The Holy Ghost!

The Savior teaches his children about what the Holy Ghost does and what the disciples must do to receive the Holy Ghost. In John 14: 15-17, it is taught that I need to keep the commandments to receive the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost abides within you forever and he is a comforter. He only testifies of truth. Since he dwells within us, we need to keep our bodies a sacred temple. Verse 26 explains that the spirit will teach us all things and bring the things we have learned to remembrance. John 15: 26-27 explains that he is a testifier. He will testify of the father when people are seeking to find this truth. John 16: 7-8 explain that it is expedient that the Lord goes away from us so we can receive the Holy Ghost. This means that we will never be alone and we will have a constant companion.  The Bible dictionary explains the Holy Ghost as the third member of the Godhead. He is personage of Spirit and has not yet received a body of flesh and bones. He has been on Earth since every dispensation of the Gospel and first being Adam. The spirit has manifested by the power of the Holy Ghost and the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The Holy Ghost has blessed me greatly in my life. Something that is really important to me is when he testifies of truth as well as bringing things to remembrance. This has helped me throughout my entire education. I always knew the difference between false doctrine and things of the Lord. I have always tried to get good grades and remembering what I learn during a test is a huge blessing. Before a test, I feel as if I forgot everything I learned. For every test I have prepared for, the spirit always enlightens me which makes me feel so happy and stress free. I know that whenever I seek his comfort, I receive it.

 

Second Coming

                To be prepared for the second coming, believers need to read Matthew 13 verses 5, 9, 23, 33, 35, and 37. The Lord is telling us to take heed and watch the world around us. In verse five, I need to take heed in case people deceive me. In the last days, there will be a lot of lies and deceit. In verse nine, the Lord explains that we need to be prepared to bear our testimonies to all people. We could be in physical harm but we always need to remember not to be scared of man but of God. We need to always bear testimony of him. We need to take heed because we have been given this knowledge and many are called but few our chosen. Since we have this knowledge, we need to share it with others. Since we know what is to come in the last days, we need to prepare accordingly. Nobody but God knows when the second coming is. We need to be completely prepared and watch and pray. We need to watch for signs and just always repent. Christ can come at any moment. The most important thing to do is ‘watch’ according to verse 37. Watch for signs of the second coming. The most important thing we can do right now is to build our testimonies as strong as we can.

Earthly and Heavenly Rewards

In Matthew 19 verses 16 to 30, a young man asked the savior how he could obtain eternal life. He was told to follow the commandments such as abstaining from adultery or murder. He said that he had been following the commandments and what he had lacked. Christ told him that as a rich man, he needed to give his possessions to the poor to become perfect. He probably decided not to follow the Savior because his heart was set on his material objects and did not treasure up his heart in the Kingdom of Heaven. Christ explains that “A rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Vs. 23). This man was sorrowful because of Christ’s answer but this was the answer of truth. He was already doing so much good but even the little bad things are able to capture the heart. Christ explained that no man can be saved except through God. “With God, all things are possible” (Vs. 26). All people who forsake their loved ones and most prized possessions for Christ’s sake will receive “an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life” (Vs. 30).

It is important for me to put the Lord first in my life. Sometimes it gets hard because the Lord is not really visible. But in verse 30, it is stated that we even need to put him before our family. This is important because in my life, my sister is going against the doctrines of the church. She wants me to support her wrong decisions and she is even making me feel guilty. I know that I love the Lord and the gospel more than bad choices and I will never let anything get in the way of my love for him.

There is a parable of the Laborers that the Lord wants us to understand. It is explained in Matthew chapter 20 that the last shall be first and the first shall be last. I believe that this is talking about the resurrection and the afterlife. As in the parable, everyone is paid the same amount no matter how much or how less each worker worked. Everyone is promised the same amount. This is referring to the Jews or the chosen people and the gentiles. The Gentiles will be the first to be resurrected and the Jews will be the last. In the end, everyone is equal and will receive all that has been promised to them. God is a man of promises and is bound when we obey. Converts should feel comfort because no matter when they join the church, they will receive as much as any other member.

Being a Disciple of Christ

Luke 10: 38-42 First you need to receive Christ into your home. You need to sit at his feet and listen to his word. We need to become servants and serve one another with a kind heart.

11:1-13 We need to pray to our father in heaven and become his friend. Always ask for forgiveness. Always seek for truth and Christ will give it unto you.

12: 13-40 A disciple is not covetous. Our life does not consist in the many material things that we own on Earth. “The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment” (Vs 23). Don’t obsess what you are going to put in the body or on it. Do not doubt the Lord for he will take care of you. Seek the Kingdom of God. Provide yourself a treasure in the Heavens because where your treasure is, that is where your heart will be. Always be prepared for the Lord to come because you don’t know when he will arrive.

13:23-24  Seek to enter the kingdom through the strait gate.

14:16-33  The Lord comes before anyone. We need to be humble like the poor and never make excuses to leave Christ. We need to bear his cross and come after him. We forsake all that we have for the Savior.

Becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ is very difficult because we have to give up the selfishness of the natural man.  We learn patience because God might delay the blessing that we keep asking for. He delays them because he wants us to learn stronger faith.  In spite of rejection or delayed needs, God wants us to know that he will grant us our greatest wishes if it is asked for persistently with faith and it is a righteous desire. To make prayer effective, we need to be conscious of how important it is and really trust in the Lord. Blessings are even delayed because the Lord wants us to practice more fervent and sincere prayers. (Student Manual pg. 115). I testify that this is true. I love BYU-Idaho but I have hada great desire to go to BYU. I have been praying for one year and working really hard towards this goal and I got accepted. I cannot believe this but I need to thank my heavenly father so much!

I am going to practice being a disciple by not coveting other people’s lives. Sometimes I get jealous of how much fun others are having or how pretty this person is. When I am focusing on what I do not have, I forget to see what I do have. Honestly, I have one of the best lives anybody could ask for. I know that my eyes can be opened greatly if I just focus and appreciate what the Lord has given me.

To be a disciple, it is ultimately required to forsake all that you have. You need to offer your whole soul to him, fast and pray, and endure to the end. You need to render him all that you have and are.

Become as a Child

In Mathew 18: 1-14, we are instructed to become as little children. Christ explains that children are the greatest in the Kingdom and we need to humble ourselves as they are humble. We should not become offenders and should never “offend one of these little ones which believe in ‘Christ’”(vs 6). It is better to sacrifice our weaknesses now so we have the chance to make it in the Celestial Kingdom. The greatest in the kingdom of heaven are those that are humble.

In D&C 78: 17-18, The Lord tells us that we are like children and do not yet understand all the blessings that the Father has prepared for us. We cannot bear that knowledge yet but we are told to be of good cheer. The Lord will lead us along and all of those great blessings will be ours.

Mosiah 3:9 says, “Salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name”. If we want to become humble as little children, faith is the key and this needs to be practiced daily. I have been struggling with my faith for a long time now. I have always had faith in the Lord but I just felt like I would never get answers and I tried to be happy but I could not be as happy as I used to be. I am constantly struggling in my life but today, I have felt a change in my life. As of yesterday, I realized how much faith I have in the Lord. Reading these scriptures just now were an answer to my prayers. I know that Heavenly Father has plans for my life and I can trust him whole heartedly. I love my Savior and I hope to always be humble before him. I know that this gospel is true with all of my heart. I know that Christ loves me and if I ever stray as the lost sheep did, I can see the savior in my life always trying to find me and never giving up.

Walking on Water!

In Mathew chapter 14 verses 22 to 33, this talks about the time when Jesus Christ walked on water.  The apostles were in the ship and they were frightened because the seas were not calm at all. But they were also frightened when they first saw Christ on the water. They had never seen man do that and they believed Christ was a spirit and “they cried out for fear” (vs. 26).

Peter wanted to make sure it really was Christ so Peter asked if he would be able to walk on the water towards the Lord. For a moment, he did have faith and he was doing the impossible. According to Mathew 14:30, Peter became scared because the seas were boisterous and he became afraid; In that moment, he started to sink because he lost his faith in the Savior even when he was right there. When He began to sink, he asked the Lord to save him. In verse 31 it reads, “And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him…” (vs. 31). When we are in desperate need of the Lord, he will help us right away.

I believe that the most important scripture in this section is verse 27. The Lord says “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” This reminds me that in the craziness of my life, the Lord will always be there to calm the seas. He does not want me to be afraid because in the end, I will always be taken care of.

In D&C 88:67, it explains that if my eye is single to the glory of Christ, there will be no darkness in my body or life. My body will be filled with light and I will be able to comprehend all things. This scripture relates to Peter because he was able to walk on water for just a moment because his focus was on the Lord. Because of his priority, Peter was truly was able to comprehend so much more. He was able to comprehend miracles and he understood perfect faith. I know that this relates to my life. The more I read the scriptures, the more faith I receive.  With the more faith I have, I notice that I comprehend scriptures so much more. With Christ in my life, I know that I can accomplish the “impossible” because if have my eye on his glory, he will calm my seas!

Parables

The Bible dictionary has the definition for the word parable. Simplified, parables are intended for the people who are seeking the gospel. Those people with faith and intelligence will understand parables as more than just stories. Parables use material things to describe divine truth. Parables are usually stories that have a wider significance.
Christ uses parables such as the tares, mustard seed, and the pearl of great price. The future growth of the church reminds of the pearl of great price. I believe the church will grow because people will realize  the great worth of this gospel.
The church sends out missionaries so the gospel can be spread and people will find the savior in their life. This reminds me of the mustard seed parable. The wicked will be cast out. The Lord does not want to cast his children out and he wants the young missionaries to inform and teach through the spirit. The church grows pretty rapidly because the spirit is able to enlighten individuals. The spirit testifies that this gospel is the true gospel.
As in the parable of the tares, Satan is decieving and sly. Those people who give up worldy things are wise because they know of this truth that the Lord revealed. They know that temptation is strong with worldy pleasures. I think money and material things are ok as long as people do not get greedy and as long as the Lord is always put first.
Some individuals leave the church because they do not want to miss out on the fun that the world offers. Sometimes that fun is what can lead to the greatest misery. Some people just do not want to follow the commandments of the church.
I know this gospel is true and I would give my life for this truth I have. Without it, I am nothing. Every choice I made is inspired by the teachings and commandments of this gospel. I have already made sacrifes for this gospel. My sister is homosexual and asked if I would go to her wedding because she is engaged. I told her I would not because I do not support or believe in gay marriage. I might lose our relationship but I know what is right.
The kingdom gathers people like a net would gather fish. It gathers every kind of people or different race and religion. All people are welcome into the gospel because everyone is a spirit son or daughter of God. I think that " casting out the wicked" is talking about judgement day and individuals need to find priority in their lives. I know this gospel to be true and the Lord wants every person to find the gospel. He loves each of us and that is why it is my duty to always have a good example. I want others to know how much happiness this gospel can bring!