Category: Culture of Christ

The Culture of Christ

DO JUSTLY, LOVE MERCY, WALK HUMBLY WITH GOD!

Jesus is the Christ, Yeshua, The Holy Messiah who soon will some so repent and get your house in order, art by Richard W. Linford
  1. Do Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with God
  2. By Elder Dale G. Renlund
  3. Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
  4. To do justly means acting honorably.
  5. We act honorably with God by walking humbly with Him.
  6. We act honorably with others by loving mercy.
  7. As followers of Jesus Christ, and as Latter-day Saints, we strive—and are encouraged to strive—to do better and be better.1 
  8. Perhaps you have wondered, as I have, “Am I doing enough?”
  9. “What else should I be doing?”
  10. or “How can I, as a flawed person, qualify to ‘dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness’?”2
  11. The Old Testament prophet Micah asked the question this way:
  12. “Wherewith shall I come before the Lord,
  13. and bow myself before the high God?”3 
  14. Micah satirically wondered whether even exorbitant offerings might be enough to compensate for sin, saying:
  15. “Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten [thousand] … rivers of oil?
  16. shall I give my firstborn for … the sin of my soul?”4
  17. The answer is no.
  18. Good deeds are not sufficient.
  19. Salvation is not earned.5 
  20. Not even the vast sacrifices Micah knew were impossible can redeem the smallest sin.
  21. Left to our own devices, the prospect of returning to live in God’s presence is hopeless.6
  22. Without the blessings that come from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, we can never do enough or be enough by ourselves.
  23. The good news, though, is that because of and through Jesus Christ we can become enough.7 
  24. All people will be saved from physical death by the grace of God, through the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.8 
  25. And if we turn our hearts to God, salvation from spiritual death is available to all “through the Atonement of [Jesus] Christ … by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.”9 
  26. We can be redeemed from sin to stand clean and pure before God.
  27. As Micah explained, “[God] hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”10
  28. Micah’s direction on turning our hearts to God and qualifying for salvation contains three interconnected elements.
  29. To do justly means acting honorably with God and with other people.
  30. We act honorably with God by walking humbly with Him.
  31. We act honorably with others by loving mercy.
  32. To do justly is therefore a practical application of the first and second great commandments, to “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind … [and to] love thy neighbour as thyself.”11
  33. To do justly and walk humbly with God is to intentionally withdraw our hand from iniquity, walk in His statutes, and remain authentically faithful.12 
  34. A just person turns away from sin and toward God, makes covenants with Him, and keeps those covenants.
  35. A just person chooses to obey the commandments of God, repents when falling short, and keeps on trying.
  36. When the resurrected Christ visited the Nephites, He explained that the law of Moses had been replaced by a higher law.
  37. He instructed them not to “offer up … sacrifices and … burnt offerings” any longer but to offer “a broken heart and a contrite spirit.”
  38. He also promised, “And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost.”13 
  39. When we receive and use the gift of the Holy Ghost after baptism, we can enjoy the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost
  40. and be taught all things that we should do,14 
  41. including how to walk humbly with God.
  42. Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for sin and salvation from spiritual death are available to all who have such a broken heart and contrite spirit.15 
  43. A broken heart and contrite spirit prompt us to joyfully repent and try to become more like our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
  44. As we do so, we receive the Savior’s cleansing, healing, and strengthening power.
  45. We not only do justly and walk humbly with God;
  46. we also learn to love mercy the way that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ do.
  47. God delights in mercy and does not begrudge its use.
  48. In Micah’s words to Jehovah, “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, … will have compassion upon us,” and will “cast all … sins into the depths of the sea.”16 
  49. To love mercy as God does is inseparably connected to dealing justly with others and not mistreating them.
  50. The importance of not mistreating others is highlighted in an anecdote about Hillel the Elder, a Jewish scholar who lived in the first century before Christ.
  51. One of Hillel’s students was exasperated by the complexity of the Torah—the five books of Moses with their 613 commandments and associated rabbinic writings.
  52. The student challenged Hillel to explain the Torah using only the time that Hillel could stand on one foot.
  53. Hillel may not have had great balance but accepted the challenge.
  54. He quoted from Leviticus, saying,
  55. “Thou shalt not avenge,
  56. nor bear any grudge
  57. against the children of thy people,
  58. but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”17 
  59. Hillel then concluded:
  60. “That which is hateful unto you, do not do to your neighbor.
  61. This is the whole of the Torah; the rest is commentary.
  62. Go forth and study.”18
  63. Always dealing honorably with others is part of loving mercy.
  64. Consider a conversation I overheard decades ago in the emergency department of Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States.
  65. A patient, Mr. Jackson, was a courteous, pleasant man who was well known to the hospital staff.
  66. He had previously been hospitalized multiple times for the treatment of alcohol-related diseases.
  67. On this occasion, Mr. Jackson returned to the hospital for symptoms that would be diagnosed as inflammation of the pancreas caused by alcohol consumption.
  68. Toward the end of his shift, Dr. Cohen, a hardworking and admired physician, evaluated Mr. Jackson and determined that hospitalization was warranted.
  69. Dr. Cohen assigned Dr. Jones, the physician next up in rotation, to admit Mr. Jackson and oversee his treatment.
  70. Dr. Jones had attended a prestigious medical school and was just beginning her postgraduate studies.
  71. This grueling training was often associated with sleep deprivation, which likely contributed to Dr. Jones’s negative response.
  72. Confronted with her fifth admission of the night, she complained loudly to Dr. Cohen.
  73. She felt it was unfair that she would have to spend many hours caring for Mr. Jackson, because his predicament was, after all, self-inflicted.
  74. Dr. Cohen’s emphatic response was spoken in almost a whisper.
  75. He said, “Dr. Jones, you became a physician to care for people and work to heal them.
  76. You didn’t become a physician to judge them.
  77. If you don’t understand the difference, you have no right to train at this institution.”
  78. Following this correction, Dr. Jones diligently cared for Mr. Jackson during the hospitalization.
  79. Mr. Jackson has since died.
  80. Both Dr. Jones and Dr. Cohen have had stellar careers.
  81. But at a critical moment in her training, Dr. Jones needed to be reminded to do justly, to love mercy, and to care for Mr. Jackson without being judgmental.19
  82. Over the years, I have benefited from that reminder.
  83. Loving mercy means that we do not just love the mercy God extends to us; we delight that God extends the same mercy to others.
  84. And we follow His example. “All are alike unto God,”20 and we all need spiritual treatment to be helped and healed.
  85. The Lord has said, “Ye shall not esteem one flesh above another,
  86. or one man shall not think himself above another.”21
  87. Jesus Christ exemplified what it means to do justly and to love mercy.
  88. He freely associated with sinners,
  89. treating them honorably
  90. and with respect.
  91. He taught the joy of keeping God’s commandments
  92. and sought to lift
  93. rather than condemn
  94. those who struggled.
  95. He did denounce those who faulted Him for ministering to people they deemed unworthy.22 
  96. Such self-righteousness offended Him and still does.23
  97. To be Christlike, a person does justly, behaving honorably with both God and other people.
  98. A just person is civil in words and action and recognizes that differences in outlook or belief do not preclude genuine kindness and friendship.
  99. Individuals who do justly “will not have a mind to injure one another,
  100. but to live peaceably”24 one with another.
  101. To be Christlike, a person loves mercy.
  102. People who love mercy are not judgmental;
  103. they manifest compassion for others,
  104. especially for those who are less fortunate;
  105. they are gracious,
  106. kind,
  107. and honorable.
  108. These individuals treat everyone
  109. with love
  110. and understanding,
  111. regardless of characteristics such as
  112. race,
  113. gender,
  114. religious affiliation,
  115. sexual orientation,
  116. socioeconomic status,
  117. and tribal,
  118. clan,
  119. or national differences.
  120. These are superseded by Christlike love.
  121. To be Christlike, a person chooses God,25 
  122. walks humbly with Him,
  123. seeks to please Him,
  124. and keeps covenants with Him.
  125. Individuals who walk humbly with God
  126. remember what Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have done for them.
  127. Am I doing enough?
  128. What else should I be doing?
  129. The action we take in response to these questions is central to our happiness in this life and in the eternities.
  130. The Savior does not want us to take salvation for granted.
  131. Even after we have made sacred covenants,
  132. there is a possibility that we may “fall from grace and depart from the living God.”
  133. So we should “take heed and pray always” to avoid falling “into temptation.”26
  134. But at the same time, our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ do not want us to be paralyzed
  135. by continual uncertainty during our mortal journey,
  136. wondering whether we have done enough to be saved and exalted.
  137. They surely do not want us to be tormented
  138. by mistakes from which we have repented,
  139. thinking of them as wounds that never heal,27 
  140. or to be excessively apprehensive that we might stumble again.
  141. We can assess our own progress.
  142. We can know “that the course of life [that we are] pursuing is according to God’s will”28 
  143. when we do justly,
  144. love mercy,
  145. and walk humbly with our God.
  146. We assimilate the attributes of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ into our character,
  147. and we love one another.
  148. When you do these things,
  149. you will follow the covenant path
  150. and qualify to “dwell with God
  151. in a state of never-ending happiness.”29 
  152. Your souls will be infused with the glory of God
  153. and with the light of everlasting life.30 
  154. You will be filled with incomprehensible joy.31 
  155. I testify that God lives
  156. and that Jesus is the Christ,
  157. our Savior
  158. and Redeemer,
  159. and He lovingly
  160. and joyfully
  161. extends His mercy to all.
  162. Don’t you love it?
  163. In the name of Jesus Christ,
  164. amen.

Views: 105

MY PERSONAL NEW YEAR’S INVITATION TO YOU. JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE HOLY MESSIAH, WHO SOON WILL COME, AND HE HAS RESTORED HIS original Church of Jesus Christ through living prophets and apostles. See www.ChurchofJesusChrist.org for access to a free Bible and Book of Mormon and details about this wondrous restoration of Christ’s true Church. If you are not a baptized member or if you are a baptized member and you are not presently active, simply call 1-801-240-1000 and an operator will connect you with missionaries so you can join and be active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today. Click the red Translate button to translate into another language!! May God be with you and your family, Richard Linford

My painting. Richard W. Linford

See https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/?lang=eng

Views: 240

Is the Second Coming near?

Our Savior Has Repeatedly Said that His Second Coming is near.

THE SECOND COMING OF THE LORD IS NIGH AT HAND. D&C 1:12.

 “For behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, the time is soon at hand that I shall come in a cloud with power and great glory. D&C 34:7.

“And it shall be a great day at the time of my coming, for all nations shall tremble. D&C 34:8.

Therefore, We need to Listen, Pay Attention, Repent, and Be Prepared?

Listen to the voice of the Lord which is unto all men, saying, REPENT lest you are pierced with much sorrow. D&C 1:1-7.

  1. “Hearken, O ye people of my church, saith the voice of him who dwells on high, and whose eyes are upon all men; yea, verily I say: Hearken ye people from afar; and ye that are upon the islands of the sea, listen together.
  2. “For verily the voice of the Lord is unto all men, and there is none to escape; and there is no eye that shall not see, neither ear that shall not hear, neither heart that shall not be penetrated.
  3. “And the rebellious shall be pierced with much sorrow; for their iniquities shall be spoken upon the housetops, and their secret acts shall be revealed.
  4. “And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days.
  5. “And they shall go forth and none shall stay them, for I the Lord have commanded them.
  6. “Behold, this is mine authority, and the authority of my servants, and my preface unto the book of my commandments, which I have given them to publish unto you, O inhabitants of the earth.
  7. “Wherefore, fear and tremble, O ye people, for what I the Lord have decreed in them shall be fulfilled.

Views: 122

Try His Living Water!


10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 4:10-14.https://youtu.be/sma4o3mCPwA

Views: 1106

Have you seen this short amazing video? Thirsty from Covid? Drink the Living Christ’s “Living Water.” Jesus and the Woman at the well video link.

10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 4:10-14.https://youtu.be/sma4o3mCPwA

Views: 134

Jesus Christ teaches Love Your Enemies. Do good to those who hate you.

  1. CLICK ON THIS LINK TO WATCH AND LISTEN TO THIS TALK IN VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KSd_ra5e7o
  2. Love Your Enemies
  3. By President Dallin H. Oaks
  4. First Counselor in the First Presidency
  5.  
  6. Knowing that we are all children of God gives us a vision of the worth of others and the ability to rise above prejudice.
  7. The Lord’s teachings are for eternity and for all of God’s children.
  8. In this message I will give some examples from the United States, but the principles I teach are applicable everywhere.
  9. We live in a time of anger and hatred in political relationships and policies.
  10. We felt it this summer when some went beyond peaceful protests and engaged in destructive behavior.
  11. We feel it in some current campaigns for public offices.
  12. Unfortunately, some of this has even spilled over into political statements and unkind references in our Church meetings.
  13. In a democratic government we will always have differences over proposed candidates and policies.
  14. However, as followers of Christ we must forgo the anger and hatred with which political choices are debated or denounced in many settings.
  15. The Sermon on the Mount
  16. Here is one of our Savior’s teachings, probably well known but rarely practiced:
  17. “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
  18. “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:43–44).1
  19. For generations, Jews had been taught to hate their enemies, and they were then suffering under the domination and cruelties of Roman occupation.
  20. Yet Jesus taught them, “Love your enemies” and “do good to them that … despitefully use you.”
  21. Bring forth the record
  22. What revolutionary teachings for personal and political relationships!
  23. But that is still what our Savior commands.
  24. In the Book of Mormon we read,
  25. “For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another” (3 Nephi 11:29).
  26. Loving our enemies and our adversaries is not easy.
  27. “Most of us have not reached that stage of … love and forgiveness,”
  28. President Gordon B. Hinckley observed, adding, “It requires a self-discipline almost greater than we are capable of.”2 
  29. But it must be essential, for it is part of the Savior’s two great commandments to “love the Lord thy God” and to “love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:37, 39).
  30. And it must be possible, for He also taught, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find” (Matthew 7:7).3
  31. How do we keep these divine commandments in a world where we are also subject to the laws of man?
  32. Fortunately, we have the Savior’s own example of how to balance His eternal laws with the practicalities of man-made laws.
  33. When adversaries sought to trap Him with a question about whether Jews should pay taxes to Rome, He pointed to the image of Caesar on their coins and declared, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s” (Luke 20:25).4
  34. Jesus Christ. Tribute to Caesar
  35. So, we are to follow the laws of men (render unto Caesar) to live peacefully under civil authority, and we follow the laws of God toward our eternal destination.
  36. But how do we do this—especially how do we learn to love our adversaries and our enemies?
  37. The Savior’s teaching not to “contend with anger” is a good first step.
  38. The devil is the father of contention, and it is he who tempts men to contend with anger.
  39. He promotes enmity and hateful relationships among individuals and within groups.
  40. President Thomas S. Monson taught that anger is “Satan’s tool,” for “to be angry is to yield to the influence of Satan.
  41. No one can make us angry. It is our choice.”5 
  42. Anger is the way to division and enmity.
  43. We move toward loving our adversaries when we avoid anger and hostility toward those with whom we disagree.
  44. It also helps if we are even willing to learn from them.
  45. Among other ways to develop the power to love others is the simple method described in a long-ago musical.
  46. When we are trying to understand and relate to people of a different culture, we should try getting to know them.
  47. In countless circumstances, strangers’ suspicion or even hostility give way to friendship or even love when personal contacts produce understanding and mutual respect.6
  48. An even greater help in learning to love our adversaries and our enemies is to seek to understand the power of love.
  49. Here are three of many prophetic teachings about this.
  50. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that “it is a time-honored adage that love begets love. Let us pour forth love—show forth our kindness unto all mankind.”7
  51. President Howard W. Hunter taught: “The world in which we live would benefit greatly if men and women everywhere would exercise the pure love of Christ, which is kind, meek, and lowly.
  52. It is without envy or pride. … It seeks nothing in return. … It has no place for bigotry, hatred, or violence. … It encourages diverse people to live together in Christian love regardless of religious belief, race, nationality, financial standing, education, or culture.”8
  53. And President Russell M. Nelson has urged us to “expand our circle of love to embrace the whole human family.”9
  54. An essential part of loving our enemies is to render unto Caesar by keeping the laws of our various countries.
  55. Though Jesus’s teachings were revolutionary, He did not teach revolution or lawbreaking. He taught a better way.
  56. Modern revelation teaches the same:
  57. “Let no man break the laws of the land, for he that keepeth the laws of God hath no need to break the laws of the land.
  58. “Wherefore, be subject to the powers that be” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:21–22).
  59. And our article of faith, written by the Prophet Joseph Smith after the early Saints had suffered severe persecution from Missouri officials, declares, “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law” (Articles of Faith 1:12).
  60. This does not mean that we agree with all that is done with the force of law.
  61. It means that we obey the current law and use peaceful means to change it.
  62. It also means that we peacefully accept the results of elections.
  63. We will not participate in the violence threatened by those disappointed with the outcome.10
  64.  In a democratic society we always have the opportunity and the duty to persist peacefully until the next election.
  65. The Savior’s teaching to love our enemies is based on the reality that all mortals are beloved children of God.
  66. That eternal principle and some basic principles of law were tested in the recent protests in many American cities.
  67. Protests
  68. At one extreme, some seem to have forgotten that the First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the “right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
  69. That is the authorized way to raise public awareness and to focus on injustices in the content or administration of the laws.
  70. And there have been injustices.
  71. In public actions and in our personal attitudes, we have had racism and related grievances.
  72. In a persuasive personal essay, the Reverend Theresa A. Dear of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has reminded us that “racism thrives on hatred, oppression, collusion, passivity, indifference and silence.”11 
  73. As citizens and as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we must do better to help root out racism.
  74. Police and Rebels
  75. At the other extreme, a minority of participants and supporters of these protests and the illegal acts that followed them seem to have forgotten that the protests protected by the Constitution are peaceful protests.
  76. Protesters have no right to destroy, deface, or steal property or to undermine the government’s legitimate police powers.
  77. The Constitution and laws contain no invitation to revolution or anarchy.
  78. All of us—police, protesters, supporters, and spectators—should understand the limits of our rights and the importance of our duties to stay within the boundaries of existing law.
  79. Abraham Lincoln was right when he said, “There is no grievance that is a fit object of redress by mob law.”12 
  80. Redress of grievances by mobs is redress by illegal means.
  81. That is anarchy, a condition that has no effective governance and no formal police, which undermines rather than protects individual rights.
  82. One reason the recent protests in the United States were shocking to so many was that the hostilities and illegalities felt among different ethnicities in other nations should not be felt in the United States.
  83. This country should be better in eliminating racism not only against Black Americans, who were most visible in the recent protests, but also against Latinos, Asians, and other groups. This nation’s history of racism is not a happy one, and we must do better.
  84. Ellis Island
  85. Ellis Island
  86. The United States was founded by immigrants of different nationalities and different ethnicities.
  87. Its unifying purpose was not to establish a particular religion or to perpetuate any of the diverse cultures or tribal loyalties of the old countries.
  88. Our founding generation sought to be unified by a new constitution and laws.
  89. That is not to say that our unifying documents or the then-current understanding of their meanings were perfect.
  90. The history of the first two centuries of the United States showed the need for many refinements, such as voting rights for women and, particularly, the abolition of slavery, including laws to ensure that those who had been enslaved would have all the conditions of freedom.
  91. Two Yale University scholars recently reminded us:
  92. “For all its flaws, the United States is uniquely equipped to unite a diverse and divided society. …
  93. “… Its citizens don’t have to choose between a national identity and multiculturalism.
  94. Americans can have both.
  95. But the key is constitutional patriotism.
  96. We have to remain united by and through the Constitution, regardless of our ideological disagreements.”13
  97. Many years ago, a British foreign secretary gave this great counsel in a debate in the House of Commons: “We have no eternal allies and we have no perpetual enemies. 
  98. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and these interests it is our duty to follow.”14
  99. That is a good secular reason for following “eternal and perpetual” interests in political matters.
  100. In addition, the doctrine of the Lord’s Church teaches us another eternal interest to guide us: the teachings of our Savior, who inspired the Constitution of the United States and the basic laws of many of our countries.
  101. Loyalty to established law instead of temporary “allies” is the best way to love our adversaries and our enemies as we seek unity in diversity.
  102. Knowing that we are all children of God gives us a divine vision of the worth of all others and the will and ability to rise above prejudice and racism.
  103. As I have lived for many years in different places in this nation, the Lord has taught me that it is possible to obey and seek to improve our nation’s laws and also to love our adversaries and our enemies.
  104. While not easy, it is possible with the help of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
  105. He gave this command to love, and He promises His help as we seek to obey it. I testify that we are loved and will be helped by our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
  106. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Views: 175

Jesus is the Christ, Yeshua, the Holy Messiah who soon will come in power and great glory. Note to every Jewish and Non-Jewish person in the world.

  1. The Culture of Christ
  2. By Elder William K. Jackson Of the Seventy
  3. Click here to watch Elder Jackson’s talk.https://youtu.be/_BMIsM5B78c
  4. Click here to listen only https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BMIsM5B78c
  5. We can cherish the best of our individual earthly cultures and be full participants in the eternal culture that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ.
  6. What a magnificent world we live in and share, home to a great diversity of peoples, languages, customs, and histories—spread out over hundreds of countries and thousands of groups, each rich in culture.
  7. Mankind has much to be proud of and to celebrate. But though learned behavior—those things to which we are exposed by the cultures we grow up in—can serve as a great strength in our lives, it can also, at times, become a significant obstacle.
  8. It may seem that culture is so heavily embedded in our thinking and behavior that it is impossible to change.
  9. It is, after all, much of what we feel defines us and from which we feel a sense of identity.
  10. It can be such a strong influence that we can fail to see the man-made weaknesses or flaws in our own cultures, resulting in a reluctance to throw off some of the traditions of our fathers.
  11. An over fixation on one’s cultural identity may lead to the rejection of worthwhile—even godly—ideas, attributes, and behavior.
  12. I knew a wonderful gentleman not too many years ago who helps to illustrate this universal principle of cultural myopia.
  13. I first met him in Singapore when I was assigned to be his family’s home teacher.
  14. A distinguished professor of Sanskrit and Tamil, he hailed from the south of India.
  15. His wonderful wife and two sons were members of the Church, but he had never joined nor listened much to the teachings of the gospel.
  16. He was happy with the way his wife and sons were developing and supported them fully in their undertakings and Church responsibilities.
  17. When I offered to teach him the principles of the gospel and share our beliefs with him, he initially balked.
  18. It took me a while to figure out why:
  19. he felt that by so doing, he would become a traitor to his past, his people, and his history!
  20. To his way of thinking, he would be denying everything he was, everything his family had taught him to be, his very Indian heritage.
  21. Over the next few months, we were able to talk about these issues.
  22. I was awed (though not surprised!) by how the gospel of Jesus Christ was able to open his eyes to a different viewpoint.
  23. In most man-made cultures, there is found both good and bad, constructive and destructive.
  24. Many of our world’s problems are a direct result of clashes between those of differing ideas and customs arising from their culture.
  25. But virtually all conflict and chaos would quickly fade if the world would only accept its original culture, the one we all possessed not so very long ago.
  26. This culture dates back to our premortal existence.
  27. It was the culture of Adam and Enoch.
  28. It was the culture founded on the Savior’s teachings in the meridian of time, and it is available to all women and men once again in our day.
  29. It is unique.
  30. It is the greatest of all cultures and comes from the great plan of happiness, authored by God and championed by Christ.
  31. It unites rather than divides. It heals rather than harms.
  32. The gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us that there is purpose in life.
  33. Our being here is not just some big cosmic accident or mistake!
  34. We are here for a reason.
  35. This culture is grounded in the testimony that our Heavenly Father exists, that He is real and loves each one of us individually. We are His “work and [His] glory.”1 
  36. This culture espouses the concept of equal worth.
  37. There is no recognition of caste or class.
  38. We are, after all, brothers and sisters, spirit children of our heavenly parents—literally.
  39. There is no prejudice or “us versus them” mentality in the greatest of all cultures.
  40. We are all “us.”
  41. We are all “them.”
  42. We believe that we are responsible and accountable for ourselves, one another, the Church, and our world.
  43. Responsibility and accountability are important factors in our growth.
  44. Charity, true Christ-like caring, is the bedrock of this culture.
  45. We feel real concern for the needs of our fellowman, temporal and spiritual, and act on those feelings.
  46. This dispels prejudice and hatred.
  47. We enjoy a culture of revelation, centered on the word of God as received by the prophets (and personally verifiable to each one of us through the Holy Ghost).
  48. All humankind can know the will and mind of God.
  49. This culture champions the principle of agency.
  50. The ability to choose is extremely important for our development and our happiness.
  51. Choosing wisely is essential.
  52. It is a culture of learning and study.
  53. We seek knowledge and wisdom and the best in all things.
  54. It is a culture of faith and obedience.
  55. Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of our culture, and obedience to His teachings and commandments is the outcome.
  56. These give rise to self-mastery.
  57. It is a culture of prayer.
  58. We believe that God will not only hear us but also help us.
  59. It is a culture of covenants and ordinances, high moral standards, sacrifice, forgiveness and repentance, and caring for the temple of our bodies.
  60. All of these bear witness to our commitment to God.
  61. It is a culture governed by the priesthood, the authority to act in God’s name, the power of God to bless His children.
  62. It edifies and enables individuals to be better people, leaders, mothers, fathers, and companions—and it sanctifies the home.
  63. True miracles abound in this, the oldest of all cultures, wrought by faith in Jesus Christ, the power of the priesthood, prayer, self-improvement, true conversion, and forgiveness.
  64. It is a culture of missionary work.
  65. The worth of souls is great.
  66. In the culture of Christ, women are elevated to their proper and eternal status.
  67. They are not subservient to men, as in many cultures in today’s world, but full and equal partners here and in the world to come.
  68. This culture sanctions the sanctity of the family.
  69. The family is the basic unit of eternity.
  70. The perfection of the family is worth any sacrifice because, as has been taught, “no other success can compensate for failure in the home.”2 
  71. The home is where our best work is done and where our greatest happiness is attained.
  72. In the culture of Christ, there is perspective—and eternal focus and direction.
  73. This culture is concerned with things of lasting worth! It comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is eternal and explains the why, what, and where of our existence.
  74. (It is inclusive, not exclusive.)
  75. Because this culture results from the application of our Savior’s teachings, it helps provide a healing balm of which our world is in such desperate need.
  76. What a blessing it is to be part of this grand and noble way of life!
  77. To be part of this, the greatest of all cultures, will require change.
  78.  The prophets have taught that it is necessary to leave behind anything in our old cultures that is inconsistent with the culture of Christ.
  79. But that doesn’t mean we have to leave behind everything. 
  80. The prophets have also emphasized that we are invited, one and all, to bring our faith and talents and knowledge—all that is good in our lives and our individual cultures—with us and let the Church “add to it” through the message of the gospel.3
  81. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is hardly a Western society or an American cultural phenomenon.
  82. It is an international church, as it was always meant to be.
  83. More than that, it is supernal.
  84. New members from around the world bring richness, diversity, and excitement into our ever-growing family.
  85. Latter-day Saints everywhere still celebrate and honor their own heritage and heroes, but now they are also part of something far grander.
  86. The culture of Christ helps us to see ourselves as we really are, and when seen through the lens of eternity, tempered with righteousness, it serves to increase our ability to fulfill the great plan of happiness.
  87. So what happened to my friend?
  88. Well, he was taught the lessons and joined the Church.
  89. His family has since been sealed for time and all eternity in the Sydney Australia Temple.
  90. He has given up little—and gained the potential for everything.
  91. He discovered that he can still celebrate his history, still be proud of his ancestry, his music and dance and literature, his food, his land and its people.
  92. He has found that there is no problem incorporating the best of his local culture into the greatest of all cultures.
  93. He discovered that bringing that which is consistent with truth and righteousness from his old life into his new one serves only to enhance his fellowship with the Saints and to assist in uniting all as one in the society of heaven.
  94. We can, indeed, all cherish the best of our individual earthly cultures and still be full participants in the oldest culture of them all—the original, the ultimate, the eternal culture that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ.
  95. What a marvelous heritage we all share.
  96. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Views: 301

Jesus is the Living Christ. Theology. The Culture of Christ.

  1. The Culture of Christ
  2. By Elder William K. Jackson Of the Seventy
  3. Click here to watch Elder Jackson’s talk.https://youtu.be/_BMIsM5B78c
  4. Click here to listen only https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BMIsM5B78c
  5. We can cherish the best of our individual earthly cultures and be full participants in the eternal culture that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ.
  6. What a magnificent world we live in and share, home to a great diversity of peoples, languages, customs, and histories—spread out over hundreds of countries and thousands of groups, each rich in culture.
  7. Mankind has much to be proud of and to celebrate. But though learned behavior—those things to which we are exposed by the cultures we grow up in—can serve as a great strength in our lives, it can also, at times, become a significant obstacle.
  8. It may seem that culture is so heavily embedded in our thinking and behavior that it is impossible to change.
  9. It is, after all, much of what we feel defines us and from which we feel a sense of identity.
  10. It can be such a strong influence that we can fail to see the man-made weaknesses or flaws in our own cultures, resulting in a reluctance to throw off some of the traditions of our fathers.
  11. An over fixation on one’s cultural identity may lead to the rejection of worthwhile—even godly—ideas, attributes, and behavior.
  12. I knew a wonderful gentleman not too many years ago who helps to illustrate this universal principle of cultural myopia.
  13. I first met him in Singapore when I was assigned to be his family’s home teacher.
  14. A distinguished professor of Sanskrit and Tamil, he hailed from the south of India.
  15. His wonderful wife and two sons were members of the Church, but he had never joined nor listened much to the teachings of the gospel.
  16. He was happy with the way his wife and sons were developing and supported them fully in their undertakings and Church responsibilities.
  17. When I offered to teach him the principles of the gospel and share our beliefs with him, he initially balked.
  18. It took me a while to figure out why:
  19. he felt that by so doing, he would become a traitor to his past, his people, and his history!
  20. To his way of thinking, he would be denying everything he was, everything his family had taught him to be, his very Indian heritage.
  21. Over the next few months, we were able to talk about these issues.
  22. I was awed (though not surprised!) by how the gospel of Jesus Christ was able to open his eyes to a different viewpoint.
  23. In most man-made cultures, there is found both good and bad, constructive and destructive.
  24. Many of our world’s problems are a direct result of clashes between those of differing ideas and customs arising from their culture.
  25. But virtually all conflict and chaos would quickly fade if the world would only accept its original culture, the one we all possessed not so very long ago.
  26. This culture dates back to our premortal existence.
  27. It was the culture of Adam and Enoch.
  28. It was the culture founded on the Savior’s teachings in the meridian of time, and it is available to all women and men once again in our day.
  29. It is unique.
  30. It is the greatest of all cultures and comes from the great plan of happiness, authored by God and championed by Christ.
  31. It unites rather than divides. It heals rather than harms.
  32. The gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us that there is purpose in life.
  33. Our being here is not just some big cosmic accident or mistake!
  34. We are here for a reason.
  35. This culture is grounded in the testimony that our Heavenly Father exists, that He is real and loves each one of us individually. We are His “work and [His] glory.”1 
  36. This culture espouses the concept of equal worth.
  37. There is no recognition of caste or class.
  38. We are, after all, brothers and sisters, spirit children of our heavenly parents—literally.
  39. There is no prejudice or “us versus them” mentality in the greatest of all cultures.
  40. We are all “us.”
  41. We are all “them.”
  42. We believe that we are responsible and accountable for ourselves, one another, the Church, and our world.
  43. Responsibility and accountability are important factors in our growth.
  44. Charity, true Christ-like caring, is the bedrock of this culture.
  45. We feel real concern for the needs of our fellowman, temporal and spiritual, and act on those feelings.
  46. This dispels prejudice and hatred.
  47. We enjoy a culture of revelation, centered on the word of God as received by the prophets (and personally verifiable to each one of us through the Holy Ghost).
  48. All humankind can know the will and mind of God.
  49. This culture champions the principle of agency.
  50. The ability to choose is extremely important for our development and our happiness.
  51. Choosing wisely is essential.
  52. It is a culture of learning and study.
  53. We seek knowledge and wisdom and the best in all things.
  54. It is a culture of faith and obedience.
  55. Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of our culture, and obedience to His teachings and commandments is the outcome.
  56. These give rise to self-mastery.
  57. It is a culture of prayer.
  58. We believe that God will not only hear us but also help us.
  59. It is a culture of covenants and ordinances, high moral standards, sacrifice, forgiveness and repentance, and caring for the temple of our bodies.
  60. All of these bear witness to our commitment to God.
  61. It is a culture governed by the priesthood, the authority to act in God’s name, the power of God to bless His children.
  62. It edifies and enables individuals to be better people, leaders, mothers, fathers, and companions—and it sanctifies the home.
  63. True miracles abound in this, the oldest of all cultures, wrought by faith in Jesus Christ, the power of the priesthood, prayer, self-improvement, true conversion, and forgiveness.
  64. It is a culture of missionary work.
  65. The worth of souls is great.
  66. In the culture of Christ, women are elevated to their proper and eternal status.
  67. They are not subservient to men, as in many cultures in today’s world, but full and equal partners here and in the world to come.
  68. This culture sanctions the sanctity of the family.
  69. The family is the basic unit of eternity.
  70. The perfection of the family is worth any sacrifice because, as has been taught, “no other success can compensate for failure in the home.”2 
  71. The home is where our best work is done and where our greatest happiness is attained.
  72. In the culture of Christ, there is perspective—and eternal focus and direction.
  73. This culture is concerned with things of lasting worth! It comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is eternal and explains the why, what, and where of our existence.
  74. (It is inclusive, not exclusive.)
  75. Because this culture results from the application of our Savior’s teachings, it helps provide a healing balm of which our world is in such desperate need.
  76. What a blessing it is to be part of this grand and noble way of life!
  77. To be part of this, the greatest of all cultures, will require change.
  78.  The prophets have taught that it is necessary to leave behind anything in our old cultures that is inconsistent with the culture of Christ.
  79. But that doesn’t mean we have to leave behind everything. 
  80. The prophets have also emphasized that we are invited, one and all, to bring our faith and talents and knowledge—all that is good in our lives and our individual cultures—with us and let the Church “add to it” through the message of the gospel.3
  81. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is hardly a Western society or an American cultural phenomenon.
  82. It is an international church, as it was always meant to be.
  83. More than that, it is supernal.
  84. New members from around the world bring richness, diversity, and excitement into our ever-growing family.
  85. Latter-day Saints everywhere still celebrate and honor their own heritage and heroes, but now they are also part of something far grander.
  86. The culture of Christ helps us to see ourselves as we really are, and when seen through the lens of eternity, tempered with righteousness, it serves to increase our ability to fulfill the great plan of happiness.
  87. So what happened to my friend?
  88. Well, he was taught the lessons and joined the Church.
  89. His family has since been sealed for time and all eternity in the Sydney Australia Temple.
  90. He has given up little—and gained the potential for everything.
  91. He discovered that he can still celebrate his history, still be proud of his ancestry, his music and dance and literature, his food, his land and its people.
  92. He has found that there is no problem incorporating the best of his local culture into the greatest of all cultures.
  93. He discovered that bringing that which is consistent with truth and righteousness from his old life into his new one serves only to enhance his fellowship with the Saints and to assist in uniting all as one in the society of heaven.
  94. We can, indeed, all cherish the best of our individual earthly cultures and still be full participants in the oldest culture of them all—the original, the ultimate, the eternal culture that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ.
  95. What a marvelous heritage we all share.
  96. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Views: 259

The Sheriff is Coming. Jesus The Resurrected Christ Messiah Yeshua is Coming in Power and Great Glory. So Repent and Get Ready!

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-sheriff-is-coming-tomorrow-my-friend-richard-w-linford.html

Jesus Christ Painting - The Sheriff is Coming Tomorrow My Friend by Richard W Linford

Views: 22390

Jesus The Christ is the Holy Messiah. He is Yeshua, the Son of the Living God The Father. He soon will come in power and great glory so repent and get ready to meet Him. Quoting Psalm 20 verse seven: “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”

THE GREAT I AM, JESUS CHRIST, THE HOLY MESSIAH, WHO SOON WILL COME IN POWER AND GLORY SO REPENT AND GET READY FOR YOUR RAPTURE

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: BUT WE WILL REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD.

  1. Some trust in RALPH LAUREN, and some in ARMANI: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
  2. Some trust in PRADA, and some in BURBERRY: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
  3. Some trust in FENDI, and some in HOUSE OF VERSACE: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
  4. Some trust in CHANEL, and some in GUCCI: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
  5. Some trust in LOUIS VUITTON, and some in HERMES: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
  6. Some trust in FERRARI F60s, and some in ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOMS: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
  7. Some trust in FORD MUSTANGS, and some in CHEVROLET CORVETTES: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
  8. Some trust in FORD F-150s, and some in CHEVROLET SILVERADOS: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
  9. Some trust in MANSORY VIVERE BUGATTI VEYRONS, and some in ASTON MARTIN ONE-77s: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
  10. Some trust in KOENIGSEGG CCXR TREVITAs, and some in LAMBORGHINI VENENOs: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
  11. Some trust in TOYOTA TACOMAS, and some in DODGE RAM 1500s: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
  12. Some trust in TESLA EVs, and some in CHEVROLET BOLTs: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
  13. Some trust in LEXUS, and some in BMWs: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
  14. Some trust in AUDI, and some in MERCEDES-BENZ: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
  15. Some trust in JAGUARs, and some in VOLVOs: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
  16. Some trust in APPLE, and some in MICROSOFT: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
  17. Some trust in iPHONEs, and some in iPADs: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
  18. Some trust in CHOCOLATE KISSES, and some in LOBSTER CROISSANTS: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
  19. Some trust in BAKLAVA, and some in CRÈME BRULEE: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
  20. Some trust in PIZZA MARGHERITA, and some in GUACAMOLE: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
  21. Some trust in AMERICAN BARBECUE, and some in MAC AND CHEESE, but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
  22. Some trust in KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN, and some in BACON LETTUCE AND TOMATO SANDWICHES: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
  23. Some trust in KRISPY KREME DONUTS, and some in EINSTEIN BAGELS: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
  24. Some trust in Acura, and some in Cadillac: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
  25. Some trust in Chevrolet Colorados, and some in GMC Sierra 1500s: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
  26. Quoting Psalm 20 verse seven: “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”

Let us all press on in the work of the Lord. Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Views: 187