Nephi's Trinity

Photo by Simon Rae on Unsplash

      Some sister missionaries came to my house to discuss salvation and their church.  As we sat on some patio chairs we talked about a variety of topics.  Are we equally made in God's image?  If God looks like a man, then I am made more in the image of God because I am a man.  The Book of Mormon does not support this notion.  How can both men and women be made in the image of God?  I began explaining that I could greet Sister B. in three ways.  I could say greetings Sister B. the soul, greetings Sister B. the body and greetings Sister B. the spirit.  That would be a awkward greeting but it would be technically correct.  Obviously we only greet people as one person - greetings Sister B!  We are a triune being.  We are three things, body, soul and spirit, and yet we are one being. We are made in the image of God by being a triune, 3-in1, entity.  God is God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.  We reflect him as a trinity.  We are made in His image in this way.  So men and women are equally made in image of God since both are triune beings.  I think Sister B. liked this explanation.  2 Nephi 31:21 says, "...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."  Some folks add words to the verse and say "one in purpose".  This changes the meaning of the verse.  The verse simply says, "...one God, without end...." and it means one triune God.
      We have to take time to listen to all three and work in harmony.  Our body might say, more candy would be great!  Our mind/soul might say that would not be a healthy choice.  Our spirit might say, this is a good time to pray.  We have to compromise and work together.  Perhaps this is why people are so complicated.  Our spirit and soul may be doing well but our body may be sick.  Our body and spirit may be doing well while our soul is in anguish over the loss of someone we love.  Our body and soul may be doing well while our spirit yearns to be closer to God.
      1 John 4:16 says God is love.  Moroni 8:18 says that God is an unchangeable being from everasting to everylasting.  How could God have been love before the creation of time, man and angels?  The Son loved the Father and the Father loved the Son and the Holy Spirit was working in harmony with that love.
      God, in his infinite wisdom, decided to make men and women, in His image as triune beings.  God is good and wise and powerful!  Praise his name!

Global Warming & Climate Change?

      Did Jesus preached about "Global Warming" and "Climate Change"?  Here is an example of Jesus preaching about global warming and a permanent climate change in Luke 16:22-24  "...the rich man also died, and was buried;  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame."   In Matthew 10:28 Jesus said,  "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."  Apparently this warming and permanent climate change is going to affect a lot of people.   In Matthew 7:13&14, Jesus said, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."  You only have to murder one person to be a murderer.  You only have to steal one time to be a thief.  You only have to tell one lie to be a liar.  You only have to sin one time to be a sinner.  James 2:10 says, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."  Have you ever coveted your neighbors property?  Exodus 20:17 says, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's."   Matthew 5:28 says, "...whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."  Matthew 5:22 says, "...whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment":.."whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."  Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;..."   Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  Is there any hope for the repentant sinner who wants to avoid this inclusive "hell"?  John 14:6 says, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."   Romans 5:8 expresses God's love for sinners, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  Romans 10:13 says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."  Romans 10:9&10 says, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."  
      Please take the time to read for yourself Jesus' many messages on hell or global warming and permanent climate change.  Repent and turn to God that He may save your soul.

100 Trillion Plans - Creation/Evolution

      

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

      Were you created or did you evolve?  Were you designed by God or are you a product of time and chance?  In 1860, an agnostic named Thomas Huxley debated Samuel Wilberforce at Oxford on the theory of evolution.  Wilberforce stated that a watch implies the existence of a watch maker.  Similarly, design in nature implies the existence of a Designer.  Huxley argued that six eternal monkeys or apes typing on six eternal typewriters with unlimited amounts of paper and ink could, given enough time, produce a Psalm, a Shakespearean sonnet, or even a whole book, purely by chance that is, by random striking of the keys.  Huxley pretended to find the 23^rd Psalm among reams of typed gibberish produced by his six imaginary apes at their typewriters. His point was this:  molecular movement, given enough time and matter, would be able to produce Bishop Wilberforce himself, purely by chance and without the work of any Designer or Creator. (Creation.com)
     DNA was not discovered until 1953.  (Huxley and Wilberforce did not have the advantages of  modern science.)  Each cell in your body has DNA, a set of plans.  If there are 50 to 100 trillion cells in your body then you have trillions of plans in you.  You were not a product of "time and chance".  You were carefully planned with 50-100 trillion sets of plans.  That is so amazing!  

Psalm 139:17 &18 says, "How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!  If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee."

Sharing God's GLORY???

1 Nephi 20:11 says, "...I will not give my glory unto another."  Some people try to rationalize this away by saying God will not give His glory to people who go about it the wrong way.  They say that God wants everyone to be like Him.  However the context is not about overly ambitious people who go about it the wrong way.  We see in verse 9 that he is talking about people who are not cut off.  Verse 10 says, "...I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction."  He is speaking to these people when He says He will not give His glory to another.  In verse 12 He speaks to Israel and says, "...I am the first, and I also am the last."  There was no God before Him that He had to share His glory with. And there is no god after Him that he will have to share his glory with. Isaiah 42:8 says, "I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images."  Isaiah 44:8 says, "...Is there a God beside me?  yea, there is no God; I know not any."  Isaiah 44:6 says, "...I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God."  Isaiah 45:5 says, "I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me:..."

All Religions Have Truth????

Can truth be found everywhere?  Do all roads lead to Rome?  Do all religions have truth?  If you study the Jews and Israelis in the Old Testament, you will see that they believed this.  They were involved in all the religions of their time. In the Old Testament, the Israeli's relationship with God was often compared to the relationship between a man and wife. The prophets many times referred to Judah and Israel as "harlot" sisters. Instead of being loyal to their God, they went after other gods like an unfaithful wife goes after other men.  Jeremiah 3:11 says, "And the Lord said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more that treacherous Judah." That was the KJV.  The NIV paraphrases the verse this way: "The Lord said unto me, "Faithless Israel is more righteous than unfaithful Judah. In other words, it is better to just follow other gods than to follow Jehovah God and other gods. It is better for a woman not to marry than it is for her to marry and follow after other men. Israel stopped following God from King Jeroboam on through their history. Judah had some righteous and some unrighteous kings. John 14:6 says, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." What a powerful verse. Not MY way - Jesus is the way.  Not my truth or what is relatively right for me - Jesus is the truth.

Priesthood Requirements - Exodus 29

The Bible requirements for becoming a priest are found in Exodus 29.  Please read the chapter for more details.
Priesthood Requirements - Exodus 29
1. Select one young bull and two rams that are without blemish.
2. Take unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil and wafers anointed with oil. 
3.  Put the food in a basket.  Bring the animals and food to the door of the tabernacle.
4.  The priests must be washed with water at the door of the tabernacle.
5.  The high priest must put on the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod, the breastplate and the intricately woven band of the ephod.  Then the high priest must put on the turban and the holy crown of the turban.
6.  Take the anointing oil and pour it on the high priest's head and anoint him.
7.  Put tunics on the other priests.  Gird them with sashes and put hats on them.
8.  Bring the bull before the tabernacle and have all the priests put their hands on the head of the bull.
9.  Kill the bull by the door of the tabernacle.
10.  Take some of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the alter with your finger.
11.  Pour all of the blood beside the base of the alter.
12.  Take all the fat that covers the entrails, the fatty lobe attached to the liver and the two kidneys and the fat that is on them and burn all of it on the alter.
13. Take the flesh of the bull, with its skin and it's offal and burn it outside the camp as a sin offering.
14.  The priest must put their hands on the head of one ram.
15.  Kill the ram and sprinkle it's blood all around the alter.
16.  Cut the ram in pieces, wash the entrails and legs and then put it back together with its head.
17.  Burn the whole ram on the alter as a burnt offering to the Lord.
18.  The priests must put their hands on the head of the other ram.
19.  Kill the ram and put some of its blood on the priests' right ears, right thumbs and right big toes.
20.  Sprinkle the blood around the alter.
21.  Take some of the blood that is on the alter with some anointing oil, and sprinkle it on the priests and their garments.
22. Take the fat of the ram, the fat or the tail, the fat that covers the entrails, the fatty lobe attached to the liver, the two right kidneys and the fat that is on them, the right thigh, one loaf of bread, some cake and wafers and put these in the hands of the priests.
23. Wave these things as a wave offering before the Lord and then burn them on the alter as a burnt offering to the Lord.
24.  Take the breast of the first ram and wave it as a wave offering.
25.  Consecrate the thigh of the heave offering and the breast of the wave offering.  These shall be from Israel for Aaron and his sons forever.
26.  The son of Aaron who becomes high priest must put on the holy garments for seven days when he ministers in the most holy place in the tabernacle of meeting.
27.  Take the ram of the consecration and boil its flesh in the holy place.
28.  The priests must eat the flesh of the ram and the bread by the door of the tabernacle.
29.  Eat the things with which the atonement was made.
30.  If any of the bread or flesh is left over in the morning, it must be burned with fire.
31.  The priests must be consecrated seven days.
32.  Offer a bull everyday for seven days as a sin offering for atonement.
33.  Clean the alter each day and anoint it to sanctify it.

In the Bible, you had to be a descendant of Aaron to become a priest.  It was not open to any other Israelites.

Celestial, Terrestrial and Telestial???

      Today's teaching tells us that there is a terrestrial heaven and a telestial heaven for those who do not attain to the celestial heaven and reach exaltation.  However the Book of Mormon does not group people this way.  The book of Mormon only talks about those who repent and those who do not.  There is only a celestial heaven for those who hear the law and repent and a hell for those who do not repent.  Alma 34:35-36 says, "For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to he spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.  And this I know, because the Lord hath said he dwelleth not in unholy temples, but in the hearts of the righteous doth he dwell; yea, and he has also said that the righteous shall sit down in his kingdom, to go no more out; but their garments should be made white through the blood of the Lamb."  Many believe that we will have more opportunities after this life.  Alma 34:33 answers this question:  "...I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until he end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed."  Alma 34:32 says the same thing:  "For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors."  .
      Many have an "I'm OK, you're OK" attitude about eternity.  2 Nephi 28:21 warns us about this:  "And others will he (the devil) pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well - and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell."
      Some say that hell is just a mental state.  Others say that if we do not progress, become all we can be and return to God, then we will always be frustrated that we did not reach our highest - exaltation.  So we will be in torment, knowing we could have done better.  Some people who believe in hell, think it is a place where only a handful of souls will go.  2 Nephi 28:22-23 warns us about this:  "And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none; and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance.  Yea, they are grasped with death, and hell; and death, and hell, and the devil, and all that have been seized therewith must stand before the throne of God, and be judged according to their works, from whence they must go into the place prepared for them, even a lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment." 
      Contrary to some modern teaching, the book of Mormon doesn't really have a gray area.  It is black and white.  Either you repent in this life time and are saved to the Celestial heaven or you do not repent and are headed for destruction.
    

The Angry Apostle

     The apostle Paul was very angry when he wrote the book of Galatians.  The theme of the book is salvation through God's grace alone.  He wrote in very strong words that no one should add law and works to the gospel he preached.  In the first chapter he cursed those that would change the pure gospel message.  "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8&9).  Paul said that even if you are an "ANGEL from HEAVEN" and you teach another gospel, curses on you!  That is strong language.
     In Galatians chapter 3 he calls them fools for turning away from the simple gospel:  "Oh foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?......Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" (Galatians 3:1&3)  The apostle Paul said it was as though they were put under a spell.
     Agitators were saying that the law and circumcision were necessary for salvation.  Paul said, "I would they were even cut off which trouble you." (Galatians 5:12)  The NIV version says, "As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!"  The Apostle Paul is definitely irate in the Book of Galatians.  He thought his work with the people in Galatia may have been in vain.  He wrote in Galatians 5 1-2, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.  Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing."
     In the book Gospel Principles it is said that "Our exaltation depends on marriage." (pg. 241 Eternal Marriage)   Celestial marriage is supposed to open the gate to the Celestial Kingdom.  On the contrary, the Apostle Paul said that it is better if a man remains single. (I Corinthians 7:25-38)  He said that a single person can be more devoted to God than a married person.  He never said that heavenly marriage could save us into the Celestial Kingdom where God dwells.  Neither the Bible nor the Book of Mormon teach us that Celestial Marriage is necessary for attaining Celestial Salvation.  The celestial marriage teaching is not the gospel that the apostle Paul preached.  It is another gospel.  I think the apostle Paul would be very angry with this addition to the simple, pure gospel he preached.

A Godhood Prediction

    Photo by Daniel Giannone on Unsplash

       According to Mormonism, how long would it take for a man to become a god?  I believe I can make an accurate prediction and narrow it down to the nearest second.  In the book Miracles of Forgiveness, Spencer W. Kimball said that God is "omniscient and omnipotent".  This means that God has an infinite amount of knowledge and an infinite amount of power.  You could also say that he has all knowledge and all power.  Let's suppose that I wanted to travel an infinite number of miles.  How long would it take me to accomplish my journey?  It would take me an infinite amount of time to travel an infinite number of miles.  Likewise, it would take an infinite amount of time to gain infinite knowledge and infinite power.  So I can safely say that it would not take one second more or one second less than an infinite amount of time to become a god.

     So how can this infinite problem be solved?  How did God become God if it would take an infinite amount of time to do so?  God solved this problem by already being God.  It would not take an infinite amount of time to travel an infinite number of miles if you were all ready there at your destination.  God did not have to gain infinite knowledge or infinite power because he already had infinite knowledge and infinite power.  He was already God!  Psalm 90:2 says, "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God."  This verse is saying that God has been God at all times in the past and will be God at all times in the future.  Moroni 8:18 tells us that God did not have to change to become a God and that he already was like he is:  "For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity."  This is amazing!  Moroni 7:22 says, "For behold, God knowing all things, being from everlasting to everlasting,..."  It has not taken God any time to become God because he has always been God.  Praise God for his infinite knowledge and infinite power!  Praise God for who he is!

Melchisedec Priesthood - Authority to Baptise

   Does my church have authority from God to baptize? Can a person be saved and filled with God’s Spirit at my church?

The answer is found in Jesus Christ.

In the Old Testament, the Aaronic or Levitical priesthood served an important role in offering sacrifices for the sins of the people. But when Christ offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice on the cross, that system was fulfilled. No longer was it necessary to offer animals for sin offerings. We all deserved to die for our own sins, but Jesus took our place on the cross and paid the price once and for all.

Hebrews 4:14 says, “We have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God.”

Hebrews 5:6 tells us that Christ is “a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”

Hebrews 6:20 says, “Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”

And Hebrews 7:17 repeats this truth: “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”

In the Old Testament, when a high priest died, his son became the next high priest. The priesthood passed through many men because each one eventually died. But Christ is different. He rose from the tomb and lives forever to be our High Priest. Hebrews 7:21–24 explains:

“Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec: by so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: but this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.”

To help us understand this, think of how we elect a United States Senator. We see their ads on TV and their signs around town. They promise to represent our state and work for our best interests. Once elected, the Senator leaves New Mexico and goes to Washington, D.C., to represent us in Congress.

In a far greater way, Christ, our great High Priest, represents us before God the Father in the heavenly tabernacle. Hebrews 9:24 says, “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.”

Hebrews 9:11–12 also declares, “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”

And Hebrews 8:1–2 affirms, “We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.”

Because Jesus is our eternal High Priest—alive forever and interceding for us—our authority as His church flows directly from Him.

Yes, my church has authority from God to baptize through Christ.

Jesus was crucified to fulfill the Aaronic and Levitical priesthood. He then became our High Priest after the order of Melchisedec and ever lives to intercede for us before the throne of God.

Praise God for His many blessings!

Brigham Young's Adam-God

     The Adam-God doctrine is not found in the standard works.  Brigham Young was the only Mormon prophet that taught this obscure belief.  In 1852 he said, "...When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him.  He helped to make and organize this world.  He is Michael, the Archangel, the Ancient of Days! about whom holy men have written and spoken - he is our Father and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do" (Journal of Discourses 1:50).  Brigham Young said, "What a learned idea!  Jesus, our elder brother, was begotten in the flesh by the same character that was in the garden of Eden, and who is our Father in Heaven.  Now, let all who may hear these doctrines, pause before they make light of them, or treat them with indifference, for they will prove their salvation or damnation" (Journal of Discourses 1:51).  In 1861 Young said, "...some years ago, I advanced a doctrine with regard to Adam being our father and God, that will be a cause to many Elders of Israel because of their folly.  With regard to it they yet grovel in darkness and will.  It is one of the most glorious revealments of the economy of heaven, yet the world holds it dirrision" (Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Spring 1982, p. 29).  In 1873 Brigham Young said, "How much unbelief exists in the minds of the Latter-day Saints in regard to one particular doctrine which is revealed to them, and which God revealed to me - namely that Adam is our father and God" (Brigham Young, Deseret News, June 18, 1873, p. 308).
     Here is the question:  Was Brigham Young teaching the God of the Bible?  Did he describe the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?  In the Bible, Adam was a man that was created by God.  Brigham Young's Adam was God of this earth!  Deuteronomy 13:1-6 says, "If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.  Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.  And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the Lord thy God commanded thee to walk in.  So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee."

Zelph - The White Lamanite

     Years ago, a Mormon friend of mine said that Native Americans on the reservation would get a lighter skin color when they became good Mormons.  I wondered where she got such an outlandish, crazy idea.  Mormon scripture certainly has a different view of race.  2 Nephi 5:21 says, "And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity.  For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them."  Surprisingly, the Book of Mormon calls dark skin a curse!  Jacob 3:5 also mentions the dark skin curse, "Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon their skins,..."  Jacob 3:8 says, "...O my brethren, I fear that unless ye shall repent of your sins that their skins will be whiter than yours, when ye shall be brought with them before the throne of God."  (In the Book of Mormon, the Lamanites were Indians and the Nephites were white people.) 
     Alma 3:6-9 says, "And the skins of the Lamanites were dark, according to the mark which was set upon their fathers, which was a curse upon them because of their transgression and their rebellion against their brethren,... and the Lord set a mark upon them, yea, upon Laman and Lemuel, and also the sons of Ishmael, and Ishmaelitish women.  And this was done that their seed might be distinguished from the seed of their brethren, that thereby the Lord God might preserve his people, that they might not mix and believe in incorrect traditions which would prove their destruction.  And it came to pass that whosoever did mingle his seed with that of the Lamanites did bring the same curse upon his seed."  3 Nephi 2:14-16 seems to give us the opposite message:  "And it came to pass that those Lamanites who had united with the Nephites were numbered among the Nephites; And their curse was taken from them, and their skin became white like unto the Nephites;  And their young men and their daughters became exceedingly fair, and they were numbered among the Nephites, and were called Nephites...." 
     In the History of the Church 2:79-80, Joseph Smith found a skeleton and said it was Zelph:  "I discovered that the person whose skeleton was before us was a white Lamanite, a large, thick-set man, and a man of God.  His name was Zelph.  He was a warrior and chieftain under the great prophet Onandagus, who was known from the Hill Cumorah, or eastern sea to the Rocky mountains.  The curse was taken from Zelph,..." 
     On the contrary, in I Samuel 16:7, we find that the God of the Bible looks at the heart:  "...for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."  James 2:1-9 tells us that it is a sin to show favoritism based on outward appearances.

Moroni 8:18 - The Unchangeable God

     Can God advance?  Can he attain to a higher level?  Can he learn more or become greater?  Moroni 8:18 says, "For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity."  How can God have always been God?  In the book Miracles of Forgiveness, Spencer W. Kimball said that God is "omniscient and omnipotent."  How could God attain infinite knowledge and infinite power without ever changing?  Here is an example of the question:  If I were going to run an infinite number of miles to a finish line, how long would it take?  It would take an infinite amount of time.  So how do I get to the finish line which is an infinite number of miles away?  One answer is to already be there (no running required).  How long would it take to gain infinite knowledge and infinite power?  It would take an infinite amount of time.  God is able to have infinite knowledge and power by already being God all the way into the past and all the way into the future.  Moroni 8:18 says that God is "unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity."  God is already past the finish line and he was always past the finish line!  Praise be to the God who was and is and always will be God!
     Some say they can not believe in a God that they cannot comprehend.  If you believe in a finite god that your finite mind can comprehend, is that really the true God?  I thank God that he is beyond my finite mind's comprehension.
     John 1:3 says that God has made all things.  Time and space are also things made by God.  God is not subject to his creation.  He is not confined to the time and space he created.  He is God of all and over all.  God is all-knowing, all-powerful and truly amazing!  Praise Him always!

Deny...all ungodliness,..grace Moroni 10:32

     Moroni 10:32 is an if-then statement: "Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God."
     A friend of mine, Keith Walker, has compared this verse to the common example of vegetables and dessert!  "If you eat all your vegetables, then you get to have some dessert."  Many of us have heard this saying when we were young.  Now we all want to have God's sufficient grace but according to this verse, it is not for everyone.  His grace is only for those who have denied themselves of all ungodliness and loved God with all their might, mind and strength.  So who does this apply to?  Has any honest person really denied themselves of all ungodliness?  Has anyone purged themselves of all covetousness and evil thoughts?  Have you loved God with all your strength?  If you have prayed for 30 minutes, could you have prayed for 40 minutes?  If you have given to the poor, could you have given more?  If you have fasted for 3 days, could you have fasted longer?  Have you given all?  According to this verse, are you going to receive God's sufficient grace?  If you are honest, you are probably going to say no.  Will our own works ever be enough?  If we continue looking at our own good works, we are going to be disappointed.  Our only hope is to fix our eyes on Christ and depend on his complete work on the cross.  Isaiah 53:5 says, "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

3 Nephi 17:10 Jesus' feet

3 Nephi 17:10  Jesus' feet
"And they did all, both they who had been healed and they who were whole, bow down at his feet, and did worship him; and as many as could come for the multitude did kiss his feet, insomuch that they did bathe his feet with their tears." 
      Have you bowed down at the feet of Jesus and worshiped Him?  Many people bow down to their job, or their education, or their new car, or their house, or their possessions.  Some people bow down to a temple or a cathedral.  Some bow down to prophets or famous men of God.  Some even bow down to themselves and all their great works of goodness.  But have you bowed down at the feet of Jesus and worshiped Him?  Hebrews 12:2 says, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;..."   Hebrews 2-9 tells us that Christ is our "high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec."  In John 14:6 Jesus said, "...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."