Are you a Christian? Living the right way to answer, "yes"

Jesus was quite clear that simply having a belief that something is the case doesn't make it true. Many of the Jewish leaders said, "we are children of Abraham." What they were really saying is, "we're part of God's chosen people." Jesus made the point over and over again that saying you're children of Abraham and believing that was not sufficient. One has to act as Abraham did.

Here's some verses explaining this idea: (John 8)

33 ¶They answered him, We be ^aAbraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever ^acommitteth ^bsin is the ^cservant of sin.

37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were ^aAbraham’s ^bchildren, ye would do the ^cworks of Abraham.

40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

44 Ye are of your father the ^adevil, and the ^blusts of your father ye will do. He was a ^cmurderer from the beginning, and abode not in the ^dtruth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a^elie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a ^fliar, and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

46 Which of you ^aconvinceth me of ^bsin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?

47 ^aHe that is of God ^bheareth God’s words: ye therefore hearthem not, because ye are not of God.

Also, it's not enough to have a brief episode of belief in Christ. It's vital to continue following his word. (John 8:30-32)

30 As he spake these words, many ^abelieved on him.

31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye^acontinue in my word, then are ye my ^bdisciples indeed;

32 And ye shall ^aknow the ^btruth, and the ^ctruth shall make you^dfree.

Continually following Christ and doing the deeds of the Father are critical in receiving the blessings he wants to give us, including being called his seed.

Have a good day.

True Accounts

I was listening to LDS Conversations yesterday and in the Quentin Cook interview there was a section where he talked about Pres. Monson's influence on Preach My Gospel. Pres. Monson read it and said, "there's no 'true accounts' in here. Missionaries need true accounts". I'm pretty sure he might modern-day stories emphasizing the principles being taught.

That obviously sounds like him, but I was particularly struck by his point. We remember stories, and they illustrate the validity of principles. Over the last couple conferences I've tried to really think, "what is the point Pres. Monson is trying to make with this story?" For instance, his story about the lady traveling from the communist country she was in to West Germany and losing her kids along the way but not losing faith teaches us that we can all keep the faith no matter what happens. His latest story about the man who worked for 6 years away from home to send his family to the temple 2500 miles away teaches a great lesson as well. It's pretty hard for me to hear that story and not realize I can go to the temple at least once a month. It makes me want to "sacrifice" to go to the temple. (Hard to call a very good thing for us a sacrifice.)

It also makes me want to choose good true accounts to share in my talk this Sunday. It can help illustrate in a way that only saying principles can't. SAying, "you have to take on the full armor of God" is perhaps less powerful than saying, "I have a friend who didn't take on the full armor of God despite putting on some of it, and he didn't end up okay."

Have a great day. Remember the value of sharing "true accounts."

Endure to the end

Short post today - D.C. 53:7 - to Sidney Gilbert - 7And again, I would that ye should learn that he only is saved who^aendureth unto the end. Even so. Amen.

That's our job. Can be a little tough sometimes, but truthfully, the path the Lord teaches is actually the simpler, happier path. I learned this on the mission. We generally have good marriages, aren't complicating relationships with sex outside of wedlock, don't have problems with addictive substances, spend time with one another at church and during FHE, and at other times. Our life is a simpler life, and that's a good way to live. It's on the mission that you get full access to the lives of some of those you are teaching and usually their lives are needlessly complicated. So, enjoy enduring to the end. It's actually better that way.