In first Thessalonians, the early Christians were worried about the second coming of Christ. Ever since Christ promised to come back, the second coming has always been a question among followers of Christ. When will it be? How will we know?
The early Christians had similar questions. Paul answers some of their questions in his epistle to the Thessalonians. He says, “We ourselves glory in you in the churches of God your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure (2 Thess 1:4).”
They must have been wondering when it would end because Paul goes on to say that they “who are troubled rest with us, when the lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day (2 Thess 1:7-10).”
Paul is promising the early believers that rest from their tribulations will come. But when? He answers the when in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. In verses 1-3 Paul writes, “Now we beseech you, brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed the son of perdition.”
We learn a couple things from these verses. First, there were other proselytizing Christians who were sending false letter preaching that the second coming was coming near. Paul refutes this by saying, “be not…shaken...by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.” He then says, “there come a falling away first.” As a Latter-Day Saint, I believe there was a falling away, meaning that the early church of Jesus Christ, that he established with his apostles, fell into an apostasy. The early Christian church was lost in the first century of the new millennium. However, we also believe that God restored his church again, through a new prophet called Joseph Smith.
So what do we do as Christians waiting for the second coming? Paul says, “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness, therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober… but let us… be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet the hope of salvation (1 Thess 5:5-8).”
We are to look forward, be faithful, hopeful of the future but not forgetful of the present. That is Paul’s call for Christians waiting for the second coming.
Showing posts with label LDS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LDS. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Emma Smith: A Modern Woman
The Lord directed section 25 of the Doctrine of Covenants to Emma Smith, wife of Joseph Smith. Considering the historical context of this revelation, Emma was truly a modern woman. In a time when women did not even have the right to vote, the Lord gave this revelation to a woman. This revelation shows that God is not a respecter of persons. He considers man and woman equally.
In the first verse of this section, the Lord calls Emma Smith his daughter. The Lord considered her equal because He had called Joseph Smith His son. He didn’t call her the wife of My son Joseph. He didn’t call her wife of the prophet. He called her His daughter. What love God has for us since we are his children. We as LDS Church members believe that we are literal children of God, created in His image. This means that our bodies were patterned after His. I believe all people would act differently if they truly believed that they were a literal son or daughter of God. This knowledge changes how I act and behave when I am alone and with others. This is not only evidence that woman are equal to men but that we are all children of our Father in Heaven.
The Lord asked Emma Smith to be a scribe. Women in the 19th century did little but cook, clean, and care for children. I’m sure it was a shock to Emma Smith for the Lord to command her to be a scribe for her husband. Women at that time simply didn’t do that. In my opinion, this is evidence that the Lord has tailored a specific earth experience for each of his children here on the earth. However, the Lord leaves it to us, to decide how we will live. Emma had a specific role to fulfill and it was more than housework.
Verse 7 also provides more evidence that Emma was truly a modern woman. The Lord says, “thou shalt be ordained under his hand to expound scriptures, and to exhort the church, according as it shall be given thee by my Spirit.” These words must have blasted Emma away. Not only was she to be a scribe, but she was to “expound scriptures” and “exhort the Church” and it would be “given” her “by the spirit” and not by Joseph. These powerful words show that Emma, a 19th century woman, was equal in the Lords sight. It also instructs us that women should be equal in our sight too.
I’m grateful for the women in my life, especially Carly whom I married this past July. I strive to treat her everyday with the equality that the Lord expects. I want her to know that she is a daughter of God. He knows her and her situation here on Earth. I hope she can find her role as a woman in the 21st century. She is smart and very capable in whatever she does. I hope she can find what roles the Lord would like her to play. She is the love of my life and I want her to be happy. I love living life with her. I love her!
In the first verse of this section, the Lord calls Emma Smith his daughter. The Lord considered her equal because He had called Joseph Smith His son. He didn’t call her the wife of My son Joseph. He didn’t call her wife of the prophet. He called her His daughter. What love God has for us since we are his children. We as LDS Church members believe that we are literal children of God, created in His image. This means that our bodies were patterned after His. I believe all people would act differently if they truly believed that they were a literal son or daughter of God. This knowledge changes how I act and behave when I am alone and with others. This is not only evidence that woman are equal to men but that we are all children of our Father in Heaven.
The Lord asked Emma Smith to be a scribe. Women in the 19th century did little but cook, clean, and care for children. I’m sure it was a shock to Emma Smith for the Lord to command her to be a scribe for her husband. Women at that time simply didn’t do that. In my opinion, this is evidence that the Lord has tailored a specific earth experience for each of his children here on the earth. However, the Lord leaves it to us, to decide how we will live. Emma had a specific role to fulfill and it was more than housework.
Verse 7 also provides more evidence that Emma was truly a modern woman. The Lord says, “thou shalt be ordained under his hand to expound scriptures, and to exhort the church, according as it shall be given thee by my Spirit.” These words must have blasted Emma away. Not only was she to be a scribe, but she was to “expound scriptures” and “exhort the Church” and it would be “given” her “by the spirit” and not by Joseph. These powerful words show that Emma, a 19th century woman, was equal in the Lords sight. It also instructs us that women should be equal in our sight too.
I’m grateful for the women in my life, especially Carly whom I married this past July. I strive to treat her everyday with the equality that the Lord expects. I want her to know that she is a daughter of God. He knows her and her situation here on Earth. I hope she can find her role as a woman in the 21st century. She is smart and very capable in whatever she does. I hope she can find what roles the Lord would like her to play. She is the love of my life and I want her to be happy. I love living life with her. I love her!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Being Faithful to God
As I’ve begun reading the Doctrine and Covenants for a class I’m in, I can’t help but think what it was like for Joseph Smith to receive revelation from God. For a little background, I am a Latter-Day Saint, or Mormon. We claim that God the Father and Jesus Christ called Joseph Smith as a prophet. It was a shock to young 14-year old Joseph when God and Jesus Christ appeared to him, when he was simply praying to find forgiveness of his sins. After many years and much personal growth, Joseph Smith discovered that God church was not on the earth and that he was to be a modern day prophet. He translated the Book of Mormon, established the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and fulfilled God’s purposes. Joseph Smith received constant revelation from God. It appears in many ways such as the Book of Mormon and temple worship services. The Doctrine and Covenants is more revelation given by God, to us, through the Prophet Joseph Smith and other latter-day prophets.
At the beginning of his translation of the Book of Mormon, Martin Harris, the scribe, asked Joseph if he could take 116 pages of translation to his wife, in order to convince her of Joseph’s legitimacy. As we have learned in class, Martin Harris was somewhat rich and had promised Joseph money for the publication of the Book of Mormon. Martin was pressuring Joseph, and I’m sure Joseph was afraid of losing the promised money. Joseph, after having been told by the Lord not to give the 116 pages to Martin, lent Martin Harris the manuscript. In section 3 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord chastised Joseph for not listening to Him.
How many times do we make this same mistake? How many times have I been peer pressured into doing something that I know isn’t the best thing to do? The Lord said, “behold, you should not have feared man more than God…you should have been faithful…” Thankfully, the Lord gave Joseph and us the gift of repentance through his son Jesus Christ. We are able to learn, move on, and not make such a mistake again.
I am reminded of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who didn’t make such a mistake but were faithful to God and said, “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O King, But if not be it know unto thee, O King, that we will not serve they gods, nor worship the golden image which thou has set up” (Daniel 3:17-18). Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were faithful to the Lord and promised to follow him, even if there was no miracle to save them from the fiery furnace. What faith and what allegiance they showed.
We have the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, to teach us what to do when our values are being jeopardized. We have Joseph Smith to teach us that if we do make a mistake, we can come back. I’m thankful for prophets who teach. I’m thankful for prophets who struggled through mortality just like every other human on earth and therefore, more able to teach us the truths of Jesus Christ.
At the beginning of his translation of the Book of Mormon, Martin Harris, the scribe, asked Joseph if he could take 116 pages of translation to his wife, in order to convince her of Joseph’s legitimacy. As we have learned in class, Martin Harris was somewhat rich and had promised Joseph money for the publication of the Book of Mormon. Martin was pressuring Joseph, and I’m sure Joseph was afraid of losing the promised money. Joseph, after having been told by the Lord not to give the 116 pages to Martin, lent Martin Harris the manuscript. In section 3 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord chastised Joseph for not listening to Him.
How many times do we make this same mistake? How many times have I been peer pressured into doing something that I know isn’t the best thing to do? The Lord said, “behold, you should not have feared man more than God…you should have been faithful…” Thankfully, the Lord gave Joseph and us the gift of repentance through his son Jesus Christ. We are able to learn, move on, and not make such a mistake again.
I am reminded of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who didn’t make such a mistake but were faithful to God and said, “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O King, But if not be it know unto thee, O King, that we will not serve they gods, nor worship the golden image which thou has set up” (Daniel 3:17-18). Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were faithful to the Lord and promised to follow him, even if there was no miracle to save them from the fiery furnace. What faith and what allegiance they showed.
We have the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, to teach us what to do when our values are being jeopardized. We have Joseph Smith to teach us that if we do make a mistake, we can come back. I’m thankful for prophets who teach. I’m thankful for prophets who struggled through mortality just like every other human on earth and therefore, more able to teach us the truths of Jesus Christ.
Monday, March 2, 2009
History Symposium
I attended BYU's Church History Symposium this past week. Being a history major it was interesting to see historians at work. The first breakout session that I attended was entitled "The Gensis of Mormon Historical Writing." I, being in a historical writing class, thought the discussion would focus on historical writing. I was wrong. It was rather boring actually. The next session I attended was about Andew Jensen. He was a Church Historian who traveled basically around the world gathering information about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was interesting. The last session I attended was about women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was more postmodernist in nature. It seemed to be more of the 'history' that I've been studying in my history 200 class.
One of the keynote speakers was Elder Marlin K. Jensen. He is currently the Church Historian. He said that history is inseperable from reality. He argued that we, as LDS Church members, cannot understand today and what the Church represents today without learning the past. That is why we, as members of the Church, should be students of Church history. Not bad for me who is already a student of history.
Another note from my life this past week. I had a nephew that was baptized. I was also able to study about baptism this past week. Baptism is an ordiance. It is an act, which we preform with true authority, to make a covenant with God. A covenant is a two-way promise. We promise God to follow His commandments and represent Jesus Christ while He promises us to have a remission of sins and the Holy Ghost. What an opportunity everyone has to make a covenant with God. We are able to see his power in our lives.
One of the keynote speakers was Elder Marlin K. Jensen. He is currently the Church Historian. He said that history is inseperable from reality. He argued that we, as LDS Church members, cannot understand today and what the Church represents today without learning the past. That is why we, as members of the Church, should be students of Church history. Not bad for me who is already a student of history.
Another note from my life this past week. I had a nephew that was baptized. I was also able to study about baptism this past week. Baptism is an ordiance. It is an act, which we preform with true authority, to make a covenant with God. A covenant is a two-way promise. We promise God to follow His commandments and represent Jesus Christ while He promises us to have a remission of sins and the Holy Ghost. What an opportunity everyone has to make a covenant with God. We are able to see his power in our lives.
Monday, February 2, 2009
What is heaven really like?
This last week we had a test. I hope there aren't tests in heaven. That is all I can say. We have been discussing the life after this one. To me, it is an important question. I'm sure there is not a human being alive that hasn't thought about what is after death, if there is anything. I think it is natural for people to think about such things.
Joseph Smith was reading in John 5:29. John writes that the good, meaning people, shall come to a resurrection of life, and the evil will come to a resurrection of evil. Joseph Smith thought about this and had some questions. He asked God and recieved revelation which is now in the Doctrine and Covenants section 76.
We believe heaven has three degrees of glory. We will be resurrected to one of these glories. 1 Corinthians 15:40-42 puts it this way, "There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrrestial but the glory of the celestisal is one and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead."
We believe that after we are resurrected, we will live in different glories, some people comparable to the sun, some to the moon, and some comparable to the stars. It is up to us, to do what God has commanded so we are able to reach the highest glory.
Joseph Smith was reading in John 5:29. John writes that the good, meaning people, shall come to a resurrection of life, and the evil will come to a resurrection of evil. Joseph Smith thought about this and had some questions. He asked God and recieved revelation which is now in the Doctrine and Covenants section 76.
We believe heaven has three degrees of glory. We will be resurrected to one of these glories. 1 Corinthians 15:40-42 puts it this way, "There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrrestial but the glory of the celestisal is one and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead."
We believe that after we are resurrected, we will live in different glories, some people comparable to the sun, some to the moon, and some comparable to the stars. It is up to us, to do what God has commanded so we are able to reach the highest glory.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Beginning of Dave's Religion Blog
Hello! I'm David Sessions. I am a student at Brigham Young University. I am currently in a religion class in which we have a project to blog for the entire semester. This blog will mostly be about religion, my personal thoughts about religion, and what role it plays in my life. I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In other words, I am a Mormon.
The idea for this project came from a talk given by Elder M. Russell Ballard. He is an apostle of Jesus Christ. In our church we believe that Jesus has established his Church again and called twelve apostles. Elder Ballard is one of these men.
His talk, "Sharing the Gospel Using the Internet" suggests to engage in conversations over the internet about our church. In this way people have opportunity to see how our church effects individual lives.
When I was in Poland serving a mission, I was talking with some people who were interested. They wondered who we were, what we were doing, and they wanted to see if it was for them. Unfortunately, after our first conversation, they went home, looked up Mormon on the internet and found loads of false information.
Therefore, it is my goal to show how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints effects my life. Hopefully others, with the help of this blog, may see past the false misconceptions and truely understand my beliefs.
Mam nadzieje tez pisac troche po polsku aby miec rozmowy z polakami na te temat. Jestem troche ograniczony jezykiem polskim ale chce tak sie starac
Here are some helpful links:
www.mormon.org
www.mormoni.pl
www.lds.org
Here is the link to Elder Ballards talk about sharing the gospel through the internet.
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=72443645a2cba110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1
The idea for this project came from a talk given by Elder M. Russell Ballard. He is an apostle of Jesus Christ. In our church we believe that Jesus has established his Church again and called twelve apostles. Elder Ballard is one of these men.
His talk, "Sharing the Gospel Using the Internet" suggests to engage in conversations over the internet about our church. In this way people have opportunity to see how our church effects individual lives.
When I was in Poland serving a mission, I was talking with some people who were interested. They wondered who we were, what we were doing, and they wanted to see if it was for them. Unfortunately, after our first conversation, they went home, looked up Mormon on the internet and found loads of false information.
Therefore, it is my goal to show how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints effects my life. Hopefully others, with the help of this blog, may see past the false misconceptions and truely understand my beliefs.
Mam nadzieje tez pisac troche po polsku aby miec rozmowy z polakami na te temat. Jestem troche ograniczony jezykiem polskim ale chce tak sie starac
Here are some helpful links:
www.mormon.org
www.mormoni.pl
www.lds.org
Here is the link to Elder Ballards talk about sharing the gospel through the internet.
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=72443645a2cba110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1
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