My Testimony
Let start me start by telling you a little bit about my background. I grew up in Westminster, California. I graduated from La Quinta High School in 1976. During those years I sang in the choir and played water polo. I also as many kids of the 70's partied a lot, drank most every weekend, and of course dabbled in some minor use of drugs. On March 31, 1980 I happened to go to a music store down the street to purchase some strings for my guitar, and the guy behind the counter was a friend of mine I had not seen in a few months (He and his brothers had a local band called The Third Creation, for which I ran the lights). He told me that his father had died and gone home to the Lord and that they all became "Born Again" Christians (His twin and younger brothers). You must understand, these guys were the ones I partied with through out High School and beyond. I was surprised and told him that was great and in my mind I thought we lost some more to those crazy Christians. When I got home that night I began my studies of another faith that many consider a cult, but as I studied I could not get past the first word, I sat there for about 30 minutes to 1 hour. I finely picked up my Bible, which was given to me about 6 years earlier and was missed placed, but my mother found it the week prior to this. I began at 8:00 p.m. and said a short prayer something like "Well, God if you are who they say you are prove it to me tonight". Well at 4:00 a.m. on April 1, 1980 I put the Bible down and exclaimed "YOU ARE REAL" that began my journey to discover God. I became a "Born Again" Believer that morning. At the first chance I could that day I told my friend what had happened, and he invited me to a bible study that night. The following Saturday April 5th I made a public declaration of Christ as my Savior.
The church that I attended was and still is a very large church and I soon discovered, was very much against the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons). I to began to study anti-mormon teachings, I read books some of the most popular writers of the group, listened to tapes, watched a couple of films, and even listened to some call in radio programs, all anti-mormon. I attended this church and an affiliated church for 15 years. In 1995 I married my second wife Beverly and began going to the church she attended, which was another non-denominational church. We stayed there until 1997 when we moved to the Victor Valley in California, which we attended an affiliated church in the area. We became restless in this church and began to search from a new "Church Home" in 1999, we visited a number of churches and settle on another non-denominational church in the area and became members, but soon we still did not feel like this was the place for us. At the end of 2001 we started to go to a small denomination which we felt somewhat comfortable with.
In December of 2001 my wife made a comment that totally shocked me, "I want to check out a church that the Lord has Blessed mightily" I asked which church and she replied the Mormon Church. I said absolutely not, that they were a non-christian cult and that they believe in a different Jesus. She did not understand what I met by that, but she let it go for now. We continued going to this little church, but again we felt restless, and in particularly did Beverly feel this. But I thought it because it was a new church and they did things a little differently then we were accustomed to. In February she started a new job as a server at a restaurant in town, and shortly after starting she served a nice family. They began talking and one of the party mentioned that she sells a product that helps with weight lost as well as stamina, Beverly got her number and promised to call. After a few tries they hooked up and my wife went over to Stephanie's house to sample some of the product. When Beverly got to the home she noticed many pictures portraying Christ and other religious themes. Which for my wife opens the door to talk about Christ her favorite topic. Stephanie then told Bev that she was LDS, which excited Bev. She as soon as she left Stephanie's house she called me at work and told me of the encounter, and that we were invited to come over and discuss the faith anytime we wanted, I told Beverly NO we will not listen to their talk on the Mormon faith, She can be friend with Stephanie but we WILL NOT go over to talk about the LDS faith.
In March Stephanie invited us to go to Easter Service with them which I agreed to, though I really did not want to go. Then the night before I made a comment that angered my wife, which kept us from going to the LDS service, and we went to the service at the church we had been attending. I began to look up all the info I can to show my wife that the LDS was not what they claim to be, I even found a book that I had on the subject, but she would have nothing of it as they were most likely written by people who had something against the LDS church, if I was going to convince her I had to do it scripturally and by LDS writings only. I pulled up a couple of things from the LDS web site.
She then challenged me by stating that I am hard headed and that I could not keep an open mind. With the challenge I agreed to talk to Stephanie and her husband. It then became a discussion with her and a couple of missionaries from the church (just what I wanted to be preached to by a couple of wet behind the ear kids), but I agreed. Then her father hearing about this wanted to be there as well (I found out later he's a member of the Bishopric). We scheduled April 14th as our discussion, when we left our church service that morning there was a message on my wife's cell phone from the Elders to confirm the meeting that night. We went home and my wife having to work that afternoon left shortly after arriving home. A little later as I was working on my genealogy (I started this in 1997, and was always amazed how I was involved in a major Mormon activity) when a knock on the door got our dogs barking up a storm. I went outside and discovered 2 LDS missionaries at my front door, Elder Bennett and Elder Hatt they were the ones who had called earlier to confirm the meeting later that night. I told that we will be there and I proceeded to let them know where I was coming from and gave them my history (did not scare them one bit). We arrived as scheduled and began the discussion.
Our first discussion was about our relationship with Heavenly Father.
Genesis 1:26-27
26. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after
our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the
fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every
creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27. So God created man in his
own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he
them.
Acts 17:29.
Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
Romans 8:16-17
16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our
spirit, that we are the children of God:
17. And if children, then heirs;
heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him,
that we may be also glorified together.
The Plan of God leads to happiness.
John 15:10-11
10. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my
love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his
love.
11. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in
you, and that your joy might be full.
Then they spoke of Jesus as our Savior which was not to hard for us to handle.
John 3:16 -18
16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.
17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the
world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18. He that believeth
on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because
he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
We began to talk about the resurrection
1 Corinth 15:21- 22
21. For since by man came death, by man came also the
resurrection of the dead.
22. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall
all be made alive.
Matthew 22:23-32
23.The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say
that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
24. Saying, Master, Moses said,
If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up
seed unto his brother.
25. Now there were with us seven brethren: and the
first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife
unto his brother:
26. Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the
seventh.
27. And last of all the woman died also.
28. Therefore in the
resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.
29.
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor
the power of God.
30. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are
given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
31. But as
touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken
unto you by God, saying,
32. I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac,
and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the
living.
Up to this point we had no problems with what the missionaries where saying. As we continued we began to discuss how God reveals to us all that he has for us. How he uses prophets to show us the ways that we should go.
Amos 3:7.
Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
That we learn the truth through His prophets.
Ephesians 4:11- 14
11. And he gave some, apostles; and some,
prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12.
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying
of the body of Christ:
13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of
the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the
stature of the fulness of Christ:
14. That we henceforth be no more children,
tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight
of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Finally the moment of truth they began to talk about Joseph Smith and how when he was around 14 or 15 years old he was trying to decide which of the churches to join should he join the Methodist, the Presbyterian, or even the Baptist. He was confused by the fact they all taught from the same Bible and yet taught different doctrines. He then read James 1:5
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
After he prayed God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him, and through Joseph Smith, they restored the truth of Gods plan.
Then as the end of the first discussion was winding down both missionaries reached into their bags and presented us a copy of The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. They offered it to us if we agreed to read it and to pray to the Father if it was a true testament of Jesus Christ, and also to pray if Joseph Smith was truly a prophet of God. This I agreed to even though I knew that Joseph was not a prophet of God. They also asked if we would commit to some more discussions, and I replied that we would take all 5 of the remaining discussions. This of course surprised everyone. We arranged to meet the next Sunday.
During the week I did as promised and I prayed for God to reveal to me that 1. The Book of Mormon was true. 2. That Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. 3. That the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true Church. I prayed each night this prayer
"Heavenly Father, creator of the heavens and the earth, reveal to me the truth of the book of Mormon and whether Joseph Smith was truly your prophet? Reveal to me no matter what the truth is. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen."
I did expect to receive an answer, not necessarily the one I got.
Beverly in the mean time also was doing this and one night she heard "Do Not Doubt my Prophet Joseph Smith" she was excited and bewildered as to the meaning I on the other hand knew that she was hearing something that was Not True and that it must of been the enemy telling her this. (Of course all I would say is I don't know what it means.)
The following Sunday arrived and we attended the 2nd discussion.
The missionaries asked if we did our readings, prayed, and if God revealed to us the truth of the Book of Mormon and of Joseph Smith? Bev shared her experience of the prior week of hearing the voice. I on the other hand told them that I did read and I did pray that The book of Mormon did not stray to far from the Bible in the passages that I had read corresponded with the Bible. On the issue of the truthfulness of the book and on Joseph Smith the jury was still out.
We discussed Salvation from Physical Death.
Ecclesiastes 12:7
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Alma 40:11
Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection-Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they depart from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.
That the resurrection of Christ overcame the physical death,
1 Corinthians 15:20-22
20. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become
the firstfruits of them that slept.
21. For since by man came death, by man
came also the resurrection of the dead.
22. For as in Adam all die, even so
in Christ shall all be made alive.
2 Timothy 1:10
But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
Alma 11:42
Now, there is a death which is called a temporal death; and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death.
That the resurrection united the spirit with the glorified, immortal body,
Alma 11:43-44
43. The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time; and we shall be brought to stand before God , knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt.
44. Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; bit every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.
Alma 40:21-23
21. Now, my son, I do not say that their resurrection cometh at the resurrection of Christ; but behold, I give it as my opinion, that the souls and the bodies are reunited, of the righteous, at the resurrection of Christ, and his ascension into heaven. But whether it be at his resurrection or after, I do not say; but this much I say, that there is a space between death and the resurrection of the body, and a state of the soul in happiness or in misery until the time which is appointed of God that the dead shall come forth, and be reunited, both soul and body, and be brought to stand before God, and be judged according to their works.
22. Yea, this bringeth about the restoration of those things of which has been spoken by the mouths of the prophets. 23.The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame.
After this we got into Salvation from Sin,
Since we have the free will or agency to do, as we will, we choose to sin.
In most cases and since the Father can not look upon sin.
James 4:17
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Isaiah 59:2
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Something would have to take place to enable us to again enjoy the fellowship with Heavenly Father.
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Through the atonement of Jesus Christ, we have away to become cleansed from sin and become worthy to return to our Father.
Romans 2:12-15
12. For as many as have sinned without law shall also
perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the
law;
13. (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers
of the law shall be justified.
14. For when the Gentiles, which have not the
law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law,
are a law unto themselves:
15. Which shew the work of the law written in
their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean
while accusing or else excusing one another;)
Hebrews 5:8-9
8. Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by
the things which he suffered;
9. And being made perfect, he became the author
of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
2 Nephi 9:23-24
23. And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.
24. And if they will not repent and believe in his name, and be baptized in his name, and endure to the end, they must be damned; for the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has spoken it.
3 Nephi 27:19-20
19. And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end.
20. Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.
So we learned something that was not new to us to be saved we needed to:
1. Have Faith in Jesus Christ, to believe that he is the Savior of the world, that we accept his atonement and do as he has asked us to do.
2. Repentance, we must have a sincere sorrow that we have sinned against God and ask for his forgiveness.
3. Be baptized by immersion in water for the remission of sins.
Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Baptism which symbolizes The death (to sin), burial (the immersion in water), and the resurrection (brought up out of the water) of Christ
Romans 6:3-4
3. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized
into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4. Therefore we are buried
with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead
by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of
life.
4. Receive by the laying on of hands the Holy Ghost.
2 Nephi 32:5
For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show you all things what ye should do.
We also discussed in part of the 4 discussion of the Eternal progression. Whether we exited before our birth into this world?
Acts 17:29
Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
Romans 8:16
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Ecclesiastes 12:7
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Jeremiah 1:5
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Hebrews 12:9
Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
That we can become like God.
Psalms 82:6
I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
Luke 12:44
Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
Romans 8:17
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
1 John 3:2
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not
yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be
like him; for we shall see him as he is.
We learned the purpose of our mortal life here on earth is to work toward becoming like our Heavenly Father.
Matthew 5:45
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Acts 14:22
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Philippians 2:12
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
2 Peter 1:4
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Alma 12:24
24. And we see that death comes upon mankind,
yea, the death which has been spoken of by Amulek, which is the temporal death;
nevertheless there was a space granted unto man in which he might repent;
therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God;
a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which
is after the resurrection of the dead.
Alma 34:31-32
31. Yea, I would that ye would come forth and
harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the of your
salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts,
immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.
32.
For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold
the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors
Abraham 3:25
And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;
Through our tribulations we can grow and develop.
Job 23:10
But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
Romans 5:3
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Hebrews 12:9
Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
James 1:12
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
We are free to obey or disobey.
2 Nephi 2:27-29
27. Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh;
and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to
choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to
choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil;
for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto
himself.
28. And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great
Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his
words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy
Spirit;
29. And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the
flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power
to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own
kingdom.
Helaman 14:30
And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free.
Because our bodies are mortal, we each one of us must die. This physical death is part of the plan, which enables our imperfect body to be made perfect and immortal. At our death our spirits leave the physical body but is very much still alive and is taken to the spirit world. Here we wait for the resurrection and the judgment.
Ecclesiastes 12:7
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Alma 40:11-14
11. Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the
resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the
spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the
spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who
gave them life.
12. And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those
who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called
paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all
their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.
13. And then shall it come to
pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil—for behold, they have no
part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works
rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and
take possession of their house—and these shall be cast out into outer darkness;
there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of
their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil.
14. Now
this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea, in darkness, and a state of
awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them;
thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the
time of their resurrection.
The gospel is being preached to those in the spirit world. (This was something new to us.)
John 5:25
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
John 5:28
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
1 Peter 3:18-19
18. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the
unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but
quickened by the spirit:
19. By which also he went and preached unto the
spirits in prison;
1 Peter 4:6
For for this cause was the gospel
preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men
in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 138:25-37
25. I marveled, for I understood that the Savior spent about three
years in his ministry among the Jews and those of the house of Israel,
endeavoring to teach them the everlasting gospel and call them unto
repentance;
26. And yet, notwithstanding his mighty works, and miracles,
and proclamation of the truth, in great power and authority, there were but few
who hearkened to his voice, and rejoiced in his presence, and received salvation
at his hands.
27. But his ministry among those who were dead was limited
to the brief time intervening between the crucifixion and his
resurrection;
28. And I wondered at the words of Peter—wherein he said
that the Son of God preached unto the spirits in prison, who sometime were
disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah—and
how it was possible for him to preach to those spirits and perform the necessary
labor among them in so short a time.
29. And as I wondered, my eyes were
opened, and my understanding quickened•, and I perceived that the
Lord went not in person among the wicked and the disobedient who had rejected
the truth, to teach them;
30. But behold, from among the righteous, he
organized his forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and authority,
and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that
were in darkness, even to the spirits of men; and thus was the gospel preached
to the dead.
31. And the chosen messengers went forth to declare the
acceptable day of the Lord and proclaim liberty to the captives who were bound,
even unto all who would repent of their sins and receive the
gospel.
32. Thus was the gospel preached to those who had died in their
sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the
prophets.
33. These were taught faith in God, repentance from sin,
vicarious baptism for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the
laying on of hands,
34. And all other principles of the gospel that were
necessary for them to know in order to qualify themselves that they might be
judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the
spirit.
35. And so it was made known among the dead, both small and
great, the unrighteous as well as the faithful, that redemption had been wrought
through the sacrifice of the Son of God upon the cross.
36. Thus was it
made known that our Redeemer spent his time during his sojourn in the world of
spirits, instructing and preparing the faithful spirits of the prophets who had
testified of him in the flesh;
37. That they might carry the message of
redemption unto all the dead, unto whom he could not go personally, because of
their rebellion and transgression, that they through the ministration of his
servants might also hear his words.
When we are resurrected we receive a perfect immortal body. If we have been faithful and worthy we will be with the Father in the Celestial glory. Those who receive this glory will know the fullness of joy. Those who reject the gospel of Christ and do not repent of their sins will receive lesser degrees of glory.
There are different degrees of glory in the resurrection.
John 14:2
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
1 Corinthians 15:40-41
40. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but
the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is
another.
41. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon,
and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in
glory.
2 Corinthians 12:2
I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
Philippians 3:21
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 88:18-32
18. Therefore, it must needs be sanctified from all
unrighteousness, that it may be prepared for the celestial
glory;
19. For after it hath filled the measure of its creation, it
shall be crowned with glory, even with the presence of God the
Father;
20. That bodies who are of the celestial kingdom may it forever
and ever; for, for this intent was it made and created, and for this intent are
they sanctified.
21. And they who are not sanctified through the law
which I have given unto you, even the law of Christ, must inherit another
kingdom, even that of a terrestrial kingdom, or that of a telestial
kingdom.
22. For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial
kingdom cannot a celestial glory.
23. And he who cannot abide the law of
a terrestrial kingdom cannot abide a terrestrial glory.
24. And he who
cannot abide the law of a telestial kingdom cannot abide a telestial glory;
therefore he is not meet for a kingdom of glory. Therefore he must abide a
kingdom which is not a kingdom of glory.
25. And again, verily I say
unto you, the earth abideth the law of a celestial kingdom, for it filleth the
measure of its creation, and transgresseth not the law—
26. Wherefore,
it shall be sanctified; yea, notwithstanding it shall die, it shall be quickened
again, and shall abide the power by which it is quickened, and the righteous
shall inherit it.
27. For notwithstanding they die, they also shall rise
again, a spiritual body.
28. They who are of a celestial spirit shall
receive the same body which was a natural body; even ye shall receive your
bodies, and your glory shall be that glory by which your bodies are 29. Ye
who are quickened by a portion of the celestial glory shall then receive of the
same, even a fulness.
30. And they who are quickened by a portion of the
terrestrial glory shall then receive of the same, even a
fulness.
31. And also they who are quickened by a portion of the
telestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness.
32. And
they who remain shall also be quickened; nevertheless, they shall return again
to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because
they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received.
During our life in this the mortal God gives us the ability to bring children into this world. With this ability to procreate is a sacred and divine gift. God has set high standards for nurturing and guiding our families within the marriage relationship. We as a family in righteousness can work towards becoming like our father.
Genesis 1:27-28
27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God
created he him; male and female created he them.
28. And God blessed them,
and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and
subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the
air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Psalms 127:3-5
3. Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the
womb is his reward.
4. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are
children of the youth.
5. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them:
they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
Families can be eternal.
Matthew 16:19
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
1 Corinthians 11:11
Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
We must live the law of chastity.
They asked what we thought of the law of chastity?
Our response was that we are to only have sexual relations within the confines of our marriage vows. That we are not to commit adultery
Exodus 20:14
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
They then brought up the Word of Wisdom.
How did we feel about abstaining from?
1. Alcohol (No problem)
2. Tobacco (No problem)
3.Coffee (No problem for me, but Bev?)
4. Tea (Now for me?)
5. Harmful Drugs (No problem)
We decided to end the discussion as it was late and the missionaries needed to go home and I had to go to work in the morning. So we planned to meet the next Thursday. The only exception to Thursday was Stephanie's dad he was not going to be able to be there that night.
When Thursday came around for many reasons we did not meet we had to cancel, so we rescheduled for Sunday night April 28th.
This night was going to be an interesting one for all involved, this was our third meeting, and we were doing the third discussion. Right away I was lost in my own thoughts, I to this day have no idea what was being said that night. I was having a struggle within myself that I was not ready to give into. I started to believe all that I had learned over the past couple of weeks. I started to have this feeling rise up within me then I heard Elder Bennett open up his scriptures and he quoted from D&C 9:8-9
8. But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.
9. But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.
That is what was going on within me this feeling within me that I have felt many times before, when the Holy Ghost was showing me a truth or wanted me to do or say something. I had no doubt in my mind what was going on, the tears began to well up at this point Stephanie's dad said something about crying tears of joy I looked up at him and took off my glasses and pointed to my eyes to show the tears. Everybody sat there quite for awhile Beverly was shocked in our 6 years of marriage she had never seen me cry. She half stood and stated the fact that "He never cries" then I said that this is all true, that the book of Mormon was another testament of Jesus Christ, that Joseph Smith was truly a prophet of God, and that the church was the true restored church. I then mentioned that a joke within the anti-mormon movement states the burn within the bosom was the pizza eaten earlier, but this was not heartburn this was a true feeling of the gospel being revealed to me.
The following week we finished our discussions and we were baptized into the church on May 11, 2002.
My testimony is that Jesus Christ died and was risen from the dead that he is alive today, that the Book of Mormon is true, that Joseph Smith truly was a prophet of God, that Gordon B. Hinkley is the prophet for today and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the restored church for this last dispensation, Amen.
