Ten year old Jackie Evancho sings Pie Jesu. This is beautiful music, one of my favorites. Below is a translation from latin to english that I found on the internet.
I find the music and the words very moving and thought I would share it with you.
Click below for Youtube. It should open in a separate window so you can listen and read the english translation.
The following experience gives those who have faith in the priesthood an idea of how priesthood power is accomplished.
Sister Veda Mortimer was present in her Manhattan Ward, in New York Stake, in September 1959 when Elder Harold B. Lee set apart and ordained members to new callings. They were in the bishop’s office which was located in the basement.
She writes, “As it is not a large room, the twenty people in it filled it almost completely. A chair was set in the center of the bishop’s office. Brother DeWitt Paul took a seat on the chair in the of the center room, his back toward the door. Elder Lee took his place behind Brother Paul to give him the ordination and blessing as the newly called stake partiarch. Just as Elder Lee lifted his hands to place them on Brother Paul’s head, I both saw and felt a shaft of bright light come onto the back and top of Elder Lee’s head. It was like bright sunshine suddenly coming through a square window, eight to ten inches square, and shining down on a 45-degree angle on the back and top of his head. It was as if a shade had suddenly been drawn to let in the bright sun.
As I bowed my head, I saw the light and thought, ‘What a coincidence that that shaft of bright sunlight should shine on Elder Lee just at the particular instant that he was putting his hands on Brother Paul’s head’.
Just as quickly as I thought this , I realized there was no window in the office, and therefore it could not be sunlight. The only opening in the room was the door, which was closed…in that same instance I understood that it was a stream of light from heaven, a light that needed no physical window to enter the room. Continue reading
I read, Yearning for the Living God, by F. Enzio Busche a few years ago. He is a convert to the church from Germany and was called to be a General Authority and served as a Seventy in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He also served as president of Germany Munich Mission and president of the Frankfurt Germany Temple.The following account is taken from his book on pages 202-05.
The reason I selected it is because of a recent event in my life where I had a similar experience with a health problem that has dogged me for years. I know the Lord can be near and intervene to help us in time of need when we suffer physical, mental, and emotional pain. I hope that all who read this account will be lifted in their faith and will be inspired to call upon God with increased faith when their need is great. Regarding prayer, Elder Busche said: “Whenever a person is very sincere, willing to listen, and ready to obey, dedicate himself, and surrender, the Lord is willing to do anything to help that person.” (P 196)
“…when I was in Munich as a mission president…I was plagued with frailty of body-a condition called deep-vein phlebitis…As I established my new life in Munich, the rhythm of my routine was interrupted with a change of pace and movement. Somehow, this started an inflammation of my deep leg veins. The difference between this form of the disease and normal phlebitis was that I had deep pain, pain in places where there is normally no pain, according to medical professionals. Continue reading
Years ago, I attended a series of lectures at BYU where the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, the Bible, and the Book of Mormon were discussed. I later learned that some of the scholars who lectured were agnostic. This surprised me. I was hard pressed to understand how someone could spend their life studying the Bible, the Book of Mormon and other religious text and yet be agnostic: neither believing nor disbelieving.
Since then, I’ve come to understand that the gospel net really does “gathereth of every kind.” Apparently, Mormonism can be attractive on many levels. Some individuals are born and raised in the church and therefore are “Mormon”, while some individuals are drawn to the message of the restoration, others by those who proclaim the gospel—their missionary, some are intrigued by the doctrine and or history, and still others are drawn to the culture, and some find the moral and ethical principles to their liking—and yet all of them can ultimately be agnostic—never being “brought into the light”.
The scriptures explain it this way:
And he said: Go and tell this people—Hear ye indeed, but they understood not; and see ye indeed, but they perceived not. 2 Nephi 16:9 Continue reading
The apostles and prophets have decided it’s time to let Mormon Bloggers know there are limits to what they can do and still remain church members. It can be likened to marriage. Divorce is a viable option for infidelity.
I hope that all Mormon Bloggers will recall the message of the vision of the tree of life and the implication it has for them. I hope all of them will choose to grasp the iron rod and move towards the tree of life. Its not reasonable to attempt to have one hand on the iron rod and the other hand reaching for the great and spacious building. Sooner or later a decision will need to be made.
Church members who are devotees of ordain women movements and/or of blogs that persist in destroying faith are halting between two opinions. I hope they will choose the path of faith and follow Jesus Christ.
Years ago, in June 1966, I made a decision to follow the Savior. Since then, for nearly 50 years, I have studied the doctrines and history of the church. I’m aware of the challenges and difficulties bloggers are dealing with that cause them to be drawn to alternate voices. I could easily be in the same camp, sharing many of the same feelings and thoughts, if it wasn’t for one thing—answers to prayer. Continue reading
In recent days there has been news that several church members have been notified of disciplinary councils due to their public opposition to church policy and doctrine.
This is a sad time, especially for family members of those summoned. It also creates unfavorable press for the church, as the church is usually portrayed in the press as censuring freedom of thought and speech when members are disciplined.
The Book of Mormon provides the following account of a revelation Alma received explaining how the Lord deals with dissidents in His church.
I highlighted a few key phrases for emphasis and broke the account into sections. Continue reading
Click here for Table of Contents
This post is written with the assumption the reader has experienced receiving answers to prayer, is familiar with the workings of the Spirit, and is currently living in a manner where they can expect to receive divine guidance through prayer.
No message is repeated more in scripture than the simple thought: “Ask, and ye shall receive” (D&C 4:7). Elder Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, Nov. 1979, 19.
I have received many answers to prayer. These experiences have been the most sublime experiences of my life—no other life experience—even comes close. However, that’s not the end of the story. I can also relate to the following:
When Joseph Smith prayer’s remained unanswered, he pleaded with the Lord, saying, “Oh, God where art thou?” D&C 121:1 Continue reading
In the years I’ve been blogging, tales of lost or failing faith is a constant and recurring theme in the Bloggernacle. On occasion, someone will relate how they had a Spiritual experience that resolved their difficulty with church history or one of the other confounders of faith. But they are rare, receive few comments, and are quickly forgotten.
It seems many in the Bloggernacle are stuck in the twilight zone of shrunken faith by choice, and when this mindset is challenged by someone who can relate miraculous encounters with the things of the Spirit, they are instantly marginalized by the defenders of the status quo.
There are many ways to handle trials to our faith. We can choose to have our faith incrementally destroyed by “studying”, or increased by “studying—it depends on what we’re allowing to occupy our thoughts. However, studying isn’t the ultimate solution to deal with issues of faith. The Lord teaches us to call upon Him in mighty prayer to acquire the kind of faith needed when we’re in a crisis of faith.
Prayer, fasting and like Spiritual resources seem to allude those who are caught in the vortex of failing faith. In just about every account of those whose faith is overcome, seeking God’s help is often not mentioned, when it is, it is evident there wasn’t the kind of effort made as the Lord requires (Mosiah 11:25). Continue reading
It’s exciting to read about great men and women of the past. I remember in 8th grade reading about George Washington and other men of renown who brought America into existence. I also remember the thrill I felt watching movies about brave men and women overcoming insurmountable difficulties and achieving hero status. The early pioneers are an example. The sacrifices that members of the “Greatest Generation” made during the dark days of the depression and World War II are awe inspiring. Paul Harvey had a radio program called, “The Rest of the Story”. It was always interesting to learn the “rest of the story” about men and women who had achieved much in this life because of their grit and determination.
The history of the world is filled with examples of men and women of dignity who gave their yesterdays so that we can enjoy the day we live in. We truly stand on the shoulders of giants.
The more we learn about these men and women the more we realize the place that moral and ethical teachings had in shaping them. The virtues of honesty and fair dealing are qualities these people exhibited, even when it was difficult to do so.
In truth, men and women can become noble human beings by learning and following the moral and ethical principles contained in philosophy and world religion. Continue reading