SERMON: The Power of Faith

The Power of Faith

 

Jesus was once approached by a woman who had been ill for twelve years. Moved by faith in Christ’s healing power, she pressed through a crowd and touched the hem of his garment. “If I may touch but his cloths,” she said, “I shall be whole” (Mark 5:28). She was immediately healed, and Jesus, sensing that strength had gone from him, asked who had touched him. When the women fell at his feet, acknowledging his blessing, he said, “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole” (Mark 5:34 see Mark 5:25-34).

Although few of us have experienced as dramatic a healing as that of this woman, obedience to the Lord’s commandments and faith in him can also bring us a spiritual and physical “Wholeness”. Becoming whole is one of the gospel’s promised blessings, blessings that are dependent upon faith. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that “every blessing which is obtained in relation to the plan of salvation is the effect of faith”.

Unwavering faith in Christ blesses our loves because it replaces fear and doubt with the conviction, confidence, and courage to press forward. Faith gives purpose and direction to our lives. Making gospel truths the foundation of our faith gives us hope for the future. Our daily efforts are more productive with faith, and our service is given more wholeheartedly.

We must remember that in our lives faith can heal the sick, can bring comfort to those who mourn, strengthen resolve against temptation and relieve us from harmful habits and most important  it can lend us strength to repent and change our lives by leading us too a sure knowledge of Christ. Christ promises that “If we will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me” (Moroni 7:33). When we consider the miracles and mighty works of the ancient prophets, we are impressed with their ability to use the Lord’s power in working righteousness. Equally Inspiring are our members today who continue to walk by faith in all their endeavours, this allows us to bless the lives of others.

Each member of The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ can also exercise the power of faith in blessing the lives of others. Most of our individual accomplishments and miracles will be small, quiet ones, performed in our own homes and neighbourhoods, among family and friends. As we express faith through our righteous action, we can each receive power equal to our own tasks and then can bless the lives of others. As the gift of God, as Latter Day Mormons must keep in mind that faith is a gift we must constantly pray for. 

So let us remember that in exercising faith, don’t go out and try and move mountains, but rather go out and start small, do the things that you need to do in your life to get what you ought to have temporally and spiritually.

SERMON: Run & Not be Weary

Run & Not be Weary

Run and not be weary, and walk and not faint

(D&C 89:20)

 

My fellow Brothers and Sisters of the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ, the sermon today will not be a long one but it will be one that is of most importance to us today, in a world full of excess and want, it is ever more important that we listen to the Lord and to his promises to us laid out in the holy scriptures. Today the biggest threat to our lives is our physical well being. In a world full of avarice and greed there can sometimes seem to be no hope in sight or no way for us to keep to the commands of the scriptures, however let us remember what the Lord has promised, those who are faithful.

The Lord promises us that id we obey the principles of the Word of Wisdom, we “shall run and not be weary, and walk and not faint” (D&C 89:20). The ability to run without becoming weary requires more that proper eating habits. We must exercise our bodies and much as we exercise our spirit and do it properly in order to fully benefit from observing the Word of Wisdom.

It must be fully remembered by members of the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ that a healthy body enhances our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being. This idea is implied in Doctrine and Covenants 89:18-19 “All saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walk in obedience to the commandments, shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures.”

It needs to be remembered that this is a promise from our God and that we need not be embarrassed by partaking in strenuous physical activity, in fact, having a body that is strong and healthy is what the Lord wants for us, indeed it can make us feel more healthy and more attractive as well. In addition to this physical fitness can make us feel more alert, more able to cope with problems, and more spiritually aware.

Latter Day Mormons should look for any way in which the binds of family and relationships can be made stronger. Physical fitness can be that strengthening bond. Sharing swimming, bicycling, hiking, jogging, or tennis can give us a chance to do something with others as well as for them.

We do not need expensive equipment or great skill to improve our health and strength. For instance, hiking, gardening, jogging, or walking requires little special skill. Even as we perform regular activities around the home or at work we can improve our physical fitness. We can walk or bicycle short distances rather than riding on a bus or diving a car. If our work requires us to sit a great deal, we can do beneficial isometric exercises. Planning and taking the time to keep physically fit is important, not only for physical well being, but also for mental and spiritual well being.  Our main drive should be to keep ourselves not only spiritually fit but also physically fit, in order that we might for fill our duty to the Lord and also to our families and loved ones.

And so let is remember and always keep in mind and as we go about our daily and weekly lives, that those who make a conscious effort to maintain healthy bodies will find the word of wisdom’s promise more completely fulfilled.

SERMON: Purity of Thought

“Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly”

Latter Day Mormons are keenly aware that if Satan could capture our minds, he would have won the battle and more importantly the war. Our minds are powerful and responsive and have the potential to acquire great wisdom and knowledge. Our minds are also susceptible to negative and evil influences. Members of the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ indeed all men who search after Christ are blessed, however, in that evil, negative, or unclean thought cannot stay in our minds if we choose not to let them. We can exercise control over what we think about. However we must understand that this control is a constant battle because unseemly things are being emphasised by many people in the world we live in today. If we allow evil, unclean, or negative thoughts to stay in our minds, they can begin to dominate our actions and thus control and erode our lives. Perhaps at some time you have noticed the eroding effect of waves lapping at a steep, rocky coast, or washing away sand from the beaches. This action can e compared to the effect of unclean thoughts, they can erode our minds, making us insensitive to wholesome, affirmative influences or things of the Spirit.

So let us ask ourselves what we can do to avoid evil thoughts? For a start we can avoid, as far as possible, individuals and places that foster unseemly thoughts. We can make wise choices of television programmes, movies, books and magazines; indeed we might also keep in mind what kind of information we look at on the World Wide Web. We can be sure we have a planned, wholesome channel in to which our thoughts are directed, for our thoughts, like water, run continuously, and if not directed, will wander through paths of least resistance in to low places.

As Latter Day Mormons we might consider what else we can do to dismiss evil thoughts? Prayer can help. “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation” (Matthew 26:41). We might also consider choosing sacred music or a favourite hymn to listen to, ones with words that are uplifting to the soul. You might even memorise it and go over it in your mind so that its words and its meaning strike a spiritual cord within your own spirit. You might look upon these hymns or the sacred music you listen to as your emergency channel. Whenever you find that your mind is wondering then all you would have to do is dig around in side the music library in your mind and put on some inspiring music. As the music begins and the words form in your thoughts, the unworthy ones will slip shamefully from your thoughts. Your mood will be changed and the whole mood of your mind will become uplifted.

What we must remember is that our minds learn to treasure what we feed them, and what the mind treasures sinks in to the heart and is manifest in our speech and actions. Our speech and our behaviour indicate the thoughts of our hearts (Proverbs 23:7).

We to often think that purity of thought is taught just for the youth and the young. Why is it important for us as adults to strengthen our defences against unclean thought? It is important because our own well-being is involved and because we influence others, husbands, wives, children and friends. Is it not wisdom, then, to strive always for purity of thought?

SERMON: Search The Scriptures

“Ye ought to search the scriptures”

Alma 33:2

For centuries the Bible has been regarded as the only word of God. As Latter Day Mormons and members of the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ we also look upon the Book of Mormon, The Book of Jeraneck and the Doctrine & Covenants as the word of God. Our range of scripture thus becomes larger than that of any other Christian people.

The Lord has asked indeed commanded saints in various ages to read and to study the scriptures. Jesus Christ told the leaders of the Jewish world to “search the scriptures” (John 5:39). Today in our time the Lord has said, “Study my words which hath gone forth among the children of men, and also study my words which shall come forth” (D&C 11:22). Clearly the word “Which hath gone forth” refers to the Bible, while the word “which shall come forth” refers to the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and the Book of Jeraneck.

As a guide for living, the scriptures are unsurpassed. They are the intimate, personal, and they touch our innermost life as well as our daily relationships and our attitudes towards God. They also form the basis of the civil and religious laws governing many groups. It must be remembered that the Ten Commandments form the foundation of secular governments in many civilised countries. In these hard trying times of disobedience and decadence there is a special need for sure guidance to righteous living, and this we can find in the scriptures.

The power of the scriptures is shown by the influence they have had in moulding the lives of men and nations in all ages. The change that the Saviours life and teachings work in people’s thoughts and acts is a continuing miracle that can only be wrought by the power of the Lord himself.

To be good Latter Day Mormons requires not only prayer and righteous living, but also requires study and prayer. Ideals and information are of little or no use unless we express them in our personal behaviour and human relations. Some people know the scriptures only in a vague, indefinite way, depending on what they hear in religious gatherings. That is not enough, not for Latter Day Mormons, indeed not for anyone. One must read and discover for themselves the truths that they contain. The custom of scripture reading in the Latter Day family should be a part of family life. Times can be found to do this if we have the will and the desire to do so.

As Latter Day Mormons living in a world in turmoil reading the scriptures daily can give balance to our lives. We can find the eternal principles that the scriptures contain can build and useful and expanding life. The scriptures are like a quite rock-girdled island in the midst of a wild flood. We must remember that the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Book of Jeraneck and the Doctrine & Covenants contain the words of eternal life for this generation, and they will stand in judgment against those that reject them, truly the Holy Scriptures have been given to us by the Lord for our instruction. Yet they cannot achieve their purpose to guide us throughout our lives unless we use them, we study them and put their teachings into action everyday of our lives. In doing this we shall see that the scriptures are our way to an abundant eternal life. We must take the counsel given by the apostle Matthew when he says “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God”. (Matthew 22:28).

So let us study those plain and precious truths contained within the scriptures, and in doing so learn and understand the very nature of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, so that we may stand blameless before him at the last day.

 

SERMON: The individual and the Holy Ghost

 

“The Comforter…shall teach them all things that are expedient for them”

D&C 75:10

Our Saviour was very much aware of the void and the anguish men suffer when death parts them from a loved one. Prior to his crucifixion, in his last discourse with his ever loved apostles, he sought to soften the sorrow of his parting. The disciples seemed not to understand. He had been their guide, support, and constant companion for three long years. “Let not your heart be troubled” he said. “In my fathers house are many mansions…I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:1-2). However the apostles who had lived and served with the Saviour for so long still did not understand. They thought they needed nothing more while he was with them, but now he was leaving and they could not follow, at that time at least. In one of the most touching and inspiring utterances from the lips of Saviour came the words, “I will not leave you comfortless….if ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever” (John 14:18, 15-16)

Of course members of the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ know that the one called the comforter, whom Christ promised that the Father would send, was the Holy Ghost, the third member of the great Godhead. The Holy Ghost was to bear witness of the Father and the Son, to lead the disciples to know the truth, and to be a source of reassurance to them as they preached the gospel to the entire world. To the Apostles and Disciples of Christ the Holy Ghost not only gave them consolation, but today he extends blessings of compassion to us when otherwise sorrow would be overwhelming.

Latter Day Mormons have come to understand that the Holy Ghost is a messenger of revelation. This has ever been his mission among the children of God. He gives us a surety that God is our Father and that Christ is our Redeemer.

Latter Day Mormons know that the influence of the Holy Ghost must be cultivated in our own lives and the lives of others. If we do not do this then how can we learn to feel the influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives more regularly. We must remember that we need to take the time to listen to the promptings of the Spirit. The answers to our prayers often come by a still small voice deep within our minds and souls and are discerned by our deepest, innermost feelings. We can and must be guided by the Holy Ghost in the decisions that we take in life, the influence of the Holy Ghost must be cultivated and our hearts prepared to receive the blessings of the Holy Ghost we need to remember that “if we enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye shall do” (2 Nephi 32:5).

The overwhelming lesson that members of the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ must learn and understand is that the Holy Ghost is a testifier of Jesus Christ, he is a witness of all that Christ stands for and teaches and if we want to understand Christ then we must learn to understand the promptings of the Holy Spirit in our lives and with his help we can not only become better Latter Day Mormons but better people and closer to the throne of God the Father.

 

 



SERMON: Be of One Heart and Mind

Be of One Heart and Mind

“The Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind and dwelt in righteousness, and there was no poor among them”

 Genesis 7:23

 

The church helps us be of one heart and mind (Genesis 7:23). Christ said, “If ye are not one ye are not mine” (D&C 38:27). He knew that we would need the church, its prophets and leaders, its organisation, and his teachings if we were to be of one spirit with him. Paul taught that the church is “For the perfecting of the saints,….till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the son of God” (Ephesians 4:12-13)

Argument and contention should not exist among the saints. The Lord said to the Nephites, “And there shall be no disputations among you, as there have hitherto been; neither shall there be disputations among you concerning the points of my doctrine, as there have hitherto been. For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another” ( 3 Nephi 11:28-29).

Members of the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ who are not in harmony with the church invite the spirit of apostasy to creep in to their lives. If latter day Mormons do anything contrary to the standards of personal righteousness that the church has laid down then they are in spiritual apostasy and they need to repent, since all true Latter Day Mormons speak the same thing and they have no divisions among them, and they are joined together in the same mind and in the same spirit.

Personal apostasy usually occurs by degrees. When we beguine to criticise the church and its teachings, we then “become blinded and understand not the things which are prepared for us” (D&C 78:10). We do not follow the commandments, and before we are aware, we are inactive and disbelieving, and we leave the church. We would ask that all those rebellious spirits would stop and ask themselves the questions that need asking such as: Are my actions and my critical nature having the effect s of bringing me closer to Christ, to God, to virtue, to prayer, to eternal life with God. Those in rebellion should ask themselves "what have I gained by my criticism? Peace, Joy, growth or have I merely satisfied my own pride?

Latter Day Mormons should remember the story of the people in the book of Jeraneck who when they did not live in harmony with God ended up loosing sight of the truth "My time in the north countries is soon at an end and although it has been a time that I shall never forget a larger part of the people have fallen in to error and they have fallen away from the teachings of the church and their God and they have fallen foul to the worshipers of the evil abomination Odinon (BofJ 15:72)

 

So with this in mind it is so very important for us to come to terms with the fact that the wise Latter Day Mormon will not take the first step in separating themselves from the church, as many do through apostasy. The wise Latter Day Mormon will pray frequently and regularly, read their scriptures, and generally stay close to the Lord. He will diligently fulfil his church and family duties and will follow Lord in all things. As members of The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ our safe guard against apostasy, then is to be faithful to the church, be fully committed to the building up of the kingdom, and live in harmony with righteous principles. Enoch’s people, for example, “were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness” (Genesis 7:23). After the Saviours visit to the Americas, the Nephites “did walk after the commandments…they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God” (4 Nephi 1:12, 17) Let us also “be of one mind” so that we may “Live in peace” (2 Corinthians 13:11)

Church statement on the disaster in Oklahoma

The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ would like to express how deeply saddened we are to hear of the loss of life and devastation caused by yesterday’s tornado in Oklahoma. The church would like to offer our heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families at this difficult time. The Prophet of the Latter Day Church Matthew Gill said that he is “deeply saddened and shocked at the tragedy unleashed in the Oklahoma by the tornado. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims of this horrific disaster. I pray that the Lord God will give the people of Oklahoma the courage and strength they will need to recover from this horrible ordeal”

 

SERMON: The Lords Tenth

“Honour the Lord with thy Substance”

Proverbs 3:9

 

For members of the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ the payment of tithing is a sacred obligation to the Lord, the giver of all blessings. Latter Day Mormons must remember that paying tithing does not represent giving gifts to the Lord and the Church. Paying tithing is discharging a debt to the Lord. The Lord is the source of all our blessings and so we have an obligation to pay our tithing.

Latter Day Mormons know that it is important to teach our families that the Lords tenth is sacred, In our family councils we can teach our children how to manage their money and pay an honest tithe. We can help our children learn how to figure out the proper tithing for allowances or earnings. It is important that members of the church  study with our families the scriptures that tell us about ancient tithes as the first fruits such as the one found in Proverbs 3:9 and the firstlings of the flock found in Genesis 4:4. These inspire us to give the Lord the top tenth of our income. If we are wise, we will show by our example that paying tithing in season, when income is received, is easier and gives us a greater wisdom in managing the remaining nine-tenth us a greater wisdom in managing the remaining nine-tenths.

Honest tithe payers have discovered that the Lord literally opens the windows of heaven and pours out more blessings, spiritual and temporal, than they can receive. The greater our sacrifice the greater the blessings seem to be. Latter Day Mormons know that prosperity comes to those who observe the law of tithing. We are not talking about prosperity in terms of pounds and pence alone, although as rule Latter Day Mormons who are the best tithe payers can be prosperous financially. However what church counts as real prosperity is the growth in a knowledge of God, and in a testimony, and in power to live the gospel and inspire our families to do the same, this is prosperity of the truest kind.

Members of the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ know that obeying the law of tithing helps us overcome selfishness, help's build the kingdom, and help's us perfect ourselves. It is important to remember that a tithe payer becomes in a very real sense a partner, albeit a humble one, with the Lord in a tremendous, eternal programme laid out for the salvation of human kind. To those who tithe with the Lord the principles of truth become clearer of comprehension, the living of them easier of accomplishment. Doubt retreats, faith advances certainty and courage up lift our souls. The eternal voice of our father is heard more clearly and we become more like our father in heaven and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

SERMON: Attend Sacrament Meeting

The ordinance of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is extremely important because it commemorates the central fact in revealed religion, the atonement of Jesus Christ. The Lord gave this ordinance by which his life and mission, his death and resurrection, the great sacrifice he had offered for the redemption of man, should be kept in everlasting remembrance by his followers, and we Latter Day Mormons hold this ordinance as highly as we hold any ordinance given to us by God.

Shortly before the Saviour was crucified, he met with his disciples to observe the feats of the Passover. He broke bread, blessed it, and gave it to them, saying “This is my body which id given for you, this do in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). Afterwards, he blessed the wine and gave it to them with these words, “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” (Luke 22:20)

After his resurrection, the Saviour visited the American continent and instituted the same ordinances among the Nephites (3 Nephi Chapter 8; 18/Utah). The Saviour also visited other lost sheep during this time such as those remaining people in the Book of Jeraneck who believed still in his name; there, he also gave instruction on this special ordinance.

In the restoration of the fullness of times the Prophet Joseph Smith received specific instructions about the sacrament. Included in these instructions are the prayers to be offered, and the authority to be used in administering it also the obligation assumed by those who partake of the emblems of the atonement. It must be remembered today by all of us that all those who partake the sacrament bear witness to the Lord, that they are willing to take upon themselves the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that they are willing always to remember him and that they will always keep his commandments. If they do these things, they are promised that His spirit will always be with them.

It is important that we remember that as members of the church, we partake the sacrament worthily, as members we must rid our minds and our souls of ill feelings towards others. Latter Day Mormons must remember to examine ourselves to see if we are living our lives according to the teachings of the everlasting Gospel. In partaking of the sacrament, we renew the promise that we made to follow him always and to live our lives in his name. 

It must be pointed out that Sacrament time is not a time for entertainment, or a time to tell stories unrelated to the Gospel, but rather, it is a time in which we are to grow spiritually. Every sacrament meeting should be a spiritual feast. It should be a time for meditation and introspection, a time for singing songs of praise to the Lord, and most important of all it should be a time for renewing ones covenants and promises that we have made wit our father in heaven and our Saviour. For us Latter day Mormons it should be a time for hearing the words of the Lord with reverence and appreciation for it is to the Lord that our minds should be turned.

Latter Day Mormons know in their hearts that purpose of sacrament meetings are to worship the Lord, partake of the sacrament, and receive gospel instruction. It is our duty as members to be ready both body and spirit for the Sabbath so that we may enter sacrament meetings ready to partake of the sacrament and also of the sprit of the Lord. Let us remember the words “Thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day” (D&C 19:2; 59:9/Utah.) 

The BBC and the Truth about Stonehenge

A note from Matthew P Gill: 

"Once again a programme broadcast on BBC claims to have unlocked the secrets of Stonehenge. This is yet another attempt to try and understand who built it and what purpose it served. However, just like other programmes and other ideas about this sacred structure, they grab at straws, not really knowing, but rather guessing with modern ideas what they would like the facts to be.

Another aspect of many of these programmes is the way in which they try to instruct us on the story of how and why it was built, much of which is guesswork and full of holes, which they fill with man made ideas with no historic or written evidence. Yet again, the Druids have been given far too much credit for this sacred site. Don't leave it to guesswork and unsupported theory. 

The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ is able to bring to light the REAL reason that Stonehenge was built, and also what purpose it actually served, since we have the only written evidence from the time and from those who lived when it stood in all its glory, and for the glory of Almighty God. We call on all of mankind to discover the real history and story behind this sacred monument, because it was, and remains, a blessing for all peoples."

For more information, please visit our website www.latterdaychurch.co.uk

SERMON: The Power of Example

A Sermon by Matthew P Gill

As Latter Day Mormons, by setting a good example, we can influence character, inspire noble deeds, and attract others to the truth. Through being a good example, we as members of the church can better fulfil our divine mission to change the lives of others, and that divine mission to change lives is immeasurable.

Paul urged Timothy, Paul’s younger missionary companion, to be true to the teachings of youth. “Be thou an example of believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). It is very important that Latter Day Mormons practice what we believe. We must demonstrate by our actions and deeds that we are an example to others in our faith and our belief.

It is our duty to set an example to those around us and one way we can do this is by having a sufficient knowledge of the scriptures. As Paul says of Timothy, “From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures.” (2 Timothy 3:15) We should demonstrate a deep and abiding knowledge of the scriptures of our faith.

The devotion and obedience of many of our members today, many of whom are modern Timothys, reflect the good examples that must have been set by others in their homes. Their models may have been a mother, father, sister, brother, teacher, a friend, or other good person who modeled good moral behaviours and a strong and devoted faith in the Lord.

The Prophet Jeraneck said his mother and father gave him “a solid foundation,” upon which he could grow. (Jeraneck 15:15) Such examples are crucial for families to raise up children who are examples to others.

Many members seem to be unaware of the influence that they have in other people’s lives, but a Righteous example is a significant force for good for people of all ages. Even though many Latter Day Mormons live under difficult circumstances, they can nonetheless learn how to use the power of good example to lift up their lives.

To those members with family members who do not support the church, for example, we must always remember that they remain our fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers. Even if they do not appreciate your burden, support them with positive actions and attitudes and love them; show them that you believe in them and love them with all your heart; encourage them with noble and godly examples, because it is with this wonderful force, the power of example, that we Latter Day Mormons do the most good. We do the most good for mankind when we consistently improve ourselves and strive to be what we say we believe.

We see an example of righteousness in a family in which others do not serve the Lord in the Book of Mormon, when Shiblon, the son of Alma, was righteous even as his brother Corianton was not. Alma holds up his son to his other son, Corianton, as a great moral example, saying, “for behold, have ye not observed the steadiness of thy brother, his faithfulness, and his diligence in keeping the commandments of God? Behold, has he not set a good example for thee?” (Alma 19; 39:1/Utah)

In the Book of Jeraneck, we learn that the children of the ancient People of Ridnon and Limndon, “were taught by their mothers, and they were taught that they were to be prayerful and to be contrite and be examples to the people around them.” (Jeraneck 9:5)

Now let us put on the whole armour of God and go unto the world and to our families and unto our friends and be a great example of the Gospel and also of God, so that we may stand blameless before Him at the last day, so that we are able to say that we stood as a firm example of the Gospel and of Latter Day Mormonism, even unto the end. Amen.

Reading: "in the last days perilous times shall come" 2 Timothy 3:1-5

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." 

- 2 Timothy 3:1-5

SERMON: Enduring to the End

A Sermon by Matthew P Gill

The fourteenth Article of Faith reminds us that we, ‘hope to be able to endure all things,’ whatever life brings us. And although our challenges may be different, enduring to the end simply means enduring each day well, and faithfully. Endurance knows no time or season. It is a concern of both the elderly and the young. We are tempted at all ages, and none of us know when we will die. Each day we must make the right decisions that will keep us on the road to eternal life.

Enduring life well requires positive action. We must consciously act to improve ourselves if we are to ‘do good’ and ‘hold out faithful to the end’ (D&C 8:5; 6:13/Utah). If we truly follow Christ, our endurance will be productive, not passive. Enduring well means developing faith, devotion, patience, long-suffering, cheerfulness, love, and selfless service. These are the qualities that we as Latter Day Mormons should always be striving for as we endure righteously.

By being baptised into the Gospel and becoming a member of The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ shows positive action, but the road to eternal life does not end with baptism or membership. Whether we receive the blessings of all principles and ordinances of the Gospel depends on our continued faithfulness. Baptism and membership are important parts of the endurance process because it places us on the right path to eternal life. Both of these things can and should give us ‘a determination to serve him to the end’ (D&C 2:7; 20:7/Utah)

The Prophet Joseph Smith is a great example to us as Latter Day Mormons of enduring to the end. The Prophet never let any trial stop him in the pursuit of his ultimate goals, and even when his life was in risk never gave up. We. like Joseph Smith, must follow the Saviour to the end, through trails and persecution, through wealth and ease, through periods of tiredness, and through all other hazards of mortality. Regardless of the adversities and the difficulties we encounter in striving faithfully to endure, success can be achieved. This, we can and must do if we would enjoy the blessings promised to us as Latter Day Mormons.

From the Lectures on Faith in the Doctrine & Covenants, we are taught that those who sacrifice all for the sake of the Gospel, “will have the testimony that their course is pleasing in the sight of God, and those who have this testimony will have faith to lay hold on eternal life, and will be enabled, through faith, to endure unto the end, and receive the crown that is laid up for them that love the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (D&C Lecture 6, 6:10)

Latter Day Mormons, having the witness of the Book of Jeraneck, learn from it many great feats of endurance and faithfulness to Almighty God.

The Prophet Hadjaneck, for example, said to God’s People of Light, “The Lord has promised through revelation that if we, his people are faithful and obedient that we shall become one with him,” and this is true for us today.

So, let us remember that even though our contributions seem small, they are a significant part of enduring to the end. If we follow Christ, enduring well to the end, we can say with Paul, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day.”

Let us brace ourselves, therefore, to our duty and endure with faithfulness and determination to the end.  

OFFICIAL STATEMENT: Church Leader Calls for Prayers for Victims of Boston Marathon Bombings

Matthew P. Gill, the Prophet, Seer and Revelator of the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ, has released the following statement:

"I am distressed to hear the news coming out of Boston, Massachusetts tonight of the bombings during the Marathon, which have resulted in deaths and injuries. The thoughts and prayers of myself, my family and the entire Church are with those who were injured and with the families of those who lost loved ones in this horrific attack. May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, be with them all."

Reading: Persecuted "with all manner of words" (Alma Chapter 1)

"But it came to pass that whosoever did not belong to the Church of God, began to persecute those that did belong to the Church of God, and had taken upon them the name of Christ; yea, they did persecute them, and afflict them with all manner of words, and this because of their humility; because they were not proud in their own eyes, and because they did impart the word of God, one with another, without money and without price." 

Alma Chapter 1 (1830) 1:20-21/Utah

Reading : "...let every man learn his duty..." D&C 3:44 (107:99 Utah)

"Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence."
- D&C 3:44 (107:99 Utah)

SERMON: Sacrifice Brings Blessings

A Sermon by Matthew P Gill

One of the first principles God taught Adam and Eve was the Law of Sacrifice, and, in every dispensation since, that law has been consistently stressed. Whether the sacrifice involved burnt offerings, the consecration of all possessions to a united order, tithing, fast offerings, or less prescribed giving of ourselves and our possessions, we have been taught from the beginning that ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive’ (Acts 20:35).

The greedy, gasping person is usually unhappy, for he is seeking happiness by acquiring material things rather than seeking lasting things such as personal relationships. An old Scandinavian proverb says ‘Bare is his back who bears no brother.’ Such a person has not learned to follow the counsel that Paul gave to the Colossians ‘Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth’ (Colossians 3:2). When we sacrifice, we are building up our personal spiritual reserve and resources, not our earthly reserves, and for Latter Day Mormon that should be our goal, and nothing else.

Sacrifice is the crowning test of the gospel. Men are tried and tested in this mortal probation to see if they will put first in their lives the things of the Kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33). To gain eternal life, they must be willing, if called upon, to sacrifice all things for the gospel, we must be willing to sacrifice, there is no point calling yourself a Latter Day Mormon is you are not prepared to sacrifice and show God that He is the one in charge.

Those who understand the Law of Sacrifice rarely think of contributions to the Lord’s cause as a sacrifice at all. We may think that being a member of the true church needs no more sacrifice that becoming a member. When we think of sacrifice, we tend to think of such dramatic offerings as Abraham’s willingness to give his only son of the Prophet Joseph Smiths willingness to meet a brutal death, or of Ester’s willingness to put her life in jeopardy for he countrymen (Ester 4:16). Sacrificing one life, however, is not the only way to give of oneself for the building of the kingdom of God. The Lord requires a broken heart and contrite spirit. Individual circumstances must determine what kind of sacrifice the person is asked to give. ‘The Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind, and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days (D&C 21:7/ 64:34Utah)

In matters of sacrifice, the question of ‘How much is enough?’ can be painful question. Sacrifice requires giving at some cost. David, at least, thought so. When Araunah the Jebusite graciously offered to give him oxen and wood for a sacrifice, David replied, “Nay but I will surely buy it of thee at a price; neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing.” (2 Samuel 24:24). Sacrifice, to be effective, must cost something. The parable of the widow’s mite suggests that the relative personal cost is more important than absolute monetary value of the sacrifice.

For Latter Day Mormons, one story in the Bible should stand out and enable us to strive to sacrifice. In Mark 10:17-22, Jesus gave one of the most thought-provoking answers to the question of how much sacrifice is truly enough. When a young man asked him, ‘What should I do that I may inherit eternal life?’ The Saviour responded by reciting some of the Ten Commandments. Then the young man said to him, ‘Master, all these have I observed from my youth.’ Christ ‘beholding him, loved him’ and explained to the young man the sacrifice by which he might attain eternal life. ‘One thing thou lackest, go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, take up the cross, and follow me.’ The young man, Mark tells us, ‘was sad at that saying, and went away grieved, for he had great possessions.” The true disciple must offer his whole soul and be willing to observe every sacrifice required by the Lord (Omni 1:26; D&C 81:2/97:8Utah)

So it is so very important that Latter Day Mormons remember that the Law of Sacrifice means that we are willing to sacrifice all that we have for the sake of truth: our character and reputation our honour and applause, our good name among men, our homes, lands, and families, all things, even our very lives if need be. (Lecture on Faith 6:5)

For, “When a man has of­fered in sacrifice all that he has, for the truth's sake, not even withholding his life, and believing before God that he has been called to make this sacrifice, because he seeks to do his will, he does know most assuredly, that God does and will accept his sacrifice & offering, and that he has not nor will not seek his face in vain.” (Lecture 6, 6:7)

Those faithful servants who make the sacrifice will have the testimony that their course is pleasing in the sight of God.

SERMON: Mary Magdelene, Witness of the Risen Lord

Noli me Tangere by Hans Holbein the Younger, 1524
(Copyright free image)

The New Passover ("Easter") is the Greatest Story ever told. All of you know the story, but I want to speak about the part of the story in which Mary Magdalene meets Jesus at the empty tomb.

This story is found only in the Gospel of John, and is very much understated in the whole of the story of Jesus Christ's resurrection. For Latter Day Mormons, it is a very important story, and one that I think is missing from the other Gospels - maybe because Mary only told it to John personally.

Everything about this little story within a bigger story rings true to human nature as we know it. A woman alone by an empty tomb, weeping, wondering what has happened to the body of the Lord she loved. While the woman knelt alone weeping by the tomb Jesus suddenly appears, she doesn't recognise him at first. Then the women so overcome with joy and the spirit reaches out to touch the Christ she knows and loves, who confides in her that he has not yet fully resurrected and come unto his father. The vignette ends with the mourner turned into a missionary, running to tell the others what she has just seen and heard.

Although Mary Magdalene plays an important role in the life of Christ, the wider world knows very little about her and her role in the life of Christ. What we as Latter Day Mormons do know is that she is one of at least five different women named “Mary” in the New Testament, and unless we are careful, we will get them confused.

Mary Magdalene was one of a group of women who became followers of Christ during his earthly ministry. We know that she joined herself to Jesus in a way that no other women had ever done, As Latter Day Mormons, we know through modern revelation that Jesus loved her more than any other woman, indeed, more than any other of his disciples, and that they indeed were married. It has been taught by people down the ages, and is still taught by some, that Mary Magdalene was the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11), but there is no evidence in the text to support this claim.

Others suggest she was the “sinful woman” who anointed the feet of Jesus in Luke 7:36-50, but the Bible does not make that clear, either. There is some tradition among many churches that it makes her a promiscuous woman, but there is no reason to say that based on the facts. After a time throughout Christian churches she became a symbol for repentant sinners who come to Christ from very chequered and colourful backgrounds, this may in fact be true in her case, but we have no way to be certain as to the validity of the stories attributed to Mary.

Far from doing Mary and her reputation throughout the world good, it has meant that this wonderful woman has been darkened and tainted with sin, sin which can not be proved she had committed.

However, this much we do know: That through her love and discipleship, Christ set her free, and liberated her from the world that surrounded her - a world that had kept her chained figuratively to darkness. Mary Magdalene is living proof that those whom the Lord sets free are free indeed. Having been liberated from the world around her, she said to herself, "I love him for what he did for me. I will follow him wherever he goes." And so when it came time for our Lord to offer his life and was hung on the cross, she stood nearby with Mary, his mother.

When they took his body down from the cross, she was there to see that awful image of her Lord. When they placed him in the tomb, she was sitting on a rock ledge, watching it all happen (Matthew 27:61). And so when the Sabbath had concluded, Mary, this woman whom the Lord had set free from the bondage of the world, this woman who loved him and followed him, and this woman who was there at his death, now went forth and purchased spices because she hoped to anoint his dead body. The Lord was hastily buried on Friday in order to finish before sundown, which is why they had not finished preparing his body.

Early on Sunday morning, before the sun came up, she and the other women ventured through the darkness to the Garden Tomb, expecting to finish the job of anointing the body of Jesus. When the women came upon the tomb they found it empty, they were confused and terrified. Then they saw and heard angels of the Father and they told them that Christ had risen from the dead.

They returned to tell the disciples who did not believe such a thing possible even though the Lord has told them such things were possible and that he would be resurrected. And so John and Peter went and investigated, and when they saw the linen wrappings exactly where the body had been placed on Friday evening, they believed, now they believed and they ran to tell the others of what they had seen. At that point, Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb alone, confused, bewildered, in shock, frightened, and of course at the very heart of it, brokenhearted, her beloved not there, but missing. It has not yet occurred to her that the empty tomb meant that Jesus had risen from the dead.

It has often been said that Mary Magdalene was last at the cross and first at the tomb. Even though this may sound a slight to Mary it must be remembered that that can not be said of the men who followed Jesus, the men who lived by his side as she did, the men who saw his do so many great and wondrous things.

Mary was the first to see him alive and the first to hear his voice, this is the one person he chose to see first, he chose her above his Apostles, and he chose his beloved. The irony of the story is that when she saw him, she didn't recognize him. But when the truth hit home, she became the first evangelist in Christian history. As Latter Day Mormons we must always remember that Christ bestowed this great honour on her because she loved him so deeply and so devotedly, and he loved her.

Let us, therefore, be inspired by this great woman of faith to be faithful in our devotion to Christ and in our duties to honour God.

Reading: "Behold, I bleed for you..." Jeraneck 16:42-45

And the Lord spoke unto me and said, “Behold my birth, for I will come in humble circumstances and I will bear witness of the Father and I will teach the Gospel unto all that will listen. Now look,” And I looked and I saw that he was older and in his mid years and I saw that he was in a garden and I saw that he bled from his skin and the Lord said unto me,

“Behold, I bleed for you and your people behold I bleed for all that have lived and will ever live. I bleed and take upon my self the sins of the entire world.” and then I saw that the people spat on him and whipped him and they placed thorns on his head and they nailed him to a tree in the form of a cross and there he died.

And my heart sank that the people would do this. Now the Lord commanded me to look and I saw that he had risen from the dead and that he walked upon the earth once again and that he did many great things unto the people.

Book of Jeraneck 16:42-45

NEWS RELEASE: A Challenge to Pope Francis

BRITISH MORMON PROPHET 

CHALLENGES POPE FRANCIS

TO RELEASE HIDDEN GOSPEL RECORDS

Says Vatican Must Reveal the Truth About Early Christian Writings

Thursday, 27 March, 2013
Contact: Elder Phil Gill 01283 585972 (UK); 1-44-1283-585972(from US) 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ASHBOURNE, DERBYSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM – The Prophet of a British Mormon sect is challenging Pope Francis to come clean about possible “secret Gospels” hidden in the Vatican’s vaults and release them to the world. 

Matthew P. Gill, the Prophet, Seer and Revelator of the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ, says the new pope should be honest with the world about the Vatican’s contents. 

“The new pope has made statements to the effect that he wants to govern a more open church,” he said. “I applaud that effort, but I challenge him to fully live up to his word, and release a list of all materials lying in the dark recesses of the Vatican about early Gospels of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

There were many books not included in the New Testament Christian scriptures by the Roman Catholic Church, and many were unknown until the 20th Century. In 1945, a large cache of Gnostic Gospels were found in Egypt, and last year, a scrap of papyrus was acquired and translated by a Harvard Divinity School professor showing evidence that Jesus was married. Gill says the world should be told about all such writings. 

“There are likely to be many such unknown fragments that could shed light on the earliest years of the Christian Church, and we all deserve to know about them,” he said. 

Gill’s church, which is not affiliated with the Utah-based Latter-Day Saints, traces its origin to the revelations Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1830 and Gill's revelation of the Book of Jeraneck in 2006. Latter Day Mormons believe in ongoing revelation by Gill, the Living Prophet, but do not believe in polygamy, and reject the authority of all Latter-Day Saint prophets after the death of Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1844. They are online at www.latterdaychurch.co.uk. 

The full statement is below: 

In his first weeks in office, Pope Francis has made statements to the effect that he wants to govern a more open church. I applaud that effort, but I challenge him to fully live up to his word, and release a list of all materials lying in the dark recesses of the Vatican about early Gospels of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Gospel fragments have surfaced throughout the last century that have given us new insights into the Lord’s message and teachings. This includes the Gnostic Gospels and the Gospel of Judas, which Catholics have known to have existed since the time of Ireneaus, a Catholic Bishop living around AD 180, but has only been published within the past decade. 

What other Secret Gospels and writings has the Vatican withheld from Catholics and the rest of the world? There are likely to be many such unknown fragments that could shed light on the earliest years of the Christian church, and we all deserve to know about them.

With the greatest of respect, I challenge the pope to immediately release a full list of Gospels and fragments of Gospel writings hidden in the Vatican, whether or not his church will be embarrassed by their contents. Only then will we know Pope Francis is serious about living up to Christ’s words, "The Truth shall set you free."

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