Your Friends in the Gospel

I spoke at my ward today. The topic was "how can we demonstrate charity and love in our daily life". The recording of the talk is not up to my usual quality, but I hope that you would be patient with the audio quality. Thank you for listening.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist

Learn of the lesser known ancient civilization that is unrelated to Abraham, which believed in Jesus Christ. They are the Jaredite nation. 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, practicing the "Come, Follow Me" curriculum, completed reading the Book of Mormon; although, there is two more books to read in the Book of Mormon. In this episode, Trevor and I explain who is Mormon. Why is there a Book of Mormon within the Book of Mormon. Thank you for listening.

I share an expound of how Jesus Christ explains is the Gospel in 3 Nephi 27:13-21, and Trevor speaks of unity from the example in 4 Nephi 1:3-5; 12-13; 15-16; 19; & 24-26.

What is the Gospel?

3 Nephi 27:13–21

13 Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.

14 And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—

15 And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works.

16 And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world.

17 And he that endureth not unto the end, the same is he that is also hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence they can no more return, because of the justice of the Father

18 And this is the word which he hath given unto the children of men. And for this cause he fulfilleth the words which he hath given, and he lieth not, but fulfilleth all his word

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.

21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do;

The topic of the second episode is family history. Trevor shared a spiritual thought at first from his gamer's perspective first. Our thoughts were inspired by "Come, follow me" the family and individual manual, so you may have reviewed the activities already.

Abraham 3:22–25

22 Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones;

23 And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born.

24 And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell;

25 And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;

3 Nephi 24:16 & 17 

16 “They that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard; and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.

17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.”

3 Nephi 23:6–13

If the Savior were to examine the records our family has kept, what questions might He ask us? Are there any important events or spiritual experiences that we should record? Why is it important to record our family’s spiritual experiences? 

6 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had said these words he said unto them again, after he had expounded all the scriptures unto them which they had received, he said unto them: Behold, other scriptures I would that ye should write, that ye have not.

7 And it came to pass that he said unto Nephi: Bring forth the record which ye have kept.

8 And when Nephi had brought forth the records, and laid them before him, he cast his eyes upon them and said:

9 Verily I say unto you, I commanded my servant Samuel, the Lamanite, that he should testify unto this people, that at the day that the Father should glorify his name in me that there were many saints who should arise from the dead, and should appear unto many, and should minister unto them. And he said unto them: Was it not so?

10 And his disciples answered him and said: Yea, Lord, Samuel did prophesy according to thy words, and they were all fulfilled.

11 And Jesus said unto them: How be it that ye have not written this thing, that many saints did arise and appear unto many and did minister unto them?

12 And it came to pass that Nephi remembered that this thing had not been written.

13 And it came to pass that Jesus commanded that it should be written; therefore it was written according as he commanded.

3 Nephi 25:5–6

The promised return of Elijah has been eagerly anticipated by Jews around the world for centuries. Latter-day Saints know that Elijah has returned, appearing to Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple in 1836 (see Doctrine and Covenants 110:13–16). The work of turning hearts to the fathers—temple and family history work—is well underway. What experiences have you had that helped turn your heart to your ancestors?

5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord;

6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.