Christ's Church: The Fall

After Christ's death and resurrection, His church remained on the earth for awhile lead by those He called and ordained to be prophets and apostles. However, the wickedness of the people during that time escalated until the church was removed from the earth completely. This is called the Apostasy.

What lead to the Apostasy?

#1 The prophets and apostles that were called by Christ to lead His church were killed by the wicked.

#2 Thus, there was no one to hold the priesthood (the power to act in the name of God).

#3 And thus, there was no one who had the authority to receive revelations from God on behalf of the church.

#4 With no guidance by those who would have had the authority, there was no one to interpret the scriptures correctly.

Without the four pillars upon which to stand, the Church of Jesus Christ fell. The heavens were closed not by God's choice but by man's. For quite some time, the world lived in spiritual darkness. Many know this as the Dark Ages. Little to no progression was made and people were interpreting incorrectly the only divine guidance that had been left: the scriptures. Random groups began to form and hold meetings claiming that they were interpreting the scriptures correctly and that they had the authority to act in God's name. However, this was not so, and thus, the world was in a state of spiritual confusion and chaos for many many years.

Christ's Church: The Establishment

When Christ was here upon the earth so many years ago, He established and organized His church.

How was it organized? I thought you would never ask.

#1 Prophets (mouthpieces for God) and apostles were called (summoned).

#2 Upon these prophets and apostles, the holy priesthood (the power to act in the name of God) was conferred so that they might lead Christ's church upon His death and resurrection.

#3 The prophets and apostles received revelation (inspiration from God) on behalf of the church.

#4 The revelations from the prophets and apostles were written in what we know as the scriptures.

Upon these four pillars, Christ established His church. It was called The Church of Jesus Christ as Christ was at the head of it.

The Penitent Man Kneels Before God

Everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes we make big mistakes and sometimes we make small mistakes. Sometimes they hurt other people and sometimes they only hurt you. Sins fall under all of these categories. A sin is when we have knowledge of a commandment of God and we choose to break it anyway. So as we all have broken, are breaking, or will break a commandment at some point (since we are not perfect and we all make mistakes) it would greatly behoove us all to know how to get back in the good graces of God. So, how do we do that? The short answer: We repent.

So what is repentance anyway? What is required of us to be forgiven of our mistakes, our sins? Repentance is not simply feeling remorseful as the good old dictionary would have us believe. Repentance is actually a process. The length and extent of this process depends upon the individual, their sin, and their circumstances. However, no matter how great or small the sin, the same process must be followed (sorry, you can't skip any steps) in order to be forgiven and come closer spiritually to our Heavenly Father again.

The Repentance Process

#1 Recognize --> We must recognize that we have done something wrong.

It is important to note that if we do not know that something is wrong then we are not responsible for it. However, once we have the knowledge that something is wrong, we must obey or it is sin.

#2 Remorse --> We must feel badly for what we have done that is wrong.

I once went to an amusement park without my mother's permission. Once at home, my mom expressed how upset she was and at the end of it asked in exasperation "Was it worth it?" I thought about that for a moment and then defiantly said, "Yeah, it was." That really was the wrong answer. My punishment was increased because I showed no remorse for my disobedience.

#3 Ask Forgiveness --> We must ask Heavenly Father's forgiveness for our wrongdoing.

The penitent man kneels in humility and supplicates God to forgive him. Enos did this all day and night. (Enos 1:1-27)

#4 Restitution --> To the best of our ability, we must try to restore things back to the way they were before we committed the sin.

If you steal a pack of Rolos candy from the store when you are a young kid than you must give it back (no matter how many you have eaten) and tell the people at the store that you are so very sorry. (Not saying this ever happened....just thought an illustration would be appropriate here).

#5 Abandon --> We must abandon the sin...never to do it again.

If we don't abandon the sin, then we haven't repented.

**True repentance means following all these steps to the very end. We must eliminate each sin, one by one, in our lives in order to become cleaner and more worthy to have God's guidance and to return to Him again after this life. Every sin committed must pass through this process or it will return again into our lives and we will continue to distance ourselves from Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Repentance is our part, Christ's sacrifice is His. He makes up the difference between what we are capable of and where we should be. So let's do our part. All our sins do not have to be eliminated all at once, but one by one we must address our sins, repent, and discard them in order for us to return to live with our Heavenly Father again someday. Repentance is not an easy road but it will be worth it.

The Gratitude Attitude

On a day like Thanksgiving, everyone's thoughts naturally tend to turn toward those things for which they are grateful. We tell each other that we are grateful that we have a home to live in, food on the table, and the love of one another. However, what happens the other 364 days of the year? Do we maintain this same attitude full of gratitude? Do we express it everyday as we do on this special day of giving thanks? Unfortunately, many of us do not. Yet if we always count our blessings it is hard to be anything but always grateful. Listing out our blessings on paper everyday is not a new idea but it is a wise one. It helps us to remember all that has been given to us. It also takes the sting out of anything negative that may have happened to us that day. Perhaps, it helps us to see blessings in even the direst of circumstances whatever they may be. It definitely helps us to remember that Heavenly Father is there and is constantly showering us with blessings and goodness and His love. Though the world continues to lack appreciation for the goodness that does exist on earth, we can blaze our own trail of thankfulness and hopefully leave a positive wake of gratitude in our path for others to both see and follow. Be grateful. Always. And let others know it. Gratitude is always the best attitude.

God Cares About Your Camera

During one of the many plane flights I had to take during my religious mission, I had the opportunity to chat with a gentleman sitting next to me. We discussed a few things and then the topic turned to prayer. He proceeded to tell me a story about how his wife had lost her camera one day. It was very important that she find it because there was some event that she just didn't want to have pass her by without saving the moment. The man told me that his wife then prayed to God that He might help her find the camera. I was surprised by this man's annoyance at the prospect of his wife praying to God for something that he thought was so small and insignificant. Baffled, he began questioning out loud that doesn't God have other more important things to worry about like hunger in Africa then his wife's camera? I smiled slightly and told him, "Well, it is important to God because it is important to your wife."

For some people, the concept of a loving Heavenly Father that knows who we are by name and that is interested in us as individuals is so hard to fathom. To them God is this omniscient being that can't be reached...can't be touched. While God is all knowing and all powerful, He is also our Father in Heaven. We are His children and He loves us. He wants us to talk with Him all the time and He wants us to be happy! There is hunger in Africa and Heavenly Father does care about the people that are suffering there. In addition to that, there are also major cataclysmic events all over the world that leave people without food, homes, water, electricity, and most tragically, family. He knows about them all and hears the prayers of all those that are reaching out to Him in their time of need. However, He also cares about you and me and all the things that make us worry and fret or feel frustrated, powerless, scared, or hurt. In the world's eyes, the events that transpire in our personal lives might not seem as dire or urgent as the aforementioned tragedies. Yet to the person that is experiencing them in that moment, there is nothing more pressing, nothing more important then their need. Father in Heaven knows this and because He loves us He tends to it all with love and fervor. In other words, because something is important to us, it is important to Heavenly Father. Whether it is the starving people of Africa or a desperate wife trying to find her camera, God knows, He cares, and He wants to help because we are all His children. For this reason, it is imperative that we talk with Heavenly Father always and about everything. Only in doing so can we get to know Him even better as He guides our lives through our diligent and thoughtful prayers.

In Alma 37:37, we are given the following instructions regarding prayer. "Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day."

The Perfect Body

Ouch! My head! Ouch! My body! Will the aches and pains of illness and growing older never end? I am not that old. After all, my brain still tells me that I'm 16. Yet, there is definitely something different about that person staring back at me from the mirror. When did she get so much older? Why can't she move, bend, and twist the way she used to? I try to get her to perform the same acts of yesteryear but her body just doesn't want to listen. It also seems like illnesses incapacitate her longer the older she gets. How is that fair? Perhaps it is a trade off. As you grow older and gain more knowledge about life you pay the price with the aging of your body. Knowledge vs. Physical Prowess. Which would you prefer? It seems like a no-brainer, doesn't it? Until your legs ache with every move. Until you get a crick in your neck or sharp pain in your back.

There is still hope for all of us feeling the physical effects of getting older. The Lord always provides hope. Right now, I consist of a spirit and a body. Combined, they allow me to live a life rich in both spiritual and physical experiences. Aging of the body is just part of the process and believe it or not is considered progression not regression. It is not necessarily a fun part of progression, mind you, but it is a part of the process nonetheless.

As death is a necessary part of God's plan, all of us will pass through it. No exceptions. So what happens when we die? Well, our spirit and body separate. We already know that the body goes into a grave in the earth. But where does the spirit go? It is important to understand that we do not cease to exist when we die. If you have ever studied physics you know that energy cannot be created nor destroyed. We are comprised of energy that is for sure (just ask any mother with children). So when we die our energy (spirit) goes to another place to rest for awhile from all the trials and tribulations suffered through during earthly life. We'll call this place the Spirit World. It is a place of peace where we can enjoy mental and spiritual tranquility. In other words, we don't have to worry about this or that, be stressed, or wonder if we are doing our part anymore. It is a time and place of peace, free from strife. We also don't have our bodies while there so there is no real physical pain to suffer. So is that it? Our spirits and bodies stay separated forever? Of course not! Heavenly Father is so much more generous than that!

There will come a time when our spirits and bodies will reunite. It is called the resurrection. Except this time, rather than have bodies that are ravaged by illnesses, diseases, and pain, we will have perfect bodies. No aches, no pains, no scars, no diseases....perfect. A perfect body. Not a hair on our heads will be missing. Amulek, a servant of the Lord, taught that

"43 The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame...

44 Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame..." (Alma 11:43-44).

What a fantastic promise! What a generous gift! The hope that we will someday have a perfect and immortal (unable to die) body. How amazing!

If we are honest with ourselves, we know that we would never be able to appreciate such a marvelous endowment from our Heavenly Father if we didn't first pass through the pains of having an imperfect and mortal body. So I will tolerate all my aches and pains because I know someday this body is going to be the perfect body for me!

Early To Rise Makes You Wise

There are few people who have not heard the common adage "early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise" (Benjamin Franklin). There are two things that strike me about this quote.

#1 Many have heard it, few practice it.

#2 Many strive to be healthy and wealthy but the most powerful of the three (becoming wise) receives very little attention.

It seems to me that the rewards we get for simply going to bed earlier and getting up earlier are amazingly much more grandiose than what is actually required of us to receive them. Yet...so many of us simply don't do it. What is so important that we must stay up just a little bit longer and which in turn makes us sleep a little bit later in the mornings? I recognize that there are definitely times where we might need to stay up but shouldn't it be the exception rather than the rule?

Let's now add to the confusion of that question and further wonder why in the world we're not doing it so that we can become wise! Being wise isn't just about acquiring or having knowledge. It is about having knowledge and knowing when, why, and how best to use that knowledge. I have knowledge about some things but I certainly don't always know when or how to use it. The wisest of us always thinks before acting, always ponders before responding, and rarely lives with regrets of what they should or shouldn't have said or done. Oh wisdom, why doest thou hide thy face from me? Where might I find thee?

Oh right! I must get up early and go to bed early and there I shall find thee waiting for me!

Oh....and one more thing. Though this adage has been popularly passed down from Benjamin Franklin to us, he is not the original architect of this intelligent advice. In D & C 88:124 the Lord states "...cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated." Now that is wisdom.

Acting In His Name

During my childhood, the Lord saw fit to bless me, my mom, and my sister with incredibly faithful home teachers. Being assigned to be a visiting teacher myself, I know how hard it can be to squeeze in a visit to your teachees on the last day of the last month of the year. So it has always amazed me that we had such dedicated home teachers. And it wasn't just a one time fluke either. Every pair of home teachers that I can remember (which goes back to about age 7) were not only faithful but stuck with us for many many years at a time. Why were we so blessed? I'm not sure but I can tell you that it really made me appreciate the priesthood in ways that I could never have without them. With no priesthood in our own home, I would've missed out on receiving blessings of healing, peace, safety, comfort, and guidance. Thankfully, our home teachers were worthy priesthood holders. That is to say that they were worthy to act in the name of God. On his behalf, these dedicated home teachers fulfilled their duties by making sure that my mom, my sister, and I were doing well spiritually. One of them even became my surrogate grandfather whom I just adored. Now that I am older, I am so pleased to note that there are still men wholly committed to fulfilling their obligations as priesthood holders whether they are actually assigned to be my home teacher or not. I believe in the power of the priesthood (i.e. in the power to act in the name of God). Amazing and wonderful things happen when we call upon those priesthood holders whenever we need them. They will be blessed for performing an act of loving service while you will be blessed with love, comfort, peace, direction, or whatever it is that you seek from the Lord in righteousness. Remember this power and that it can be called upon at a moment's notice (not including drive time).

The Breaking Point

We've been taught that we will never be tried above that which we can bear. I believe that is true. However, I believe that the Lord will allow us to feel that we are right on the edge, right at the breaking point of what we can handle before stepping in to assist or rescue us. Just when we think we can't handle anymore and are about to cave, the burden is lifted, the light is seen, and our goal is attained. After a little while, we begin to wonder why we were in such turmoil during our trial. "It wasn't that bad" says our impeccably clear 20/20 hindsight vision. The point is that when you are in the middle of it ("it" being whatever trial you must experience), you can't see beyond the pain, suffering, frustration, etc...because you don't know how long its going to last. Many times during various trials, I attempted to negotiate with the Lord and convince him to tell me how much time needed to go by before the pain would cease. If I just knew how long I had to hold out then I knew that I could suffer through until that time because that meant there was a limit to it...an end to the pain/hurt/suffering. There's a scripture that caught my eye this week that speaks of this very thing and I leave it with you now as a reminder that the Lord won't test us beyond our limits but he will test up to them. It also shows us that he will always be leading the way .

D&C 78: 18

18 "And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours."

Repetition Is Key

I always hear the leaders of the church touch upon the same gospel topics again and again and again. As a teenager, many of us would groan that we were receiving another talk on this or another lesson on that. How wise our leaders were. As monotonous as it seemed to me as a teenager, those lessons that were repeated again and again are the very same ones that have stuck with me year after year. Every time our leaders spoke, it was a different story, aspect, or point of view regarding that certain principle of the gospel about which they were talking (AGAIN). With that said, gospel topics here will be repeated here and there. Every time the same topic is covered again, I assure you it won't be the same post. After any lessons I teach, I throw away my notes because the next time I have to give a lesson on that same topic I want it to be from the heart. Not prefabricated. Thus, it will be here also. Repetition is good and maybe (just maybe) this time it will touch your heart.