Latter Day Saint Believer

1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
   
   
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
   
   
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
   
   
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
   
   
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
   
   
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
   
   
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
   
   
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
   
   
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
   
   
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
    
    
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
    
    
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
    
    
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

I thought of a great idea. To make church more entertaining and educational I decided to make a list of 7 and write down things I didn't know. Here is what I got from Priesthood meeting-

1. Joseph Smith was a peacemaker. On one account there was a militia force coming to capture Joseph but as they came he didn't run or deny them. He greeted them warmly and explained the situation and about the church. The militia (I vaguely remember details) then were so impressed they let Joseph go and were even going to guard him as journeyed somewhere due to all the persecution and malice that had been going on.

2. When Joseph was in jail they had to keep changing the guards because he would befriend them and they no longer wanted to kill him. Very similar to number 1 but still cool. I should find out more details on these.

3. Repetition is really common in the church. Not verbatim repetition but rephrasing or saying the same thing in a different way. It serves as two purposes (at least)- A. reinforce the idea to your memory and B. to shed more light on the how or what.

4. Trusting others builds them up because you're saying that you believe in them to do something.

5. If you spend all your energy on thinking of good things, you build it to be your nature.

6. You will help someone more (and yourself) by not competiting but giving admiration.

7. To do is to be. Its like that Wayne Gretzky quote where he says you miss 100% of the shots you don't take.

So thats the 7 . A few things I knew already but just needed reminding. Still a good way to pay attention.

I have a friend who is on Heroine. It never occurred to me that the name also means the feminine hero. What a strange name for a drug. But, drugs are strange. She was a missionary. She taught the gospel. She lived a pure life. She has tons of friends and loves life. Heroine is threatening to take away all the things that are important in life. She has a real good friend. My wife. They were companions and served will all their heart, might, mind and strength. Right now she needs to do that more than anything to fight Heroine.
How sad. How unbelievably unfortunate. Heroine never quits. Once it has you, it won't ever let go. All a person can do (in my humble, educated opinion) is grow stronger than the addiction.
What is a hero? A hero is someone who is stronger and needed in a time of weakness or vulnerability. What is Heroine? Its a life sucking villain that eats your fabric of sanity away with each barrier you try to shield yourself from it.
I'm so sad. She was brilliant last night as we had Family Home Evening. She was laughing and looked like a lot of fun but I know on the inside there was this beast that couldn't wait to get her away from her loving friends and punish her soul by stretching the hole that heroine has punched. This beast is Satan. I feel no need to differentiate the two- Heroine and Satan. For they are one in purpose- to ravish and destroy all that is sacred and good in your life and replace it with an unquenchable fire of despair and pain.
Tonight my friend is in withdrawals. I can see on her face that these are not simple cravings. The look on her face says she is drowning, burning, choking, crying, dying, stinging, harrowing and losing. Why did she fall? That doesn't matter. All that matters is how we're going to catch her. We love her. I imagine God thinking the same things about our (although minor in comparison but gigantic when compared to divinity) missteps and tumbles. He probably sees the future of our behavior on a scale more defined then we ever could and it penetrates His heart all the more. "If only they'd look to the Savior" He says. If only we'd look to the arms that are continually stretched forth before us. Then we'd understand.
Its no use to condemn the sins of others unless we can help the sinner. What do we gain by the sins of others? There is not a clean conscience in the convicting of another. There is not time for the blame game if you love them. Its not a time to point fingers but to stretch out hands in love and friendship. As we strive to help others, we are bettering ourselves. As we try to blame others, we are only diminishing ourselves. I don't blame my friend for doing drugs, although it would've been easier for her if she didn't, but that doesn't matter now that she is on the ropes and getting kidnapped by her addiction. I don't wish to walk away with clean hands and a cold shoulder. Think of the parables the Savior taught- How many good samaritans were there? Just one, out of how many that just passed the dying soul on the ground? Or what about the Prodigal son, whose father welcomed him home from running away, with open arms? In both cases, the person who was righteous didn't care how or why the person was in the condition they were in. They only thought to love and restore them to life. Is it not the same with God? Is it not the same with you?
The thing that most amazes me about this whole ordeal is that my friend ran away for so long from dealing with the addiction. When we run away from a problem, we feed the problem. She has tried so many times before and lost everytime. The addiction whipped her butt. It will continue to whip her butt. But, she has decided to face it. Its going to keep beating her but she can be sustained, she can endure and she will triumph. She will. Heroine has only got her physically. Tonight, she showed that it doesn't quite have her spiritually, because she has faced the biggest opponent that everybody has to fight sooner or later- PRIDE. If we let pride grow it will be all the harder to knock out but if we continue to humble ourselves we won't have to wait until our whole life is on the line to keep pride in it's place.
Her name isn't important because we all are similar to her in this battle. We all have to face our pride and our sins. Its the same fight. Its easier to win if we decide to train for it beforehand. If we wait till its too late we might not make it. I know my friend will make it. She is a hero. A real heroine.

God is a God of history and a God of science. The history of God is that of teaching us to trust His perspective over our own. The science of God is that of catering to our soul's development.
When we look at the scriptures we see a record of people's dealings with God. We see interpretation and conclusion on the science of God - choosing God leads to joy (eventually). Choosing anything else leads to anything else. In other words, keeping the commandments makes for eternal happiness. Not keeping the commandments makes for short lived pleasure followed by bondage. Many ways this can be seen-
The CEO who scams the money from the company.
The cheating wife who destroys her family's home.
The politician who lies and then gets caught and goes to jail.
The drunk driver who gets out of control on the road.
The drug user who gets addicted and loses everything, not just from memory but exchanging everything they have for more drugs.

All of these awful consequences could have been avoided by living the commandments of God. Nobody denies that. But, there are some commandments where the consequences can't be seen so easily if kept or not. For instance, paying tithing. How will that bless you? How does that keep you out of bondage? Or fasting? What does not eating two consecutive meals do for you? What about going to church? Or praying?
The said activities such as tithing, fasting, and praying do have a huge purpose. The consequences for not keeping these commandments may not be as easily noticed to the rest of the world. Most can understand how the commandment Thou Shalt Not Kill would be a very good idea but still miss how praying would be beneficial. This is because the consequences are set in motion spiritually, more than physically. Even when we keep the commandment to tithe or fast we do not see with our physical eyes or logic the direct impact of these things. It is done in faith. It is done with the spirit to the strengthening of the soul.
The same logic applies to the physical world though. Every time you exercise do you notice a difference? The results come gradually and steady. It takes time.

Sometimes we lose hope when we don't see the sprouts of our seeding. We might be tempted to stop watering. We might think that it won't happen if it hasn't already. But keep in mind this scripture from Doctrine and Covenants-

There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated–And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated (D&C 130:20–21).

If we keep this in mind we will begin to see that the answers to our real problems will be revealed and unfolded. We are the ones that choose how to act or react to life's questions. God is the one who will show us. We have to remember Him or He will not be able to bless us. If we don't understand something we are showing our ignorance but we'll always be ignorant if we become arrogant about it. Our ignorance should let us be humble that maybe we need to show some patience in what God is trying to say and let that grow.

I notice that people question God in a lot of ways; is he there? why do bad things happen? how could a just God let billions die? what about dinosaurs? how long do I have to wait? how can I be happy? who are you? why am I here?
The list goes on and on.
One thing I think can help with these questions is this truth- we have agency to do good or bad.
In a world of demands, commands, and brands we choose which way to stand. I would tell you that there is a God that wants you to follow Him by standing up for being good. Satan always wants you to think you can't do good or that there is no good or bad just what you want. But, there is choice and thus there is consequence. There is a road called "Time" and we have no choice but to walk down but we can choose how we want to be as we walk it.
Here are a few of the truths-

• We are all on the road of Time because we are alive.
• We all can choose how to approach this concept of time, either being righteous or sinful.
• By living we are making a choice each day, either by acting upon or by default- being acted upon
• Because we are choosing something, we are receiving something. Ex: If you work out, you are strengthened. If nothing, you are rested or in weaker shape.
• What we are receiving is to the fulfilling or starving of our soul.
• The more we choose to do things that God commands us to do, we fill our soul. (This part requires faith).
• The more our soul is filled, the greater love and peace we feel. (Testimony of previous action is rewarded).
• The more our soul is denied nourishment, the weaker our soul feels. (Testimony of choosing the wrong is displayed by feeling weaker spiritually, being in bondage to appetites, not feeling tighter bonds to God or others).

• God will do everything to make sure we have a fair chance to return to Him.
• When we sin we need to trust more in the Savior.
• If we walk one step and the Savior has to take 99 to meet us, He will. All He asks is that we take a step in His direction.
• Therefore, we have an opportunity to repent when we discover the truth of our errors.

The temple is a sacred place. I would urge each of us to contemplate the graveness of a place where a perfect being could dwell. When Christ walked the earth he dwelt with sinners. Not saying much since we're all sinners but he went to the sick, afflicted, poor, beaten down, and hopeless. He went to the adulterers. He went wherever was open to Him because that was His mission (as it is ours). He went to them. The God of heaven went below all things to bring all things up. The Temple is where the Lord dwells on the earth now because it is His house. When we go there we are lifted up. When He comes to us when can let him in or deny Him, just as He will to us at the last day to His house. The Temple is very sacred because we are sacred to the Lord and when we go, He wants us to know of Him and feel His presence that He may lift us up and be happy. That is still His mission. Ours should be to let Him and go to Him that we might not be in a poor state of being.

Remember this quote from Spencer W. Kimball?

Satan is the god of addiction. Because to follow him is to follow the carnal comforts of indulgence that lead to the weakening of your freedom till you are all but your appetites and wants with none of your actual needs being met. (Try saying that lest sentence in one breath). 

Sometimes we see faults in others. We can do 2 things- judge them or forgive them.
Sometimes we doubt. We can do 2 things- gain knowledge and act on that knowledge leaving your doubt on the side of the road or believe in your doubt and let it drive you off the road.
Sometimes we cry. We can do 2 things- hide it or live it.
Sometimes we must choose. We can do 2 things- the right thing or the less right thing.
Sometimes we must be tested. We can do 2 things- believe or doubt ourselves.

There are usually 2 things to choose from in all situations. The road less traveled isn't always the best one but it does make all the difference sometimes.

"When tensions ran high in northern Missouri in the fall of 1838, the Prophet Joseph Smith called for all the Latter-day Saints to gather to Far West for protection. Many were on isolated farms or in scattered settlements. He specifically counseled Jacob Haun, founder of a small settlement called Haun's Mill. A record of that time includes this: 'Brother Joseph had sent word by Haun, who owned the mill, to inform the brethren who were living there to leave and come to Far West, but Mr. Haun did not deliver the message' (Philo Dibble, in "Early Scenes in Church History," Four Faith Promoting Classics [1968], 90). Later, the Prophet Joseph recorded in his history: 'Up to this day God had given me wisdom to save the people who took counsel. None had ever been killed who abode by my counsel' (History of the Church, 5:137). Then the Prophet recorded the sad truth that innocent lives could have been saved at Haun's Mill had his counsel been received and followed."In our own time we have been warned with counsel on where to find safety from sin and from sorrow. One of the keys to recognizing those warnings is that they are repeated. For instance, more than once in general conferences, you have heard our prophet say that he would quote a preceding prophet and would therefore be a second witness and sometimes even a third. Each of us old enough to listen heard President Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985) give counsel on the importance of a mother in the home and then heard President Ezra Taft Benson (1899-1994) quote him, and we have heard President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008) quote them both. "The Apostle Paul wrote, 'In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established' (2 Corinthians 13:1). One of the ways we may know that the warning is from the Lord is that the law of witnesses, authorized witnesses, has been invoked. When the words of prophets seem repetitive, that should rivet our attention and fill our hearts with gratitude to live in such a blessed time."

Henry B. Eyring, "Safety in Counsel," Ensign, June 2008, 5-6

Email I received:
Hello Nicholas,

I was married in the Salt Lake Temple, it is a beautiful building.
However, it is not God's Temple. Heavenly Father's children are now
God's Temples. We do not need a Temple anymore because Christ's Atonement
made believers accessible to God through Him.

If this is what you are asking, here is a short explanation:

The veil in the Old Testament Temple was what separated the Holy of Holies
from the rest of the Temple. The Holy of Holies is where God dwelt. The
only person allowed into the Holy of Holies was the High Priest and he
could only enter it one day per year. He entered after he had sacrificed
an animal to cover his sins and cleanse him before he came into the
presence of God.

When Christ died on the cross, this veil was torn in two. This symbolized
that man now has access to God--through Christ who was our High Priest.
He is now the mediator between God and man, not Priesthood holders.

Anyone who believes in Jesus has been made perfect and this is how the
Holy Spirit can dwell in a believers heart (Hebrews 10:10-14).

God now dwells in believers--who are literally God's Temple--His Holy of
Holies! Holy enough for God to dwell inside of them. No more temple that
is a building.

Is this what you were looking for? If so, read Hebrews chapters 9 and 10.
They beautifully describe what I am explaining to you. The entire book
of Hebrews is awesome and I recommend reading the whole book if you have
time.

If this is not what you are looking for, let me know specifically what you
mean.

Thanks,
Truth in Love Ministry

Response:
A temple is just a building, like words are just chicken scratch. Atonement made God accesible for man. The Temple is a place where man can go to feel God's presence more because it is a pure place that lets our hearts be filled with His Spirit. I'm not sure why you left the church but if it was for this reason then I think you got it all wrong.

The veil between God and man is still there and only through Christ can we pass through to God. The temple is symbolic of that. We make covenants that our hearts will be sealed to God by priesthood authority. The same authority that Christ gave to Peter and the Apostles. I believe we are all temples, just as you. But, I also believe that the LDS temples are also God's temples when dedicated and blessed to be a holy place for those that enter. Just like the scriptures are words that represent the gospel, so are temples buildings.