I am Richard Linford and I share my testimony with you that Jesus Christ is the Living Son of God the Father and the promised Millennial Messiah and that He has restored His true Church on earth, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, once more with living apostles and prophets to lead and guide it. With that in mind, I invite you
to pray to Our Heavenly Father in the name of His Son Jesus Christ,
to accept the following ARTICLES OF FAITH, having FAITH in Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son Jesus Christ,
to REPENT of your sins each day,
to be BAPTIZED BY IMMERSION FOR THE REMISSION OF YOUR SINS,
to be confirmed a member of THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, the restored Church of Jesus Christ with its living apostles and prophets,
to attend Church each Sunday and partake of the sacrament thus renewing your baptismal and other sacred covenants,
to prepare and to go to the temple to make covenants and receive special blessings including being sealed to your family for eternity,
to endure to the end of your life in striving to be righteous,
better knowing Our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ in order to receive eternal life.
[And p.s. you may also want to read the scriptural account of the Life of Christ found in the book of Matthew and the Book of Mormon which is a second witness that Jesus is the Christ. These scriptures are available in multiple languages and free at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints website. www.churchofjesuschrist.org.]
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 17:3.
to pray to Our Heavenly Father in the name of His Son Jesus Christ,
to accept the following ARTICLES OF FAITH, having FAITH in Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son Jesus Christ,
to REPENT of your sins each day,
to be BAPTIZED BY IMMERSION FOR THE REMISSION OF YOUR SINS,
to be confirmed a member of THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, the restored Church of Jesus Christ with its living apostles and prophets,
to attend Church each Sunday and partake of the sacrament thus renewing your baptismal and other sacred covenants,
to prepare and to go to the temple to make covenants and receive special blessings including being sealed to your family for eternity,
to endure to the end of your life in striving to be righteous,
better knowing Our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ in order to receive eternal life.
[And p.s. you may also want to read the scriptural account of the Life of Christ found in the book of Matthew and the Book of Mormon which is a second witness that Jesus is the Christ. These scriptures are available in multiple languages and free at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints website. www.churchofjesuschrist.org.]
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 17:3.
As we seek to become temporally prepared, we can face the trials of life with increased confidence.
Prior to travel restrictions caused by the current pandemic, I was returning home from an international assignment which, due to scheduling issues, created a Sunday layover. I had time between flights to attend a local sacrament meeting, where I was also able to share a brief message. Following the meeting, an enthusiastic deacon approached me and asked if I knew President Nelson and if I had ever had a chance to shake his hand. I answered that I did know him, that I had shaken his hand, and that, as a member of the Presiding Bishopric, I had the opportunity to meet with President Nelson and his counselors a couple of times each week. The young deacon then sat down on a chair, threw his hands in the air, and shouted, “This is the greatest day of my life!” Brothers and sisters, I may not throw my hands in the air and shout, but I am eternally grateful for a living prophet and for the direction we receive from prophets, seers, and revelators, especially during these times of challenge.
From the beginning of time, the Lord has provided direction to help His people prepare spiritually and temporally against the calamities and trials that He knows will come as part of this mortal experience.
These calamities may be personal or general in nature, but the Lord’s guidance will provide protection and support to the extent that we heed and act upon His counsel.
A wonderful example is provided in an account from the book of Genesis, where we learn of Joseph in Egypt and his inspired interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream.
“And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, … God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do. …
“Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:
“And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt.”1
Pharaoh listened to Joseph, responded to what God had showed him in a dream, and immediately set about preparing for what was to come. The scriptures then record:
“And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.
“And he gathered up all the food of the seven years. …
“And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, … until he left numbering; for it was without number.”2
Once the seven years of plenty had passed, we are told that “seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.”3
Today we are blessed to be led by prophets who understand the need for us to prepare against the calamities “which should come”4 and who also recognize the limitations or restrictions that we may encounter in striving to follow their counsel.
There is a clear understanding that the effects of COVID-19, as well as devastating natural disasters, are no respecter of persons and cross ethnic, social, and religious boundaries on every continent.
Jobs have been lost and incomes reduced as the opportunity to work has been affected by layoffs and the ability to work has been impacted by health and legal challenges.
To all who have been affected, we express understanding and concern for your situation, as well as a firm conviction that better days are ahead.
You have been blessed with bishops and branch presidents who seek out members of their congregations with temporal needs and who have access to tools and resources that can help you reestablish your lives and place you on the path to self-reliance as you apply principles of preparedness.
In today’s environment, with a pandemic that has devastated whole economies as well as individual lives, it would be inconsistent with a compassionate Savior to ignore the reality that many are struggling and ask them to begin building a reserve of food and money for the future.
However, that does not mean that we should permanently ignore principles of preparation—only that these principles should be applied “in wisdom and order”5 so that in the future we might say, as did Joseph in Egypt, “There was bread.”6
The Lord does not expect us to do more than we can do, but He does expect us to do what we can do, when we can do it.
As President Nelson reminded us in our last general conference, “The Lord loves effort.”7
Church leaders have often encouraged Latter-day Saints “to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings.”8
At the same time, we are encouraged to “be wise” and “not go to extremes”9 in our efforts to establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve.
A resource entitled Personal Finances for Self-Reliance, published in 2017 and currently available on the Church website in 36 languages, begins with a message from the First Presidency, which states:
This revelation is a promise from the Lord that He will provide temporal blessings and open the door of self-reliance. …
“… Accepting and living these principles will better enable you to receive the temporal blessings promised by the Lord.
“We invite you to diligently study and apply these principles and teach them to your family members.
As you do so, your life will be blessed … [because] you are a child of our Father in Heaven.
He loves you and will never forsake you.
He knows you and is ready to extend to you the spiritual and temporal blessings of self-reliance.”10
This resource includes chapters devoted to
creating and living within a budget,
protecting your family against hardship,
managing a financial crisis,
investing for the future,
and many more and is available for everyone on the Church website or through your local leaders.
When considering the principle of preparedness, we can look back to Joseph in Egypt for inspiration.
Knowing what would happen would not have been sufficient to carry them through the “lean” years without a degree of sacrifice during the years of abundance.
Rather than consume all that Pharaoh’s subjects could produce, limits were established and followed, providing sufficient for their immediate, as well as their future, needs.
It was not enough to know that challenging times would come.
They had to act, and because of their effort, “there was bread.”11
This leads to an important question: “Therefore, what?”
A good place to begin is to understand that all things are spiritual to the Lord, “and not at any time” has He given us “a law which was temporal.”12
Everything, then, points to Jesus Christ as the foundation upon which we must build even our temporal preparedness.
Being temporally prepared and self-reliant means “believing that through the grace, or enabling power, of Jesus Christ and our own effort, we are able to obtain all the spiritual and temporal necessities of life we require for ourselves and our families.”13
Additional aspects of a spiritual foundation for temporal preparedness include acting “in wisdom and order,”14 which implies a gradual buildup of food storage and savings over time, as well as embracing “small and simple” means,15 which is a demonstration of faith that the Lord will magnify our small but consistent efforts.
With a spiritual foundation in place,
we can then successfully apply two important elements of temporal preparedness—
managing finances
and home storage.
Key principles to manage your finances include
the payment of tithes and offerings,
eliminating and avoiding debt,
preparing and living within a budget,
and saving for the future.
Key home storage principles include
the storage of food,
the storage of water,
and the storage of other necessities based on individual and family needs,
which becomes the “most accessible reserve in times of need.”17
As we embrace spiritual principles and seek inspiration from the Lord, we will be guided to know the Lord’s will for us, individually and as families, and how best to apply the important principles of temporal preparedness.
The most important step of all is to begin.
Elder David A. Bednar taught this principle when he said:
“Taking action is the exercise of faith.
… True faith is focused in and on the Lord Jesus Christ
we know that the temporal peaks and valleys of mortality will continue.
As we seek to become temporally prepared,
we can face the trials of life
with increased confidence,
peace in our hearts,
and like Joseph in Egypt, we will be able to say, even in stressful circumstances, “There was bread.”19
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Set of Preparation Questions for your consideration? Use these questions to audit your own situation and then build your own list of things to do so you and your family are prepared.
The Principle: D&C 38:30? If ye are prepared, ye shall not _ _ _ _?
The Principle: Conduct your own periodic audit and make preparedness adjustments accordingly.
(P.S. You can contact me if you want to at r.linford@comcast.net and I will help you meet with a pair of wonderful missionaries and attend Church and learn about Jesus. Or contact The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by clicking here https://www.comeuntochrist.org/contact-us
He is your Resurrection and Eternal Life. “And this is life eternal, that they may know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3) Contact The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by clicking here https://www.comeuntochrist.org/contact-us Or CALL 1-240-1000 or CALL 801-240-3500 or CALL 1-240-2222 or check your internet or phone directory for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If you would like, Missionaries can contact you to share with you the principles of the gospel, to help you repent of any sins, and to schedule your baptism by immersion for the remission of your sins, and laying on of hands for your confirmation as a member of the Church, and your reception of the Gift of the Holy Ghost, Contact The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by clicking here https://www.comeuntochrist.org/contact-us to Attend a Sunday Service Enter your address to find your local church. You can get in touch with leaders and representatives. Or, better yet, worship Jesus Christ with us by attending services. You’ll meet new neighbors and make some friends! Click here to learn more about what to expect at church. Contact The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by clicking here https://www.comeuntochrist.org/contact-us to Find a church near you For LocationSearch Click Here https://www.comeuntochrist.org/contact-us to Contact The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Find a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints near you. I know you will gain peace and joy by meeting with two wonderful missionaries in person or online such as by Zoom or GotoMeeting or Facetime to study the gospel of Jesus Christ. Missionaries would love to meet with you in person or online and answer any of your questions. And if Missionaries meet with you in person, most of these missionaries are young people ages 18 or 19 or close, they come bearing gifts! If you’d like free copies of the Book of Mormon or the Bible, they’d be happy to bring one or both when they come. So please take time to Request a Visit › Feel like something is missing in your life? Invite local missionaries to your home to learn about the teachings of Jesus Christ and how you can follow them. Request a Book of Mormon ›Two missionaries can stop by with a FREE Book of Mormon and teach you about it. They will be happy to answer your questions. Request a Bible ›Request a Bible. Missionaries will bring it by and share an uplifting message. You can keep the Bible and if you like what you hear, they can come back and teach you more. And if you would like, you can receive an Inspirational message in your inbox Get an uplifting message each week via email. https://www.comeuntochrist.org/contact-us Regarding the subject of the Resurrection – here are scriptures for your consideration. he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up, 1 Sam. 2:6. If a man die, shall he live again, Job 14:14. destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God, Job 19:26 (Moses 5:10). swallow up death in victory, Isa. 25:8. together with my dead body shall they arise, Isa. 26:19. I will open your graves, and cause you to come up, Ezek. 37:12. sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Dan. 12:2. ransom them from the power of the grave, Hosea 13:14. Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, Matt. 22:23 (Mark 12:18; Luke 20:27; Acts 23:8). graves were opened; and many bodies … arose, Matt. 27:52 (3 Ne. 23:9). as touching the dead, that they rise, Mark 12:26. thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection, Luke 14:14. spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have, Luke 24:39. Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them, John 5:21 (Rom. 4:17; 1 Tim. 6:13). come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life, John 5:29 (D&C 76:17). raise him up at the last day, John 6:54. I am the resurrection, and the life, John 11:25. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains, Acts 2:24. apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord, Acts 4:33. they heard of the resurrection of the dead, Acts 17:32. resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust, Acts 24:15. Why … incredible … that God should raise the dead, Acts 26:8. we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection, Rom. 6:5. he … shall also quicken your mortal bodies, Rom. 8:11. God … will also raise up us by his own power, 1 Cor. 6:14. by man came also the resurrection of the dead, 1 Cor. 15:21. Christ the firstfruits, 1 Cor. 15:23. So also is the resurrection of the dead, 1 Cor. 15:42. it is raised a spiritual body, 1 Cor. 15:44 (D&C 88:27). trust … in God which raiseth the dead, 2 Cor. 1:9. quickened us together with Christ, Eph. 2:5. change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his, Philip. 3:21. you … hath he quickened together with him, Col. 2:13. dead in Christ shall rise first, 1 Thes. 4:16. erred, saying that the resurrection is past, 2 Tim. 2:18. that they might obtain a better resurrection, Heb. 11:35. unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus, 1 Pet. 1:3. doth also now save us … by the resurrection of Jesus, 1 Pet. 3:21. when he shall appear, we shall be like him, 1 Jn. 3:2. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection, Rev. 20:6. after he had been slain he should rise from the dead, 1 Ne. 10:11. that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, 2 Ne. 2:8 (Alma 33:22; 40:3; Hel. 14:15; Morm. 7:6; D&C 88:14). bodies and the spirits of men will be restored, 2 Ne. 9:12. obtain a resurrection, according to the power, Jacob 4:11. they are the first resurrection, Mosiah 15:22. there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, Mosiah 16:8. day cometh that all shall rise from the dead, Alma 11:41. body is raised … the whole becoming spiritual, Alma 11:45. all things shall be restored to their proper order, Alma 41:4. many saints who should arise from the dead, 3 Ne. 23:9. death of Christ bringeth to pass the resurrection, Morm. 9:13. my spirit and body shall again reunite, Moro. 10:34. then shall all the dead awake, D&C 29:26. he might be raised in immortality unto eternal life, D&C 29:43. shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye, D&C 43:32 (101:31). they that knew no law shall have part in the first resurrection, D&C 45:54. rise from the dead and shall not die after, D&C 63:49. have slept in their graves shall come forth, D&C 88:97. spirit and element, inseparably connected, D&C 93:33. Angels, who are resurrected personages, having bodies of flesh and bones, D&C 129:1. intelligence … will rise with us in the resurrection, D&C 130:18. graves of the saints shall be opened, D&C 133:56. departed the mortal life, firm in the hope of a glorious resurrection, D&C 138:14. dry bones, which were to be clothed upon with flesh, D&C 138:43. bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man, Moses 1:39. See alsoDeut. 32:39; Ps. 16:9; 17:15; Matt. 25:46; Heb. 6:2; Rev. 20:12; D&C 43:18.
I personally invite you to join THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS. To do so you simply need to contact the Church and
Accept the fact that God the Father and His Beloved Son Jesus Christ are two separate exalted glorified perfect persons with resurrected immortal bodies of flesh and bones.
Accept the fact that you are a child of God the Father and that you lived before this very short mortal test which has been designed by God to see if you will do good during your lifetime and accept the fact that you will continue to live after you die.
Accept the fact that Jesus Christ suffered and paid the price in Gethsemane and on the cross for your sins if you accept Christ and repent of your sins.
Accept the fact that Joseph Smith was visited by The Father and The Son and that they commissioned him to be the great prophet of the Restoration of the true Church of Jesus Christ, once more with a foundation of living apostles and prophets who hold the true priesthood keys and who are the conduits for Christ’s true doctrine of eternal life.
Accept the Bible as the word of God and the Book of Mormon as the word of God.
Be baptized by water immersion for the remission of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands – by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who hold Christ’s priesthood authority.
Attend Church, partake of the sacrament, keep Christ’s commandments, including pay tithing and fast offerings.
(P.S. You can contact me if you want to at r.linford@comcast.net and I will answer your questions and help you meet with wonderful missionaries and attend Church and learn about Jesus, The Holy Messiah, Yeshua, who soon will come in Power and Great Glory.
or check your internet or phone directory for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Because of COVID, if you would like, Missionaries can contact you by phone or facetime or zoom or GotoMeeting or the like to share with you the principles of the gospel, to help you repent of any sins, and to schedule your baptism by immersion for the remission of your sins, and the laying on of hands for your confirmation as a member of the Church, and your reception of the Gift of the Holy Ghost,
Enter your address to find your local church. You can get in touch with leaders and representatives. Or, better yet, worship Jesus Christ with us by attending services. You’ll meet new neighbors and make some friends! Click here to learn more about what to expect at church.
For LocationSearch Click Here https://www.comeuntochrist.org/contact-us to Contact The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Find a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints near you.
I know you will gain peace and joy by meeting with two wonderful missionaries in person or online such as by Zoom or GotoMeeting or Facetime to study the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Missionaries would love to meet with you in person or online and answer any of your questions.
And if Missionaries meet with you in person, most of these missionaries are young men and women ages 18 or 19 or close, they come bearing gifts!
If you’d like free copies of the Book of Mormon or the Bible, they’d be happy to bring or send one or both when they come.
Jesus is the Christ, Yeshua, The Holy Messiah who soon will come in power and great glory.
Able.
Christ is “Able … to save [us] to the uttermost [if we] come unto [God the Father] by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for [us].” (Hebrews 7:25) He is “Able to do all things according to his will, for [us], if it so be that [we] exercise faith in him …”. (1 Nephi 7:12) “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is Able to succour [we who] are tempted.” (Hebrews 2:18)
“Our God [Jehovah] whom we serve is Able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace” and from the lions. (Daniel 3:17; 3; 6) As he has “promised, he [is] Able also to perform.” (Romans 4:21)
Our “God is Able to make all grace abound toward [us].” (2 Corinthians 9:8) Jesus Christ “is Able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”(Ephesians 3:20, 21)
“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is Able even to subdue all things unto himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21)
He is “the Lord [who] is Able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him. Wherefore, let us be faithful to him.” (1 Nephi 7:12)
For He said: “I am Able to do mine own work.” (2 Nephi 27:20) Indeed, He “is Able to keep [us] from falling, and to present [us] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25) Through our repentance, he is Able to lift us up when we fall.
“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is Able to save your souls” (James 1:21) both temporally and spiritually.
The Father and The Holy Ghost are also Able.
THINK JESUS CHRIST IS YESHUA, THE HOLY MESSIAH. THINK JESUS CHRIST’S SECOND COMING IS SOON. THINK JESUS CHRIST’S TRUE CHURCH IS RESTORED THRU THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH AND OTHER HOLY PROPHETS AND APOSTLES.[To translate this into your language. Click the red button below.] Come join The “Restored” Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today to be spiritually strong and able to cope with the increasing weather, financial, war, crime, and other social difficulties. [READ/STUDY a FREE digital Bible and a FREE digital Book of Mormon and other holy scripture at www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Again, to translate this into your language. Click the red button below.] Come to Jesus and join His true Church today. I invite you to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the true Church. See www.churchofjesuschrist.org
(P.S. You can contact me if you want to at r.linford@comcast.net and I will help you meet with these wonderful missionaries and attend Church and learn about Jesus.
or check your internet or phone directory for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
If you would like, Missionaries can contact you to share with you the principles of the gospel, to help you repent of any sins, and to schedule your baptism by immersion for the remission of your sins, and laying on of hands for your confirmation as a member of the Church, and your reception of the Gift of the Holy Ghost,
Enter your address to find your local church. You can get in touch with leaders and representatives. Or, better yet, worship Jesus Christ with us by attending services. You’ll meet new neighbors and make some friends! Click here to learn more about what to expect at church.
For LocationSearch Click Here https://www.comeuntochrist.org/contact-us to Contact The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Find a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints near you.
I know you will gain peace and joy by meeting with two wonderful missionaries in person or online such as by Zoom or GotoMeeting or Facetime to study the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Missionaries would love to meet with you in person or online and answer any of your questions.
And if Missionaries meet with you in person, most of these missionaries are young people ages 18 or 19 or close, they come bearing gifts!
If you’d like free copies of the Book of Mormon or the Bible, they’d be happy to bring one or both when they come.
Jesus of Nazaareth is Yeshua the Resurrected Living Christ who soon will come in power and great glory to cleanse the earth of sin and rule as KING of Kings and LORD of Lords so repent of your sins, pray to the Father in the holy name of Jesus, learn of Him by studying the scriptures, and keep His commandments to Love God with all your heart, might, mind and strength and to love your neighbor as you love yourself.
