First Principles and Ordinances

“…faith is waking up each day striving to follow the example of the Savior and repentance is kneeling down each night, seeking forgiveness for where you have fallen short in your strivings.”

Last week we discussed the Third Article of Faith, which focuses on our belief that all mankind may be saved if they are obedient to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
This week, we’ll move onto the Fourth Article of Faith:

....Read the rest of the post "First Principles and Ordinances" on Sieverkropp.com today.



Starting the first of the year, I will be writing exclusively on Sieverkropp.com

We Believe in God...

As part of my Ask a Mormon series, I wanted to share with you the core beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

In 1842, Joseph Smith was asked to explain the beliefs of the Church by the editor of the Chicago Democrat newspaper, John Wentworth.  From this request we were given what is now referred to as the Articles of Faith.  A succinct overview of the core beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

There are thirteen Articles of Faith.  As we go through them here, you will, no doubt, find that my beliefs and yours (if you are not LDS) are different in many ways.  But I am confident that you will find that in several ways they are not as varied as you may have thought. 

This week lets look at the first Article of Faith. 

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

Pretty straight forward, eh?  I could probably end it right there, and it would be understood fairly well.  But lets look at it a bit.

For those who have heard that we do not believe in Jesus Christ, there it is.  Joseph Smith, when asked what we believed, the first thing he did was express our belief in God the Father, His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.   

We refer to these three as the Godhead. 

We believe that God is the Supreme Ruler of the Universe and the Father of our spirits.

We believe that Jesus Christ is the literal Son of God and the Savior of the world.  We believe that He was perfect and sinless and that through His atonement, crucifixion, and resurrection all of us are able to return to live with our Father in Heaven and our families eternally. 

We believe that the Holy Ghost testifies of all truth.  We believe that it is his influence that leads people to choose the right and follow the example of the Savior.  We believe that it is through the influence of the Holy Ghost that we are able to receive guidance and inspiration from a loving Heavenly Father.

We believe that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are three seperate and distinct beings.  We do not subscribe to the view that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are one being.  We believe that the Father and Son have seperate, tangible, perfected, bodies.  We believe that the Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit, but is in the form of a man.  (D&C 130:22).

We do believe that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one, but we believe that they are one in unity and purpose.

I could cite dozens of scriptural examples that lead me to this belief, but allow me to share just a couple. 

Before His crucifixion, Christ prayed to the Father.  In this intercessory prayer recorded in John 17, He talks about being one with the Father.  He says,

"...Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. "  John 17:11
 

So, unless Christ was praying that the twelve apostles all become one blob, instead of twelve seperate individuals, we believe that Christ was talking about being one in unity and purpose. 

By this we mean that the purposes of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are the same.  They all desire the same thing, that we all gain immortality and eternal life (see Moses 1:39). 

James E. Talmage, a former member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the 1900's stated in his book, Articles of Faith,

"This unity is a type of completeness; the mind of any one one member of the Trinity is the mind of the others; seeing as each of them does with the eye of perfection, they see and understand alike.  Under any given conditions each would act in the same way, guided by the same principles of unerring justice and equity."  Chapter 2, "God and the Holy Trinity"
 

In conclusion, we believe in God the Father, His Son, Jesus Christ and in the Holy Ghost.  We believe they are one in purpose, we believe they are perfect.  We believe the Father and the Son have seperate, distinct, perfected bodies.  We worship the Father as our Eternal Father and the Ruler of the Universe.  We worship the Son as our Savior, Redeemer and the only way whereby a man may be saved (Acts 4:12). 

I hope that sharing these core beliefs of my faith will strengthen your faith, as well as increasing that understanding that you and I have about our respective faiths.  In doing so we may become better friends, neighbors, and citizens! 


As always, if you have a question about Mormons--our beliefs, culture, etc, feel free to leave it in the comments section of the Ask a Mormon page on this blog!

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 Twitter: @Skropp2

Sunday Afternoon Session

Speakers

Elder Robert D. Hales - Quorum of the Twelve (Mormons are Christian)
Elder Richard G. Scott - Quorum of the Twelve (Work for the dead)
Brother Russell T. Osguthorpe - Sunday School President (Teaching the Gospel)
Elder Marcus B. Nash - Quorum of the Seventy (Faith)
Elder Daniel L. Johnson - Quorum of the Seveny (Being a disciple)
Elder Don R. Clarke - Quorum of the Seventy (Sacrament)
Elder David A. Bednar - Quorum of the Twelve (Testimony and Conversion)

Talk that you MUST watch

Elder Hales' talk was amazing.  He's not usually one who gives a talk that sticks out to me, but this one did!  His discussion about Mormon's being Christian is a question that is asked often.  I appreciate his suggestion that if we say that we are Christians, we dang well better make sure that we are acting as such!

Favorite Quote

"What kind of Christians are we? In other words, how are we doing in our quest to follow Christ?" Elder Robert D. Hales 

General Thoughts About the Session

This session seemed to speak a lot more about the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel.  Faith. Testimony. Being a disciple.  The Sacrament.  Basic stuff.  It's easy to get caught up in so much stuff and activity in the Church that we forget the very, very basic aspects of the Gospel.  And these foundational principles are so essential to our spiritual lives! 

Click here to view video of individual talks and entire sessions.  This link will also have transcripts of the talks within the week.

Thanks so much for following me throughout this Conference weekend!  Please continue to follow my blog in the coming weeks and months!  Every weekend I answer questions about Mormons that people ask.  If you want to submit a question to be answered, please visit the Ask a Mormon page of this blog and submit it in the comment section! 

During the week I blog about leadership and business topics.  Also please follow me on Twitter @Skropp2, I'd love to get to know you better!

In the words of MoTab, "God be with you 'till we meet again!"

Sunday Morning Session

Speakers

President Henry B. Eyring - First Presidency
Elder Boyd K. Packer - President, Quorum of the Twelve ( Those who are lost)
Sister Linda K. Burton - Relief Society General President (First observe, then serve)
Elder Walter F. Gonzalez - Presidency of the Seventy
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland - Quorum of the Twelve (Do you love me?)
President Thomas S. Monson - President (Service)

Talk that you MUST watch

Elder Holland's talk was fantastic, as his always are.  The visual of Father in Heaven asking us at the end of our lives what He asked Peter, is motivating.  "Do you love me?" Elder Holland's recounting of this conversation between the Savior and Peter is a great one.  I highly recommend it.

Favorite Quote

"Your Father in Heaven expects your loyalty and your love at every stage in your life."  Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

General Thoughts About the Session

Another fantastic session.  Service seems to be a continual theme, and one that bears repeating.  It is so important for us as members to follow the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ and serve our neighbors, families, etc.  As we do so, we will be able to answer to the Father at the end of our lives that we truly kept the two great commandments, To love God, and to love our fellow man. 

Follow me on twitter @Skropp2 for real time impressions from the final session of conference at 2pm MST today. 

Click here to watch video of individual conference talks or entire sessions.

Your Mission, If You Choose to Accept It...

Hello!  Welcome to another edition of Ask a Mormon!  This week we have a question from my good friend, Lily:

"Can you explain missions?  Does everyone have to do it? How does it work?"
 

Well Lily, if my wife had known the question you'd ask, she'd roll her eyes.  Asking a RM (returned missionary) about their mission requires you to have roughly 3-4 days to listen! But I'd be glad to explain how missions work in our Church. 

Elder Lane and I on our mission...alot of walking!

 

The Basics

When we mention a mission in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, most often, we are talking of the time that the young men and women of the Church set aside personal, educational and career ambitions to serve as missionaries full-time away from home. 

Young men typically begin their service at age 19 and serve for 2 years.  Young women begin their service at 21 and serve for 18 months.  This is unpaid service, and as a matter of fact, it costs about $10,000 to serve a mission.  This money is paid by the missionary, their family, and, if help is needed, the local congregation.  This money pays for transportation, food, lodging, and all other expenses for the two years.   

When you go on a mission you fill out mission papers (basic info, medical info, etc), have interviews with your local church leaders to to determine your worthiness (you don't want people out teaching and representing the Church who are not living what they are teaching...) and then your papers are sent to the Church headquarter in Salt Lake City.  A member of the First Presidency or Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, through the spirit of revelation, determine where Heavenly Father would have you serve your mission. 

There are over 300 individual missions throughout the world.  A mission is a geographical area where a missionary will spend the entire duration of his mission.  I served in the Utica New York Mission.  It is presided over, or led, by a mission president and his wife, who are, themselves, called by the Church leadership to serve a mission.  Their mission is to lead, direct, and guide the mission. 

Me with my mission president and his wife

President and Sister Mullen

 

Mission Presidents and their wives serve for three years, also at their own expense.  Those who have children bring them along on the mission.  A mission president and his wife become an example, mentor and counselor to the missionaries they preside over.  President and Sister Mullen certainly were those things to me!

 

What do you do?

Elder and Sisters (what missionaries are called) spend their time finding and teaching people to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with people in the areas they serve.  Their calling is to offer to share and testify of the message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the prophet Joseph Smith.  Those who pray and find this message to be true are invited to be baptized members of the Church. 

 

A family I taught and baptized on my mission.

 

Regardless of whether people are interested in hearing the message they share or not, missionaries seek to love and serve people as the Savior would do.  Missionaries spend a couple hours a week performing regular service in the communities where they live.  On my mission in various areas we did service at a Boys and Girls Club, The Red Cross, a soup kitchen, and several other places.  Missionaries also do "unplanned" service.  These are oppurtunities to serve individuals include raking leaves, painting, shoveling snow, helping people move, and any other times people are in need of help. 

 

Unplanned service on my mission, clearing brush away from a bridge after a flood.

 

 

If you ever need help doing anything around your house, don't hesitate to grab the guys with the white shirts and ties!  Even if you aren't interested in learning more about our Church, they will be more than happy to help! 

 

 

Is it a requirement to serve a mission?

 

All men ages 12 and older in our Church are holders of the Priesthood.  This is authority given by God to man to lead the Church and administer the ordinances of the gospel (Sacrament, baptism, blessings, etc).  Another of these priesthood duties is to serve a mission.  So every worthy and able young man is expected to serve a mission.  The Prophet and President of the Church today, President Thomas S. Monson said recently:

 

"Every worthy, able young man should prepare to serve a mission. Such service is a priesthood duty—an obligation the Lord expects of us who have been given so very much."
 

With that being said, it is not forced.  Young men are encouraged to go, and are taught that this is a priesthood duty that they have.  However, if they choose to not go there are no negative consequences, you simply miss out on the opportunity to serve the Lord and your fellow man and the blessings that follow.    

Young women are not under the same obligation to serve, but are welcomed into missionary service if they so choose.  President Monson continued:

"Sisters, while you do not have the same priesthood responsibility as do the young men to serve as full-time missionaries, you also make a valuable contribution as missionaries, and we welcome your service."
 

In addition

In addition to young men and women, Senior missionary couples serve missions for 6, 12, and 18 months.  They serve proselyting missions, as well as service missions.  Service missions range from working to provide water, sanitation, and other necessities to villages in developing countries to teaching english and other skills.  They also can include working at Church visitor centers, historical sites, and temples and helping others with geneological research.  There are also opportunities to serve missions from your home for those who may have physical or other limitations that make serving a full-time mission difficult.  These may include family history work, service in church employment offices or other duties locally.

What does a mission do for the missionary?

Serving a mission provides untold blessings to those the missionaries teach and encounter, but the blessings to the missionary are miraculous as well.  I can honestly say I would not be the man I am today without the experience of serving a mission.  It solidifies a testimony of the Gospel in the young man or womans heart.  It teaches them that service to the Lord should always be a top priority in life.  It teaches your to rely on your Heavenly Father for guidance, counsel, etc. 

I knew that Christ was my Savior before my mission, but as a missionary I came to know Christ.  I spent two full years studying the Gospel over two hours a day and teaching it for over 8 hours a day.  I watched Spirit teach and change people's lives and change my life.  Missionary work is a choice, but I tell every young man in my local church that it is the absolute best decision they could make for their lives and their family's life. 

I tell my four year old daughter that when she decides to get married (in like 40 years, haha) she should choose to marry a man who chose to serve a mission.  I say this because serving a mission shows that that man can put all his ambitions and wants on hold to serve the Lord.  If he can do that, he will be able to put her interest ahead of his wants in their marriage.  He will have a foundation of honoring God, and THAT is a necessity in a successful marriage!

One of my favorite missionary companions, Elder Busath and I



To Conclude

In short, missions to a Mormon are a very sacred and important part of life.  I am grateful I served a mission, and I hope next time you see two elders or sisters walking down the street or riding bicycles you will have a better understanding of what they are doing and the type of men and women they are becoming.  Please be kind to them.  They are a long ways away from home and doing their best to serve their God and their fellow man.


Question: How does serving God affect your and your family?



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Twitter: @Skropp2





The Path to the Future Goes Through the Present...

Be Present

Last week I was out of town for work and bored out of my mind in the hotel room. I decided to take a walk at at like 9pm. As I walked, I started having a conversation with Heavenly Father (admittedly I did most of the talking…at least that I actually heard.).

Photo via flickr.com 

Courtesy of ToastedWoobie, Some Rights Reserved

  I began asking questions such as,

What is expected of me?
                                               What am I suppose to be learning? 
                                                                                                       Where am I going in my life? 
                  What am I suppose to be doing? 
                                                                                What do I have to do to be successful?

Who Better To Ask

Those are pretty strong questions, and I have been searching for the answers to those questions for quite some time.  And who better to ask than my Father in Heaven?

As I was having this conversation I received an answer.  No, I didn’t see an angel, hear a sound, or receive a scroll.  I did however have a still, small voice speak to my mind and my heart (1 Kings 19:11-12).  I had a scripture from the Book of Mormon come to mind, as well as two words.  Here’s the scripture:

“O that I were an angel and could have the wish of mine heart…But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.” Alma 29:1,3

The two words were “Be Present”

The Answer

And there was the answer to all my questions.  I needed to, first, be content with where I was and what I have been given and blessed with in my life.  And second, I needed to be present.

What do I mean?

What do I mean by “Be present”? 

I mean that I needed to avoid being so discontent with my life, my job, my pay, etc that I couldn’t recognize and enjoy the vast blessings that are in front of me daily.  I couldn’t get obsessed with thoughts like

“If only I was older…”
                                               “If only I wasn’t so busy…”
                                                                                         “If only I had this or that job…”
                        "If only I made this much money…”

What I'm NOT Saying

Now at this point, let me be clear as to what I am NOT saying.  I am NOT saying that we shouldn’t plan and set goals.  And I am NOT saying that we shouldn't try to better ourselves and our position in life. 

However, by being too focused on our discontentment, we experience several unintended consequences.

Consequences

When we are focused on our discontent we can experience four consequences:

1.      We can miss out on valuable lessons that we could learn and that would greatly benefit our growth, progression, and success in our personal and professional lives.

2.      We will often overlook opportunities to serve and bless those around us…including our families and close friends because we are only worried about what we don’t have.

3.      If we are too preoccupied with where we are not at in life, discouragement and frustration will overtake our thoughts, causing stress, anger, depression and all sorts of not fun feelings!

4.      Focusing on our discontent can lead to envy and covetousness.  We will look at everyone more successful than us with disdain and jealousy.  This will not help us become more success, rather it will hinder our success.

How can we “Be Present” in our lives?

1.      Be grateful for what you have.  Count your “haves” not your “have nots”

2.      Remember that there is a season and a time to everything (Eccl. 3:1)

3.      Recognize that valuable lessons  can be learned and service given here and now

4.      Be patient

5.      Have faith, in God, in yourself, in your abilities.

There is a balance we must find a balance between pushing towards our future, and not missing our present. 

I know that Heavenly Father was telling me that I need to focus more on what I have rather than what I don’t have. 

He wants us to succeed, He wants us to be happy, but His thoughts and ways are certainly higher than mine (Isa. 55:8-9) and it is not my job to argue with His plans and His timetable. 

We must always be striving to grow, progress and succeed, but the path to the future goes straight through the present, so BE PRESENT!!!

Q: How can you make sure that you don’t overlook the present in your daily life?

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Twitter: @Skropp2

My Responsibility: A Manifesto

My Responsibility

I was asked to teach Elders Quorum today in my Ward.  My Elder's Quorum President asked me to teach on the benefits of using the Priesthood.  As I began to prepare this lesson, I began thinking of Simon Sinek's TED talk.  And I started thinking about why do what we do as priesthood holders in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Manifesto

This is what I came up with, and what I will share in my lesson today.  Perhaps you will find some value in it as well.

My Responsibility

I am a Son of God.  I am a holder of the Melchizedek Priesthood.  It is my duty to live true, at all times, to the great responsibility that has been bestowed upon me to act in the name of God.  Because of this honor, there are things that I do not do. 

I do not think the things that will drive away the Spirit of God.

I do not say the things that will tear down others and reflect negatively upon the responsibility I have been given.

I do not do those things that will not lift and encourage myself and others.

I do not act in a manner that is not in harmony with a holder of the priesthood which I hold.

I do not call myself a Christian; instead, I speak and act in a manner that allows others to identify me as a Christian.

I do not pray; instead, I seek to know the will of God concerning those things with which I am entrusted.

I do not attend church; instead, I gather together with other Saints to renew my covenants, fast, pray, speak with each other concerning the welfare of our souls.

I do not preside in my home; instead, I live worthy of the respect of my wife and children. I lead them in a Christ like manner towards eternal life in the Celestial Kingdom.

I do not teach; instead, I share my testimony and inspire those I teach to reach towards everlasting life.

I do not attend the temple; instead, I make sacred covenants with my Father in Heaven and give those who have passed on the opportunity to do the same.

I do not Home Teach; instead, I watch over Heavenly Father’s children and assist them in living worthy of eternal exaltation as a family.

I do not bless the sacrament; instead, I act in the name of God to allow His children to renew their sacred covenants with Him.

I do not baptize; instead, I stand with a child of God and provide them the means to receive a remission of their sins.

I do not give blessings; instead, I act in the name of God to make the power of God manifest in the lives of those I bless.

I do not do service projects; instead, I use the time and talent God has given me to lighten the burdens of the children of God.

I do not do missionary work; instead, I testify of the truths that will bring everlasting happiness and life to all of God’s children.

My responsibility is not defined by what I do not do, my responsibility is defined by what I do, and I will do all in my power to assist Heavenly Father “…to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39).





Question: What is the "why" in your spiritual life?

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Twitter: @Skropp2

"The phone's for you, it's the Bishop..." Part II

"The phone's for you, it's the Bishop..."
 

Ok, quick, you hear those words, how many excuses can you come up with in 10 seconds?? "Gee Bishop, My family is going to be in town this week, and Brooklynn's coming down with a cough and there's a huge solar storm that's suppose to hit the earth late Saturday night or early Sunday morn..."

So what does that call usually lead to?

Last week we talked about 8 Tips to Preparing a Conference-Caliber Talk. This week, let's go over 7 Ways to keep Grandpa awake and Jr. Quiet.

Ok, that's a tall order, but these tips will make the presentation of your talk 77.36% better, or your money back!*

Visualize the entire congregation in their bunny slippers
ok, that probably do very little, but feel free to try it out! Ok, take two...ACTION!!

Pray
Before going up to speak, pray to have the Spirit with you...then LISTEN to it when you speak.

Don't tell about what you thought when the Bishop called you
We all know the feeling, it's not necessary to explain how much you didn't want to talk.

If you tell a joke, make sure it's pertinent to your topic
Natural humor is funny, canned jokes get old fast!

Remember you have a unique perspective
At this moment, you are the conduit for the Father to teach His children, take comfort in that and seek to say what He would have you say.

15 minutes means 15 minutes
My Mission President taught me this one. The bishopric plans out the meetings, that's why they give us a time frame. If they say 15 minutes, don't speak for 16, and don't speak for 13. This keeps the meeting on track.

Smile
Take joy in the Gospel. Let the Prophet Joseph's view in D&C 128:22-23 permeate through your talk.

Testify
Bear testimony frequently THROUGHOUT your talk, not just at the end. It invites the Spirit to confirm your words to those who hear it.


By employing 7, or at least some of these suggestions, you will have a better chance of keeping Grandpa awake and Jr. quiet, not a 100% chance, but better.  And the great part is, that those listening should learn something, and you will invite the Spirit, and we all know that the Spirit is the most important part of any talk! 

Question: What suggestions do you have for giving a great Sacrament Meeting talk?





*Offer not valid in Alaska, Hawaii, the continental United States, or any of the 7 major continents. Most restrictions apply! :)



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iPhone: Modern day Miracle!

I was sitting in the "Preach My Gospel" class we have in our ward this past Sunday and we were talking about Chapter 4, "Recognizing the Spirit". As the conversation went on, we began talking about promptings. Various members of the class talked about what the Spirit felt like to them, how the Spirit influenced them etc. A ways into this discussion, I had a thought pop into my head. It is this thought that I want to address today.
One definition of miracle is, "an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause." (Dictionary.com).
What are some things we would consider miracles? The healing of one who was sick? Help with finances or other concerns seemingly out of nowhere? The Mariners winning the World Series? (sorry, couldnt help it, haha).
These and other events like them "surpass all known human or natural powers". But we know that things like healings, help, etc. are not beyond the power of our Heavenly Father. With this in mind, my definition of a miracle would be, "an event that is beyond human comprehension, but is understood by God and adheres to natural law." I have an iPhone. If I could hop into a time machine with Marty McFly and Doc and go back 500 years...heck, even 100 years...probably even 30 years and show someone my iPhone, would they consider what it can do a miracle? I'd venture to say probably...especially the people 500 years ago. Being able to talk to people a world away, to fit books into such a small device, music, camera, and a million other things--all would be probably be beyond the comprehension of someone in 1511!
So is my iPhone a miracle? Is talking to someone in Europe instantly a miracle? Is having multiple books, scriptures, etc on my phone a miracle? Are recordings of music and video a miracle? I would venture to say that most of us today dont really think so, but I think they are!! We are just so used to such technology that we take it for granted!
Now let me ask you this question...Are promptings received from the Spirit miracles? I say absolutely! But just like our smartphones and every other piece of technology we have today, we are so used to it that we take it for granted!!
I think that you and I, as we live right, are guided and prompted by the Spirit way more than we realize! Like our smartphones, we're just accustomed to such revelation that it is commonplace to us. DON'T TAKE REVELATIONS FROM THE SPIRIT FOR GRANTED!!! I know I'm guilty of this in my life.
The challenge was given in that class today to spend the next 7 days asking yourself, "How has the Lord prompted me today? How have I seen the hand of God in my life today?" If you'd like to take that challenge I'm sure you will find that your Heavenly Father is very much involved in your life! I'd wager that you'll come to understand just how much He cares about you and wants your happiness. I know that we'll be reminded of what a miracle it is to have the God of the Universe as a very personal part of our lives! And that revelation will change how we think, speak, and act!
I know Christ lives. I know that our Heavenly Father is truly there for us, in good times, as well as bad. I know like any good parent, He is there, patiently waiting for us to seek His counsel and guidence, though he will never force us to do what is right!!