Things have started off with a bang this New Year. We had a wild party and brought in 2014 with festivities galore. Not really. We watched a movie and had a treat. :) BUT, we did our annual New Years Day hike and it was spectacular because of the weather, blue skies and red rocks. Capitol Reef is lovely this time of year.
I was thinking yesterday about testimony and the words we use to express it. Generally people start off with, "I'd like to bear my testimony....". I've heard little children say, "I'd like to bury my testimony." I'm afraid I'm guilty of that...I bury my testimony and don't express it enough. I was also thinking of the word "bear". It made me think of the word "bare". When we express our testimony, it is a sort of exposure to our soul. We show the world or the ward how we feel about Christ and it is a touching and humbling experience. To bare or reveal one's feelings and thoughts takes courage because those things are close to our heart and sacred. I'm sure that's why many tears are shed....because the spirit is overflowing with communion with God. To bear also means to press down...like to bear down on a heavy load. This made me think of how our testimony meetings can lighten one another's burden through the expression of inspiration. Perhaps bearing your testimony pushes it deep down into your own soul also.
I hope you are happy and well. I'm grateful that you have the opportunity to bear your testimony often.
God be with you 'til we meet again.
With love,
Mom
Dear Mom,
I'm glad that the New Year started off well for you.
I love what you said about bear vs bare. I have thought about it it before too. When I think of bear, I think of bearing a standard. I know that the Church is true, so it places me under obligation to share it with others, so I show it to the world.
Bearing my testimony has brought me so much joy on my mission. I get to do it on the street, in lessons, in missionary meetings, at dinners with members, and in fast and testimony meeting. I have borne my testimony in every fast and testimony meeting for a long long time now. It has helped me a lot. The Spirit always helps me know what to say.
I've been really grateful for the things I have been learning from the missionaries I have been serving around. We really are a good bunch of buds here.
Love,
Elder Williams
Hi Talon,
Hope your new year is going well for you so far. We are now getting things back to normal after the holidays.
The kids were a bit grumpy about going back to school. Aubree is working hard to get the yearbook put together. I am excited to see how it turns out.
We moved to the 11:00 start time for church yesterday. The kids liked to sleep in. I prefer the earlier time and I dread the 1:00 time. I had Brandt go with me to do the Sacrament to the shut ins. It was kind of nice to share that experience with him.
Brandt had one game last week. We won again and he played very well. He has two games this week. I am hoping to have tryouts for all-stars late this week. All-star games start up the first week in February. My assistant coach is the JV girls coach so I have someone helping me who will be good I think.
Have a great week,
Love Dad
Hey Mom, your question last week got me thinking. Here is the study that I did. My comments are in bold. I hope it ties it together.
Study: Unity and Oneness of the Godhead
3 Nephi 11:27 And after this manner shall ye baptize in my name; for behold, verily I say unto you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one.
3 Nephi 11:36 And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one.
D&C 20:28 Which Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one God, infinite and eternal, without end. Amen.
Alma 11:44 Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.
Mormon 7:7 And he hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, whereby he that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end.
2 Nephi 31:21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.
3 Nephi 28:10-11 And for this cause ye shall have fulness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father; yea, your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fulness of joy; and ye shall be even as I am, and I am even as the Father; and the Father and I are one; And the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and the Father giveth the Holy Ghost unto the children of men, because of me.
Notice how all of these Book of Mormon references about the oneness of God always talks about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. All three members of the Godhead play a part in the Gospel. Without all three of Them the Gospel of Jesus Christ wouldn't be possible.
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:
The Bible teaches about the oneness of God, but it doesn't teach it as clearly as the Book of Mormon.
Galatians 3:20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
John 17:21-23 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
We can be unified with Heavenly Father as Jesus is unified with Him. We unite ourselves to God the Father through His Son.
John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
What are They united in? They are united in bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to pass; faith in the divine Sonship and Atonement of Jesus Christ, repentance, covenant in through baptism by priesthood authority for the remission of sins, confirmation and sanctification through the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end by repeating the steps of the Gospel. All of these things lead to salvation and exaltation; God's purpose. We become united with the Godhead as we work for our brother's and sister's salvation and exultation and share the Gospel.
Moses 1:39 For behold, this is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
I hope this is useful!
Study: Unity and Oneness of the Godhead
3 Nephi 11:27 And after this manner shall ye baptize in my name; for behold, verily I say unto you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one.
3 Nephi 11:36 And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one.
D&C 20:28 Which Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one God, infinite and eternal, without end. Amen.
Alma 11:44 Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.
Mormon 7:7 And he hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, whereby he that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end.
2 Nephi 31:21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.
3 Nephi 28:10-11 And for this cause ye shall have fulness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father; yea, your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fulness of joy; and ye shall be even as I am, and I am even as the Father; and the Father and I are one; And the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and the Father giveth the Holy Ghost unto the children of men, because of me.
Notice how all of these Book of Mormon references about the oneness of God always talks about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. All three members of the Godhead play a part in the Gospel. Without all three of Them the Gospel of Jesus Christ wouldn't be possible.
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:
The Bible teaches about the oneness of God, but it doesn't teach it as clearly as the Book of Mormon.
Galatians 3:20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
John 17:21-23 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
We can be unified with Heavenly Father as Jesus is unified with Him. We unite ourselves to God the Father through His Son.
John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
What are They united in? They are united in bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to pass; faith in the divine Sonship and Atonement of Jesus Christ, repentance, covenant in through baptism by priesthood authority for the remission of sins, confirmation and sanctification through the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end by repeating the steps of the Gospel. All of these things lead to salvation and exaltation; God's purpose. We become united with the Godhead as we work for our brother's and sister's salvation and exultation and share the Gospel.
Moses 1:39 For behold, this is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
I hope this is useful!
Love,
Elder Williams
No comments:
Post a Comment