Mormon Direction

There is a doctrine or belief among Christians (maybe also within the minds of some LDS Saints), that question the need for a Church. A physical entity, a building, organized, etc. The claim they make is “all we need is faith” and there is no need of a church, that the body of Christ are believers who are identified as a group by belief, not by a physical building called a church”. These believers claim to follow the Bible as they promote their doctrine of a “church-less” Christianity.

Does the Bible support this doctrine?

No, the Bible does not support such a false doctrine of men, in fact the Bible supports a Church of God where it is organized and administered by God’s chosen men called Apostles (and prophets).

The Bible shows, especially in the New Testament, that Jesus Christ organized his Church with twelve Apostles, who attended to the many branch locations of the Lord’s Church. This pattern is obvious in the Bible, but do you know the reason to have a Church? The Bible also provided that answer.

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How important is salvation to you? How much effort will you commit to preparing for your salvation? Questions of extreme importance to all of us, whether you are of this LDS Church or not.

In the Bible, Paul the Apostle clearly said that we must work out our own salvation (2 Corinthians 7:10 ). Do you have any understanding what that means? Does any person understand that personal issues are the core of our focus to work out and resolve for our salvation? To make peace, not only within ourselves, in our minds and hearts, but with those who we have issue with.

Jesus Christ said,

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During the Elders Quroum meeting today in Church, the talk was about the Priesthood and family. The speaker used a talk given by Apostle Boyd Packer at the April 2010 General Conference entitled, “The Power of the Priesthood”.

I remember reading this speech from Boyd Packer in the May 2010 Ensign magazine, but at that time when I read it, I did not receive any sudden insights or revelations or sudden clarity about any spiritual or scriptural subject, but this time it was different.

The elder in class today quoted the words from Apostle Packer,

The priesthood does not have the strength that it should have and will not have until the power of the priesthood is firmly fixed in the families.¹

This time those same words that I read before, suddenly struck a note and I began to realize the impact of these words from Boyd Packer. Those words impressed me so much, I pulled out my insight journal that I normally take to Church and made notes as the inspired impressions flowed into my mind and heart.

Revealed was the importance of the Priesthood for the Church and for building Zion. It all made perfect sense.

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Everyone deals with shortcomings about their self-esteem or self-image. How they perform at work, at home, in relationships, in their personal or public performances, whether they feel worthy or unworthy. At one time or another, if not repeatedly, everyone has some issue with their self-esteem, but in this struggle, has there been any concern about self-esteem versus faith?

When it comes to faith, it is a matter where each person must take account of themselves and evaluate the nature and degree of their self-esteem and then see how this affects their faith.

Faith is the expression and act of love, devotion and obedience to God and for him. It is the trust in his will and trust that he will help and bless. Faith is also the expression of oneself to God, the who and what we are. In this expression of oneself comes the value of oneself. This personal value is the gift that we, as sons and daughters of God, give to God.

IN the scriptures God speaks about the value of how we give a gift where he said, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (1 Cor 2.9:7). Gods speaks of the value of the heart and mind in things that we give to him and to others. Giving our faith grudgingly, is not faith at all. To exercise the commandments of God because you believe you have to, what value is this to God and his kingdom?

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I am sure that many know about Margaret Toscano. A lady that was born into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Due to her position on free speech and her enthusiasm toward women’s issues as a scholar and within the Church, Margaret Toscano faced excommunication in the year of 2000.

I wanted to read more about her thoughts and beliefs to determine for myself where she stands, in a spiritual sense, so I searched the Internet for reputable articles of what Margaret says and believes. I found a good one at the PBS website where a transcript of a PBS interview exists. After reading that transcript I could write pages about what she has said, but I needed to focus on one important topic for this blog entry.

When reading the words spoken by others about this Church and about their experience with this Church, I search for the spiritual validity of what they say and how much in line they are with gospel teachings and principles. I did the same with what Margaret said in that PBS interview.

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 “Cannot be saved in ignorance” refers to the Word of God and his Law having no affect within you to quicken you. When there is no affect, it amounts to separation and outer darkness, which is a separation from God’s word. Such a person ”has no light within him”.

God’s word and law having no effect within occurs when a person chooses not to learn and grow spiritually, where the word of God and his laws are ignored or made unimportant.

To read his gospel is only part of how we overcome ignorance. To overcome ignorance requires the “tilling by the Spirit” upon our inner ground, so the word (seed) can take root and grow. Else ignorance prevails and this is liken to barren ground where no fruit can manifest.

When there is no fruit, is it not true that the Lord will burn those unfruitful trees as he said within the scriptures? Is it not true that some of those who advocate Christ but have insufficent light within them, will be told by him that he does not know them? This will occur because they refuse or fail to overcome their spiritual ignorance and as a result, “cannot be saved in ignorance”.