Ponderize

During General Conference, which happened, unbelievably, two weeks ago, Elder Devin G. Durrant invited the church to ponderize one scripture a week. Ponderize, he explained, is "a combination of 80 percent extended pondering and 20 percent memorization." I have chosen two scriptures since then to ponderize. The first to bring me comfort and courage in doing right amidst a world of opposition and criticism, and the second to bring me closer to a constant state of happiness.

The first scripture I chose was D&C 6:34. "Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail." The phrase "little flock" caught my attention when I came across this scripture during personal study. I felt the love and careful attention God gives to His people, meaning all of His children, but more specifically those who follow Him and keep His commandments and strive to do good. Knowing that He supports me and defends me gives me courage to do what is right and comfort in knowing that simply doing good is what He requires of me. This scripture also re-lit my conviction to center my life in Jesus Christ and make Him my life's foundation. Christ loves me; He watches over me; He is with me.

The second scripture I chose was Mosiah 2:41. "And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember these things are true; for the Lord God has spoken it." This week I am searching for ways to make my life more full of happiness. I am trying to become more optimistic and filled with joy. I'm going that as I reflect on this scripture that I will be inspired by the spirit to better know how to be happy.

*I'm STILL working on the post from a few weeks ago. I'm hoping all of my research will pay off. I'm trying to be thorough in finding scripture references and cross-references to make the pattern I found to be more credible.

Prophets (and a bit of overzealousness)

*Side Note: My post from last week is still in the works. It turns out I was a little overzealous and made the scope of my article too big to write in one week. I became too wrapped up in studying the scriptures and finding patterns - and every scripture that fell within those patterns - in order to finish writing about my discoveries in one week. I'm not really sorry, though, because more deeply studying the scriptures is the main goal behind this blog project in the first place. However, I am going to try to keep the subject of my posts on a smaller scale so I can achieve all of my goals.*

The LDS General Conference is this weekend, and in preparation for doing so, I wanted to write a bit of my understanding and testimony of the Lord's prophet and apostles that live on the earth today. Prophets existed anciently, and accounts of their teachings and actions are recorded in the Old and New Testament, Pearl of Great Price, and the Book of Mormon. Moses, Abraham, Noah, Daniel, Lehi, Nephi, and many others are revered as faithful prophets and servants of God. 

A prophet, by definition, is a man called of God to receive direct revelation for the Lord's people, hold all of the keys of His Holy Priesthood, and to serve as a representative and mouthpiece of God himself. Christ served as not only our Savior, but also a prophet when he taught the people in Jerusalem and the Americas. He was, we could say, the "ultimate" prophet because He perfectly embodied the characteristics and virtues of God, and was unified with Him, so much so that He was "one" with God. When Christ served on the earth, He called apostles to serve as witnesses of Him, and to teach the people God's word. After Christ was killed and resurrected, each of His apostles were killed as well. So began the Great Apostasy.

For many centuries, no true representative of God lived on the earth. His gospel was broken up and dispersed between the many religions and churches on the earth, but no one held the authority or position of God's prophet. In 1820, a young boy named Joseph Smith went to grove of trees to ask God which church held the truth, and which he should join. In response, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph and instructed him that no church on the earth was true, and that he should join none of them. Later, Joseph was taught that he was called to restore the fulness of God's gospel on the earth. He was to be called as the Prophet of God. 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized on April 6, 1830 by the Prophet Joseph Smith. He called twelve apostles to serve as special witnesses of Christ and to serve in the same capacities as Christ's apostles. God has since called Prophets and Apostles to preside over His church as past prophet and apostles have passed away. The members of the LDS church believe, therefore, that the Prophet Thomas S. Monson leads the church today with God's authority and direction.

It is my testimony, confirmed to me by the power of the Holy Ghost, that Joseph Smith did see God the Father and Jesus Christ, and that they called him to restore God's true church upon the earth. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the Lord's current prophet, and that he leads this church under God's direction. I know that the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the counselors in the First Presidency of the church are also called of God and serve as witnesses of Christ. I know these things to be true because I have prayed and searched to know they are true, and the Holy Ghost whispered in my mind and in my heart that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints contains the fulness of God's truth and is led by the Prophet of God. I cannot deny these things, nor do I have any desire to. Heavenly Father has blessed me, and the world, with the opportunity to listen to a prophet's voice this weekend, and I look forward to the opportunity with bated breath and a yearning heart. I pray that I may heed his words, that they may be written on my heart as the words of God. I proclaim these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.