Secrets to His Servants the Prophets

What is a prophet?

  I believe many people are turned away when told about "prophets" because of the doubt and trouble in times past with so called "prophets".  Jesus teaches us about prophets, he said;

"By their fruits ye may know them."  Which simply is to say, look at the good works or "fruit" that comes from a living prophet. 

Amos (a prophet in the Old Testament) teaches us that God gives us "His secrets."

"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secrets unto his servants the prophets."
Has God always called prophets?  The answer is yes.   From the creation of Adam, up to the time of our very own day.  What! we have Latter-day prophets?   Yes. Just as in times of old God calls prophets.

 For example Moses (being a prophet) brought the children of Israel out of bondage or slavery from a very wicked nation.  In a real sense, our day many people are in bondage and have many challenges which take them away from life's most precious moments.  How many families are broken because of drug abuse, violence, harassment or ignorance?  How many thousands of Heavenly Fathers children are hurt because of wickedness and "slavery"?
Our latter-day prophets receive guidance from Heavenly Father to help us come out of slavery and bondage.

The world changes and we can't do this on our own.  We need help and direction. "When there is to be anything different from that which the Lord has told us already, He will reveal it to His prophet and no one else."  Harold B. Lee

Prophets also Testify of the Savior and His ministry, just as John the baptist taught his people.  Watch this video of modern witnesses of latter-day prophets.

I know prophets are real, they do communicate with Heavenly Father through his Holy Spirit.  I know you can know this is true, because there is evidence that Heavenly Father has given us.

If you would like to know more about this evidence, check out my post "Safety for my soul", and I know without a doubt you can come to know this truth as well.

Additional Study:

 (Eph. 2:19-20)

(Mosiah 13:33)
(2 Chron. 20:20)

Two precious gifts

 "Life offers you two precious gifts. One is time, the other freedom of choice, the freedom to buy with your time what you will. You are free to exchange your allotment of time for thrills. You may trade it for base desires. You may invest it in greed. . . . Yours is the freedom to choose. But these are no bargains, for in them you find no lasting satisfaction."

 "Reflections on a Consecrated Life

--Elder D. Todd Christofferson

We must serve with all our heart, might, mind and strength.  We must serve our fellow beings as we would serve our family.  When we are in the service of our fellow beings, we are in the service of our God. (Mosiah 3:19)I know we need to spend our time wisely while we are here on this earth, we must "prepare to meet God".  Time is very short, and I can testify because the my time keeps going by faster and faster while serving the Lord.
I know this is true in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Hakuna Matata

    My name is Elder Vea and I hail from Hawaii. I am currently serving with Elder Wright on an "exchange" where missionaries switch with other missionaries and learn from each other. Just last night we started this exchange and I learned a lot within a few hours. Anyways, I am one of five children and I currently reside in Mesa, Arizona. I am loving every bit of being out here serving our Heavenly Father. It has been a neat experience to serve other people. I have learned many things here in California and one important thing I learned is that everyone is different. Everyone has lived a different life and has different backgrounds. Everyone has either experienced their life in a good way or has seen the "rough" part of life. I can honestly say that I have seen both worlds. My entire life has been centered around Jesus Christ and his teachings and how families can be eternal. But it hasn't been all sunshine and bright days. We all have a dark time in our life and sometimes it lasts for a while. We sometimes feel the need to "awake" and do something about our life but we can never find out how.

"If you want to be somebody,

If you want to go somewhere,

then you better wake up and pay attention."

Jesus Christ has provided an opportunity for us to "wake up and pay attention." His Atonement is sufficient for everyone. No matter what happened to us or where we are at in our life. People can change and experience a change of heart.

Growing up, my parents taught me the principles of the gospel and wanted me to live it. I was a rebel. I wanted to be free and I wanted to experience life the way I wanted to. I didn't want anyone telling me how to live my life. As I became older, in high school, something changed my life. As a senior, I was excited and I wanted to get the most out of high school while in this last year. I had a job, played football, and was enrolled in Theatre Arts. Everyday was a busy day: wake up at 6:30, school, football practice, rehearsal, and work. I wouldn't get home till probably around 11:00 at night. Then finish homework and finally went to bed. And then my whole day starts again. This went on for about 6 months. Football ended but I still wanted to do more. I soon forgot about reading my scriptures, saying my prayers and going to church. I forgot about God and what he has done for me. I FORGOT.

A few months went by and I recieved an important call . . . It was from my counselor at school. I received the most dreadful news ever: I was one credit short of graduating and so I needed to enroll in summer school. I was devastated. When I told my parents, they were furious! I felt like a failure.  I didn't know who to turn to but my older sister who was living in Arizona at the time. I told her what had happened. She asked me if I prayed.-- I said no.-- She asked me if I read my scriptures. -- I said no.-- She then told me, "You are asking the wrong person so get on your knees and call me later!" The phone call ended. After about 5 minutes, I got on my knees and prayed hard as I never had before. Still feeling sorry and tears in my eyes, I walked to the kitchen. My little sister was watching "The Lion King" at the time and as I was in the kitchen, These words came out and spoke to me: "Hakuna Matata." It means "No Worries." My soul was at peace. My tears ceased to fall and a smile came across my face. I was being told just that! Not to worry and do what God wants me to and everything will be alright. So, I read my scriptures, went to church and said my prayers. I was doing all that I can that would please my Heavenly Father. My counselor called me again and said, "You can graduate with your class but it would require some time of yours." I quickly took the offer and I was able to graduate.

     

  In the Book of Mormon, there is a prophet that I felt much like during this time, Alma 36: 12-21 "I could remember my pains no more..." I had finally awaken and did something about my problems. I know that as we follow Alma's counsel, and remember what "our fathers have taught us," then we can experience joy. "There can be nothing more sweet and exquisite as was my joy." The power of the Atonement is for everyone. If we put or faith and trust into the hands of our Savior, I can promise that He will tell us not to worry. We don't have to be perfect to come to the Savior. I am not perfect and neither are you but if we give our all, that would be perfect for Him to accept. So, I leave you with two words of wisdom: "Hakuna Matata."

Build me a bridge

"Cry me a river, build me a bridge, and get over it."  What a profound statement, usually taken in the sense of  ignorant feelings towards someone.  "Cry me a river, build me a bridge, and get over it" is used in terms of taking your problems ("cry me a river") and whipping yourself in shape ("build me a bridge") until you master whatever it that is bothering you ("get over it").

In the very real situations of life, trials come, and trials go.  I guess you could say, "life happens" when we don't always know the outcome.  Unfortunately, there are some of us who are born into grief, with a troubled family.  There are some who are blessed with loving parents in homes which are not broken.  The rivers of life that separate us from happiness are growing wide and with swift current.  At times we may feel or believe we cannot cross these grand rapids of crushing water walls.  We stand alone on one side of the river crying for help, when all we see are flowers and pasture fields on the other side.  We also see happiness, families close together, triumph and success.  How do we obtain such happiness?

God is our loving Heavenly Father, and he needs us on the side of happiness, but the trials of life are in our way (the river).  Can we sail this river with a slow current and calm wind? or swim without being pulled down into the depths?  If we really tried ourselves we could not make it.  So how are we to attain this happiness and "get over it"?  How are we to be who God wants us to be? 

 It is through our Savior Jesus Christ and by his Grace we can build "bridges" over the rushing calamities of day to day life. 

Watch this video. 

We must not give up now, we have come this far.  Let us trust in the Lord who has overcome the world, He has built a bridge over every river, small stream, and straits of life.  Take his hand, live the gospel, trust in Him, and take the first step on the bridge. I promise you, it will make you happy.  I know these things to be true.

Mysteries of God

What are the mysteries of God??  I found myself pondering the question"what are the mysteries of God"?  Of course this obscured question is out of bounds for such a young person as I, but it seemed to me there is some kind of resolution to my questioning.  I was reading in the Book of Mormon and I read over a passage in Alma 26:22 which says; —"Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed . . ." 

  

 I asked, what things are to be revealed?  Am I to have some glorious epiphany and Heavenly Father hands me all the secrets in the world?  I don't think so. God wants me to learn and understand life a little better before he starts enlightening me about the next ice age or whatever it may be —guess you could call it "trial and error".

 I believe to "know" the mysteries of God is to "know" yourself.  We are his children, He loves us, He created us, but we don't know ourselves as well as He certainly does.

  The gospel of Jesus Christ is Faith, repentance, baptism, receiving he gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end, by bringing forth "good works".

  Faith is to trust him, Know He will provide, believing he will guide you through stressful challenges.  

Through faith you will have the desire to repent and change your life, to allign your will with his.

  By these simple actions we can learn and gain the mysteries of God by having personal revelation, growing in maturity, finding gifts God has given you, and most important improving your Christlike attributes.   

The mysteries of God are within us all; prayeth continually "without ceasing" have faith you will be led to know yourself and know the mysteries in your own life.  Repent, change and bring forth good fruit so you may know the mysteries of God.   Find mysteries of God within yourself, we have them and we are His children.

Photos from: http://www.worldproutassembly.org
www.springmeup.com

Find your faith in Christ

With all the love and adoration I have or can give, I heed and wish to magnify the message of Jesus Christ.
  Jesus Lives.  He loves You and me.  He gave himself to atone for you and for me.
He says "come follow me" and "I will give thee rest"  I am optimsitc to meet Him and to fall at my knees, to wet his feet with my tears -- To hear him say -- "Well done"--  Face to face one day I will see him, he means more than life to me.