Mormon Musings

  16  For verily he took not on   him the nature of   a angels ; but he took on   him   the   b seed of Abraham . 17  Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto  his  brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things  pertaining  to God, to make  a reconciliation  for the sins of the people. 18  For in that he himself hath suffered being  a tempted , he is able to  b succour  them that are tempted.  14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the  a heavens , Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast  our  profession. 15  For we have not an high priest  a which  cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points  b tempted  like as  we are, yet  without  c sin . 16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of  a grace , that we may o...

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"For what if some did not believe? Shall their  unbelief  make the faith of God without effect?" Romans 3:3 Truth, like God, is unchangeable, and cannot be controverted. Darkness flees before it, and error hides its head wherever it appears. John Taylor, Journal of Discourses  5:148

"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." Romans 15:4 "And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses...for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning...hear ye the words of the prophet, which were written unto all the house of Israel, and liken them unto yourselves, that ye may have hope..." 1 Nephi 19:23-24

35  Who shall separate us from the  a love  of Christ?  shall  b tribulation , or distress, or  c persecution , or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?   36  As it is written, For thy sake we are  a killed  all the day long; we are accounted as  b sheep  for the slaughter.   37  Nay, in all these things we are  a more  than  b conquerors  through him that loved us.   38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,   39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to a separate  us from the  b love  of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39

There are many things associated with the Church and kingdom of God that are very peculiar: it differs from all other churches, and is dissimilar to all other kingdoms. There is a spirit and wisdom associated with it that the world knows nothing of, and there is a power accompanying it to which mankind are entire strangers without that spirit. There is generally a great amount of obloquy and reproach associated with it; people are apt to treat the servants of God with contempt; yet there is a spirit, and power, and intelligence imparted by the gift of the Holy Ghost; that sustains his people under all circumstances, in all places, and among all nations; and hence Paul in his day said, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; for therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith.” Ordinarily speaking, Paul would have been considered a mean, contemptible fool by the world. He was whipped, persecut...

...being in an increasingly secularized world, we should recognize the truth of Paul’s words, “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14). Many individuals refuse to be informed by the Spirit. However, as we all know, when speaker and hearer—writers and readers—are spiritually conjoined, it is a special thing, as revelatory reciprocity occurs: “Therefore, why is it that ye cannot understand and know, that he that receiveth the word by the Spirit of truth receiveth it as it is preached by the Spirit of truth? “Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together” (D&C 50:21–22). John Taylor confirmed this by saying: “There is no man living, and there never was a man living, who was capable of teaching the things of God only as he was taught, instructed and directed by the spi...

the wise counsel of Gamaliel, teacher of Saul/Paul: And now I say unto you, refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought.  But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. Acts 5:38-39

In his flight from persecution at Thessalonica and Berea, Paul waited at Athens for Silas and Timotheus. While there, “his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.” ( Acts 17:16 .) Paul, as you remember, had, in a great experience, gained for himself a knowledge that the Lord was not an impersonal essence, but rather an individual so near that He could and did speak to Paul, and gave instruction as to what Paul should do for his own welfare. (See  Acts 9 .) it was this knowledge which caused Paul’s spirit to be stirred in him as he beheld the idolatry of the city. Not only did such knowledge stir his spirit, but it also gave him the desire and the strength and the courage to do what he could to enlighten the people of Athens. He took every occasion to teach “them Jesus, and the resurrection .” ( Acts 17:18 .) Some called him a babbler; others said, “He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods.” ( Acts 17:18 .) So much attention did he attract th...

Romans 4: 1  What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?   2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath  b whereof  to glory; but not before God.   3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 18 Who against hope believed in hope , that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.   19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:   20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;   21 And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform . Hebrews 11: 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: ...