Coyotes, Cougars, and Men in Suits

Verbal Vomit Episode 4. Twenty days after our opening podcast, we discuss what happens when: a coyote gets run over by a car, Cougars beat Aggies (Answer: Rebecca gets to play Police Blotter), you have handsome hair, and a big announcement is made.

The Book of Mormon as a Personal Guide

By President Henry B. Eyring

First Counselor in the First Presidency

Henry B. Eyring, "The Book of Mormon as a Personal Guide", Ensign, Sept. 2010, 4–6

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All of us feel, in our best moments, a desire to return home to live with God. He gave us the gift of His Beloved Son as our Savior to provide the path and to teach us how to follow it. He gave us prophets to point the way. The Prophet Joseph Smith was inspired to translate the record of prophets that is the Book of Mormon. It is our sure guide on the way home to God.

Joseph Smith said of that precious book, “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”¹

The precepts of the Book of Mormon are the commandments of God we find in it. Some are direct commands from the Savior through His prophets as to what we are to do and what we are to become. The Book of Mormon gives us the Savior’s example to increase our faith and determination to obey His command to follow Him. The book is filled with the doctrine of Christ to guide us. Here is an example from 2 Nephi:

“[Jesus] said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?

“And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son” (2 Nephi 31:10–11).

The book makes plain that we must receive the Holy Ghost as a baptism of fire to help us stay on the strait and narrow path. We are taught that we must pray always in the name of Christ, not fainting, and that if we do, we have this promise: “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).

The Book of Mormon makes plain in the marvelous sermon of King Benjamin what it means to have a love of God and of all men. When our natures are changed by the power of the Atonement and through our faithful obedience to the commandments, we will be filled with the love of God (see Mosiah 4:1–12).

The Book of Mormon also gives us confidence that we can become so purified in this life that we have no more desire to do evil (see Mosiah 5:2). This hope gives us courage and comfort as Satan tries to tempt and discourage us on our way.

Each time I read even a few lines in the Book of Mormon, I feel my testimony strengthened that the book is true, that Jesus is the Christ, that we can follow Him home, and that we can take those we love home with us. It has been for me the book of books. It is the word of God.

I pray that we and all those we love will drink deeply and daily from it. I testify in the name of Jesus Christ that it is a true guide.

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Remember what a great blessing it is that we have the Book of Mormon. Happy Sabbath everyone.

Sacrifice

The first installment of a weekly Sunday post dedicated to becoming closer to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

I have lots of fun with my posts throughout the week, but I intend this weekly Sunday post to be of a more serious nature. I know that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us and He wants us to have eternal happiness. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to Atone for our sins. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I know that He has provided us a way to return to our Heavenly Father and to be with our loved ones for eternity. I know that the church of Jesus Christ and His teachings were restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that God has called a prophet in our day, Thomas S. Monson. I know that anyone willing to ask God with all of their heart in sincere prayer can also gain a personal testimony of these things.

Sacrifice

"Sacrifice means giving to the Lord whatever He requires of our time, our earthly possessions, and our energies to further His work. The Lord commanded, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). Our willingness to sacrifice is an indication of our devotion to God. People have always been tried and tested to see if they will put the things of God first in their lives." - Gospel Principles, a publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Jesus Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. "Because of His great sacrifice, everyone will be saved from physical death by the Resurrection and all can be saved from their sins through faith in Jesus Christ."

Sacrifice is two fold. There is the sacrifice of temporal things as well as spiritual things. The Lord said "Ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood, ... and your burnt offerings shall be done away. ... And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit." (3 Nephi 9:19-20). When asked by a young rich ruler, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Christ answered, "...Sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he was sorrowful. He was very rich and had his heart set on his riches (Luke 18:18-23).

Lamoni's father from The Book of Mormon, a great king in his day, was taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The king understood sacrifice. When taught of eternal life and the joy that could be obtained through Jesus Christ, the king said "I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy. ... I will give away all my sins to know Thee [God]." (Alma 22:15-18)

My hope is that we may all strive to have the same desire as Lamoni's father, the king. My hope is that we may recognize the great joy in store for us, and be willing to sacrifice everything to obtain that joy in this life and in the eternities.