Some of these students have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures.

“Why Pay Tithing?”

My name is Tim Colvin, and I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or the Mormon church. So…I’m a Mormon. One of the unusual things about Mormons is that we pay tithing. I’ve been asked several times why I would pay ten-percent of my earnings to my church when I get nothing in return. Well, I’d like to explain.

The principle of tithing is revealed to us in scripture. It can be found in multiple places in the Bible, but I personally love how the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ and a companion book of scripture to the Bible, explains it. In 3rd Nephi 24:8 & 10 it reads:

Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say: Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

I don’t want to be guilty of stealing from God. It doesn’t seem like a good idea. The way the Book of Mormon helps me understand tithing is that God has given me everything I own. My family is a gift from God, and all my worldly possessions come as blessings from him as well. So, since he has been so good to me, shouldn’t I give back? When I graduate from college, I’ll want to donate to my alma mater to give back to those who supported me. I think tithing is very much the same idea. Once we have, we should desire to give back to those who are less fortunate. That tithing money is then used for various purposes, but all of it helps the people in the world around me.

And verse 10 describes very clearly the blessings that will come from my actions. When I was young, I doubted that the principle of tithing actually worked, so I tried it out. When I was in high school, I wanted to participate in a student exchange program in Germany. The month-long program would cost a little over two thousand dollars. Since my family has seven more children besides me, I was going to have to come up with the money myself. I got a job and started earning money, but I knew it wasn’t going to be enough to pay for the trip. One day, my mom asked me if I was paying my tithing on the money I was earning. I told her that I wouldn’t have enough to pay for the trip if I paid tithing. She promised me God would work miracles if I had faith in Him. So I tried it, and a few weeks after paying a full tithing, I got a phone call about a job I had applied for a year prior asking me if I wanted work. With that second job I was able to make enough money to pay my own way to Germany!

It seems like a simple thing and it was, but I know I saw the windows of heaven open and received blessings more than I could receive. That exchange program has changed the direction of my life and given me lifelong friends. I never would have been able to experience that had I not paid tithing.

I know tithing is a true principle from God. If I pay it, I’ll be blessed. You won’t be able to take my word for it though. You’ll need to try it yourself. Pay tithing and I know you’ll be blessed for your sacrifice!

Tim

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Mormon Beliefs

Some of these students have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures.

Mormon Thoughts: The Atonement

Can I just say how amazing the Atonement is? No matter how many times we might mess up, make a stupid decision or wander away from Christ, all is not lost. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul states that in Christ all old things are gone, and all things become new. We have the opportunity to put behind us our old sins and misdeeds and become a new and better person. Now it isn’t enough to simply say “I want to be a new person.” You have to firmly repent and forsake your sins. This whole repentance process— recognizing your sin, feeling godly sorrow, resolving to not return to the sin, revealing the sin and making restitutions, if necessary, and finally releasing yourself from the weight of that sin— is all made possible through Christ.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson stated that “repentance is a divine gift, and there should be a smile on our faces when we speak of it. It points us to freedom, confidence and peace” (“The Divine Gift of Repentance,”  Ensign, Nov. 2011). I am very thankful for repentance in my own personal life. It has enabled me to stop beating myself up because of mistakes that I’ve made and has allowed me to strive to become a better person. Can you imagine what it would be like to always have every single wrong you might have committed weighing on your mind? It doesn’t have to be that way! Christ has suffered the pain of our sins so we can return to live with Him and our Heavenly Father in Heaven. I can’t think of a more precious gift than that. I implore any of you who are struggling, any of you who wish to become more: Know that Christ loves you and that through Him your sins can be made as white as snow and remembered no more.

Additional Resources:

Mormon Beliefs

Some of these students have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures.

Open Arms

3 Nephi 19:14 states, “Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive.”

Christ is an essential part of God’s plan because he provides the way for us to return to live with our Father in Heaven. Christ died for all the people on earth, and he atoned for the sins of all mankind. Through the Atonement, he provided the way to eternal life, which is the greatest gift we can receive from God.

What a comfort it is to know that Christ has his arms open and extended to all people who will come unto him. He is patiently waiting, with his arm of mercy extended toward us, for us to accept him. Christ is merciful to everyone who comes to him and follows his example.  He will never turn his back to anyone. There is no cut off or limit to the amount of people that can be saved through Christ because the plan is that we all make it back to God, together.

I have a testimony of the Savior and his open arms towards all people because as I have turned to him and let him receive me.  I have been able to move forward spiritually, intellectually, and physically at a rate I know I could not do without the aid and love from my Savior. Those that come to Christ truly are blessed because he is the one and only way we can receive eternal life. We must draw to Christ, and partake of his mercy through the Atonement so that we can live with God again.

Some of these students have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures.

Praying in Faith

Helaman 10, found in the Book of Mormon, teaches a great lesson about praying in faith. Nephi, who has just been rejected by his people even after performing a major miracle, is on his way home when the Lord speaks to him. The Lord commends him for his patience and faith, then gives him great power. Specifically, God says in verse 5, “I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.”

Nephi has come to learn the will of the Lord so well that the Lord can trust him with this great power.The Lord knows Nephi won’t pray for anything that is against His will. That’s great for Nephi, but how does that relate to praying in faith? Well, having faith is knowing that something will happen even though you can’t see it. Faith in God is not just believing in God, it’s knowing that He is there and loves you. Likewise, praying in faith is not merely believing that the Lord can do what you ask, but actually knowing that He will, as long as what you pray for is in line with His will.

So how on earth can an average Joe like me pray in faith? What if I ask for a bunch of things that aren’t in line with God’s will? Like Nephi, we must each learn His will. Through serious study of the scriptures and by earnest prayer, we will be blessed with the companionship of the Holy Ghost and will be inspired to know the Lord’s will and what to ask for. Then, as we pray, we can have faith that the Lord will indeed answer us, for we have asked according to His will.

Matt

In Helaman 1:1, It says that there began to be a serious difficulty among the Nephites because they couldn’t decide who should be their leader. The important thing to note is that they couldn’t decide. This gave rise to debates and divisions between the people. It’s important in our lives to make our decision beforehand or we can get in some pretty bad situations. Just like what happened to the Nephites, who couldn’t decide what they should do.  It’s a dangerous position to be in. Thats why we need to be decisive NOW, and choose to be righteous.

Another thing that makes this even more difficult is that Satan can really be tricky. In the same chapter (Hel 1:9,18-19) it describes how Satan becomes more bold and more sneaky every day. In verses 18-19, Satan is played by Coriantumr in the story. Up until this time, the enemy had never dared march right up to the capital city, right through the heart of the land, but this is where Satan gets more bold. This time he does march right through the center of the land taking the capital, BOOM BAM right in your face! I bet you can think of a few things that are like that today, with the murdering of children while they are at school, and the things that kids in high school brag about doing.

The other tactic that is new is how sneaky he becomes. In verse 9, Satan is played by Kishkumen, who sneaks unknown to the judge’s seat and murders the leader of the land, and takes off so quick that no one even knew he was there. Then he goes to his friends and they make a secret pact that they will never tell who did it. They create secret signs and mingle themselves throughout the people, pretending to be normal, law abiding citizens. But no. They most definitely are not.

Be careful! Know that Satan is a crafty bugger! He wants to break you down and make you feel cheap and miserable so bad, because thats exactly how he feels. And he makes himself feel a little better by hurting you. Don’t let him do it.

Tres

Some of these students have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures.

Mormon Thoughts: Vertical

I have always had a testimony of the gospel of Christ. I have always trusted in the fact that we have a Heavenly Father and a Savior who suffered for the sins of the world. But seeing that I am human, I am bound to have doubts. I have never doubted the spirit I feel when I am in my church meetings, or bearing my testimony, or whatever it may be. I have never doubted that my Savior lives or that I have a loving Father in Heaven. My doubts have to do with my identity as a daughter of God.

When I first had these doubts, I didn’t see it as an issue that dealt with my value as a daughter of God. In my mind, I doubted that Heavenly Father heard my prayers. Out of all the people on this earth, how could Heavenly Father possibly hear the prayers of an insignificant, lowly Californian teenage girl when there were so many other people who may have needed His attention more than I did? I never felt like there was someone listening on the other end when I said my prayers.

I have been blessed with an amazing life, and I have my family, my health and friends who love me. Compared to other people who I have come in contact with, I haven’t had any majorly difficult trials, so I felt like Heavenly Father had more important things to do than listen to me. I felt so tiny.

This past week my Book of Mormon teacher said something that really struck me. He said that too often we look horizontally for answers instead of looking vertically first. Horizontally meaning asking parents, leaders, friends and others for their opinion as opposed to going vertically first, meaning going to Heavenly Father in prayer when you have questions. This statement struck a chord with me. I realized that I hadn’t really given Heavenly Father a chance for me to feel like He was listening because I had stopped praying. It’s a work in progress, but I’ve made a goal to work toward.

I’ve decided that I want to approach my Father in Heaven with everything. Every little thing. I want to feel like I am His daughter and that He cares about my little problems. It’s my fault that I haven’t been approaching Him in prayer, so I’m working on it. Like I said it’s a process, but little by little as I pray I can see just how much He loves me.

Some of these students have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures.

Sanctification

I read a scripture this last week for my Book of Mormon class that I want to share with you. It is in Helaman 3:35. I love the book of Helaman. Every time I read it, I get so much out of it. Helaman and 3 Nephi are the best. Anyway, here’s the scripture; it talks about sanctifying your hearts.

Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.

The definition of sanctify is “to set apart for sacred use; consecrate.” Or “to make holy; purify.” So by fasting and praying, they grew more faithful and humble until it set them apart. Until it made them holy.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, one of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said:

Brethren, part of my warning voice tonight is that this will only get worse. It seems the door to permissiveness, the door to lewdness and vulgarity and obscenity swings only one way. It only opens farther and farther; it never seems to swing back. Individuals can choose to close it, but it is certain, historically speaking, that public appetite and public policy will not close it. No, in the moral realm the only real control you have is self-control.

Brethren, if you are struggling with self-control in what you look at or listen to, in what you say or what you do, I ask you to pray to your Father in Heaven for help… Talk to your mom and dad. Talk to your bishop. Get the best help you can from all the good people who surround you. Avoid at all costs others who would tempt you, weaken your will, or perpetuate the problem.

If anyone does not feel fully worthy tonight, he can become worthy through repentance and the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Savior wept and bled and died for you. He has given everything for your happiness and salvation. He certainly is not going to withhold help from you now! Then you can help others to whom you are sent, now and in the future, as one holding the priesthood of God.

I know this is true. Listen to Elder Holland’s advice. I know through doing these things we can sanctify ourselves to the Lord.

-DJ

Some of these students have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures.

Mercy vs. Justice

In class, we were reading in Helaman Ch.9 when Nephi, after prophesying of the death of the chief judge, is accused of being in on the murder. After being accused, despite the miraculous prophecy and even being bribed with money to lie, he rebukes the people and says, “O ye fools, ye uncircumcised of heart, ye blind, and ye stiffnecked people, do ye know how long the Lord your God will suffer you that ye shall go on in this your way of sin? O ye ought to begin to howl and mourn, because of the great destruction which at this time doth await you, except ye shall repent” (verses 21 and 22).

After reading these verses in class, the professor asked us, “are Nephi’s words Christlike here?” After pondering for a few seconds, many people shook their heads no. My professor said that his words actually were Christlike! Nephi was saying exactly what the Savior would say in person.

The Christlike way to talk to people depends upon the audience. Christ speaks with mercy and softness to the humble and repentant, but he also talks plainly and directly with justice to those who are prideful or unrepentant.

Though speaking and disciplining this way is not what we usually think of as “Christlike,” it is because it is out of love the Lord chastises us, because the Lord said himself, “whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven” (D&C 95:1). It is also good to remember that the spirit will help us discern those times we must demonstrate justice, and also to show an increase of love after discipline: “reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy.” By the way, have you noticed the relationship between “discipline” and “disciple”? Just some things I thought were poignant.

Some of these students have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures.

Mormon Thoughts: Perspectives on War

During the latter part of the book of Alma and the beginning of Helaman (in the Book of Mormon), the faithful people and the disbelievers began to disagree so much with each other that they were going to war. The decision to remain strong in the faith every waking moment and to refuse to break away or back down from evil is to be admired here, just as courage is the choice to stand tall in the face of your worst fears.

We indeed now live in the latter days, even the last dispensation on earth. Therefore, failure is simply no longer acceptable for those chosen to be of this generation of souls to dwell in the world. Although the choice is up to you, the decision to use violence in defense of all that is good can be a daunting one full of solemnness. But as we learned from the example of righteous military leaders such as Moroni himself, victory can be had while not delighting in the shedding of blood. It is not required to kill all enemies, but to make sure they are no longer a threat. When you undertake to go beyond the call of duty and seek blood and vengeance, you will have lost the favor of the Almighty. As an extreme case, the 2,000 “stripling warriors” were young men who had the bravery to take up arms or fill in where their fathers could not, but they remain faithful and true to the teachings of their mothers and succeeded with God’s help.

In considering the decision between pacifism and activism, remember the duties of parents declared by the First Presidency [leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” Fathers are responsible as to “provide, protect, and preside” and mothers are to be equal partners in this sacred honor of caring for the family. I cannot personally condone the choice to stand aside as my family is attacked while not invoking my duty to protect them. There are certain unspeakable things that you must not permit to be done unto your family if you can help it. Consider the gentle hearts of the women and children that so bless our lives and remember our responsibility towards them.

Some of these students have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures.

Scarred and Wounded, but Alive and Faithful

I write this to those who are struggling against impossible odds–for those who don’t realize they were born to do the impossible.

We are at war here on earth. Our war is not fighting with swords and shields, but rather our war is against the trials that we face daily. The people on this world today are special in the fact that we were each saved for these latter days for a specific purpose. Satan knows this and as such is working his hardest to throw anything and everything at us. But the thing is, no matter how hard the enemy tries, there is something they don’t have-the power of God-and that always makes all the difference.

Take the Stripling Warriors for example. In Chapter 57 of Alma in the Book of Mormon, we read an incredible account that tells an incredible story. War has erupted and we find two groups fighting head to head. On the side of righteousness, we have the army of men named the Stripling Warriors. The word “stripling” means young or youthful, a fitting description for this group for they were literally only young men in their teens. Their parents had covenanted with the Lord to never go to war again, as such the duty to defend their lands fell in part upon these young men.

On the other side, we find the invaders-–-the contentious and belligerent Lamanites. Imagine how daunting that must have been to have never had any experience with war and know that you are against the Lamanites-–a people skilled in the art of war for generations. What happens next never ceases to amaze me. The Stripling Warriors march forward absolutely fearlessly. They allow their love for their families, their homes, and most importantly their love for God to motivate them. Because of their exceeding faith, they aid the rest of the Nephite army in purging their lands of the Lamanites in an absolutely astounding victory. Helaman at the end of the battle does a headcount of his brave warriors, fearing how many he has lost. But a miracle has happened–not a single soul has been lost. Because of their faith, the Lord preserved them with his power.

Growing up, I have read this account so many times. However, just this past year, I read something I had never seen before: in verse 25, Helaman writes that “there was not one soul of them who did perish; yea, and neither was there one soul among them who had not received many wounds.”

I found this so interesting, because I had always pictured this group of young men as fearless heroes, invincible to the blows of man. However, this scripture shows that isn’t true. Not a single one of them left that battle unscarred. Their faith didn’t shield them from everything, but it did ultimately save them.

Unfortunately, like the Stripling Warriors, we aren’t going to come out of this life unscarred or unwounded. Bad things are going to happen to us, and we are going to go through some hard times at some point in our lives, because Satan is just way too desperate to leave you alone. Just remember that as long as you have faith, you too can be ultimately saved–physically and spiritually. Satan will wound you sometimes, but the Lord will always preserve you and even heal you if you turn to Him.

Whatever happens, please never forget who you are. Never forget who to believe in, for I promise you He always believes in you. And if it what you face seems impossible, keep in mind “If ye have faith as a grain of a mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you” (Matthew 17:20).

I am praying you remain faithful to whatever you’re going through. Remember God, and remember these words that I was inspired to write in a song a while ago after facing a difficult time of my own: “Whenever you live with faith in God, there’s always a way to defy the odds.”