Reflection 3
While reading the book of Mormon I realized there are a lot of principles applicable to my everyday life. Even though the book of Mormon was written during ancient times, gospel principles have remained with us through the work of the prophets and God’s guidance. We have also being able to see how contention between brethren has stop us from following God’s plan, but we also learn through their mistakes how to create a better future and avoid vicious cycles. It is true that, sometimes, our pride blinds us by creating a fog around our friends and family. We are not able to take the right decisions, at least not by our own. That is why we always rely in the light or spirit of Christ to guide us towards finding salvation. During Helaman’s speech I remember having read how he exhorted his people to repent of their sins. We may need to take that first step towards repentance, which is not always easy. Our prayers may not be responded immediately and most likely if we don’t pray about what the Father wants us we won’t ever receive an answer. We must ponder the changes our lif...
The Difficulties of Mormons and Gentiles Living Together The Mormons and the gentiles found it difficult to get along it was both the Mormons and gentiles fault. When large amounts of Mormons moved to a new settlement e.g. Illinois, the gentiles felt that they were going to take over and rule their area. The gentiles attacked the Mormons to show them who is boss. The Mormons didn't fight back but made a police unit, the Danites this protected the Mormons and tried to keep peace. The gentile's thought that this was an army and attacked the Mormons forcing them to go.
I am regularly (such as last night) in conversation with well-educated Mormons who struggle when trying to deal with rational concepts related to things like science, investment strategies, politics and other purely secular matters. And I see in their struggles infections likely attributable to the magical thinking at the heart of what is required these days to be a literally believing Mormon. The conversation in which I participated last night that caused this essay had to do with an investment opportunity that a bright, successful young Mormon had been offered. Some Mormons still respect my judgment regarding investments that seem not to require "the Spirit", and he wanted to run by me what had been proposed to him. I was happy to listen for a few minutes and tell him what I thought.
and reckless in love and relationships. In this case, Romeo and Juliet do not fall under the odd. Shakespeare tells the great love story of the two young star-crossed lovers - Romeo and Juliet, ending with the tragic deaths of six people including the suicide of the two lovers. The decisions and actions that Romeo and Juliet have made reveals the overall theme Shakespeare was expressing - Young love is often more reckless and impulsive due to young people's rash decision making and the high level of zeal that they possess.
...mately takes our lives.” She is consistently but subtly challenging the orthodoxy of Mormonism. (http://www.insideoutsidemag.com/archives/articles/2001/09/terry_tempest_williams.asp)
“To many of us, our beliefs are of fundamental importance. For me the teaching of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life, I like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christ’s words and example.”
Recognizing God is a part of our vocation within community can be confusing for us, how can we serve God in the different venues of our life when the world teaches such differing views? We are encouraged to share our witness, testimony, and service within our families, workplace, and our social settings. Family includes the household within our life touching upon each role parent, child, and spouse. It becomes acceptable to compartmentalize the areas of our life and serve in comfortable areas. Consumerism and societal pressures challenge us to withdraw from the Spirit when we feel intimidated, out of place, or even unworthy of God’s involvement in our life. We are called to be “the salt of the earth”, accepting the challenge to unite God’s calling upon our whole-life. According to Migliore, “United in Christ by the power of the Spirit we are one community; we are members of one body and mutually dependent on one another. Recognizing God works with all areas of community unites families, workplace, and social settings together.
...stood and from our perspective, we clearly see the goals and the reasons behind it. We know what is correct and desirable in Hashem’s eyes and our job is to follow the correct path. Let us not be discouraged, but used it as a motivation to serve and pray our God wholeheartedly.
The book of Matthew chapter 5 through 7 was known as, “The Sermon on the Mount”. Which were words spoken by Jesus Christ. The purpose of this Sermon was to show representation of the normative foundation of Christian Morality. For instance, this passage was more so fixated on whole hearted benevolence towards others around you and genuine devotion to God.
In The DNA of Relationships, there were two things that made me aware of what I had not thought of doing. First, I was aware that I shouldn’t give others the power to control my feelings. The statement stood out to me about how I can focus on the person and take the right steps of personal responsibility to refuse attention of what the person has done. The “not giving anyone the power to control my feelings” statement interacted me that I should give care to those who the person is, rather than what the person had done, that would build up our relationships. From here, I see the concept fitting me into my understanding of my faith and the Gospel in daily living. When I will be open to people that would have problems, I will help the person, but not the problem. Second, I was aware that I couldn’t force the other person to change. The statement stood out to me about how I cannot change people or even their personalities because they are not me
The church is a hierarchy that is lead by the priesthood. In order to receive the priesthood, one must be male. In The Proclamation, it says about men “By divine design fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families” (lds.org). The word preside means to have authority over something, in this case the family. Since the church is a similitude of the family, almost all the leaders are men. The only general leadership positions held by women are in the individual youth and children organization, and Relief Society, the leading women’s organization in the church. When The Proclamation talks about mothers its say “Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children” (lds.org).To many, this is a negative claim and sits as a point of opposition from feminist groups. Till this day, the gender roles of men and women continue to be debated in the Mormons church, and society.
Overall, the real question in the end after reflection, inquiry, and acknowledgement is whether I, or any other, can choose to trust in God. Will we choose to rise above our insecurities and habits, and do what promotes justice? Will we have the “courage to be” during this difficult realization, and the courage to choose God over ourselves? If, and when we do, we will realize the only thing more important than our insecurities are the people God tells us to call our brothers, and sisters in our greater community.
It was 1820 when Mormonism was born. Joseph Smith, Jr. was a religion man who founded the Mormon Church. Born on December 23, 1805 to Joseph Smith, Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith who were poor and uneducated farmers. Many Americans persecuted Smith, Jr. but he was also accepted by many as well. Smith has been regarded as one of the most controversial men of our time because of his different way of teaching. Joseph Smith and his followers were driven out of numerous states because of the persecution they received from their fellow Americans. Joseph Smith had a successor who led the church after the death of Smith, Brigham Young. Young led the Mormons to Utah where they have been settled ever since.
“Salvation is evident in the human response in faith, love, and a certain gallantry to the challenges of the world – discrimination, death, poverty, disease, handicaps. It is the unexpected response, unexplained save through the inspiration of the Spirit of God, the work of God’s grace.”(Bullock, James R. Whatever Became of Salvation? Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1979. Print.) I really like this short statement, it explains how salvation is a way to deal with the evil of the world, by simply recognizing that God is truly the only way to live a fulfill life, with a sense of purpose. But the first question we ask ourselves when we decide to get saved is, how, the correct question we should be asking is “what does it mean to get saved? Too often we describe being saved as “getting” or “having” Jesus Christ as our “personal” Lord and Savior. I am part of that population who thought that “getting” or “having” Jesus Christ as our “personal” Lord and Savior was giving you the authority to say “I am saved” or “I am a believer/ Christian.” But like the saying goes “Actions speak louder than words”, to truly be a believer of Jesus Christ, it is not only accepting Him as your Lord and Savior but to also show His love through you. “Salvation is...
God and the Bible’s teachings are used as a framework to find meaning in life and purpose of human presence. Purpose resides in every human’s potential to strive for peace, seek equality, nurture relationships and the environment to achieve harmony with the earth (Valk, 2012). “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior and my hope is in you all day long” (Ps 25:5). The Holy Spirit, known as God’s active force and His power in action (Lk 1:35), is used as a guide by Christians to ascertain and determine what is right. “We choose to act based on good thinking, scripture and prayer, and the Holy Spirit helps us discern the right alternatives” (Shelly & Miller, 2006, p. 89). In seeing others as the image of God, choosing what is right from wrong is influenced by beliefs cultural background and respect for one another. In this religious culture, the tendency to do wrong is seen as sinfulness. However, it is the admission of sin that leads Christians to Jesus Christ to find and experience God’s forgiveness (Shelly & Miller, 2006). The recognition of sin and eventual redemption strengthens the relationship with God which directs a life of service to humanity (Shelly & Miller,
Repentance is essential when it comes to salvation. One must repent of his or her sins to truly believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. As it has been correctly stated, “Repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin.” One cannot repent unless he or she believes in Jesus Christ. Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:25, “God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.” This sums up the relationship between saving faith and repentance.