The Atonement of Jesus Christ

Before His crucifixion and after the "Last Supper", Jesus Christ made his way with His disciples to a place known as Gethsemane. There He told the disciples that they should sit here while He went to pray, He took with him then Peter and the sons of Zebedee. He told them "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me." It says that He advanced a little further and fell on His face. In what had to be an agonizing plea with the Father, He asked if there was another way that we may be saved, but there wasn't. This was the only way and He was the only One who could save us.

In that garden, He through His love took upon Himself our sins, pains, afflictions, insecurities, and everything that makes this life hard. He has borne our grief, sorrow, anguish and guilt. He has felt the pains of everyone ranging from the loss of a loved one to the suffering of cancer. The pain and anguish was so great Luke says that an angel came to strengthen Him. As horrible the pain and terrifying the experience Jesus pressed on and defeated the foe, the diabolical one. But, as exhausting as this ordeal had to be He accomplished the task, but treachery was beginning to be made manifest. As Judas approached his Master, he gave the guards their "criminal" and their Redeemer. Brought before Pilate He was condemned by the crowd although no fault was found in Him. But, they would not have him gone free, their lust for blood was unquenchable, and their hatred for this Son of Man was intolerant. Carrying the beam that His hands and wrists would be nailed to, He made His was to Golgotha. There He was hung. His flesh pierced with nails. And there suffered again pain the best that humans could deliver. Having His Father's Spirit withdrawn from Him, He cries "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" But, He withstood the divine withdrawal and having accomplished all the Father had asked He says, "It is finished."

I love Jesus Christ and I am eternally grateful for Him, I cannot express my appreciation for my Savior. I know that He is the Redeemer and Savior of all men. He alone shouldered the burden of our salvation. I know He lives. 

Our Savior: Jesus Christ

I had thought that with my conclusion of the Book of Mormon blogs that I might blog a tiny bit concerning charity, or Christ's love, but I decided that rather than explain about charity or what it really is that I would blog on the ONLY time in the history of this Earth that charity was manifested the way which Paul and Mormon say is the only way or that if men don't have this charity they are indeed nothing (Moroni 7, 1 Corinthians 13, Ether 12). This is the love I would like to talk about and the way it was made manifest through that Savior and Son of the Father, Jesus Christ.

 As much understanding there is about the atonement there is infinitely more that is not quite understood or able to be understood, in fact it is the hardest doctrine to comprehend because of it's dealings with infinite, which our minds can't comprehend. But, as hard as it may be to learn about or understand deep down we learn that somewhere in all the infinities and eternities that make up the doctrine we find ourselves in there almost as if the whole Atonement, or suffering and death of Jesus Christ,  was performed solely and only for us. And if you can't find yourself in there, then study and learn about the Atonement as much as you can until you do. This is where we find our first ties into the Atonement and even the whole reason for Jesus Christ's condescension. When we realize that this is for us, that this charity this expression of love, is for you and is for me and is for everyone who ever has, is or will live on this Earth it becomes more meaningful. We are better able to appreciate it and want to use the Atonement. Now understanding why we need the Atonement is a topic in and of itself which I will blog about soon, but right now understanding that the Atonement was done out of love is what I feel one of the first principles that we need to understand about the Atonement.

I testify that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that he did die for you and for me and that His love and Grace and Mercy can reach everyone. I know that He is there ready to help you with all troubles you are facing. I know that the Bible and the Book of Mormon testifies of Him and of His divinity. I know that He loves us.

What does an Apostle have to say about the Book of Mormon?

                                                                 
What more could I say? Well, I know the book is true. Pray and find out if it is for yourself.
 Love.

The Book of Mormon: The Way to Know

So out of all the testimonies throughout the history of the world, there are those that will never be forgotten; Job's testimony of his Redeemer, Isaiah's prophetic vision's about our Savior's birth, life, and Atonement, Peter's powerful testimony of Christ's divine Messiahship, Steven's martyrdom and dieing testimony, or perhap's all of those martyr's whose testimonies have been sealed with their blood. Out of these it is very safe to say that the key point in the testimony is the conviction the Spirit gives as it is manifested to you in whatever form it may come in, but it is the Spirit that carries that testimony of Jesus Christ into your heart. Well, it is not surprising then that to gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon, which book also testifies that Jesus is the Christ, it must come by the Spirit. If one truly wishes to gain a knowledge of the Book of Mormon they must do so by studying it, praying about it with faith that you will receive an answer and the knowledge will come by the power of the Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 2). So if you haven't guessed on what I'm going to be blogging about today I'll help you out. How can I know if the Book of Mormon is true?

If you remember my blog about the Book of Mormon being the keystone of our religion, then you will remember that if the Book of Mormon is true the Joseph Smith is a prophet as well. So I will address what steps a person must take in order to gain a knowledge of the truthfulness or falsehood of the Book of Mormon. Well let's start with number one, you can't gain a testimony of something you have no idea about, this is where studying comes into play. Just by simply reading and pondering the message it contains in your hearts one may come to know of the truthfulness of it for themselves.The next step is a prayer. It is getting on your knees and asking our Father if this record is true or if it is not. I promise you that a loving Father in Heaven would not mislead you, if you genuinely ask He will manifest the truth of it unto you. You will not be wondering about anything, if you ask in faith ready to receive and act on that answer you get, you will receive a witness more vivid than sight. I have and you can too.

The Book of Mormon: What Does It Teach?

A lot of people have heard about what Mormon's might believe and maybe have wondered themselves what do they believe, but I'd like to answer this question with what I feel is the most important belief we have. That belief is Christ. In the very first page in the Book of Mormon the title page written by the prophet historian, Mormon, It says that the whole purpose of the book is to convince all people, Jew and Gentile, that Jesus is the Christ. There is a testimony from the 1st page to Moroni's final words that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God and that He alone is the Savior of all mankind.

 One of the most straight forward basic doctrines I feel the Book of Mormon teaches is Faith in Jesus Christ. Mosiah 4:8-10 reads the following;

8 And this is the means whereby salvation cometh. And there is none other salvation save this which hath been spoken of; neither are there any conditions whereby man can be saved except the conditions which I have told you.

 9 Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.

 10 And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them.

This is the main message of the Book of Mormon that we believe that Christ and that His Atoning Sacrifice allows us to return and live with Him and Our Father in Heaven again as well. Not this alone, but through repentance we can become clean through His blood and find true comfort and peace in Him and a remission of our sins. These are the main things the Book of Mormon teach of, but there is a lot more that is taught as well.  But, I testify that the Book of Mormon is true and that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world.

The Book of Mormon: The Keystone of Our Religion

I've heard the Book of Mormon explained this way and I know it is absolutely correct. The Book of Mormon is similar to a keystone, if you are unfamiliar with a keystone, when a stone arch is made the very center top stone in it is called the keystone. The stone if removed would bring all the other stones crashing down.

We can and of necessity have to take the exact same stance with the Book of Mormon. After all that has been said concerning the truthfulness or falsity of the Book of Mormon this is what is left. If the Book of Mormon is NOT true then; the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (or LDS Church) is not the Lord's Kingdom once again established on the Earth, Joseph Smith and all of his successors which followed him are false, and the revelations and doctrines which proceeded from all the prophets in these last days are like their originators and are false as well. We now begin to see that everything the LDS Church teaches believes and professes as true, literally stand or fall on the veracity or falsity of the Book of Mormon. But, just as everything falls if the Book of Mormon is not true, everything stands if the Book of Mormon is true. If the Book of Mormon is true then; the LDS Church truly is the Lord's Kingdom on the earth today, Joseph Smith was a prophet and all his successor's were and are prophet's, and all the beliefs and doctrines of the LDS Church are true as well.

I testify that the Book of Mormon is true and that it is God's word. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. I know that that Jesus Christ of whom it testifies is the Christ, the Anointed One, the One Who is the Author and Finisher of our Salvation, the Living Son of the Living God. I know that Joseph Smith was visited by that same Father and that same Son in the early spring-time of 1820 and that he was a prophet and was called of God just like every prophet before.This is why we take the Book of Mormon to the world as another testament that Jesus is the Christ and that God has spoken again today and that there are prophets today just as in days of old. My hope in blogging about this is to bring a greater understanding of what it means if the Book of Mormon is true. God bless you all.