Sunday, September 27, 2009
Power in the Scriptures
This week at my job, I decided to utilize all the time that I spend driving in my truck to take time really listen to the Book of Mormon this week. This book is truly comparable to the Bible, in fact there are so many Old Testament stories cited by the prophets in the Book of Mormon, that it seems in order to truly understand the full significance of the Book of Mormon a person needs to be familiar with many stories in the Bible. What I have realized over the last week is that the words of prophets are some of the most powerful words we can read. Seriously, anyone who is willing to make a sincere study of history, and compare it with the words prophets have said will find that their words are true. I would like to share a scripture from the Doctrine and Covenants which talks about this. D&C 1:37-38 "37. Search these commandments for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled. 38. What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or the voice of my servants, it is the same." I have gained a testimony, through the study of history coupled with the study of the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine & Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price, and the words of Prophets today. I have come to have a testimony that all the prophecies have been fulfilled, are being fulfilled right now or will be revealed in the future. How grateful I am for my testimony I have of prophets and their role in the Plan of Salvation.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
My Testimony of the Book of Mormon
Joseph Smith said that "a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its (The Book of Mormon) precepts, than by any other book". This is why I am going to start re-reading the Book of Mormon and I will write about some of my impressions on this blog as I am re-reading it. I will start by giving my current testimony of the Book of Mormon.
I was born into a Mormon family, so I grew up with many of Mormon teachings like the one above, and I will admit that I was very fond of Mormon stories and doctrine from a young age. It felt right, it felt good and it felt happy. But the response many people have told me who do not believe in the doctrines of the Mormon church to these feelings is that I was brain washed as a child, or I can't really know because I grew up with these doctrines. This can be contrasted with the teachings of the church itself, that as an individual member there is a need to develop my own personal testimony apart from any other person because when hard times come I will need to know that I can rely on the Lord, and the tools he has given me through his church one being the Book of Mormon. With both of these two views being expressed to me I felt that I needed to like Joseph Smith, find out which church was true, or if the Mormon church is true. I have read the Book of Mormon, not once, not twice but many many times. The depth that this Book holds, and the capacity it holds to change our character to be more loving of our heavenly father and our fellow men is nothing short of a miracle. I ask anyone reading this who doubts what I am saying, who doubts that I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that it has the power to change men who will study it seriously, to investigate it for themselves as I have. My testimony is not based on the testimony of others though I have learned and gained insight about the Book of Mormon it ultimately has been the Holy Ghost which has witnessed to my heart and soul that it is true. The spirit has also taught me that the study of this book along with the Bible, as long as I will apply the doctrines therein will lead to the Salvation and Exaltation of my soul. I will end with Moroni's Challenge which is near the end of the Book of Mormon, which reads:
"'Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.'
'And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it ounto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.'
'And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.' (Moroni 10:3-5)
I have taken Moroni's challenge and asked God, who gave me an answer and I testify that I know this book to be true, and I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for the lessons I have learned about him and myself through this Book. I also testify that this book is a second testament that Jesus is the Christ, and the saviour of the world. Thank-you for reading my testimony of this sacred book, it means a lot to me, please if you do not like it, please respect that is sacred to me.
I was born into a Mormon family, so I grew up with many of Mormon teachings like the one above, and I will admit that I was very fond of Mormon stories and doctrine from a young age. It felt right, it felt good and it felt happy. But the response many people have told me who do not believe in the doctrines of the Mormon church to these feelings is that I was brain washed as a child, or I can't really know because I grew up with these doctrines. This can be contrasted with the teachings of the church itself, that as an individual member there is a need to develop my own personal testimony apart from any other person because when hard times come I will need to know that I can rely on the Lord, and the tools he has given me through his church one being the Book of Mormon. With both of these two views being expressed to me I felt that I needed to like Joseph Smith, find out which church was true, or if the Mormon church is true. I have read the Book of Mormon, not once, not twice but many many times. The depth that this Book holds, and the capacity it holds to change our character to be more loving of our heavenly father and our fellow men is nothing short of a miracle. I ask anyone reading this who doubts what I am saying, who doubts that I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that it has the power to change men who will study it seriously, to investigate it for themselves as I have. My testimony is not based on the testimony of others though I have learned and gained insight about the Book of Mormon it ultimately has been the Holy Ghost which has witnessed to my heart and soul that it is true. The spirit has also taught me that the study of this book along with the Bible, as long as I will apply the doctrines therein will lead to the Salvation and Exaltation of my soul. I will end with Moroni's Challenge which is near the end of the Book of Mormon, which reads:
"'Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.'
'And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it ounto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.'
'And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.' (Moroni 10:3-5)
I have taken Moroni's challenge and asked God, who gave me an answer and I testify that I know this book to be true, and I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for the lessons I have learned about him and myself through this Book. I also testify that this book is a second testament that Jesus is the Christ, and the saviour of the world. Thank-you for reading my testimony of this sacred book, it means a lot to me, please if you do not like it, please respect that is sacred to me.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Steps of Conversion
Hi my name is Nelson Scully and I have just started blogging everyday. My religious beliefs prevent me from blogging just regular business on Sundays because I believe in keeping the Sabbath day holy. So instead of just not blogging on Sundays I have decided to start this blog, every Sunday I will post to this blog a spiritual lesson I have learned recently which I feel I need to write down. I had a Stake president talk about using the blogosphere or more specifically using current technology to do good, and to help to clarify misconceptions about the Mormon religion (I am Mormon), and I haven't acted based on his talk until now. So every week I will be posting here lessons I have learned pertaining to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The following paragraph is a lesson I learned while I was living in Vancouver, and this lesson profoundly changed the way I look at missionary work and my previous missionary experiences. I have been meaning to write it down for some time but simply haven't done it until now.
There is a process of conversion that each person must go through in order to fully understand the Restored church. Many times growing up talking to my friends about the church, I didn't take into account the different religious backgrounds of friends and in my naive approach I would try to teach doctrines that cannot make sense to anyone without first gaining a testimony of much simpler doctrines. The following chart is the chart that illustrated the process that each person must go through in order to come to a full testimony of the restored gospel.(I think the scriptures mirror this development of testimony and have put the corresponding books in brackets)
No Testimony of God - Testimony that there is a God (Old Testament) - Testimony in Jesus Christ (New Testament) - Testimony that Joseph Smith was a Prophet and an Ambassador for Christ (The Book of Mormon) - Testimony that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints has Authority from God today which was restored through Joseph Smith (The Doctrine and Covenants)
Each of these things build upon one another, if a person does not believe that there is a God then there is not much point in telling them about Joseph Smith, although they may be able to gain a testimony that there is a God through the story of Joseph Smith, unless they gain a testimony that there is a God they cannot gain a testimony that Joseph Smith was a prophet. This comforts me because I had many I had friends who I had gospel discussions with and I simply couldn't understand why they didn't get it, and now realize that it was because of this progression that they were not gaining a testimony of the things that I taught. They needed me to focus on some of the the simpler doctrines. I thank Heavenly Father that he taught me this lesson last month, because I will be able to be much more understanding when teaching others who come from different religious backgrounds.
I am grateful for knowledge the Lord has blessed me with of the Plan of Salvation. For my testimony of Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and the Savior of the world. I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon and it's power to change our character, and it's power to draw us closer to Christ. I look forward to writing every week in this blog and sharing the lessons which I have been and will be blessed with.
The following paragraph is a lesson I learned while I was living in Vancouver, and this lesson profoundly changed the way I look at missionary work and my previous missionary experiences. I have been meaning to write it down for some time but simply haven't done it until now.
There is a process of conversion that each person must go through in order to fully understand the Restored church. Many times growing up talking to my friends about the church, I didn't take into account the different religious backgrounds of friends and in my naive approach I would try to teach doctrines that cannot make sense to anyone without first gaining a testimony of much simpler doctrines. The following chart is the chart that illustrated the process that each person must go through in order to come to a full testimony of the restored gospel.(I think the scriptures mirror this development of testimony and have put the corresponding books in brackets)
No Testimony of God - Testimony that there is a God (Old Testament) - Testimony in Jesus Christ (New Testament) - Testimony that Joseph Smith was a Prophet and an Ambassador for Christ (The Book of Mormon) - Testimony that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints has Authority from God today which was restored through Joseph Smith (The Doctrine and Covenants)
Each of these things build upon one another, if a person does not believe that there is a God then there is not much point in telling them about Joseph Smith, although they may be able to gain a testimony that there is a God through the story of Joseph Smith, unless they gain a testimony that there is a God they cannot gain a testimony that Joseph Smith was a prophet. This comforts me because I had many I had friends who I had gospel discussions with and I simply couldn't understand why they didn't get it, and now realize that it was because of this progression that they were not gaining a testimony of the things that I taught. They needed me to focus on some of the the simpler doctrines. I thank Heavenly Father that he taught me this lesson last month, because I will be able to be much more understanding when teaching others who come from different religious backgrounds.
I am grateful for knowledge the Lord has blessed me with of the Plan of Salvation. For my testimony of Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and the Savior of the world. I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon and it's power to change our character, and it's power to draw us closer to Christ. I look forward to writing every week in this blog and sharing the lessons which I have been and will be blessed with.
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