AOF!!!! 4 of 13

"We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost."

     So lets say you are a tea bag. The bag is you and the icky tea leaves and stuff is the world (Sin). Now, you must have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in other words you must trust in him with all your heart that he is the Lord Jesus Christ and he dies for us to live. Second is repenting of your sins. Us as missionaries, when we come teach you of this Magnificent gospel, we are really preparing you for you to repent of all your sins.
     Now when you have repented of all your sins it is time for baptism. Lets go back to the tea bag. When you are baptized you are washed away from all your sins like the tea bag. We get rid of the icky tea leaves and stuff in the bag and we are pure. But the you the tea bag still look dingy. The last principle and ordinance in the Laying on of hands for the gift of the holy Ghost. After you are baptized the next day on Sunday, during Sacrament meeting, there is a confirmation. During the confirmation, the person that got baptized the day before which is you the tea bag, comes up on the stand and with the proper authority, you receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Now you are pure kinda a like you are reborn into this world again with a clean slate.

     I know from first hand account that this is true. Almost a year ago on June 19th, 2010 I was baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I still remember the feeling when I walked into the room where it was held. Seeing all my friends from my seminary class, my parents who are not members crying because the were so proud of me. When I walked into the water I felt something come over me. A burning sensation you could say. In the scriptures in often says "Being baptized in fire and with the Holy Ghost" well in that moment I finally understood why they said that because I felt it. I felt like I was reborn when I came up from the water. It's the most amazing feeling I have ever had (Besides taking first place in State for Vocal Performance).
    The next day was my confirmation and when they called me up, I looked at Elder Miner and Elder Lanham (The ones who baptized me) and I couldn't keep a straight face because I was so excited to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. When they put there hands on my head (Elder Miner, Elder Lanham, Brother Nestagard, Brother Allred) I could imagine the Holy Ghost getting a running start and when they said Amen I felt the Holy Ghost enter me. Brother's and Sister's there is no other feeling in the WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD that can top that feeling i had almost a year ago. I say these things in the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

AOF!!! 3 of 13

We believe that through the ^aAtonement of Christ, all ^bmankind may be ^csaved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

This is the 3rd Article of Faith. Now it sounds pretty plain and simple but it's than you can imagine. From the Atonement of Jesus Christ everyone can and may be saved. Through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. Now if you are a investigator and wondering what the laws and ordinances are let me name them off.

Laws:
The law of tithing-You give 10% of your earnings to the church and that 10% goes to getting new Book of Mormons, helping people in the church in time of need, mission funds etc.
The law of Chasity- It simply means that you save sexual relationships after marriage. Marriage is sacred and it is supposed to be between a man and a women. Do not interact in homosexual relationships and pornography.

The 10 commandments- Thou shalt have no other Gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Honor thy father and thy mother. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit to adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Thou shalt not covet.

I know that if live these commandments through out your life you will be richly blessed in all that you do.

Ordinances: 

Baptism- You get baptized which means you are fully emerged and it is a remission of sins and you will feel reborn. Or at least that's how I felt.
Temple: Baptism's for the dead which mean you get baptized for that person. Temple marriage. Sealing which means you will be sealed to your spouse for all and eternity. Or you can get sealed to your whole family for all and eternity.

I promise you if you live those laws I listed up there and you live them worthily, you can get a temple recommend and you can go into the temple and do Baptism's for the dead, or get married in the temple or get sealed in the temple to your spouse and or family for all and eternity. I testify that these things I say are true and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

AOF!!! 2 of 13

2.) We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.


Well this pretty much is easy to understand. Instead of being judged/punished for Adam's transgression we will be judged/punish for our own sins.

 after Adam and Eve had partaken of the forbidden fruit they were driven out of the garden of Eden, to till the earth.

 And they have brought forth children; yea, even the family of all the earth.

 And the days of the children of men were prolonged, according to the will of God, that they might repent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened, according to the commandments which the Lord God gave unto the children of men. For he gave commandment that all men must repent; for he showed unto all men that they were lost, because of the transgression of their parents.

 And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.

 And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.

 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.

 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

If Adam didn't fall he would have never transgressed. He would have stayed in the Garden of Eden in a stage of inoccence and truth. Since he transgressed and fell we will not be punished by his transgression but by our own sins. What a wonderful thing. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Articles of Faith!!!! 1 of 13

    OK so for the past few weeks I have been thinking of what to write on my blog. I was talking to Elder Mangleson and he said he was going to write about the 13 articles of Faith. I was thinking that would be a great Idea. I suggested that we should do a little series together about the Articles.
 
   So Elder Trevor Mangleson and I are starting a little project with the 13 Articles of Faith. We are going to write about each article and give our opinion on what the article means to us and how it works in our lives. So the short version, 2 blogs with 2 different insights about the articles of faith. Hope you guys enjoy our insights.


The first Article of Faith

1) We ^abelieve in ^bGod, the Eternal Father, and in His ^cSon, Jesus Christ, and in the ^dHoly Ghost. 

    The church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints believe that the Father, son and the holy Ghost are 3 separate beings. When Joseph Smith was 14 years old he had a vision " When the light rested upon me I saw two personages whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling by my first name and said, pointing to the other," "This is my beloved Son Hear Him!"

   Joseph's vision has proved that the Father and the Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are 3 separate beings. I bear you my testimony that this is true. That the Father, the Son and the Holy ghost are 3 separate beings and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Make Me An Instrument of Thy Peace!!!!!

For those who know me I LOVE to sing. This past year I have been in a Community Choir called the Crown of the Continent Choir/Head Waters Choral. Through out the year we sing many different religious songs such as "GATE-GATE" or "Hold On". This particular song "Make me an Instrument of Thy Peace" struck me deeply as it portrays passion and no matter what happens the Lord will be there by our side.

"Lord Make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred let me so love, where there is injury,pardon, where there is doubt, Faith, wherever there's despair, Hope, where there is darkness Light where there is sadness joy. Lord make me an instrument of thy Peace. O lord, 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. Lord make me an instrument of thy peace. For it is in giving that we receive, For it is by faith that we believe. For in forgiving we are forgiven It is in dying that we are born to eternal life! Make me an instrument of thy peace." 

I bear you my testimony that this song is true. Where there is doubt let there be faith and where there is darkness let there be light. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is our light. Let them guide you in this dark and wicked earth. Let Heavenly Father make you that Instrument of thy peace and share it with the world and let the WHOLE world have a little piece of that Instrument and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.