Category: Jesus Christ

Advent Day 11

Today, here is hope in the form of dance. Covid has unleashed new ways to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. The dancers in this video are missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and this is a tribute to a sister missionary who passed away recently. It’s also an expression of their testimonies. Whether you like the style of dance or not, I think it’s a beautiful way to share hope.

I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.

Doctrine and Covenants 84:88

Advent Day 10

Mormon’s Miraculous Book by Joseph Brickley

My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may the showing of his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever.

Moroni 9:25

I really love this video. I like how they convey music transporting them to another time, and experiencing the same feelings as the shepherds and wise men. “May Christ lift thee up.”

Advent Day 8

This December, my Advent theme is Hope. It’s my plan to share something each day leading up to Christmas. Today, I include some words by Elder Jeffrey R Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Hebrews 6:18-20

“Every one of us has times when we need to know things will get better. Moroni spoke of it in the Book of Mormon as ‘hope for a better world.’ For emotional health and spiritual stamina, everyone needs to be able to look forward to some respite, to something pleasant and renewing and hopeful, whether that blessing be near at hand or still some distance ahead. It is enough just to know we can get there, that however measured or far away, there is the promise of ‘good things to come.’

“My declaration is that this is precisely what the gospel of Jesus Christ offers us, especially in times of need. There is help. There is happiness. There really is light at the end of the tunnel. It is the Light of the World, the Bright and Morning Star, the ‘light that is endless, that can never be darkened.’ It is the very Son of God Himself. In loving praise far beyond Romeo’s reach, we say, ‘What light through yonder window breaks?’ It is the return of hope, and Jesus is the Sun. To any who may be struggling to see that light and find that hope, I say: Hold on. Keep trying. God loves you. Things will improve. Christ comes to you in His ‘more excellent ministry’ with a future of ‘better promises.’ He is your ‘high priest of good things to come.‘ -Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “An High Priest of Good Things to Come,” Ensign, November 1999

Advent day 1

This December, my Advent theme is Hope. It’s my plan to share something each day leading up to Christmas. Today, I share a scripture and a beautiful piece of music.

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Romans 15:13

Join me for YouTube church tomorrow

As far as I can tell, they leave the meeting up on YouTube for a while after the meeting, so you can watch at your convenience. If you do watch, I hope you will let me know. I will be speaking to just a few people and a camera. As a young friend said as he spoke to the camera from the pulpit, “I never thought I would be a televangelist!” 😁

Be thou my vision

In the Book of Mormon, Jesus visits the people of the Americas. He teaches His gospel, and gives commandments, just as He did among the Jews. I like this verse,

“And ye see that I have commanded none of you should go away, but rather have commanded that ye should come unto me, that ye might feel and see; even so shall ye do unto the world; and whosoever breaketh this commandment suffereth himself to be led into temptation.” (3 Nephi 18:25)

Today, I thought about the words, “Come unto me that ye might feel and see.” This is an invitation to a tangible, sensory relationship for the people of the Americas who met him. I like to think it is also an invitation to anyone. As we come, He enhances our ability to feel and see.

He will help us feel His love for us and for others. He will increase our depth of feeling, so we can be better ministers to others and comprehend greater truths.

He will help us see beyond fears, pain, and limitations, and expand our vision for our existence.

As we give ourselves to Him through our obedience, He becomes our vision, the lens through which we see the world, and the heart and guide by which we feel the safe path through the darkness. I am thankful for a Savior who helps me to feel and to see a little better day by day.

Press forward

Mark’s general conference block tower
The message of President Russell M Nelson was to let God prevail in our lives.

Recently, I took some time to begin our photo book for 2020. With so much canceled, I expected the photo book to be thin and a bit depressing. But friends, it just wasn’t that at all. What a beautiful year we have had so far, despite all, and maybe because of all.

Two pillars of the year for our family are our church’s general conferences in April and October. This year, perhaps more than any other, I have needed extra assurances that God is in control and speaks to His children to help them. So, with familiar rhythms of family time, block towers being built with monkeys at the pinnacle, we listen to church leaders and continue to press forward through the mist. (1 Nephi 8:24, 30)

To read or view the words of prophets, apostles, and other church leaders from general conference, you can follow this link.

A One-question Survey

My friend’s son is serving a mission in Tennessee, and with Covid restrictions, he does a lot of phone calls and video calls. It is working! The missionaries are able to contact more people in a day via phone than the traditional method of knocking on doors. Therefore, they are reaching and inviting more people to learn of Christ.

When someone answers the phone, the missionary introduces himself and asks, “Would you be willing to answer a one-question survey?” If the answer is no, the missionary says, “Thank you for your time, may we leave you with a short message?” If allowed, he shares a brief scripture and testimony of Christ.

If the person has time for a one-question survey, the missionary asks,

“If you could have one question answered by God, what would you ask?”

This really good question has opened up many conversations, connections, and Christ-focused change.

I have been thinking about this question, and still can’t come up with what I would say. I have so many questions, and I look for answers every day. Today my questions circle around a theme, “What needs to be done so people stop hating one another?”

As I write this, I realize the question I should be asking is, “How can I show greater mercy and kindness to the people I interact with today?” (See, our Father in Heaven is answering our questions all the time, within our thoughts and ideas and study.)

Also, I think this week I will re-read the Sermon on the Mount.