Battle for the souls of men

I’m in a single adult branch and every so often my branch president sends out little uplifting emails to everyone in the branch. I thought I’d share the one he sent today.

“In a premortal council at which we were all present, [the Savior] led the forces of good against those of satan and his followers in a battle for the souls of men that began before this world was formed. That conflict continues today. We were all on the side of Jesus then. We are on the side of Jesus today.”

Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Christians in Belief and Action,” Ensign, Nov. 1996, 71

I think that’s really cool. Especially the part that says the conflict continues today. No wonder life feels like a war sometimes!

The Second Coming: part 8

Zion

And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.

Moses 7:18

The establishment of Zion is a major part of the last days. Before the Lord comes, Zion will be established. Though there are many spiritual aspects of the establishment of Zion in which we must become pure in heart, this discussion focuses primarily on some of the physical aspects of Zion. These include:

1. The city of Zion

2. The Church to stand independent

3. Zion as a place of refuge

4. Return of the city of Enoch

5. Two world capitals

The City of Zion

And righteousness will I

The Second Coming: part 7

Three Comings

Jesus Christ’s second coming will be a world event, but there are at least two other appearances that He will make prior to making Himself known to the entire world. Though we do not know if there will be other appearances that He will make as part of His second coming, the prophets have declared clearly at least three:

1. Christ’s appearance to the Saints in Zion

2. His appearance to the Jews

3. His appearance to the whole world

Christ’s Appearance to the Saints in Zion

I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God; wherefore, gird up your loins and I will suddenly come to

Why Must There Be Opposition in All Things?

Excerpt from my Young Women’s lesson on Sunday.

Why must there be opposition in all things?

D&C 24:8

D&C 29:39

D&C 58: 2-4

D&C 136:31

D&C 78: 17-18

12 Ways You Can Overcome Sorrow and Disappointment

President Ezra Taft Benson (Ensign, Nov. 1974, pp. 65-67)

• Repentance “Sin creates disharmony with God and is depressing to the spirit. … Every law kept brings a particular blessing. Every law broken brings a particular blight. Those who are heavy laden with despair should come unto the Lord, for his yoke is easy and his burden is light.”
• Prayer “Prayer in the hour of need is a great boon. From simple trials to our Gethsemanes, prayer can put us in touch with God, our greatest source of comfort and counsel.”
• Service “To lose yourself in righteous service to others can lift your sights and get your mind off personal problems, or at least put them in proper focus. ‘When you find yourselves a little gloomy,’ said President Lorenzo Snow, ‘look around you and find somebody that is in a worse plight than yourself; go to him and find out what the trouble is, and then try to remove it with the wisdom which the Lord bestows upon you; and the first thing you know, your gloom is gone, you feel light, the Spirit of the Lord is upon you, and everything seems illuminated.’ (Conference Report, 6 Apr. 1899, pp. 2–3.)”
• Work “Work is our blessing, not our doom. … We should work at taking care of the spiritual, mental, social, and physical needs of ourselves and those whom we are charged to help. In the church of Jesus Christ there is plenty of work to do to move forward the kingdom of God. Every member a missionary, family genealogy and temple work, home evenings, receiving a Church assignment and magnifying it are but a few of our required labors.”
• Health “The condition of the physical body can affect the spirit. That’s why the Lord gave us the Word of Wisdom. He also said that we should retire to our beds early and arise early.” We should eat nutritious meals, get proper rest and exercise, and use wholesome recreation to provide a change of pace and lift the spirit.
• Reading “Many a man in his hour of trial has turned to the Book of Mormon and been enlightened, enlivened, and comforted.

  “The psalms of the Old Testament have a special food for the soul of one in distress. … The words of the prophets, particularly the living president of the Church, are crucial reading and can give direction and comfort in an hour when one is down.”

• Blessing “In a particularly stressful time, or in the anticipation of a critical event, one can seek for a blessing under the hands of the priesthood. … The sacrament will ‘bless … the souls’ (D&C 20:77, 79) of all those who worthily partake of it.”
• Fasting “Periodic fasting can help clear up the mind and strengthen the body and the spirit. … To make a fast most fruitful, it should be coupled with prayer and meditation; … and it’s a blessing if one can ponder on the scriptures and the reason for the fast.”
• Friends “The fellowship of true friends who can hear you out, share your joys, help carry your burdens, and correctly counsel you is priceless. …

  • “Ideally, your family ought to be your closest friends. Most important, we should seek to become the friend of our Father in heaven and our brother Jesus the Christ.”

• Music “Inspiring music may fill the soul with heavenly thoughts, move one to righteous action, or speak peace to the soul. … Elder Boyd K. Packer has wisely suggested memorizing some of the inspiring songs of Zion … [to help] crowd out debilitating, depressive thoughts.”
• Endurance “There are times when you simply have to righteously hang on and outlast the devil until his depressive spirit leaves you.

  “… While you are going through your trial, you can recall your past victories and count the blessings that you do have with a sure hope of greater ones to follow if you are faithful.”

• Goals “Every accountable child of God needs to set goals, short- and long-range goals. A man who is pressing forward to accomplish worthy goals can soon put despondency under his feet, and once a goal is accomplished, others can be set up.”

Many problems may require only one or two of these solutions. These ideas can help you overcome sorrow, disappointment, despair or discouragement. D&C 121: 7-8

Noble characters do not alone bear trouble; they use it. Elder Hugh B. Brown

The Second Coming: part 6

The Day is at Hand

1. Prophets declare that the time is close
2. The Gospel to reach every nation
3. Prophecy of the Rainbow
4. Silence for Half an Hour
5. Two witnesses
6. Our responsibility to prepare for His coming

The Prophets Declare that the Time is Close

Though we do not know the time, the prophets have declared that the time is close. For those who

The Second Coming: part 5

Destruction of the Wicked

What do we know about the destruction of the wicked that is to occur at the second Coming of Jesus Christ? The Lord and His prophets have told us a great deal about this part of the second coming. Unfortunately, over the centuries, ever since Christ taught that He would be coming again to the earth to cleanse the earth from sin, there have been many false doctrines taught that have confused the minds of Christ’s followers.

Here is a list of a few of the things that the scriptures and modern day prophets have assured us will occur:

1.Prior to Christ’s coming, the world will greatly increase in evil
2.There will be a separation of the wheat and the tares
3.The righteous will be brought to the safety of Zion
4.The Lord will be wearing red at His coming
5.The wicked will be destroyed
6.There will be a second and final destruction of the wicked after the millennium
7.The righteous need not fear

Prior to Christ’s Coming, Evil will Increase

“And in that day shall be heard of wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth shall be

Women of God

"Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has
 enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough
 women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women
 who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame
 and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need
 more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough
 popularity; we need more purity."

 (Margaret D. Nadauld, "The Joy of Womanhood," Ensign, Nov. 2000, 14)

The Worth of Souls

It has been said that every child born on this earth is Heavenly Fathers attempt to make a perfect human being.

Some would say he has failed many times.

But I would say that God does NOT make mistakes, and he has been successful every time.

Every child is born with a different set of circumstances, challenges, and fellow beings.

Jesus Christ has provided that for every person who follows Him, he/she can and will be perfect.

The Second Coming: part 4

The Gathering of Israel

That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee.

Deuteronomy 30:3

One of the greatest aspects of the second coming is the gathering of Israel. While the gathering of Israel is generally thought of us one great event, it can be broken down to separate parts, which include:

1.The saints gathering to church headquarters.
2.Israel gathering by the preaching of the gospel throughout the world.
3.The Jews returning to Jerusalem.
4.The return to Adam Ondi Ahman and the building of Zion.
5.The return of the lost tribes from the north.
6.The return of the city of Enoch in the Millennium.

The Saints Gathering to Church Headquarters

And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with

Being a Righteous Example

This is my talk from Sacrament Meeting today.

I was asked to base my talk on Pres. Monson’s talk from last conference, Examples of Righteousness(Thomas S. Monson, “Examples of Righteousness,” Ensign, May 2008, 65–68). His talk mostly centered on US being an example of righteousness. He said that it is our duty and our task to be good examples. The Lord doesn’t expect us to do it alone though. Pres. Monson says, “ If we are on the Lord’s errand…we are entitled to the Lord’s help. Never forget that truth. That divine help, of course, is predicated upon our worthiness. Each must ask: Are my hands clean? Is my heart pure? Am I a worthy servant of the Lord?”

Pres Monson talks about the boy in a stake conference who imitated almost everything he did. When I read this part of his talk, I was reminded of my two-year old. She is also a master imitator! She follows me around all day, saying everything I say, trying to do everything I do. At times, it can really be annoying, but it makes me think that I better be a good example to her. She will imitate me whether I’m doing righteous things or not.