Seven of Everything

Grace without faith or works is a false doctrine that was not taught by Jesus or His apostles. We are saved by grace through faith , which includes works . If we were saved by grace without faith or works many of Christ's parables would have been very different. Below is an example of one parable which I have modified to teach the false principle of grace without works. Please compare to the unmodified version to see where the importance of works come into play with regards to salvation, represented in this parable as "enter[ing] into the joy of [the] lord". The gospel of grace without works : Matthew 25:14-30 (modified from the original) 14 ¶For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to ... their lord's desire ...; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had recei...

In the New Testament there are 10 verses which use the word remission. This is a summary of those verses(cited in their order): Salvation comes by a remission of sins(3). Remission requires blood to be shed(9). Through Christ's righteousness, His blood was shed for the remission of sins(1,8). Baptism, through the shedding of Christ's blood, is for the remission of sins(1,2,4,6,9). Baptism is of repentance meaning repentance includes baptism and is also for a remission of sins(2,4,6). Remission of sins is received by whosoever believes in Jesus Christ(7). Once a remission of sins is received nothing else (no offering) needs to be done (or given) for those sins(10). Baptism of repentance for the remission of sins should be preached in Christ's name among all nations(2,4,5,6). Which means (my take away): Preaching baptism of repentance for the remission of sins in Christ's name inspires belief in Christ. Believing in Christ is not complete without repentance. Repentance i...

In October 2014 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Holland said, "the Lord’s way of assisting our own is easier [than the world's way]: all who are physically able are to observe the law of the fast." You will notice the distinct wording, he did not say 'all who are physically able are to fast.' To observe the law of the fast includes much more than just fasting. Some people are not physically able to fast but only a completely paralyzed or mentally ill person cannot observe the law of the fast. The Lord said through Isaiah: "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens,... to let the oppressed go free,... [to] break every yoke?... to deal thy bread to the hungry,... [to] bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him;... [to] hide not thyself from thine own flesh?... [to] take away from the midst of th...

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy . Obadiah talks about a future day when he says "saviours shall come up on mount Zion . " In the scriptures when it talks about saviors in the plural it is referring to God's people as saviors both spiritually and temporally. We are to become saviors both spiritually and temporally. Christ saves His people, both individuals, families, and His church, and seeks to save all mankind, both the living and the dead, by teaching them to become His people through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel ,  which brings them into His church. As we obey the laws and ordinances we become saviors, first to ourselves, then to our families and last to the church; we likewise seek to save all mankind in the same way that the Lord does, through His grace and power. Christ delegates many parts of His mission as the Savior to His church and gives power to carry on this mission through the authority He gave to His Apostles...

At Mount Sinai the Lord spoke to the hearing of the whole congregation of Israel: "I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Most of the ten commandments are written in a negative phrase 'thou shalt not;' what is the positive equivalent? 'Thou shalt have me as thy God.' He goes on: "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to [any graven image], nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments." The positive equivalent to this is, 'thou shalt bow down thyself to me, and serve me; love me, and keep my commandments.' Who bows down? Besides the worshiper to his God, there is the subject to his king, the servant to his master and the beggar to anyone w...

The common saying is that there are no dumb or stupid questions. I disagree with that. I think there are several dumb questions. For example: 1 A question where the answer is already known and it is not being used as a teaching tool or as a self-reflection exercise. 2 A question where the person asking don't really want to know the answer. 3 A question that is intended to incite confusion or contention or to be annoying. This could include asking a question where the person asked does not know the answer and it is known by the person asking that they cannot get the answer. 4 A question that is manipulative or forceful, attempting to coerce a person into giving an answer that they do not believe or would regret. 5 A question intended to show intellectual superiority or power over another person. 6 A leading question could go one way or the other. It would be a dumb question if it is based on faulty logic, or if the implied answer is wrong. As an example, in a previous blog p...

In the scriptures sometimes there appear to be verses that contradict each other. Death is one of those topics. I will show two sets of verses that appear to contradict and then show a correct understanding of them. All Die It is stated in several scriptures that every person who has, does, and will ever live on this earth will die. 1 Cor. 15:22 - For as in Adam all die. Job 34:15 - All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust. 2 Ne. 9:6 - Death hath passed upon all men. Alma 12:24,27 - And we see that death comes upon mankind ... it was appointed unto men that they must die. Apparent Contradiction In these verses it appears that a few people will not die. 1 Corinthians 15:51-3 - We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this...