No Coincidences

Tag: Gospel of Jesus Christ

  • Devastation of Ignorance

    Devastation of Ignorance

    Recently I was trying to do something I had no idea how to do.  Let’s call it HTML coding.  The point I need to stress here is I was starting at point 0.  I’d done little to no coding and didn’t understand HTML, and still don’t.

    It’s not my job to know HTML so it was fine, it was just something I had to figure out.

    I was doing some research and trying to understand the format needed for what I was trying to create.  Looking at the code I made some assumptions.  For example, I thought a symbol at the beginning indicated “this is the start” and a symbol at the end indicated “this is the end.”

    I spent a lot of time struggling with this.  As I thought I was figuring something out, I’d test it, and realize I was getting farther away.  I couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong.

    I finally engaged someone I worked with.  This person knew almost nothing about HTML.  If I was a 0 this person was a 1.  He also knew very little about HTML but he immediately recognized something.  The part at the beginning that I thought indicated the start wasn’t needed at all.  It could be removed.

    I removed the beginning and it looked exactly how I needed it to.

    He knew little, but the little he knew made a huge difference.

    I realized something from this.  I saw how devastating ignorance can be.  If I knew just a little, I could have completed this task very quickly.  Instead, I spent a lot of time going in circles.

    Why is knowledge so important?  Because ignorance kills.

    I think we see this principle amplified in our society today.  We are surrounded by misinformation and while we’re in the age of technology and information is at our fingertips, false information is as easily accessible as true information.

    What this makes me appreciate is the truth and knowledge of God.  There is no misinformation with Him.  There is no ignorance.  God knows our yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  He is all truth.

    I’m glad that what we learn here goes with us.  I’m glad the knowledge we gain here stays with us and helps us.  This is one of my favorite principles of the gospel. 

  • Love has Afforded Me Much

    Love has Afforded Me Much

    Ivy is the first grandchild on both sides.  Ivy has 13 aunts and uncles.  She has two sets of grandparents who, while around her, make no qualms about her being the princess of the universe and most important thing to ever come to earth. As I watch her with family, I’m blown away by the amount of love.  She is loved so much.  Beth and I love her so much.  See The Greatest Moment of My Life Every Day for further evidence.

    I wonder how much this love positively impacts Ivy’s future.  How much does it impact the person she will become?

    As I watch her, something occurred to me recently.  I was surrounded by this same love growing up.  I wasn’t the first grandchild on either side, but I was surrounded by aunts, uncles, cousins, parents, and grandparents that loved and adored me.  Love was poured out upon me without measure as a baby.  Not only was I loved by those I could see, but I was made to know that God and so many I couldn’t see also loved and cared about me.

    While watching Ivy, it occurred to me how lucky and blessed I was to be surrounded by all that love.

    How much was I positively impacted by the love I was surrounded by?  How much did it shape who I am today?

    Not all children are given this great gift.

    It was a humbling thought.  It’s humbling to consider all that I’ve been given.  If I ever get prideful about any good qualities I may have, I can quickly look at all the attention, direction, and love I’ve been given in my life and realize there is nothing to be prideful of.  I have been afforded much.

    And to whom much is given, much is expected (Luke 12:48, D&C 82:3).

    This used to be a daunting scripture.  Now it is a great responsibility, and a great blessing.

    As I’ve gotten older, I have become more aware of how blessed I was to be raised with the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.  That is why I write this blog.  That is why I try to talk to friends, family, coworkers, etc. about the Book of Mormon.  That’s why I share my testimony of Jesus Christ.

    I am grateful for The Family A Proclamation to the World for what is teaches authoritatively and without reservation about the importance of the family unit.  My family unit has blessed my life in so many ways.  I wish every child could be loved like I was, like I still am, like Ivy is.

    God expects me to share the love I’ve been given.  Not in a prideful way, but with a humble recognition of how lucky I truly am.

    The two great commandments are to love and to love.  When you receive love, you must give love.  That’s what God asks from us.

  • What is the Power of Faith?

    What is the Power of Faith?

    What is the power of faith?

    Well, by it the worlds were made so… what can our faith do?

    I’ve written about a miracle I saw happen in my post Miracle Baptisms.

    I was once told a story that strengthened my faith and taught me something about the power of faith. By the way, this is a true story, not made up. If you don’t believe me, have faith.

    The story goes like this…

    There was a guy attending ASU.  His parents planned a big cruise vacation over the winter break.  This guy had been praying and looking for an opportunity to share the gospel with someone. Who? He didn’t know, just someone.  He had made a commitment to baptize a friend before the end of winter break.

    When his parents told him about the plans for the cruise he declined. His parents were shocked.  “Why??? We’re going on a family cruise!” He explained he already had plans.

    Best Large Cruise Ship Winners (2021) | USA TODAY 10Best

    “What plans?!” They asked. “What could be more important than our family cruise?”

    “I’ll be baptizing a friend at that time,” was his response.

    Oh… they thought.  Well, that is important.  They asked who the friend was.  He told them he didn’t know, yet. 

    Let’s break this down.  Here was a cruise.  It existed.  It was paid for.  It was happening.  It was a guarantee. 

    This guy, though, had another guarantee.  He had a commitment.  He would be baptizing someone at that time.

    Soon after the conversation with his parents (aka the testing of his faith) he was sitting outside on campus reading the Book of Mormon.  An acquaintance from class walked by and asked what he was reading.  A few weeks later our hero was baptizing this friend at the precise time his family was on their cruise.

    Some would say the cruise was a sure thing and the baptism was not.  The baptism was a pipe dream, a shot in the dark.  It was unlikely to happen.

    What role did faith play in this story?

    Obviously, faith was everything.

    Soon after declining a sure thing, an all-expense paid cruise vacation, the interaction happened.

    While this guy could have been on a cruise, he was doing something vastly more important, baptizing a friend.

    What is a cruise when compared to the eternal salvation of a soul, of one of God’s children?

    I don’t know the rest of the story. I don’t know what happened with the individual that was baptized. My faith tells something special happened. What if this individual joined the Church of Jesus Christ and devoted himself to it? What if he went on a mission? What if he baptizes five individuals on his mission and shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ with countless others? What if he marries in the temple and has five children? What if those children are raised to worship Christ and bear testimony of Him throughout their lives?

    Fact – that cruise turned into one baptism.

    Faith – that one baptism turned into thousands hearing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and coming closer to their Savior.

    Where does faith end and fact start? – That’s up to us.

    “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.”

    Doctrine and Covenants 18:10

    “And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!”

    Doctrine and Covenants 18:15
  • Godhead – My Understanding

    Godhead – My Understanding

    Two posts ago I discussed the doctrine of the Trinity and my opposition to it.

    This will be a much gentler post, detailing how I personally come to the belief and understanding of the Godhead as true doctrine. 

    First, an explanation I didn’t give last time. Definitions:

    1. Trinity or Trinitarian belief:  God is one God, but three coeternal and consubstantial persons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  The three persons are distinct, yet are one “substance, essence or nature” (homoousios).  In this context, a “nature” is what one is, whereas a “person is who one is. (From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity).  (Also, huh?).
    2. Godhead: God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost form a group known as the Godhead.  Each member is a different, individual being, yet all three are united in thought, desire, knowledge, power, and purpose. (From https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2019-08-0080-godhead?lang=eng). (Also, visit that link to watch a 7-minute video to learn more).

    How can I say “I know” the Godhead to be true?

    The Godhead is one of the unique beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

    A majority of Christianity believes in the Trinity.

    In this post, I won’t go into detail on the doctrine, differences, importance, history, etc. of the distinctions between Trinitarian and Godhead belief.  That I’ll likely save for another day.  In this post I simply want to explain how I have come to know for myself that the Godhead is true and correct doctrine.

    The short answer to how I can know the Godhead to be true is:

    Through study, prayer, and upbringing.

    My understanding of this principle and the knowledge I have of it can be broken down very simply.  It’s a similar breakdown that explains much of my testimony in the restored gospel.

    In reading the Book of Mormon, I know without a shadow of a doubt that it is the word of God.  I know that it was translated through the power of God.

    If the Book of Mormon is true, then Joseph Smith is a prophet. 

    Joseph Smith told us he saw God the Father, and Jesus Christ on His right hand.

    Joseph Smith History 1:17:

    It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other-This is My Beloved Son, Hear Him!

    Joseph Smith never wavered on this fact. 

    This could be where it ends, but I’ll add some notes on upbringing and study.

    Upbringing – obviously, I must mention that my upbringing played a role in my believing this to be true.  I was raised to believe in the Godhead; therefore, it is much easier for me to accept as truth.  That said, it was up to me to ask questions, read the book for myself, study Joseph Smith’s history and understand the principle for me to come to the knowledge.  Because I was raised to believe it to be true didn’t make it true.  Which leads to the next point.

    Study – As I said, through study and research I have determined the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.  It is an inspired book. 

    Prayer – My testimony of the Book of Mormon, mentioned in study, not only comes from logical, mind-centered study, but from personal revelation.  I’ve felt the Book of Mormon is true.  I’ve prayed to know the Book of Mormon is true.  I’ve received my answer, through prayer, that the Book of Mormon is true.  Prayer is an irreplaceable ingredient. 

    The principle of the Godhead has been distorted, attacked, and misunderstood for centuries.  One of the first attacks Satan always makes is on the nature of God.  If Satan can confuse us on who God is, he can confuse us on who we are.  We are children of the Almighty God. 

    I am grateful for modern revelation and prophets that make simple and powerful truths known.  I am grateful to know that while God is magnificent and powerful, He is not un-knowable.  The understanding of God as my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as my brother, who gave His life for me, strengthens my faith and helps me put my trust in them.

    This truth is eternal, and this truth is important. 

  • He Lives

    He Lives

    The Book of Mormon.

    The Apostles, Prophets, Bishops, leaders.

    The Prophet Joseph Smith.

    The temples.

    The missionaries.

    Knowing why I’m here.

    Knowing where I’m going

    These things are all amazing.  These are all fruits of the gospel.

    But.

    Why are they amazing?

    After seeing a great vision of eternity, of all the heavens, of the glory, love, and light we will all receive in the next life, after this vision, Joseph Smith and Sydney Rigdon wrote this:

    “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

    For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father.” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:22)

    How I wish I could scream this to the world.  Jesus Christ lives!  He died for you, for each of us.  He died so you need not fear death, trials, or tribulations.  You needn’t fear anything.  He died for your reassurance.  He died for your comfort.  He died for your sins.  He died for you.

    All those things mentioned at the start are amazing, glorious, and wonderful because they point to one thing:  Him.  Jesus Christ.  The Savior of the world.  Without Him all of it would be for nothing.  Temples, prophets, scripture, what good are they?  They are only good for what they point us to.  The light and love of this world.  Jesus Christ.

    I wish the world could see this.  I wish the world could see that all these things are just tools pointing to someone far greater.

    Ultimately the gospel of Jesus Christ brings comfort.  The Plan of Salvation brings peace.  The Plan of Happiness makes this life a joy.  How could this life be anything less when you know the bigger picture?

    I don’t fear trials because I know they help me grow.

    I don’t fear tribulations because I know they benefit me for eternity.

    I don’t fear death because I know where I’m going if I continue to look to Christ.

    I wrote this months ago. Now I’m coming off a situation that has been a trial and tribulation.  I believe I can say with a little more confidence today that I don’t fear death.

    It can be naïve to say I welcome trials and tribulations when life is wonderful and peaceful.  I appreciate that my life is wonderful and peaceful because of the Gospel and the peace it preemptively brings me before trials.  It’s easy to say these things when everything is going well. I’m glad I can say them when things are hard as well. 

    Despite current challenges, I feel so blessed.

    Of course, I don’t want tests and trials, but I know when they come, they are for a great purpose.  I hope when opportunities come for my faith to be tested it can feel like an open book test.  I hope I can face trials in life as if I have the answers, which I believe I do.  It’s easy to say until a true tragedy hits my life.  I don’t hope for a true tragedy, but I hope for the strength and faith to endure tragedy if it comes.

    Coming off the accident I had, I still don’t feel like I’ve gone through a tremendous trial.  It has been challenging, but not overly.  I don’t feel like it has been that difficult at all.  I don’t know how much of that is the fact that the challenge wasn’t actually difficult or due to all the support I have around me, especially the support of God.

    These are all the benefits of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I wish the world had this same peace I have been profoundly blessed to be given.

    He lives!