Our LDS Life

One of the most singular beliefs of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that Jesus Christ visited the Americas after his resurrection from the dead. The centerpiece of The Book of Mormon is a record of this visit and what Jesus taught the people here right after his resurrection. One of my favorite parts of this account is found in 3 Nephi 17.

When Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them.

And he said unto them: Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you. Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy.

For I perceive that ye desire that I should show unto you what I have done unto your brethren at Jerusalem, for I see that your faith is sufficient that I should heal you.

When he had thus spoken, all the multitude, with one accord, did go forth with their sick and their afflicted, and their lame, and with their blind, and with their dumb, and with all them that were afflicted in any manner; and he did heal them every one as they were brought forth unto him.

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.

And it came to pass that he commanded that their little children should be brought. So they brought their little children and set them down upon the ground round about him, and Jesus stood in the midst; and the multitude gave way till they had all been brought unto him.

When they had all been brought, and Jesus stood in the midst, he commanded the multitude that they should kneel down upon the ground.  When they had knelt upon the ground, Jesus groaned within himself, and said: Father, I am troubled because of the wickedness of the people of the house of Israel.

When he had said these words, he himself also knelt upon the earth; and behold he prayed unto the Father, and the things which he prayed cannot be written, and the multitude did bear record who heard him.

And after this manner do they bear record: The eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father;

No tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father.

And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying unto the Father, he arose; but so great was the joy of the multitude that they were overcome. Jesus spake unto them, and bade them arise. And they arose from the earth, and he said unto them: Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full.

When he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.

When he had done this he wept again; and he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.

And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them.

The multitude did see and hear and bear record; and they know that their record is true for they all of them did see and hear, every man for himself; and they were in number about two thousand and five hundred souls; and they did consist of men, women, and children.

David O. McKay once said, “No man (or woman) can sincerely resolve to apply in his daily life the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth without sensing a change in his nature. The phrase ‘born again’ has a deeper significance than what many people attach to it. This changed feeling may be indescribable, but it is real. Happy the person who has truly sensed the uplifting, transforming power that comes from this nearness to the Savior, this kinship to the living Christ!” ¹

He also said, “What you sincerely in your heart think of Christ will determine what you are, will largely determine what your acts will be. No person can study this divine Personality, can accept His teachings, without becoming conscious of an uplifting and refining influence within himself.”²

I believe in the power of one person to make a difference. Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of this principle. We should never force our will upon others, but we can change the world for the better when we follow Christ and allow Him to change our hearts. Edmund Burke once said that “all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” So let’s do something! Let’s make a difference in the world around us by living as Christ lived and loving as He loved!

1. David O. McKay, Conference Report, April 1944. 124
2. David O. McKay, Conference Report, Apr. 1951, 93

Here’s some more of my favorite quotes from the Book of Mormon. They come from Jacob through Mosiah 26:

“Our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream.” Jacob 7:26

“Whatsoever thing ye shall ask in faith believing that ye shall receive in the name of Christ, ye shall receive it.” Enos 1:15

“I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father.” Enos 1:27

“There is nothing which is good save it comes from the Lord: and that which is evil cometh from the devil.” Omni 1:25

“When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God.” Mosiah 2:17

“Ye are eternally indebted to your heavenly Father, to render to him all that you have and are.” Mosiah 2:34

“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…” Mosiah 2:41

“And moreover, I say unto you that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.” Mosiah 3:17

“Ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry or naked; neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another and serve the devil, who is the master of sin…” Mosiah 4:14

“The Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.” Mosiah 5:2

“How knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?” Mosiah 5:13

“He is the light and the life of the world: yeah, a light that is endless that can never be darkened; yea and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death.” Mosiah 16:9

“Stand fast in the liberty wherewith ye have been made free.” Mosiah 23:13

“I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs.” Mosiah 24:14

Do any of these strike a chord with you? Do you have some favorite scriptures you’d like to share?

This weekend I’ve been thinking a lot about the one-liners from scriptures that have stuck with me over the years — the ones that have made an impact on my life and come to mind when I need them. Over the next few days I’ll be posting some of my favorites. Here’s a few to start. These are all from the first 2 books of the Book of Mormon:

“I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded for I know that the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men save he shall provide a way for them to accomplish the thing he hath commanded.” 1 Nephi 3:7

“And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.” – 1 Nephi 16:29

“The guilty take the truth to be hard for it cutteth them to the very center.” – 1 Nephi 16:2

“If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them.” 1 Nephi 17:50

“I did liken all scripture unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.” 1 Nephi 19:23

“I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love.” 2 Nephi 1:15

“For it must needs be that there is an opposition in all things… all things must needs be a compound in one.” 2 Nephi 2:11

“Adam fell that men might be and men are that they might have joy.” 2 Nephi 2:25

“For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children.” 2 Nephi 4:15

“Awake my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.” 2 Nephi 4:28

“O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.” 2 Nephi 4:30

“Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh, Yea my God will give me, if I ask not amiss.” 2 Nephi 4:35

“Shake off the chains of him that would bind you fast: come unto the God who is the rock of your salvation.” 2 Nephi 9:45

“Do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy.” 2 Nephi 9:51

“And the Messiah cometh that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon.” 2 Nephi 13:26

“And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.” 2 Nephi 25:26

“Feast upon the words of Christ for behold the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.” 2 Nephi 32:3

“I glory in plainness: I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell.” 2 Nephi 33:6

What about you, What are some of your favorites from 1st and 2nd Nephi? Or for those who aren’t LDS, your favorite one-liners from the Bible?

I grew up in a family where my mother was Baptist and my father’s family was Methodist. My dad was never very religious. His father was, and pushed him with it. So my dad — being the independent spirit he is — tended to go in the opposite direction of pressured expectations.

My great aunts (my dad’s maternal aunts), joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the 1960′s. They began talking to my parents about it. My mom was Southern Baptist and wasn’t all that interested in changing. But my dad saw some value in the morals and principles taught by the Church. He wanted us kids to be raised with it because he felt it would give us a strong anchor of values. He listened to the missionaries that came, yet he didn’t want to change. He liked golfing on Sundays and didn’t care to spend that day in church, but he encouraged my mother to listen. My two great aunts were pivotal in my mother’s conversion. They took her to Relief Society (the women’s meeting) for some time.

I was 4-years-old when my mother prayed about the restored gospel, received her own testimony, and joined the Church. My two older sisters joined at the same time. My dad continued to be supportive but did not join until about 20 years later when my younger brother served a 2-year mission to Japan. In the meantime, my mother was ever-faithful — always attending church and serving in many capacities.

So I grew up in the Church, but my parents sent me to private fundamental Baptist schools. I had the privilege of spending 9 years in these schools. Everyday there was “chapel.” We memorized Bible verses and had Bible classes. I had some phenomenal teachers who I still consider fondly as pivotal in my life. As a result, I got this very good cross-foundation in what Protestants believe and what Latter-day Saints believe — and where the similarities are. This background has enabled me to reach out and teach people of various faiths — building on common ground. There’s this level of truth that we all share. Then through the restored gospel, we have this “extra” layer of principles, truths and blessings that enhance our connection to the Spirit, increase our peace, and provide answers to life’s tough questions. I think this is why so many of us find people coming to us for spiritual guidance.

As I’ve tried my best to share as much truth as I can with those who will listen, I’ve found people to be very receptive to timeless and true principles. Much of what I teach is strongly rooted in my LDS background but it doesn’t conflict with Biblical principles, because frankly, Latter-day Saints follow Biblical principles completely and quite literally. A lot of people avoid entire passages and books of the Bible because they don’t understand them or don’t know what to do with them. Latter-day Saints look at everything that’s there and take the Bible quite literally.

As for my own personal testimony of the restored gospel, it came over time and in phases. It started when I was 14 and began to daily study the Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. I prayed and asked about the truth of the Book of Mormon and whether Joseph Smith was a prophet. I received my answer. I still remember kneeling in my bedroom at my parents’ home and gaining that peace and witness that these things are true.

As I grew up and got married, my testimony continued to grow slowly but surely by living principles and seeing positive results. But I think many of us as Latter-day Saints tend to go stale if we don’t actively “feast upon the words of Christ”* and share what we have with others. I believe for a time to a great degree I was “going through the motions.” Then, in 1999, I became friends with a lady online who was not a member of our faith. In time, she became interested in the Church. She asked a million questions, dug deep, prayed, and received her own testimony of the Book of Mormon.

Over the course of about 18 months we talked heavily about the Church, and I started to see the amazing blessings we enjoy through her eyes. It changed her life and mine. My faith in my Savior and in my Heavenly Father made quantum leaps forward. My priorities rearranged, and building up the Kingdom of God came first. Helping others find this deeper connection with Jesus Christ became my greatest joy.

That pivotal season of my life set me on a trajectory that led me where I am today. Through the encouragement of this friend, I started SheLovesGod.com. I wrote my first inspirational book, “10 Steps to Fulfilling Your Divine Destiny” and others that followed. I am eternally grateful for my friend who was the catalyst for bringing a level of joy and true understanding that I never thought possible. What amazing blessings our Savior has to offer! They were all right there with me, but I never saw them until I saw them through her eyes. I’m grateful that the Lord has given me so many opportunities to learn, grow and share my testimony of Jesus Christ with others. There is no greater joy!

What about you? What’s your conversion story?

* “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.” (2 Nephi 31: 20, Book of Mormon)

I decided to start this blog for four reasons:

1) There’s so much of myself that I’d like to share with loyal readers about my beliefs and background. Up until now, I’ve not had a forum for expressing this part of myself. This blog is for those who are curious about what makes me tick as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and how my membership in the Church impacts everything I do — from the way I do business, to how I write, to how I live my life.

2) This blog is for the curious . . . those who would like to know more about Latter-day Saints (aka Mormons). Do we have horns? Do we have multiple wives? Do we worship a different God? Do we worship a different Jesus? Do Mormons dress in black and frown a lot? Do we live in communes and refuse to associate with others? If you hadn’t guessed, the answer to all those questions is NO. All of those are myths and this blog is here to dispel these myths and others.

3) This blog is also for my fellow Latter-day Saints. It’s time we began educating others about what we believe. As President Boyd K. Packer said in a recent broadcast for seminary instructors, “It isn’t 1830 and there aren’t just 6 of us anymore.” Many of us live our lives afraid to admit our faith, afraid to talk about what we believe with others because of persecution heaped upon members for so many years. But we live in a different age. Mobs aren’t combining. Our leaders aren’t being unjustly incarcerated and murdered. People are more open minded, more tolerant, and more willing to allow others to express their own views and opinions. It’s time we set aside the fears of the past, broke down some barriers, and built a few bridges with those of other faiths.

4) I hope this will be a forum for creating understanding about our beliefs and about our lifestyle. I love what Joseph Smith, Jr. prophesied concerning the millennium. I believe this prophecy’s fulfillment is at the doors: “Christians should cease wrangling and contending with each other, and cultivate the principles of union and friendship in their midst; and they will do it before the millennium can be ushered in and Christ takes possession of His kingdom.”

Christ is coming again and it’s time to find that common ground and build upon it. It’s my prayer that those who read this blog will come to understand not only my personal conviction, but also the conviction of every faithful Latter-day Saint that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, our one and only Advocate with the Father and that by him and of him and through him the worlds are and were created and that the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God (Doctrine and Covenants 76:23-24).

What about you? What are some common myths that you’ve heard about members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Or if you’re a member, what holds you back from speaking up about your beliefs to others?

Common Myths and Realities about Latter-day Saint Beliefs: