Dawgs

So today we had a kinda disappointing, but strengthening experience. We were at this lady's house and she told us that she has "hit a wall" with the plan of salvation. And the part that she has a problem with is the 3 kingdoms of glory (1Cor.15). So I told her that there are different levels of obedience to God's commandments and that we are placed according to our obedience.

She wasn't really listening i dont think, I think that she was just looking for an excuse to drop us because it war pretty plainly explained... Anyways, she has 2 dogs. And she told us about them and how one of her dogs is well trained. That she can have him repeat a behavior all day and he gets it. That he'll remember and obey. Then she has another dog. And this dog is younger and has a hard time with learning the "rules". So she would help it practice doing things right, but it would just keep on going back to its old habits.

Anyways, she loves both of her dogs equally. She treats them on the same level and expects both of them to obey the rules the same. But when one dog doesn't do what he is supposed to, or behaves against her will, he is corrected and doesn't enjoy the same priviliges and freedoms that the obedient dog does.

This is the same thing with us and our Heavenly Father. There are some people who choose to obey. Who choose to make decisions that make Heavenly Father happy. There are those who willfully submit themselves to Heavenly Father's commands. And it is those who are blessed for their obedience. And are trusted with more than those who are not obedient. And those who are not obedient, who willfully disobey God and He can't and won't reward them for their disobedience.

So my hope is that we can all do our best to obey God and His commandments. And that we can receive all the blessings that He has in store for us, through our obedience to His commands. God loves all of us equally. He wants all of us to return to Him. So lets be obedient and be able to greet His outstreached arms!

Modern day Moses

The world is an ever changing place. There is a consistant change in technology, science and morals to name a few. But God has promised us that He is "a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever". So if God is the same yesterday, today and forever, then why wouldn't He have a prophet on the earth today? Well we do.
Through Joseph Smith, the true and living gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth(Resoration). And what I mean by living gospel is the priesthood. The authority to act and do in Christ's name. That authority was given to Joseph Smith by the "laying on of hands"(1 Tim 4:14) by heavenly messengers. And since that time there have been Prophets on the earth, leading, guiding, and directing all those who will listen to their counsel.
One specific thing that has been given to us since the "Restoration" is the "Word of Wisdom". In the revelation given to Joseph Smith was promised that if we refrained from tobacco, alcohol, tea, coffee and other illegal drugs, we "^ashall receive ^bhealth in their navel and marrow to their bones... And shall ^arun and not be ^bweary, and shall walk and not faint." And this was given in the 1830s. Before modern technology and before we knew about the health benefits of avoiding those substances. Heres a website that i pulled up, check out the first two things they talk about(http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/prevention/086.html)

Anyways, my point is that we need Prophets. We need someone called and ordained (1 Tim 2:7) to give us guidance in the last days. Because Satan has such a powerful grip on the world, we need one to help us follow the narrow path that leads to eternal life (2 Nephi 31:18). "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat". Because the path to destruction is wide, we need to be very cautious to walk the narrow path. And because the world has changed so much in the last 15 years, let alone 2000, isn't there a great need for a prophet? There is, and he is here. His name is Thomas S Monson and he leads us through these perilous times. Follow his counsel and you will experience greater joy than you have ever known. I know that God loves us so much that He sent His son to die for us that we might live. I know that Thomas S Monson is called of God to be His instrument in these days. And these things i know through study and much prayer. And you can too. Just ask God if what you've read today is true, and He will answer because you are His child and He loves you.