An Old Bible, Lost for Decades, Reveals a Mormon Family’s Ancestors

Ed and Dawna Jones serve as “senior Mormon missionaries.”  Senior missionaries are retirees who are willing to donate their time for 6 to 23 months in the service of God.  Senior missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often inadvertently called the Mormon Church, serve in many capacities.  Elder and Sister Jones are family history missionaries and offer their services at a Mormon Family History Center in San Diego, California.  These family history centers tend to be small and rely on the internet, genealogy software, and loans from the main library in Salt Lake City.  Before launching out on their mission, Elder and Sister Jones had worked on their own ancestral lines, submitting the information in order to complete Mormon temple ordinances for their dead.  These ordinances begin with baptism and proceed through covenants meant to join family members together in eternity.

One day at the San Diego LDS Family History Center, Elder Jones received a phone call from Gwen Whitlock.  She had in her possession an antique family Bible she had received from a gentleman who had found it in the trash some 40 years before.  She desired to donate it to the Center.  Not having much room for such things, especially a Bible this huge, Elder Jones was hesitant, but invited Whitlock to bring the Bible over, especially since it seemed to contain some genealogical information.  Family trees have often been handwritten into Bibles over the years.

A Miraculous Discovery

The rare Bible itself was a treasure. It was compiled by the Rev. Joseph Knight and published in 1815. It included the Old and New Testaments, as well as the Apocrypha. It also contained illustrations and a collection of beautiful etchings.

As they turned the pages, the Joneses discovered a more priceless and personalized treasure. Inside they found ornately handwritten genealogical records going back into the 1700s. When Dawna Jones saw the last name “Hammond,” her jaw dropped in disbelief. The names, dates and information belonged to her husband’s direct English ancestral line.

“It just blew our socks off,” Ed Jones said. “I knew there was a hole in the line, and … this (information) closed that hole. I didn’t have to look it up on the pedigree chart, I just knew. It was literally the biggest blessing we have ever received in family history. It was phenomenal.” [1]

Ed Jones’ mother had converted to Mormonism at the age of 87.  She had spent her final years engaged in family history work, and it seemed she had found everything that could be found. People at the library began to gather around the Jones’ and Whitlock, who was dumbfounded by what was transpiring.  Soon all were in tears at the obvious miracle which had occurred.  Whitlock had hoped to find the Hammond family, but had stumbled upon them “accidently.”

Over the years, Whitlock and her husband, the Rev. Carl Whitlock, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Pacific Beach in San Diego, have searched for a Hammond descendent among their friends and congregation, but to no avail.  Said Whitlock, “It’s been such a wonderful, spiritual story of how God put it (the Bible) for him to find, to bring to me, for me to hold it for them. Then for God to impress me to take it the day the Joneses were there is a miracle of huge proportions.”

Elder and Sister Jones want to return the favor, so they are researching the Whitlocks’ family history for them.

Miracles Attend the Work of the Lord

Since I am the only member of The Church of Jesus Christ in my family, I’m the only one working on family history.  It had been extremely difficult to find anything until genealogical help began to appear online.  Then things got somewhat better.  I had an uncle who had researched one line quite a bit, but he wouldn’t share the information with me for many years.  One day he received an email from a person he had never heard of.  The person was quite an accomplished genealogist, not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ.  She had been researching a line, thinking she tied into it, but she was mistaken.  My uncle had no interest, so he referred her to me.  She sent me a manila envelope containing a number of 8 ½” x 11” sheets of paper, taped together end to end.  It turned out to be a pedigree chart about 5 feet wide, taking one of my own ancestral lines back to 1700.

I can attest to the fact that family history work is of interest to us and to our deceased ancestors.  This work is proceeding on both sides of the veil, and it is inspiring and thrilling to be part of it.

It can be easy to look at our lives and think that God doesn’t love us. It can be easy to look at the world—at the wars, abuse, murders, sin, and depravity—and believe that God doesn’t care about His creations any more, or even that there must be no God at all. However, this is patently false. There is a God, and He is our Heavenly Father. He is a perfect being. Perfect. His love is perfect, no exceptions. He never messes up, never makes a no-good anything, never ceases to love.

Scriptures Testify of God’s Love

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes called the Mormon Church, we believe in and love the Bible. The Bible is full of scriptures that testify of God’s love for us, and recount what God has done because He loves us. John 3:16 states: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever should believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” I’ve read past this verse so many times, but when I really stop to think about it, that’s pretty amazing. God, our Heavenly Father, loved the world (us) so much that He gave Jesus Christ to be our Savior. God loves us so much, and cares about us so much, that He wants us to return to Him.

Paul was also convinced of God’s love for us. He wrote to the Romans:

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39, emphasis added).

No other person, power, government, law, or even angels can separate us from the love of God and the love of Jesus Christ.

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, also testifies of God’s love for us. Lehi, a prophet in the Book of Mormon, told his sons: “The Lord hath redeemed my soul . . . and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love” (2 Nephi 1:15). God, our Heavenly Father, loves us. We are His children, and He cares about us.

I know that God loves us. However, I can easily see where I could get confused, hung up, or have questions. For example: If God loves us, then why is life hard? Why do I have challenges? If God’s love is perfect, then how come I can’t feel it all the time? How can God love people who do wicked and awful things? As surely as others have asked these questions, I have asked them too, and come back to the same conclusion that God loves all of us.

Agency

Agency, the ability to choose and act for ourselves, is one of the greatest gifts we have. Each and every person on earth has agency, and can act for him or herself. God will never get in the way of our agency, or the agency of others. He wants us to choose correctly, but won’t force us. One reason why sometimes we feel pain or have challenges is because of our own agency or the agency of others. Heavenly Father will not prevent us or others from exercising their agency to make wrong choices. This does not mean that God doesn’t love us.

Sometimes, though, a challenge arises just because. No one’s agency caused the trial—it just happened. Don’t worry: Heavenly Father still loves us and knows our needs. Elder Hugh B. Brown, an apostle and leader of The Church of Jesus Christ, related a parable about a currant bush and the Lord’s will. He realized that as he, the gardener, pruned the currant bush to become a proper, fruit-bearing currant bush, he was hurting the bush. But he had a vision for the currant bush, and knew that pruning was part of the process. Elder Brown compared pruning the currant bush to our trials. Heavenly Father is the gardener, and knows what each of us can become. He knows what we need to experience in order to reach that potential, and sometimes pruning is part of the process. Because He loves us, sometimes He gives us trials, so that we can grow and change and become the person He knows we can become.

God is a Loving Parent

When I was learning to ride a bike, my dad helped me learn to balance on two wheels. He would run behind me, holding the seat to keep me from falling. As we practiced, I wobbled less and gained confidence. Eventually, he let me ride by myself. And I fell down. Did this mean my dad didn’t love me, because he let me fall? No. It meant he wanted me to learn to do it myself. He encouraged me to get up and try again, so I did, this time going a bit farther before falling down again. We repeated the process until I could ride confidently, without falling down.

Heavenly Father is similar to this. He helps us along, giving us parents and teachers to guide us. He has also given us scriptures, living prophets, friends, and Church leaders to help us. But He doesn’t want to shelter us from life. He wants us to experience the world, to grow and change. So sometimes He lets us fall down. It doesn’t mean He doesn’t love us; it means He wants us to use our agency, use what we’ve learned about Him, and become a better person.

How Can I Feel God’s Love?

Paul said that no other person or power can separate us from the love of God. I know this is true. However, I also know that sometimes we can separate ourselves from the love of God. Heavenly Father always is the same, always constant. But sometimes we make mistakes, and sin. When this happens, we move further away from God. God hasn’t moved—He is constant. We have moved away from Him. We need to turn to Him, prayerfully, humbly, and repent. He wants us to repent and come to Him, and when we do this we will feel His love.

Again, this doesn’t mean that God stopped loving us because we sinned. He still loves us even when we’ve messed up. It’s because He loves us that He wants us, beckons us, to return to Him. As soon as we even start to turn to God, He will reach out to us, and we can feel His love. We don’t have to be perfect to feel God’s love. We just have to be trying. We can pray to Heavenly Father, and we can feel His perfect love.

To learn more about God’s love and plan for each of us, please see these talks:

“You Matter to Him”

“As Many As I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten”

“The Currant Bush”

“The Will of God”[1]

Why Do Latter-day Saints Believe in Modern Prophets?

The Bible says that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever and that calling prophets has always been part of His plan from the beginning (Hebrews 13:8; Amos 3:7). In ancient times, God called prophets like Abraham, Moses, and Elijah, and gave them authority to spread His words and perform His work for the salvation of His children. As a Latter-day Saint, I personally believe that God’s work is not yet finished, and as long as there are souls left on earth to be saved, we need God’s direction through his chosen servants so that we may accomplish His work according to His will.

Unfortunately, some people including most Christians think that God does not speak through prophets anymore, and that if you need divine direction, all you need to do is read the Bible because it contains all of God’s words. Others claim that John the Baptist was the last prophet, citing Luke 16:16. However, the Bible tells us that after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God continued to call apostles and prophets and even appeared to them. The Lord appeared and spoke to Saul (later known as Paul) on the road to Damascus. He declared a famine in Rome through the mouth of Agabus (Acts 11:28). He also appeared in visions and other divine manifestations to His chosen servants (Acts 7:55-56; 9:10-12; 10:9-16).

Considering the accounts above and many other witnesses, to argue that God does not call prophets anymore is to deny the scriptures. If God does not call prophets today, then we may as well think that He does not care about His children now as much as He did then. I believe that God is not partial. He loves all of His children equally. And because of that, He provides continuous revelation to help us answer questions pertaining to our generation.

We Must Listen to Modern Prophets

J. Reuben Clark Jr., a former Church official once said about latter-day prophets: “We do not lack a prophet; what we lack is a listening ear by the people and a determination to live as God has commanded.”

As a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ, I know that God is our Father in Heaven and all people are His beloved sons and daughters. Today, He has again shown His love for us by calling another prophet to guide us through difficult times of economic uncertainty, wars, shifting values, and questions that are unique to our time.

God’s living prophet today is Thomas S. Monson. As a prophet, he presides over The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and receives revelations for the benefit of all people, both in and outside the Church. He is not just a Mormon prophet or a prophet of the Latter-day Saints; he is God’s prophet for all people. With all these unpleasant things happening around us, I am convinced that our greatest need is to really listen and then to follow the counsels of God through His modern prophet.

Sometimes when I told new friends that I was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often inadvertently called the Mormon Church), some asked me why we had more scriptures than just the Bible.

A common verse of scripture from the Bible that Christian friends often shared with me to refute the Book of Mormon’s scriptural status was Revelation 22:18. The Apostle John wrote his apocalyptic vision of the world’s history and emphasized Jesus Christ’s role as mankind’s Savior and Redeemer. At the end of his book, he closes with the following warning, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.”

I had read the Book of Mormon, a book of scripture recorded by prophets on the American continent, several times before going to High School and knew that it was truly the word of God. But, I didn’t really know how to answer my friends’ questions about it. Throughout my life I had heard Church leaders encourage members to study scriptures and sincerely pray to God the Father to receive answers to questions, so I started studying that question.

I learned a couple of interesting things. Initially I noticed that John warned that man should not add to his book. He did not say God would not add to his book. Another thing I learned was that the book of Revelation itself was actually written about AD 95 before John’s other epistles written AD 96! The compilers of the Bible chose the layout of the book: the Gospels and Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles , and then John’s visionary Revelation. I discovered that not all scriptural texts available were included in the actual Bible. That taught me that John’s warning related specifically to his book of Revelation.

Later, while reading the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 4:2 jumped off the page at me! It said almost the same thing as Revelation 22:18. “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” If I used the same logic for Deuteronomy 4:2 as purported for the verse in Revelation, then I would ignore all but the first four books of the Bible.

But, most importantly, I continued to receive the calm assurance from the Holy Ghost, who testifies of truth, that the Book of Mormon was the word of God! I received the spiritual confirmation from the Holy Ghost and the historical understanding I sought which answered my prayers and I knew I could share my beliefs with my friends.

Why Are More Scriptures Necessary?

Simply stated, Mormons “believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God” (9^th Article of Faith).

I believe that God followed a perfect pattern to share His Gospel with all of His children. He called a righteous prophet, or spokesman, to declare His commandments and counsel to the people in the prophet’s vicinity. The prophet generally wrote down the word received from God. As people spread across the globe, they still needed God’s commandments and direction, so He called a prophet there to share His word with those people, too.

The importance of having a “current” prophet is evidenced even in the Bible. While God’s commandments do not change from age to age, God’s instructions to Adam did not warn Noah of the flood or counsel Moses how to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. It also does not teach us how to navigate in our current world of modern technology and social media. God promises that He will guide and direct His people. Because we can read the scriptural history preserved by prophets, we can learn from the mistakes of past nations, follow examples of those who chose to follow God’s commandments and learn to trust in God and His word.

I’ve thought of this in relation to my parent’s family. I am the oldest of eight children. My youngest sister was born 18 years after me. If my parents had decided to give the house rules and guidance to only me, expecting me to pass on the information to my siblings, then Dionna would have been out of luck, because I left home before her birth. And while the household rules remained consistent, each child needed parental guidance specific to his or her personality, weaknesses or strengths.

For me, the fact that God continues communication to mankind is evidence of His deep love for us.

I appreciate the Lord’s own words found in the Book of Mormon on His ability to speak to us.

2 Nephi 29:8 Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another…

And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever.

For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written.

Does God Continue to Speak Today?

God speaks through a prophet today!

The reestablishment of The Church of Jesus Christ in modern times began by an event known to Latter-day Saints as The First Vision. After studying the tenets of religion and wanting to obey God’s commandment to be baptized, Joseph Smith, then a teenager, read James 1:5. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not.” Emboldened by God’s promise to answer his sincere prayer, Joseph knelt alone in a grove of trees to ask God which church he should join.

Joseph recorded,

I saw a pillar of light, exactly over my head above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. … When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other–This is my Beloved Son. Hear Him! (SeeJoseph Smith-History 1:16-17.)

God the Eternal Father and His Beloved Son Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith! They told Joseph not to join any church, that the Gospel in its fulness was not found on the earth and needed to be restored. God’s subsequent commandments and directions to Joseph Smith and other Church leaders, are recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants. Mormons consider this book to be scripture as well.

Thomas S. Monson is the current prophet of God on the earth. He continues to share God’s counsel to mankind and does so generally twice a year in a world wide conference of The Church of Jesus Christ, as well as at other times through devotionals, Church magazines, and personally visiting the nations of the world.

I am so grateful for the scriptures! The stories of faith, hope, strength, weakness, struggle and triumph have increased my faith in Jesus Christ and trust in God. I know that God continues to speak to the world today through President Thomas S. Monson.

I invite you to receive a free copy of the Book of Mormon, read it and pray to know if it is the word of God!

James and John reacted similarly. “And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him” (Mark 1:20).

The calling of Apostles by Jesus Christ began the official organization of His Church in the meridian of time. Prior to this, the Savior initiated His ministry by being baptized by immersion by the only person with proper authority at the time, John the Baptist, and preached His doctrine to ever increasing throngs of people.

Eight additional Apostles were called. As their ministry continued, Jesus singled Peter out as the chief Apostle and Peter, James, and John as the head, or presidency, of the entire Church after His death and resurrection.

Paul taught the Ephesians about the organization of Christ’s Church and said there were “apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11).

The Church of Jesus Christ—The Same Organization as the Ancient Church

The Savior Jesus Christ re-established His Church’s doctrines and organizational structure when He organized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often inadvertently called the “Mormon Church,” in 1830 through the Prophet Joseph Smith.  Mormons call this the “restoration” of the gospel, and it was done to prepare God’s kingdom on earth to receive the Savior when He comes the second time.

The First Vision: God the Eternal Father and His Son Jesus Christ

The restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ in modern times commenced with an event known to Latter-day Saints (Mormons) as The First Vision. After studying the tenets of religion and wanting to obey God’s commandment to be baptized, Joseph Smith read James 1:5. “If any of you lack you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not.” Emboldened by God’s promise to answer his sincere prayer, Joseph knelt alone in a grove of trees to ask God which church he should join.

Joseph recorded,

I saw a pillar of light, exactly over my head above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. … When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other–This is my Beloved Son. Hear Him! (See Joseph Smith-History 1:16-17.)

God the Eternal Father and His Beloved Son Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith! They told Joseph not to join any church, that the Gospel in its fulness was not found on the earth and needed to be restored.

The Savior Established the Foundation of His Church

The Lord commanded Joseph to organize His restored Church on April 6, 1830, and to call it The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (See Doctrine and Covenants 115:4.)

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ, I believe that Jesus Christ revealed His doctrine and principles to Joseph Smith and other Church leaders and that The Church of Jesus Christ functions today with the Priesthood, the power and authority of God, to act in an organized manner in His name on the earth today.

As members of the Church, “[we] believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth” (6^th and 7^th Articles of Faith). The Church has a First Presidency, like Peter, James, and John, and a Quorum of Twelve Apostles who are all prophets, seers, and revelators. Each of the other offices in the Primitive Church are found in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Mormon Doctrines Testify of Jesus Christ

The doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ affirm to me that it truly is the restored Church of Jesus Christ.

The Church’s 1^st Article of Faith states, “We believe in God the Eternal Father and in His Son Jesus Christ and in the Holy Ghost” (1^st Article of Faith). Knowing that the first declaration of our faith centers on the existence and divinity of the Godhead emboldens my desire to pray and really communicate with God. It reminds me that only through the Grace of Jesus Christ can I approach the throne of God and that living worthily enables me to receive the peaceful companionship of the Holy Ghost who testifies of Christ and inspires me to do good.

Every tenet and doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ reflects the mission and atoning sacrifice of the Savior Jesus Christ. The Savior Himself revealed commandments, covenants (two-way promises of an obligation fulfilled by man and a promised blessing by God) and ordinances (ritual acts, like baptism, that teach literally and metaphorically of man’s journey back to God’s presence).

“The first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are first, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, repentance; third, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost” (4^th Article of Faith). As I have obeyed God’s commandments, I have seen His hand and blessings in my life. True faith in Jesus Christ enables me to know who and how to worship Him. Repentance is a turning away from sin or error, by confessing that wrong to God. As I cast that burden on the Lord, I feel His forgiving power. My conscience is free from guilt and shame. I can stand with confidence again in the presence of God. Baptism physically and symbolically is being born again. Partaking of the Sacrament each Sunday reminds me of promises I made at baptism to follow Christ and remember Him. The Holy Ghost testifies of Christ. The Savior described the Holy Ghost in John 14:26. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the restored Church of Jesus Christ on the earth today. The Savior patterned it after the same organization of His Church during His ministry on the earth, with the offices and power of the Priesthood and the same spiritual gifts and doctrines.

To learn more about the restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ, contact the Mormon missionaries. They would love to share with you the joy and hope available through the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

What Does an Answer to Prayer Feel Like?

God answers prayers through the power of the Holy Ghost (sometimes called the Spirit). The Spirit speaks to each of us in different ways, ways that are as varied as we are. What may resonate with one person may not make much of an impact with someone else. We must practice listening to the Spirit so that we can know when and how He speaks to us.

While each of us will feel the promptings of the Holy Ghost differently, there are some consistencies with how He speaks to us. If what you’re praying for is right—if the decision you want to make is in line with God’s will—you will feel at peace. In the Doctrine and Covenants (a collection of modern revelations given to the Prophet Joseph Smith) Heavenly Father says that “you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore you shall feel that it is right” (9:8) While this “burning” may be hard to describe on paper, when you feel it you will know that it is God’s confirmation of your choice.

Sometimes, though, your answer will be no. In that same section of the Doctrine and Covenants, God says that “if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong” (9:9). This “stupor of thought” will mean that you are still confused and uneasy about the situation you are praying about.

Once when I was in college, I wanted to participate in a study abroad program. I was praying to find the means to go, but I could never decide on the best way to fund my trip. Eventually I realized that I was having a stupor of thought and that if things weren’t lining up, then perhaps I shouldn’t even be going. Once I decided not to go on the trip, I felt at peace and another plan for the summer presented itself to me.

Sometimes Answers Don’t Come Quickly

You may find yourself in a situation where you are desperately seeking for answers and coming up short. This absence of answers doesn’t mean that God doesn’t care about you or that He isn’t listening. Rather, these experiences mean that you have something to learn before finding your answer. In lieu of the answers you seek, Heavenly Father will often send comfort and other blessings to help you in your trial.

Know that eventually God will provide you with the answers you’re looking for. It may take months or even years to receive those answers, but they will always come. Sometimes you need to change your prayer to find answers. Instead of asking for something to happen, pray that you will have the strength to handle the situation. By adjusting your prayers in times of trial, you will find answers that may not remove your trial, but that will make you capable of handling it.

God Wants to Teach Us

Sometimes when we don’t get answers, it’s because God is trusting our ability to make the right choice. Elder Richard G. Scott, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ, said the following about prayer (I recommend reading the talk in full):

What do you do when you have prepared carefully, have prayed fervently, waited a reasonable time for a response, and still do not feel an answer? You may want to express thanks when that occurs, for it is an evidence of His trust. When you are living worthily and your choice is consistent with the Savior’s teachings and you need to act, proceed with trust. As you are sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit, one of two things will certainly occur at the appropriate time: either the stupor of thought will come, indicating an improper choice, or the peace or the burning in the bosom will be felt, confirming that your choice was correct. When you are living righteously and are acting with trust, God will not let you proceed too far without a warning impression if you have made the wrong decision.[1]

One of the purposes of prayer is to help us learn to become more like our Savior, and so God uses prayer and the answers to our prayers to teach us how to develop Christlike qualities and make Christlike decisions.

God Uses Other People to Answer Prayers

More often than not, God will not come down to earth to personally answer our prayers, especially if those prayers require a practical and tangible answer. He will often answer our prayers through the actions of others. Many times in my life, I have had a prayer answered through the words of another. Because God uses other people to answer our prayers, we need to make sure that we are in a state wherein we can receive and act on spiritual promptings so that we can likewise be the answer to others’ prayers.

Wherever you are and whatever you face, know that God does always answer His children’s prayers. He hears every one and will, in His time, answer every one as well. Trust in Heavenly Father’s love for you, come to know the Holy Ghost, and you will never be led astray.

Why Is Prayer Important?

Imagine that you’re leaving home for the first time and that it will be years before you get to see your family again. Imagine that you won’t have access to your family, that you won’t be able to call them to say hi or to wish your sister a happy birthday. Imagine that once you say goodbye you won’t hear from them until you come back home. Wouldn’t that be hard? When we left our Heavenly Father to come to earth, we had to say goodbye for a time. Thankfully, He gave us the blessing of prayer, which is a way that we can directly communicate with Him. We don’t have to dial any numbers or address any envelopes. Wherever you are, you can pray to Him whenever you need to.

Prayer is so important because we need His help, guidance, protection, encouragement, and comfort as we navigate our way here on earth. Our lives can be scary and uncertain, and we can’t do it all on our own. Prayer exists to connect us to heaven and to show us the way to go.

Is There a Specific Way I Need to Pray?

Throughout religious history we see that prayer takes many different forms. For quite some time, Christianity as realized through the Catholic church conducted prayer through official clergyman. The paid clergy were the only means to God. Some sects of Christianity, as well as other religions, sometimes have prescribed prayers with specific wording. It must be hard to navigate all these different brands of prayer to know what is the most pure and effective way to communicate with Heavenly Father.

The most important thing to know about prayer is that you have the ability to speak to God yourself. Unlike what was preached in the early Catholic church (and other churches described in the Book of Mormon, a book of scripture unique to The Church of Jesus Christ), you don’t need a middle-man to connect with God the Father. The best way to pray is with a sincere and humble heart, a heart that is open to answers and the impressions of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer is a very personal endeavor and can take a few different forms. The Church of Jesus Christ has only a handful of prayers with set wording (the sacrament prayers, for instance, never change in their wording and format). Aside from those, prayers are said freely. You should demonstrate respect for God in your prayers. If possible, find a place to kneel; fold your arms, bow your head, and close your eyes. These outward motions are ways that we can show our respect for God and prayer. If you are in a situation where you can’t do these things, you can still pray. Whenever you need prayer, regardless of where you are or what you’re doing, you can reach out to Him, regardless of if you pray vocally or simply in your heart.

What you say in your prayers can be anything. Pour out your heart to God. Tell Him about your sorrows, troubles, and needs, and also don’t forget to tell Him about your triumphs and blessings. Just as your mother would want to know the details of your life, your Father in Heaven wants to hear those things from you as well.

A good way to start off a prayer is by addressing Heavenly Father. A simple “Dear Father in Heaven” is a respectful and intimate way to begin a prayer. Express gratitude in your prayers. Often prayers of gratitude are the most meaningful for me and can result in the clearest answers. Often when you offer your expressions of thanks first, your wants and needs become fewer. Use prayer to ask for guidance in making important decisions; plead for strength and knowledge on how to change un-Christlike attributes; seek methods you need to improve a relationship; confess your sins and ask for forgiveness. Prayer is all about communicating with God the Father, so nothing is off limits. He wants you to share everything with Him.

When you close your prayer, do so in the name of Jesus Christ. This expression seals the prayer and indicates that the Savior approves of you and your supplication to the Father.

How Do I Know If I’m Doing It Right?

When you approach God in prayer with a humble attitude, you will feel the peace of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead and is there to facilitate the communication between you and Heavenly Father. In James 1:5 we read that “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” The Holy Ghost will communicate the answers that God has for you. You may not receive the answers you seek right away. If you persist in your prayers and continue to cultivate an honest heart, you will feel closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and come to a knowledge of Their love and power.

God loves you and will reach out to you however He can. He can reach you most effectively through prayer, so prayer is a tool we all need to use, practice, and refine. As we do so we will feel of His love and comfort, because He cares deeply for our happiness and well-being.

Priesthood power and authority is bestowed by God upon worthy male members of The Church of Jesus Christ beginning at the young age of 12 years. With that power and authority, they are able to act in His name for the salvation of His children. Those honorable bearers of the royal priesthood are imbued with power to preach the gospel, administer the ordinances necessary for salvation, and govern the Kingdom of God on earth.

No man receives this power unto himself. This power is conferred upon him by one who is a worthy priesthood holder who is authorized to lay his hands upon the recipient of the priesthood and ordain him to an office in the priesthood. For as the Apostle Paul taught in the epistle to the Hebrews, “And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron” (Hebrews 5:4.) Modern day revelation as recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) gives further instruction on ordaining a man to the priesthood. In D&C 42:11 the Lord gives this counsel to the Church:

Again I say unto you, that it shall not be given to any one to go forth to preach my gospel, or to build up my church, except he be ordained by some one who has authority, and it is known to the church that he has authority and has been regularly ordained by the heads of the church.

It should be noted that although the power of the priesthood is bestowed upon worthy male members of The Church of Jesus Christ, the blessing of the priesthood is available to all members of the Church – men, women, and children.

Power in the Priesthood

H. Burke Peterson once stated, “Power in the priesthood, the power to bless and guide and teach, the power to forgive and forget, the power to give positive direction to a family comes through righteousness. The laying on of hands we all received is not enough. Priesthood power comes to those prepared to receive it as a result of the righteous patterns of their lives. (H. Burke Peterson, Prepare the Heart of Your Son, Ensign, November 1982, p.43.) J. Reuben Clark, Jr. once said, “The Church is the organized Priesthood of God, the priesthood can exist without the Church, but the Church cannot exist without the priesthood” (J. Reuben Clark, Jr., Educating Zion – The Charted Course of the Church in Education, October 1950.) And it was Elder Bruce R. McConkie in his April 1982 General Conference address, delivered during the Priesthood session, titled The Doctrine of the Priesthood who taught, “The doctrine of the priesthood is known only by personal revelation. It comes, line upon line and precept upon precept, by the power of the Holy Ghost to those who love and serve God with all of their heart, might, mind and strength.” In that same address, he stated, “Priesthood is power like none other on earth or in heaven. It is the very power of God himself, the power by which the worlds were made, the power by which all things are regulated, upheld, and preserved. It is the power of faith, the faith by which the Father creates and governs. . . . Faith and Priesthood go hand in hand. Faith is power and power is priesthood.”

Further clarification concerning the priesthood being used only in righteousness is recorded in scriptures which reveal modern day revelation. In D&C 121:41-46 are recorded these words of instruction:

No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; by kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile— reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy; that he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death. Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven. The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.

15 May 1829 – Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood

Imagine if you will, what a wonderful experience this restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood must have been for Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery when John the Baptist spoke to them. Here, standing before them, was a man who had lived upon the earth more than 1,800 years earlier. He was speaking in English to two young men while he held his hands upon their heads. His was a resurrected body. Theirs were mortal bodies. They felt his hands and understood the words that he spoke. This tells us that resurrected beings are tangible, that they can move and act, and that they can speak and be understood.

Among other things, he told them, that while the authority that he had given them authorized them to baptize, it did not include the authority to bestow the Holy Ghost. He indicated that another order of the priesthood was necessary for this, and that it would subsequently be given them by Peter, James, and John.

That marvelous event did take place when the Melchizedek Priesthood [the greater priesthood], or the Holy Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God was restored. We do not know exactly where the event took place, but we learn from the description given in D&C 128:20 that Peter, James, and John appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery “in the wilderness between Harmony, Susquehanna County, and Colesville, Broome County, on the Susquehanna River.” We do not know the exact date that this event took place; however, by piecing together various accounts and bits of history, we may assume that it occurred in June 1829.

In D&C 27:12-14 we are given some insight concerning this greater priesthood. We read these words:

And also with Peter, and James, and John, whom I have sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostles, and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry and of the same things which I revealed unto them; Unto whom I have committed the keys of my kingdom, and a dispensation of the gospel for the last times; and for the fulness of times, in the which I will gather together in one all things, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; And also with all those whom my Father hath given me out of the world.

The Fullness of the Everlasting Gospel Has Been Restored

The Priesthood was restored upon the earth, and today everyone has the privilege and the opportunities to partake of the many blessings of the Priesthood. Gordon B. Hinckley, the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commented on one of the Lord’s reasons for endowing mortal men with the power and authority of the priesthood:

In a revelation given in 1831, which has become Section 1 of the Doctrine and Covenants and is known as the preface to that book of revelation, the Lord set forth one of the great purposes for the restoration of the gospel in this the dispensation of the fullness of times. He said that, among other reasons, the gospel was restored so that “every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world.” (Doctrine and Covenants 1:20.)

It does not say that every man shall speak in the name of God the Lord. The meaning is that every man may speak, provided he is worthy and receives the priesthood. (Gordon B. Hinckley, Priesthood Restoration, Ensign, Oct. 1988, 69)

In his address given during the 154^th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Bruce R. McConkie, then serving as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (the second-highest presiding group within the LDS Church), proclaimed to the congregation:

Be it known to all men, let it be proclaimed by the very trump of God, let angelic choirs sing of its wonders and glory, let all the hosts of men stand in awe as the voice from heaven declares that God has in these last days restored the fullness of his everlasting gospel.

Let every eye see, every ear hear, every heart be penetrated – for the voice of God is heard again. Angels again are coming from the courts of glory to declare eternal truths to mortal men. The gift of the Holy Ghost is being poured out upon the faithful, and thousands again shout praises to the Holy One of Israel (Bruce R. McConkie, The Caravan Moves On, Ensign, November 1984.)

What then, are the end result, blessing and objective of the priesthood restoration? President Lorenzo Snow once stated, “The object of the priesthood is to make all men happy, to diffuse information, to make all partakers of the same blessings in their turn.” (JD, 9:22.) President Brigham Young stated, “The priesthood of the Son of God is the law by which the worlds are, were, and will continue forever and ever. It is that system that brings worlds into existence and peoples them, gives them their revolution—their days, weeks, months, years, their seasons and times by which they are rolled up as a scroll, as it were, and go into a higher state of existence.” (JD, 15:127.)

Additional Resources:

What Mormons Believe

The Lord Jesus Christ in Mormonism

God’s Instructions for Good Living

At the April 2013 general conference, Elder Stanley G. Ellis, of the Quorum of the Seventy, spoke regarding the instruction that God has given us to live, learn, and marry, among other things.  Elder Ellis began by explaining his role as a “seventy” in The Church of Jesus Christ.  A seventy is especially tuned to doing missionary work: “to share the word of the Lord as we receive it from the apostles and prophets and from the Spirit and to be especial witnesses of the name of Christ in preaching the gospel in all the world, in building up the Church and regulating its affairs” (see D&C 107:25, 34).

Elder Ellis then cited his experiences as he matured, which taught him how to follow God’s commandments and instructions for good living.  As a farm boy from Idaho, he learned to work hard, to work smart, to honor the Lord’s timing, to do what is most needed, to be direct, and to do things simply.

We can apply those sound principles to our own lives, whether we live on farms, or not.  Elder Ellis counseled members of The Church of Jesus Christ to find The Way (Jesus Christ) and follow the path to eternal life, all the while using our talents and gifts to build God’s kingdom on earth.

Who Are We? How Then Should We Live?

Elder Ellis explained that we know who we are.  We are sons and daughters of God.

He is our Heavenly Father, who knows us, loves us, and wants us to return to Him. Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer, who through the Atonement made it certain we will overcome death and live again and possible for us to be exalted and have eternal life. The Holy Ghost is our comforter, revelator, teacher, testifier, and guide.

Because of the fact that we are directed from heaven, we have a sure guide, as long as we are willing to listen and follow.

God has the way to live,  to love, to help, to pray, to talk, to interact with each other, to lead, to marry, to raise children ,to learn, to know the truth, to share the gospel, to choose wisely what we eat, etc.

The Lord’s way is that we hearken to our leaders’ teachings, understand correct principles, and govern ourselves.

We can find out the Lord’s way by reading the scriptures and other wise church publications, hearkening to our leaders, and praying for specific direction.

Especially in the work of salvation, we learn that “in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way” (Ether 12:11). The doctrine of Christ “is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God” (2 Nephi 31:21).

Elder Ellis spoke not only of the confusion and sin in the world, but the hastening of Christ’s work on the earth, as well.  It is more important than ever to be able to discern the voice of the Lord in the din of the world, and to discern our role in helping to establish the kingdom of God on earth.

I witness the Lord has the way! Our Heavenly Father knows us, loves us, and wants to help. He knows best how to help. We are not spiritual orphans!

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6; see also Alma 38:9). His way is based on eternal truth and leads us to “peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come” (D&C 59:23). I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Additional Resource:

Learn more about Mormons

Here, in this column, students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the Old Testament and gospel of Jesus Christ in the form of letters to someone they know. In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to witness to all of us of the relevance, power, and beauty of the Old Testament, and God’s plan of happiness for each of us. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures. Let us know how these may help you in your own life. Share them with a friend.

Mormonism: The Savior

Wanna read a good story that you probably don’t read all that often? Read Hosea.

Here it is in a wrap.

Hosea is a prophet. He is commanded to marry Gomer. Gomer is a harlot.

Even though we choose to leave Him sometimes, the Savior is always willing to accept us again.

They have children. Their children’s names mean: “sow or gather, spread, scatter”; “no mercy”; and “not my people.”

Gomer says – I will return to my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink. Say what? Your lovers will give you bread? And water? Bread – symbolic of the Bread of Life? of Jesus Christ? Your lovers can give you that?

Gomer breaks her covenant and goes to her former lovers. Can I just say how when I read this – it hurt. I was legitimately so angry with Gomer. Hosea married you when you were a harlot. And you leave him for your former lovers who you think can give you bread?

But Hosea doesn’t give up on her. Hosea lets her go for a season. Then he goes after her.

He “allures” her into the wilderness and “speaks comfortably” to her. He cleans her up.

And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt (Hosea 2:15).

At first I thought Hosea was crazy. How could he let her come back?

And then, as my teacher so tenderly pointed out, I realized . . .  This is my story. This is an object lesson for the Savior and me. Sometimes, I go to other places for my flax and wool. It can be hard. I learn from my trials. But Christ comes back for me and he forgives me.

I know that I’m not perfect, that I sometimes get wrapped up in things that I shouldn’t get wrapped up in. I forget Him. But, I want so desperately to follow my Savior. He comes back for me. He is waiting for me, with open arms. He is my Savior. I am nothing without Him. And He loves me.

Following Him is more than just believing in Him and then going and doing whatever I want. Gomer just went back to her lovers, and yeah, she messed up and came back.

But what does coming back consist of? Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; repentance; baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost; and enduring to the end living a continuous Christian lifestyle.

I am so grateful for my Savior.

Additional Resources:

Mormon Beliefs