The Book of Mormon and the Holy Bible: Two Witnesses.

4/19/2012

1 Comment

 
2nd Nephi 29:2-3, 8
"The words of your seed should proceed forth out of my mouth unto your seed; and my words shall hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, for a standard unto my people, which are of the house of Israel;
And because my words shall hiss forth—many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible.
Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also. "

The Book of Mormon is one of the most controversial pieces of text in religious history. Loved and cherished by Latter-day Saints and condemned by much of the religious and secular world, the concept of the Book of Mormon leaves some befuddled. They consider the addition of another sacred text a defilement of the Holy Bible, and they back up this claim by citing Revelation 22:18:
 "For I testify unto every man that heareth the wordsof the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book." 
This quote from St. John is a charge to the world not to corrupt the word of God, and is enough to dissuade any God-fearing man from doing so. But this scripture does not, as it might seem, condemn the Book of Mormon, when one considers this gem from John 10: 15-16:
"As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." 
Or this, from 2nd Corinthians 13:1:"This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established."
Two or three witnesses. The Book of Mormon is that second witness of Christ. Indeed, The savior Jesus Christ did visit his other sheep in the Americas. The Book of Mormon and the Bible are not in contradiction. They, in fact, support one another and echo many of the same sentiments. I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon. I believe it to be the word of God, and testify of its truthfulness. I believe that God intended for us to have this second witness, that we might have a greater understanding of the workings of Heaven and the love of our dear Savior and elder brother Jesus Christ. I know this book has the power to soften hearts and change lives. It has for me, and many others. I conclude in the name of Jesus Christ-- Amen.
1 Comment

Jesus Christ: the Atonement

4/2/2012

0 Comments

 
We all make sacrifices. Every one of us has at one time or another given up something for a greater purpose. We all know how this feels. But one thing that none can begin to comprehend is the magnitude of the sacrifice our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ made on our behalf. A mortal being cannot feel the same degree of love, or experience the same level of devotion that our elder brother had for us. But through the guiding influence of the Holy Ghost, one can come to appreciate and relish the gift that our Lord has given us in the atonement, and we can learn to accept this gift in our lives and apply it where we are in need.
The atonement of our Savior was an all-encompassing sacrifice. Prior to the time of Jesus, believers followed what is known as the Law of Moses, the code of righteousness given by God in that era. With the coming of Jesus Christ, however, the Law of Moses was replaced with a higher law.
The night before his crucifixion, Jesus and his twelve apostles convened in the top floor a house, and had what we refer to as the Last Supper. Jesus broke and blessed bread for the apostles and explained that it was a representation of his body. He blessed and passed around wine, explaining that it was a representation of the blood he would shed for them. These actions would in time become known as the Sacrament.
After the Last Supper, Jesus and his disciples walked into the garden of Gethsemane. The Savior told his disciples to stay back and kneel, to pray that they enter not into temptation. He continued to walk several yards further, until he was alone. It was then that Jesus Christ prayed to his eternal father, and begged,  saying, "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."
Our Redeemer suffered there in the Garden of Gethsemane. He felt every pain, experienced every ailment, and endured all sorrow that man had ever, and will ever feel, all at once. He writhed in pain, and in his agony, he bled from every pore of his body.
He was then betrayed by his apostle, Judas, who sold him to the angry Pharisees, who beat him, mocked him, unjustly tried him, and crucified him, one of the most painful forms of murder that man has ever devised. He gave up the ghost, and ascended unto his father, returning three days later as a perfect, resurrected being.
This pain was not needless. Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered these agonies to understand us, to descend below the deepest depth that man could sink to, to empathize with all pain and sorrow that man could feel. His agony atoned for our pains and ailments, but more importantly, it atoned for our sins. Thanks to the Lord's sacrifice, we can activate the atonement when we sin, we can repent, and turn away from our sins by partaking of the sacrament and washing away our sins with the help of our Savior and Redeemer.
We must always remember the love and devotion that Jesus Christ feels for us. He, as our elder brother, wants nothing less than for us to succeed. The life he freely gave and the crushing burden he freely bore are indeed a testament to his loving care, and he loves us all unconditionally. 
I leave you with my testimony, that our Savior Jesus Christ is the literal son of God, that he atoned for our sins so that we could come closer to our father. I testify of our Savior's love, of my love for him, and of the perfect example of righteousness he is in my life. I close this article in his holy name, Jesus Christ--Amen
0 Comments