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Posted on 03/20/2011 3:45:41 PM PDT by Paragon Defender
By Elder Jerald L. Taylor
Of the Seventy
Jerald L. Taylor, "Commit Thy Way unto the Lord", Ensign, July 2003, 54
How can we strengthen our commitment to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
Some time ago I presided over a stake conference in Momostenango, Guatemala. Prior to the conference, I was surprised when stake president Francisco Rosales recommended that the Saturday meetings be held in the morning instead of in the afternoon, when these meetings are usually scheduled. When I asked the reason for the change, President Rosales said it was safer for the people to travel early in the morning so they could return to their homes before dark.
He explained that many of these Saints would leave their homes at about 3:00 A.M., often in the rain, and walk two to three hours down the mountain trails to get to their small meetinghouses. There they would climb into the back of a small pickup truck and travel another two hours, standing up, to the stake center for the conference. After the Saturday meetings they would return to their homes the same way. On Sunday they would repeat the process. During the two days of conference, they traveled as much as 16–20 hours.
Brother Daniel Ixcoy Torres and his family are among these faithful Saints. They walk four hours every Sunday, round trip, to attend their Church meetings. Brother Ixcoy says his family does this “because we have made a commitment to God to obey the commandments and because it is important to partake of the sacrament each Sunday.” Brother Ixcoy’s 18-year-old son, Pedro, says it is a blessing for them to accept callings in the Church and obey instructions from their leaders.
What shining examples of commitment to the gospel are these wonderful Saints!
The scriptures tell us to “commit [our] way unto the Lord” (Ps. 37:5). How might we become more committed to the gospel? What can we learn from the Savior regarding commitment? What principles help us understand the importance of being committed to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
There is no better example of commitment than Jesus Christ. His love for His Father was perfect, and He was committed to doing the Father’s will in all things. He proclaimed, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38). This desire not only guided His mortal life but led Him to make the ultimate sacrifice in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross.
The Savior knew who He was, which further enabled Him to be fully committed to the Father and to His plan of salvation. He was the eldest spirit child of Heavenly Father (see D&C 93:21). He was the Father’s Only Begotten Son on the earth (see Moses 1:6). He knew Heavenly Father’s plan and His own divine role in it: “Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. … In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally” (Ether 3:14).
How can we follow Christ’s example of commitment? We can love Him and Heavenly Father and likewise say, “Not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). We can learn more about who we are: beloved children of Heavenly Father, with the potential to become as He is. And we can seek to better understand our own role in Heavenly Father’s plan and our responsibility to do our part, however small, to help Him “bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). To be committed, we must learn our duty and then “act … in all diligence” (D&C 107:99) to honor our commitment and fulfill our obligation to our Father in Heaven.
Understanding the Savior’s role in our lives also helps us strengthen our commitment to Him. After King Benjamin taught his people about Jesus’ ministry, His suffering, His Atonement, and His teachings, he asked the people if they believed the words he had spoken. “And they all cried with one voice, saying: … We know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us” (Mosiah 5:2). They then declared, “We are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days” (Mosiah 5:5). Similarly, as we learn more about what the Savior has done for us and strengthen our testimony of Him, we will feel a deepening sense of commitment to Him.
Faith in Jesus Christ is of utmost importance in being committed to Him. Those who are committed to the Lord trust in Him and do what He requires of them, even when they do not immediately understand the purpose of what He requires. Adam showed this kind of commitment after he and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden. “And [the Lord] gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord” (Moses 5:5). Later an angel appeared to Adam and asked why he was offering sacrifices. Adam’s reply reflected his commitment: “I know not, save the Lord commanded me” (Moses 5:6). He was committed to obeying the commandment of God even though he did not know the reason for the commandment.
The angel then told him the reason: “This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth” (Moses 5:7).
Adam had put his trust in the Lord, and because of his faithfulness and obedience, he “was filled” and was blessed with the ability to prophesy (see Moses 5:10). We are likewise blessed when we have faith in the Lord and commit to following Him in all things.
When we are truly committed to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, we stay true to our principles no matter what our circumstances may be.
Rebecca was 16 years old when her parents were called to preside over a mission in a foreign land. Consequently, for two years she attended a school where there were few Latter-day Saint students. One of the most popular athletes in the school asked her to attend various school activities with him. Even though she would have been the envy of many girls if she had dated this boy, she politely told him no. What gave this young woman the courage and strength to decline his invitation? She said: “After hearing a Young Women lesson on dating and temple marriage when I was about 12, I made a commitment to date only boys with high standards who could take me to the temple. I honored the commitment I had made and don’t remember the decision being difficult, because the answer to such an invitation was already formulated in my mind. I was just living up to a promise I had made to myself.” Rebecca had been taught the importance of the Lord’s plan for eternal marriage, and she was committed to following Him. The Lord blessed her for her faithfulness, and years later she did meet a fine young man and was sealed to him for time and all eternity in the temple.
Because of His love for us, God the Father sent His Son. Because of the Son’s love for His Father and for us, He atoned for our sins and made possible the Resurrection and eternal life. We are eternally indebted to Them. As we love the Father and the Son, and as we know we are Heavenly Father’s children and come to better understand His plan, we will strengthen our commitment to Them. And as we “commit [our] way unto the Lord [and] trust also in him,” He shall bring to pass the desires of our hearts (see Ps. 37:4–5).
I can see Mars from my house...
and little green M&Ms and stuff...
truly right here in my county...
cultic mormon spam placemarker
Seems PD can’t answer any of those questions posed to him. He just goes blithely on as though nothing is happening. He’s scared. He’s afraid. He’s thinking that there has to be some truth to what we’re telling him.
Wishful thinking by you my friend. I’ve already been on your side of the fence. God wants you on this side.
Or, he has his blinders on and will not look at the truth.
Pot meet kettle
kettle, pot
I’ve noticed that he just goes on without really defending his beliefs.
Nope. I give you the source for truth. The rest is up to you. You do want the truth right?
This guy apparently can’t. He doesn’t know how. He’s scared. He’s untruthful. He cowers behind the LDS church.
eh.... false, false, false, false aaaaand false.
Not even a good try.
You need to look here. You are being misled as is obvious by your worn out propaganda.
Here’s a few links to get your started from a different viewpoint. I have found that the vast majority of the “issues” brought up in the anti-Mormon propaganda can be found and addressed at http://www.fairlds.org/ but here’s more:
http://scriptures.lds.org/
http://www.lds.org
http://www.fairlds.org/
http://www.mormonapologetics.org/
http://www.mormonwiki.com/Main_Page
http://www.lightplanet.com/response/index.html
http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDS_Intro.shtml
http://www.answeringantimormons.com/index.htm
http://promormon.blogspot.com/
Jerald L. (Lynn) Taylor
1937 - living
Born 1937 Colonia Dublan, Mexico
Baptized as a child; Aronic Priesthood as a youth; Melchizedek Priesthood as a young man
Mission to Argentina
Married Sharon Willis 1963, Manti Utah Temple; six children
Branch President, Bishop, Stake President, Regional Representative, Area Authority
President of Chile Santiago Mission 1986-1989
Second Quorum of the Seventy 1996 - 2002
Released from Second Quorum 2002
This biographical sketch is adapted from the “News of the Church: Elder Jerald L. Taylor of the Seventy” in the Ensign for May 1996.
... I don’t recall Christ making fun of sacred things that he didn’t believe ....
...oh. I’m sorry, you probably don’t know much about the life of Jesus Christ .... nor do you apartenly try to emulate it!
So ... in your book is this something Christ would have done?
So ... in your book is it important to try to do what Christ would do to be a Christian?
.... so are you really a Christian? ... does Christ think so?
Sorry .... I actually detest pseudo Christians who call good evil and evil good.
Obviously, you enjoy making fun of peoples sacred beliefs.
I would call this making evil Good.
Like it or not, the LDS Church has produced members that are far more intent on following the Character and example of Jesus Christ than your hypocritical example.
I seem to recall the Prophet Elijah mocking the sacred beliefs of the worshipers of Baal in the Book of Kings when he challenged them on Mount Caramel. But I suppose that must have simply been too intolerant of him in your opinion.... ;-)
Which leads one to ask, if he didn't believe them, how could they possibly be sacred?
LOL...
Absolutely. Yesx4.
Christ opposed falsehood. He will hold mormonic leaders and teachers accountable for making God into an idol and distorting His gospel of grace.
People need to be warned and Christians should warn them.
Best ampu
They also are the one who love to pull the “Judge not” clause in a totally inapplicable way..
Always sounds good to the unwitting...
"Use the farce; Luke."
The
DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
SECTION 71
Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon, at Hiram, Ohio, December 1, 1831. HC 1: 238–239. The Prophet had continued to translate the Bible with Sidney Rigdon as his scribe until this revelation was received, at which time it was temporarily laid aside so as to enable them to fulfill the instruction given herein. The brethren were to go forth to preach in order to allay the unfriendly feelings that had developed against the Church as a result of the publication of some newspaper articles by Ezra Booth, who had apostatized.
1–4, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon are sent forth to proclaim the gospel; 5–11, Enemies of the saints shall be confounded.
1 Behold, thus saith the Lord unto you my servants Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, that the time has verily come that it is necessary and expedient in me that you should open your mouths in proclaiming my gospel, the things of the kingdom, expounding the mysteries thereof out of the scriptures, according to that portion of Spirit and power which shall be given unto you, even as I will.
2 Verily I say unto you, proclaim unto the world in the regions round about, and in the church also, for the space of a season, even until it shall be made known unto you.
3 Verily this is a mission for a season, which I give unto you.
4 Wherefore, labor ye in my vineyard. Call upon the inhabitants of the earth, and bear record, and prepare the way for the commandments and revelations which are to come.
5 Now, behold this is wisdom; whoso readeth, let him understand and receive also;
6 For unto him that receiveth it shall be given more abundantly, even power.
7 Wherefore, confound your enemies; call upon them to meet you both in public and in private; and inasmuch as ye are faithful their shame shall be made manifest.
8 Wherefore, let them bring forth their strong reasons against the Lord.
9 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you—there is no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper;
10 And if any man lift his voice against you he shall be confounded in mine own due time.
11 Wherefore, keep my commandments; they are true and faithful. Even so. Amen.
| The Official Scriptures of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints © 2006 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Rights and use information. Privacy policy. |
Yup, PD; you got that CONFOUND thing DOWN!
To bad you don't follow the RED text!
But then again, the man you so ardently admire wasn't much for following Scripture, either.
Why?
Senility sure didn't slow down Hinckley!
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