Baptism

Romans 6 in the New Testament has excellent teachings on baptism.

It teaches us that we need to change – we can’t continue sinning and assume that God’s grace makes it alright.  We need to start a new life, following the teachings of Jesus Christ and following Him.

It teaches us of the significance of baptism and it’s symbolism of Christ’s life.  Just as Christ died and was resurrected, we are “buried” in the water (symbolizing death) and are brought back up with newness of life.  Our old selves are gone and our new selves are alive in Christ and His teachings.

This symbolism of being buried in the water and coming out of the water “reborn” lends itself well for full-immersion baptism.  Sprinkling does not have the same significance or meaning that is intended.

We can maintain the “newness of life” we experience at baptism by striving to follow Christ’s teachings, keep the commandments, overcome sin and temptations, and doing all we can to do God’s will.  As we fill our lives with righteousness and remember that it is through Christ that we can be redeemed, we will invite His Spirit into our lives and we will be strengthened.

Mosiah 3:19 in the Book of Mormon teaches us that the “natural man” is an enemy to God.  That part of us should die at baptism as we start anew and become more like Christ.

Romans 6 furthermore explains how we can know whose servant we are.  It is by identifying what we yield to – do we yield to sin or are free from sin?  What do we bring into our lives – corruptions or holiness?  Romans 6:23 states it very well:

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

It is through repentance and trying our very best to follow Christ that we are made free.  Sin imprisons us and we become captive to Satan.  But as we free ourselves from sin and its ugly consequences, we are made free and can ultimately enjoy eternal life through Jesus Christ.

L-R: Me and Brooke at our baptism in 1996.

Use the Spirit to Come to the Lord

2 Corinthians 3:6 teaches us that “the Spirit giveth life.”  Conversely, Romans 6:23 teaches us that "the wages of sin is death."  It is essential that we do our best to invite the Spirit into our lives, to avoid sin as much as possible, and to repent when we fall short.

2 Corinthians is full of information and teachings of the Spirit and how we can become closer to God.

2 Corinthians 4:6-10 - We must be hopeful as we face life by always having Christ in our hearts and minds.  God is our strength and will help us overcome everything.  

2 Corinthians 4:14-18 - Gratitude will strengthen us and bring us closer to God.

2 Corinthians 5:7-10 - We must walk by faith rather than sight.  This means putting our trust in God.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 - We must be ambassadors of Christ, bear testimony and witness of Him.

2 Corinthians 6:14-17 - We must strengthen each other, help each other, and be united in faith.

2 Corinthians 7:1, 9-10 - We must cleanse ourselves through sincere repentance and strive to always to better.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 - We can face difficulties and trials with strength as we rely on Christ.

I know that as we strive to live with Christ's Spirit in our lives, we will be strengthened in our daily lives and feel the presence of God with us.  We are so blessed to have a God who loves and cares about us and will help us when we need Him.

Del Norte County, California
Photography by my mom :)

Being Influential for Good in the Lives of Others

Paul was an apostle and knew of his important role to preach the gospel.  1 Corinthians 9 tells of how dedicated he was to sharing the gospel.  He said in verse 16, “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!”

He writes of how he would connect with people of various backgrounds and lifestyles.  He was a Jew among the Jews, weak among the weak, showing that he would adjust to these different people in order to most effectively teach them.  

That is what we must do as well.  We must adjust to different people and their needs to best share the gospel with them.  If we strive to be on their level, they won’t feel that the gospel is foreign or strange, but will feel more comfortable and accepting.  We can do this with people of different cultures, regions, and lifestyles.  If we can effectively connect with them, we will be much more successful in sharing Christ’s gospel with them.

Missionaries Teaching the Gospel in Seattle, WA
(L-R: Elder Dymock & Michael)

Paul's Counsel for Members

Paul shares wonderful counsel and advice for believers of Christ in 1 Thessalonians. 3:12-13, 4:1-12, 5:1-22, and 2 Thessalonians 3:1-6, 11

There is a very lengthy list of things that he counseled the members to work on, which are all things that we can improve and work on today!  I chose 3 attributes that he shared that I want to improve on.  They are:

Love One Another

This is one of Christ’s great commandments – to love God and to love your neighbor.  I want to work on loving those around me by seeing them as children of God – my brothers and sisters.  I can do this at work, church, and at home by looking for ways to serve those around me and express my love for them in simple, meaningful ways.  I know that even a smile, or a friendly “hello” can make a difference and life someone’s day.

Comfort & Edify One Another

This one goes along with love one another, but I want to work on this as well.  I want to look for ways to edify others and one thing I want to do is to just share simple, conversational testimony.  Sharing my blessings with others, acknowledging God’s hand in my life.  I can also be attentive and give comfort or encouragement to others.  I can do this by sharing my testimony and telling of all the blessings I receive from God each day, which will help them think of their own many blessings and feel better.

Pray Without Ceasing

It’s easy for me to get into a prayer routine, but the Bible encourages us to pray always.  To pray without ceasing.  I can and should pray about anything and everything.  So this is something I will work on – I want to pray about my daily situations, give thanks for daily blessings, and just have my mind and heart centered on Jesus Christ.

I know that I can improve on these things as I turn to the Lord for help.  I know that I will be blessed for my efforts as I strive to follow the counsels of His servants.

Paul’s Visit to Athens

Acts 17 in the New Testament tells of when Paul went to preach the gospel of Christ to various people.  Initially arriving to Thessalonica, some people listened to what he said, reasoning with the scriptures, and believed him.  However, the Jews did not believe him and “moved with envy” and created an uproar in the city.  So Paul and Silas went to a synagogue in Berea.  There they found humble, prepared people who searched the scriptures every day.  They readily received the words of Paul and believed. 

This is a huge contrast to the people in Thessalonica – it really demonstrates the power and knowledge that comes from consistent scripture study.  The people in Berea truly “feasted” on the words of Christ, and by so doing, recognized truth and knew what to do. (2 Nephi 32:3).  The words of Christ leads people to act justly and to do good (2 Nephi 33:10,  Alma 31:5).  This shows what a powerful tool scripture study is.  The people of Berea were prepared to receive truth and knowledge as a result of their studies, while the people of Thessalonica were left to their pride and ignorance due to their lack of understanding.  We invite the Spirit into our lives as we study the scriptures daily, which allows us to recognize and receive greater knowledge and come closer to God.

There were people known as Epicureans and Stoics.  Epicureans were named after a philosopher named Epicurus.  The beliefs of the Epicureans included that the world only exists by chance with no design or purpose, with the goal of living in a way that would result in most happiness and the least sorrow and pain

The Stoics believed in a supreme governing power among the universe.  They believed that everything was designed and set on its way.  Paul quoted their poetry to establish a connection and common ground with them when he said “we are also His offspring.”

Paul went to these people in Athens and found them to be very superstitious.  They had an alter inscribed with “To the Unknown God.”  However, they were always interested in hearing something new, so they willingly hear Paul and his message.  But being as philosophical as they were, they were a bit too vain to actually listen.

Paul taught them of their preexistence, being children of God.  President Harold B. Lee shares a quote, “‘Who are you?’ You are all the sons and daughters of God. Your spirits were created and lived as organized intelligences before the world was. You have been blessed to have a physical body because of your obedience to certain commandments in that premortal state. You are now born into a family to which you have come, into the nations through which you have come, as a reward for the kind of lives you lived before you came here and at a time in the world’s history, as the Apostle Paul taught the men of Athens and as the Lord revealed to Moses, determined by the faithfulness of each of those who lived before this world was created.”  Many Christians don’t know of or believe in our premortal existence.  However, as Acts 17 states, we have been “appointed” things before we were born.  President Lee also makes this clear.  We are very blessed to be given what we have. 

Romans 8:16 states that the Spirit testifies that we are sons and daughters of God.  We aren’t merely creations of God, but are His literal children.  As His children, we are blessed to have a loving God as our Father to lead and direct us.  We receive blessings every day, from the breaths we take, to the miracles we receive.  He loves us just as any parent loves their child.  He wants the best for us and has great plans for us.  As we search after Him, this will be very clear to us and we’ll see the hand of God in our lives.

Paul also taught them of the Resurrection.  The doctrine of the Resurrection is backed up in several scriptures.  The Old Testament says the Lord “will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves.” (Ezekiel 37:12)  John 5:21 says “the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them.”  The Book of Mormon states “the grave must deliver up its captive bodies, and the bodies and the spirits of men will be restored one to the other; and it is by the power of the resurrection of the Holy One of Israel.”  The Resurrection is a gift to all who have lived and will ever live.  It’s possible because of Christ’s Atonement, sacrificing Himself, and overcoming death.

Unfortunately, some people mocked Paul after hearing what he had taught.  But others believed and said “we will hear thee again of this matter.”

First Ultrasound!

The other week I had my first ultrasound to get a better estimate of how many weeks pregnant I am.  It was so neat to see the fetus moving around and being cute!  It was about 12 1/2 weeks when I got my ultrasound, making my estimated due date between 13 October - 20 October.  Just in time for Michael's birthday!  :P

 

So now I'm about 14 weeks pregnant, and we'll be able to know if it's a boy or a girl in about 2 more weeks.  :-)

The Day of Pentecost

The Pentecost was a Jewish celebration that occurred 50 days after the Passover feast.  The name itself comes from the Greek work “pentekoste,” meaning “fiftieth.”  Other names it was referred to as include “Dayof the First Fruits,” “Feast of Harvest,” and “the Feast of Weeks.”

The day of Pentecost, found in Acts 2, was an incredible event.  Peter taught the multitude that this pouring out of the Spirit was a fulfillment of prophecy, that God said He would pour out His Spirit in the last days.  He taught them of prophecy, miracles, and gifts of the Spirit.

Peter testified of Jesus Christ and His power.  He invited the multitude to repent and be baptized in Christ’s name and to receive the Holy Ghost.  His testimony strengthened many and 3,000 people were baptized!

Many spiritual gifts were made apparent that day.  They spoke in tongues and prophecies.  They understood each other, even if they spoke different languages.  They were filled with the Spirit of God.  They were filled with a desire to follow God and be baptized.  They were filled with love for each other, served one another, and took care of each other.

I am grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost and that it continues to be on earth today.  It’s been a blessing throughout my life and has been a source of strength and comfort.  I know that God works great miracles through the Holy Ghost and that gift truly shows of the deep love He has for each of us.

Dancing With Cats

Did you know that you can dance with your cat?!  Me neither, but when working on a project at work, I found this website dedicated to the dancing with your feline friends.

They even have special cat dancing classes that you can take your cat to.

I learned that there are special music CDs made just for cat dancing.  There is a section about the History of Cat Dancing, dating back to the 1600s and "Hey diddle, diddle, the cat and the fiddle."

 

There is a wonderful FAQs section letting you know why you would ever want to dance with a cat to begin with!

And there's a priceless section of dance tips from cat dancers.  They explain the need to really connect with your cat, purr with them, and maybe even unplug the refrigerator to eliminate electrical interference with you and your cat's connection.

And if cat dancing isn't enough, there is a link to a website about "Why Cats Paint" - displaying beautiful artwork created by none other but cats.  Meow!

The Savior's Instructions About The Holy Ghost

John 14-16 has some wonderful teachings of Jesus Christ about the Holy Ghost.  He was teaching his disciples about what the Holy Ghost does and what they must do to receive it.

The Holy Ghost:

Comforts

Teaches

Brings things to remembrance

Brings Peace

Guides to Truth

Testifies of Christ

Reproves sin

Inspires us to live up to our full potential

Serves as a messenger of God & does His will

To Receive the Holy Ghost:

Keep the commandments

Be not troubled or afraid

Share testimonies and be a witness of Christ

The Holy Ghost was vital in the continuance of the gospel after Christ’s resurrection.  The Holy Ghost was able to direct, strengthen, and comfort the Apostles as they continued their ministries.  The Holy Ghost was able to bear witness to their words as they shared their testimonies and Christ’s teachings.  They were able to feel of God’s presence with them through the Holy Ghost.

The Holy Ghost has been a wonderful blessing throughout my life.  I remember having a difficult time at the very beginning of my mission.  I felt like my trainer hated me and that I shouldn’t be there.  But as I prayed and asked God for help, I felt the peace and comfort of the Holy Ghost.  I knew that God was with me during this hard time, and that strengthened me.  I’m grateful for this experience because it continued to help me throughout my mission.

The Institution Of The Sacrament

All too often we forget that the last supper is really two events rather than just one.  On that night the Savior preformed a traditional Passover feast in the tradition of Moses, but then at the end added a new element, the bread and wine which were specifically given to the apostles as an ordinance to “do in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19).

It is important to remember that Passover was instituted not only as a commemoration for the temporal salvation of Israel in the time of Moses,  but also as a sign pointing forward to the future total salvation of all humanity from Spiritual and Temporal death through the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thus, as the Passover pointed forward, the Sacrament of the Lords Supper points backwards to the fundamental event of existence. Both the Passover and the Sacrament place stress on the obligation and covenant to remember, something that is fundamental to accepting and applying the atonement of the Savior in our lives.

I think that the covenant of Remembrance makes the Sacrament a unique ordinance in the church. All of the other Ordinances of the Priesthood are divided into two categories – Temporal ordinances (such as naming and blessing children, blessing the sick, setting apart to a calling, etc.) and Ordinances of Salvation (Baptism, Confirmation, Temple Ordinances, etc.). The easiest way to differentiate between the two is that the first category does not involve covenants and many can be received several times in a lifetime, while the second category all involve covenants and almost always are only received once for ones self. However, only the Sacrament blurs the line between the two, it is the only ordinance involving a covenant that we receive multiple times in our life. Perhaps the reason for this is that we are covenanting to remember, something that we must do frequently as we live here on earth.

But the sacrament is more than just a replacement for or reiteration of the Passover, it is a reminder that the Lord no longer requires a physical sacrifice of an animal, but rather a sacrifice of “a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (3 Ne 9:19-20). While the breaking of bread may be more palatable to our modern sensibilities than torn animal flesh, we should always remember that it represents the broken body of our Lord, and that we should be grateful for the suffering he endured for our sake.