I hope you are having a good week so far! Have you enjoyed reading the Book of Mormon? I absolutely LOVE this book and I know that I feel closer to my Savior when I read about his teachings.
This week has been hectic and crazy as usual. I am thankful for this time on earth to be a mother but sometimes it is a struggle. I know that I am learning more about patience, true love, and service as I raise my children. :)
In the midst of all our craziness, I have moments like the following. The sweet glimpse of Heaven on Earth through the face of my precious gift from above.
Today we are reading about Baptism in Chapter 6 of Moroni. I have highlighted every verse in this chapter so I will share it all with you.
Moroni 6
1 And now I speak concerning baptism. Behold, elders, priests, and teachers were baptized; and they were not baptized save they brought forth fruit meet that they were worthy of it.
2 Neither did they receive any unto baptism save they came forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and witnessed unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins.
3 And none were received unto baptism save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end.
4 And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith.
5 And the church did meet together oft, to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls.
6 And they did meet together oft to partake of bread and wine, in remembrance of the Lord Jesus.
7 And they were strict to observe that there should be no iniquity among them; and whoso was found to commit iniquity, and three witnesses of the church did condemn them before the elders, and if they repented not, and confessed not, their names were blotted out, and they were not numbered among the people of Christ.
9 And their meetings were conducted by the church after the manner of the workings of the Spirit, and by the power of the Holy Ghost; for as the power of the Holy Ghost led them whether to preach, or to exhort, or to pray, or to supplicate, or to sing, even so it was done.
I love this chapter because this is exactly what our church follows and believes. Baptism is such an important step on our path back to our Heavenly Father. Even Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist. He set the example we must follow to learn to be like Him.
Here are some pictures of our children on their baptism days. 4 out of 5 have been baptized so far and our youngest will have that opportunity after he turns 8 next year.
In Chapter 6 we also read about having a broken heart and a contrite Spirit. What does that mean to you?
- •What does it mean to have “a broken heart and a contrite spirit”? President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) explained that it is the same as godly sorrow, which is “a deep realization that our actions have offended our Father and our God. It is the sharp and keen awareness that our behavior caused the Savior, He who knew no sin, even the greatest of all, to endure agony and suffering. Our sins caused Him to bleed at every pore. This very real mental and spiritual anguish is what the scriptures refer to as having ‘a broken heart and a contrite spirit.’ (3 Ne. 9:20; Moro. 6:2; D&C 20:37; 59:8; Ps. 34:18; 51:17; Isa. 57:15.) Such a spirit is the absolute prerequisite for true repentance” (
“A Mighty Change of Heart,” Ensign, Oct. 1989, 4). Elder Bruce D. Porter of the Seventy explained further, defining the meaning of “a broken heart and a contrite spirit”:“When our hearts are broken, we are completely open to the Spirit of God and recognize our dependence on Him for all that we have and all that we are. The sacrifice so entailed is a sacrifice of pride in all its forms. Like malleable clay in the hands of a skilled potter, the brokenhearted can be molded and shaped in the hands of the Master. …“… Those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit are willing to do anything and everything that God asks of them, without resistance or resentment. We cease doing things our way and learn to do them God’s way instead. …“There is yet another dimension of a broken heart—namely, our deepgratitude for Christ’s suffering on our behalf. … When we remember the Savior and His suffering, our hearts too will break in gratitude for the Anointed One.“As we make the sacrifice to Him of all that we have and all that we are, the Lord will fill our hearts with peace. He will ‘bind up the brokenhearted’ (Isaiah 61:1) and grace our lives with the love of God”
Moroni 6:2. “A Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit”
Here are the words to that song. I want you to know that I know and believe the words in this song to be true. They are not only for me but for you as well. You can be clean and all your sins can be washed away through baptism and the atonement of our savior, Jesus Christ. He not only died and atoned for my sins but he did for yours, too!
When I Am Baptized
Here I am with the missionaries who taught me about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The day I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was the beginning of my new life. I was truly "Born Again". I am grateful that a sinner like myself could be washed clean through the atonement of Jesus Christ and be like new. I also know that I am not perfect and sin daily. It is by repenting and taking the Sacrament every Sunday that I can renew my baptismal covenants that I made when I was 22 years old.
Now let's move on to Moroni 7. Sooooo many great teachings in this chapter, too! I will share some of the scriptures I have highlighted.
Moroni 7:5
"For I remember the word of God which saith by their works ye shall know them; for if their works be good, then they are good also."
Moroni 7:12-19
"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.
"And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged.
"Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ."
- •The Bible Dictionary provides the following explanation:“The light of Christ is just what the words imply: enlightenment, knowledge, and an uplifting, ennobling, preserving influence that comes upon mankind because of Jesus Christ. For instance, Christ is ‘the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world’ (D&C 93:2; John 1:9). The light of Christ fills the ‘immensity of space’ and is the means by which Christ is able to be ‘in all things, and is through all things, and is round about all things.’ It ‘giveth life to all things’ and is ‘the law by which all things are governed.’ It is also ‘the light that quickeneth’ man’s understanding (see D&C 88:6–13, 41). In this manner, the light of Christ is related to man’s conscience and tells him right from wrong (see Moro. 7:12–19).“The light of Christ should not be confused with the personage of theHoly Ghost, for the light of Christ is not a personage at all. Its influence is preliminary to and preparatory to one’s receiving the Holy Ghost. The light of Christ will lead the honest soul who ‘hearkeneth to the voice’ to find the true gospel and the true Church and thereby receive the Holy Ghost (see D&C 84:46–48)” (“Light of Christ,” 725; see also Guide to the Scriptures, “Light, Light of Christ”; True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 96).
- •“Conscience is a manifestation of the Light of Christ, enabling us to judge good from evil” (True to the Faith, 96). The “Spirit of Christ” (Moroni 7:16) and the “light of Christ” (verses 18–19) are scriptural phrases that are often used synonymously.President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, testified that this light is a gift that will help us discern between good and evil:“Regardless of whether this inner light, this knowledge of right and wrong, is called the Light of Christ, moral sense, or conscience, it can direct us to moderate our actions—unless, that is, we subdue it or silence it. …“Every man, woman, and child of every nation, creed, or color—everyone, no matter where they live or what they believe or what they do—has within them the imperishable Light of Christ” (
“The Light of Christ,” Ensign, Apr. 2005, 8, 10). - •President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972) identified some differences between the Holy Ghost and the Light of Christ:“The Holy Ghost should not be confused with the Spirit which fills the immensity of space and which is everywhere present. This other Spirit is impersonal and has no size, nor dimension; it proceeds forth from the presence of the Father and the Son and is in all things. We should speak of the Holy Ghost as a personage as ‘he’ and this other Spirit as ‘it,’ although when we speak of the power or gift of the Holy Ghost we may properly say ‘it.’“The Holy Ghost, as we are taught in our modern revelation, is the third member in the Godhead and a personage of Spirit. These terms are used synonymously: Spirit of God, Spirit of the Lord, Spirit of Truth, Holy Spirit, Comforter; all having reference to the Holy Ghost. The same terms largely are used in relation to the Spirit of Jesus Christ, also called the Light of Truth, Light of Christ, Spirit of God, and Spirit of the Lord; and yet they are separate and distinct things. We have a great deal of confusion because we have not kept that clearly in our minds” (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 1:49–50).
- •God’s inspiration through the Light of Christ is not limited to the members of this Church only. The Light of Christ has influenced many world leaders.“The First Presidency has stated:“‘The great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammed, Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates, Plato, and others, received a portion of God’s light. Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals. …“‘We believe that God has given and will give to all peoples sufficient knowledge to help them on their way to eternal salvation’ (Statement of the First Presidency regarding God’s Love for All Mankind, 15 Feb. 1978)” (James E. Faust, in Conference Report, Apr. 1980, 15; or
Ensign, May 1980, 12). - •Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained a relationship between the Light of Christ and the gift of the Holy Ghost:“Each of us brings a light to the earth—the Light of Christ. …“By using the Light of Christ to discern and choose what is right, we can be led to an even greater light: the gift of the Holy Ghost”
Moroni 7:12–19. The Light of Christ
Reading & studying the scriptures:
Having a Secure Anchor in the Gospel of Jesus Christ:
Moroni 7:25
"Wherefore, by the ministering of angels, and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was until the coming of Christ."
I love verses 29 and 30! These bring me great hope. I know that the Lord almighty is ever powerful and can do all things!
Moroni 7:29-30
"And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men.
"For behold, they are subject unto him, to minister according to the word of his command, showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness."
- •Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained that the Book of Mormon reveals the reality of angels:“I am convinced that one of the profound themes of the Book of Mormon is the role and prevalence and central participation of angels in the gospel story. …“One of the things that will become more important in our lives the longer we live is the reality of angels, their work and their ministry. I refer here not alone to the angel Moroni but also to those more personal ministering angels who are with us and around us, empowered to help us and who do exactly that (see 3 Ne. 7:18; Moro. 7:29–32, 37; D&C 107:20). …“I believe we need to speak of and believe in and bear testimony to the ministry of angels more than we sometimes do. They constitute one of God’s great methods of witnessing through the veil, and no document in all this world teaches that principle so clearly and so powerfully as does the Book of Mormon” (
“For a Wise Purpose,” Ensign, Jan. 1996, 16–17). - •Elder Bruce C. Hafen of the Seventy taught that angels still continue to minister to the children of man:“The ministry of these unseen angels is among the most sublime forms of interaction between heaven and earth, powerfully expressing God’s concern for us and bestowing tangible assurance and spiritual sustenance upon those in great need. …“When do the angels come? If we seek to be worthy, they are near us when we need them most”.
Moroni 7:29–31. Ministering Angels
Moroni 7:43-47
"And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.
"If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and the lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he musts needs have charity.
"And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faith. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must faith - -
"But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
There are so many more things that I would like to share today but I will close with a talk about Charity given by our living prophet, Thomas S. Monson. You can learn more about my church HERE.
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