Here, in this column, students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the New Testament and gospel of Jesus Christ in the form of letters to someone they know.  In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to witness to all of us of the relevance, power, and beauty of the New Testament, and God’s plan of happiness for each of us.  We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures. Let us know how these may help you in your own life. Share them with a friend.

Actions speak louder than words

A Thought
In class on tuesday my Professor said, “You are the epistle of Christ.” This statement, while simple, hit me with a profound depth.

The statement originates out of 2 Corinthians chapter 3. At the time, the people of Corinth, like many others, were caught up in the letter of the law rather than the spirit of the law. Verse 3 says, “Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.” Christ is using us, trusting us, to write and preach his word through our actions.

I love watching people interact and often note how you can tell when people are taking the necessary actions in their life to stay in tune with the spirit. The way they think, act, and react to situations is often grounded, mature, and typically does not result in hurt feelings but rather clear and productive communications. It is quiet and they just do it. It is apart of their nature. It is how they live.

It made me think about how I have the responsibility to be Christ’s message through my actions. I teach by being me. I may not always have the in depth conversations, but by aligning my actions with Christ and living in the good ways I know how may provide a greater force for good than I could ever realize or understand. People’s hearts are sensitive. I love the imagery in this verse, ink on stone and spirit in flesh. People’s hearts can be written on, changed by our actions and by following the small promptings of the spirit. It is the kind of writing that will not erode over time as stone does, rather it impacts the people our lives collide with.

Often small actions can speak and teach so much louder than any words can.

There is much good I can do just by being me and letting Christ work through that medium. I, through my actions, am the epistle of Christ.

Yet, He led me along, and especially guided me to the people who could be His hands in lifting me gradually to discipleship and knowledge of and trust in Him.

I can say, however, that even though I began in fits and starts, I never lost my fervor for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  I was always converted, and that true conversion has kept me moving forward on the narrow path that leads to salvation and exaltation.

At this time, my husband (of 44 years) and I are serving as senior Mormon missionaries.  We are very far away from most of our children and grandchildren.  We are sacrificing financially, as well, in order to help Latter-day Saints in a small branch in a faraway place.  We do this because we are truly converted to His gospel.  We are called “member-leader support” missionaries.  We don’t proselyte, but help those who are already members of the Church of Jesus Christ.  Because the Church has a lay clergy, all members must step up and be ready to serve in a variety of “callings,” all of which make us stretch and use talents we didn’t know we had.  We help to train and support these people.

We also try to help those who are not yet converted.  They want to drop out when someone inadvertently offends them; they want the advantages of the gospel and the Church without paying any offerings, just denying themselves the blessings of sacrifice.  They want to work, and are willing to break the Sabbath to do it.  They are not truly converted.
In the October 2012 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ, Elder David A. Bednar gave an address on being truly converted. He said,

Knowing that the gospel is true is the essence of a testimony. Consistently being true to the gospel is the essence of conversion.

A testimony is a gift from God and is available to all of His children. Any honest seeker of truth can obtain a testimony by exercising the necessary “particle of faith” in Jesus Christ to “experiment upon” (Alma 32:27) and “try the virtue of the word” (Alma 31:5), to yield “to the enticings of the Holy Spirit” (Mosiah 3:19), and to awaken unto God (see Alma 5:7). Testimony brings increased personal accountability and is a source of purpose, assurance, and joy.

Seeking for and obtaining a testimony of spiritual truth requires asking, seeking, and knocking (see Matthew 7:7; 3 Nephi 14:7) with a sincere heart, real intent, and faith in the Savior (see Moroni 10:4). Fundamental components of a testimony are knowing that Heavenly Father lives and loves us, that Jesus Christ is our Savior, and that the fullness of the gospel has been restored to the earth in these latter days….

The essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ entails a fundamental and permanent change in our very nature made possible through the Savior’s Atonement. True conversion brings a change in one’s beliefs, heart, and life to accept and conform to the will of God (see Acts 3:19; 3 Nephi 9:20) and includes a conscious commitment to become a disciple of Christ.

Conversion is an enlarging, a deepening, and a broadening of the under girding base of testimony. It is the result of revelation from God, accompanied by individual repentance, obedience, and diligence. Any honest seeker of truth can become converted by experiencing the mighty change of heart and being spiritually born of God (see Alma 5:12–14). As we honor the ordinances and covenants of salvation and exaltation (see D&C 20:25), “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ” (2 Nephi 31:20), and endure in faith to the end (see D&C 14:7), we become new creatures in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). Conversion is an offering of self, of love, and of loyalty we give to God in gratitude for the gift of testimony.

… the key characteristics associated with conversion are experiencing a mighty change in our hearts, having a disposition to do good continually, going forward in the path of duty, walking circumspectly before God, keeping the commandments, and serving with unwearied diligence. Clearly, these faithful souls had become deeply devoted to the Lord and His teachings.

For many of us, conversion is an ongoing process and not a onetime event that results from a powerful or dramatic experience. Line upon line and precept upon precept, gradually and almost imperceptibly, our motives, our thoughts, our words, and our deeds become aligned with the will of God. Conversion unto the Lord requires both persistence and patience.

A testimony is spiritual knowledge of truth obtained by the power of the Holy Ghost. Continuing conversion is constant devotion to the revealed truth we have received—with a heart that is willing and for righteous reasons. Knowing that the gospel is true is the essence of a testimony. Consistently being true to the gospel is the essence of conversion. We should know the gospel is true and be true to the gospel.

It is the truly converted who will be exalted into the presence of the Lord in heaven.  These are those who seek His face, who want more than salvation.  The truly converted keep on keeping on and are valiant in their loyalty to Christ.  In the face of discouragement and opposition, they keep showing up.

Additional Resources:

All About Mormons

About Famous Mormons

Worship with Mormons

And now, because of the steadiness of the church they began to be exceedingly rich, having abundance of all things whatsoever they stood in need—an abundance of flocks and herds, and fatlings of every kind, and also abundance of grain, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious things, and abundance of silk and fine-twined linen, and all manner of good homely cloth (Book of Mormon, Alma 1:29).

The Church of Jesus Christ teaches that obedience to the commandments brings blessings according to will of the Lord, who wants His obedient children to partake all the goodness of the earth and also even giving them the greatest gift of all, which is eternal life. The Lord said,

There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated (Doctrine and Covenants, Section 130:20-21).

The story of Job is one of the perfect examples of abundance through Jesus Christ. Job is considered one of the richest men in his area, as recorded in the Old Testament. He had everything that a man would want to have, nevertheless he was not obsessed with his possessions. Job was a righteous man, and he loved the Lord. But later in his life, Job experienced trials that tested all of his good qualities, including patience, kindness, love, faith, humility, understanding and obedience to God’s commandments. The trials became so intense that he lost everything he possessed, including his wealth, health, and worst of all, his family. Despite all that had happened to him, he still wanted to obey God. He said,

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me? Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment (Old Testament, Job 19:25-29).

Perhaps the greatest lesson that all of us can get out of the story of Job is that what matters most is our obedience to commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything depends on God; the rise and fall of an individual or a family or a nation depends on their obedience to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Keren-happuch. And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations. So Job died, being old and full of days” (Old Testament, Job 42:12-17).

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all are treated alike. The Church also reaches out to the world, especially during calamities in giving relief to those who have been affected, regardless of nationality, race, or religion. The greatest good is manifest, however, not in humanitarian aid, but in how the gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives for the better. It is a testimony of what the fullness of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ can do for someone’s life. Of course, God wants us all to be happy, well, and abundant in all things, not only temporally but everlastingly.

All people are commanded to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and follow His commandments.

Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend. For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind? And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy (Book of Mormon, Mosiah 4:9,19-20).

This article was written by Roy, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

References:
1) Book of Mormon, Alma 1:29
2) Doctrine and Covenants, Section 130:20-21
3) Old Testament, Job 19:25-29
4) Old Testament, Job 42:12-17
5) Book of Mormon, Mosiah 4:9,19-20

Additional Resources:

Jesus.Christ.org

Provident Living

LDS Philanthropies: Helping to Save and Change Lives

Jesus Christ represents all that is good, true, virtuous, merciful, just and godly. Lucifer is the adversary of everything that Christ stands for. He embodies all that is evil, false, immoral, and devoid of any trace of goodness or divine light. He is the enemy of God and of every human being who seeks to follow Christ (Newsroom, December 12, 2007).

This post answers the question “Is Satan real?” and how one can withstand his temptations.

Who Is Satan Really?

Satan is known as the adversary, the devil, Lucifer, Satan, Perdition, and the serpent who tempted Adam and Eve. The modern prophet Thomas S. Monson has taught that:

Lucifer, that clever pied piper, plays his lilting melody and attracts the unsuspecting away from the safety of their chosen pathway, away from the counsel of loving parents, away from the security of God’s teachings. He seeks not just the so-called refuse of humanity; he seeks all of us, including the very elect of God. King David listened, wavered, and then followed and fell. So did Cain in an earlier era and Judas Iscariot in a later one. Lucifer’s methods are cunning; his victims, numerous. We read of him in 2 Nephi: “Others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security.” “Others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell … until he grasps them with his awful chains.” “And thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.” (“The Three Rs of Choice“, Ensign, November 2010)

Is Satan really bad? Yes, Lucifer is bad because he rejected God and His plan for us. The devil wanted to take all of God’s glory and power for himself. Satan really wants us all to be as miserable as he is. Once someone understands the plan of salvation, it is easy to know the answer to the question “Is Satan real?”. One needs only glance at a newspaper to read about all the evil in the world today such as robberies, violence, and wars. Fortunately, the choice to choose good/evil is ours. Our modern prophet Thomas S. Monson taught the importance of agency or the right to choose for ourselves:

We know that we had our agency before this world was and that Lucifer attempted to take it from us. He had no confidence in the principle of agency or in us and argued for imposed salvation. He insisted that with his plan none would be lost, but he seemed not to recognize—or perhaps not to care—that in addition, none would be any wiser, any stronger, any more compassionate, or any more grateful if his plan were followed.

We who chose the Savior’s plan knew that we would be embarking on a precarious, difficult journey, for we walk the ways of the world and sin and stumble, cutting us off from our Father. But the Firstborn in the Spirit offered Himself as a sacrifice to atone for the sins of all. Through unspeakable suffering He became the great Redeemer, the Savior of all mankind, thus making possible our successful return to our Father (Thomas S. Monson, “The three Rs of choice”, Ensign, October 2010).

Is Satan real? Yes. He tempts us to disobey God and choose things that take us further away from Him. But there is also hope through Jesus Christ and one can overcome such temptations through our Savior.

How is Satan Real?

Ancient prophets in the Americas wrote in the scriptures (Introduction, The Book of Mormon) to invite us to Christ and have taught us how to recognize if Lucifer is real.

Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually. But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God. Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil. For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night. For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him (Moroni 7:12-17).

Little children seem to have an innate ability to feel or know right from wrong. Some people may consider this their conscience yet others may consider it guidance from the Holy Ghost or the Light of Christ. God has given us the Holy Ghost to guide us and help us know right from wrong. The Holy Ghost can help us recognize if something will take us closer to God or further away and towards the devil. Therefore, the Holy Ghost can answer the question “Is Satan real?” if you ask in sincerity. This can be done through prayer. Since we are all children of God, we have the right to ask Him anything. If you don’t believe me, ask for yourself and you will get an answer (most likely through the Holy Ghost).

Additional Resources:

Read another article about Satan.

Visit a local “Mormon” meetinghouse near you.

Mormon Beliefs: Is Satan really part of God’s plan?