Do we really believe in Christ?

Do You Believe Christ?
 
Doctrine and Covenants 1:31
“For I the Lord cannot look up on sin with the least degree of allowance”
 
That is kind of a bleak way to start out a talk I know, but this scripture is the reason that we should all be very thankful for Easter and the event that it commemorates.  The resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ.  
 
Some of us think that our judgment will someday involve a large scale and balancing our good deeds on one side of the scale and our sins and transgressions on the other side of the scale.  We think sometimes that if our good deeds outweigh our bad deeds and if our heart is generally good then we will be admitted in to the presence of God.  
 
This idea Brothers and Sisters is false!
 
Heavenly Father has told us that he cannot tolerate any sin.  He has a celestial standard.  Complete innocence is his prerequisite to be admitted in to his presence.  
 
This is a big problem for all of us because we all sin everyday.  None of us are innocent in terms of the celestial standard.  
 
Romans 3:23 states
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
 
All of us, even the best among us will come up short of the required perfection that is necessary to return to our Heavenly Father.
 
So here is the problem.  On one hand we have God’s requirement for us to be sinless and perfect and on the other hand we have our incapability to live up to God’s standard.
 
Most of us tend to assume that everyone else is doing better than us or that others don’t struggle with the temptations and shortcomings that we struggle with.  We in the church sometimes think that Brother and Sister so and so seem to have this perfect family that never fights or that never miss Morning Prayer never miss scripture study.  Brother so and so never forgets to do his home teaching or Sister so and so always gets her visiting teaching done.  They go to the temple every month and write the missionaries.  They have their food storage filled to the brim and all of these other things that we are supposed to be doing.  
 
The truth is that we all fall short in some areas.  None of us are perfect.  That is why we are in church today.  Church is not for the perfect among us.  It is for us the imperfect who are trying to learn and grow and become better.  If we WERE perfect we would have no need to come to church.  We could just sit at home and watch baseball or football on Sunday.  If we were perfect we could make it back to our Father in Heaven all on our own.  We would have no need to take the sacrament and renew our covenants.
But we are all imperfect and its okay. I guess it’s a great thing that we are here.
 
The apostle Peter struggled with feelings of inadequacy just like many of us.
 
In Luke 5:8 we read about when Peter was in Jesus presence for the first time.  Peter said to Jesus “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O lord.”  Peter had those same feelings that all of us have.  He felt like he was unworthy and inadequate to be in the presence of the Lord. He knew what the Lord expected of him and he knew that he had fallen short of the requirement. We sometimes feel this way and keep ourselves from feeling the influence of the spirit because we feel like we are not worthy to feel it.
 
This is where our big brother comes in to help us.  Jesus Christ and his atonement and resurrection are the “good news” of our Heavenly Father’s plan.  
 
He is able to take and imperfect you or I and make up for our short comings.  He can make perfect our imperfect lives.  
 
In Isaiah1:18 the Lord helps us understand what he can do for us through our faith in him.  “Come now, and let us reason together saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool.
 
It doesn’t matter what we have done in our lives. Whatever it was or is, no matter how horrible, mean, or wrong our actions or desires have been.  
 
Whatever it is he can erase it.  
 
He can and He will clean us up and make us as innocent and pure and as worthy as we were the day we were born or the day we were baptized in his name.  He can and he will do this for us through our faith in him.  
 
Let me ask you a question.
 
“Do we really believe in Christ?  This may seem like a ridiculous question to ask people who are sitting in a church building with his name on it, but I’ll ask it again. “Do we really believe in Christ?
 
Most of us have a testimony of Jesus Christ and his ministry, but a lot of us struggle to gain a personal testimony or witness that he is not just A savior or THE savior but that he is MY savior or YOUR savior.  
 
A lot of us think that he can save others, maybe he can save people in our families, or save our neighbors or he can save our friends.  We sometimes think that we however have some how already punched our ticket wrong, or that we have already gotten too far off of the path to be able to get back on track. We think that we have messed up to the point where there is nothing that can be done, nothing that he can do to save us.  
 
Some of us Believe in Christ, but we don’t actually believe Christ.  
 
Let me say that again so that you can understand the difference.  
 
All of us believe in Christ, but a lot of us don’t believe Christ.  We accept the messenger, but reject his great message.  We need to believe in Jesus’ identity and also believe in his ability and power to cleanse us and make us pure and worthy.  
 
A bishop once heard a member say this when the question of exaltation came up in an interview.  The member said “Oh no I don’t expect to be exalted. I’m a nobody. I’m just an ordinary average member.  I’m just an attender.  I’ve always had little jobs in the church. I’ve never been a leader and I don’t have any talents.  I’ll certainly never be bishop or relief society president.  I just don’t have very much to contribute so I don’t expect to receive much in the resurrection.”  The man went on to make the statement “ Look bishop, I’m just not celestial material.”  The bishop finally lost it and told the man “So what’s your point?”  “Of course your not celestial material. Neither am I! neither is any of us. That’s why we need the atonement of Christ.”  The bishop went on to add “The real problem here is that you don’t have faith in Jesus Christ.”  This made the man very angry.  He had been a member his whole life.  The man responded to the bishop by saying “how dare you question my faith.  I know that Jesus is the Christ, the son of god.”  The bishop said yes you believe in Jesus Christ you just don’t believe Christ.  Jesus Christ says he can make you celestial material and you say no you can’t.  You believe all right.  You believe Christ makes promises that he cannot keep”  
 
With out obeying the first principle of the gospel we cannot enjoy the power and blessings that are available to us through the atonement and resurrection of the lord.  
 
If we only believe in Christ with out believing Christ then we are like people sitting in cold dark homes surrounded by unused lamps and heaters.  We are like people who believe in electricity but who never throw the switch to turn on the power.
 
Believing in electricity does not give us light or make us warm.  We need to turn on the power to make it useful.
 
In order to utilize the Saviors power we must covenant with him.  He makes up for our mistakes he compensates for our shortcomings.  
 
We want to be on Jesus’ team.  He is our Heisman trophy winning quarterback.  Even though we may fumble the ball or miss a tackle he is perfect.  He makes all the difference.  If we are on his team we will not lose.  He asks us to do our best and he takes care of the rest.  I think I may put that on a T shirt.
 
The good news of the gospel is not that perfect people can be reunited with Heavenly Father.  The good news is that imperfect people can be reunited with Heavenly Father.
 
Listen to Nephi’s words from 2nd Nephi Chapter 4.
 
“Oh wreched man that I am.  Yea my heart sorroweth because of my flesh.  My sole grievieth because of mine inequities.  I’m encompassed about because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me and when I desire to rejoice my heart growneth because of my sins.  Never the less, I know in whom I have trusted he hath filled me with his love even to the consuming of my flesh.
 
Even though Nephi was discouraged and depressed by his inability to live perfectly he trusted that the Lord could still help him get in to the kingdom anyway.  
 
When we covenant with Christ and become one with him we gain access to his perfection.
 
Parable of the Bicycle.  
 
Testimony
 
Neighbors, Bishop and counselors, primary teachers, nursery leaders, wife.

2 Nephi 3 (Weakness of Words)

Lehi tells Joseph that if you have faith he will make your words strong. In our callings as home and visiting teachers sometimes we may feel unqualified to teach the gospel. But if we have faith Heavenly Father will help us to know what to say to reach these people we have been assigned to teach. My companion and I are teaching 4 inactive or less active families right now and I have been amazed at the good visits we have had with these families. I am usually nervous before we go to teach these families, but we have always been able to connect with each family. I attribute this to the effort my companion and I make to have a sincere prayer for help before we make our visits. Heavenly Father is always there for us, especially when we are on His errand.

2 Nephi 2 (The Choice is Our's)

Lehi gives a patriarchal blessing to his son Sam in this chapter. It is a great chapter that details the fall and the redemption that is available to us through the Savior.

In verse 27 a choice is presented. All men are free to choose liberty and eternal life through the Savior, or to choose captivity and death through the power of the Devil.

When it is presented that simply the choice is clear. I see a lot of people that seem to know the truth but refuse to make the choice to follow Christ. I have been on that side of the equation during parts of my life.

I am very far from perfect, but I am trying to do my best. Someone in elder's quorum said that the Lord will spit out luke warm people from his presence. We need to make the choice today to follow the Savior more fully in our lives. As we do this we will gain our redemption and eternal life. I am very thankful for my Savior, and I am striving to follow Him more closely everyday..

2 Nephi 1 (Put Your Trust in the Lord)

In verse 7 Lehi tells his children that they will be continually blessed in the land of promise as long as they serve the Lord. He also says that if they start to labor in iniquity the land will be cursed for them. At the end of that same verse Lehi says that the land will blessed unto the righteous forever.

This gives me great hope. I think too often we as Americans put too much trust and belief in our government. There are many in our country right now looking for a hand out or for the government to protect them from hardship. These people need to realize that they should trust the Lord. If we keep his commandments we will be blessed. I am scared to see they way our country is moving right now, but I know that if I put my trust in things that are eternal I have no need to fear.

Even the righteous will suffer as we start to see the last days come to pass, but if we trust the Lord we will be able to see the great promised blessings comming to us. Put your trust in the Lord and you have no need to fear. He will always be there for his true disciples.

1 Nephi 22 (Prophets)

In verse 20 Nephi talks about a prophet that the Lord will raise up. A prophet has been raised up in our day. His Name is Thomas S. Monson. President Monson is a wonderful man. I think in the church it is hard for people to transition when a new prophet is called. This time I think that it has been especially hard because President Hinckley was so beloved and admired. I hope that we are taking President Monson's words just a serious as we did President Hinkley's.

The proposition 8 controversy has been really sad to watch. Some of our own people are choosing to go against the church and the Prophet. If you disagree with the church's stance on proposition 8, in my eyes you are saying that you will not follow the prophet's counsel. We have defined marriage as one woman and one man. Since 1995 we have had the Proclamation on the Family to study and accept. Our prophet has given us this counsel and I for one believe in it and in him. I don't know what has changed between 1995 and today that is causing some members to question the church's definition of marriage. It is sad. I pray that we will follow our leaders and stay close to the words of our beloved prophet. He has been given to us in these last days to help guide us and keep ourselves and our families safe.

1 Nephi 21

Verse 5, I like how the Lord says that he was formed from the womb that he should be Heavenly Father's servant. He also says that he shall be glorious in the eyes of his Lord and that His God shall be His strength.

I think that all of us are formed to be His servants from the womb. We all, if we live righteously, will have a day that Heavenly Father will see us glorified and exalted. To achieve these things we really need to have God be our strength, just like the Lord said.

1 Nephi 20

The lord speaks to Israel. He hells them that they have been baptized, but that they make no covenants in truth or righteousness. That is all that I was able to gather in this chapter. I struggle with the Isaiah comparative chapters.

1 Nephi 19

In this chapter Nephi tells us that he is writing this record for his ancestors that will someday inhabit the land of promise. This makes me think about all of the sacrifices that the prophets throughout the ages have made to make sure that we would have the scriptures available to us in our day.

The prophet Joseph Smith bore tremendous burdens in our behalf because he knew that he had a sacred record for his people. He knew that his people would need the Lord's direction in these last days.

1 Nephi 18 (Pray Often)

In chapter 18 we hear about Nephi finishing the ship and his family departing to the promised land. During their voyage the family of Nephi begin to be very rude and belligerent. Not until the ship was about to be swallowed up by the sea did they once again humble themselves and look to Nephi to guide the ship.

In my life I sometimes fall in to this pattern of lazy worship. This past Sunday we had a lesson in elder's quorum about prayer. The lesson was from a great talk that Elder Bednar gave in the April conference this year. The message I took out of this lesson was that I need to have more committed prayers.

Instead of merely praying for the missionaries to find those who are prepared to hear the message of the restored gospel, I should be praying that I can find people who are prepared to hear the gospel. Once I find these people then pray for the missionaries to be able to teach them. I also should not pray for something unless I am committed to doing what the Lord tells me to do in my prayer.

I think that we could all have more meaningful prayers. We need to pray in the name of Jesus Christ and try to remember him in all that we do. We should be willing to do what ever answers we receive in our prayers and understand that Heavenly Father always has our best interest at heart. He loves us and has given us a way to speak to him anytime. Use this gift more regularly and be more invested in your prayers.

1 Nephi 17 (The Lord Will Provide)

So far in the Book of Mormon we have seen examples of the Lord providing for Lehi and his family as long as they keep the commandments.
In our lives we need to have faith that as we do the things that we are commanded to do by the Lord and his Prophets we will be provided for. We may not all be rich or with out trials, but we will always have the spirit of God with us. That is a promise made to us by God.

If we will keep the Lord's commandments we will be taken care of. I have a testimony of this in my life. The more I am obedient the more I feel the spirit around me, and the more I am able to lead my family in righteousness as a priesthood holder.

1 Nephi 16 (Wicked Easily Offended)

The wicked take the truth hard sometimes. It is hard to have someone tell us that we are wrong or that what we are doing is wrong. I am like this often when Alli points out something that I should have done differently, my first reaction is always to try to defend my actions.

In this chapter, and other chapters, Laman and Lemuel are always offended and quick to defend their position when they are called out by Nephi or Lehi.

I need to take a lesson from this chapter and realize that when I am called out on something it is to help me become a better person and more close to my Heavenly Father.

1 Nephi 15 (Judgment of God)

In verse 30 Nephi states that the justice of God divides the wicked from the righteous. We need to do more than just have faith in the Lord to be saved. Some religions talk about being saved or born again. I think that it is great to love Jesus, and know him personally. I think that there is more to it than that.

President Hinkley said that we must strive to do our very best. Then and only then does the atonement of the Lord make up the difference for us and help us to become like Him. We must continue to keep the commandments and sacred covenants that we have made with God. It is a life long struggle, but with His help we can make it back to. Heavenly Father.

1 Nephi 14 (Armed with the Power of God)

In verse 14 we read about how the power of the Lamb of God descended on the saints of the church. This power is the priesthood of God. As priesthood holder is His church we are entrusted with great responsibility. We should be using this power to bless the people around us. We need to live worthy to exercise this power at a moments notice. As priesthood holders we need to live our lives focused on the savior. We need to use His life and ministry as a pattern for our lives. If we are saying our daily prayers, reading our scriptures daily and looking for ways to give service to others every single day, we will be in the right frame of mind to assist with a blessing or render other priesthood service. I am grateful to have been blessed with the priesthood of God. I know that it is a blessing to me and my family. I pray that I will always live my life worthy to be counted as someone who is armed with the power of God.

1 Nephi 13 (Publish Peace)

Verse 37 asks us to publish peace. I think that there are many ways that we can publish peace in our lives. I think that we publish peace when we are good examples for others. I think that we publish peace when we bear a testimony. Follow me on this one, I think that we can publish peace by raising and teaching our children correct moral and virtuous principles. When we teach our children they can continue the teachings and pass along their own testimonies.

Publishing peace brings us closer to the spirit and helps us to grow our testimonies. Brigham Young once said, "the best way to gain a testimony is to bear one". Find a way to publish peace in your life. You will be blessed for it.

1 Nephi 12 (Temptations)

In this short chapter temptation is described as something that blindeth the eyes, hardeneth the hearts, and lead toward broad paths.

I think that as we are tempted and as we sin we will blindeth our eyes. Things that we know are bad somehow become not so bad. We also tend to become very defensive about others who may try to help us (harden our hearts). We also loose our way sometimes when we sin. Our focus is changed and we become less motivated in reaching our celestial goals.

Conversely, when we keep the commandments we are more sensitive to the spirit which helps us to see upcoming troubles and temptations. When we are living the right way we also have more compassion toward others. When we keep the commandments it is easier to resist temptation and stay on the straight and narrow path.

1 Nephi 11 (Pride of the World)

At the end of this chapter Nephi is shown the fall of the great and spacious building. The angel tells Nephi that this is the fate of all who seek to destroy the 12 apostles of the Lord. This should not make us happy to see the destruction of those who oppose our views. We should be saddened that we couldn't teach them the message of happiness.

As we heard in general conference this past weekend. We should not contend with those who oppose our church and our message. We should be humble and meek and prayerful for those who don't agree with us. The best defense to use is a simple testimony of the Savior.

1 Nephi 10 (Jesus' Example, and the Holy Ghost)

In this chapter we read about how the Savior was baptised. I think it is great that even though the Savior never sinned he was still baptised. This is a great example for us. We need to look at the Savior's life and try to live the way that he did. We need to be baptised so that we can receive the Holy Ghost.

We also read in this chapter that the Holy Ghost is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him. We are promised in this chapter that as we seek Him the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto us by the power of the Holy Ghost.

1 Nephi 9 (A Wise Purpose)

In seminary in high school I was told that the wise purpose of why Nephi created two sets of plates is that the pages that Oliver Cowdry lost where the plates of Lehi. So, because Nephi kept the record and related the things that his father had told him we still have the record that Lehi would have us know.

I don't know if this is the right story behind Oliver Cowdry loosing the pages, but I think that is what I was told. I guess don't quote me.

1 Nephi 8 (Tree of Life)

In this chapter Lehi tells his family about a vision he has had. This is the tree of life vision. I think one of the things that struck me this time in reading this chapter was that the people who were searching for the tree of life, once they reached the tree and partook of the fruit, were ashamed of themselves. The people in the great and spacious building were mocking them because they were being righteous.

I think this happens in our lives. As members of the church we have a glorious gift. We are members of the only true church on the Earth. We have the fullness of the gospel. Others may look at our large families, our dress, our values, or our dedication to our church and scoff at us. We must not be ashamed of our Gift. We have so many blessings as members in Lord's true church. Pray for those who may look at us and laugh.

I was up at the Veterans Hospital on Friday when I read this chapter. In the break room that I was reading my scriptures in a discussion broke out between some of the nurses and hospital staff. Of the group there were only two members, myself and one Anesthesiologist. The staff was making fun of the fact that as members we wait till we are married before we have sexual relations. They thought that this was just the most awful thing that could be required of someone. The Anesthesiologist tried to help them see the beauty of this commandment, but there was no change in the views of the group. They also could not believe that we subject ourselves to having so many children. It is sad that they see children as a burden. They have no understanding of how great it can be create a family that can be tied together forever.

I guess in my eyes I will have to view the VA hospital as the great and spacious building. :) .

1 Nephi 7 (Forgiveness)

Nephi and his brothers once again travel to Jerusalem. They find Ishmael's family and convince them to leave the city and save themselves from destruction. On their travel back in to the wilderness to find Lehi many of the party including Laman and Lemuel become wroth and murmur against Nephi. They become so mad, after being chastised by Nephi, that the bind Nephi and try to take his life. Nephi prays unto the Lord to loosen the bands that bound him. He is freed and Lamen and Lemuel try to bind him again. Ishmael's wife and daughter plead with Laman and Lemuel and they soften their heart and ask Nephi for forgiveness. Nephi forgives them and asks them to pray to Heavenly Father for forgiveness.

In our lives we must forgive everyone that trespasses against us. It is not our place in this life to be the judge over other people. We need to try to love them and forgive them and hope that they repent for their actions to Heavenly Father.

1 Nephi 6

In this short chapter Nephi states that he is going to use his space in this book to write the things of the Lord, not the thing that would be pleasing unto the world.

1 Nephi 5 (Our Own Land of Promise)

In verse 5 Lehi states that he has obtained a land of promise. I think it is interesting that Lehi already considers the wilderness to be his "Land of Promise". After they left Jerusalem it must have been such a great feeling to be away from the wickedness and unbelief that was in that city. I think we should consider our homes and our wards "Lands of Promise". Anywhere that we are free to worship the way we choose and any place that we can be sheltered from sin and the world is indeed a land of promise.

Lehi wasn't waiting for his ideal place, or his mansion and worldly possessions. He wanted to be in a place where he could freely worship his Lord and teach his family. That was the most important thing to him.

1 Nephi 4 (The Lord Provides a Way)

In this chapter Nephi kills Laban and gets the gold plates. He convinces Zoram to join his family in the wilderness.

Nephi had the faith to attempt to obey the Lord's command. The Lord provided a way for Nephi to accomplish the thing that he had commanded Nephi to do. It truly is better that one man perish than a nation dwindle in unbelief. Now Nephi and his family will have the genealogy and accounts of the prophets to sustain them on their journey to the promised land.

1 Nephi 3 (Keeping the Commandments)

In verse 7 Nephi accepts his father's orders knowing that the Lord gives no commandment to the children of men, save he prepares a way for them to accomplish the thing He has commanded.

When we are fighting addictions in our life we need to remember this passage. The Lord commands us to be free of sin and to be morally clean. He would not command this of us unless we had the necessary tools and means to obey. Sometimes when we are fighting addiction it can seem like you have no choice or no ability to make the correct choice. This thinking is false God has given us all that we need to overcome sin and temptation. Have faith in His promise to provide us with whatever we need to accomplish his commandments.

1 Nephi 2

In this chapter we read about Lehi taking his family and departing in to the wilderness. Laman and Lemuel murmur against their father. Nephi chooses to pray to Heavenly Father to get a testimony of what his father was doing. The Lord softens Nephi's heart, he testifies to Sam and Sam gains trust in what Nephi has felt. It was probably not an easy decision for the family to leave their home and possessions and follow the words of the patriarch of their family.

I think that in our day we need to be willing to leave everything if it is asked of us to do so. Sometimes we hold on to things like jobs, hobbies, friends, habits. If these things are not in accordance with the teachings of the church we need to be willing to make the change.

1 Nephi 1 (Scripture Study)

In this chapter verse 11 gives us an example of the blessings of reading the scriptures. It is promised to us that if we will read our scriptures we will be filled with the spirit of the Lord.

Joseph Smith History (Trying to do the Right Thing)

In the first part of the Joseph Smith History The Prophet tells us about his experience in the sacred grove. He tells us that as he started praying vocally a darkness ensnares him and consumes him to the point that he is certain that he is going to perish. But just as he is about to be destroyed the light comes. The light drives away the darkness in an instant. He doesn't say that it took long or was a process to have the darkness go away. In an instant the darkness was gone. At this point he experiences his vision. What a pure dichotomy of emotions that must have been. To be on the verge of death and destruction, then to be surrounded by the most glorious feelings and images imaginable.

Sometimes when we try to make a big change in our lives or try to do the right thing it may seem like all the world is conspiring against us. It is important in those times to remember the experience of a young farm boy in a grove of trees, faithfully praying to his Heavenly Father for guidance. That same opportunity exists for us if we will call upon him for help in the name of our Savior.

Joseph Smith-Matthew (Enduring to the End)

This chapter details the circumstances leading up to the second coming of Jesus Christ. In the last days, much like today, there will be wickedness all around. In verse 11 it says that "he that remaineth steadfast and is not overcome, the same shall be saved." Now is the time to gain a stronger testimony of the gospel to protect us from all that is going on around us in the world.

This chapter also says that Jesus spoke these words to us for the elects sake. So I think by us having these words available to us we must be counted as the elect of God. He has blessed us with his words to help strengthen us and our families. I hope that I can always enjoy the scriptures as much as I am enjoying them right now. With my new commitment I am feeling the spirit more and understanding the the scriptures more than I ever have in my life.

Abraham 5 (One Flesh)

Verse 18 "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh."

I noticed that they say cleave, not just hold on to, not just stand by, but cleave. I think it is a great reminder of how fiercely we need to hold on to our spouses. There is so much in this world to cause heartache and dispare. So much to cause the break-up of families. Satan's main goal in this life is to tear apart families. It is very easy to get casual in our relationships with our spouses with all of the day-to-day responsibilities. Try to always take the time to show your spouse how much they are loved on a daily basis. If you increase your effort in loving her is is inevitable that she will increase her effort in loving you back.

Abraham 4 (The Creation)

I really don't have much to write about this one. From what I can tell it pretty much just lays out the order of creation.