DO MORMONS BELIEVE WORKS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN GRACE?
18 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
in Jesus Christ, mormons, save Tags: grace, save
Image via Wikipedia
I am often questioned on why LDS worry so much about works. No matter what denomination, Christians continually debate over the words of Paul and James. Paul emphasized grace stating plainly “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). James emphasized works by saying “Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17). Actually James and Paul were not contradicting one another.
Paul taught those who really broke-down the letter of the law still would have to rely on Christ. This is because Jesus Christ was the only person who lived perfectly, or in perfect obedience to the laws of God. Not only did He live perfectly He paid for our debts of sin. This Atonement satisfied the laws of justice. It is imperative to recognize that when we stop sinning, although a good thing, it doesn’t repay for our sins. Only Christ has the power to pay for our sins we have committed.
Studying the Atonement we see that resurrection and judgment come free of our choices. However, our sins hold us back from living with our Heavenly Father forever. We must purify ourselves from sins to not only enter His presence but also to remain there. James taught that if we have faith in Christ than our works will demonstrate our efforts to follow Christ, but does not discredit Paul; “For we know that is by grace that we are saved, after all that we can do” (2Nephi 25:23 Book of Mormon).
So Paul and James both have important and crucial teachings that can help us gain salvation. Paul’s teachings that it is not in our own power to save ourselves but only by Christ and James identifying that we must work, in faith, to obey the commandments of God in order to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. The third article of faith explains this LDS view clearly; “We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.”
Article Resource : DO MORMONS BELIEVE WORKS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN GRACE?
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
08 Jun 2011 4 Comments
in chastity, music Tags: 60's, folk song, the beatles
Oh yeah, I´ll tell you something
I think you’ll understand
When I say that something
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand
This was from The Beatle’s “I Wanna hold Your Hand” from their Album “Meet The Beatles” That’s how innocent, respectful and gentle the music during that era compare to what we often hear these days (well at least in my POV). The folk rock of the sixties and seventies play songs with soul and most of the time Peace and Love!
I was born in 1985 and grew up listening to my father’s type of music. And yes you’ve guess it, my dad consider himself a BIG BEATLES fan. You know the mop-top haircuts, Rickenbacker guitars and Hofner bass and the side ways head bangs.
I’ve heard him tell stories of how he and his friends being scolded by their parents because they pump the volume of the old cassette player really loud when they put the “Please Please Me” cassette tape on. And yes I will never forget my mom relating the exhausting story of her being dragged by my dad to a movie theater while 7 or 8 months pregnant with my older sister just to watch the “Hard Day’s Night” movie. These are just some of the many crazy stuff my dad had done during his younger years.
And as I grew up listening to all these 60′s Rock n’ Roll, the hippies and folk rock of the 70′s like Neil Young, Peter, Paul & Mary, Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel and comes the swinging Saturday Night Fever from the Bee Gees and many more, I fell in-love with their music that I even planned to raise my future children listening to these type of music too.
Ofcourse I still listen to the new ones these days, hey I am just 25! I love Coldplay, Oasis, Jet, Rivermaya, Rico Blanco to name a few.
Aight thanks for dropping by.. your comments are welcome in the comments section =)
Chastity: What Are the Limits?
03 Jun 2011 3 Comments
in chastity, Marriage, mormon, relationship Tags: clean, pure, purity
Latter-day Saint teens are counseled to stay sexually pure, but what exactly are the limits? Using teachings of modern prophets, this presentation shows why that’s the wrong question to ask, as well as how we can find happiness and peace through staying chaste.
I Love You This Much My Dear
02 May 2011 1 Comment
in Family, i love you, Jesus Christ, little children Tags: child, i love you, jesus christ
“I love you!” my wife said as she sat right next to my seat in front of the computer. In response I gave her a big hug and a kiss on her cheek but when I’m about to say “I love you too”, a story I once read when I was yet on my elementary days came in my mind. I then release her and spread my arms open and told her “I love you this much Dear”. Smiling but confused I started telling her of the story I just remembered.
The story was written by LaDawn Risenmay.
I Love You This Much
I was lounging in a comfortable living room chair reading a magazine when my four-year-old brother walked into the room, his arms overflowing with toys. Normally I would have told him to play in his room because he is too noisy and I would have to clean up after him. But since I knew he wouldn’t want to do that, I decided not to start a fight I probably wouldn’t win.
He deposited his toys in the middle of the floor and began to play, making appropriate noises for each of his stuffed animals as he picked them up. I laughed, to which he responded with a pouting lower lip.
“Come here, Blake,” I called to him, putting my magazine down. He climbed into my lap. I gave him a hug and said, “I love you,” unconsciously starting his favorite game.
“I love you more,” he insisted returning my hug.
“No way! I love you more!” I demanded squeezing him tighter.
He crawled down from my lap, “I love you this much,” he said stretching his arms out as far as they would go, grunting from the strain.
I stretched my arms out and said, “Well I love you this much,” which was more because my arms are nearly twice the length of his.
“I love you as much as this whole room.”
I came back with, “I love you as much as this house.”
“I love you as much as the whole world.”
“I love you as much as the whole universe!” I thought I had won because he doesn’t know what the universe is.
“I love you as much as Jesus,” he said surely.
I smiled. He had won. I knew I couldn’t beat that. I asked him to give me a kiss and he did, a nice slobbery one on my cheek that I quickly wiped away.
I was not surprised that he had thought of it and I hadn’t. It seems that many of us forget what Sunbeams seem to know so well—that Christ loves us.
After hearing the story my wife again smiled back to me and gave me a very tight hug. We both share to each other how grateful we are for the atonement of Jesus Christ. May the example of Blake be a reminder for us of the love our Heavenly Father have for us that He even sent His only begotten son to die for us that we may once again live together with Him someday.
Resolving Conflicts in Marriage
22 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Christians, Family, Marriage, mormons Tags: Christians, Divorce, Family, Marriage, mormons
Sometimes in our desire to have an ideal marriage, we set unrealistic goals and expectations for our spouses. When they do not meet our demands, we may forget their agency and harbor resentments, becoming blind to our part in marital problems. We think that only our spouses are at fault, and we justify our feelings because of what they have done to us. Elder Carlos E. Asay reminded us to avoid contention:
“Do not contend or debate over points of doctrine. The Master warned that ‘the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil.’ (3 Nephi 11:29.) We are inconsistent if we resort to Satanic tactics in attempting to achieve righteous ends. Such inconsistency results only in frustration, loss of the Spirit, and ultimate defeat.” (Carlos E. Asay, in Conference Report, Oct. 1981, p. 93; or Ensign, Nov. 1981, p. 68.)
In resolving conflicts in marriage, we must concentrate on our own weaknesses. Elder Neal A. Maxwell, noted a principle important to each of us, particularly to spouses:
“.. The key is to have our eyes wide open to our own faults and partially closed to the faults of others—not the other way around! The imperfections of others never release us from the need to work on our own shortcomings.” (In Conference Report, Apr. 1982, p. 57; or Ensign, May 1982, p. 39.)
Notice how the couple in the following account followed this principle to resolve conflict.
Ben and Della
It was one of those days. No matter how fast she ran during the day, Della was not able to keep up with the demands of her family. Her neighbor, with even more children than she, seemed so cheerful that Della began to doubt her own ability as a woman, a wife, and a mother. Ben felt hungrier than usual on his way home. An extra eighty miles to deliver farm equipment had been necessary, but now he was tired. Being home sounded better all the time. Peace. Food. Rest.
Della heard Ben’s car in the driveway and glanced at the clock. Oh no! Almost 7:00 P.M.? Now what? She had wanted to have dinner ready, but. … She heard the door open as she hurriedly placed the last biscuit on the baking sheet.
Ben strode through the door, leaned around the corner, and smiled at Della. She looked tense, and he noticed the empty table. He paused and took a deep breath.
Family conflict—marked by hostility, resentment, anger, defensiveness, or criticism—is simply not of God and should be repented of. However, when people have conflicts, the counsel to repent may seem unrealistic. That is partly because we cannot feel anger and humility, resentment and compassion, defensiveness and a willingness to learn at the same time. If you are resentful toward someone, you cannot, at the same time, feel charitable toward him. If you are defensive, you cannot, at the same time, be willing to learn from someone.
Ben and Della were interested in and appreciated each other in spite of their trying circumstances. They avoided frustration and negative feelings by turning their hearts to each other.
To help avoid conflict and contention, ask yourself the following questions:
Article Source: 31106, Family Home Evening Resource Book, Building a Strong Family, Resolving Conflicts in Marriage, 240
Speaking Kind Words, A Key to Improve Your Relationship
12 Nov 2010 7 Comments
in Christians, Family, Latter Day Saints, LDS Church, mormon, mormons Tags: Family, Latter Day Saints, LDS Church, mormon, mormons
Marriage or Family counseling is a common type of therapy sought by couples everywhere when it comes to marriage challenges. Some challenges include time, work, children, money, health and so on. But most of the time marriage counselors focus on improving communication skills. Most of these counselors teach couples ways to communicate better. All in all, the way you communicate to your partner (and to everyone else) is a great factor that affects the quality of your relationship.
Kind and soft words will sure result a productive and respectful conversation(s) that foster partnerships and lessen if not prevent future problems. “A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger” [Proverbs 15:1]
Attached is a HYMN I found from the LDS Church that explains how using kind words brings a feeling of peace. Or Click Here to visit the site
Recent Comments