****Marriage ****

I have been thinking this whole week about how much I love my husband and the wonderful man that he is. I would like to think that part of who he has become, has to do with him being married to me, but I know that is not the case. Heavenly Father knew who he would become. In thinking about all that we have been through as a couple because or anniversary is coming up soon I wanted to share about what I think the art of making your marriage successful is. I have only been dating my husband for 5 years :0).... but we have only been married for 4. I think we have learned quite a bit in that time though. Especially after my husband joined the church. It made a world of difference.

I know that our Heavenly Father loves all of us and wants us to be happy. The scriptures talk about how “Men are, that they might have joy.” President Spencer W. Kimball has (who is one of my favorite prophets) has told us that the price of happiness is to keep the commandments. Nowhere else in the world is happiness and success more important than in our marriage.

The foundation for a happy and successful marriage is a marriage in the temple.I was lucky enough to marry my best friend for Eternity on May 10, 2008 in the Columbus Ohio Temple.The blessings available to us by going to the temple and having our family sealed to us for time and all eternity was the most amazing experience. Seeing my son and my husband in all white, with family and friends present was magical. Going to the Temple more is something that we are striving for, because we know that,that is what will make the marriage strong.

When our Heavenly Father put the plan in place for us to come to this earth, He gave us our free agency, allowing us to make our own decisions. He also gave us guidelines to help us live righteously. I am so thankful.

In Heavenly Fathers wisdom He gives us many problems, He knew that by meeting these challenges,finding answers and solutions we will gain knowledge and have skills, we can develop our character, and learn to overcome evil,evil that is very real,but all of this will help us while we are here on earth, as well as in the life after we die.

I think we should look at problems in marriage as opportunities for growth and development. My husband and i have learned to talk through everything even if it hurt to talk about. As we meet the challenges successfully, we will enjoy peace, love, and tranquility in our marriage and in our home because of the communication that we have with one another. Sometimes our communication can be off, but we get right back on track. :0)

One of the first things as couple we did and do is establish and then maintain good relations with each other. We want to be each others sweethearts, and to be each others sweethearts you must work at it. I would challenge everyone to do everything possible to make your companion happy. Be kind and considerate of each other. When problems arise, talk things over calmly and resolve differences as soon as they arise. NOTHING is good if you let it fester and bubble.

Some wonderful advice of some of the Prophets are these: President Hinckley said that quiet speech in the home is the language of peace.President McKay used to say that we should never yell at each other in the home. And then, comically he would add that maybe on one occasion it would be all right and that would be if the house were on fire and you needed to get everyone out and on board at the same time. LOL.

Sometimes it is difficult for me to understand why my husband dosen’t see things the same and come to the same conclusions as I do....But people are different in their thinking and their understanding, and opinions will more often than not vary. Chuck and I have learned that our differences must be taken care of quick,especially if we as husband and wife are to be happy and work together as a team.

I think to achieve a successful marriage it is important to reach an understanding on what is expected of each of us as a married couple. More often than not the husband is the breadwinner, and he should be willing to work hard and to do all in his power to properly take care of the financial needs of his family. When our son Jackson was on the way this is something that my husband and I discussed.From that point the priorities were set for the best welfare of our family. Now that we are expecting a second child, more action has been taken, and my husband has found an even better job opportunity to provide for all of us. I am so grateful for him and what he does.

As the wife I am the homemaker.Granted I do work outside of the home, during the evenings, but it is for when my husband can be home to take care of our child ( children) and gives him the opportunity to have one on one time just as I do. It is my responsibility to see that a clean, and (semi) orderly home is maintained.( I try really hard)....In some sad cases divorces have occurred when the wife becomes sluggish or not caring about her personal appearance, or becomes a careless housekeeper, or even both. I cannot stress enough the importance of personal cleanliness, good appearance, and maintaining a clean, orderly home. No we are not perfect but we can certainly try our best to make sure that we do our part.

Now because I also work outside of the home, my husband should help with the housekeeping chores.Which he absolutely does (except the dishes, but that's alright) I know that because my husband truly loves me as his wife, he does not want or allow me to work more than my health and strength permit, especially being pregnant now and with other stresses that life demands on mothers... So he is always willing and wants to help me in every way. I love him for that, and how he can be understanding. Not always at first but after I explain my feelings he always is there. :0) The important thing is that we work together and help each other.

I hope that by our actions it lets others know how much we love and care for each other. We have made it a goal, separately and at different times, and when told each other our goals we laughed because we each had been trying without the other one knowing and it did us wonders because we were trying to demonstrate consideration at all times to one another.

I will say that it would be nice for him to open the door of the car for me every once in a while, but I cant blame him cause he was never taught how to do those things. To other men I say when you enter or leave a building together, open the door and let her go in first or help her to be seated before you are seated. Ladies really like this. :0)

I will admit that we as ladies sometimes don’t allow enough time to perform the courtesies. I do know that we need to take the extra time to give the chance for this to happen...

Money management is very important. We decided early on in our relationship to combine our finances and Chuck was in charge of them.These are some things that really helped us to make sure money was not a burden on our marriage, and we still have to work on these. These kinds of things are the things as a couple you will always have to work at.

1. First, always pay your tithing.We try to continually keep ourselves eligible for the great blessings the Lord has promised to those of us who obey this commandment. He made this statement in the scriptures:

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Mal. 3:10.) I KNOW that this is true. I have seen the blessings of tithing in my life. Even before my husband was a member we paid our tithes and offerings. It truly is a blessing we could not do without.

2. Next, pay yourself something off the top. After tithing we through some money into our savings account. Brigham Young once said: “If you wish to get rich, save what you get. A fool can earn money; but it takes a wise man to save and dispose of it to his own advantage.” No wiser words could have ever been spoken.

3. Next, we avoid using credit cards. We have One for emergencies, and it is never used. We are always being urged to “buy now, pay later.” While it sounds easy and even glamorous sometimes to surround ourselves with luxuries before they are earned. My advice to is to save now and buy later. This not only keeps the high interest away that is evil, but it will also keep you out of financial bondage.

President J. Reuben Clark Jr. advised us: “Let us avoid debt as we would avoid a plague; where we are now in debt let us get out of debt; if not today, then tomorrow. Let us straightly and strictly live within our incomes, and save a little.”...Nice huh?

4. Budget your income and outgoing money.We do not live beyond our means. If we did that it would be to consistently spend more than you earn and makes it impossible to keep control your “wants” and "needs". We have been there and are not planning on returning. EVER. We learned early one from our own childhood, and then becoming young adults, you make dumb mistakes, but once you have learned ABANDON the debt.

Establish priorities, we remember that our family always comes first and foremost in our life.The next priority is Church responsibilities,then your business affairs meaning the way we earn our living.

The Savior said when He told his disciples, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt. 6:33.)

Time is one of our most valuable possessions. Use it wisely. Remind yourselves often that things that matter most should not be left to the mercy of things that matter the least. Not sure who said that but it has stuck in my mind.

One thing We should do is constantly evaluate ourselves and strive to live righteous lives and accomplish the purpose of our creation, we must constantly review the past, determine our current status, and set goals for the future. If you ask my husband I am a "Lister" i constantly have some sort of plan. Without that process though there is little chance of reaching our goal As family.

Another thing that I have learned while being married is to associate with good people. The people that I associate with will contribute to somehow or another to my and chucks success or failure, and others actions and ideals will have a profound influence on life and your actions, either for good or evil. I have learned to keep the company of good people and not associate with evil especially by staying out of the devil’s territory and away form others who are not wanting to hold the same values that Have in my life.

I have learned to be honest in all matters. I am so honest with my spouse, with my family, and even with myself which can be very hard... But I know that honesty includes freedom from lying, deceiving, cheating, or stealing, as well as meeting our commitments and not feeling like you are living a double life.

At work I really seek to guard my reputation for honesty and dependability very carefully. I know my husband does as well. It is one of my most valuable possessions.

Since we have become parents, we feel responsible to teach and train our kids. We want to teach them the love we have for our scriptures and we try to make this very clear. Jackson loves to read and hear about the Book of Mormon. We are currently getting ready to but him his first Book of Mormon, for children.

In Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) 68:25 it says this “Inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of … hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.” This is a huge responsibility on our part, and we intend to do all within our power to make sure we teach Jackson and Grayson to love the Gospel.

Our home responsibilities as parents and raising our children is in our minds and shows in our actions as parents hopefully everyday. Especially since we strive everyday to have a successful marriage and want that to be achieved. This is a pretty famous statement made by President McKay and I think it should always be remembered and that is that “No other success can compensate for failure in the home.”

I am trying and striving to let love radiate in our home and in every part of our life, not only to Chuck and I, but also to our children, our nephews, in laws, and all our other relatives on top of our friends and the people that we work with. The Lord commanded us to love one another when he said, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matt. 22:39.) Quarreling, bickering, and faultfinding should be avoided at all costs. I know I am currently struggling with this, i pray fervently that I can know the right things to say and do and to not hold others in harsh judgement because I would not want the same done to me and I am the only I can be held accountable for. So if I do not do what I have been instructed I am at fault. I cant take the blame for someone Else's attitude.

In 3 Nephi (3 Ne.) 11:29–30 the Lord made this statement:

“He that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.

“Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away.”

And also in Mosiah 4:14, we read that parents are particularly responsible for the behavior of their children:

“And ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin, or who is the evil spirit which hath been spoken of by our fathers, he being an enemy to all righteousness.”

When we say our family prayers we take turns each night whoever is saying the prayers that night and we thank Heavenly Father for the blessings He has given us,we pray for our family and for our home and we ask for the things we need that will be for our good or for the betterment of our family.

I know that our Heavenly Father always answers our prayers. Sometimes His answers are not what we expect or asked for or even want to know the answer to, but I know and promise that His answers are always for our good. After all, He knows better than we know about how our prayers should be answered!

I also try to find a few minutes each day to study my scriptures and then ponder the scriptures. Which is how I end up with my horribly long posts that I do over the course of the day, because either I have been thinking about it for a while and it all just comes out, or I thought about it all night and could not sleep. In the scriptures we find answers to all of life’s problems. It is amazing how many times you can read the scriptures and every time yo read it something new pops out or you see it in a different light.AMAZING!

Finally we strive to ALWAYS attend our meetings, magnify our callings for chuck magnifying his calling in the priesthood. As a wife, I try to always support Chuck in his Church assignments; and as my husband, I know he supports me as my calling requires me through the week. Try to go to the temple often (we are striving to do this as well) because we know then that we can carry the spirit we feel there back into our home. We strive to be diligent in keeping the covenants we made in the house of the Lord.

Again my favorite, President Kimball once said, “Almost all marriages could be beautiful, harmonious, and happy, and eternal ones, if the two people primarily involved would determine that it should be, that it must be, that it will be.” Bottom line....Marriage is Honorable.

I hope and pray that Heavenly Father will bless you and your family as I know he has abundantly and continuously blesses ours whether we feel we deserve it or not. Even more so in your efforts to make your marriage successful for both time and all eternity. As my husband and I are trying to do as well. I hope and pray that as our marriage grows I can add to the list of things that I know now that makes a marriage successful. Even though we are young, we have been taught and we understand to do as the Lord has commanded us. Have a wonderful day.

Until next time.....

Lauren

Mother-In-Law Issues & What to do about them.....

How do you recover after a major blow-up with your Mother-In-Law? Or How can you try and deal with the crazy that she is?

Vent. Talk to you girlfriends, not your husband. Your girlfriends will let you get it off your chest. Dr. Phil says ‘If you haven’t talked to your in-law about what’s bothering you, then you don’t have the right to be complaining about the problem to others.” While we totally intellectually “get” that, we aren’t all strong enough to confront our Mother-In-Law. You have to get it off your chest, so go ahead and vent.If you have sister in laws like I do, talk with them, chances are they are going through the same EXACT thing... I tried to get it off my chest with my mother in law and nothing has changed. If anything, I think that it made things better for a while, then right back down the crap shoot. In all honesty I think she just tolerates me. I have tried and still am trying to do what I ave been taught to do which is to turn the other cheek and to always respond with warmth and kindness.

Stop complaining about your Mother-In-Law to your husband. I know it’s hard. This does’t mean don’t have constructive conversations with hubby about setting boundaries. Just stop complaining. Remember, no man likes to come home to a complaining wife. As a bonus, the less you complain about your Mother-in-Law, the more likely he is to complain about her! But when he does, resist the temptation to join in the fun!!!! Listen to his complaints, but don’t add to them. It can be extremely gratifying to hear him complain about her! This is more than true. Then at some point and time, everything you have been talking about he will come to understand and you can finally, Finally say "I told you so..but you thought I was crazy"... One thing we have as women is to know how to read another woman. It is a GIFT!

Do NOT email your Mother-In-Law! In fact, do not create a written record that you will later regret after you’ve calmed down. Even if you receive an aggravating email from your Mother-In-Law or others, send only the briefest, most courteous reply. You cannot take back the written word. It will only come back to haunt you!

Don’t involve the children. Shield your kids from any arguments with your spouse or in-laws. Even if you can’t stand your Mother-In-Law, you should do everything in your power to preserve a positive relationship between grandchildren and their grandparents. Don’t speak ill of your Mother-in-Law in front of your children—you know it’s the wrong thing to do.

Examine your role in the feud as objectively as you can. Did you act immaturely? Did you say something you know was out of line? Did you break a promise? Do you give her the same amount of time with her grandchildren as you allow your mother? What about your behaviour embarrasses you?

Did you give her a chance? No. Really. Many Daughters-In-Law get themselves worked up and defensive before a Mother-in-Law visit. We play out scenarios in our minds, predicting disaster, and this becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. She can do no right. If she insists on cooking dinner you view her as controlling and insulting your cooking. If she does’t offer to cook you see her as a lazy, imposing, ungrateful house guest. If you continuously predict negative outcomes, that is what you will get.Trust me. Even If I don't think negatively, something will still happen, Now I have learned how to roll with the punches. Whatever happens....happens.

***Have some empathy for your husband. This grudge match could be causing your husband a great deal of stress that he is not verbalizing– it’s not easy being in the middle of two women he loves. Put yourself in his shoes. Have some sympathy for the fact that he is in a lose-lose situation. If he pleases one of you, the other is certain to be mad at him. Accept the fact that however horrible your Mother-in-Law is, your husband needs to have a positive relationship with his mother.*****

Try to put yourself in your Mother-In-Law’s shoes. Even if you really, really don’t want to. Recognize that your she loves your husband. This may be the only thing you have in common with her! Can you pinpoint the root cause of her behaviour? It must be difficult for her, a seasoned wife and mother, to see you -- an inexperienced wife and mother -- doing things that don’t look right to her. Don’t you think it could be hard not to say anything if you see someone doing things you know to be wrong, be it cooking or child rearing? It is especially hard when the mother in law is selfish, and you have tried many times to help her out and it is continually rejected and pooped on. Try the exercise anyways.

Try this exercise: before speaking to your Mother-In-Law, imagine she is your own mother. Speak and react to her with the same level of respect and consideration that you would give to your own mother. Does it feel artificial? Is it difficult? Perhaps you will realize that you aren’t as nice to her as you could be.OR perhaps she is truly impossible!!!!- I have tried this and it does not work. I still continue to try the only difference is she cant handle what she dishes out, where as my mom can handle it. I admit i do not always have the right tone, but at least I try to communicate. Its something right?

Also, decide if you would rather be right or be happy. Would you rather win every argument, or would you rather have a peaceful home life with your husband and kids? Imagine your future if this feud is unresolved. What will it do to your family? Your holidays? How would you feel if your Mother-In-Law was hit by a bus tomorrow? Would you feel guilty that you didn’t try harder to make it work? I would feel horrible if something ever happened to my mother in law. I would be sad because there was not more time to try and smooth things out, on the flip side religiously speaking I think she would being for a total shock and realize that we weren't crazy, she would be in for a nice surprise. I would then look forward to reuniting with her in that form, cause then I know that I would have my husbands family for eternity too, not just this earth life.

I think that is what makes it so hard, Is that we have the keys and the knowledge to give and to share with them. About the wonderful truth of the Gospel.If they could only accept it here, they would see how much better their lives would be in regards to handling challenges that are CONSTANTLY facing our family, and being able to better deal with situations from their pasts. If only they could get the worldly thoughts out of their head. * This is a whole other topic*-I will write on that more. My head is always going...anyhow back to the subject at hand....

Work with your husband to develop an action plan. Don’t let her be the downfall of your relationship. If you are lucky, your husband is supportive, and on your side, if not see Mama's Boys.It's OK to be a Mama's Boy as long as you can still see her for when she does do something wrong and inappropriate. Either way, sit down and talk with him. Tell him he is your #1 priority -- not the feud with your Mother-in-Law. Men (who are from Mars) like to talk about solving problems rationally.

They don’t like to be emotional and empathize about a problem as women do. He is not going to say, “yes honey, she is a total whack job and you are 100% right, I’m sorry it has been so hard on you.” Ask him to brainstorm with you how to improve the relationship, such as setting new boundaries for his mother. Agree to a concrete action plan and start enacting it. You will both feel better. Good luck!

Mind you all of these things are still even a work in progress for me. We have other issues such as different religious beliefs. She thinks I and my husband are crazy and is mad at me, for HIM choosing to become part of my faith and not hers. On top of other things like..Well I am not going to say because Oh my GOSH! I could go on and on. I won't though. I may at a later date and time. I save everything for my journal writing, but I do not get to write in my journal as much as I would like, so I am going to use my blog as my journal writing, I know I feel so much better when I can write it all down. Well I am glad I could get some of this out.

Until later.....

The Golden Girls

The Golden Girls




I have to say that I love these women. These show is so wonderful. It good, clean and brings me lots of comfort and feels like I am not in the world we live in now. IT was a much simpler time. I have more to post later, but I needed to share my love of them. :0)


Until later....

Search, Ponder & Pray

I love being a member of my faith. I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I love being a Christian. I love having the whole truth and knowing the Gospel. The beautiful thing of the Gospel is it's simplicity. One thing I do have an issue with are those who call me and others of my faith unbiblical, and not Christian and that we believe in a different Jesus Christ and that we do not believe or understand the true nature of God. To them I say, you could not be farther from the truth.

I have many good friends and some family members who are of other faiths, and are good people trying to do the best with the knowledge that they have. Unfortunetly, almost all of them have their faith rooted in false teaching. The teaching of the "Holy Trinity". Would it surprise you to know that one of the most prominent doctrines in Christianity today have no basis in scripture? The doctrine of the "Holy Trinity" considered by many to be essential to one's very salvation. If so does that not make the Atonment of Christ is vain?The trinity Is not found in Christianity until at least three hundred years AFTER the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Even more shocking is the fact that the concept of a triune godhead likely comes from the traditions of paganism!

It is hard for me to understand why so many people believe in something that is not even taught in the Bible. To those who are believers in the Trinty, I ask you to actually question this belief. Go to our Heavenly Father in prayer and ask him if that teaching is the truth, and do so in the name of His son who is Jesus Christ and as that the Holy Ghost testify of that truth to you.

When you are truly learning new things it can be scary but it forces you to look at what you believe and make sure it is in fact EXACTLY what you claim to believe in and follow. That way there can never be a doubt in your mind. My goal in writting this is from my own studying and my own purpose of putting all of my thoughts on the subject into words. Let's look at the Trinity.

Keep in mind that there are many sincere believers in the trinity doctrine and not all are just mindless followers of a tradition. While there are numerous scriptures that show Jesus to be just who he said he was, the SON of God, there are a handful of New Testament scriptures that might, IF taken out of context, cause one to conclude that Jesus is himself God. We of course know that this is not true.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not hold the contemporary Christian view of God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost it is not a comment about our commitment to Christ but rather a recognition (very accurate, I might add) that our view of the Godhead breaks with post–New Testament Christian history and returns to the doctrine taught by Jesus Himself. Now, a word about that post–New Testament history might be a little helpful.

In the year a.d. 325 the Roman emperor Constantine convened the Council of Nicaea to address—among other things—the growing issue of God’s alleged “trinity in unity.” What emerged from the heated contentions of churchmen, philosophers, and ecclesiastical dignitaries came to be known (after another 125 years and three more major councils)4 as the Nicene Creed, with later reformulations such as the Athanasian Creed. These various evolutions and iterations of creeds—and others to come over the centuries—declared the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost to be abstract, absolute, transcendent, immanent, consubstantial, coeternal, and unknowable, without body, parts, or passions and dwelling outside space and time. In such creeds all three members are separate persons, but they are a single being, the oft-noted “mystery of the trinity.” They are three distinct persons, yet not three Gods but one. All three persons are incomprehensible, yet it is one God who is incomprehensible.

I agree with our critics on at least that point—that such a formulation for divinity is truly incomprehensible. With such a confusing definition of God being imposed upon the church, little wonder that a fourth-century monk cried out, “Woe is me! They have taken my God away from me, … and I know not whom to adore or to address.” How are we to trust, love, worship, to say nothing of strive to be like, One who is incomprehensible and unknowable? What of Jesus’s prayer to His Father in Heaven that “this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent”?


The organized church was built (Roman Catholic/Catholic) on top of these creeds. The creeds were and are the foundation for many of today's churches/denominations. These denominations are different to the Body of Christ spoken of in the scriptures. This shows us that most denominations are still rooted in a creed and in particular the Trinity doctrine. Most denominations still have the Trinity doctrine as a foundation.

The mother of these denominations the Roman Catholic Church murdered approximately 50 million people, had armies and banned access to scripture to Christians. This time is known today as the Dark Ages. Some relief came during the Reformation where the teachings and authority of the Catholic Church were challenged. The Reformation restored many truths back to the Body of Christ.

As a result many new denominations started up and unfortunately they held onto some of the creeds and in particular the Trinity doctrine. From a historical point of view it seems strange to me that one of the pillars of Christianity didn't come into existence or wasn't recognized until 300 years after the death of Christ. On this point alone, I think its strange that people are encouraged not to question this doctrine and worse still, the circumstances in which this doctrine came about should lead any clear thinking person to be at least suspicious.

Now it is not my purpose to demean any person’s belief nor the doctrine of any religion. Iwant to extend to all the same respect for their doctrine that I am asking for ours. That,is an article of our faith and what we belive as memebers of my faith. But if one says that I or others of my same faith are not Christians because we do not hold a 4th or 5th century view of the Godhead, then what of those first Christian Saints, many of whom were eyewitnesses of the living Christ, who did not hold such a view either?

Christ in his own words claims to be the SON of God.According to the Apostle John, "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten SON." (John 3:16) If Jesus was "begotten" some other being must have "beget" him. According to Webster's Dictionary, "Beget" means to be the "FATHER OR TO SIRE. To bring into being." This being the case, a higher power must have created Jesus.

In examining the account of creation as written in the book of Genesis, it is clear that the Heavenly Father instructed Christ in the creation process along with Micheal.Heavenly Father (GOD) said to Christ "Let US make man in our image, according to our likeness, let them have dominion over the the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." (Genesis 1:26).

The gospel of the Apostle John tells us that "All things were made THROUGH him, Jesus Christ and without him nothing was made that was made." (John 1:3).

"THE WORD WAS GOD" In JOHN 1:1 For centuries, a poor translation of John 1:1, as well as a misunderstanding of biblical usage for the word "god," has caused millions to wrongly believe in the trinity. In most Bibles, John 1:1 reads "In the beginning was the Word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God." This scripture is the cornerstone of Trinitarian creed.One that has been told to me numerous times by those who are firm believers in the Trinity. BUT....

HOW SHOULD JOHN 1:1 BE TRANSLATED? The first argument in refuting this interpretation is an appeal to common sense. How could the Word be with God and be God at the same time? If the point here was to say that the Word was God, why bother saying that he was with him? Would the passage make more sense to say (In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was in all things God?) The very word structure of this passage provides strong evidence for mistranslation.

Further proof that the doctrine of the trinity is false lies in the book of 1st John. Trinitarians have used the words of 1st John 5:7-8 as a key argument for the trinity. "For there are three that bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one." There is an enormous problem however in using these verses to bolster the trinity doctrine. The passage is not authentic! These words only appear in five later manuscripts and are not found in any of the earlier New Testament texts. These verses are such obvious forgeries that even staunch Trinitarian scholars have been forced to admit as much. Among them are the publishers of the New King James translation and various study bibles.

Ok let's take a look at 1st John 5:7-8 in its true context "For there are three who bear witness, the spirit, the water, and the blood, and these things agree as one."

Upon seeing how these verses are intended to read, it is clear that in no way do they offer a credible argument for the trinity. Now examine verse 9 "If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God that he has testified in his SON Jesus Christ." Clearly these passages are talking about two separate beings, Our Heavenly Father and his only begotten SON Jesus Christ.

Supporters of the trinity often quote the words of Jesus in JOHN 10:30 "I and the Father are one" as proof for Jesus being God in the flesh. Once again they take the words of Jesus completely out of context. If one examines Christ in his own words later on in the very same gospel of John, he explains this oneness.

On the night of his arrest the Lord prayed in the garden of Gethsemane. He prayed fervently for the well being of his Apostles. He asks God that "they all may be ONE, as you Father, are in me, and I in you; that they also may be ONE in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And the glory which you gave me I have given them, and that they may be ONE just as we are ONE." (John 17:21-22)

Clearly Christ was not asking his Father to make his apostles one in the same person. He was requesting that they be one in THOUGHT, PURPOSE, & DEED. Jesus Christ is our savior and Heavnly Father,is his God and our God, they are indeed one, but it is a oneness in their mission. This oneness of purpose can be compared to having a President and a Vice President. They are not the same literal persons, but they are one in representing the office of the Presidency.

Trinitarians use the words of the Apostle Thomas upon seeing Jesus following his resurrection "My Lord and my God." (John (20:28) as proof that Jesus was his own Father. Jesus in his resurrected condition was the head of the Christian church and was truly Thomas' Lord and ruler.

One thing that is soo important in this whole discussion is that Jesus never once claimed to be God. If Jesus Christ was God, his own father, why didn't he come out and say so?

Why did he come up with such a confusing doctrine known as the trinity? In all cases Jesus Christ speaks of his Father being his superior. Here are just a few scriptures, "As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father." (John 6:57) "My doctrine is not mine but his who sent me." (John 7:16) "For the Father judges no one, but committed all judgment to the SON." (John 5:22) "And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as my Father bestowed one upon me." (Luke 22:29) "All authority has been given to me in Heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18) "All things have been delivered to me by my Father" (John 11:27) "In this love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son to be a propitiation for our sins." (1st John 4:10)

Throughout Jesus' earthly ministry he claimed to be subjected to the will of his Father. When speaking to his apostles the night before he was put to death, he said, "You have heard me say to you, I am going away and coming back to you. If you loved me, you would rejoice because I said, I am going to the Father, for my FATHER IS GREATER THAN I." (John 14:28)


The Apostle Paul in speaking of the time when God's plan for mankind is complete, when death is destroyed and Christ's earthly reign comes to an end, has this to say. "Now when all things are made subject to him, (The Father) then the SON HIMSELF WILL BE SUBJECTED TO HIM who put all things under him, that God may be all in all."

Christ was sent here to atone for our sins so that we could one day return to live with our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ. Heavenly Fathers plan is central to our being here.

Those advocating the trinity have used the words of the Apostle where he calls God "our savior" (1st Timothy 1:1) as another proof for Christ's deity. While Jesus Christ carried out the role of savior, Heavenly Father is ultimately our savior because he designed the plan that made it possible for us- the human race to return to him.Thats why he sent his Son, and all things are by the Father through the Son of God... "We have seen and do testify that the Father sent the son to be the savior of the world." (1st John 4:14)

There are numerous scriptures that show the trinity doctrine to be false. Here are more words from our Savior on the matter.... "Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no not angels, neither the Son, but my Father only." (Mark 13:32) "I send the promise of my Father upon you." (Luke 24:49) "I am come in my Father's name." (John 5:43) "Whatsoever I speak, therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak." (John 12:50)

I believe without a shadow of a doub in God, the Eternal Father. He is my Father, the Father of my spirit, and the Father of the spirits of all men. He is the great Creator, the Ruler of the universe. He directed the Creation of this earth on which we live. In His image man was created. He is personal. He is real. He is individual. He “has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s” (D&C 130:22).

In the account of the Creation of the earth, “God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Gen. 1:26).

Could any language be more direct and explicit in the meaning? Does it demean God, as some would have us believe, that man was created in His express image? instead, I believe it should stir within the hearts of all of us a greater appreciation for ourselves as a sons or daughters of God. Paul’s words to the Corinthian Saints are as applicable to us today as they were to those to he wrote to. He Said:

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

“If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1 Cor. 3:16–17).

Some people will say “Why don’t you stay with the doctrine of the Bible which says in John 4:24, ‘God is a Spirit’?”

So to this I say lets open the Bible and see the verse they had quoted and read the entire verse: “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

My response would be ff course God is a spirit, and so are you, in the combination of spirit and body that makes of you a living being, and so am I.

Each of us is a dual being of spiritual entity and physical entity. Everyone knows the reality of death when the body dies, and we also knows that the spirit lives on as an individual entity and that at some time, under the divine plan made possible by the sacrifice of the Son of God, there will be a coming together of our spirit and our body. Jesus’ declaration that God is a spirit no more denies that he has a body than does the statement that I am a spirit while also having a body.

I DO NOT think my body is anywhere near equal with His in its refinement, in its capacity, in its beauty. His is eternal. Mine is mortal. But that only increases my love and reverance for Him.

I worship Him my Father in Heaven “in spirit and in truth.” I look to my Heavenly Father as my strength. I pray to Him for wisdom beyond my own. I seek to love Him with all my heart, might, mind, and strength.There are many times I find myself pleading with Heavenly Father for his comfort and direction. His wisdom is greater than the wisdom of all men. His power is greater than the power of nature, for He is the Creator. His love is greater than the love of any other, for His love encompasses all of His children, and it is His work and His glory thay will bring immortality and eternal life of His sons and daughters of all generations (see Moses 1:39).

He “so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

This is the Almighty God of who we all stand in awe and reverence over. It is my Heavenly Father who I look at in fear and trembling. It is Him who I worship and who I give honor and praise and glory. He is my Heavenly Father, who has invited me to come unto Him in prayer, to speak with Him, with the promised assurance that He will hear and respond.

I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the eternal, living God. I believe in Him as the Firstborn of the Father and the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. I believe in Him as an individual, separate and distinct from His Father. I believe in the declaration of John, who opened his gospel with this majestic word:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

“The same was in the beginning with God. …

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:1–2, 14).

I believe that He was born of Mary as the promised Messiah, that He was in very deed begotten of the Father, and that in His birth was the fulfillment of the great prophetic declaration of Isaiah:

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6).

I believe that in His mortal life He was the one perfect man to walk the earth. I believe that in His words are to be found that light and truth which, if observed, would save the world and bring exaltation and happiness to all of mankind.

I believe in the Holy Ghost as a personage of spirit who occupies a place with the Father and the Son, these three composing the divine Godhead.

The importance of that place is made clear from the words of the Lord, who said:

“All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

“And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come” (Matt. 12:31–32).

That the Holy Ghost was recognized in ancient times as a member of the Godhead is evident from the conversation between Peter and Ananias when the latter held back a part of the price received from the sale of a piece of land.

“But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost … ?

“Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God” (Acts 5:3–4).

The Holy Ghost stands as the third member of the Godhead, the Comforter promised by the Savior who would teach His followers all things and bring all things to their remembrance, whatsoever He had said unto them (see John 14:26).

The Holy Ghost is the Testifier of Truth, who can teach men things they cannot teach one another. I believe this power, this gift, is available to us today.

I believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

I was baptized in the name of these three. I was also married in the name of these three. I have no question concerning their reality and their individuality. That individuality was made apparent when Jesus was baptized by John in Jordan.

There in the water stood the Son of God. His Father’s voice was heard declaring His divine sonship, and the Holy Ghost was manifest in the form of a dove (see Matt. 3:16–17).

I am aware that Jesus said that they who had seen Him had seen the Father (see John 14:9). Could not the same be said by many a son who resembles his parent?

When Jesus prayed to the Father, certainly He was not praying to Himself!They are distinct beings, but they are one in purpose and effort. They are united as one in bringing the grand, divine plan for the salvation and exaltation of the children of God.

In His great, moving prayer in the garden before His betrayal, Christ pleaded with His Father concerning the Apostles, whom He loved, saying:

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us” (John 17:20–21).

It is that perfect unity among the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost that binds these three into the oneness of the divine Godhead.

Miracle of miracles and wonder of wonders, they are interested in us, and we are the substance of their great concern. They are available to each of us. We approach the Father through the Son. He is our intercessor at the throne of God. How marvelous it is that we may so speak to the Father in the name of the Son.

I know those things to be true and right and I do so by the gift and power of the Holy Ghost that has been given to me. My love of the Gospel is so huge. Again, i do not wish to tell others what to believe, I only want them to truly look at what they believe through sincere prayer and find out if it is true and to ask questions. The gospel is not complicated, neither are the answers to our questions that we have.

Search, Ponder and Pray.

Foundation Reaches Out to Two-Year Old Cancer Patient

Foundation Reaches Out to Two-Year Old Cancer Patient

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The First Day

I am excited to have finally started a blog. I have needed to do this for sometime. I am doing this for a few reasons mostly because I need someplace to write and express without the thought of it offending someone. So, those who do stop by to read know that this is my place. If your views are different that's is fine, and you may express them, but know that I will also express mine. Thank heaven for freedom of speech.

I love face book but it causes problems and can cause huge communication errors. I am so much more to say and what I want to write however, I think it may have to wait until tomorrow. I do know that I want to talk about my faith and my studies I am doing in regard to religious studies and what it is teaching me. My pregnancy, my marriage, my family. My nephew who has cancer and my father in law who has cancer. So all that is coming soon. I am excited and hopefully you will be too! If not, too bad. :0)