Now that General Conference has come and is almost two weeks gone, I want to take a blog post or two to talk about some of the talks and wonderful messages they contain for us. When I listen to Conference, I always think of things I can do to improve myself and be better. However, as is human nature, I tend to put this improvement off until I forget completely about it. Thus if I take some time to go back and study the things that prompted me to want to be better, I will be more likely to actually do some improving. So this blog post is more for me than anyone else, but I wanted to share it because it might be useful to you as well. The talk I wanted to take a look at today is from the first Saturday morning session of the Conference. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave the last talk of this session, and he talked about something that I should have used several years ago but I can always use it in my future as I’m sure we all can. President Uchtdorf’s... Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for the ‘peace’ Category
“The Time has Come to Talk of Many Things: of shoes—and ships—and sealing-wax—of cabbages—and kings . . .”
The Missing Piece
Labor Day Blessings
“How’s work?” This question started nearly every conversation with my family or friends in the past three weeks. Those who ask already know the answer because they know me. They know my need for order and balance. They know that I make family time and personal time a priority. They know I value quiet. “An [...] All Content Copyright (C) 2007-2009 TJ Hirst. No content may be reproduced without the copyright owner’s express written consent.Labor Day Blessings Read More →
Marriage – A Politically Incorrect View
My calling at church is to help teach the Stake’s 12-week Book of Mormon class. We have three 12-week class sessions a year (sometimes four). This class is meant for anyone who would like to get closer to Christ, in other words for anyone who wants to feel more peace, confidence and brightness of hope. Basically everyone. After doing this for almost three years straight, there are some obvious, repeating patterns among the members in general. One of them are the secrets about family life we keep to ourselves. Our Stake President alluded to that when he got up in our Sacrament Meeting and announced the class was starting again in September. He gave it a rousing endorsement and described who would be interested in the class. He included in his list of would-be attendees “for anyone whose spouse is driving them crazy”. Of course, that was worth a chuckle. Afterwards I told him, “now 90% of the ward will be in... Read the rest of this entry »
Why I am Mormon
I should not be Mormon. I was raised in a very troubled home where religion was as twisted and distorted as the family dynamics. By all means, my early experiences should have sent me running away from the LDS church, as fast as possible! Everything from my young life pointed me towards being non-religious. What happened? I came across a paperback Book of Mormon left on a coffee table, by some LDS missionaries. It was bright blue with a gold angel on the cover, you remember those? The book spoke directly to my heart and soul, like no other book could. And I have read many wonderful, poignant books to compare it to. And even now, decades later, I cannot outgrow that book. It always stays a few paces ahead of me, opening my eyes, filling my heart with new concepts and light. Through the years, the Book of Mormon has taught me that Jesus is the Christ, He is a personal Savior, who in every sense of the phrase, is the “true and living” God. “True ” because... Read the rest of this entry »
Until We Meet Again – Thomas S. Monson
Seek the Higher Ground — Samoan Tsunami
Peace in this World
This blog is about my insights into the gospel of Jesus Christ. So, just what is the gospel anyway? Gospel means ‘good news.’ The gospel of Jesus Christ is the ‘good news’ that Jesus Christ, in some miraculous, unfathomable way, performed a sacrifice (or atonement) for the whole human race, which made a way for us to overcome our imperfect natures, and to fulfill the purpose of our creation. When I say that I am studying the gospel of Jesus Christ, it means that I am studying the things associated with that grand sacrifice. In this sense, the gospel includes (among other things) the pathway that we must walk to utilize the atonement of Jesus Christ. To live the gospel means to qualify ourselves to receive the grace of Christ through obedience to the commandments that God has revealed to us. We are required to do the best that we can to live righteously in order for Christ to be able to make up for us where we fall short (2 Nephi 25:23, James 2: 14-20). Living the gospel can... Read the rest of this entry »
Peace in this World
This blog is about my insights into the gospel of Jesus Christ. So, just what is the gospel anyway? Gospel means ‘good news.’ The gospel of Jesus Christ is the ‘good news’ that Jesus Christ, in some miraculous, unfathomable way, performed a sacrifice (or atonement) for the whole human race, which made a way for us to overcome our imperfect natures, and to fulfill the purpose of our creation. When I say that I am studying the gospel of Jesus Christ, it means that I am studying the things associated with that grand sacrifice. In this sense, the gospel includes (among other things) the pathway that we must walk to utilize the atonement of Jesus Christ. To live the gospel means to qualify ourselves to receive the grace of Christ through obedience to the commandments that God has revealed to us. We are required to do the best that we can to live righteously in order for Christ to be able to make up for us where we fall short (2 Nephi 25:23, James 2: 14-20). Living the gospel can... Read the rest of this entry »
Me, Mormon, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
This is a blog about how I understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and about why it is important to me. I hope that by reading here you will be able to build a closer relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ, and commit to living the gospel that he had given to us, his children. Although I am trying to investigate the Truth (the absolute Truth) as best as I can, my words here cannot be construed as the views of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Neither do I pretend to be able to reveal the mind of God. For this cause, God has sent Prophets, past and present. I would strongly encourage you to study their words in the Holy Scriptures, and on the web at www.mormon.org or www.lds.org. I would also encourage you to pray for God to send you His Spirit to help you understand these things. These are the main sources that I use to study the gospel. They have been extremely useful to me, and they will be to you as well. Now, a little bit about myself. I believe in God. ... Read the rest of this entry »
Me, Mormon, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
This is a blog about how I understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and about why it is important to me. I hope that by reading here you will be able to build a closer relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ, and commit to living the gospel that he had given to us, his children. Although I am trying to investigate the Truth (the absolute Truth) as best as I can, my words here cannot be construed as the views of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Neither do I pretend to be able to reveal the mind of God. For this cause, God has sent Prophets, past and present. I would strongly encourage you to study their words in the Holy Scriptures, and on the web at www.mormon.org or www.lds.org. I would also encourage you to pray for God to send you His Spirit to help you understand these things. These are the main sources that I use to study the gospel. They have been extremely useful to me, and they will be to you as well. Now, a little bit about myself. I believe in God. ... Read the rest of this entry »
An Easter Message–I Stand All Amazed
This beautiful video (made by I Nephi) depicts the message of Easter for me–that the Savior died for each of us, that He is risen and loves us all more than we can ever imagine. May we all think of His life this weekend and forever, and enjoy peace. I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me I tremble to know that for me he was crucified That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died Chorus: Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me enough to die for me Oh, it is wonderful Wonderful to me I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine That he should extend his great love unto such as I Sufficient to own, to redeem and to justify (Repeat chorus) I think of his hands, pierced and bleeding to pay my debt Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget? No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat Until at the glorified throne... Read the rest of this entry »