I hope you enjoy some insights from my Come, Follow Me Moroni 1-6 (If you missed last week’s insights for Come, Follow Me Ether 12-15 click here). Save this pin to read later.
Denying Christ.
“And I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ; wherefore, I wander whithersoever I can for the safety of mine own life.”
Moroni 1:3
When I read Moroni’s testimony that he will not deny Christ it is easy for me to say, “I would not either!” We hear stories of Peter denying Him thrice and think, “I would never!”
But often we forget there are more ways to deny Christ than publically denying that He is real. Often the subtle snares of Satan are to trick us into having our actions deny Christ. When we hold grudges, refuse to forgive, or become bitter we are denying the Atonement, and when we deny the Atonement we deny the Christ.
Unlike the Saints of yesteryear most of us will not publically be forced to testify for or against Christ, but we do testify daily by our actions. By our actions each day we either deny or testify of Christ, this is the evidence of our faith.
If you were accused of being a Latter-day Saint, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Let us never deny Christ with words or actions, let us live a life so full of evidence that if we were ever accused of being a disciple of Christ there would be no doubt!
Where are the Keys?
“The words of Christ, which he spake unto his disciples, the twelve whom he had chosen, as he laid his hands upon them—” Moroni 2:1
As I read this short chapter (only 3 verses) the thing that stands out is that Christ is treating His 12 Apostles in the Nephite lands just like the 12 in Jerusalem. He laid hands upon their heads and gave them authority.
I am thankful for the consistency of God, that He has restored once again all things and that we have Apostles once again on the earth in our day and age, and just like the ancient apostles they also hold authority from Jesus Christ to act in His name, and to lead and guide His Church, authority also known as priesthood keys.
Gary E. Stevenson
Priesthood Authority And Power.
“In the name of Jesus Christ I ordain you to be a priest (or if he be a teacher, I ordain you to be a teacher) to preach repentance and remission of sins through Jesus Christ, by the endurance of faith on his name to the end. Amen.”
Moroni 3:3
Through Priesthood ordination we have the restored Priesthood authority planted all throughout the world, there are millions of ordained Priesthood holders. Priests and Teachers, Deacons, Elders, and High Priest quorums are organized all over the world.
The question for us is simple, God has planted the authority, but has the seed of authority grown into Priesthood power yet? Could you imagine the good that could be done in the wards and branches, stakes and districts, the cities, towns, and villages around the world if the seed of authority was sprouting?
With millions of ACTIVE Priesthood brethren the work would not just move forward it would race forward, the missionary work, the temple work, and the reactivations that would take place! And the service that could, and should be rendered to soften the hearts of those around us! Let us step up. In the words of the late President Packer.
Preparing For the Sacrament.
“And they did kneel down with the church, and pray to the Father in the name of Christ, saying:”
Moroni 4:2
When it comes to preparing for the big ordinances like Baptism, Endowment, and Sealing we as members of the church do a really good job at preparing beforehand, with prayer, repentance, and aligning our lives with Christ.
But for many of us, we overlook and do not prepare as much as we should for the sacrament. One would not prepare for the endowment as they drive to the temple, nor would we prepare for baptism as we walk into the baptismal font. But offering a quick deathbed repentance style prayer in the chapel as the sacrament is being blessed we feel is sufficient preparation for the sacrament.
Prior preparation promotes powerful spiritual experiences, so ask yourself am I preparing for the sacrament? Elder S Gifford Nelson told my zone on my mission “You should start preparing for the sacrament next week the moment you take it this week.” He explained that we should be repenting daily as preparation for the sacrament.
Elder Anthony D. Perkins
The sacrament, the only way to renew temple covenants
“O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee, in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.” Moroni 5:2
It is almost universally known in the church that by partaking of the sacrament we renew our baptismal covenant, but the question might be raised what about our other covenants, including our temple covenants? For that, we need but turn to the words of an Apostle, Elder Delbert L. Stapley: “By partaking of the Sacrament we renew all covenants entered into with the Lord.”
When we truly understand that by partaking of the sacrament we are renewing ALL of our covenants it changes everything. The Sacrament is not just a renewal of our baptismal covenants but also temple covenants all priesthood covenants. Let that sink in for a moment.
The sacrament is the only way to renew our temple covenants. No amount of sharing the Gospel, no amount of home teaching, no amount of good can ever repair a broken temple covenant. Only by worthily partaking of the sacrament can that be done. Now it is important to remember that those things help us to repent and worthily partake of the sacrament but at the end of the day the Sacrament renews those covenants. So next time you see the bread and water being blessed and passed think about the Temple and recommit to the covenants you are renewing.
If you haven’t made them, make them.
If you have made them and broken them, repent and repair them.
It is never too late so long as the Master of the vineyard says there is time.”
Jeffrey R. Holland
The Savior Wants to Forgive.
“But as oft as they repented and sought forgiveness, with real intent, they were forgiven.”
Moroni 6:8
Some have imagined God as a mean deity, one who is quick to damn his children, maybe this stems because many of us think God will be as quick to condemn as we are. But our Father is not prideful like we are, He can not look upon sin with allowance, that is true, but He also will not forget who we are because of what we have done.
God is our Father that loves us dearly. And as a loving Father, He seeks for ways to bring His children home, that is why He prepared Jesus Christ from before the foundations of this world. He seeks to forgive us, not to damn us. What loving parent takes joy in the pain and suffering of their children? NONE! And neither does God. Through His Son, Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father seeks to forgive us as often as He can. Because Mercy can NOT rob justice, we must repent.
That is why Jesus Christ pleads with us to repent and return unto Him, because “The Savior wants to forgive.” (Elder Craig A. Cardon), let us always be willing to humble ourselves and seek His forgiveness and mercy.
