The Power of God on Earth!

         In Old Testament times God gave his special Priesthood authority to prophets like Moses and Abraham. This authority is the power of God and is given to man to act in his name. This is the power through which Moses split the Red Sea. This sacred power of God is conferred, or given, to another, who is worthy to officiate in the ordinances of Salvation such as Baptism and the Sacrament. Anciently Jesus Christ gave this authority to his Apostles. Unfortunately, as in times past people rejected his Apostles and many were killed. The Priesthood authority of God was taken from the earth. This period of time where the Priesthood was not present on earth is known as the great Apostasy.

          However after centuries of being in darkness God restored the Priesthood authority to the earth through a living Prophet as he had done in times past. Truths that had been lost over time were brought back to earth through divine communication between God and his Prophets. The Priesthood was restored by the laying on of hands to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in May of 1829 by heavenly messengers. Joseph Smith History: 66-75. Peter, James, and John who had been given the Priesthood authority by Jesus Christ himself appeared and restored the Melchizedek Priesthood to the earth. It has been conferred on righteous men and still exists on earth today within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know that these things are true, and so can everyone through prayerfully reading the Book of Mormon, God answer your prayers and you can know that his true Church has been restored again on earth with all of the authority as was had in the past. The video below may help explain more.

The teacher of all truth

          In the Holy Bible as Jesus Christ was preparing to leave his mortal existance he told his disciples that he would send  a messenger named the holy ghost, or the spirit (John 14:26). Later his apostles were able to give this Gift of the Holy Ghost to other's by the laying on of hands (Acts 19 :5-6). When one receives this ordinance in this manner by one who holds the priesthood authority given to him from God they will be able to recieve the Gift of the Holy Ghost. This gift can act as an aid and great help throughout one's life. It can comfort you and teach you truth.
            If you have a question about something and ask God with real intent and a sincere heart, he will manifest the truth to you through the Holy Ghost. We can recieve the knowledge directly from God, which eliminates having to make your decisions based on the opinions of men. Members of the church throughout the world enjoy this Gift of the Holy Ghost and it is available to all. Everyone can feel the ifluence of the Holy Ghost and receive answers. However; when one recieves the Gift of The Holy Ghost they can have the spirit as a constant companion. The video beneath illustrates how the Holy Ghost can speak to us and help us in our everyday lives.

Liken the scriptures!

               Members of the church of Jesus Christ and those who are learning about the church hear repeatedly, that reading the scriptures is important. I heard this all throughout my life growing up and I often wondered why reading the scriptures is so important since I continually found myself either falling asleep or just day dreaming and reading words. I never got a whole lot out of my scripture study in my younger days and to be honest it didn't usually last too long before I would get bored and lose all the motivation I had twenty minutes prior. Now as a missionary, years later I am constantly reading the scriptures. I spend two hours every morning studying them and use them throughout the day as I teach others. So, you may assume that I have finally discovered something that has been able to make my scripture study beneficial to me.

               There is a scripture in the book of First Nephi in the Book of Mormon that says something along the lines of how we need to "liken" or apply the scriptures to our own lives (1 Nephi 19:23). We are to use the examples of people in the past who faced trials and questions and try to follow that example. The scriptures can give us hope. They show us that somebody has faced trials similar to ours, except generally much harder than ours, and they have been able to prevail over their problems.  They can help us develop our Faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement. The scriptures can help understand who we are and what our purpose here in this life is. We can be enlightened by their words and also be taught by the holy ghost as we ponder on thosee things we read. We are taught in the scriptures how to find out if God is really there.  In the Bible Jesus teaches "  ¶^aAsk, and it shall be ^bgiven you; ^cseek, and ye shall find; ^dknock, and it shall be opened unto you:  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that ^aseeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask ^abread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, ^abeing evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" It is so simple but also so true. God does answer prayers and will help us know what to do. The scriptures can bless your life as much as they have blessed mine as you apply them and search them daily.