A Shout Out to Our New Sponsor

More meaty doctrinal posts are on the way . . . I hope to write some before the year is out.

Meanwhile, I wanted to let you know about my friends at Mormon Market. This great company is doing its best to put out family-friendly LDS-themed products.  They have, for instance, a cute electronic keyboard for kids that helps them learn Primary songs, and cute "I am a Child of God" teddy bears.  Some fun FHE type stuff.  Head over there and check it out and support a company that's striving to make the world a little better.  And when you do . . . use the coupon code Mosiah 2 and get 15% off at the checkout.  Thanks!

Like I said . . . more posts to come . . .

Believing is Doing

Can a person have a testimony of a doctrine and not live it?  Conversely, can a person not live a doctrine and still have a testimony of it?  I suppose the question really comes down to (as so many seem to) a matter of definitions.  That is, is a testimony an all-or-nothing thing?  Is it binary, like a light switch?  Can you only be "a little bit" pregnant?  Only mostly dead?

A testimony is indeed something that can grow, like that mustard seed - so I suppose it is not binary (though it does need to start somewhere).  However, the real crux of my first two questions above is: what is the result (or inevitable destiny) of a testimony which is not "lived"?  We know that it is like a foreign language (or many other skills) - "use it or lose it."

The question originally popped into my head during Elders Quorum today.  The particular subject was that of genealogy (that is, "doing the work" for the dead).  I have a testimony of that sacred duty; however, it has been a while since I actually DID anything about it (that is, set aside time to do the necessary research) that I felt a certain shame in saying to myself that I had a testimony of it.  For, I reasoned, if I really had a testimony of it, I would be acting upon it, would I not?  I act upon all the other things of which I have a testimony, don't I?  Then I got to thinking, and in a cross between honest self-assessment and over-self-criticism, I wondered how I can claim to have a testimony of something like, say, charity - which I feel I don't do a very good job of acting upon.

Maybe it is too harsh to say that a lack of constant and perfect action regarding a particular doctrine is evidence of a lack of testimony of it, but it does bear consideration that failure to act can and does lead to a withering of testimony (which can become a vicious circle).  Don't get me wrong, I have no doubts about the truth of any Gospel principle, only doubts in my own choices from time to time.  I know I need to do better in many areas (don't we all?), but I am reminded that Joseph Smith said (in Lectures on Faith) that faith is a principle of action.  Thus, in order to increase faith (testimony), we must act upon those beliefs we hold.

So, lest I forget the incredibly powerful feelings I experienced when I did the temple work for my family members (I've done the first 9 closest relatives in my family), I really need to prioritize doing more.  I hope I can apply that motivation to all of the areas where I fall short.

The Book of Mormon

I know, I know.

I get an award for my blog, then virtually abandon it.  Sorry.

I have just been crazy busy for the past few . . . months.  But I do intend to get back to this.  Soon.

Meanwhile, I want to provide this awesome link.

And this awesome video.  It speaks for itself quite well.

I add my testimony to the wonderful Elder Holland's: the book is true, the book is of God, the book will change your life (eternally!) if you read it and pray about it with a sincere heart and faith in Jesus Christ.