Silence

As I blow the dust off this blog I wanna share something I learned.

It is fitting that the sacrament is served in silence. The savior suffered in silence. And it is by the the silent voice of the spirit that we learn the truths of heaven.

Beautiful Savior

It is only Him.

"My Servant Joseph"

This is a short video I made. My desire it that it will reflect my feelings about this man.

Joseph Smith Jr., born over two hundred years ago, still occupies a powerful place in the minds of people all over the world. No man in American history has been the subject of such praise, study, or slander. His teachings and testimony continue to influence millions. His story knows no geographical bounds. His life spoke conviction and offered the invitation to come to Christ.

When I entered the MTC on December 1st, 2004 all I had was a testimony of Joseph Smith and the truthfulness of the restoration. That witness came to me by study, prayer, and faith. The Holy Ghost spoke to my mind and heart that indeed Joseph was a servant of God, a preacher of truth, and a sanctioned vessel of the Lord.

Joseph did not seek his own comforts or his own ambitions. All he desired was to follow the will of God and to help his fellowman. He reviled not against the revilers, nor did he defame his fellow christian preachers. He sought harmony and peace for the whole world. If anyone did not believe his witness, he didn't take offense. He knew that such a marvelous story involving eternal implications could only be known by the spirit.

Scores of books have been written and many more will be written to slander his name and try to bring down the faith of those who believe his testimony. Yet the Book of Mormon is the only book needed to defend him. Here it stands, tangible proof of his divine calling. Translated by him and through the power of God. And by that same power it has been communicated to the hearts of millions that it is a true record and bears a powerful witness of it's translator.

I have read the Book of Mormon many times. I have studied many books about Joseph Smith. I have read accounts and personal testimonies of those who knew him. I have united myself with the Church that he founded and have put his teachings into practice. And out of all these witnesses, the still small voice of the spirit of God is all the evidence I need to believe that this man was a prophet of the Lord.

"We Thank Thee O God For A Prophet."

In life we are surrounded by millions of voices crying out for our attention. Our time seems to be a commodity that we run out of faster than that any other. Most voices seek their own and claim to be the answer to our problems, but it is truth, unsoiled and untarnished, that seeks our happiness.

Truth has always come from our Father in Heaven. His love has been evidenced by the truth he has given all His children from the beginning of time. Said James of the New Testament, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and is shall be given him"(James 1:5).

Our Father is not a God who reserves his truth for his chosen few. No, what makes us chosen is what we do with that truth once we hear it. And it is my testimony that we all shall hear it.

God has, from the beginning of the world, called prophets to preach His word plainly to all of His children. They have been chosen by Him, commisioned by Him, and are given His spirit so that all honest seekers of truth may confirm the validity of their words. But the great truth is, the words are not theirs.

Prophets will guide, counsel, command, and preach with pure love. In fact, it is impossible to preach the truth without feeling that love. Truth cannot be strengthed, it is pure and flows from the fountains of Heaven, all though the truth will strengthen us.

It is the unflinching humble testimony of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints that God still sends His prophets even in this day. And Oh, how we need them! They are not men who have sought their callings. They have no divine birthright which entitles them to their calling. They have not studied in schools or seminaries to gain their postitions. No, they have only sought to keep the commandments of God and are humble followers of Christ.

As someone who has met them, heard their words, shaken their hands, and practiced their teachings, I give my witness that the first presidency and council of the twelve apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are God's messengers. They preach the truth, and I sustain them as prophets, seers, and revelators. They are true disciples of Christ and I testify of how humble they are.

May I share a modern example.

In the October 2006 general conference of the church President Gordon B. Hinckley then presided as the president of the church. The latter-day saints have always a great love for our prophet and President Hinckley was no exception. As he was getting on in years his quiet and humble testimony was a beacon of strength, his optimistic attitude was a staple of his life, and his love for the saints was felt in every word.

Elder Jeffery R. Holland of the quormn of the twelve apostles was the concluding speaker at the last session. He gave a powerful witness of the need for modern prophets and he rejoiced that there were, "prophets in the land again."

President Hinckley then gave his closing remarks which were brief and borne in that oh-so-humble way of his.

The closing hymn that the choir sang was a favorite among the saints, We Thank Thee O' God For A Prophet. Tlhe choir as always sang beautifully and the spirit filled the conference center.

Then something happened. The conductor then turned to the congregation and led them all in a reprise of the first verse,

We thank thee O God for a prophet to guide us in these latter days.

We thank thee for sending the gospel to lighten our minds with its rays.

We thank thee for every blessing bestowed by thy bounteous hand.

We feel it a pleasure to serve thee, and love to obey thy command.

It is the custom in these conferences to stand during the intermediate hymn, mainly to give everyone the chance to stretch their legs. Without provocation or even instruction, the entire congregation rose to their feet singing this song of adoration to their prophet. The general authorities sitted on the stand also stood and joined with the saints.

Now, here you have a conference center which holds 21,000 people all singing praise to their prophet. President Hinckley had mainly remained seated during the two day conference and had President Monson, his first councilor, do most of the conducting. If he had remained seated the congregation would have not thought any less of him. Honestly, he derseved it. He was a man beloved by all. Now, President Hinckley always said that this hymn was in tribute to the Prophet Joseph Smith and a lesser man would had let all of this well earned attention go to himself, but the miracle of Gordon Bitner Hinckley is that he stood.

He joined in with the rest of the saints singing praise and gratitude for a prophet in these latter days. Why? Because Gordon B. Hinckley knows who's church this is.

The entire congregation remained standing during the rest of the hymn and through the closing prayer. Seasoned general authorities reached for hanckerchiefs to wipe tears from their eyes and everyone mingled tears of gratitude and praise of a God who loves us so completely to send a living prophet to us.

We do thank thee O God for a prophet to guide us in these latter days.

That he has given us the gift of a prophet is truly one of the many gifts bestowed by His bounteous hand is my witness and testimony.

"Behold Your Little Ones."

One of the most magestic and poignant moments of the Book of Mormon is the account of the ressurected Jesus Christ appearing to the inhabitants of the new world shortly after his ressurection and ascension in the old. Imagine the humble people who were spared, who before the appearance of the Savior, were spiritually starved but now full participants at a celestial banquet of doctrine and principles at his coming. He did not waste time in correcting doctrine, calling his apostles, or blessing the faithful. He never does.

To witness such a scene and to partake of the resplendent doctrine coming from the mouth of the very son of God is a blessing that every humble follower of Christ prays for. At the close of the sermons the Savior percieved that the words he spake were too great to fully absorb in one sitting. He commanded the people to, "go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again." (3 Nephi 17:3)

Out of all the commandments that were issued that day, surely the commandment to go home must have seemed the hardest. This was the long-promised Messiah, the Savior of all mankind and he was here talking with us.

"And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them. And he said unto them: Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you." (3 Nephi 17:6)

Nobody would have dared to protest His leaving. But as always, Jesus knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts and even though the pressing needs of a God warranted His attention elsewhere, His priority always and will always remain with us.

The Lord called the sick and the afflicted and using the same compassion healed them all. Next, Jesus called someone else to Him. Not apostles, not the sick, but the children. I now turn to the record:

"And it came to pass that when they had all been brought, and Jesus stood in the midst, he commanded the multitude that they should kneel down upon the ground.

And it came to pass that when they had knelt upon the ground, Jesus groaned within himself, and said: Father, I am troubled because of the wickedness of the people of the house of Israel.

And when he had said these words, he himself also knelt upon the earth; and behold he prayed unto the Father, and the things which he prayed cannot be written, and the multitude did bear record who heard him.

And after this manner do they bear record: The eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father;

And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father.

And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying unto the Father, he arose; but so great was the joy of the multitude that they were overcome.

And it came to pass that Jesus spake unto them, and bade them arise.

And they arose from the earth, and he said unto them: Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full.

And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.

And when he had done this he wept again;

And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.

And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them." (3 Nephi 17:11-24)

This single account teaches so emphatically how much time our Savior has for us. That His love and His care and love for us is enough to make His spirit groan with a Messianic love. That He knows of the challenges we face and the darkness that all must pass through, and that he will solicit the Father for our behalf. That he will plead, bless, and even express gratitude for us. That the unblemished Savior will weep tears of joy because of us is a surpassing matter of wonder and awe to me. The Lord is all too eager to rise from His throne and run to our aid!

Fire coming down from heaven is not something that is new in the Book of Mormon. In fact fire has often been used to protect the vessels of the Lord. And now that it is being used to protect us shows how much his role as a protector is as strong as His role as a redeemer.

In later revelation the Lord promises,

"And their arm shall be my arm, and I will be their shield and their buckler; and I will gird up their loins, and they shall fight manfully for me; and their enemies shall be under their feet; and I will let fall the sword in their behalf, and by the fire of mine indignation will I preserve them." (D&C 35:14 italics added)

How many times in our lives do we forget how much love Jesus has for us? In times of sorrow, self-pity, unworthiness, and regret, the majestic Atonement falls out of our gaze and notwithstanding it's infinite power we are consumed with our finite problem. We get trapped in our three days of darkness-even though it feels a lot longer. But in such a hour the voice of the Savior will always come. He always bids us to arise, wipe the dirt from our tattered clothing, and take His outstretched hand and as a loving shepherd leads us away from danger and darkness. We do not have to be in the dark. He will seek every lost sheep. Go to any lengths to secure our freedom and while we are in his arms he will look us in the eye and say, "And now behold, my joy is full."

I know Jesus Christ to be a loving, forgiving, gentle, God. And how much he wants us to see it! Hence his declaration and invitation, "Behold your little ones." That we may never forget we are those little ones is my hope and prayer.