People who have found Jesus, who love Him and worship Him and try their best to follow Him are some of the best people on earth. I have many, many friends who have found Jesus, and I love all of them! They have found Jesus...but have they found His church? The church that He, Himself organized when He lived on earth, in the Holy Lands? The church with Apostles and Prophets, and the authority to baptize and perform holy ordinances in His name?
The church that Jesus established was taken from the earth shortly after He and all His Apostles died, and it was not restored to the earth until a young, 14-year-old boy went into a grove of trees to pray, and ask God which of all the many, many churches he should join. He was confused. Some of his family had joined one church, and some another. He wanted to know WHICH of all the churches he should join. As he read in his bible, in the Book of James, chapter 1, verse 5, he read, "If any of ye lack wisdom, let him ask of God - who giveth to all men librally and upbraideth no, and it shall be given him." Joseph had been taught to pray, and he, even at his young age, knew that God answers prayers. So he got up early one morning and walked into a grove of trees across from his farmhouse and knelt to ask God which church he should join.
While praying in that grove of trees, this young, 14-year-old boy, Joseph Smith Jr., received a vision of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, who told him to join none of the churches, but to prepare himself, because he was the person whom the Lord had chosen to help restore His church to the earth once again. The time had come that was spoken of in Revelation 14:6..."And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people," The angel was Moroni, a Book of Mormon prophet, who taught and trained young Joseph until it was time for The Lord's church to be restored.
I testify that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's church restored to the earth. Not re-organized, but restored, just as it was in ancient times, with all the power and authority it once had. I know that the Book of Mormon was revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith, and he was allowed to translate it and publish it so that all the world would be able to read this other record that, like the Holy Bible, testifies of the divinity of the Lord, Jesus Christ.
I invite all who read this blog to read the Book of Mormon and study the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Do it and pray, and God will let you know that it is His. Don't take my word for it - find out for yourself.
You can learn more about the church by going to Mormon.org. You can read on your own, you can chat with some one who will answer your questions, or you can request missionaries to come to your home and teach you.
Let me close this post with my testimony. God lives. He hears and answers our prayers. He LOVES us. We are His children! He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to teach us, to set an example for us and to redeem us from our sins so that when we die, we can return to live with God and Jesus again! He has also given us holy temple ordinances, where we can be joined as eternal families by those who have the authority from Jesus Christ to do that.
I love my Heavenly Father and His Holy Son, Jesus Christ. To them I owe EVERYTHING. Without them, I am nothing!
No comments:
Post a Comment