Mindful Latter-day Saint Apologetics
Providing thoughtful and faithful responses to criticisms and questions of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ
My own spiritual journey and recovery has shown what true masculinity is all about. The character and integrity. Finding joy, since happiness requires right circumstances, means to come to a place of experiencing life - regardless of the good, bad, and those ugly moments.
Our faith starts out small and seems quite insignificant. Yet it has a powerful potential to grow and develop into something that is formidable. This is evidenced with the contrast that such faith can move mountains. In other words - as we cultivate our faith in Jesus Christ. Nurture it from its germination. Cultivate it as it grows and maintain its active growth. Our faith becomes powerful enough to influence and change the course of our lives.
The very heart of worship is our complete willingness to not only surrender our life and will over to God; but that we are willing and able to submit to seek His will and good pleasure for our lives. This is what is meant when the savior taught that if we lose our lives for His sake - we shall find it and there will a life of abundance
Faith is the driving factor to us going forward into this new year with purpose and meaning. The Apostle Paul taught that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). And in Alma 32:21 we read that ...faith is not to have perfect knowledge of things;
Today, we have faced the challenge of a pandemic that impacted our world. A pandemic that seems to have changed the course and fabric of the way we live our lives. This came on the heels of the end of chaos, violence, and protests that had occupied our society and culture the previous year. To say the least, we are ever living in times of increasing uneasiness,
True repentance, living the Gospel of Christ, experiencing the presence of the Holy Spirit, and being transformed into Christ's image and likeness is a process we all experience in this life. In order for this to occur, we are asked to do three powerful things.
Jesus never asked me to do what comes naturally. The mind he cultivates within me will have nothing to do with self-serving accomplishments. It will have drive and ambition, to be sure, but not in the direction I once pursued. No, I may be consumed with a vision for a heavenly unity, and will realize that the only way to have it is to serve others. I come to a place to where my reputation is no greater than another person's reputation and dignity. And I will not care for my own reputation nearly as much as I desire to care for the reputation of God's kingdom. Service through Jesus Christ means we are making a name for His Kingdom and His Glory alone. One borne out of sacrifice and humility on my part.
There are oft times when I found myself needing guidance regarding given situations. My usual tendency was to pray for direction. However, I have come to learn that my Heavenly Father has a better way. I no longer seek direction. Instead, I seek wisdom and the direction before me becomes clear. Merely praying for direction limits God to providing information. Pray to seek wisdom and God grants one a Godly mindset. As Peter says, we become partakers of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). Part of that divine nature is the mindset of God.
Seeking after my own interests begins when I mistrust God's wisdom and guidance. This is what I have come to understand about my own personal sinful nature. When I give over to choose my own will over God's I am essentially mistrusting him and trusting in my own self motivations. Such idea has become quite absurd since I have come to understand the basic teachings of scripture: God's will and care for my life is in his best interest.
Photo by Kun Fotografi on Pexels.com My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.~ Doctrine and Covenants 121: 7-8 ~ Life presses all kinds of… Continue reading May Our Burdens be Light as we Live Faithfully and Mindfully
When we seek God - we seek to live a life that is spiritually abundant and full of grace and truth.
Genuine faith stems from genuine humility. Our humility and faith is shaped from those trials we face in our lives. We are richly blessed beyond measure. The challenge is to keep ourselves humble regardless of how blessed we are. I also want to add that humility is the means in which we shore up treasures in heaven and not here on earth (see Matthew 6:19-20). It is not one of many Christian Virtues. It is the root of all Christian virtues. Humility is the root of genuine faith in God.
Let us approach the throne of God in humble submission. Quietness of mind and heart. Devoting ourselves in praise and worship with eternal gratitude for the gift of the Infinite Atonement through Jesus Christ. His sacrifice provided a way for us to enter into the Kingdom of God.
Dare we imagine Christ saying to those whom he ministered "Go, have faith God will heal you." and turn his back on them? How dare we stand and shame and turn our backs toward those faithfully coming to us and seeking relief? Do you not understand how much courage and humility it takes for an individual to rise out of their own shame and guilt - hand outstretched and asking for sustenance, kindness, mercy, and grace?
When we deny ourselves and trust in God, we are empowered to walk humbly with him and act justly, and to love with mercy.
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.~ Galatians 6:14, KJV ~ Photo by Vanderlei Longo on Pexels.com ~ January 17, 2020 Devotional ~ Christ's sacrifice on the cross ought to be profoundly humbling… Continue reading Humbled by His Sacrifice
If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ~ 1 John 1:6, ESV ~ We convince ourselves that by shutting the door to the reality of our past experiences - we believe ourselves ready to begin a life of living honestly and… Continue reading The first step is honesty
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ~ 2 Timothy 4:7, ESV ~ Our innate desire to control may lead us to an overemphasis on achieving certain outcomes. This may be related to our need for competitiveness and belief that winning is everything. No matter how we… Continue reading Fight the Good Fight
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ~ Colossians 3:12, ESV ~ Developing compassion means we have a deep feeling of sympathy and sorrow for ourselves, and others, who are hurting, in pain, or has misfortune. It is also a strong desire to help… Continue reading Clothe Ourselves with Compassion
Today's reading: Genesis 9: -10; Psalm 3:5-8; Proverbs 1:23-27; and Matthew 5:1-26 ~ I establish My Covenant with you ~ The covenant of divine sovereign grace is love, mercy, forgiveness, and eternal salvation. It is a reminder to our Heavenly Father, and to us, that we are His. However, we tend to fall. Then Noah ...… Continue reading The covenant of divine sovereign grace
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth ~ Matthew 5:5 ~ Many people share their stories of brokenness. How their substance use caused significant loss in their relationships with family, co-workers, loss of employment, loss of health, and even loss of one's freedom. They refer to this moment of awakening to spiritual… Continue reading Having become meek and humble
"...for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands." (See, 1 Samuel 17:45-47 in context). NOTE TO READERS: This article is an adaptation from a previous article I had published at another blog, and a teaching given by Mormon President Thomas S. Monson. The relevance shares insights in furthering our… Continue reading Facing your Goliath on the battlefield
Mindful Latter-day Saint Apologetics 
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