I had a friend one time answer a questionaire in which he was asked what his three wishes would be... one of them made me crack up... it was to flip the food pyramid.

Eating Healthy is a concern for most people in the world today. Fast food restaurants are under attack, and "miracle diets" are surfacing everywhere you look.

It is interesting that in Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord gave us instructions on this very issue when He stated:

In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—

The Word of Wisdom is wonderful instruction on how to keep our bodies running smoothly as He designed, and how to avoid the pitfalls of the "conspiring men" who wish to riddle our health with obstacles. But more than just a simple code of health, it is a principle with a promise.

The principle is simply the outline of the food restrictions placed on His people, and His request for obedience. I think the bottom line is exactly this...obedience. He instructs, we obey... simple?

The promise for our obedience is that of Eternal Life.

As much as we would like to limit the Word of Wisdom to our temporal bodies I think it is an eternal law with an eternal promise.

The Promise:

Doctrine and Covenants Section 89

And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;

Wisdom and Knowledge

Obedience to the word of wisdom, allows us to enter the temple. Have you ever wondered why that was a requirement for entering the temple? IMHO it is because of the promises themselves. The temple is the place where we can receive wisdom and knowledge, and entrance there is predicated on obedience.

Stamina and Energy

Have you noticed an increase in energy drinks and stimulants on the market today? They are all a counterfeit of this promise. True energy only comes from one source... God the Father, through Jesus Christ.

Eternal Life

This is the greatest promise of all. It is the promise that the destroying angel will passover you just as it did in the days of Moses. Remember how all that were in the house were spared because of the blood of the lamb which was spread over the door posts?

Covenants allow us to be in the "house of Israel". We receive those covenants through the priesthood in the "House of the Lord". These covenants allow for us to receive Eternal life which is the greatest of all the blessings of the Lord... and just think, it is all because of obedience!

Please share some of your own insights about the Word of Wisdom and the blessings received from obedience to it.....

Tags: Word Of Wisdom Health Code

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Have you ever been confused by the term Abrahamic Covenant?

The Abrahamic Covenant is really very simple when you break it down.

First we must understand what a covenant is.

The bible dictionary defines it as:

It is simply an agreement that is entered into, in which God Himself sets the terms.

"If you do X, then I will do Y." = a covenant statement.

The Abrahamic Covenant as specified by God to Abraham is simply this:

"I will be your God, and you will be my people. Walk with me."

Simple right? Exactly!

How do we make Him our God? We learn to submit our will to His will. We learn to put Him first in our lives. We learn to be obedient and to sacrifice. We walk the walk, and talk the talk.

If we can remember the simplicity of this, we can be more committed in our covenants to Him.

What do we get for making Him our God?

Generally..we will be His people. That is a huge one isn't it? What are some specific things that becoming His people entails?

• Posterity- Numerous as the stars in the sky and sands of the sea.
• Priesthood- Eternal priesthood to be in our line forever.
• Land- A promised land inheritance.

I like to call these specific blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant the PPL so that the specific blessings are easy to remember.

If you look closely at the promises of the Abrahamic Covenant they are the promise of becoming as God is, like Him.

If you want to read more about this... you can click here.

If we want to be His people we simply must learn to "walk with Him". This is the process of our everyday progression, until we finally are in His presence. I hope that I can remember to walk with Him daily, through all eternity!

What ways can you "walk the walk"?

Tags: Abrahamic Covenant Priesthood Posterity Land

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The Atonement in general is such a very large topic to discuss, but I would like to focus primarily in this post on the principle of love that was involved.

"If sacrifice for others is the highest manifestation of love, then the Atonement of Jesus Christ is the grandest demonstration of love this world has ever known."

Tad Callister, The Infinite Atonement

The first aspect of love is that of the love the Savior had for us. His love is not conditional nor is it only temporary. He demonstrated this act of love from before the world was and has continued to do so through out all the eternities by his sacrifice of self. He understood that this sacrifice was needed to pay the price of justice, allowing Him to extend mercy to us in our need.

Secondly, the act of love that can be noted was the Saviors love of the Father. Everything Christ did was to glorify His Father. His complete submission to The Father's will was evidenced throughout His entire life, and culminated on the cross.

Finally, we can observe another type of love that is present in the Atonement, and that is a love of a Father for His children.

Elder Melvin J. Ballard shared these insights:

"God heard the cry of his Son in that moment of great grief and agony, in the garden when, it is said, the pores of his body opened and drops of blood stood upon him, and he cried out: “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me.”

I ask you, what father and mother could stand by and listen to the cry of their children in distress, in this world, and not render aid and assistance? I have heard of mothers throwing themselves into raging streams when they could not swim a stroke to save their drowning children, rushing into burning buildings, to rescue those whom they loved.

We cannot stand by and listen to those cries without its touching our hearts. The Lord has not given us the power to save our own. He has given us faith, and we submit to the inevitable, but he had the power to save, and he loved his Son, and he could have saved him. He might have rescued him from the insult of the crowds. He might have rescued him when the crown of thorns was placed upon his head. He might have rescued him when the Son, hanging between the two thieves, was mocked with, “Save thyself, and come down from the cross. He saved others; himself he cannot save.” He listened to all this. He saw that Son condemned; he saw him drag the cross through the streets of Jerusalem and faint under its load. He saw that Son finally upon Calvary; he saw his body stretched out upon the wooden cross; he saw the cruel nails driven through hands and feet, and the blows that broke the skin, tore the flesh, and let out the life’s blood of his Son. He looked upon that.

In the case of our Father, the knife was not stayed, but it fell, and the life’s blood of his Beloved Son went out. His Father looked on with great grief and agony over his Beloved Son, until there seems to have come a moment when even our Savior cried out in despair: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

In that hour I think I can see our dear Father behind the veil looking upon these dying struggles until even he could not endure it any longer; and, like the mother who bids farewell to her dying child, has to be taken out of the room, so as not to look upon the last struggles, so he bowed his head, and hid in some part of his universe, his great heart almost breaking for the love that he had for his Son. Oh, in that moment when he might have saved his Son, I thank him and praise him that he did not fail us, for he had not only the love of his Son in mind, but he also had love for us. I rejoice that he did not interfere, and that his love for us made it possible for him to endure to look upon the sufferings of his Son and give him finally to us, our Savior and our Redeemer. Without him, without his sacrifice, we would have remained, and we would never have come glorified into his presence. And so this is what it cost, in part, for our Father in Heaven to give the gift of his Son unto men."

I don't know about you, but I feel my Father's love for me every day. It is manifest in all I do, have and feel.

I am grateful that my Savior Jesus Christ had the perfect ability to love perfectly, and that he was willing to submit and sacrifice. I only hope that someday I can be like Him and learn to submit and sacrifice, showing more charity or the pure love of Christ.

Tags: Atonement Jesus Christ Love Sacrifice

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Do you have a pioneer heritage?

With Pioneer Day fast approaching on the 24th of July.  I thought it might be appropriate to talk about the wonderful Pioneer heritage that we each have as members of the church.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is made up of pioneers.  From the very beginning of its roots in New York, with Joseph Smith,  to the outer most reaches of the world, as people hear the gospel for the first time in their lives and join the church, pioneers can be seen. 

Pioneers come in all shapes and sizes.  They can be all ages. They all have three things in common:

• Pioneers are Creative
• Pioneers are Courageous
• Pioneers are committed

To be a pioneer it takes, faith.  Faith allows them to proceed into the dark and not look back.

To be a pioneer it takes hope.  Hope is what they need to keep going.

To be a pioneer it take charity.  Charity is the spirit that they have when they desire to make it easier for those who follow.

You don’t have to push a handcart,

Leave your fam’ly dear,

Or walk a thousand miles or more

To be a pioneer!

You do need to have great courage,

Faith to conquer fear,

And work with might for a cause that’s right

To be a pioneer!

We are marching, ever marching.

We are marching, ever marching,

Marching onward, ever onward.

We are pioneers;

Ruth Muir Gardner, 1927–1999

Are you a pioneer?

Tags: Pioneers PioneerDay Pioneer PioneerWomen

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"Pride is a sin that can readily be seen in others but is rarely admitted in ourselves. Most of us consider pride to be a sin of those on the top, such as the rich and the learned, looking down at the rest of us. There is, however, a far more common ailment among us-that is pride from the bottom looking up. It is manifest in so many ways, such as faultfinding, gossiping, backbiting, murmuring, living beyond our means, envying, coveting, withholding gratitude and praise that might lift another, and being unforgiving and jealous."  President Ezra Taft Benson

In his true form as a prophet of God, President Benson gave the world a warning when he taught us in his landmark talk "Beware of Pride."  Although he gave this talk several years ago, it is still a classic example of what can happen if we do not remember the teachings of the Book of Mormon and fall prey to the "pride cycle." 

Pride was recognized many years before by Christian leaders of old as one of the "Seven Deadly Sins".  It has evidently been the cause of heartache from the beginning of the creation of the world.

Humility is the only way we as Children of God can overcome this terrible position.  Humility is a requirement of all who wish to become Saints and put off the "Natural Man". 

As President Hinckley also implored us as a church, Be Humble, so we must learn to submit our will to that of the Savior and become perfected in this process through Him. 

Pride is never righteous.

Tags: Humility Pride SevenDeadlySins EzraTaftBenson

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As Seminary is just around the corner, I am brought to reminisce about all the wonderful moments I have had while teaching in that capacity. Early morning Seminary is a really big challenge not only for the youth but for the teacher as well, but the blessings certainly outweigh all the sacrifice.

This year the course of study in seminary is the New Testament. I love the teachings of the Savior that can be found there. I have come to realize that the New Testament is a wonderful commentary for the Old Testament. Many of the Laws of Moses are seen in action throughout the pages of the New Testament and through the life of the Savior himself. It is a real testimony for me of the importance of obedience and sacrifice, and of living the law.

Seminary is a blessing that is available for all the youth, and selected adults alike. If you are a seminary teacher count your lucky stars... you are certainly greatly blessed. Oh yeah, and good luck!

Tags: Mormon LDS Jesus Christ Seminary LDSGirls

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While studying the Old Testament, the book of Exodus, I discovered some interesting insights on revelation.

In Section 8 of the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord instructs us on how we will recieve revelation by referencing the parting of the Red Sea.

Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.

In his attempt to lead the children of Israel to safety, Moses came upon an obstacle by way of the Red Sea. With the Egyptians close behind, he assures the Israelites of the following:

"Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace."

Moses has already been told in his mind, by the Lord the solution to the problem, he just needed to then follow his heart and "go forward".

I believe if you feel the truth or testimony with your heart, your mind has already been taught of it previously it is just a matter of recall.

This is true revelation, revealing something to you again...re-vealing. I love this concept!

Tags: Revelation Holy Ghost Old Testament Moses

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