Once Upon a Precept

Life blood of the Church is missionary work.    Missionary work is like exercising without it the church would decay.    Muscle atrophy.    Push your limits.    Missionary stories    did not many baptized? The one convert baptized his whole street & his whole family.    A mission president only baptized one person on his mission years ago. He asked the teacher's mother about her family because she was his only convert. Elder Booth is beloved in their family.   "Failed" on mission causes people to go less active.    Work for the one.    What am I to do to contribute to the Church, Joseph?    2 ... Iift up your voices as with the sound of a trump, to declare my gospel unto a crooked and perverse generation.    D&C 33:8 Open your mouths and they shall be filled    9    Open your mouths and they shall be filled    10    Open your mouth...

Baptism is a covenant. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines covenant as "a written agreement or promise usually under seal between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action." I plan to teach my CTR 5 class the promises of both side of the baptismal covenant. This covenant is between God and his child, living in mortal life. This covenant is the first of many in the Gospel path to obtain mortal and immortal joy. First I will list the promises God gives as the following: Eternal life, the greatest gift of God, is an eternal family with your spouse. Your children in time can be sealed to you too, if you obtain all the covenants of the Gospel and remain faithful to the end. The blessed and joyous life of eternal life is the life of Heavenly Father, and it is unimaginable. Faithful members of the Church will live in the presence of Heavenly Father. Arising during the first resurrection is obtaining your body again; however, it is in a perfect...

Jessica and I  pondered the cleansing affect of water and fire/heat, learning about how ovens clean themselves. The method is to burn the contents to easily wipeable carbon with excessive heat. The recieving of the gift of the Holy Ghost is also known as the baptism of fire, cleansing our soul.  We spoke of cleaning things with water. If people don't continuely clean their dishes, they could get sick. Uncleanliness can represent sin, but what are the spiritual illnesses? I thought of doubt, pride, and entitlement. These spiritual illnesses are contagious, but man can develop them in isolation, if they are not careful. Man tend to forget their faith without the continue effort of cleansing their soul. The best way is through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, and baptism by immersion in the church; having the authority to administer the ordinances of salvation. That is the initial cleansing of the gospel, but man need to continuely sanctify themselves by following the covenant ...

Before Heavenly Father had Jehovah create the Earth, he proposed the implementation of the Plan of Salvation. Heavenly Father had a resurrected body of flesh and bone, and he wanted to share his joy of eternal life with all his children. Jehovah had a crucial role in the Plan of Salvation for he was elected to perform an atonement.  This atonement of Jesus Christ as he will be known by in mortality was controversial in the Grand Counsel because a man named Lucifer did not believe that sin and choice was necessary. He had a plan to save everyone, but he desired glory above all. One third of God's children were cast out of Heaven as they rejected Heavenly Father's Plan for the Salvation of man. Satan was given enmity to make mortality especially horrifying on top of the veil of forgetfullness, blocking our memory of our premortal life. The Godhead is God the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. They are three different people, but they are completely united. We pray to Heavenly Fathe...

Stake Conference Adult Evening Session "Facts about the church''        Referred investigators convert 4 times more than missionary found investigators.        great sense purpose    guidance    weakness & sin overcome        What does it mean to be a member of the church?    given love    Holy Ghost guided        People want to hear about our relationship with God.        invite & let them choose        This life is short, but it is signifacent.            sorority    inisation    standards    weekly meetings.    Secret ceremonies        it is very difficult to maintain conversion        what are my struggle    goals    strengths    grateful    am I happy    Desir...

The following questions are from 'Come, follow me': I have not answered all of them yet. Why do you think that John began his Gospel with these truths?  I think that he shared these truths for man to be more present; awoken from the slumbering world to see the light. Consider writing your witness of Jesus Christ—what would you want to share?  What experiences have helped you come to know and follow the Savior?  Years of listening and reading of testimonies have taught me the true nature of Jesus Christ. The application of his teaching has helped me develop a relationship with God the Father, whom Christ is my advocate to. Heavenly Father has let me serve his children with the priesthood authority in the patriarchal order. Blessing his children with his ordinances on his behalf, I have witnessed the power of the Holy Ghost. Who might be blessed by hearing your testimony?

The following pictures are my notes during my study of Joseph Smith's translation of John 1:1-19:

John began his Gospel by describing the work that Christ performed before He was born: “In the beginning … the Word [Jesus Christ] was with God.” What do you learn from verses 1–5 about the Savior and His work?  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. You can find helpful clarifications in Joseph Smith Translation, John 1:1–5 (in the Bible appendix).  In the beginning was the gospel preached through the Son. And the gospel was the word, and the word was with the Son, and the Son was with God, and the Son was of God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made which was made.  In him was the g...

John writes uniquely, composing Gospel of John, several epistles, and the book of Revelation, because he has been blessed to a ministering angel as a flaming fire on the earth until the second coming of Christ upon request recorded in D&C 7:1-6.  His great love for the Savior began before Jesus Christ's public ministry, for he was a disciple of John the Baptist. "And the Lord said unto me: John, my beloved, what desirest thou? For if you shall ask what you will, it shall be granted unto you.  And I said unto him: Lord, give unto me power over death, that I may live and bring souls unto thee.  And the Lord said unto me: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, because thou desirest this thou shalt tarry until I come in my glory, and shalt prophesy before nations, kindreds, tongues and people. And for this cause the Lord said unto Peter: If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? For he desired of me that he might bring souls unto me, but thou desiredst that tho...

How might you help your family visualize what they read about light in these verses? You could let family members take turns shining a light in a dark room and sharing how the Savior is the Light of their lives. Then, as you read John 1:4–10, family members might have additional insight into John’s testimony of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. Before reading  John 1:4–10 Jesus Christ is my light because I would not have power to improve my life without him. There would be no morals and nothing to place faith in. "In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made b...

A youth spoke in Sacrament, reflecting on his calling last year as a Family History Teacher. He said that family history is like a treasure hunt. In his residence there is a  scary picture of an mysterious old lady. No one in the family knew who she was. They found after some research that she is the youth's great, great, great, great, grandmother, and another treasure that they discovered is that she is the sister of John Taylor. John Taylor was the third prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." ( 3 Nephi 25:6) Another note is that learning family history protects you from bad influences. Let us turn our hearts to our fathers. Heavenly Father's plan for the salvation of the human family requires every child of God to be discovered. 

God does provide.  Heavenly Father cares about the little things in our lives.    A sister had a pair of earrings that couples with her wedding ring. She lost them twice. The pair of  earrings are a very dear momento. She could only found them by God's guidance and prayer. One experience is almost unbelievable. She was out with her children at a park, and she found them under a rock; not damaged. A valiant in a testimony of Christ  can be a quiet assurance. A sister murmured the higher expectations of "Come, follow me." She sees that her c hange of heart is an evidence of the Holy Ghost's influence. She is excited about the new  "Come, follow me" program for a home centered church.  You know what you need to do. Don't resist it.

The Book of Mormon only could have be translated by the gift and power of God    One night as a youth, Joseph Smith prayed on behalf of his welfare, and Moroni, an angel & prophet of the Book of Mormon appeared to him, telling about the ancient record engraved an golden plates, which was abridged by his father Mormon.  Seer stone will reveal images to the faithful/chosen. Joseph Smith found one personally in a well before given one by an angel. It was described as a tool to learn how to receive revelation. He translated the Book of Mormon by seer stones and the Urim and Thummim.    "To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.  To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful." (D&C 46:13-14)      Joseph Smith's Translation    about 8 pages a day    He ...

Jessica and I reviewed the suggestion of "fearing not" from 'Come, follow me.' I realized that fearing man and God have opposite affect. The fear of man begets odd actions, but true fear of God inspires righteousness and meekness.

As you read Luke 2:1–7, what do you notice about the humble circumstances of His birth? Try to identify a detail or insight in this story that you hadn’t noticed before.  She gave birth alone with no mention of family otherthan her husband, having no nurse, doctor, or midwife. What do you learn about the Savior from the circumstances of His birth?  Joseph & Mary were self reliant. How do these insights affect your feelings toward Him? Their attitude is admirable.

Article Faith 9    9 We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. Prophet Russel M. Nelson is revealing new and great things today, a call to change hearts. It is not about the details.    Ministering; no more home teaching        Personal Scripture Study    He could not write his talk because his love for the word is too great.    God speaks to man through the scriptures    scripture from Mosiah in the Book of Mormon - "What have ye to boast?" Words for hot-headed teenger    D&C 111:5 - "Concern not yourselves about your debts, for I will give you power to pay them." Words for a man troubled with his finances.    Be consistent.    God truly inspired the transcription of the scriptures,       

Our "Come, follow me" study pondered the visitations of the angel Gabriel to Mary & Joseph. I thought that one verse in the quotation of his conversation with Mary was particularly comforting for her & for the long term.    "Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:34 & 35) The angel's words of 'the power of the Highest, holy thing, of God' should have consoled her, for she was pregnant before her marriage. She may have felt guilty. Her marriage was not elaborate, for Joseph "minded to put her away privily." (Matthew 1:19) Gabriel's words were definitely inspired by the Holy Ghost. "Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Ch...

Do you find yourself waiting for a blessing?  Yes. What do you feel the Lord expects of you while you wait? Patience & do my best. What other messages might the Lord have for you in this story? Patience yields wisdom by pondering.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the only source of light in the world.    Everything good comes from God.     Don't let the past define your future, a fruit of forgiveness.    A woman sued the Church for a sexual assault experience with a leader of the church. The teacher testifies of the need forgiveness, for he and his siblings were sexually abused for years as a child, but he would be thrilled if he would see his abusers in the celestial kingdom.    A student related. How would you feel if a drug addict or an alcoholic in the Celestial Kingdom? Would you not be thrilled?        3 AM is the time that President Nelson reads the scriptures, talking about how he pulled out a flashlight to continue, when the power went out. That is the time that he finds that God speaks to him. He encouraged the audience of mission presidents to find the time and place that God speaks to them.        Joseph Smith Papers man...