All Things Witness

Thoughts on the mission and power of Jesus Christ

Tag Archives: Christian


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Developing Charity

The talks in our Church meetings today were on the subject of charity.  They were all excellent, and gave me the opportunity to again consider this important quality I need to better develop.  A couple of months ago I was asked to speak on this topic at Church too, and have posted that talk below.

CharityIt is interesting I think to note that “the Pure Love of Christ” could refer to the love which Christ shows for me (its ultimate expression being through the Atonement), the love which Christ shows to all people (which I need to attempt to emulate), and the love which Christ enables me to show to others (again through His atonement). Continue reading →


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Grasping the Meaning of Christmas

As we get closer to Christmas I thought I would look for some quotes that help to remind me of the real meaning of Christmas.  This one is from Hugh W Pinnock.

James, the Lord’s half-brother (see Galatians 1:19), thoughtfully wrote, “Every good gift and every perfect gift [the Atonement] is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). This being true then, we must help others to grasp the true meaning of the Atonement and Christmas, which is Christ.

 

Think of the influence you…can have on parents, siblings, friends, and relatives by helping them to think about Jesus even more this year than perhaps they have on earlier occasions. You will never forget this Christmas if you do.

 

(Hugh W Pinnock, BYU Speeches, 9 December 1997)


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Heart, Might, Mind and Strength (4 of 5)

This post considers how deficient we all are in our intellectual efforts, and how we need to rely on Christ to make us whole in this part of our being, as in all parts of our being.  It is the 4th post in the series, with the first overview found here, the second part on how the Saviour heals our Hearts here, and the third on how He heals our Might (or emotionalise) here.

Thinking Man - Bombeeney“I think therefore I am”.  So said Descarte.  Of course, we all think differently.  My logic is different from someone else’s logic; my rational thought processes come to different conclusions from someone else’s rational thought processes.  In truth we are all different – and deficient – intellectually. Continue reading →


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With His Arm Around our Shoulders

“Our Savior wants us to really love Him to the point that we want to align our will with His. We can then feel His love and know His glory. Then He can bless us as He wants to….

“I believe that if we could have the privilege of walking physically with the Savior, that we would feel His arm draped over our shoulder…. Like the disciples heading toward Emmaus, our hearts would “burn within us” (Luke 24:32). This is His message: “Come and see” (John 1:39). It is personal, inviting, and embracing in its invitation to walk with His arm around our shoulders.”

Elder Terence M Vinson


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Heart, Might, Mind and Strength (3 of 5)

This is the third post in a series about how, through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we gain power within each part of our beings: our Heart, Might, Mind, and Strength.  The first post, found here, is an overview and explains how I understand these principles.  The second post, found here, looks at how He helps heal our Heart – or as I have understood it our spiritual selves.

This third part looks at how, through Jesus Christ, our Might – or the emotional parts of our being – are made whole.

SunriseIn the LDS King James version of the Bible, the Topical Guide, under the heading for pain, refers also to the words: Affliction, Anguish, Distress, Grief, Sorrow, Suffering, Torment.  Emotional pains are some of the most intense we suffer during our mortal lives.  Continue reading →


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To Mend Our Souls

This following quote is from the October 2013 General Conference.  I love the phrase towards the end about how the Saviour seeks to “mend our souls and heal our hearts”.  It reminds me that above all else, our Saviour is a healer.

“Jesus Christ heals body, mind, and spirit, and His healing begins with faith….

“As we draw near to Him, we realize that mortality is meant to be difficult and that “opposition in all things” (2 Nephi 2:11) is not a flaw in the plan of salvation. Opposition, rather, is the indispensable Continue reading →


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Under His Wing

"Under His Wing" © Jay Bryant Ward, used with permission

“Under His Wing” © Jay Bryant Ward, used with permission

A few years ago, I was given for my birthday a print of a painting by Jay Bryant Ward entitled “Under His Wing”.  It portrays a young girl of perhaps 6 or 7 years of age.  In the painting we see that someone is standing next to her, but all we see of this adult at her side is half a waist, and a right arm which is protectively behind her – not touching her, but in place to ensure that she would be quickly secured in the event of need.

There is an obvious implication in the painting that the adult at this small girl’s side is keeping close and constant watchful care of her.  Although we can’t see the face, we know the identity of this adult, because we see the hand placed carefully to ensure this small girl’s safety, in the middle of which is the unmistakeable mark of a nail having pierced it.  In many ways this is a very simple picture, but for me it is profound beyond measure. Continue reading →


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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 →


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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 →