All Things Witness

Thoughts on the mission and power of Jesus Christ


1 Comment

Sacrifice

Commonwealth War GraveToday is Remembrance Sunday, and I woke up this morning with a few words of rhyme in my mind, so have put these on paper.  It’s not terribly sophisitcated, but I think sums up how I feel.

Sacrifice

 

Called to raise a sword,

To serve with all his might

To defend his home, and family;

To protect their lands and rights

 

Defending freedoms to work and play,

To worship as they choose

He, and countless others,

Went forth – their lives to lose Continue reading


Leave a comment

Loving Kindness

I’ve just read a transcript from a talk given by Neal A Maxwell in 1991. Towards the end of his remarks he speaks of the Loving Kindness of the Saviour.  He references the many remarkable and dramatic events that will be associated with His second coming, but then emphasises that what we will remember from those days is His Loving Kindness.

“When Jesus comes again… the thing that we will remember, or at least which we will speak of, is not the dramatic solar display, but we will speak of his loving kindness. How long? “Forever and ever” (Doctrine & Covenants 133:52). The more you and I know of him and his glorious atonement, Continue reading


2 Comments

Heart, Might, Mind and Strength (1 of 5)

This is the first in a series of 5 articles on this topic I will post.  This first article covers the broad topic, but I will post subsequent articles over the coming weeks that address each area of Heart, Might, Mind and Strength individually.

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him”  (D&C 59:5).  “Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.” (D&C 4:2)

These four aspects of our beings – heart, might, mind, and strength – are repeated throughout the scriptures, usually in the context of either how we serve the Lord, or how we worship Him, as in the two examples cited above.  The four aspects seem to cover our entire being.

As I have pondered these, I have come to the conclusion Continue reading


Leave a comment

We have a Champion

Twice each year the Church holds a worldwide conference, where the leaders of the Church talk to members about a wide range of things.  These conferences are broadcast live on the internet and satellite, and transcripts of all talks are available for us to read.

Below is a quote from the October 2013 conference, by President Dieter F Uhctdorf.  I love the promise at the end.

“We have a champion, a Savior, who Continue reading


2 Comments

The Carpenter of Nazareth

Many years ago some friends gave me the book “Christ’s Ideals for Living” by Obert C Tanner.  It has a number of gems in it, and this poem by George Blair is one of them which has stayed with me.  Jeffrey R Holland quoted it in his April 2006 Conference talk “Broken Things to Mend”.

It reminds me that no matter what part of our life is broken, we can be made whole by Jesus Christ, the Great Healer.

The Carpenter of Nazareth

In Nazareth, the narrow road,
That tires the feet and steals the breath, Continue reading


4 Comments

Studying the Atonement of Christ

The Atonement is wondrous in its scope – in its breadth and depth.  It is the most important act in all of history – the focal act of our Heavenly Father’s creations, and our testimony of it forms the first principle of the gospel.  Consequently, the Lord hasn’t kept it a secret.  The Book of Mormon prophet Jacob said, “…we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us.” (Jacob 4:4), and the Saviour Himself commanded that we study to learn about Him, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39)

Modern Apostles have repeated this encouragement.  Elder Richard G Scott, when speaking to students at Brigham Young University, said, “I energetically encourage you to establish a personal plan to better understand and appreciate the incomparable, eternal, infinite consequences of the perfect fulfillment by Jesus Christ of His divinely appointed calling as our Savior and Redeemer. Profound personal Continue reading