Hello Friends,

I wonder and ponder about many things pertaining to life? One thing I especially wonder about is why people settle for less in their spiritual life. 

We have all heard the saying, “Don’t sell yourself short”, or “take the car out for a spin before you buy it”. As consumers we are reminded to check things out carefully, research, and compare. Also we are taught to ask questions, and not be afraid to have inquiring minds. As parents we want the best for our kids especially in their learning, schooling, and life experiences. In college we are taught to be critical thinkers and avoid narrow-minded ideology. When we go to the doctor we ask questions about our diagnosis and even go online to get more medical understanding and knowledge. We want the number one product, the best services, and will make time to seek out information when making decisions that are going to impact our family financially, educationally, and medically. We want what is right! So why then do many settle for less when it comes to religious beliefs and convictions?

I can’t tell you how many times, I have heard someone express that it really doesn’t matter what church you go to because we all believe in the same God. People in general are socialized to believe that any church will do, or if you are not happy where you are attending, find a preacher that you like better down the road. Or others believe that the nearest church or neighborhood church will suffice as to where to worship. Yet others are motivated by either social class or status as to where they choose to attend church services. Then there is the group that only goes to church to see how many people they can recruit as clients for their new business and increase sales. Well, the list is endless and it goes on and on. In essence, God and his true gospel principles are no longer a basis for choosing where to worship but altogether are taken out of the equation.

 What is most amazing to me is that many do not take time to learn what their church beliefs and doctrines contain. For many, spiritual life is not anything to think too deeply about. For example questions as what is the purpose of life, where did we come from, where do we go after we die are quickly shunned. Most will shrug their shoulders and simply say, “Oh, well, nobody really knows”. Have you ever truly contemplated such a response? Or would you ever apply the same mentality to other major life questions? But this is how we have been socialized to think about religion. The tragic part to this line of thinking is that it will circumvent the most important question of all, “Which church is God’s true church?” 

The Holy Bible teaches that one day we will be judged. Why would there be need for a Judgment Day unless we should be held accountable for what we did or did not do in this life? A loving God did not bring us to this earth to flounder, live in a maze or state of confusion, or keep us in the dark. However, He has given us a mind and heart with which to think, feel, reason, and search Him out! How is your search going? We invite you to search our website and rekindle your deepest thoughts about God and life. We promise you God has given us answers to all these questions and waits with arms outstretched to teach us if we but prayerfully approach him with sincere desire to learn of Him, His gospel, and true Church! 

God does not want His children to settle for less or second best when it comes to his true Church and doctrines. “Seek, and ye shall find” (Matt 7:7) is my sincere plea.

 


Comments

Dewey

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 07:09:09

I found a Wonderful site on Isaiah!
http://www.isaiahexplained.com/
The site has free lessons on every chapter.
Very well done and in the author’s own voice.
Every Isaiah Chapter has the Analytical Commentary of Isaiah. Enjoy this personable verse-by-verse commentary of Isaiah by well-known Hebrew scholar Avraham Gileadi.

“Dr. Gileadi is the only LDS scholar I know of who is thoroughly competent to teach the words of Isaiah”—Professor Hugh Nibley, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. (1. 6. 2003)

“It is my testimony that this man has been brought forward and trained at this time to help those inside the Church into Isaiah, and those outside the Church, Jew and Gentile, through Isaiah into the Church” —Arthur Henry King, author, former BYU professor and London
Temple President.

“Dr. Gileadi has achieved a major breakthrough in the investigation of a book of such complexity and importance as the Book of Isaiah”—Professor David Noel Freedman, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

“Dr. Gileadi’s work will render obsolete almost all the speculations of Isaiah scholars over the last one hundred years . . . enabling scholarship to proceed along an entirely new line . . . opening new avenues of approach for others to follow”—Professor Roland K. Harrison, Wycliffe College, Toronto, Canada.

“Only one who is truly at home not only with the Hebrew but with the ancient manner of biblical thought could have produced such an insightful and ground-breaking book”—Professor S. Douglas Waterhouse, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan.

“Avraham Gileadi’s unsealing of the Book of Isaiah will forever change people’s
understanding of Judeo-Christian religion, lifting it to heights hitherto known only to prophets and saints”—Arie Noot, corporate executive, Edmond, Oklahoma.

“Isaiah Decoded is a huge breakthrough for the seeker of truth—Jew, Christian, Moslem, and agnostic. From an ancient writing, Gileadi has brought to light eternal truths about the nature of God and our relationship to him that have lain buried for centuries in the dust of time”—Guy Wins, fifth-generation Jewish diamond dealer from Antwerp, Belgium.

“Gileadi is the only scholar I know who has been able to express the Jewish expectation of the Messiah in relation to the life and mission of Jesus of Nazareth”—Daniel Rona, Israeli tour guide, Jerusalem, Israel.

“Dr. Gileadi has clearly demonstrated his mastery of the Book of Isaiah and of the scholarly literature dealing with it”—Professor Ronald Youngblood, Bethel Theological Seminary, San Diego, California.

“Avraham Gileadi’s books and tapes take the casual observer of Isaiah’s words and transform him into an enlightened and lifelong student of the Word of God”—Allan and Nancy Pratt, LDS mission president, Toulouse, France.

“Dr. Gileadi has awakened a whole new depth of my understanding of Isaiah’s prophetic message. His books and tapes illuminate the urgent relevance of Isaiah’s writings to our own day”—Becky Douglas, supervisor and sponsor of three orphanages in India, Atlanta, Georgia.

“Dr. Gileadi’s translation [of the Book of Isaiah] is clear and smooth, allowing the reader to appreciate the power and beauty of Isaiah as conveyed in the Hebrew original”—Professor Herbert M. Wolf, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois.

“Gileadi has uncovered an amazing message written in a divine code by the prophet–poet Isaiah. This will give comfort, hope, and joy to masses of people as they cope with the perplexing events now unfolding before their eyes”—Fenton Tobler, thirty years elementary school principle, Las Vegas, Nevada.

 

Sue Saunders

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 22:09:00

dewye,

Thank you for sharing with us! I love the words of Isaiah. Prayerfully searching the words of Isaiah are also very important as it is in any study of the scriptures.

 

Ty

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:44:07

Here’s a million dollar question – If you were to die right now, would you qualify for the celestial kingdom? If you’re like many Mormons, you’re not sure. You try hard to be as good as possible, but you still don’t know if you’ve done enough. If the Book of Mormon is really scripture, this hope will always elude you. Alma 11:37 says God cannot save you in your sins. Are all of your sins forgiven? Moroni 10:32 says you must be perfected in Christ, which can only be done by denying yourself of “all ungodliness”. Have you done that? Do you repent on a regular basis? Is so, then it is clear that you sin on a regular basis, since only those who break the commandments need to repent. 1 Nephi 3:7 states that you are able to keep His commandments. In fact according to D&C 25:15, you are required to keep them continually! Since you haven’t done this so far, why assume you will in the future? Of course, we should all try to be holy; but if you think that sinning less will qualify you to live in God’s presence, you are mistaken (Gal 3:1-11). The assumption that good works are required for forgiveness only cheapens Christ’s atonement, making it nothing more than a partial payment. God chooses to justify us by faith. Jesus alone does the “perfecting” (Heb 10:14). God gives peace to those who trust in Him alone. If you don’t have this peace, it’s probably because at least a part of you trusts in yourself. Questions? Visit us at www.gotforgiveness.com

 

Sue Saunders

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 09:15:41

Ty, I am happy to give you clarification on scriptures you cited:

(1) In reference to Alma 11:37 please turn to your Book of Mormon in 3 Nephi 9:21-22 Christ says:

“Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin. Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; Therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved.”

(2) In reference to Moroni 10:32, I highly recommend the Book of Mormon study manual (see p. 527) from which I quote the following to help you understand Moroni’s words in full:

“Moroni 10:32.33 gives a complete and beautiful description of the
harmony between the grace of God and our own works, including the
following teachings:

a. We can only be perfected in Christ (vs.32).

b. We must deny ourselves all ungodliness (vs. 32).

c. If we strive to do this with all our hearts, might, mind, and strength,
then his grace is sufficient to make us perfect (vs. 32).

d. Through his grace and power (but dependent upon our willingness to demonstrate good works) we are sanctified through the atoning blood of the Savior and made completely without sin (vs. 32).”

(3) Thank you for making reference to 1 Nephi 3:7 which is one of my
personal favorites:

“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do
the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.”

(4) Thank you for making reference to (Doctrine & Covenants) D&C 25:15:

“Keep my commandments continually, and a crown of righteousness thou shalt receive. And except thou do this, where I am you cannot come.”

Ty, This scripture is self-evident; God wants us to be committed to living honest lives and keeping his commandments not sporadically, but on a consistent basis. He atoned for our sins knowing we would inevitably commit sins during our probationary time on earth. In his loving mercy, he provided the principle of repentance. We all have need of repentance and should strive to do better continually.

(5). Gal 3:1-11: regarding faith, the first principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We live and walk by faith and as the prophet Nephi testified in 1 Nephi 4: 6:

“And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing before hand what we should do.”

The prophet Nephi also taught in 2 Nephi 25:23 the following:

“For we labor diligently to write to persuade our children, and also our
brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know
that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”

Ty, walking by faith, and keeping God’s commandments brings us closer to God. Repentance cleanses us and sanctifies us, also bringing us closer to God. God forgives us and wants us to one day return to live with him. He knows we are not perfect but wants us to do all we can and “not sinning” is at the top of the list.

Ty, I testify to you that I have great faith in my Savior Jesus Christ and his atonement for all mankind. By keeping all his commandments we can live with him again. I have total peace in knowing all these things to be true. There is nothing in the Book of Mormon that eludes me; on the contrary it is the word of God. I
would like to share a quote from a latter-day prophet John A. Widtsoe that I pray you will ponder:

“In short, ‘living the gospel’ fits a man to receive spiritual truth. Only
then can he receive and understand things of the spirit. Upon that condition alone does the light of truth enter his life.”

And in D&C 19:38 the Lord promises “Pray always, and I will pour out my spirit upon you”

Sue Saunders

 



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