Friday, September 2, 2005

   Hello!
"The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is convincing evidence that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored. It is the keystone of our religion, the most powerful resource for teaching this message. Some important truths restored through Jospeh Smith include the knowledge that God is our Father and that we are His spirit children, that we lived with Him before birth, and that families can live together forever in God's presence through Christ's Atonement by obeying the laws and ordances of the gospel."

and

"Trust the remarkable promie in Moroni 10:3-5. Do all you can to persuade people to read the book, understand it, and ask God sincerely whether it is true. The witness of the Holy Ghost becomes the cornerstone of their faith that Christ has restored His Church. Help those you teach to receive that spiritual confirmation."

"[...]Much of the time we are just too casual about all of this. This is eternal life. This is the salvation of the children of God. Eternity hangs in the balance....It is the most important path this investigator will ever walk. [Elder Jeffrey R. Holland]"

"[...]Repentance involves a change of heart and a desire to forsake sin and serve God. It involves humbly yielding to the Spirit and submitting to God's will. It requires that people increase their commitment to live in agreement with God's will. Repentance requires a sincere and lasting change of thoughts, desires, habits, and actions. It is a positive experience that brings joy and peace. Be bold and loving in helping people understand what they must do to repent. By inviting people to make commitments, you can effectively raise a voice of both warning and hope."

~from Preach My Gospel a missionary-teaching and preparation manual

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I testify that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior, Redeemer, Lord, and Brother of the world. And Heavenly Father is our literal Father in Heaven, and they both love us. Believe.

How is everyone doing? I hope you like my new "fact of the day" feature. :D It's interesting, thinking up facts. Most of them are probably going to be about animals. For example--

*Equus, that's for later in your post.*

Oh, right. ^/^ Anyway, today was my last day at the bookstore. Next week I start working at Wendy's. x.x At least it's a paying job, but I need a more permanent job--which, for me, does not include Wendy's. What do you guys want to do with your lives?

*I want to live happily in a big, green meadow. With Kahn. ^/^*

Really?

*Um...did I say that out loud?*

Yes.

*^/^ I...well...that is...Oh, I'm leaving. (leaves)*

Well, there's that out in the open. Of course, Xihuitl and Kahn are already, basically, a couple. Anyway, K-C is still glum, but he got a birthday present that made him very happy--salmon riceballs!

-It wasn't my birthday.-

I know, but I don't know when your birthday is.

-You could have asked.-

Okay. I will next time.

-o.o-

Meanwhile, Happy Birthday! Oh, let's have a birthday party!

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Fact of the day: The viola is the lesser known, larger, deeper-voiced cousin of the violin. Refi plays the viola. Whoot, Refi!

(PS--If you want any appropriate fact of the day to be featured, just send it to me pm, please. :D Happy intelligence gathering.)

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*And...*

~Ba, ba da ba ba ba BAH.~



*Congrats to Equus! Trumpet sounds courtesy of Sano.*

~Anything for my girl.~

Aw, you two shouldn't have. ^/^ (glomps Sano)

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D&C 42:11
Again I say unto you, that it shall not be given to any one to go forth to preach my gospel, or to build up my church, except he be ordained by some one who has authority, and it is known to the church that he has authority and has been regularly ordained by the heads of the church.

Used in “God Is at the Helm”, a talk given by our current prophet and mortal president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gordon B. Hinckley, under the direction and inspiration of Jesus Christ, our head. This is the source of the following, as well.

“We hold up our right hand when voting in token before God that we will sustain those for whom we vote; and if we cannot feel to sustain them we ought not to hold up our hands, because to do this, would be to act the part of hypocrites. … For when we lift up our hands in this way, it is in token to God that we are sincere in what we do, and that we will sustain the parties we vote for. … If we agree to do a thing and do not do it, we become covenant breakers and violators of our obligations, which are, perhaps, as solemn and binding as anything we can enter into” (in Journal of Discourses, 21:207).

This principle applies to every priesthood quorum and every other organization of the Church where officers are sustained by the membership.

Almost universally the sustaining is unanimously in the affirmative, as it was this afternoon, because of acceptance in the Church of the validity of the declaration found in the fifth article of our faith:

“We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.” [A of F 1:5]

Here again is set forth a significant and unique feature established by the Lord in the governance of His church. The right to nominate rests with the superior officer or officers at whatever the level. But that nomination must be sustained—that is, accepted and confirmed—by the membership of the Church. The procedure is peculiar to the Lord’s church. There is no seeking for office, no jockeying for position, no campaigning to promote one’s virtues. Contrast the Lord’s way with the way of the world. The Lord’s way is quiet, it is a way of peace, it is without fanfare or monetary costs. It is without egotism or vanity or ambition. Under the Lord’s plan, those who have responsibility to select officers are governed by one overriding question: “Whom would the Lord have?” There is quiet and thoughtful deliberation. And there is much of prayer to receive the confirmation of the Holy Spirit that the choice is correct.

(and, earlier:)

Faith of our fathers, holy faith,
We will be true to thee till death!
(Hymns, 1985, no. 84)

I’m grateful for the singing of those words by the choir earlier in the meeting. My beloved brethren, this has been a wonderful meeting in which the inspiration of the Lord has been made manifest. I sense keenly the responsibility of speaking to you. I feel my own inadequacy and seek the strengthening, inspiring Spirit of the Lord to guide me.

It is a tremendously humbling experience to realize that the Melchizedek Priesthood which we hold is after the order of the Son of God, and that we have responsibility and accountability to Him and our Eternal Father for all that we do in exercising the stewardship given us. What I say of myself concerning this matter is equally applicable to all who hold office in this the Church and kingdom of God."

May God be with you. Love, hugs, and believe. Have hope and faith. May God bless you in the search for truth.
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