Hot Hot Heat

Because we are mortal, we have passed through the veil of forgetfulness and don't remember what we went through before we were born into this world. But God hasn't just sent us out without help. God has sent down the Holy Ghost to confirm truth to us.
There are lots of people who say "show me a sign" or I'll believe it when I see it. In an answer to a question, Elder Boyd K Packer told this story. If someone were to walk into this room holding a white hot branding iron and told you it was a hot iron, would you believe them more than if they blindfolded you and seared your skin with that same iron? And that is how our testimony of the Savior and truth should be. It should be a spiritual witness given by the Holy Ghost, a member of the Godhead. John 3:27 "John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven."

What does that mean for us? Lets not be a "doubting Thomas", but be blessed because we believe and have not seen. I know that we can receive spiritual witnesses if we will seek. As God has said repeatedly in holy writ "Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts." (Zechariah 1:3) Another announcement of "Ask and ye shall receive". So if we want to have a spiritual experience we need to prepare ourselves. Is it likely that God will bless us with a spiritual experience if we have not been preparing ourselves? Not likely. So read the scriptures, say your prayers, and live a Christlike life and you'll be happier and have a better opportunity to have a "spirtually searing" experience.

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I think that as we remember and realize what God has done for us in our lives, we become more humble. And because we're more humble, we are better prepared to receive the blessings that He wishes to give us.When we recognize how God has worked in our lives, it will allow us to see the way He is willing to bless us. Then we can ask for the things that He is willing to give us. And thus our will can and will mesh with His, and we will become "one" with God (John 17) 

I think that is a real challenge for us in this life, to develop those God-like qualities and discover in ourselves the things that God has blessed us with. I think if we will take the time to do as Elder Eyring says and recognize God's hand in our lives we will be able to see where He wants us to go and what He wants us to do. And we will develop the qualities that He would have us. God has a very deliberate and specific hand in our lives. He will lead us to truth as we seek. And that is what I invite everyone who reads this to test. See if He is not here. He is here.

Gollum.... and the Godhead

Alright, well its another day, so I guess I'll post another blog. So last night I was talking with Elder Akina and I had some thoughts come to me. We were talking about the TG Godhead, and how others understand the Godhead.
Because in the scriptures Jesus says that He and Heavenly Father are "one", people take that very literally and say, OK they are the same. Well the concept of the "Trinity" is not one found in the New Testament, but rather it is a man formed view of God. Harper’s Bible Dictionary records that “the formal doctrine of the Trinity as it was defined by the great church councils of the fourth and fifth centuries is not to be found in the [New Testament].” (Paul F. Achtemeier, ed. (1985), 1099)
Anyways, I was thinking about all the different situations that are recorded in the New Testament when Jesus is speaking to  Heavenly Father and how weird it would be to think that He was actually talking to Himself... I mean, when He was hanging on the cross he asked Heavenly Father for the forgiveness of those who were crucifying Him. And then later when he is still there, He cries out "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"(Matthew 27:46)
It just doesn't make sense to me (Heavenly Father and Jesus being the same person). And then I thought about Gollum in the Lord of the Rings talking to himself.. I know that drawing that parallel is boarder line blasphemous, but that is how I see it. God our Heavenly Father is one with Jesus Christ in every sense of the word, other than the same physical body. As Elder Jeffery R Holland stated in his October 2007 General Conference talk, "We declare it is self-evident from the scriptures that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are separate persons, three divine beings."
Some of the evidences I gave earlier show this point, also during Christ's prayer for His Apostles after the last supper. As recorded in St John chapter 17 (http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/17?lang=eng) "18 As thou hast ^asent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

 19And for their sakes I ^asanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

 20Neither ^apray I for these alone, but for them also which shall ^bbelieve on me through their word;

 21That they all may be ^aone; as thou, ^bFather, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be ^cone in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

 22And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be ^aone, even as we are ^bone:"

If you'll read the whole chapter, it will give you a clearer understanding of the whole verses I just shared. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are two distinct individuals who have their own separate bodies. Another testament to this point is Joseph Smith's first vision in the Sacred Grove where he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ.  I know the scriptures are true and that they are further proof that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's kingdom established once again onto the earth preparatory to the second coming of the Messiah!

Once again, if what I said doesn't make complete sense to you and you think I'm wrong, read this and it will explain it much better than I can http://lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/the-only-true-god-and-jesus-christ-whom-he-hath-sent?lang=eng&query=holland+whom+thou+hast+sent

SLAMMA JAMMA

So last night I had the chance to play some basketball. And whenever I play basketball I ALWAYS make an attempt to dunk. Usually after I've warmed up and played a game or two. (So i don't pull anything... Man I feel like an old man) And its not like I can do it every time. Its really weird, sometimes I can, and most of the time I can't. Anyways, I was thinking about that last night and I had this comparison come to me, so I thought I'd share it. Dunking a basketball (for me), compared to feeling the Holy Ghost.

I realized last night that when I prepare myself physically beforehand, my chances of dunking greatly increase. One week I decided that I really wanted to be able to dunk, so I spent that week not gorging myself and ate "healthy" (that term is used VERY lightly and is relative to a missionary diet). But the same can be said for feeling the Holy Ghost. When we prepare ourselves spiritually, we increase our chances of having a very spiritual experience. An example would be doing something like "fasting" (not eating or drinking for 24 hours prior) to get yourself ready for church or something else. And fasting is not supposed to be just going hungry for 24 hours, when we fast we should have a purpose (like a special blessing for someone). So whenever I get myself ready physically, I have a much better chance of dunking. Likewise whenever I spiritually prepare myself for an experience, I greatly increase my chances of feeling the Holy Ghost.

Also, when I am more consistant in playing basketball I have better results. If I get the opportunity to play more than once a week, my vertical just gets better... I don't know how to explain that, but it just does. Likewise when we are more consistant in trying to feel the Holy Ghost, our ability to feel it increases. I guess that can really be compared to anything really... The more you practice at something, the better you become at it.

Not actually me... but kinda

And last point, when I actually dunk, I feel on top of the world. Yes I am white, and yes my BMI (body mass index) has me listed as obese, but when I overcome that and dunk, it makes me feel awesome. And whenever I feel the Holy Ghost touch me and prompt me, I feel great. There is no better feeling than that. The peace that it brings and wonderful feelings it gives are second to none. And that is why I love fast and testimony meeting (1st sunday of the month in church), because I have usually prepared myself by fasting and because of that I have prepared myself to have a spiritual experience.

I really hope this made sense to you. Sometimes I have things pop in my head and i feel like I should share it, but if you liked this, I'll try to keep it coming!