Music!

A lot of people think the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not Christian. We are very much so Christians. Christ is the center of everything that we do in the Church. The Church itself has His name in the title. One of my favorite ways that members testify of the Savior is through music. Some of my favorite songs are all about the Savior, His life, and His Atonement. I thought that today that I would share a few of my favorites with you. I hope you enjoy and feel the Spirit of the Lord as the artists share their talents and testimonies.

For Lyrics, click on this link: http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Curriculum/music.htm/hymns.htm/prayer%20and%20supplication.htm/136%20i%20know%20that%20my%20redeemer%20lives.htm#JD_Hymns.136

For Lyrics, click on this link: http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Curriculum/music.htm/hymns.htm/sacrament.htm/193%20i%20stand%20all%20amazed.htm#JD_Hymns.193

For lyrics, click on this link: http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Curriculum/music.htm/hymns.htm/prayer%20and%20supplication.htm/134%20i%20believe%20in%20christ.htm#JD_Hymns.134

I hope you enjoyed the videos and music. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. He came down to earth and suffered for the sins of the world. It is Him, and only through Him, that we can return and live with God someday.

Fathers

Since today is Fathers Day, I figured I'd base my post off a really cool video of a really devoted dad. The role of the father is huge in a family. In 1995, the Church came out with a Proclamation to the World on the family. It says that "By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for the families." What a privilege and responsibility from the Lord. I'm still a few years away from having my own children, but I know that I will do my best to fulfill that call from the Lord. I love my father very much and I know that he's watching over me. Happy Fathers Day to all you dads out there. Have a great day!

Find out for yourself

I know I've shared this video before, but I couldn't not post it again. I know that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, in the year 1820. I don't, however, want you to take my word for it. I want you to find out for yourself. The Savior said that: "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 7:20) One of the fruits of the prophet Joseph Smith is the Book of Mormon. He received it by an angel and translated it by the gift and power of God. The Lord, through Joseph Smith, restored the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ upon the earth again. You can know for yourself that what I'm telling you is true. Read the Book of Mormon with an open mind, then take it up with the Author of all truth, which is our Heavenly Father. He is our Father. He loves us. He wants us to return to live with Him someday. He will tell us what is true and what is not. I know that as you read the Book of Mormon and ask God, He will tell you that it is true. Millions of people around the world have done it and God has told them, so why not you? I promise you, as an official representative of Jesus Christ, that you will receive an answer, for God has promised it. Here's another video going into detail about Joseph Smith's experience with our Heavenly Father and His Son.

Temples made simple

I really like these videos. They explain things that people don't know much about, like the temple, and explain it in very simple terms. The temple is a very sacred place. In it, we make promises with God. We learn so many things about the purposes of this life and how to return to live with God one day. I hope you enjoy this video.

Can't explain it better than that!

What is the Book of Mormon? In this fun little video, it explains very clearly what the Book of Mormon is. It is a companion to the Bible. It doesn't add to or take away from the Bible. Instead, it supports everything that the Bible teaches and even encourages us to read it. In the last chapter of the Book of Mormon, a prophet named Moroni makes a powerful promise: "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 unto 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) God will fulfil all of His promises. If you read the Book of Mormon and pray about it, God will tell you that it is true. I know that the Book of Mormon is true, because I have applied this promise myself. The Holy Ghost has come to me, and told me that it is true. If God will tell me the truth, He will tell you as well.

Common Misconceptions

I'm sure a lot of you have heard some pretty outrageous stuff about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Some of which may seem true, but you don't know for sure. Here's a fun little video clip of some rumors that are out there about the Church. Hopefully this clears up some of your concerns. If you have more questions, visit http://mormon.org/faq/. I know that this Church is the same Church that Jesus Christ established while He was on the earth, restored by the prophet Joseph Smith. The knowledge I obtained can be obtained by you as well. If you read the Book of Mormon (visit this link to request a free copy http://mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon/), and truly, sincerely read it and ask our Father in Heaven if it is true, He will tell you. God is our loving Heavenly Father. He wants us all to return to Him. Why wouldn't He give us the knowledge and direction we need in order to accomplish this? I know God answers prayers. I encourage you to find out for yourself the truth. God will tell you.

Shoulder Angels and Agency

How many times do we have this kind of conversation with ourselves? We're thinking about doing something wrong, and we argue with ourselves whether we go ahead, do it, and justify it with ourselves, or we don't do it. In Kronk's case, he didn't do it in the end, but how many times do we listen to our miniature devil or carnal side of us?

 One of the purposes of this life is to "see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them." (Abraham 3:25) Obviously, this means that we have agency, or the ability to choose. If there's an ability to choose, there's a good and a bad. The prophet Lehi explained it best when he said that "it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility." (2 Nephi 2:11)

 Agency is part of God's plan. We must choose whether to follow God and His Son Jesus Christ, or to follow the devil. This choice is a very significant one, obviously, as it determines our eternal destiny. Let us choose to follow Jesus Christ by keeping His commandments. The Savior said that "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15) Let's choose to follow the Example of God's Beloved Son. We will be blessed beyond belief if we do.