Tuesday, June 28, 2016

From Great Faith Comes Blessings

We had a really cool spiritual experience yesterday, we were stopping by different potentials we had in in part of our area, and when we tried this one, he had moved. However the person who moved in answered the door and he invited us in immediately. He had some questions for us and we were able to teach the first lesson right there on the spot. He is a cool guy and we have an appointment set up for this Thursday.

I know that the Gospel is here, and I know it blesses our lives, I have seen it in my own life. I know that as we strive to follow the spirit, the Holy Ghost will guide us where we need to go, what we need to say, what Improvements we need to do in our own life, how to change to improve, help us recognize truth when we see it, and warn us of dangers. I know that Jesus Christ died for all of us, because He loves us. I know Christ has set out the perfect plan for us, and has provided a way to accomplish it. I know that this church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, is the one and only true church of God here upon the earth. I know that our Heavenly Father loves each and everyone of us, for He has given us this chance to be down here upon the earth to learn and grow so that we can become like Him. I know this is just a small part of Eternity, and by that, it is Infinitely small. I know that as we give up our own desires, we will be able to take upon ourselves the desires of God. I know this church is being lead by prophets of God. I know The Book of Mormon is the word of our Heavenly Father, I cherish it and strive to learn from it everyday.

I would invite you all to gain a greater testimony for yourself. We can't all have a Saul to Paul, or Alma the younger experience, but I know that we can have our prayers answered, and I know we have the power to change our own lives. We just have to follow the Gospel that has been laid out in front of us, and willingly chose Jesus as our Savior.

I hope you all have a great week to come, and are able to read from the scriptures daily.

Love,
Elder Warkentin

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

You just have to keep pressing on.

Sometimes things just don't always turn out the way you may want them to go, whether it be with work, school, or a task you are performing. I can promise that as you continue to press on, with a faith in Christ, you can know that you are helping to accomplish the work of our Heavenly Father. I know that as we strive to follow the teachings of our lord and savior, Jesus Christ, we can help with the work of God. I have seen this past week numerous times that as we try to follow the guidance of the Holy Ghost, we will be placed, at the right time, in the path of someone who needs the peace that comes from the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

If you haven't been able to pick up the Book of Mormon or even the Bible in the past couple weeks, I would invite you to repent, and follow the teachings that are found in them, for they command us to continually pick them up and read them, for we are told we need to follow the teachings of that are found in them, and we can only follow them if we study them to know what they are.

I shall relate it unto a computer, if we don't have one, we are only denying ourselves of the wealth of knowledge and information found there in. If we have obtained a computer, but we never decide to turn it on, it also is useless to us, for it is not enough to just say we have one. It is only when we turn it on and take the time to use it, is when we are able to learn the things it has to offer. However if we use it to only go to one website and say that is all it has to offer, we are limiting ourselves, for we must continue to go back to it, and use it over and over again in order to begin to learn all it has to offer. Don't be the one who merely has one and doesn't turn it on, or the one who only tries once.

I know that we can find peace in this life. I hope each of you are able to find that peace this week.

Love,
Elder Warkentin

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

I was originally going to talk on a different subject, but I have felt it important to change that.

I feel as if we, as a general society, feel like we have become complacent in our progression. If we are leisurely trying to progress in our progression toward the Celestial Kingdom, we can only get so far, for as if we were to quicken our pace, and strive to treat it as a job, and work all our days to get where we want to be, we will achieve our goal and then be able to go beyond that point. For if a farmer were to plant a seed and expect the rain to come down and provide it with the needed water. It would eventually sprout and grow, but if that farmer were to work all his days nourishing and strengthening that seed, how much more fruit would that one seed be able to produce? If we are able to labor with all our might, we can receive a greater blessing then if we sit back and say the seed is planted.

I would ask how much work are you able to put into your Eternal Salvation?

I know that where ever you have found that your at, Jesus Christ and His Atonement can help you become better. I would exhort you to ask what you can do to become better in prayer, and follow the council given.

I hope you all have a great week to come.

Love,
Elder Warkentin

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

The Restoration

The first part is about how we have a loving Father in Heaven. There is proof that He loves us. He has given us this earth so that we can come down and learn how to be more like Him. He wants the best for us, so He will answer all the prayers we pray to Him. We have to actually pray to Him, not some other person like Mary. Heavenly Father has given us a chance to be in families here on earth, with families we are able to help each other out and be there for one another. Which is why the Gospel that He has brought to the people here on the earth is meant to bless us both as individuals and as families. I know my family helps support me.

Another great thing that Heavenly Father has given us in His infinite love, is prophets. In the beginning of time, we had people such as Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Noah. What the essential role of a prophet is to reveal things from God unto the world. They also learn and teach the Gospel to the people on the earth. However, just like in times past, the people no longer want to listen to God, so they reject the prophet, out of rebellion, and Kill him. So Heavenly Father will wait until the people repent and look back to Him for guidance. Then He will call another prophet. The time when people don't listen to God is called Apostasy (there are many people in today's day that are in personal apostasy).

Then we fast forward to the time Christ came. He came and ended the state of apostasy that the people were in at the time. He then established His church. He did that by calling 12 Apostles, He gave them the Priesthood, He set out the manner of baptism (which is by full immersion, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost soon after), He performed the Atonement, and most importantly He taught His Gospel (which is the same Gospel as Heavenly Father's). But just like in times past the people rejected Him and His teachings, they wanted to rebel, so they Killed the following prophets and apostles. So there was no longer anyone who holds the Priesthood power left on the earth.

Then in the early 1800's their was a boy named Joseph Smith, he had one simple question, which of all the churches on the earth was the true church of Jesus Christ? In studying the bible he came across a scripture in James 1:5 which says "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." So he did just that, he went into a grove of trees near his house and knelt down and offered a prayer. In his own words he said "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!" Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ both appeared to him and answered his question, Joseph said "I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong". Joseph Smith was then called to be a prophet in these latter days. Latter John (the Baptist), Peter, James and John (the beloved), came and restored the priesthood to Joseph Smith.

Another thing that Joseph Smith brought back to the earth was a book of scripture called The Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is a record of Heavenly Father's and Jesus Christs dealings with the people over here on the American continent from about 600 BC to 400 AD. We have been promised that if we read from this book everyday, we will have protection from the temptations of the devil, who is doing everything he can do keep us from doing such things. We are promised that if we read The Book of Mormon, and pray with a sincere heart (meaning that you fully intend to act upon the answer you receive) then you will receive an answer that it is true. I have done just that. I know that it is true. I know that what it teaches are things that come from a loving Heavenly Father. I know you can get this same answer. We need not only receive the answer once, but the more we ask, the greater our testimonies come of it. You can tell me how you came to know it is true this week.

I know these things to be true. I hope you believe so too. I leave these things with you in the name of My Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

I hope you have a great week.

Love,
Elder Warkentin