Archive for December, 2011

Message 87:2-5

I have come to you at this place in this house, that I might again give assurance that this is the Lord’s work, and his will you have obeyed. The Lord has sent you to this land of Germany to bring the greater blessing to the brethren here. All those that help you and labor in this cause will be blessed. There are many honest of heart in this part of God’s great vineyard. Many will come forth to unite for God. Let all labor in love; be harsh with no one.

There are several things that John brings when he comes. One that is not talked about enough is the assurance that the work that we are doing is God’s work. This is not a man made idea, but the desires of our Lord. There are several people who are waiting to hear about this work. If we keep doing his will those people will get their chance to hear of this work.

Message 86:5-9

I bring a warning and a deliverance. All they that believe and obey the gospel shall find it. Many represent Christ and have faith to do many miracles. This is good, if they hear the final call—this the midnight cry and obey it. Their works will stand the test. If they speak against this work believing not that I come, they have not God—and will not be of the bride, the Lamb’s Church in the end. He that believeth not these words nor cometh not to obedience, hath not God. God’s plan will not change to suit them that believe not, they must conform to his will.

We must follow God’s will not our own. When we study the word of God and then choose not to follow it we only hurt ourselves. If you want to be with God on the last days you need to follow his will and commandments. You cannot add your own ideas or do your own thing. You must follow the truth.

3rd Nephi 27:33

And it came to pass that when Jesus had ended these sayings he saith unto his disciples: Enter ye in at the strait gate; for strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it; but wide is the gate, and broad the way which leads to death, and many there be that traveleth therein, until the night cometh, wherein no man can work.

It is easy to do what is wrong. There is only one way to get to heaven. If we venture off the path only a few steps, we will be lost. I hope that you are on the strait path and not wonder off in the woods.

3rd Nephi 27:23-27

Write the things which ye have seen and heard, save it be those which are forbidden. Write the works of this people, which shall be, even as hath been written, of that which hath been. For behold, out of the books which have been written, and which shall be written, shall this people be judged, for by them shall their works be known unto men. And behold, all things are written by the Father; therefore out of the books which shall be written shall the world be judged. And know ye that ye shall be judges of this people, according to the judgment which I shall give unto you, which shall be just. Therefore, what manner of men had ye ought to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.

God is always watching what we do. We will be judged for our actions and inactions. We will not be judged against other people, or pass judgment because of who we are or how much stuff we have. Since members of the ministry have such a huge responsibility, they should strive that much harder to be like Christ.

3rd Nephi 27:13-22

Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent

me.  And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil— And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works. And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world. And he that endureth not unto the end, the same is he that is also hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence they can no more return, because of the justice of the Father. And this is the word which he hath given unto the children of men. And for this cause he fulfilleth the words which he hath given, and he lieth not, but fulfilleth all his words. And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end. Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day. Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do; Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

The gospel of Christ is simple and complete. Repentance and baptism are the keys. You must do both, but you must all stay true to Christ until the end. This is a lifelong commitment that cannot be taken lightly. It is important to remember that we must always strive to be like Christ. Just because we were baptized does not give us the freedom to do what we want.

3rd Nephi 27:1-12

And it came to pass that as the disciples of Jesus were journeying and were preaching the things which they had both heard and seen, and were baptizing in the name of Jesus, it came to pass that the disciples were gathered together and were united in mighty prayer and fasting. And Jesus again showed himself unto them, for they were praying unto the Father in his name; and Jesus came and stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them: What will ye that I shall give unto you? And they said unto him: Lord, we will that thou wouldst tell us the name whereby we shall call this church; for there are disputations among the people concerning this matter. And the Lord said unto them: Verily, verily, I say unto you, why is it that the people should murmur and dispute because of this thing? Have they not read the scriptures, which saith ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is in my name? For by this name shall ye be called at the last day; And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day. Therefore, whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do it in my name; therefore ye shall call the church in my name; and ye shall call upon the Father in my name that he will bless the church for my sake. And how be it my church save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses’ name then it be Moses’ church, or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel. Verily I say unto you, that ye are built upon my gospel; therefore ye shall call whatsoever things ye do call, in my name; therefore if ye call upon the Father, for the church, if it be in my name the Father will hear you; And if it so be that the church is built upon my gospel then will the Father show forth his own works in it. But if it be not built upon my gospel, and is built upon the works of men, or upon the works of the devil, verily I say unto you they have joy in their works for a season, and by and by the end cometh, and they are hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence there is no return. For their works do follow them, for it is because of their works that they are hewn down; therefore remember the things that I have told you.

The way you know if a church is of Christ is not the name of it, but its actions. Our Church is called the Church of Christ, but that is not why we are his church. It is because we follow the gospel of Christ. We make an effort to always follow the truth and not let tradition of man creep in. We read and study the word of God and try to apply them to our lives. We are not perfect at follow Christ, but we strive to be. Only the people who follow his plan will stand by him in the end.

Just one file today. Enjoy.

December 04, 2011 William Holden

Message 22:14-15

14  Remember: Zion shall not be moved out of her place, nor Jerusalem from her former dwelling place, for the Lord made a covenant with Israel at Horeb, and he will gather his people that are obedient, in their land. And their cities shall again be cleansed and righteousness shall again be in its borders. And the Lord shall remember them, and they shall accept Christ as their Savior, and the gospel as their law forever.

15  And this nation shall be cleansed, and then shall it be Zion, for the Lord will bless this land and the people that will keep his commandments and walk in humility before him. But the heady and highminded he will visit with destruction, and those that have robbed the widow and fatherless, and have taken that which is not their own.

Israel will receive their land that God promised them in the Middle East, but the key to the promise is that they will accept Christ as their savior.  America will also be the place where Christ will return. The people in this land will also be cleansed and follow his commandments.

Galatians 3:24-29

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

All are able to receive the salvation that Christ brought with him. To receive this promise though we must believe on Christ and follow his teachings. Just because you are a direct descendent of Abraham does not mean that you will be in heaven when Christ comes. You still need be baptized in Christ.