Common Misunderstandings

Talking to people all day every day about religion,

we get asked a lot of questions!

I've noticed a trend with some main misunderstandings of our beliefs

doctrine

and purpose.

That's why I'm dedicating this blog post to debunking those misunderstandings! :D

Here are three of the most common misunderstandings:

1. We are here to trick people into joining our church.

Our purpose is to INVITE others

to come unto Christ through Faith in Him,

Repentance,

Baptism and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost,

and Enduring to the End.

We want people to try our message out themselves

by kneeling and asking God if what we share is truly His message!

The last thing we want are those we teach to accept our word alone

without the witness of the Holy Ghost that it is true.

2. We save ourselves through our works.

This is easily the most common one we get as missionaries.

"Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah;

for he is full of grace and truth." 2 Nephi 2:6

We gain eternal life/saved through  and only through Christ's grace.

That is the cleansing power that allows us to be comfortable

in our Heavenly Father's presence and allow us to live with Him after this life.

Christ has said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15

That is what He asks for us to do.

Love him and therefore feel his Grace working in our lives.

That is why we believe our actions or works are so important

because Christ has asked us to act by keeping his commandments.

"faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone...

shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works."
-James 2:17-18

Our faith without works is dead and we believe strongly

that true faith leads to ACTION.

3. We worship Joseph Smith.

Our church has been given the nickname "Mormons"

but the true title is

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

We believe that God has called a prophet in these days

and the first prophet to restore his church in our day is Joseph Smith.

We have a current prophet President Thomas S. Monson.

Christ is the center of our worship services.

Yes we discuss Joseph Smith often because he restored Christ's church!

He brought back, in it's fullness, The Lord's kingdom

to the earth today.

It was through honest studying of the Bible

and personal prayer in which He received a miraculous answer!

His story is miraculous as those prophets of old in biblical times.

We worship Christ as our Savior and our weekly services include the sacrament

which is a reminder of Christ's sacrifice for all of us.


Christ is our Savior and I can testify that His kingdom is on the earth once again.

I can also say without a doubt that you can know it too

through your own experience.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Contact the local missionaries here.





 

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One Step at a Time

The young men president over our congregation recently asked us to talk to his youth!

I LOVE these opportunities.

We felt inspired to talk about how, when, and why we decided to serve a mission.

As I was testifying of how I came to have the strength to take that step into my mission

I realized when I took that step, I didn't have the knowledge I could do it for two years.

I honestly didn't know if I would be able to do it.

However I did know the Lord's promises were true.

"I can do all things through Christ." Philippians 4:13

I knew He had a prophet on the earth today and after the revelation of the "age change."

It was manifested to me that now was the time.

The Lord will make it possible to do anything He commands us to.

"For I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men,

save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing

which he commanded them." 1 Nephi 3:7

He had commanded me and I knew he would provide a way.

Walking away from my family, knowing I wouldn't see them for two years,

was the hardest thing I've ever done.

I promised myself I wouldn't look back as I walked through those doors.

Sitting down in a huge congregation of missionaries I felt a definite power.

That night and continuing nights after I received strength for the next day.

Not for the next two years, but for the next day.

That's how God works.

He gives us enough to take one step at a time,

because if He gave us strength for the two years,

I wouldn't have the blessing of being constantly reminded how truly dependent on Him I am.

Jesus Christ is my Savior and yours.

Through His Atonement we can overcome and do anything.

In the name of He who makes all things possible, Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Feeling the Spirit-Through the Priesthood

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have the blessing of holding the Priesthood.

What's the Priesthood?

Priesthood: the power and authority that God gives to man to act in all things necessary for the salvation of God’s children.

It is the power that God gives for us, his children, to do all things necessary for salvation.

Jamie (name has been changed) is somebody who hasn't heard of the Priesthood before.

She recently needed help painting her house.

She was blessed to get ahold of four missionaries to come help her.

Coincidence? of course not.

While painting she shared something with us.

She told us that she was starting new treatments soon in hope of improving her health.

The concern was very apparent as we were told what she would be going through.

We relayed to her the fact of the restoration of the priesthood,

the eternal truth of her divinity as a daughter of God,

knowledge of the awareness that Christ has in all of our lives,

and the profound non-coincidental event that brought us into her life right at this time.

Something stirred,

we could see her comforted as the Holy Ghost bore truth of what we taught.

The sister missionaries continued to teach her and we received a call that she wanted a Priesthood blessing.

Excited we hurried over to her house.

As I layed my hands upon her head and spoke the words that I knew Heavenly Father was putting there,

I couldn't help but feel the spirit stir inside of me.

Concluding, "In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen,"

I took a step back and watched as tears streamed from her eyes.

She knew that the priesthood was working miracles in her.

She knew that her Father in Heaven loved her dearly.

She knew that He was reaching out to her once more.

Miracles happen every day.

Our Heavenly Father is a God of miracles.

Just like in time of old he continues to miraculously bless our lives.

He knows you.

and He works in your life daily.

I know this to be true.

Christ truly is your Savior, He is the only way to salvation.

And the only way back to our Heavenly Father's presence to live with Him for eternity.

Seek the  Priesthood in your life and I promise the Spirit will fill you abundantly,

and most importantly,

tell you of the simple truths that make life as Joyous as God meant it to be.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

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Take it One Step Further

The ward I am serving in now just came out with a ward mission plan,

It's something I had heard but as always the refresher was great!

If you are comfertable with smiling at someone, take it one step further and say hello.

If you are willing to say hello then take it one step further and ask how their day is.

With this fresh in my mind I took it to heart and decided to try it myself as a missionary.

I recently had a minor surgery which lasted from when I entered the hospital at 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.

I had plenty of time to talk to the nurses that were working with me :D

I made it a point to at least mention that I was a missionary and really get to know them a little bit also.

The first nurse was thrilled and mentioned that I made her day that she was able to talk to another "brother in Jesus."

The second nurse went forward to ask about my missionary service and told me all about her garden at home!

My anesthesiologist, as I woke up, mentioned that now she knows what we're all about the next time we knock on her door she'll let us in!

Not sure if that was caused by something I said while I was out, or awake... :D

I left at the end of the day a little dazed but really thrilled at what the day turned into.

We simply need to take it one step further and we will have the world unfold in front of us.

There are some really cool people around us.

Those that are starting gardens!

Those that have a strong belief in Christ and are thrilled to talk to others with the same belief!

We'll never be able to talk to everyone around us,

but we can always take it one step further.

Think about how you can take it one step further,

then do it!!!

The nurse that was with me the whole time came back before she left and shook my hand and thanked me for being so kind.

We don't know the affect we have on people until we try.

Smile, then take it one step further.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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The Work is Hastening... With iPads!

Just recently our mission got iPads.

How ridiculously cool is that?

I have been hearing of "digital devices" coming to our mission since I first came out. (11 Months ago)

Ever since I heard that they were coming I was pretty skeptical over why missionaries would need them.

Let me tell you, the reason is incredible.

It has been promised time and time again that the Lord would hasten his work in the last days.

iPads are just one of the many ways that he's doing it!

Technology has been made for a number of reasons, but the biggest reasons is exactly this,

Missionary work.

The Lord is behind all of these advances in technology.

Not only do missionaries have iPad's now but we're on facebook also!

Think of how many people one of our posts reaches?

Think how long it takes to write that post? Two minutes tops.

Now imagine how many people that post has the potential to reach.

Now think how many people will be reached in two minutes while tracting.

Are you picking up what I'm putting down?

It's AMAZING!

We can reach more people with the message of the restoration than has ever been possible before!

The Lord is behind facebook, iPads, the internet, etc.

He is hastening his work.

I am blessed to be called as one of his full time servants during this exciting time!

And guess what, YOU are called during this exciting time also.

Use the tools the Lord has put in your hands to build people up and to share that light you have!

Share your testimony!

I invite you to share a status right now expressing your own unique testimony.

Think of how much garbage is on the internet, let's lighten it up a bit!

And use it as the Lord intended.

Share it!

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Is this Non-Fiction?

We were at a family's house watching the restoration DVD and their son (who is in kindergarten) was sitting right next to me.

It began to portray Joseph Smith seeking out answers to his questions in the Bible.

And then, making that decision that changed the world, knelt down in a grove of trees and asked his Heavenly Father what his soul pondered.

Their son turned to me and asked if the movie was non-fiction.

With a smile I told him that everything that was on the movie actually happened.

It truly was Non-Fiction!

How do I know this?

How do I know that as Joseph Smith knelt down in the grove of trees that he really did have his prayer answered by God and his son Jesus Christ

That They actually appeared to him in flesh and bone and spoke to him?

That he really was called as a prophet of God to restore Christ's true church on the earth once again?

Because I have knelt down and asked God myself.

As missionaries we don't want people to just listen to us and call it good,

No!

We want you to question it! We want you to honestly seek for the truth!

We want you to find out the same way we did, on your knees.

Talk to missionaries! Listen to what they teach!

But don't just leave it at that,

Get down on your knees and ask God, and listen to what your Heavenly Father teaches you through the Holy Ghost.

That is what we invite people to do, seek for themselves and ask the center of all truth, your Heavenly Father.

Imagine if this really was true,

It means that God speaks to his children today through a living Prophet

It means there is one true church on this earth

It means that the Priesthood power that Christ ordained his apostles with is once again found among members of his church on the earth today.

What we claim is miraculous.

How we ask you to find out is miraculous.

You Heavenly Father will answer your prayer.

Diligently seek and ask.

I say all of these things in the name of Him whose church is found once again on this earth, Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Missionaries for YOU, YES YOU!

All of the new products coming out are all about giving the customer something that is aimed to them personally.

Businesses are all about customer service and catering to the needs of the customer.

Well guess what else is catered and here just for you?

Missionaries! :D

We dedicate 2 years of our lives to come and be your missionaries, yes YOUR missionaries.

We are here for you!

How personal is that?

No matter how hot!

No matter how cold...

No matter what project...

No matter what question, whether deep or simple, 

We can help!

Just ask!!

Find out who your missionaries are and get to know them! 

Click Here to get in contact with your missionaries.

Do it! Do it now! I promise you wont regret it! :)

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