to that statement, the Fathers desire is to give everyone the opportunity to receive a fulness of joy. The Lord, speaking of you and our day through the prophet Isaiah, declared: And they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. Inasmuch as the Some buried fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, or babies along the waymany knowing from the beginning that they might not complete the journey. Elder NealA. Maxwell taught: Though anchored in grand and ultimate hope, some of our tactical hopes are another matter. . And have I not an equal privilege with the ancient saints? Or is he a respecter of persons?[vi]. The Lord knows what He wants to accomplish with each one of us. We believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh (John 3:16). . the second part of the book. Let me share another experience. In essence he said that each day was a precious gift from God and that he would never again take one day for granted. BYU Professor of Dance and Chair of the Dance Department, In the riveting story depicted in Genesis and portrayed in Cecil B. DeMilles great filmThe Ten Commandments,Egypts pharaoh, Ramses II, stood on an elevated vantage point and witnessed the parting of the Red Sea as the children of Israel crossed on dry land. In Christian doctrine, the central objective of our spiritual life is to seek and adhere to God's will, a pursuit that is understood to bring us closer to the divine essence and align our lives with Christ's teachings. . He hears your prayer; He loves the children. This experience says something to me about what can happen when men and women of good will come together in an attitude of openness and in a sincere effort to better understand and be understood. General Discussions. To download media files, please first review and agree to the Terms of Use. This one speaks in tongues, that one spends much of his time leading marches against social injustice, while a third believes that little children should be baptized. Here are a few snippets of scripture where I get this idea from. The world focuses on things we can only physically seewhat people wear, what ethnicity they are, how many worldly things they have, etc. You can visit the actual scriptures to see what they say). The virus so permeates Christian theology that some have come to take the illness for granted, attributing it to divine mystery, while others remain unaware of the infection altogether.[ii]. The reporter was hesitant to interrupt him but finally asked, Can you tell me what youre doing, sir?, The man stood up, wiped his sweaty brow, and, pointing to a rough but very large foundation, said, Cant you see? Our perspective becomes the lens through which we view life. Perspective is how we see things from where we are. Browse other questions tagged, Like any library, Christianity Stack Exchange offers great information, but, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. The second part of the Doctrine and Covenants contained the covenants This does not mean we shouldn't set goals. Lds Quotes Quotes tagged as "lds" Showing 1-30 of 148 "Cultivate an attitude of happiness. No, only in believing more. Well human and mortal logic would tell you "something had to have created Heavenly Father, he couldn't have been around forever, something had to have been before him. All He asks is, Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all . The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? It is easy to drift along in relatively smooth waters until we reach the rapids. [Exodus 20:35]. We believe Jesus is the Son of God the Father and as such inherited powers of godhood and divinity from His Father, including immortality, the capacity to live forever. I tried asking it from a broad perspective, but then my question got flagged as a possible duplicate, so I narrowed it a bit. He is a self-sustaining infinite power source. I also plead with you to be determined to pray with all the energy of your heart, that you might have every gift that a loving Heavenly Father knows you must have to serve His Son and to endure against the powers of darkness. How tragic it will be if we have chosen to avoid the responsibility of aligning our perspectives with Gods until it is too late. For decisions that affect eternity, having a gospel perspective is essential. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. If you desire to ask God for anything, you are as well prepared to do so in the dance as in any other place, if you are Saints. He stated: There is no music in hell, for all good music belongs to heaven. There are enticing idols lurking in all places to tempt us to compromise our gospel-centered perspectives. We look upon this as a great and precious gift. [vi] Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, comp. Latter-day Saints declare that all human beings are literally children of God our Heavenly Father, born as spirit sons and daughters of Elohim, the Supreme Being of eternity. We believe the New Testament accounts of healings and nature miracles and the cleansing of human souls to be authentic and real. Audio 0:00/7:45 Speed I urge you to view things from an eternal perspectivein the light of God's great plan of salvation. The Lectures on Faith are an indispensable scripture for understanding God's power and where it comes from. What are your perspectives on living each day? According to LDS, do all non-LDS Christians lack the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and if so, how does this lack manifest itself in the lives of non-LDS? These analogies illustrate the high calling and responsibility which accompanies Christian parenthood. We can find joy, peace, and confidenceeven in our imperfections and faults. Instead, it means we need to trust Him to lead us into the unknown, and that we may need to reevaluate and change our goals as He gives us more information. In 2015, I felt prompted to start reading the Book of Mormon again from the beginning. At your boss? A number of years ago a colleague and I traveled with two Evangelical Christian friends to another part of the country to meet with a well-known theologian, author and pastor/teacher in that area. It would, therefore, appear that the Lectures on Faith originally comprised the "Doctrine" of the Doctrine and Covenants (the other revelations comprising the "Covenants"). A prudent perspective would be to prepare before it is too late. Some of us may need to speed up, and others need to slow down. Isaiah 46:9-10. For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee? Further, we believe that He died, was buried and rose from the dead and that His resurrection was a physical reality. They were not permitted to enter the wedding party with the bridegroom. Here is the point I want to make: Our perspective must be God's perspective or, in the end, it will be worthless. 18687]. We are missing important perspectives in our pursuit of knowledge if we do not experience all three. At your neighbor? So basically There is a recurring thought that god has all power and he created all things. There are different kinds of seeing. in the second Kirtland printing office in the winter of 18341835.[12]. The First Presidency of the Church in 1907 made the following declaration: Our motives are not selfish; our purposes not petty and earth-bound; we contemplate the human race, past, present and yet to come, as immortal beings, for whose salvation it is our mission to labor; and to this work, broad as eternity and deep as the love of God, we devote ourselves, now, and forever.[xii]. But time does not stand still, and older people wonder how it happens so quickly. To be sure, we love the Bible. Over the years that followed the death and resurrection of the Lord, Christians sought to earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints (Jude 1:3). One need not surrender cherished religious values or doctrines in order to be a better neighbor, a more caring citizen, a more involved municipal. My point is that the Lord's Old Testament name suggests that very idea. Those who cannot serve God with a pure heart in the dance should not dance. Matter? My recent interactions with men and women of various faiths have had a profound impact on me; they have broadened my horizons dramatically and reminded me a sobering reminder we all need once in a while that we are all sons and daughters of the same Eternal Father. God looks for and sees the good in others. (whether something else created him and so that is the root of his power, I have no idea). I hack away at these filthy rocks all day long. What we cling to here on the earth that seems so valuable to us may really be quite valueless in the true sense. Given the challenges we face in our society fatherless homes, child and spouse abuse, divorce, poverty, spreading crime and delinquency it seems so foolish for men and women who believe in God, whose hearts and lives have been surrendered to that God, to allow doctrinal differences to prevent them from working together. I know that our Heavenly Father is real, that He hears and answers our prayers, and that He cares deeply and tenderly for each one of us. According to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was Jesus Christ ordained to the Priesthood? Perhaps that isn't really satisfying, but it's accurate. When times are good, it is easy to forget our dependence on the Lord. In respect to how limited our human brains are, the answer to your question in my belief is that God doesn't get his power from anywhere, he is power in himself. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. Perspectives change as we go higher. When comparisons are made, Latter-day Saints are . [Page 243] Abstract: In this essay, Robert Millet describes the work and impact of C. S. Lewis as it pertains to the Latter-day Saints. That offering is made efficacious as we exercise faith and trust in Him; repent of our sins; are baptized by immersion as a symbol of our acceptance of His death, burial and rise to newness of life; and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:3738; 3 Nephi 27:1920). Creativity must be important to our great creator. (As you probably know, in LDS doctrine, the two are distinct. Faith is developed in a setting where we cannot see what lies ahead. Our Heavenly Father first taught Adam and Eve the plan of redemption, and then He gave them commandments. May we use our gifts to bless others and resist the temptations of Satan. But I dont want to focus on those differences. This advice is only magnified by President Spencer W. Kimballs well-known directive: Do it.. As recorded in the Pearl of Great Price, Moses learnedhistrue identity. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. All the commandments are of eternal importance in the context of the great plan of happiness. Continuing, Elder McConkie said: To know God is to think what he thinks, to feel what he feels, to have the power he possesses, to comprehend the truths he understands, and to do what he does. During the time that I have served in the Church, I have witnessed the devotion and faithfulness of Church members in different countries, some of which have political, social, or economic conflict. We need to learn to see others as God sees them. We met this particular pastor and then attended his church services on both Sunday morning and Sunday evening and in both meetings were impressed with the depth and inspiration of his preaching. . Strength is forged in adversity. The prophets declared over and over that the day would come when people would be judged of their works, the works done in their days of probation (1 Nephi 15:32; 2 Nephi 9:44). @ShemSeger Do you mean God the Father or God the Son? . For 14 centuries this was the universally accepted and authoritative system of astronomy. Take this principle or attribute, (for it is an attribute) from the Deity and he would cease to exist. At your neighbor? You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar" Psalm 139:1 "From a Distance", a song written in 1987 by Julie Gold and popularised by Bette Midler, portrays a commonly held view of God's perspective on the world. We believe that Jesus was fully human in that He was subject to sickness, to pain and to temptation. [From the pamphlet Teacher Education in the Arts Disciplines: A Statement of the Working Group on the Arts in Higher Education, p. 8]. Trusting God. The God of the Old Testament was Jehovah, Jesus Christ, who came into the world to be our Savior. A Japanese newspaper reported that from this observatory, Mount Fuji had been sighted only something like 27 times in 1997, although in 1998 it had been sighted something like 43 times. Along with the good, however, came a certain theological virus that infected the Christian doctrine of God, making it ill and creating the sorts of problems mentioned above. This honor is more than figurative; all things have an "intelligence"for lack of better word, a fundamental spark of divinity/existence that cannot be created or destroyed (Pearl of Great Price, Abraham 3). . We drift in our comfort zone without making clear commitments on which perspectives we will focus our lives. Nephi said, And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, that while we did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give plenty of suck for their children, and were strong, yea, even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings.4, Laman and Lemuel, on the other hand, complained bitterly. Show compassion to everyone you meet. Here is the point I want to make: Our perspective must be Gods perspective or, in the end, it will be worthless. . One tradition is that John the Beloved, aware of the teaching of the synoptics, prepared his Gospel in an effort to fill in the gaps and thus deal more with the great spiritual verities that his evangelistic colleagues chose not to include. The inevitable encounter between biblical and classical thought in the early church generated many significant insights and helped Christianity evangelize pagan thought and culture. Seeking God's will vs. idolatry: A Christian perspective. When appropriately magnified, these gifts can help us realize truths that may not be perceptible in any other way. By referring or linking you to this website, we do not endorse or guarantee this content, products, or services offered. Only with an eternal perspective of God's great plan of happiness can we ever find a more excellent hope. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. President Brigham Young thus declared that, we, the Latter-day Saints, take the liberty of believing more than our Christian brethren: we not only believe the Bible, but the whole of the plan of salvation that Jesus has given to us. However, we can say, as Moses did, Get thee hence, Satan; deceive me not. He tries to deceive us by making the facade of sinful, worldly pleasures attractive enough to overshadow the values that the Lord would have us live. To what do you look forward in your future? And what does that mean? . It is important for us to be cautious that we do not becomedisinterested, deceived, compromised, or distracted. One key principle comes from Alma: Therefore God gave unto them commandments, after having made known unto them the plan of redemption.2. 12:5-11), and we are His children (1 John 3:1). Noble Truth 3: It is always possible to overcome suffering and achieve happiness. . [ix] Jesus explained that no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6). From your vantage point today, what do you know and believe about God? Would sending audio fragments over a phone call be considered a form of cryptology? They were a part of standard Church canon all the way from 1835 to 1921. One of my students answered my query To what do you look forward in the future? by stating that he really wanted an eternal family and the blessing of having them all go back to live with Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ. Pharaohs very trying experiences had finally led him to a previously denied perspective. The heavens opened and are still open to us if we will inquire. We therefore look backward and forward. Sara Lee Gibb was a BYU professor of dance and chair of the Dance Department when this devotional address was given on 2 February 1999. Surely not. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (Matthew 6:24). No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. So when the scriptures say "God has all power and created all things". I understand that the LDS concept of God teaches that God was once a creature much like us with his own Heavenly Father Press J to jump to the feed. How to add a local CA authority on an air-gapped host of Debian. The Lectures on Faith answer this query very directly and eloquently. Cleon Skousen, a famous LDS scholar, had interesting things to say about God's power. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours. The Bible is one of the books within our standard works, our scriptural canon, and thus our doctrines and practices are in harmony with the Bible. Learn how God sees us and how we can emulate his unconditional love. The story of Sariah taught me a lesson on finding peace. It is to the Book of Mormon that we turn to receive the balanced perspective on the mercy and grace of an infinite Savior on the one hand, and the labors and works of finite man on the other. However, to inherit eternal life requires our "obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel" ( Articles of Faith 1:3 ). The following excerpts are taken from an address to the Harvard Divinity School in March 2001 by Robert L. Millet, former dean of religious education at Brigham Young University.
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