Jesus’ response to that was, “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him.”

This meant that in order for the Savior to be completely perfect and fulfill His father’s plan, He had to be baptized. But how could that be when we are baptized to be forgiven of our sins?

Jesus taught that baptism isn’t just a washing away of our sins but an entrance—a gateway that opens a pathway back to the Father.

This can be confusing because there is a common belief that God is both the Father and the Son. But this event tells us that not only was Christ baptized by water, but the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are three separate beings. We call that the Godhead.

“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

“And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.”

We have Jesus, who was just baptized by John the Baptist in His temporal, mortal body; we have the Holy Ghost, which descended in the form of a dove on Jesus’ shoulder; and we have the voice of Heavenly Father. Three separate beings, but all with the same purpose. And that purpose is to help us make it back to them someday.

The act of being baptized by full water is symbolic. It represents our willingness to follow Jesus Christ, strip ourselves of our old selves and come out of the water, clean again. It’s a symbolic death and rebirth. It’s also essential to our salvation, including the Savior’s. Even though He is God, because He chose to come to Earth in a mortal body and suffer for us, part of that deal included baptism.

To reiterate Christ’s words, “For thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him.” A common belief among Christians is thanks to Christ, by grace we are saved. Many believe that as long as we accept Christ into our hearts and believe on His name, we will be saved. Mormons believe very similarly. We believe that when we are baptized, we promise to take His name upon us.

We covenant, or make a promise with God, that we will do all that we can to keep the commandments and live as Christlike as we can. That’s what we do when we follow the Savior’s words, “For thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.” This means we help each other in times of need and we give ourselves through service whenever and wherever we can. He meant that justice is a real thing and that we need to fulfill that law. We need to do all that we can do to follow Him, just as He did all that He could to follow the Father. Then, after we do all we can, by grace we are saved.

“Then he suffered him,” can be interpreted to mean that the law will suffer us. As long as we try our best and be baptized, then we are able to repent and be forgiven of our sins all throughout our lives.

Baptism was part of the law that Jesus had to fulfill. It was a symbolic message to us that because He was baptized, so must we be, by full immersion in water. It’s that first step to entering the Kingdom of God.

A basic definition of the word “religion” is “the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.” Based on that definition, all of the major faiths throughout the world could be classified as religious sects. That should also include Mormonism, the doctrines and practices of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (inadvertently referred to as the Mormon Church by the media and others), however, there are many people who do not view Mormonism as a “religion” in the Christian sense of the word, but rather they view it as a practicing cult.

Merriam-Webster.com defines the word “cult” as “a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious to include its body of adherents.” Another definition of the word “cult” is “a relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister.” Both of these definitions could adequately describe how many people view The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members, known as Latter-day Saints (but often referred to as Mormons), with the exception that the membership in The Church of Jesus Christ has grown significantly since its inception both in number of members and area covered. In 1830 when the Church of Jesus Christ was just beginning, there were only 6 members, but today there are over 14 million members worldwide.

It is interesting to note that Merriam-Webster uses the word “religion” in its definition of the word “cult.” Of equal interest is that suitable synonyms for the word “cult” are worship, religion, and adoration. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worship and adore Jesus Christ, the same Jesus Christ whose teachings are found in the Christian Holy Bible, and whose name the Church itself bears. Therefore, it would seem that after all the pieces of the proverbial puzzle are conjoined, it would prove more precise to say that Mormonism is a religion, but it is a religion that is misunderstood by many.

Is Mormonism a “New Religious Movement”?

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, defines a “New Religious Movement” as:

A new religious movement (NRM) is a religious community or ethical, spiritual, or philosophical group of modern origins, which has a peripheral place within its nation’s dominant religious culture. NRMs may be novel in origin or they may be part of a wider religion, in which case they will be distinct from pre-existing denominations. Scholars studying the sociology of religion have almost unanimously adopted this term as a neutral alternative to the word cult, which is often considered derogatory. [1]

Use of the term “New Religious Movement” normally requires that the group with whom the term is associated be both of recent origin and different from existing religions.

Some scholars also have a more restricted approach to what counts as “different from existing religions”. For them, “difference” applies to a faith that, although it may be seen as part of an existing religion, meets with rejection from that religion for not sharing the same basic creed or declares itself either separate from the existing religion or even “the only right” faith.

NRMs vary in terms of leadership; authority; concepts of the individual, family, and gender; teachings; organizational structures; and in other ways. [1]

Based on the aforementioned information, Mormonism could be thought of in a sense as a “New Religious Movement, but not necessarily as a “new” religion.

What distinguishes The Church of Jesus Christ from other Christian churches?

Mormonism, the doctrines and teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is not a “new” religion. The Church had its beginnings in 1830, with 6 members gathered together in a small log cabin in upstate New York. Joseph Smith, the one chosen by God to bring forth the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in these the latter-days, was the first President and Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ.

Many may classify Mormonism as being non-Christian because some of its doctrinal teachings differ from those of mainstream Christianity. One doctrine in particular is the doctrine of the Godhead. Much of Christendom, not all of it, believes in the doctrine of the “Trinity” – a term which is not found within the entire text of the Holy Bible.

The word “Trinity” comes from the Latin noun “trinitas” meaning “three are one.” Therefore, the doctrine of the Trinity expresses the belief or idea that God is one being made up of three distinct personages – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – who are co-equal in existence, as well as co-eternal in communion. Mormons, or Latter-day Saints as they are properly called, believe and teach as part of their doctrine that God the Eternal Father, His Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are indeed distinct personages of the Godhead, and they are indeed one, but one in purpose and in mission, but not one in the same person.

Stephen Edward Robinson, a religious scholar and apologist, and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commented in his May 1998, New Era magazine article titled Are Mormons Christian?

What Latter-day Saints do not believe is the non-Biblical doctrine formulated by the councils of Nicaea (A.D. 325) and Chalcedon (A.D. 451) centuries after the time of Jesus—the doctrine that God is three coequal persons in one substance or essence. We do not believe it because it is not scriptural. As Harper’s Bible Dictionary states: “The formal doctrine of the Trinity as it was defined by the great church councils of the fourth and fifth centuries is not to be found in the New Testament.”

Jesus didn’t teach the Nicene doctrine of the Trinity. The New Testament writers didn’t have any idea of it. The doctrine itself wasn’t invented until centuries later. So one can’t say the Latter-day Saints are not true Christians for not accepting it, unless one also excludes Jesus, his disciples, and the New Testament Church, who similarly did not know or teach it. [2]

Does the use of additional scripture indicate that Mormonism is a new religion?

Another reason that some believe that Latter-day Saints are not Christian, and perhaps among one of the reasons given most often, is that Latter-day Saints use additional volumes of scripture in their teaching and for their personal study. One volume of scripture that arouses particular attention and interest is the Book of Mormon. In fact, it is because Latter-day Saints use the Book of Mormon that they have obtained the nickname “Mormons” and the Church is referred to as the “Mormon Church.”

There are those who will contend that the Bible contains all the scripture that man needs. They further profess that there are no new revelations as God no longer speaks to man as He once did. Such preconceived notions supposes that the Heavens have been closed. Latter-day Saints believe that the Heavens are not closed and that God’s Word never ceases, therefore, He still speaks to the hearts and minds of men today, as He did in times past.

Regarding the Book of Mormon, Latter-day Saints testify it is a companion volume of scripture to the Holy Bible. They further assert that the Book of Mormon does not outweigh or attempt to discredit the Holy Bible by any means, but it does complement and enhance the teachings contained therein, affording the reader of the sacred text more clarity and better comprehension. Both the Book of Mormon and the Holy Bible testify of the life, love, and ministry of Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the world. The same Jesus Christ whom Latter-day Saints worship and adore.

If using the Book of Mormon classifies Mormonism as a “new” religion. Then what is to be said of the Catholic Bible, or the New World Translation which the Jehovah Witnesses use. Does that classify the Catholic Church and the Jehovah Witness as “new” religions as well?

Stephen Edward Robinson in the New Era magazine article titled “Are Mormons Christian?” commented on this subject:

I have frequently asked non-LDS critics exactly which Book of Mormon teachings about Jesus Christ they disagree with. Invariably the response has been that it isn’t what the Book of Mormon says that is offensive to them—it is the Book of Mormon itself. Most anti-Mormons reject the LDS scriptures without knowing or caring what those scriptures actually teach about Christ. [2]

Conclusion: Is Mormonism a “new” religion?

The question that begs an answer is not necessarily, “Is Mormonism a “new” religion?” but rather, “Does Christendom accept Mormonism as a religion?” And if Mormonism is accepted as a religion, then the follow-on question might be, “What is it that causes many Christians to criticize this one religion as they do?” Perhaps it is exactly as Stephen Edward Robinson stated in his article:

You see, it isn’t really the LDS doctrine of Christ that is objectionable; rather, it is the claim that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, that the Book of Mormon is God’s word, and that the gospel has been restored to the earth in the latter days. [2]

Scripture teaches, “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” (Matthew 7:16; compare 3 Nephi 14:16). And so, you are cordially invited to “Come and see” for yourself what Mormonism truly teaches by visiting and worshipping with a local LDS congregation near you.

Additional Resources:

The Lord Jesus Christ in Mormonism

Request a Free Book of Mormon

You Are Invited to Worship with a Local LDS Congregation

What Is a Church?

A church is both a specific organization of belief and the building where meetings or worship services are held.

The specific organization of belief typically includes belief in a creator, higher power, or governing being. Most call this being God. To many, God is all-knowing (omniscient), present at all times (omnipresent), and all-powerful (omnipotent). Many religious organizations believe that God reveals His will through prophets or messengers. Included in each church organization are patterns, practices, or behaviors to live by.

Church buildings are known by other names, such as mosques, synagogues, temples, chapels, and cathedrals.

Predominant Religious Beliefs of the World

Some of the main religions of the world are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Judaism. Most believe in God. Most Christians believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Religion may spring up in one area of the world, but many things can spread religion, like missionary efforts, word of mouth, or the relocation of followers. Wherever like-minded people live, a religious belief has the potential to flourish.

Why Are There So Many Christian Churches?

Christians believe that their religion had its beginning with the mortal ministry of Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church traces its beginnings to Christ’s apostle Peter. The Protestant Reformation occurred as a rejection of the Roman Catholic Church. Martin Luther and others dissented and protested against the practices and doctrine of the Catholic Church.  They severed their affiliation with it (though Luther had not meant to).

Some Christian churches were formed when someone responded to a perceived need or when a group of people rejected doctrine and practices of other Christian churches. A person responding to a perceived call to minister may gather a congregation through his or her teachings.

Churches are not spared a financial motivation. Possible wealth may be a driving force behind the creation of some churches.

What Do Mormons Believe?

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often inadvertently called the Mormon Church, believe that an apostasy took place during the early years of the Christian Church following Jesus Christ’s death.

Latter-day Saints believe that apostasy occurs whenever an individual or community rejects the revelations and ordinances of God, changes the gospel of Jesus Christ, or rebels against the commandments of God, thereby losing the blessings of the Holy Ghost and of divine authority.¹

They believe the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. When he was a 14-year-old boy, he noticed the “unusual excitement on the subject of religion” where his family lived in New York. He also noticed the “confusion and strife among the different denominations.” He felt unable to “come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong” (Joseph Smith­­—History 1:5, 8). In his search for truth, he read James 1:5, which reads, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Following this counsel, he secluded himself in a nearby grove of trees to ask God to tell him which church to join.

When Joseph Smith emerged from the grove in 1820, he had learned first hand from Jesus Christ himself that the Christian churches of his day were all wrong and that he was forbidden to join any of them. “Their creeds were an abomination in his sight,” their “professors were all corrupt,” and they were teaching “for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness,” but denying “the power thereof” (Joseph Smith—History 1:19).²

Are Mormons Christian?

Christian churches do not always accept each other as Christian if their doctrinal beliefs are different. It is common for many Christians to reject members of The Church of Jesus Christ as Christians. However, members of The Church of Jesus Christ consider themselves devout Christians and call themselves Latter-day Saints.

Mormons believe that their church is the restored Church of Jesus Christ, complete with doctrine, ordinances, and priesthood authority to act in God’s name. They invite people of other faiths to come and learn about The Church of Jesus Christ.

Confusion Will End at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ

Mormons believe that all faithful people who ever lived on the earth will recognize Jesus Christ in the last days. They will feel the truth of His gospel when He comes to earth in glory at the end of the world. “Every knee should bow . . . and . . . every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11). At that time, religious confusion will end and there will be “one fold, and one shepherd” (John 10:16).  The fold symbolizes all the children of God, and the shepherd represents the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Apostasy
2. Noel B. Reynolds, ed., Early Christians in Disarray (Provo, Utah: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 2005), 1.

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

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.

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