If we have the Bible, why do we need the Book of Mormon?

I have heard this question a lot of times!  Why would we need more if God has already given us this much?  Well, first off, this life is ALL about progression.  God wants us to continue to learn, grow, develop, and become more than we are today.  So, He teaches little by little.

Isaiah 28:10
"For precept must be upon precept, line upon line, Here a little, and there a little." 

So God wanted us to learn step by step.  He feels that we have learned what we have needed to learn from the Bible and is ready to give more.

Another struggle is that people have changed those important things in the Bible and now the Bible is not complete.  The Bible has even predicted this. 

Isaiah 24:5
"The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant."

Well, God is a God of order and great knowledge and understanding.  So he knew that this would happen and so he had people in the Ancient America's keeping record so that He could bring it forth when it was time to bring the fulness of the gospel back.

Christ said,
"Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments."
"And also those to whom these commandments were given, might have power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased..."  (D&C 1:17, 30)

God has prepared the way for the gospel to come back to the earth and to have those sacred things restored to the earth.  The time for this to happen is now.  The time is called the "fulness of time."

Ephesians 1:10
"That in the dispensation of the
fulness of times
he might gather together
 in one all things in Christ,
 both which are in heaven,
 and which are on earth; even in him." 

We live in the fulness of time, and God has brought the gospel of Jesus Christ through the man who was called as a prophet of God, Joseph Smith.  The Book of Mormon clarifies and refines the doctrine of God and what we have to do in order to return to God.

I know that this is true.  The Book of Mormon does not take away anything from the Bible, it only clarifies and helps us understand who Jesus Christ is, what we need to do, who we need to become, and how we gain peace and happiness in this life.

EASTER!

Hey everyone, there is a special event going on for Easter on the mormon.org website.  They want as many people as possible to go on to this site below and write what their testimonies are of the Savior, Jesus Christ.  I would invite ALL of you to do this!  It will be an amazing experience and also a great support for yourselves to read other's testimonies of Jesus Christ.


www.mormon.org/easter

Baptism

Why do members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints put such an emphasis on being baptized?  What's the big deal!?

Well, Christ told us in John 3:5

"Jesus answered,

 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 

Except a man be born 

of water and of the Spirit, 

he cannot enter into the 

kingdom of God." 

So we HAVE to be baptized to enter in the kingdom of God!  Everyone should want that.  To be able to live with God again, what a blessing!  But Christ himself said that we have to be baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God to be able to live with God again.  We desire EVERYONE to receive this blessing.  THAT is why we want EVERYONE to be baptized so that they can live with God again. 

And once we are baptized we are cleansed from all sin.  We will be held

"guiltless before my 

Father at the day 

when I shall stand 

to judge the world." 3 Nephi 27:16  

Because  

"no unclean thing can 

enter into his kingdom." 3 Nephi 27:19 

we need that cleansing power that comes from being baptized and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost to be found 'clean' to enter into God's kingdom!

Two people desired to show God that they were willing to obey His commandments and to follow the example of Jesus Christ and were baptized this weekend.  They both said how clean they felt and how happy they are!  There is only one way in this life to feel this way, and it is through baptism!  

Stephanie Dobbins                Justin Marquardt

Waiting

I just wanted to leave these scriptures that I have found this week.  

Isaiah 40:31

"But they that 

wait upon the Lord  

shall renew their strength; 

they shall mount up with wings as eagles; 

they shall run, and not be weary; 

and they shall walk, and not faint."

D&C 98:1-3

"Verily I say unto you my friends, 

fear not, 

let your hearts be comforted; 

rejoice evermore, 

and in everything give thanks;  

Waiting patiently on the Lord, 

for your prayers have entered 

into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, 

and are recorded with this seal and testament

-the Lord hath sworn and decreed 

that they shall be granted. 

 Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, 

with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; 

and all things wherewith you have been afflicted 

shall work together for your good, 

and to my name's glory, 

saith the Lord."

"Be still and know that I am God."  D&C 101:16

The Potential!

I want you to think of this question.  "How many times do we pass by someone, something, or ourselves because we don't see value in it?"

Look at this picture.  It is just 2 rolls of duct tape.  Now, most people would see those and not think that much more than tape.  But I see those and think, "There are so many possibilities!"

Now just with a simple roll of duct tape, I was able to increase it's potential.  I didn't look at the tape and see where it was, I looked at it and saw where it could go!  To take it from being a normal piece of tape and used it to create something more, something better.  It took some time and some effort to make it something more, but in the end it was worth it.  Because now I have things that I can use. 

Slippers 







Bag       

 Scripture cases








 Wallet






Now everyday we pass by people.  We look in the mirrors and see ourselves.  Do we look at ourselves and think "EW!  What is that?"  or do we look and see how good we are?  How much progress we have made?  Do we see how great we are to God? 

"Remember the 
worth of souls 
is great in the 
sight of God."  D&C 18:10

Everyday we have the potential to become better, to improve.  We can become who God wants us to be.  We cannot afford to look at someone, something or ourselves and not see the value!  Because as we see value in others we will begin to see the value we have in ourselves. 

Our VALUE is GREAT in the sight of God!  Pray to recognize it!  It will bless your life to see yourself, and other's, through God's eyes.