The Simple Act of Prayer

I’ve had discussions with many people on topics related to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Some were sincerely searching for knowledge, while others only seek to debate various obscure points of doctrines in an attempt to prove themselves as being intellectually superior. For those of you who are not honestly searching for truth (you know who you are), I willingly decline to get in the mud with you, the title and prize is yours for the taking.

However for anyone who is really searching for truth, I ask that you consider taking your search directly to the source. There are a lot of people in our world and they have different opinions and understandings about religion and beliefs. So what makes me any different than the other millions out there? Because, I will be the first to say that of myself I am only a person. The difference is that I don’t want you to listen to me, believe me, debate with me or be impressed by my intellect. I’m directing you to Pray to God, the source of all truth, to get the answers for yourself.

Now, is it reasonable to expect God to take my prayers seriously if I don’t take them seriously myself? Can I expect an answer if I don’t prepare my heart and mind for actually receiving and obeying an answer. If I have already made up my mind as to what my choice will be, why would God bother give me an answer that would have no impact on me other than to condemn me, because now I’ve been told what to do and I didn’t obey. No, he loves us too much to give us direction when there is almost no chance that we will obey it. This is why the Israelites were given the Law of Moses which was then fulfilled by Jesus Christ and his Atonement.

I think it safe to say that we all agree there are certain things that we must all do as we approach God in prayer so that we can reasonably expect to receive an answer. Having an open mind is probably the first and foremost necessity when kneeling before Our Maker. Do we instruct the wall and then condemn it when it hasn’t obeyed? Nor will God instruct us until we are prepared to obey Him in whatever his counsel.

I’ve received the council before that I’ll pass on to you. That when seeking an answer, “pray as if everything depends on God, and then get up and work as though everything depends on you”. I submit to you that this approach applies to getting answers from God on all topics.

For example, if I were seeking to find out if the Book of Mormon was true or not, I couldn’t expect God to tell just me if I didn’t put forth some effort on my own to read it, or at least a respectable portion of it to see how it felt to my soul.

I cannot explain the feeling that you will from the Holy Ghost as he answers your prayers. Nor can I explain the flavor of salt. I can only suggest that you try it for yourself so that you can see firsthand what it is that I’m talking about.

I find it simply amazing that as we all run around and search for the truth, so few are really willing to perform the simple act of prayer to the only being that can truly answer our questions.

Here’s a link that further explains why it is that I believe the things I do.
http://mysite.verizon.net/resvvgeg/Why_I_Believe.htm

Answers from Heaven are the Difference

I heard someone just last week, “there are so many different churches and religions out there, how can you really know if any of them are true? I love to hear these questions because this is exactly what sets us apart from the hundreds of other religions throughout the world.

Many people that know about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, know something about Joseph Smith and something of his vision. But I think it’s more important how he got to that point. You see he was looking at the many different religions of his day (1820) and wanted to know which of them was really Gods true church. He would visit the many different church meetings as well as intently study the Bible. While reading in the Bible he came across the scripture in James 1: 5

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

He then decided that he would put this scripture to the test, because he wanted to know. He trusted in the scripture and knew that if he could get an answer from God that he wouldn’t lie.

It is our encouragement for all mankind to take this same approach to getting answers on all spiritual matters like this, that sets our church apart from the many other churches out there.

The Book of Mormon also teaches this same principal in Moroni 10:3-5

3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”

For example, if you wanted to know if our church is really the true church, don’t take my word or anybody else’s. You can go directly to God through prayer to learn where to find the true and complete Gospel of Jesus Christ. Here’s how to do this.

1. Learn about our Church and the Gospel we teach to learn for yourself what we believe and why. (click here to request a Free Book of Mormon)
2. In a quite serene and private setting, sincerely and humbly pray to God, pouring out your soul to him asking him if this church and it’s gospel is really true.
3. Look to your heart and soul to see how it feels. If you are sincere the Holy Ghost will answer your prayers. This usually is with a warm peaceful feeling that simply confirms what truth is.

(click here to Learn more about our beliefs)

Getting Back to the Gospel of Jesus Christ

I recently did a Google search on the topic of "Restored Gospel". I found it amazing at how many pastors and church leaders were openly discussing changing and altering the Gospel of Jesus Christ to attract more people to their congregations. One writer stated that the gospel that is taught in most of the so called “Christian” churches is so far removed from the teachings of Jesus Christ that it was almost unrecognizable. To his great credit in his article he desperately called for Christians everywhere to return to the basics of the teachings of the Gospel of Jesus.

I believe this is the real problem we face today, because that Gospel of Jesus Christ has been changed, altered, added to and diluted so much that it is no longer the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As I read in the scriptures how the Gospel was taught by Jesus Christ, the Apostles and the prophets all the way back to Adam, I don’t see any of them adapting the gospel to the people to make it “more acceptable” or “easier to live or understand”. All throughout the scriptures the people are taught to repent or face the consequences. There were no apologies or softening of the message of God. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is what it is.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying we need to be cold in the way we share and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I’m saying specifically, that we need to teach ONLY the gospel of Jesus Christ in all its glory. We need to do it with all the love and compassion of a true disciple and friend. It isn’t up to us to change, alter or dilute the message. We are just messengers, called to share our testimonies and the things we believe.

I think it would be a beautiful thing if all Christians everywhere stopped changing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to make it more popular with their congregations and got back to basics. When I say basics I mean that gospel exactly as taught in the scriptures, with Prophets, Apostles, Priesthood Authority from God, etc. Anything short of this full and complete gospel is NOT the gospel of Jesus Christ, but something else.

Deut. 12:32
"What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it."

I have carefully reviewed the teachings of many different faiths and the more I do the easier it is to say that I am profoundly confident that the gospel and the doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, are exactly those that were taught by Jesus Christ, His Apostles and His Prophets in both the New and Old Testaments.

I firmly believe that as member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we are not teaching new principals to people. We are only helping them to remember that same gospel that was taught in the Spirit World before we came here to the Earth.

Don’t take my word for it. Pray to God and find out for yourself.

Moroni 10:3-5
"3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."

http://mysite.verizon.net/resvvgeg/Why_I_Believe.htm