Introduction.
I have been asked on several occasions during my teaching experiences about why there are four Gospel accounts of the life of Christ in the Bible. More importantly, some want to know why there are some details mentioned in one account and not mentioned in the others. Isn’t this just a little bit confusing? My reply is that it is not confusing at all. All four Gospel accounts relate the same wonderful story of the life of our Savior but from four different perspectives. When we study one of the Gospel accounts, we should study parallel Scriptures in the other three accounts in order to get the full picture.

When I think of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, I think of four news reporters reporting on the events of the day from four different perspectives based on their individual backgrounds and cultures. The story line that each presents is basically the same. The differences arise in the fact that each reporter adds his own “flavor” to the story. I think that a brief overview of each of the four Gospels may be helpful at this point.


Matthew (Levi) – A SPECIAL REPORT TO THE JEWS! WHO IS JESUS CHRIST? HE IS THE KING OF ISRAEL AND THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH! HE IS THE SAVIOR AND THE KING OF KINGS. HE KNOWS WHO YOU ARE AND HE CARES ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN YOUR LIFE.

Background.
1. Matthew was a Jewish tax collector who became one of Jesus’ twelve apostles (9:9; 10:2-4). His given name Matthew, meant “gift of Yahweh [the Hebrew term indicating God]. His home was in Capernaum and later Damascus, Syria. His father was Alphaeus. He later became an author and pastor of a church in Damascus.

2. Links the Old Testament (53 quotes and 76 other references) with the New Testament by emphasizing the fulfillment of prophecy (Psalm 72; Isaiah 9:6, 7; Jeremiah 23:5; Zechariah 9:9; 14:9).

3. Often called the Genesis of the New Testament.

4. Focuses on the legal right of Jesus Christ to the throne of David.

5. Presents Christ as The King

6. Writes from a Jewish perspective

7. Probably written between A.D. 60-65

8. Purpose of the writing: To prove that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, The Eternal King. Note: Messiah is the Hebrew word for “anointed one”

9. Presents the genealogy of Christ from Abraham through the royal line [the first of two New Testament genealogies (Compare Matthew 1 with Luke 3)

10. Key word used: “fulfilled” – 38 times

11. Key verse: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law of the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” (5:17)

12. Key phrase: “the kingdom of heaven” (appears 32 times in this book, but nowhere else in the Bible)

13. Key places: Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Capernaum, Galilee, Judea

14. Concludes with the Great Commission given by Jesus Christ just before He is taken to heaven. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (28:19-20).


Mark (John Mark) – A SPECIAL REPORT TO THE ROMANS! WHO IS JESUS CHRIST? HE IS THE LOWLY SERVANT!

Background.
1. He was one of the twelve disciples, but he accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey (Acts 12:25) and later associated with Peter (1 Peter 5:13).

2. Was the first Gospel written

3. The other Gospels quote all but 31 verses of Mark

4. Records more miracles than does any other Gospel

5. Wrote for the Roman reader, and uses a number of words derived from Latin

6. Wrote this Gospel in Rome about 25 years after Christ dies between A.D. 55 and 65

7. Does not write about Jesus’ birth or childhood. He begins his story when Jesus is 30 years old.

8. Presents Christ as Jehovah’s servant

9. Jesus reveals Himself here by what He does than by what he says

10. Purpose for writing: To present the person, work, and teachings of Christ

11. Key word used: “straightway” – used 42 times

12. Key verse: “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (10:45)

13. Key places: Capernaum, Nazareth, Caesarea, Philippi, Jericho, Bethany, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, Golgotha

14. Concludes with the ascension – the completion of the mission of the suffering servant. “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.” (16:19)


Luke – A SPECIAL REPORT TO THE GREEKS! WHO IS JESUS CHRIST? HE IS THE PERFECT MAN!

Background.
1. Also known as the “beloved physician” (See Colossians 4:14)

2. Was also a historian, author and even did some evangelism

3. In this report, the parables of Christ are emphasized

4. The Gospel of Luke is the most lengthy Gospel account and the longest New Testament book

5. Written probably in A.D. 60

6. The first of a two-volume work addressed to a friend named Theophilus [“lover of God”] (Compare Luke 1:3 with Acts 1:1)

7. Tradition states that Luke was from Antioch in Syria, and remained unmarried. He later lived in Philippi and other cities where Christian communities were started.

8. The second and most complete New Testament genealogy is offered here (See Luke 3). Luke takes the genealogy of Christ from Adam through the bloodline.

9. The Gospel of Luke is the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15; 22:18; Isaiah 7:14-16; 9:6

10. The only Biblical writer who was a physician

11. The only Gentile Biblical writer

12. Was probably Paul’s most faithful friend and companion

13. The most educated of the four Gospel writers

14. Born into a cultured, Gentile family

15. The Gospel of Luke is the tenth longest Biblical book

16. Luke is best known today for – Writing about one-fourth of the New Testament (Luke and Acts), His works emphasize the impact of the Gospel on people considered “second class” in Jewish culture at the time – Gentiles, women, the poor – as well as the topics of prayer and the work of the Holy Spirit.

17. Probably gathered the information for the account of Christ’s life during the two years that Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea by the Roman governor Felix of the Jewish homeland (See Acts 24:27)

18. Writes for a Greek audience, concerned with the ideal of “excellence”

19. Shows Christ as being the ideal human – warm, concerned, ministering

20. Places more emphasis than any other Gospel writers on Christ’s relationships with people, and on the role women played in Christ’s life and ministry

21. Reports six miracles and nineteen parables that are not mentioned in other Gospels

22. Presents Christ as the Son of man – the friend of sinners

23. Purpose for writing: To present an accurate account of the life of Christ and to present Christ as the perfect man and Savior

24. Key phrase: “It came to pass” (appears 40 times)

25. Key verses: “And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the son of a man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (19:9,10)

26. Key places: Bethlehem, Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem

27. Most of 9:51 – 18:35 is not found in any other Gospel

Concludes with the promise of the Spirit – “And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”


John – A SPECIAL REPORT TO THE WORLD! WHO IS JESUS CHRIST? HE IS THE SON OF GOD!

1. John’s name means “Yahweh is gracious”

2. Known as the Apostle of Love

3. Called a “Son of Thunder”

4. Probably written A.D. 85-90

5. In this report, the doctrines of Christ are emphasized

6. In describing the life of Christ, John makes comparisons with the pieces of furniture in the tabernacle of Moses

7. The only Gospel writer to hint at the rapture (See 14:2, 3)

8. Uses the number seven [the number of wholeness, completeness, perfection] on numerous occasions (seven witnesses of Christ, seven pre-crucifixion miracles, seven I Am’s)

9. The Gospel of John is the fulfillment of Isaiah 9:6; 40:3-5; 47:4; and Jeremiah 23:6

10. The fourth longest New Testament book and nineteenth longest Biblical book

11. Probably raised in Capernaum on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. He later lived in Ephesus and was banished to the island of Patmos in old age.

12. Family – Father was Zebedee; mother was probably Salome; younger brother of James. Salome and Mary may have been sisters (See Matthew 27:56; John 19:25). If so, James and John would have been cousins to Jesus.

13. Occupation – Commercial fisherman; later one of Jesus’ disciples and one of the inner circle

14. Best known today for – His close relationship to Jesus, and his New Testament writings

15. Author of a Gospel, three New Testament letters, and Revelation

16. The Gospel of John has been called the “universal Gospel”

17. Presents Christ as the Eternal Son of God

18. Message – Christ is the incarnate Word

19. John takes Christ’s origin back to His preexistence with God all the way through eternity (See John 1: 1-3)

20. Key phrase: “verily, verily” (appears 24 times)

21. John tells nothing of Jesus’ birth and youth. He introduces Him as the adult Son of God.

22. Purpose of writing: To prove conclusively that Christ is the Son of God and that all who believe in him will have eternal life

23. Key verses: “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book, But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (20:30,31)

24. Key places – Judean countryside, Samaria, Galilee, Bethany, Jerusalem

25. Special features – of the eight miracles recorded, six are unique (among the Gospels) to John, as is the “Upper Room Discourse” (chapter 14-17). Over 90% of John is unique to his Gospel – John does not contain a genealogy or any record of Jesus’ birth, childhood, temptation, transfiguration, appointment of the disciples, and no parables, ascension, or Great Commission.

26. Concludes with the promise of the return of Christ – “Jesus saith unto him, if I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me.” (21:22)
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  1. I do not mean to come across as being callous, cruel, or mean-spirited, but the older I get, the more discouraged and dishearten I become as I watch some of our young people - the future of our world, place themselves in a proverbial box called defeatism. Unquestionably, some of us have grown up in unfavorable conditions and in an unkind society that constantly reminds us, and in some cases has thoroughly convinced us, that our father never amounted to much, and our mother has never amounted to much, and so, as the proverbial apple never seems to fall far from the tree, we ourselves can expect to never amount to much either. The tragedy of it all is that society is not alone in painting this picture of hopelessness and despair, but that same picture hangs on the walls in our homes, as well as, in the classrooms of our schools.


    I wish to send a very clear, precise, and concise message to our youth of today: the time has come for you to stop wallowing in the mud of hopelessness and slowly drowning yourselves in the sea called despair. Now is the time to break free from that proverbial box that you have found yourselves in, and from the strangling chords of the voices of naysayers who preach negativism and defeatism. Rise above your current station in life. You can if you believe that you can!

    Maybe it is true that your father and mother have never done anything to make an honorable name for themselves, or have ever tried to get out of their current situations and better themselves. Maybe it is true that you were born in unfavorable and adverse conditions. Maybe it is true that all of your young life people have done nothing but knock you down and kick you while you were down. However, it does not have to stay that way. Though the night may seem dark and dreary, nighttime only last for a season and then the morning comes. And with the dawning of the morning comes a light of hope that shines bright as the noon day sun.

    Now is the time for you to start realizing that you are not your father and you are not your mother. God Almighty has made each of us uniquely YOU. He has meted to you and me a measure of faith, hope, courage, talents, and abilities. It is time for you to put behind you those things that once were, and press forward to obtain those things that can, and (with faith, hope, patience, determination, and endurance) will be. Stop listening to the perpetual lies of those who do not have your best interest at heart, and start believing in yourself. You can do whatever it is you have a mind to do, and you can become whatever it is that you have a desire to become in life, but YOU have to believe that you can do it. If you cannot believe in yourselves, how can you honestly expect anyone else to?

    Do not become discouraged if at first you do not succeed at doing something, but try and try again knowing that the road to success is often filled with potholes called failure. Many a success in life has been wrought through heartache and failure, so don't let that stop you. Even along the road of success will be hurdles and discouragement which you will have to get over, but don't let that stop you either. Continue to run your race with your head held high and a song of hope and gladness in your heart. You may not be the first to cross the finishing line, but then the winner of a race is not always necessarily the swiftest runner in the race, but he who runs his race well by remaining focused, staying his course, and enduring to the end.

    There will be times along the way when you may become weary. Stop and rest for a little while if you must, but don't give up, give in, or quit. Remain focused on your goals and objectives. The finishing line is just in sight. You can make it. Yes you can! May God give you the hope, courage, faith, and determination to endure to the end. God bless you all!

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  2. Where has the time gone? It is hard to believe that in just a few short hours another year will have come and gone and will have taken its place among the annals of history. It seems that with each passing year, though the amount of days and hours remain the same, the hands of time seem to move at a much swifter rate. With all of the incidences that occur in life over the course of a year, sometimes even the swiftest runner in the race can find it difficult to maintain a steady pace.

    As a new day dawns on the horizon inviting the beginning of a brand new year, what will the pages of history record as a descriptive summary of the year that we are about to bid farewell to? Perhaps the words from the opening paragraph of Charles Dickens' timeless classic "A Tale of Two Cities" could be used to put the cap on the pen after the final words of this, another chapter in our lives has been written. Describing the times about which he was writing, the English novelist wrote:

    It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.
         As I reflect upon the events that have occurred in my own personal life during this past year, I could honestly surmize that the days now gone by have been some of the best of times, as well as, some of the worst of times. There have been many mountains to climb and many rivers to cross. There have been some lofty mountain top experiences, and there have been some seemingly cold and lonely nights spent in low valleys. There have been times of laughter and great rejoicing, and there have been times of tears and great sorrow. But, through it all, I have been blessed and sustained by the tender mercies of the Lord. I am ever mindful of the words of the Psalmist when he said, "weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning" (Psalm 30:5).

    Sometimes, if I allow myself to focus on only the negatives, it can seem as if there is no joy to be had. It becomes easy to immitate Ophelia from William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" and find myself crying, "O, woe is me, To have seen what I have seen, see what I see!" However, I choose not to focus on the negatives. Instead I see the negatives - the challenges that I often face in my life - as stepping stones that eventually lead me to greener pastures where I have a chance to sit and rest beside still waters as the Lord restores my soul.

    Tonight is New Year's Eve, and of this night, Hamilton Wright Mabie, an American essayist, editor, critic, and lecturer once said:
    New Year's eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights.And it was Hal Borland, a well-known American author and journalist who said, "Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us."

    With the new day dawning, and as the Lord allows me to go on, and as my thoughts are turned heavenward, I resolve to continue to "lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. [For] my help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer [my] foot to be moved: he that keepeth [me] will not slumber" (Psalm 121:1-3). I further resolve to "be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season" (Psalm 1:3). I know that as I delight in the law of the Lord, and meditate upon His law by day and by night, the leaves of my tree shall not wither, and whatsoever I do shall prosper. (See Psalm 1: 2,3) And I also resolve to forget those things which are behind and reach forth unto those things which are before, pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (See Philippians 3:13,14)

    As the new day dawns, we will open the book to a brand new page to begin writing a new chapter in our life. How will we begin this new chapter? No matter how we choose to begin, the words that we write, and the story that we will tell will be our own. As we begin a brand new year let us be reminded of the words of wisdom of English author G.K. Chesterton who said:
    The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective. I wish for all of you a bright, productive, and successful New Year. God bless!

    ~ Keith Lionel Brown, Annapolis Maryland, 31 December 2011
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  3. Wise men of old came from afar asking the timeless question, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews?" (Matthew 2:2). Following the star that they had seen in the east, they were led to where the Christ Child was. Upon their arrival they presented the new born baby with precious gifts of frankincense, gold, and myrrh.
    Have you ever stopped to wonder why the scriptures never tell us exactly how many wise men came to worship the new born King? Have you ever wondered why there is no mention of their names or identities? I submit that it is because they were not the focal point of the lesson that is being taught. The lesson that is being taught is that Christ is the One upon whom our focus should be centered. Like the wise men of old, we should come near to worship Him. For truly He is worthy of all praise and adoration!
    As we celebrate this joyous Christmas season, perhaps we need to pause for a moment and take a look around and ask the same question that was asked of old, "Where is He?" Among all the commercialism, parties, brightly colored lights, beautiful decorations, and the gifts that we received on Christmas morning, "Where is He?"
    What is our main focal point as we celebrate and reflect upon this Christmas season? Is it the merriment of the world at this season of the year that fills our hearts with joy and delight for a few brief moments of time, or are our hearts and minds focused on the One whose name is indeed Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace - He that is the greatest gift ever given to mankind by our loving Heavenly Father Himself, wrapped in His Divine love and sealed with an Eternal Promise - He who is both the Light and the Life of the world?
    The wise men came to worship the Christ Child. Who is it or what is it that we worship? The wise men presented the new born King with precious gifts from their treasures. What would we give to Him who is the King of kings, and the Lord of lords? Would we give Him those things that matter least to us and seemingly have no real value, or would we open our hearts and give Him our best?
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  4. The tiny babe who in Bethlehem’s manger lay was no ordinary child. Some people called Him the son of David. Others called Him the son of Joseph. The scriptures call Him the son of David, the son of Mary, the son of man, the Son of God. He whose name is Immanuel, meaning God is with us, was born to be the King of kings and the Lord of lords. This child was the promised Messiah - even Jesus the Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God. For hundreds of years prophecies had foretold the birth of a Messiah, and on that starry night in the city of David, the One who would fulfill those prophecies was born in a humble stable with a manger as His cradle.
    In the Book of Mormon, in 3 Nephi 1: 13 we read, "Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfill all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets."
    Whether by His own voice or by the mouth of His holy prophets, God always fulfills His promises. In the Grand Council in Heaven, our Heavenly Father promised to send a Savior who would atone for our sins so that we could live with Him again. The Apostle John testifies of this and tells us in his words as recorded in John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”  

    How did Heavenly Father send His Son to the earth? He sent Him as a newborn baby and He allowed Him to learn and grow, just as we learn and grow. We learn in Luke 2:40 that “the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him." Throughout His mortal life He did all things according to the will of His Father who had sent Him. And because of His great love for us, He would willingly give His life as a ransom for us by becoming sin's final sacrifice. But, the Good News is that the story does not end there. Three days later He triumphantly arose from the grave and lives forever more seated at the right hand of God the Father. And because of His glorious resurrection, death has been forever conquered, and we too shall be resurrected and live again. What a wondrous blessing Jesus Christ is to mankind. Heavenly Father had promised to send a Savior, and He kept His promise. 

    Before His humble birth in Bethlehem, prophets of old taught about the Messiah who was soon to come, and did indeed come. Let us take a brief look at some of the things that they taught. 

    More than 700 years prior to the birth of Christ, the prophet Isaiah, as recorded in Isaiah 7:14-15 prophesied that the Messiah was to be born of a virgin. We read, "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good."  

    The prophet Micah, as recorded in Micah 5:2 prophesied that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem. We read, "But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."  

    Among the ancient prophecies we also learn of the lineage of Jesus Christ. We learn that the Messiah was to be a descendant of Abraham. In Genesis 12:3 we read, ". . . .in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." The fulfillment of that prophecy is found in the genealogical family tree recorded in Matthew 1:1, "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham."  

    Following the line of Abraham, the Messiah was also to be a descendent of David. We read in Isaiah 9:7, “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." We find the fulfillment of that prophecy in Luke 1:31-33: 

    31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

    32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

    33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 

    We also learn of the purpose of Jesus' birth. We read as recorded in the words of Isaiah the prophet in Isaiah 61:1-3 these words: 

    1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

    2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

    3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. 

    And in the New Testament in the Gospel of Luke, in the fourth chapter and verses 16-21, we read about the Savior in Nazareth: 

    16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

    17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

    18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

    19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

    20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

    21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. 

    Brothers and Sisters, for some, Christmas day is nothing more than another day to have another celebration. It is a time to celebrate; however, we should be rejoicing in the fact that two thousand years ago our loving Heavenly Father gave to the world the greatest Christmas gift ever known to mankind. It was a very special gift, wrapped in the Divine love of the Father Himself. That gift was His Only Begotten Son – He who was born King – the Messiah – the Savior of the world – the Redeemer and Lover of our souls – the Lord Jesus Christ. When asked, "What is the true meaning of Christmas?" those are the things that we should be willing to share with family, friends, and all those we come in contact with this season. 

    Sadly, there are those who doubt Him and say they don’t need Him. There are even those who will argue that He was just a man. Yes, He was a man, but not just an ordinary man. He was both God and man. He lived and walked among men, yet the life that He lived was not an ordinary life. His life had a major impact on the entire world. No other life can begin to compare to this One Solitary Life.

    Down through the ages He has been ridiculed, despised, and rejected and yet wise men still seek Him today. Regardless of what men say about Him, it does not change the fact that He has always been and always will be the Eternal Son of the Living God. One day, as the Scriptures clearly teach us, at His name “every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth: and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11). He is the One about whom the universe revolves; in whom the hopes and fears of all the years have found their joyous fulfillment. O' Come Let Us Adore Him, Christ the Lord!

    I leave these thoughts with you humbly, in the name of Him whose name is indeed Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace - He who is the Light and the Life of the world, even the Lord Jesus the Christ. Amen.
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  5. Every year, 11 November is set aside as the day that we celebrate Veterans Day. The purpose of the day is to pay honor and tribute to the men and women of the Armed Forces who have either served, or are currently serving this great nation of ours by putting their lives on the line to defend and protect the freedoms that we so dearly cherish. Have you ever wondered why this  day is celebrated only on 11 November? Let us take a brief look back into the annals of history and see how this day came to be.

    World War I was known as "The Great War." The war officially ended on 28 June 1919 when the Treaty of Versailles was signed in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. The actual fighting; however, had ceased seven months earlier when an armistice or temporary cessation of hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. It is for that reason, 11 November 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

    In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed 11 November as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: 

    To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.

    Originally the celebration was to be a day observed with parades and public meetings, with a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m. 

    An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved 13 May 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." The day was primarily set aside to honor the veterans of World War I. However, in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen in the nation’s history, and after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the Veterans Service Organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on 1 June 1954, 11 November became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

    Whether we agree or disagree with the conflicts that our nation may be engaged in, we must never forget these valiant soldiers who stand a vigilant watch by day and by night, by land, by air, and by sea. They make great sacrifices to defend "the land of the free and the home of the brave." These ordinary, but yet extraordinary men and women, are husbands and fathers, wives and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters. We must remember them, and we must also remember the families that they leave behind as they go off on assignments to foreign lands with the hopes of returning home one day soon, but also with the realization that they may not make it back home. 

    Someone has once said, "Freedom is never free." As a 30-year honorably retired United States Navy veteran I can personally attest to the validity of that statement. Freedom carries with it a  hefty price tag. That price is often paid by the spilt blood of those men and women who are willing to give their all to defend the cause of freedom today, freedom tomorrow, and freedom forever. We say that these men and women are brave and courageous; however, as the English writer, G.K. Chesterton so aptly put it, "Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die." But, as Elmer Davis, a well-known news reporter, author, and the Director of the United States Office of War Information during World War II reminded us, "This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave." These men and women are true patriots. They are men and women of valor. They are in many ways the unsung heroes of the world. When we look up the word hero in a dictionary, each of their names should be listed as examples of what a true hero is. 

    George Canning, a British statesman and politician who served as Foreign Secretary and briefly as Prime Minister, once asked a very forthright question. He asked, "When our perils are past, shall our gratitude sleep?" I would hope that each of us would be able to answer that question with a resounding "NO!" In times of conflict, as well as, in times of peace, and not only on 11 November, but each and every day, we should pay honor to the men and women who don the military uniform and serve their country faithfully and honorably. Indeed, we should salute them. And let us not forget to include them in our daily prayers that the Lord will watch over them, protect them, and sustain them. Let us also remember as President John Fitzgerald Kennedy told us, "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." Finally, on this Veterans Day, and every day, we pay special honor to those who with their last ounce of courage gave their all that we might forever remain free. I speak of those fallen heroes who with the last full measure of their devotion gave the greatest sacrifice of all - their lives. May God bless all of those who have served, are now serving, and will one day serve to preserve our great nation. And may God bless the United Sates of America. Semper fidelis Deo et patria!



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    Labels: Military Peace Treaty Versailles Veterans War

  6. The Apostle Paul Preaching At the Areopagus (Mars Hill)


    While on his second missionary journey, the Apostle Paul visited the city of Troas on the Mediterranean coast. While in Troas, a vision appeared to Paul in the night. In that vision "There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us" (Acts 16:9).  After he had seen the vision, Paul, Silas, and Timotheous (Timothy) immediately "endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called [them] for to preach the gospel unto them" (Acts 16:10).

    They boarded a ship at Troas, crossed the Aegean Sea, and "came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; and from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and [they] were in that city abiding certain days" (Acts 16: 11-12).

    As we open the seventeenth chapter of Acts, we find Paul leaving Philippi and travelling through Amphipolis and Apollonia, and then entering "Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews" (Acts 17:1). "And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ" (Acts 17: 2-3). Some of the Jews were envious of Paul's success and caused uproar in the city. "And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews" (Acts 17:10).

    Luke's estimation of the residents of Berea was that "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11). Then the Jews from Thessalonica came to Berea and stirred up the crowds again and "then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still. And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheous (Timothy) for to come to him with all speed, they departed" (Acts 17: 14-15). The distance between Berea and Athens was 250 Roman miles -- a journey of three days by sea or twelve days by land.

    In Acts 17:16 we learn that "while Paul waited for Silas and Timotheus (Timothy) at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry" (Acts 17:16). Before examining the sermon that Paul would preach in this city on Mars Hill, it would prove helpful to know of some of the things that Paul saw that became the foundational structure for that sermon. 

    Supposing Paul arrived by ship, he would have landed at Piraeus and would have gone north from the harbor and entered Athens by the "Double Gate" on the west side of the city, where four highways converged. Before passing the gate, however, he would have gone through an extensive cemetery, where he would have noticed the graves of many distinguished Athenian citizens, the most famous being Menander, the son of Diopithes.

    Passing through the gates, Paul would have seen the Temple of Demeter with statues of the goddess and her daughter. A little further on, he would have passed the statue of Poseidon hurling his trident. Beyond this, he would have seen the statues of Healing Athena, Zeus, Apollo, and Hermes standing near the Sanctuary of Dionysus.

    While Paul waited for Silas and Timotheous (Timothy), he must have explored the city in the same manner in which tourists do today. He could have visited the Royal Colonnade, the Metroum or Sanctuary of the Mother of the Gods with her image.

    In the agora he would have passed what is sometimes called "the Music Hall at Athens," the odeon, a small roofed theater. In the agora the Athenians had an altar of Mercy, which stood in a grove of laurels and olives. Close to the agora, in the gymnasium of Ptolemy, there was a stone statue of Hermes, and a bronze statue of Ptolemy.

    Wherever Paul turned, he must have seen statues, temples, and shrines. There was the Sanctuary of the Dioscuri, the Serapeum in the lower part of this city, the Temple of Olympian Zeus southeast of the Acropolis, the Pythium on the southern side of the Acropolis, the Sanctuary of Dionysus at the foot of the Acropolis, and many more.

    Entering the Acropolis he would have passed two statues of horsemen facing each other on opposite sides of the road. On his right, on the western edge of the Acropolis, was the Temple of Victory Athena, the so-called Wingless Victory. He would have looked towards the sea and seen the Bay of Phaleron, perhaps with grain ships from Alexandria, Egypt.

    He would have visited the most famous and beautiful of all Greek temples, the Parthenon, and then the Erechtheum standing on the northern edge of the Acropolis. Here his eyes must have fallen on the oldest and most venerated statue of Athena, which like that of Diana of Ephesus, was believed to have fallen from heaven (cf. Acts 19:35). Finally, there was the most conspicuous statue of the city-goddess, a dedication from the spoils of the Battle of Marathon.

    There is an ancient proverb which declares that there were more gods in Athens than men, and wherever Paul looked, in niches and on pedestals, in temples and on street corners, were gods and demigods. Busts of Hermes were on every corner and statues and altars were in the courtyard of every home. Among this forest of deities Paul discovered one altar dedicated to the "unknown god." There are many examples of similar inscriptions in the Greco-Roman world. The idea, of course, was that these altars to the "unknown gods" ensured that no deity was omitted from worship.

    As was his policy in every city that he visited, he first took the matter before his brethren. "Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him" (Acts 17:17). Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him (see verse 18).

    Although he was faced with a difficult audience to preach to, Paul did not start with making similarities between the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers; he started by teaching them about the death and resurrection of the Messiah. He did not begin with what they had, but what they did not have. It was then that some said, "What will this babbler say?" Others said, "he seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection" which was something that they had never heard of before. (See verse 18).

    These philosophers of the day prided themselves with keeping abreast of the newest philosophies, and so they were intrigued by Paul's message and were eager to hear these latest teachings. "And [so] they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, may we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean" (Acts 17: 19-20).

    Standing in the midst of Mars Hill, Paul began his sermon with the bold proclamation, "Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you" (Acts 17: 22, 23).

    I personally cannot help but wonder if the Apostle Paul were to visit some of our modern day cities, how different would he find them to be than that of the ancient city of Athens? As he took the time to tour our cities, what would be some of the false idols of worship that he would find? Would he find that we also have “altars” marked with the inscription, "To the Unknown God?" If he were to preach today, which group of people would we find ourselves being a part of?

    ·         The Jews - people with a religious history, people who would consider themselves to be on God's side by tradition.
    ·         The devout persons - people who may or may not have a religious history, but people who are being, or at least trying to be, as religious or God fearing as they possibly can.
    ·         People in the marketplace - people who have no religious history or religious leaning. Just ordinary people who happen to be in the marketplace at the same time as Paul and just happen to casually bump into him.
    ·         The Epicureans - people who are sensualists. If they cannot touch, taste, or at least see something, then they have no interest in it. Some of these people might be party people, people who live for the moment, or people who are out for instant gratification. Others may be hard working, practical people.
    ·         The Stoics - people who are materialists. They believe that everything comes down to matter or actually fire. They also believe in a cosmic order, that there is a greater good or orderly principle that somehow arranged everything on earth to be a functional expression of intelligence.

    The word translated "superstitious" in verse 22 is deisidaimonia. It literally means God fearing or religious. And so, here was Paul telling a group of party going, practical, and materialistic people that they were too religious. How could that be possible?

    Religion or some aspect of religion is all around us no matter where we go. Turn on the television, for example, and you will be able to find various programs representing the beliefs of several different faiths and denominations. In the local grocery stores, amongst the books and magazines, there are Bibles and books on various religious topics. In the card section of stores there are cards for all sorts of occasions that have Bible verses in them. In almost every hotel a person can find a copy of the Bible placed in one of the bedside drawers. There are Christian bookstores, and even some of the top ten best sellers in secular bookstores are Christian, or written by Christian authors, not to mention the Christian magazines and posters that you can buy. As a person drives around town he also finds that there are churches of all different faiths and denominations. Is all of this exposure to religion a bad thing? In and of itself it is not. However, I believe that there is a real danger in that for all of the Christian posters that we see, cards and books that we read, and even good sounding words that we hear, there are people who are worshipping a God they do not know. There are people who may know His name, have attended Sunday school from their youth up, can quote many scripture verses by heart, can tell you about some of the main characters in the scriptures, and may have even been educated in a Christian institution. But, the real question is, do they really KNOW Him, or are they worshipping "An Unknown God"?

    The Apostle Paul continues his sermon in verses 24 -26:

    God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of bone blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.

    Paul is teaching that it is God who made us, and if He made us than He owns us. Therefore, He has every right to decide our future. He is also teaching that God is still in control of all things. He did not create the world and then go and sit down and leave the world to its own devices.

    Sometimes when we go to church we put on nice clothes, smile at everybody and do all sorts of good things because we know that God can see us. However, when we go back to the privacy of our own homes, sometimes we tend to think that it is alright to do whatever we like, or we go to our jobs and show our true natures. We need to be reminded at all times that, "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good" (Proverbs 15:3). We must get out of our minds that God is only someone we meet at church. God is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. He sees and hears everything, and He even knows what we are thinking at any given moment.

    Paul is also teaching that God cannot be worshipped with works. Some people seem to think that by doing good deeds, or giving away large sums of money, or by any number of other pious activities that they are perhaps winning special favor with God. What they fail to realize is that God is the one that gives us life. Every breath we take, we take because God allows us to. God is also the maker of all things, and so everything that we make with our hands is constructed out of the materials that He has already given us. Furthermore, God is not the partial owner of anything. He is the full and rightful owner of everything. A person may say that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. That is indeed true, but He also owns the hills, and furthermore He owns the grass which the cattle graze on those hills.

    Paul further emphasizes these points as he continues his sermon in verses 27-31:

    That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

    Again, Paul used an illustration these Greek philosophers would have known and understood by quoting from sources they were already familiar with. He wanted to establish the fact that we are beings created from a higher power. He reasons that if we are created, who then can create a god that supposedly created us? For we also know that in God we live and move and have our being. Paul begins with what they know, and then refutes and leads them to the true God, the only God who can save. There is no watering down the message here. Paul is condemning this culture for their ignorance and foolishness. He is not using their language style or reasoning. He is not trying to copy the culture, imitate it or simply “upgrade it” with a Christian message. But first, he uses it simply to start with a common point of knowledge. He is preaching the truth, in a relevant way they can understand.

    Some Christians have no interaction with the world around them. They tend to stay within their own safe circles, never reaching anyone with the Gospel. The Gospel, which literally means Good News, was never meant to be kept to ourselves or contained within the four walls of a church building. Our faith needs to be spread to every area of life and the community surrounding us. This does not contradict the fact that we should be in the world, but not of the world. There is a difference between allowing the world to influence us and us influencing the world around us. Jesus Himself best illustrates this truth in His prayer found in John 17:13-18.

    We cannot afford to simply adapt to the culture around us. In that case, we lose the Gospel message entirely. Instead of adapting to culture, we must seek to transform it. To do this, however, we cannot be ignorant of it. Christ has called us to go into the entire world and proclaim the Gospel. Therefore, we should be able to relate to those around us. A proper view of the Gospel forces us to understand we are all sinners in dire need of God’s grace. Because of our common depravity and need, we can relate to those around us. If we are following the Lord and doing what we know to be right, then we will not allow our shortcomings to hinder our efforts to share the Gospel with others.

    Paul now begins to draw the net. He tells his audience that in the past, God may have tolerated their sin because they did not know the truth. But now however, they have been told the truth.  They are told they must repent. They must turn from their wicked ways. They are left with no doubt of what it means to come to Christ. Paul speaks of the judgment that is to come. He also tells them they are completely without excuse, for Christ has raised form the dead. They know who the Savior is. They cannot plead ignorance. God Himself has made this known.

    “And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, we will hear thee again of this matter. So Paul departed from among them. Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them“(Acts 17: 32-34).

    Not many were won over in this sermon, but that is not why Paul was there. He preached to a diverse group of people. He preached the same message without wavering or compromise. Some were saved. Not all, not many, but some.

    There will be some who simply will never accept the truth. No matter what is said, no matter what evidence is given and no matter what line of reasoning is used – their hearts will remain hard. Do not get discouraged and frustrated by these people. Keep on doing what God has called you to do. The results are up to Him, not you. 

    There will also be some who simply want to think it over. They want to ask a ton of questions and debate you into the wee hours of the night. They want to discuss, discuss and discuss, but never settle the issue. They want to explore other options, but consider themselves to be open to the possibility of accepting the Gospel and coming unto Christ. Do not get trapped into their snares. Often times they will trap you into discussions and never let go. They waste your time with meaningless debate that keeps you from sharing the Good News with others who really want to listen and come unto Christ. In all things, keep the faith and continue to be about the Father’s business!

    I leave you these humble thoughts in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen.
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  7. I know that someone is going to read the title of this article and their first thought is going to be, "Keith, I think that you might have that a little backwards. Shouldn't the title read "Why do bad things happen to good people?" Perhaps it should, for that seems to be the question that is asked with great frequency these days. People have a hard time understanding why it is that the harder they try, there always seem to be some obstacle that stands in their way of succeeding. They believe that they are good people, so why do bad things always seem to happen to them? Why is it that they are always the ones that seem to find themselves in financial distress, without employment, in marriages that just don't seem to work and sometimes ultimately end in divorce, or always in poor health or constantly sick? Why is it that it seems they are always the ones who suffer while the bad people of the world seem to have it all and never have to deal with such adversities in life? Some even take it to the far extreme as to say and believe that God does not love them and that He is punishing them for one reason or another.


    It would be easy to answer the question by simply saying that into every life a little rain must fall, and that rain does fall on both the just and the unjust. But that would not prove to be a satisfactory answer for most, as perhaps their next question would be, "Ok Keith, if that is the case, then why does it always seem to downpour on me and only sprinkle on others? Why isn't the amount of rain evenly distributed on good people as well as bad people?" That leads right back to the idea behind the question that was originally asked, and so we find that the discussion leads us into a continuous, endless circle without any real resolution.


    First of all, and perhaps in some cases we will have to agree to disagree, we need to establish the fact that we are all children of our Heavenly Father and He does love each of us equally and unconditionally. However, we have been reminded in the scriptures that this earth life is a time to prepare, a time to learn, and a time to progress (see Alma 34:32-34). Each of us has been given the ability to choose. Therefore, we have the opportunity to make bad choices as well as good choices. In other words, a lot of the suffering and bad things that occur in our lives happen because of our poor choices. In some cases, not all, we are the ones who “allow” bad things to happen.


    Sometimes the bad things that happen are a result of evil choices by others that cause suffering to the innocent. An excellent example of this is found in the Book of Mormon in the book of Alma. While two great men, Alma and Amulek, were preaching to the ancient people of Ammonihah, they were thrown into prison. They were forced to watch as the believers, including women and children, were thrown into a fire and burned along with the scriptures. Distressed, Amulek asked if they could call upon God’s power to stop it. But the Spirit told Alma that “the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them” (Alma 14:11). The good news is that those who are innocent will be received by the Lord in glory, and those who have injured the innocent will be judged by the Lord.


    The book of Job in the Old Testament also addresses this issue. God had allowed Satan to do everything he wanted to Job except kill him. Job responded to this by saying, "Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21). Throughout all of his trials, afflictions, and adversities, Job continued to testify of his confidence and trust in the Lord and said, "Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand? Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him" (Job 13:14-16). Job did not understand why God had allowed the things He did, but he knew God loved him and so in spite of his situation and circumstances he "sinned not, nor charged God foolishly" (Job 1:22). Ultimately, in our times of trials and adversity, instead of doubting God's goodness, we should learn to "Trust in the Lord with all [our] heart; and lean not unto [our] own understanding. In all [our] ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct [our] paths" (Proverbs 3:5, 6).


    In other cases, accidents take place where fault or choice is not an issue. In those cases, the Lord has promised us the strength to cope with the things we must live with. Often people who are injured permanently will tell you that they have learned many great things and have become better people even though they may wish that their accident had never occurred. Doctrine and Covenants 58:2–5 reminds us:
    For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven. Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation. For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand. Remember this, which I tell you before, that you may lay it to heart, and receive that which is to follow.


    And so, that is why I propose that the better question to ask is "Why do good things happen to bad people?" In Romans 5:8 we are taught, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Despite the evil, wicked, sinful nature of the people of this world, God still loves us. He loves us so much that He gave His only begotten Son to be the propitiation for all of our sins - past, present, and future. Truly He is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world, for He who knew no sin became the sacrificial lamb. He willingly gave His life to pay a debt that He did not owe, and one that none of us could have ever paid on our own. Because of His atoning sacrifice a way has been made possible for each of us, both good people, as well as bad people through the process of repentance, to one day return home to live eternally with our Heavenly Father.


    Yes, sometimes bad things happen to people who seem undeserving of them. However, regardless of our situations or circumstances in life we must remember that God is good, just, loving, kind, and merciful. The Lord is aware of us all. He has shown us the way to return to Him. But, we have the choice whether to remain faithful or turn away from Him. The Lord can make weak things become strong, including our faith. We will be blessed exceedingly through the eternities if we will have faith and put our trust in Him and endure to the end!






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    Labels: Faith Patience Endurance Life Trials Tests Adversities


  8. The word “service” can be defined as the action of helping or doing work for someone. “Service” can also be defined as someone’s contribution to the welfare of others. After a long and perhaps arduous week at work and studying in the classroom, most people treasure their weekends as time for themselves to relax, unwind and do some of the things that they enjoy doing. Rendering service to someone and without receiving monetary compensation, or at the very least, some sort of personal recognition, is one of the last things that they wish to consider during their time off.

    However, on Saturday, 17 September 2011, as part of a worldwide effort, and under the direction of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that is exactly what some 250 members from the various Wards and Branches that comprise the Annapolis Maryland Stake did as they rendered a 'Day of Service' to their communities and to members in need. Devoting some 625 man-hours, these men, women, and children went to work with the goal of being able to contribute to the welfare of others as they completed a variety of projects.

    As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we believe that “when [we] are in the service of [our] fellow beings [we] are only in the service of [our] God” (Mosiah 2:17). The Savior Himself taught us, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:35). And in the twenty-second chapter of Matthew, beginning at verse 35, we read of the account of a Pharisee, who was a lawyer by trade, who comes to the Master and asks the question, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” (Matthew 22:36). The response that the Master gave the Pharisee is the same response that He would give you and me today if we were to ask the same question. We learn of His response in verses 37 – 40, “Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

    Therefore, one of the ways that we demonstrate our love for our Heavenly Father and our fellowman is through the service that we render to others. That service can be for a family member, a Church member, a friend, or even a total stranger. We do not render service in hopes of receiving monetary reward or personal recognition. Our reward is in knowing that we were able to help our brothers and sisters in even the smallest of ways. Through our acts of kindness and service they are blessed, and we in turn are also blessed.

    One such project was the painting of the fence at the Annapolis City Municipal Swimming Pool. Due to budget constraints the city had not been able to pay for labor costs to have the fence painted, and so they welcomed the opportunity for volunteers to come and do the work for them. Some 40 members of the Annapolis Ward volunteered to get the job done and gave a combined total of 120 man-hours to prepare and paint 60 sections of fence. Mr. Ambrose from the City Parks Department expressed his gratitude and extended an invitation for people to come back and help any time a service project is needed.

    The Severn Ward helped out at the Kinder Farm Park. Their original project was to clean brush and trash around a pond area, but the Ranger diverted that project as there was a walk/race for Chiari (a brain malformation) going on in that area. However, the 50 Ward members who came to help that day did not allow this diversion to stop them from rendering service nonetheless. Instead they devoted a collective 100 man-hours to shucking corn for the upcoming fall festival, and picking up trash throughout the park.

    The members of the Kent Island Branch rendered service at the Ferry Point Park in Chester Maryland. Some 40 members came to give of their time and service. Their initial goal was to have one group prepare and paint a boat on display at the Chesapeake Exploration Center, and another group would work cleaning driftwood and trash off the beaches at the park. However, due to a lack of power at the boat and the possibility of rain, the boat painting project had to be abandoned and so everyone diverted their time and attention to cleaning the beaches, devoting a collective 160 man-hours of service to the project.

    These are just three examples of the community service that was rendered. Still, there were other members of the Stake who gave unselfishly of their time to contribute to the welfare of others, to include the members of the Severna Park and Broadneck Wards. Some 120 members from these Wards dedicated a collective total of 245 man-hours rendering specific acts of service to families in need, especially to the widows and single women in the Stake, including much needed repairs following the aftermath of hurricane Irene which struck just days prior to the 'Day of Service.' Some of the examples of the service that was rendered to members in need included house cleaning, cutting up a tree that fell into the yard of one of the women and then stacking it for firewood, leveling the area where a stump was removed so it could be seeded with grass, moving dirt to bring up to grade a portion of a yard that consistently floods, pulling down vines that had overgrown a fence and tool shed, digging up of dead shrubs and planting new shrubs, hammering down nails on a deck that had popped up and were posing a trip hazard, pulling down poison ivy that had grown over a fence, emptying and dismantling a shed that had fallen into disrepair as a result of age and the recent storms, building a foundation for an A/C unit whose foundation had crumbled, and removing leaves, branches, and other debris that had fallen into yards as a result of the hurricane.

    From the reports that were received from the local leaderships, the 'Day of Service' was a success. These ordinary people gave unselfishly of their time and efforts to render service to both their communities and to those members in need. What then was their motivation in providing such service? What was their reward? Their reward was in knowing that they were able to help where needed even in the smallest of ways. Some gave more, and others gave less. Nevertheless, through their acts of kindness and service, those whom they served were blessed and in turn they themselves were blessed. Not only were they able to render service to others, but it was a wonderful opportunity for them to bond together as a Church family and interact with their local communities demonstrating that they do care and are here to help whenever needed.

    The words of President Thomas S. Monson, the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints puts all of this into proper perspective. He said:

    As we look heavenward, we inevitably learn of our responsibility to reach outward. To find real happiness, we must seek for it in a focus outside ourselves. No one has learned the meaning of living until he has surrendered his ego to the service of his fellow man. Service to others is akin to duty, the fulfillment of which brings true joy. We do not live alone—in our city, our nation, or our world. There is no dividing line between our prosperity and our neighbor's wretchedness. 'Love thy neighbor' is more than a divine truth. It is a pattern for perfection” (Thomas S. Monson, "The Joy of Service," New Era, Oct. 2009, 4).

    Posted by
    Location: Annapolis, MD, USA
    Labels: God Life Neighbors Service

  9.  
    “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming. The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.” - Psalm 27:1; 37:12-15
     
    September 11, 2001 is a day that will long be remembered in history as a somber day of remembrance. On that day, a short decade ago, many innocent men, women, and children became fallen victims due to the vicious attacks that penetrated our shores. They were husbands and fathers, wives and mothers, sons and daughters. All of whom were gone too soon as their lives were snubbed out like a candle in the wind, but none of whom would soon be forgotten.
     
    Do you remember where you were and what you were doing on that tragic day? Do you remember your reaction as you listened to and watched the various news broadcasts?
     
    It started out as a day like any other. People were rushing here and there to get to work and to their appointed destinations. No one would have ever imagined the horrendous chain of events that would occur starting at 8:46:30 AM in New York City when American Flight 11crashed at a speed of roughly 466 mph (790 km/h) into the north face of the North Tower (1 WTC) of the World Trade Center, between floors 93 and 99. No doubt the reaction of those who witnessed that event was one of utter shock and amazement. How was it possible that an aircraft would be flying at that low of an altitude and mange to veer that far off course and crash into a building? Or, was this some sort of deliberate act, and if so, why?
     
    Before a definitive answer could be ascertained to the questions that were going through the minds of observers, in a matter of minutes, at approximately 9:03:02 AM Flight 175 crashed at a speed of roughly 590 mph (950 km/h) into the south face of the South Tower (2 WTC) of the World Trade Center, banked between floors 77 and 85. Now it had become immediately evident that this was neither coincidence nor accident. As unbelievable and as unfathomable as it may have seemed, America, the home of the free and the land of the brave, was under attack.
     
    Six months prior to these events occurring, on 31 March 2001, I had retired from 20 years of active duty service in the United States Navy. In the course of my duties I had been afforded opportunities to both visit and serve in countries and lands where these sorts of events could certainly be eminent. However, I would have never imagined that anything of this magnitude would ever occur on American soil and certainly not so close to home.
     
    At that time I was working as an Administrative Assistant for a government contractor on the United States Naval Academy, and on that particular September morning I was sitting in my office when I received communication via two-way radio from one of our field technicians that the World Trade Center had been hit. I was somewhat in disbelief and actually asked the technician to repeat. I turned on the shop radio to the local news station and listened intently to the incoming reports. Shortly thereafter, the news was broadcast that the second tower had been hit. The base immediately went into lock down and evacuation procedures of all non-essential personnel were begun. Needless to say adrenalin levels were on high charge as people began scurrying to get to their vehicles and return to their homes.
     
    Upon arriving at home I turned on the news on television and watched in utter horror, amazement, and shock as the news reports were rapidly coming in and video of the events was being played over and over again. Perhaps the overarching question in everyone’s mind on that solemn day was how could this have happened, and why? Somehow deep within me, like perhaps many others who were watching that day, I knew that this course of events would change our world forever.
     
    On that fatal day and in the days that followed, the air was permeated with fear and uncertainty as people began coming together to support and comfort one another as best they could. People of all different faiths and denominations joined together in unified prayer for solace and peace in a situation that was seemingly out of control. The attacks had ended, but not without the cost of the innocent lives of loved ones. Families suddenly found themselves having to make major decisions as to how to pick up the pieces and move forward. The aftershock would linger for some time to come. The events of that September morning had sent a wakeup call to people everywhere that we as a nation are not as invincible as we may think, and that the survival of the nation depends on everyone binding together and working as a whole, and not as individuals operating on a lonely island. Regardless of a person’s beliefs, it was evident that someone of higher power and authority had preserved our nation on that tragic day and sustained those of us who now remain to forever remember. But, what is it exactly that we should remember?
     
    We need to remember the cost in human lives. On that bleak and dreadful September morning, 11 September 2001, nearly 3,000 people lost their lives at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in rural fields in Pennsylvania. The attack was the most devastating ever to happen on American soil; costing more lives than even the attack on Pearl Harbor which claimed the lives of 2,500 Americans. We must not forget the lives that were lost on that dreadful day, and the lives of those who have been forever changed. We must not forget the widows who are raising their children alone, or the parents who will never hold their children again.
     
    We also need to remember the heroism shown by ordinary people who rose to the occasion in extraordinary ways. The reactions to the crisis brought forth both the best and the worse in people. Yes, there have been some unfortunate occurrences such as the Pakistani woman who was purposefully run down while crossing a super-market lot with groceries simply because she wore the traditional dress of her homeland. But unnumbered heroic acts were also called forth, some recorded and many that were not. There were many beacons of light that shined in the darkness. The firefighters, policemen, and rescue workers who risked their lives and especially those who gave their lives to save others were the true heroes of the day.
     
    Perhaps most distressing of all is what this crisis revealed about our country’s relationship with God. Immediately after the attacks, church attendance spiked for several weeks, rising in some places to as much as half again as much as the regular adult attendance. That attendance surge was short-lived however, for levels were back to normal by November.
     
    If the events of that September morning has taught us nothing else, one lesson that we should have all learned is that we never know how much time we have, or how much time those around us have, therefore there arises an urgent need for all Christians everywhere to be the warning voice to their neighbors by spreading the Good News of the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone they can. In such times of peril and distress, the question need not be, "What would Jesus do?", but rather, "What would Jesus have me do?"
     
    The September 2002 issue of "Focus on the Family Magazine" recalls the story of Al Braca. Al worked on the 105th floor of Tower One. When he realized that they were trapped in the building and would be unable to escape, Al shared the Gospel with 50 of his co-workers and led them in prayer. Some of those same individuals had in the past mocked him for his faith. By following the model of Christ - ordinary Christians like you. me, and Al Braca can also be heroes.   
     
    And so, we also need to remember from where our help and strength comes. In Psalm 46 we read:
     
    God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
     
    When David said, “God is our refuge” what he meant was that our sense of security is not derived from our nation’s defenses but that it rests in our faith in God. God and God alone is our refuge in times such as these. Our feelings of security must go beyond the measures of Home Land Security, metal detectors, security checks, military power, political alliances or the strength of our economy. Our hope must be built on nothing less than Jesus’ sacrifice and His righteousness. It is upon Christ, the Solid Rock that we must stand, for all other ground is sinking sand. David further reminds us that God is not only our refuge but He is also our “strength. ” Strength is the ability to rise above tragedy even with tears in our eyes and go forward. God is not just some far off source from whom we can seek advice but He is “a very present help in trouble. ”
     
    God was not surprised by the tragic events that occurred on 11 September 2001. He did not cause those events to happen, but He granted mankind its agency and men brought this all to happen.  He does; however, comfort those who were affected by those events. He may or may not prevent future acts of terrorism such as these, but He will provide peace in the hearts of all those who turn to Him. 
     
    Posted by
    Location: Manassas, VA, USA
    Labels: Endurance Faith Hope Trials

  10. This talk was given on Saturday, September 03, 2011, on the occasion of the baptism of Andrew Jerry Calabrese.

    John 3:5 “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”


    The fourth Article of Faith states: “We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

    The Savior revealed the true method of baptism to the Prophet Joseph Smith, making clear that the ordinance must be performed by one having priesthood authority and that it must be done by immersion. We are taught in Doctrine and Covenants 20:73-74:

    The person who is called of God and has authority from Jesus Christ to baptize, shall go down into the water with the person who has presented himself or herself for baptism, and shall say, calling him or her by name: Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Then shall he immerse him or her in the water, and come forth again out of the water.

    The act of immersing a person in water is symbolic of that person’s sinful life being buried and they being reborn or receiving a new life – a spiritual life – a life that is dedicated to serving God and others. Immersion is also symbolic of the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

    Christ was our perfect exemplar in fulfilling this sacred ordinance of baptism. Nephi, as recorded in 2 Nephi 31:4-9 tells us why Christ was baptized:

    4 Wherefore, I would that ye should remember that I have spoken unto you concerning that prophet which the Lord showed unto me, that should baptize the Lamb of God, which should take away the sins of the world.

    5 And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!

    6 And now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfil all righteousness in being baptized by water?

    7 Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.

    8 Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove.

    9 And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them.

    In verses 10-18 of that same chapter Nephi teaches us that men must follow Christ’s example, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end to be saved. He also teaches us that repentance and baptism is the gate to the straight and narrow path. We read these words:

    10 And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?

    11 And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son.

    12 And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do.

    13 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the the htongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.

    14 But, behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the voice of the Son unto me, saying: After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments, by the baptism of water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and after this should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me.

    15 And I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.

    16 And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved.

    17 Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.

    18 And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.

    When we are baptized we enter into a covenant with God to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, to keep His commandments, and to serve Him to the end (See Mosiah 18:8-10; D&C 20:37). Each time that we partake of the Sacrament we renew the covenants that we made at the time of our baptism (See D&C 20:77-79).

    Jerry, a little over 13 years ago in the far away land of Iceland, where I was stationed in the Navy at the time, I made the decision to be baptized. That decision started me in a whole new direction in my life. I am convinced that had the Lord not taken me out of the main stream of things and sent me to a place as far away as Iceland, I probably would not be standing here speaking to this audience this morning. My plans, goals and priorities for my life where definitely a lot different than what the Lord had in mind. After being baptized and becoming more learned of the Gospel, and because of my willingness to take upon me His name, to follow His example, and to be obedient to His commands, I have seen and continue to see blessing after blessing in my life. Many doors that I once thought would never be opened to me are now beginning to open and I have been blessed in so many ways with new opportunities to help me grow and mature in the Gospel.

    I believe that the words of President Joseph F. Smith best describe how I felt after being baptized. He said:

    When I [was] baptized for the remission of my sins, the feeling that came upon me was that of pure peace, of love and of light. I felt in my soul that if I had sinned – and surely I was not without sin – that it had been forgiven me; that I was indeed cleansed from my sin; my heart was touched, and I felt that I would not injure the smallest insect beneath my feet. I felt as if I wanted to do good everywhere to everybody and to everything. I felt a newness of life, a newness of desire to do that which was right. There was not one particle of desire for evil left in my soul . . . this was the influence that came upon me, and I know that it was from God, and was and ever has been a living witness to me of my acceptance of the Lord (CR, April 1898, p.66).

    I will conclude my remarks by returning to the words of Nephi as recorded in 2 Nephi 31:19-20:

    19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.

    20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

    I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I know that the Bible and the Book of Mormon are the Word of God. I know that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ. I know that Joseph Smith was and is a Prophet of the Lord. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s true Church upon the earth today and that His Church is being led by a Living Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. Of these things I do so testify and bear solemn witness in the sacred name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

    Posted by
    Location: 908 Primrose Rd #203, Annapolis, MD 21403, USA
    Labels: Baptism Christ Faith Jesus Repentance
President Gordon Bitner Hinckley
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In Loving Memory Of A Prophet Of The Lord
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1 Peter 3:13-17

13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
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The Joseph Smith Papers
The Joseph Smith Papers

On February 25th, 2008, the Church announced the establishment of a new imprint for publishing works that relate to the origin and growth of the Church.

The first project by the Church Historian's Press is The Joseph Smith Papers. This comprehensive series of journals, letters, legal documents, and business papers chronicles the life of Joseph Smith. When finished, this project will include more than 30 volumes.

The first three volumes are scheduled for publication later this year and will include Joseph Smith's early journals.

In time, the published volumes are expected to be made available in their entirety through the Web site Joseph Smith Papers.
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