the story of Christmas begins in the temple
in the year of the Romans,753,when Herod was past sixty, the central portion of the new temple was practically completed. it was here that the real story of Christmas begins.
on a certain day an ancient Levite priest came to the temple to preside at the alter. his name was Zacharias.While the congregation awaited without, Zacharias entered the room were the alter stood. it was called the holy place. As Zacharias stood there alone he saw straight before him the sacred veil behind which lay the holy of hollies. in front of the alter was the golden alter with it dying embers from the incense-burning of the night before. to his right Zacharias saw the table of shew-bread and to his left stood the golden candle-stick which furnished the only light.
Zacharias had come to the temple this day with a prayer which had been the burden of his soul for many years. he longed for a son. although the time had long since passed when he could expect a son,nevertheless, by habit, he continued to present his supplication to the Lord. it was the thought uppermost in his mind as he approached the alter of incense.
suddenly Zacharias stopped. he was almost blinded as the dim half-light of the Holy place was shattered by the brilliant appearance of a glorious being. an angel stood to the right of the alter surrounded by by an intense, heavenly light. for the first time in more than 400 years of Hebrew history, a revelation had been granted to a priest of the Jewish people.
in terror Zacharias began to retreat,but the holy messenger spoke to him,''fear not, Zacharias,''he said,''for thy prayer is heard and thy wife, Elizabeth, shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.'' the humble Levite priest could scarcely believe his ears. the angel continued:'' he shall be great in the sight of the lord.....and shall make ready a people prepared for the Lord''
this was too much for Zacharias. how could Elizabeth have a son? it was impossible! she was too old. in his doubting spirit he challenged the angel.
''whereby shall i know this? i am an old man and my wife is well stricken in years.''
the eyes that looked down on Zacharias must have been deep as eternity. Did Zacharias doubt the power of the God? had he forgotten the mother of Samson, the mother of Samuel and the mother of Isaac- all of whom received their children through a special blessing from heaven? or did he doubt the authority of the angel?
in tones of solemn rebuke the angel declared:'' i am Gabriel that stands in the presence of God; and i am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these glad tidings. behold, thou shalt be dumb and not able to speak because thou believest not my words!''
instantly the angel was gone.
almost as though he were stunned, Zacharias turned to fulfill the rite of burning of incense. as the clouds of perfumed vapor ascended above the partition, the Levite priest walked out before the people.
why had he been so long? Zacharias .
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Monday, 5 December 2011
Monday, 24 October 2011
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
Monday, 19 September 2011
"Reminder Of My Covenant"
The following statement by Elder Orson F. Whitney shades more insights to these questions, " no pain that we suffer, no pain that we experience is wasted. it ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience,faith,fortitude and humility. all that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters,purifies our hearts,expands our souls,and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God... and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation that,that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our father and mother in heaven."
May i share with you how adversity can redirect us sometimes back to our covenants. Hans Boamah, a fiftynine years of age, native of Ghana, shares the following:
"I was introduce to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in 1996,at the time i was living with Edward Mettle-Nunoo family, they introduce the gospel to me and i took the missionary discussion and was baptise at Odorkor ward,Accra Ghana Stake. Couple of month after my baptism, i relocated to Nsawam and my record was moved to Nsawam branch, while at nsawam branch, my testimony of the restored gospel grow a lot, various calling was being extended to me and the desire to do missionary work keeps improving, as i introduce the restored gospel to my families. I was offed a job at the Tema depot and traveled to and fro between tema and nsawam, the work at the depot posed a challenge and i begin rationalizing why i should skip church service, these continue for a while and i decided to move back to Accra, Lartebiokorshie and do attend church occasionally while at Nsawan when i pickup the new job( less active). on arriving at Accra, i moved into one of the extended family house in Lartebiokorshie on january first, 2010. I was a victim of a fire outbreak from a neighboring building, the incident occur on the thirtieth of july 2011, which was on a saturday, i heard a cry for help! fire! fire! and i ran out to help and unfortunately for me as well, the fire escalated and my apartment was on fire. every single thing in the apartment got burnt, my document, credentials, clothes, electronics, the only thing that never got burnt was my sets of scriptures( triple combination of the book of mormon, bible. every thing else got burnt around it but my scripture never got burnt. While standing and gazing at the scene, the thought came to my mind,"the gospel is true, but i haven't being faithful and true to my covenant" is time to go back to activity in the church again." This was my own reminder of my covenant and I'm so grateful for the whispering of the spirit that minister to me at the time of my adversity.
Monday, 5 September 2011
Special Week.
I would like to describe this past week as, 'special week.' Special in the sense that it is very uncommon. Besides,'the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.'
Not very often is the case of a convert from the islamic faith to the christian faith. couple of month ago while still serving in Abomosu district of the Ghana Accra Mission, i almost baptised a young man from the islamic faith, but i didn't, the reason being that he had some issues with the 'law of chastity', nevertheless, he's still taking the missionary discussion and keeps attainding church. This past week, that dream was realised as i and my companion, Elder Orchard witness the baptism of one of our investigator, formerly a muslim but now converted to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Before now,he had to wait for a year before he could be baptised because he was formerly affiliated to a group known as O.P.C ( Odua people's congress ), couple of years ago.
The day before his baptism, i inquired of him, how he came in contact with the church?( the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints). that led to a ninety minute conversation. To cut the story short,he was introduced to a site on the internet where he met Jane. She is a mormon and she introduce the gospel to him and referred the missionary to him.
During the months of investigating, his testimony of the restored gospel increased a lot. President Harold B. Lee once said," when your heart begins to tell you things that your mind does not know, then you are getting the spirit of the lord." This was the case for my investigator, has he shares his feelings. His heart has told him things that his mind did not know. He's converted. He saw what he should have seen. He heard what he should have heard. He understood what he should have understood, and he was doing something about it.He had a testimony.
I do not ask my investigators to join the church just to put their names on the records. This is not my concern. My corcern is to offer to them the greatest gift the world can give, the gift of the kingdom of God. It is here for you as well if you will only accept and believe.
I say to my investigators," now, you ask the Lord, study,work,and pray," This is the process by which people are brought into the church, and it is the same way that from the beginning the honest in heart everywhere have been brought into the church. I testify that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and that missionary work is divine. I love missionary work and i want to be a missionary forever.
Not very often is the case of a convert from the islamic faith to the christian faith. couple of month ago while still serving in Abomosu district of the Ghana Accra Mission, i almost baptised a young man from the islamic faith, but i didn't, the reason being that he had some issues with the 'law of chastity', nevertheless, he's still taking the missionary discussion and keeps attainding church. This past week, that dream was realised as i and my companion, Elder Orchard witness the baptism of one of our investigator, formerly a muslim but now converted to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Before now,he had to wait for a year before he could be baptised because he was formerly affiliated to a group known as O.P.C ( Odua people's congress ), couple of years ago.
The day before his baptism, i inquired of him, how he came in contact with the church?( the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints). that led to a ninety minute conversation. To cut the story short,he was introduced to a site on the internet where he met Jane. She is a mormon and she introduce the gospel to him and referred the missionary to him.
During the months of investigating, his testimony of the restored gospel increased a lot. President Harold B. Lee once said," when your heart begins to tell you things that your mind does not know, then you are getting the spirit of the lord." This was the case for my investigator, has he shares his feelings. His heart has told him things that his mind did not know. He's converted. He saw what he should have seen. He heard what he should have heard. He understood what he should have understood, and he was doing something about it.He had a testimony.
I do not ask my investigators to join the church just to put their names on the records. This is not my concern. My corcern is to offer to them the greatest gift the world can give, the gift of the kingdom of God. It is here for you as well if you will only accept and believe.
Monday, 29 August 2011
Could This Book Have Been Written By An Uneducated Young Man In About Seventy-Five Days?
perhaps one the best evidences of the veracity of the Book of Mormon is that its opponents have had to work so hard just to come up with their attack. They have claimed Joseph Smith copied it from other books,from the Bible,was given it through magic,got others to write it or did it through some sort of psychological delusion. All of these have been proven quite false.That no credible argument has been found is incredible given the fact that Joseph Smith, an uneducated farm boy, would hardly seem a match for a world of scientific,linguistic,archaeological, and historical scholars-particvularlt because the task of presenting to the world something as bold as the Book of Mormon as a product of fiction simply defies any odds. Hugh Nibley described this impossibility in the following chalenge to his college class to create a book like Joseph Smith did:
" Since Joseph Smith was younger than most of you and not nearly so experienced or well-educated as any of you at the time he copyrighted the Book of Mormon, it should not be too much to ask you to hand in by the end of the semester(which will give you more time than he had) a paper of, say, five to six hundred pages in length.Call it a sacred book if you will,and give it the form of a history.Tell of a community of wandering Jews in ancient times; have all sort of characters in your story, and involve them in all sorts of public and private vicissitudes;give them names-hundreds of them-pretending that they are real Hebrew and Egyptian names of circa 600 B.C.;be lavish with cultural and technical details-manners and customs, arts and industries,political and religioud institutions, rite, and traditions; include long and complicated military and economic histories;have your narrative cover a thousand years without anylarge gaps; keep a number of interrelated local histories going at once;feel free to introduce religious controversy and philosophical discussion,but always in a plausible setting; observe the appropriate literary conventions and explain the derivation and transmission of your varied historical materials.
Above all,do not ever contracdict yourself! For now we come to the really hard part of this little assignment. You an I know that you are making this all up-we have our little joke-but just the same you are going to be required to haveto have your paper published when you finish it,not as fiction or romance,but as a true history!After you have handed it in,you may make no changes in it(in this class we always use the first edition of the Book of Mormon);what is more,you are to invite any and all scholars to read and criticize your work freely, explaining to them that it is a sacred book on a par with the Bible.If they seem over-skeptical, you might tell that you translated the book from the original records by the aid of Urim and Thummin- they will love that! Further to allay their misgivings,you might tell them that the original manuscript was on golden plates, and that you got the plates from an angel. Now go to work and good luck!
To date no student has carried out this assignment,which of course, was not meant seriously.But why not? if anybody could write the Book of Mormon,as we have been so often assured, it is high time that somebody, some devoted and learned minister of the gospel,performed the invaluable public service of showing the world that it can be done."
From a purely doctrinal and philosophical point of view,Truman Madsen also notes the following about the enormity of the task accomplished by the Book of Mormon relative to Joseph Smith's training and knowledge. He writes:
"As to the 'originality of the Book of Mormon,'B.H. Roberts found in the book of doctrines exceeding the native intelligence of Joseph Smith, and his associates, and indeed the combined intelligence of the nineteenth century.Among these truths were the definition of truth itself(Jacob 4:13); the doctrine of opposite existences(2 Nephi 2); the doctrine(with cosmological implications) that the universe splits into two categories,"things to act and things to be acted upon ( 2 Nephi 2:14); a foundation for an unqualified affirmation of man;s agency ( 2 Nephi 2:27; 2 Nephi 10:23; Alma 61:21); a doctrine of the fall of Adam as instrumental to a higher good ( 2 Nephi2:10-11,15; Alma 42:16-17);a doctrine of the nature of evil as "among the eternal things"-"as eternal as good; as eternal as law; as eternal as the agency of intelligence"( 2 Nephi 2:15-25); and a doctrine of the purpose of man's existence ( 2 Nephi 2:25). Here he contrasts the classical catechisms,confessions, and creeds of the major christian and jewish faiths. He formulates this doctrine from the words of Lehi as folloes: 'Earth life became essential to intelligences-Adam fell that this earth life might be realized. The purpose of man's earth life is that he might have joy. The purpose of the gospel is to bring to pass that joy."'
As a 20-year-old with no reference material, Joseph Smith orally dictated the remarkable Book of Mormon record in sixty to seventy-five days- an impossible feat for even an educated man. Therefore,one should never be surprised that researchers continue to discover nwe and growing evidence which supports the Book of Mormon's claim to be a translation of an ancient sacred record. Likewise, because evidence takes time to discover, one should also not be surprised that not every city, plant or name mentioned in the Book of Mormon has been scientifically foung. But just as the critics once said that there was no cement, or horses, or writing on metal plates in the New World, we now know they were absolutely wrong.
" Since Joseph Smith was younger than most of you and not nearly so experienced or well-educated as any of you at the time he copyrighted the Book of Mormon, it should not be too much to ask you to hand in by the end of the semester(which will give you more time than he had) a paper of, say, five to six hundred pages in length.Call it a sacred book if you will,and give it the form of a history.Tell of a community of wandering Jews in ancient times; have all sort of characters in your story, and involve them in all sorts of public and private vicissitudes;give them names-hundreds of them-pretending that they are real Hebrew and Egyptian names of circa 600 B.C.;be lavish with cultural and technical details-manners and customs, arts and industries,political and religioud institutions, rite, and traditions; include long and complicated military and economic histories;have your narrative cover a thousand years without anylarge gaps; keep a number of interrelated local histories going at once;feel free to introduce religious controversy and philosophical discussion,but always in a plausible setting; observe the appropriate literary conventions and explain the derivation and transmission of your varied historical materials.
Above all,do not ever contracdict yourself! For now we come to the really hard part of this little assignment. You an I know that you are making this all up-we have our little joke-but just the same you are going to be required to haveto have your paper published when you finish it,not as fiction or romance,but as a true history!After you have handed it in,you may make no changes in it(in this class we always use the first edition of the Book of Mormon);what is more,you are to invite any and all scholars to read and criticize your work freely, explaining to them that it is a sacred book on a par with the Bible.If they seem over-skeptical, you might tell that you translated the book from the original records by the aid of Urim and Thummin- they will love that! Further to allay their misgivings,you might tell them that the original manuscript was on golden plates, and that you got the plates from an angel. Now go to work and good luck!
To date no student has carried out this assignment,which of course, was not meant seriously.But why not? if anybody could write the Book of Mormon,as we have been so often assured, it is high time that somebody, some devoted and learned minister of the gospel,performed the invaluable public service of showing the world that it can be done."
From a purely doctrinal and philosophical point of view,Truman Madsen also notes the following about the enormity of the task accomplished by the Book of Mormon relative to Joseph Smith's training and knowledge. He writes:
"As to the 'originality of the Book of Mormon,'B.H. Roberts found in the book of doctrines exceeding the native intelligence of Joseph Smith, and his associates, and indeed the combined intelligence of the nineteenth century.Among these truths were the definition of truth itself(Jacob 4:13); the doctrine of opposite existences(2 Nephi 2); the doctrine(with cosmological implications) that the universe splits into two categories,"things to act and things to be acted upon ( 2 Nephi 2:14); a foundation for an unqualified affirmation of man;s agency ( 2 Nephi 2:27; 2 Nephi 10:23; Alma 61:21); a doctrine of the fall of Adam as instrumental to a higher good ( 2 Nephi2:10-11,15; Alma 42:16-17);a doctrine of the nature of evil as "among the eternal things"-"as eternal as good; as eternal as law; as eternal as the agency of intelligence"( 2 Nephi 2:15-25); and a doctrine of the purpose of man's existence ( 2 Nephi 2:25). Here he contrasts the classical catechisms,confessions, and creeds of the major christian and jewish faiths. He formulates this doctrine from the words of Lehi as folloes: 'Earth life became essential to intelligences-Adam fell that this earth life might be realized. The purpose of man's earth life is that he might have joy. The purpose of the gospel is to bring to pass that joy."'
As a 20-year-old with no reference material, Joseph Smith orally dictated the remarkable Book of Mormon record in sixty to seventy-five days- an impossible feat for even an educated man. Therefore,one should never be surprised that researchers continue to discover nwe and growing evidence which supports the Book of Mormon's claim to be a translation of an ancient sacred record. Likewise, because evidence takes time to discover, one should also not be surprised that not every city, plant or name mentioned in the Book of Mormon has been scientifically foung. But just as the critics once said that there was no cement, or horses, or writing on metal plates in the New World, we now know they were absolutely wrong.
Monday, 22 August 2011
All African Service Project.
The Twentieth of August Two Thousand and Eleven which was a saturday was set aside for the saints in africa for a service project. this was an opportunity for the saints to render service in their various communities within the wards boundaries.
The Lartebiokorshie ward, which is my current ward of service as a full time missionaryworked at the mamprobi polyclinic, ward members, both adults and youth were united in meaningful service of sweeping,cutting down grasses and tidying up the entire compound. During the clean up exercise, i recalled the saviour's statement on the eve of His crucifixion to His apostles.He said:
"a new commandment i give unto you, that ye love one another, as i have loved you...
"by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" ( John 13 : 34 - 35 )
The love the saviour described is an active love. It is not manifested through large and heroic deeds but rather through simple acts of kindness and service. It is only when we nlove God and Christ with all of our hearts,souls, and minds that we are able to share this love with our neighbours through acts of kindness and service- the way that the saviuor woulod love and serve all of us if He were among us today. When tyhis pure love of christ - or charity - envelops us, we think, feel and act more like Heavenly Father and Jesus would think, feel and act.
Church leaders have often counselled that ' service' is the very means of how a new measure of concern and unselfishness would grow in the hearts of people every where.
To serve is to abase oneself, to succor those in need of succor and to impart of one's 'substance to the poor and the needy, feeding the hungry, and suffering all manner of afflictions, for christ's sake.' ( Alma 4:13 ).Work brings happiness, self-esteem, and prosperity. It is the means of all accomplisment; it is the opposite of idleness. We are commanded to work.( Genesis 3:19).
The modern good samaritans followed the divine injunction to "go, and do thou likewise." (luke 10:37).
May we be generous with our time and liberal in our contributions for the care of those who suffer. May we commit to the principles of good samaritanism and be ever mindful of the need to " go, and do thou likewise."gabrieldominic.blogspot.com
The Lartebiokorshie ward, which is my current ward of service as a full time missionaryworked at the mamprobi polyclinic, ward members, both adults and youth were united in meaningful service of sweeping,cutting down grasses and tidying up the entire compound. During the clean up exercise, i recalled the saviour's statement on the eve of His crucifixion to His apostles.He said:
"a new commandment i give unto you, that ye love one another, as i have loved you...
"by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" ( John 13 : 34 - 35 )
The love the saviour described is an active love. It is not manifested through large and heroic deeds but rather through simple acts of kindness and service. It is only when we nlove God and Christ with all of our hearts,souls, and minds that we are able to share this love with our neighbours through acts of kindness and service- the way that the saviuor woulod love and serve all of us if He were among us today. When tyhis pure love of christ - or charity - envelops us, we think, feel and act more like Heavenly Father and Jesus would think, feel and act.
Church leaders have often counselled that ' service' is the very means of how a new measure of concern and unselfishness would grow in the hearts of people every where.
To serve is to abase oneself, to succor those in need of succor and to impart of one's 'substance to the poor and the needy, feeding the hungry, and suffering all manner of afflictions, for christ's sake.' ( Alma 4:13 ).Work brings happiness, self-esteem, and prosperity. It is the means of all accomplisment; it is the opposite of idleness. We are commanded to work.( Genesis 3:19).
The modern good samaritans followed the divine injunction to "go, and do thou likewise." (luke 10:37).
Monday, 15 August 2011
A Mission Is The School For Eternity.
your mission is preparation. it is your school for eternity. you won't forget that, will you? this mission is not just a two year stretch. this is the time when you cultivate the seeds of godhood so that you can help other people on their way toward exaltation. how small are we who think of the mission as just being a stretch of time, somephysical things to do, a little studying to do, some praying. this is the most purposeful thing, perhaps, you have ever done in your life and possibly the most purposeful thing that some of you will ever do. it's up to you to let this be the prelude to your life, to let it be the beginning of a great and glorious life.
i have certainly come to agree that,we do not suddenly become what we do not participate in becoming.
now some of you may begin to wonder why such statement at this time of civic unrest but to be specific i'm off the hook of my political counterpart so, i'm neutral to my views.
where there is hatred,let me sow love. where there is injury, pardon. where there is doubt, faith . where there is despair, hope. where there is darkness, light. where there is sadness, joy. O Divine master, grant that i may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood, as to understand, to be loved, as to love, for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardonning that we are pardoned,and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
of late we hear about soo many funny stories going on about some of the world leaders and this sort of behaviour has the tendency of causing "worries". now , this's what i think: worry a little bit everyday and in a life time you will lose a couple of years. if something is wrong, fix it if you can. but train yourself not to worry. worry never fixes anything.
life is not what you want it to be,but what you make it. your ship has come in... but you've got to row out to meet it.
so my plea is that fix it.
i have certainly come to agree that,we do not suddenly become what we do not participate in becoming.
now some of you may begin to wonder why such statement at this time of civic unrest but to be specific i'm off the hook of my political counterpart so, i'm neutral to my views.
where there is hatred,let me sow love. where there is injury, pardon. where there is doubt, faith . where there is despair, hope. where there is darkness, light. where there is sadness, joy. O Divine master, grant that i may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood, as to understand, to be loved, as to love, for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardonning that we are pardoned,and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
of late we hear about soo many funny stories going on about some of the world leaders and this sort of behaviour has the tendency of causing "worries". now , this's what i think: worry a little bit everyday and in a life time you will lose a couple of years. if something is wrong, fix it if you can. but train yourself not to worry. worry never fixes anything.
life is not what you want it to be,but what you make it. your ship has come in... but you've got to row out to meet it.
so my plea is that fix it.
Monday, 8 August 2011
Pleasure versus Happiness.
“The present is an age of pleasure seeking, and men are losing their sanity in the mad rush for sensations that do but excite and disappoint. In this day of counterfeits, adulterations, and base limitations, the devil is busier than he has ever been in the course of human history. In the manufacture of pleasures, both old and new; and these he offers for sale in most attractive fashion, falsely labeled, happiness. In this soul-destroying craft he is without a peer; he has had centuries of experience and practice, and by his skill he controls the market. He has learned the tricks of the trade, and knows well how to catch the eye and arouse the desire of his customers. He puts up the stuff in bright colored packages, tied with tinsel string and tassel; and crowds flock to his bargain counters, hustling and crushing one another in their frenzy to buy.
“Follow one of the purchasers as he goes off gloatingly with his gaudy packet, and watch him as he opens it. What finds he inside the gilded wrapping? He has expected fragrant happiness, but uncovers only an inferior branch of pleasure, the stench of which his nauseating.
“Happiness includes all that is really desirable and of true worth in pleasure, and much beside. Happiness is genuine gold, pleasure but gilded brass, which corrodes in the hand, and is soon converted into poisonous verdigris. Happiness is as the genuine diamond, which, rough or polished, shines with its own limitable luster; pleasure is as the paste limitation that glows only when artificially embellished. Happiness is as the ruby, red as the heart’s blood, hard and enduring; pleasure, as stained glass, soft, brittle, and of but transitory beauty.
“Happiness is true food, wholesome, nutritious and sweet; it builds up the body and generates energy for action, physical, mental and spiritual; pleasure is but a deceiving stimulant which, like spirituous drink, makes on think he is strong when in reality enfeebled; makes him fancy he is well when in fact stricken with deadly malady.
“Happiness leaves no bad after taste; it is followed by no depressing reaction. I calls for no repentance, brings no regret, entails no remorse; pleasure too often makes necessary repentance, contrition, and suffering; and if indulged to the extreme, it brings degradation and destruction.
“True happiness is lived over and over again in memory, always with a renewal of the original good; a moment of unholy pleasure may leave a barbed sting, which, like a thorn in the flesh, is an ever present source of anguish.
“Happiness is not akin with levity, nor is it one with light minded mirth. It springs from the deeper fountains of the soul, and is not infrequently accompanied by tears. Have you never been so happy that you have had to weep? I have.”
“Follow one of the purchasers as he goes off gloatingly with his gaudy packet, and watch him as he opens it. What finds he inside the gilded wrapping? He has expected fragrant happiness, but uncovers only an inferior branch of pleasure, the stench of which his nauseating.
“Happiness includes all that is really desirable and of true worth in pleasure, and much beside. Happiness is genuine gold, pleasure but gilded brass, which corrodes in the hand, and is soon converted into poisonous verdigris. Happiness is as the genuine diamond, which, rough or polished, shines with its own limitable luster; pleasure is as the paste limitation that glows only when artificially embellished. Happiness is as the ruby, red as the heart’s blood, hard and enduring; pleasure, as stained glass, soft, brittle, and of but transitory beauty.
“Happiness is true food, wholesome, nutritious and sweet; it builds up the body and generates energy for action, physical, mental and spiritual; pleasure is but a deceiving stimulant which, like spirituous drink, makes on think he is strong when in reality enfeebled; makes him fancy he is well when in fact stricken with deadly malady.
“Happiness leaves no bad after taste; it is followed by no depressing reaction. I calls for no repentance, brings no regret, entails no remorse; pleasure too often makes necessary repentance, contrition, and suffering; and if indulged to the extreme, it brings degradation and destruction.
“True happiness is lived over and over again in memory, always with a renewal of the original good; a moment of unholy pleasure may leave a barbed sting, which, like a thorn in the flesh, is an ever present source of anguish.
“Happiness is not akin with levity, nor is it one with light minded mirth. It springs from the deeper fountains of the soul, and is not infrequently accompanied by tears. Have you never been so happy that you have had to weep? I have.”
The Best Book On Earth,( The BOM )
the righteous influence of mothers.
The Righteous Influence of Mothers
How can mothers fulfill their sacred role of teaching and nurturing their children?
Woman has within her the power of creation in company with her legal and lawful husband here, and if sealed in celestial wedlock, she may have eternal increase in the world to come.
Woman is the homemaker in her own home and an exemplar to her posterity in the generations that succeed her. Woman is an helpmeet to her husband and may render him more perfect than he otherwise would be.
Woman’s influence can bless a community or a nation to that extent to which she develops her spiritual powers in harmony with the heaven-sent gifts with which she has been endowed by nature… year in and year out, she may cast the aura of her calming and refining influence to make certain that her posterity will enjoy the opportunities to develop to their fullest potential their spiritual and physical natures.
Mothers are the creators of the atmosphere in the home and do much to provide the strong foundation for their sons and daughters, to provide them with strength when they leave the influence of their homes.
Mothers, stay at the crossroads of the home.
Today, I feel that women are becoming victims of the speed of modern living. It is in building their motherly intuition and that marvelous closeness with their children that they are enable to tune in upon the wavelengths of their children and to pick up the first signs of difficulty, of danger and distress, which if caught in time would save them from disasters. I say to mothers, if you ever have sons and daughters who amount to what they should in the world, it will be in no small degree due to the fact that your children have a mother who spends many nights on her knees in prayer, praying God that her son, her daughter will not fail. A mother’s heart is a child’s schoolroom. The instructions received at the mother’s knee, and the parental lessons together with the pious and sweet souvenirs of the fireside, are never effaced entirely from the soul. Someone has said that the best school of discipline is the home, for family life is God’s own method of training the young, and homes are largely what mothers make them.
What is the mother’s role, then, in the great service of the Kingdom? Her first and most important role is to remember the teaching of the gospel in the family. [I wish to refer to] woman’s place in training her family… The Lord said:
“But behold, I say unto you, that little children are redeemed from the foundation of the world through mine only Begotten;
“Wherefore, they cannot sin, for power is not given unto Satan to tempt little children, until they begin to become accountable before me;
“For it is given unto them even as I will, according to mine own pleasure, that great things may be required at the hand of their fathers.”
D&C 29:46-48
Great accomplishments are required of fathers and mothers before Satan has power to tempt little children. It is the responsibility of the parents to lay a solid foundation by teaching Church standards by example and by precept. To the sisters, this means they must make a career of motherhood. They must let nothing supersede that career. Mothers, when your children begin to ask you questions, even about the delicate things in life, don’t turn them aside. Take time to explain to their childish minds, or as they grow up, to their older minds. A successful mother is one who is never too tired for her sons and daughters to come and share their joys and their sorrows with her.
I pray that the blessings of the Lord will be on you, my beloved sisters.
How can mothers fulfill their sacred role of teaching and nurturing their children?
Woman has within her the power of creation in company with her legal and lawful husband here, and if sealed in celestial wedlock, she may have eternal increase in the world to come.
Woman is the homemaker in her own home and an exemplar to her posterity in the generations that succeed her. Woman is an helpmeet to her husband and may render him more perfect than he otherwise would be.
Woman’s influence can bless a community or a nation to that extent to which she develops her spiritual powers in harmony with the heaven-sent gifts with which she has been endowed by nature… year in and year out, she may cast the aura of her calming and refining influence to make certain that her posterity will enjoy the opportunities to develop to their fullest potential their spiritual and physical natures.
Mothers are the creators of the atmosphere in the home and do much to provide the strong foundation for their sons and daughters, to provide them with strength when they leave the influence of their homes.
Mothers, stay at the crossroads of the home.
Today, I feel that women are becoming victims of the speed of modern living. It is in building their motherly intuition and that marvelous closeness with their children that they are enable to tune in upon the wavelengths of their children and to pick up the first signs of difficulty, of danger and distress, which if caught in time would save them from disasters. I say to mothers, if you ever have sons and daughters who amount to what they should in the world, it will be in no small degree due to the fact that your children have a mother who spends many nights on her knees in prayer, praying God that her son, her daughter will not fail. A mother’s heart is a child’s schoolroom. The instructions received at the mother’s knee, and the parental lessons together with the pious and sweet souvenirs of the fireside, are never effaced entirely from the soul. Someone has said that the best school of discipline is the home, for family life is God’s own method of training the young, and homes are largely what mothers make them.
What is the mother’s role, then, in the great service of the Kingdom? Her first and most important role is to remember the teaching of the gospel in the family. [I wish to refer to] woman’s place in training her family… The Lord said:
“But behold, I say unto you, that little children are redeemed from the foundation of the world through mine only Begotten;
“Wherefore, they cannot sin, for power is not given unto Satan to tempt little children, until they begin to become accountable before me;
“For it is given unto them even as I will, according to mine own pleasure, that great things may be required at the hand of their fathers.”
D&C 29:46-48
Great accomplishments are required of fathers and mothers before Satan has power to tempt little children. It is the responsibility of the parents to lay a solid foundation by teaching Church standards by example and by precept. To the sisters, this means they must make a career of motherhood. They must let nothing supersede that career. Mothers, when your children begin to ask you questions, even about the delicate things in life, don’t turn them aside. Take time to explain to their childish minds, or as they grow up, to their older minds. A successful mother is one who is never too tired for her sons and daughters to come and share their joys and their sorrows with her.
I pray that the blessings of the Lord will be on you, my beloved sisters.
Monday, 1 August 2011
I dey
Hello, this is my new blog. All are welcome to come, peruse, and read what they like. I'm Gabriel Dominic, and I'm a mormon.
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