Christmas

 

Mayflower Promise 2020: Tad R. Callister — Americas Choice: A Nation Und...

The First Miracle in the Church

 

Lizzy Found Faith on a Kindle—While Running on a Treadmill

Men's Hearts Shall Fail Them

President Russell M. Nelson

The Spirit of Sacred Sites

 "The Spirit of Sacred Sites"

Craig Ostler

You may or may not be able to visit foundational Church history sites like the Sacred Grove or Nauvoo, but thanks to Professor Craig Ostler and others at BYU you can go on a professionally guided video tour. For the last 20 years Dr. Ostler has worked to produce a series of 100 peer-reviewed videos of Church History locations called Hallowed Ground and Sacred Journeys.  In this episode, get ready to go on an auditory Church history tour as Dr. Ostler gives insights from places like Palmyra, Mendon, Kirtland, Nauvoo, and Salt Lake City.  What he shares helps us understand why there is power in experiencing the spirit of sacred sites.

Creative Publications:

BYU Virtual Tours “Hallowed Ground Sacred Journeys”

BYU Religious Studies Center

Come Unto Christ

Christ's Atonement and The Law of Justice and Mercy

 “And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also.” (Alma 42:15)

The Atonement of Jesus Christ brought about the great plan of Justice and Mercy. Mercy is kindness and gentleness. Justice is fairness. God is  just and a merciful God. When men sin or do wrong, justice must be applied, satisfied or appeased, put into place or else God would cease to be God. Mercy is also applied in that Jesus suffered for our sins on conditions of our repentance. If we repent, we won’t have to suffer for the punishment, the justice of the law, because Jesus has already paid for our sins. We just need to repent in godly sorrow and not repeat that sin again. 

The Great and Eternal Plan of Deliverance from Death

 “And also my soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord which he hath made to our fathers; yea, my soul delighteth in his grace, and in his justice, and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death” (2 Nephi 11:5)

Heavenly Father’s Plan of Deliverance from death was established from before the foundations of this world. He presented His plan, and Jesus said that He would come down to earth and be the Savior of the world and the glory would be unto the Father. 

As part of the Father’s plan, Adam brought death into the world; therefore, there must needs be a power of deliverance from this death.

“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam, all die; even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22).

Jesus Christ is the answer. He became the firstfruits of them that slept. He had power over death; thus, he was the first person to be resurrected, meaning that the physical body and spirit were reunited once again never to be separated henceforth. Because of Christ’s resurrection, all would be resurrected. What a mighty gift from God! 

Therefore, the atonement of Jesus Christ-His pain, suffering, and agony while shedding His blood and then His resurrection, all combine to constitute the Great and Eternal Plan of Deliverance from Death.

Atonement of Jesus Christ Satisfies Justice and Mercy

 2 Nephi 9:26“For the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice” (2 Nephi 9:26)

“Wherefore, may God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection, and also from everlasting death by the power of the atonement, that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God, that ye may praise him through grace divine. Amen”. (2 Nephi 10: 25)

There is a law of God decreed in heaven from before the foundation of this earth, this world. It consisted of the Law of Justice and Mercy. Whenever someone does an act of righteousness or goodness, he will be blessed by God, for this is the law, the law of justice and mercy. Contrarily, when someone commits sin, he must needs be punished, for this is the law, the law of justice and mercy. Therefore, when man commits sin, he is punished. The atonement of Jesus Christ satisfies the demands of this justice. Jesus suffered for our sins; consequently, sparing us from personal suffering if we but repent. He took upon himself our suffering so that we would not have to suffer for our sins, our punishment would be taken away. But since the law required that punishment be implemented for every sin committed, Jesus suffered for us to satisfy this demand of justice, punishment; otherwise, we would be suffering for the duration of our mortal lives and forever, having no ending. 

God raises us from death by the power of Jesus’ resurrection and spares us from everlasting death by the power of the atonement. Jesus’ atonement is: Jesus’ pain, suffering, agony, and the shedding of His blood for our sins.

In conclusion, Jesus said, “For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent. But if they would not repent, they must suffer even as I, which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain and to bleed at every pore and to suffer both body and spirit” (Doctrine and Covenants 19:16-18).

The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-Day Saints

CLICK hERE for: President Russell M. Nelson

October 2020 General Conference

 

Let God Prevail, Embrace the Future, Live ‘a New Normal’ 

I Need Thee Every Hour

 

1. I need thee ev’ry hour,

Most gracious Lord.

No tender voice like thine

Can peace afford.

I need thee, oh, I need thee;

Ev’ry hour I need thee!

Oh, bless me now, my Savior;

I come to thee!

 

2. I need thee ev’ry hour;

Stay thou nearby.

Temptations lose their pow’r

When thou art nigh.

I need thee, oh, I need thee;

Ev’ry hour I need thee!

Oh, bless me now, my Savior;

I come to thee!

 

3. I need thee ev’ry hour,

In joy or pain.

Come quickly and abide,

Or life is vain.

I need thee, oh, I need thee;

Ev’ry hour I need thee!

Oh, bless me now, my Savior;

I come to thee!

 

4. I need thee ev’ry hour,

Most holy One.

Oh, make me thine indeed,

Thou blessed Son!

I need thee, oh, I need thee;

Ev’ry hour I need thee!

Oh, bless me now, my Savior;

I come to thee!