Blessings Come From Church Participation

Membership and participation in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has brought me wonderful blessing! Many of those blessings come from the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is taught in the church, but there are also distinct blessing that come from the organization and the gathering and serving that we do within the organization.

I started thinking about this as I read a talk by Dallin H. Oaks entitled, "The Need for a Church." Speaking about serving in the temple and serving as a missionary he said, "None of such service would be possible without the Church that sponsors it, organizes it, and directs it."

That struck home to me! I have had the opportunity to serve as a young missionary, and I'm now preparing to serve as a senior missionary. I'm also currently serving in the temple. I've also had the opportunity to serve in many different roles in wards and stakes. Some of these roles have lasted for many years! These experiences and the people I had the opportunity to love and serve, and to serve with, have molded me and given me opportunities to learn and grow. I could not be the person I am today without these experiences! It is hard to adequately express how profoundly important the opportunities to serve in the church are to me!

It is also through my service that I have gained a great appreciation for our Savior Jesus Christ and how much I need Him and rely on Him!

Our adversary teaches that service is a burden or a trial and that church is unnecessary, restrictive, or harmful. Those are all lies. Service in the Church of Jesus Christ is a great blessing! I am very thankful for it!

What Does it Mean to Live By Faith?

Faith means different things to different people. Often it seems to be associated with believing in something that is unbelievable or a hope for some future blessing or happiness. Sometimes people talk about having enough faith to see a miracle, or to achieve some desired outcome.

I have come to see faith primarily as trusting in God and desiring to do His will. In other words, I think having or living by faith means doing things more than hoping for things.

I recently came across a story that I think demonstrates living by faith. It is a story about a man who joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints prior to 1978. The year 1978 is significant, because prior to 1978 male members of the church who lived the commandments and paid tithing could be ordained to the priesthood and receive temple ordinances, but black men were excluded from that.

George Rickford was part African and would be denied those opportunities. When he learned about it he was angry and devastated. He had received a conviction that the church was God’s Church but he was hurt, insulted and totally disappointed. He tried to reconcile his feelings by speaking with others and praying. One day he prayed, “O Father, what about this thing, because I don’t understand it.” He describes what happened next, “Then I had a wonderful experience by way of a response. The word ‘faith’ was just spelled out letter by letter before my closed eyes and I heard myself respond to that. Some beautiful feelings just swept through me from head to toe.”

Consoling words came to his mind: “George,” he felt, “you don’t have to understand everything about my gospel before you commit yourself to it. Why don’t you show your faith by accepting what you’ve heard and commit the rest into my hands? Don’t trouble yourself. I will never lead you astray.”

“I just felt a glow inside and I heard myself say, still with my eyes closed, ‘Yes, Lord, I will. I will take it in faith. And thank you, by the way, thank you.’”

George joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, married and had children who were also not able to bear the priesthood. But George continued believing and participating. In 1975 he wrote, “I am just grateful that the Lord’s priesthood is once again upon the earth, with all its attendant blessings, authority, and responsibility. It matters less to me who has it and who hasn’t, but much more how it is utilised.”

I am so impressed by George’s trust in God and in his willingness to humbly submit his will to God’s will. Most often in life we don’t know how things will turn out and we usually don’t know the “why” of things that happen. Living by faith means seeking to know God’s will, trusting him, and then doing it!

For more about George Rickford see https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/content/pioneers-in-every-land/i-will-take-it-in-faith

How do we know whether someone is teaching truth?

Don't be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine!

The Bible teaches us the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and yet there are many disagreements about what the Bible says. Paul talked about this in Ephesians 4:14, “That we henceforth be no more children,tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” (KJV)

How did Paul say we would be protected from the winds of doctrine? Christ, “gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God...” (Eph 4:11-13 KJV) That unity is important and possible because, “There is one body, and one Spirit,... One Lord, one faith, one baptism...” (Eph 4:4-5 KJV). 

Apostles and prophets can help us to find the “One Lord,” and yet Mathew warned, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (Matt 7:15 KJV) Fortunately, Mathew also tells us how to discern whether someone is a false prophet. “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matt 7:16-20 KJV)

Unfortunately, looking at “fruits,” can be confusing too, especially if we listen to deceptive voices. Christ talked about this problem, “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.” (Matt 11:18-19 KJV) Just as John and Christ were called “wicked” in an attempt to deceive, true prophets of God will be called wicked as well by some who want to deceive.

John gives us more help, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:” (1 John 4:1-2 KJV)

The Holy Spirit can reveal the truth to us. Christ talked about this, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13 KJV)

In summary, the Bible teaches us if we are not careful we will be tossed around by winds of doctrine, but Apostles and Prophets will help us be unified around one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. In order to identify true Prophets, we must seek for and listen to the Spirit of Truth as we try to discern their works and listen to their testimony of Christ. As we do so, the truth will be revealed to us!

What Is a Disciple?

I am striving to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ. The purpose of this blog is to share my study, experiences, and observations about that quest.

The most general definition of a disciple is, "a person who is a pupil or an adherent of the doctrines of another; follower" (Dictionary.com).  Unfortunately, I think in today's world, the "disciples" we most often hear about are people who are manipulated or deluded -- perhaps as members of a cult.

Even within some avowed Christian groups, discipleship has taken on very negative characteristics (see "The Dark Side of Discipleship" and "Shepherding/Discipleship") This is definitely not what I am meaning or looking for when I say living as a disciple of Christ.

I believe that truly living as a disciple of Jesus Christ is the best way to find joy and happiness in this life and the next.