October 25th, 2010
This weekend was an absolutely powerful and precious experience for me. As a Latter-day Saint, I believe in receiving personal revelation that can help me grow closer to Jesus Christ. I felt something so wonderful that I couldn't resist the tears. God revealed His love for me through Jesus Christ who is also my Lord, my God. My passion for Jesus Christ has been radically on fire and I can never stop thinking of Him. My confidence and hope in Jesus Christ has also dramatically increased knowing that I can't EVER do anything without Him. I cannot live my life and think that I can achieve eternal life on my own without Jesus and His atonement. The more I am bound in the love of Jesus, the more I feel drawn to Him. God's love is irresistible - whether I fall away or if I do wrong or if I'm just not on my A game, it's okay because God is merciful and that is why we now have Jesus Christ to provide repentance to those who seek it. God is long-suffering, slow to anger, gracious, and merciful. God cares about me so much that He is willing to wait out a long time to suffer for me and wait for my return. I do not boast on my own means but I boast because I clearly see the work of Christ being played out in my life. I thank Jesus for the work He has been doing in me. I've never been so excited in sharing how much I love Jesus because I've never had the confidence to say that before. I can never escape God's presence because I'm always drawn back to it no matter how much I mess up.
On the evening of Saturday, October 23 of 2010, after worshipping Jesus and praying with the other Christians and then hanging out afterward, I went into a hiding place..bowed down, picturing myself at the feet of Jesus, and proclaimed him as Lord. Jesus Christ is [a] God. This was one of the experiences after I was baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ where I specifically prayed to Jesus Christ where my usual prayer is directed to Heavenly Father.
Jesus Christ is not God the Father but he is God in form of the Son serving different functions from the Father. I know that all three members of the Godhead are God themselves but again, manifesting themselves in separate bodies and have different functions but all are one God in purpose. They strive to bring upon the immortality and eternal life of man. The term God is a title held to the members of the Godhead. Without any of the members of the Godhead, it could no longer be the Godhead. We would not have any access to Heavenly Father without our mediator Jesus Christ.
As a representative of the Church of Jesus Christ, I know that these very things are true. The Book of Mormon has been an absolute blessing in my life. It has enhanced my understanding of the Bible. Many of the things found in the Book of Mormon strongly emphasize certain ideas in the Bible such as learning how to love one another better, learning how to forgive others (the account of 1 Nephi helps me understand why forgiveness is important), and to stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death (Mosiah 18:9). These are the things the Spirit has been teaching me and because I have been obeying and listening to the Spirit, I have been blessed in so many ways.
The Book of Mormon TESTIFIES that the Bible is true in the opening remarks of the Book. The Bible is the Word of God [as far as it is translated correctly with the KJV being the most correct] and I also believe the Book of Mormon to be the Word of God as well.
I wanted to make it clear that I will not ever stop having an open mind. I want to be able to participate in as much activities as I can with other non-Latter Day Saints. I want to be apart of small groups and Bible studies and understand people's perspective. Because I kept an open mind and heart, I know that God was able to reveal many great things to me. I loved engaging in conversation with my small group. I spoke with my small group leader of the conference for like about an hour and a half about my Church and we got along very well. My main goal of being present at Expedition was to seek after God, know of His nature, and also bring peace between I, as a Latter-day Saint Christian, and other Non-Latter Day Saints Christians.
I also came to the realization about my past life. I believe that all of my experiences from the moment I accepted and acknowledged Christ as Lord and Savior to now - it was and is meant to bring glorify the work of Christ because he's been the driving force behind my desires to serve the world in His name and even more so now with the Holy Ghost as my constant companion. I see my time in the other churches spent well because it eventually prepared me to receive the full gospel that was restored by the Prophet Joseph Smith. No one is perfect but we know God is and that is why I look up to Him. My Church has the order that existed in the Primitive Church and we receive guidance and direction through revelation. I do not regret anything throughout my journey with Christ because it has brought forth great and positive things.
I wanted to leave you with my testimony that I know this Church [of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints] that I am a baptized member of is true. I know that Joseph Smith did see God and Jesus Christ as two personages in the Sacred Grove in Palmyra, NY. I know that Jesus Christ loves me so much that He died for me - even as I continue to sin and fall short (because we’ve all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God), I know that my reward is eternal life with my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ whom I am so eager to meet when I stand before Jesus Christ on my right hand side and He tells me the work has been done that I truly did believe that He died for me so that I may have eternal life and be placed in the highest most glorious place of His Kingdom after being judged accordingly - I cannot wait for that day. In the name of Jesus Christ - my Lord, My King, My God, my Savior - all whom I can never do anything to make up for what He did other than honor my life in His name. Amen!
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