Hamilton, New Zealand
11th operating temple
Mosiah 3:11-27
King Benjamin testifies tat through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can put off the natural man and become saints.
*Read verses 11-13, 16 and look for the answers to these questions. How does the Atonement apply:
1. To those who die without a knowledge of the gospel?
2. To those who rebel against God and deliberately sin?
3. To children who die before they reach the age of accountability?
Dallin H. Oaks: "These teachings that the resurrection and cleansing power of the Atonement is for all contradict the assertion that the grace of God saves only a chosen few. His grace is for all. These teachings of the Book of Mormon expand our vision and enlarge our understanding of the all-encompassing love of God and the universal effect of His Atonement for all men everywhere."
*Read Mosiah 3:19.
1. How did the angel describe a natural man's relationship with God?
2. According to this verse, how can we put off the natural man?
A natural man is "a person who chooses to be influenced by the passions, desires, appetites, and senses of the flesh rather than by the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Such a person can comprehend physical things but not spiritual. All people are carnal, or mortal, because of the fall of Adam and Eve. Each person must be born again through the Atonement of Jesus Christ."
3. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, a person does more than just stop being a "natural man." He or she "becometh a saint."
In addition to saving us from our sins, the Savior changes us into better people than we could ever be on our own. He helps us become more like Him.
One last quote, this one from David A. Bednar:
"Both clean hands and a pure heart are required to ascend into the hill of the Lord and to stand in His holy place. Let me suggest that hands are made clean through the process of putting off the natural man and by overcoming sin and the evil influences in our lives through the Savior's Atonement. Hearts are purified as we receive His strengthening power to do good and become better. All of our worthy desires and good works, as necessary as they are can never produce clean hands and a pure heart. It is the Atonement of Jesus Christ that provides both a cleansing and redeeming power that helps us to overcome sin and a sanctifying and strengthening power that helps us to become better than we ever could by relying only upon our own strength. The infinite Atonement is for both the sinner and for the saint in each of us."
Helaman 5 - My Wow! Chapter
Nephi and Lehi devote themselves to preaching - Their names invite them to pattern their lives after their forebears - Christ redeems those who repent - Nephi and Lehi make many converts and are imprisoned, and fire encircles them - A cloud of darkness overshadows three hundred people - The earth shakes, and a voice commands men to repent - Nephi and Lehi converse with angels, and the multitude is encircled by fire. About 30 B.C.
DC 53:1-7
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to Algernon Sidney Gilbert, at Kirtland, Ohio, June 8, 1831. At Sidney Gilbert's request, the Prophet inquired of the Lord as to Brother Gilbert's work and appointment in the Church.
*What witness have I received that the Lord truly does hear my prayers?
-Our car was fixed when we were in San Antonio and we made it home when we were totally out of gas the last 20 miles of our trip home.
General Conference
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to Algernon Sidney Gilbert, at Kirtland, Ohio, June 8, 1831. At Sidney Gilbert's request, the Prophet inquired of the Lord as to Brother Gilbert's work and appointment in the Church.
*What witness have I received that the Lord truly does hear my prayers?
-Our car was fixed when we were in San Antonio and we made it home when we were totally out of gas the last 20 miles of our trip home.
General Conference
Our Good Shepherd
Elder Dale G. Renlund
"Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd, finds joy in seeing His
diseased sheep progress toward healing."
Today I learned about the conditions that will exist at the time of Christ's Second Coming. Some good, some bad, depending on what side of the fence you are standing regarding being a follower of Jesus Christ.
Today James and I slept in until after 7:30. Brian made us a delicious brunch: eggs with bellpeppers, tomatoes, potatoes, sausage and bacon. Thank you Brian! I managed to do my scripture study today but I haven't worked on my blog since Thursday. I said I was not going to get behind again. I will catch up after my talk tomorrow.
Around 3 p.m. James and I went to town to get some groceries. We finished our book, "A Fine Gentlemen," and started this one:
One of my favorite authors of
Proper Romance novels
James ask me to fix green chili pork stew since Jared is coming tonight. I gave James a couple of choices and this was number one. I thought Kim and Brian would like it too but they are on a gluten-free diet. It was soooo windy today. When we returned from town Kim and Brian were gone on a Razr ride. They turned around before Christmas Tree Trail because of snow and mud. I got a text from Jared around four saying he was leaving El Paso. That means he should be here around ten.
The pork stew took awhile to make. James and Brian grilled steaks for dinner and Kim roasted some broccoli and cauliflower. The pork stew will be for tomorrow after church. True to what I said, Jared got here around ten. He visited with Brian and Kim and I went in the bedroom to work on my talk until around 11:30. James went to bed.
Fun Photos:
Pinewood Derby for Joshua today
A close-up of his car.
Last year he was the winner.
Let's see what happens today.
Ready to race
1st Place again!
So proud!
He even got a driver's license
Joshua dancing with his cousin at
their Uncle George's wedding reception tonight.
These two, Kendall and Rusty, also got married today in the
Snowflake temple.
Rusty's parents live in Vernon.
They are both returned missionaries and
are an awesome couple.
Sunset at the Grand Canyon
