Baptism of FIRE?!?!?

After a Baptism of water it is not yet complete without receiving the baptism of fire, or of the Holy Ghost. "...Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.

Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them..." (Acts 19:1-6)

Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost is essential and without it a baptism of water is good for nothing. Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost completes it and is what truly cleanses us from sin. "...that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day. (3 Nephi 27:20)

The Holy Ghost has a very important role in our salvation. Not only are we sanctified, or cleanses us, but he testifies of Christ and helps us recognize the truth. He provides spiritual strength and helps us do what is right. He comforts us during times of trial or sorrow. He is the Comforter, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name..." The Holy Ghost is sent to us by God to give us comfort when we need it most. he also will "...teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14:26) He warns us of spiritual or physical danger. The Holy Ghost provides the power by which we teach and learn. The gift of the Holy Ghost is one of our Heavenly Father’s

most precious gifts. Through the power of the Holy Ghost we can feel God’s love and direction for us. This gift is a foretaste of eternal joy and a promise of eternal life.

We receive this great gift from God after baptism by proper authority when hands are placed on our heads and the words are spoken "receive the Holy Ghost" (2 Nephi 31:18) It is then that the Holy Ghost can be a constant companion to us. As we are worth of this gift he can stay with us always. Were as before baptism he comes and goes as we need comfort, or as he testifies of truth. But this gift is on of the greatest gifts of God that can help us find the "path which leads to eternal life" and to stay on that path until the time comes that were reunited with God, and with our Family's!

When The Waters of Our Life's Get Rough, How Do We Stay Afloat?

I know that God lives and that he has a plan for all of us and for everything that happens. "All things have been done in the wisdom of Him who knoweth all things"

(2 Nephi 2:24)

What happens when we loss someone we love?

A daughter, a sister, a father, a mother.

What do we do when it feels like life as we know it comes crashing down? What can we do when we pass through sorrow?

The Savior said "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) The Lord, Jesus Christ knows us very well and at a very personal level. He is real and does care for us. He past through all sorrow, pain, and grief so that we may be comforted.

"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind;...he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." (Alma 7:11-12)

He suffered all things so that He can give us the aid, support, and relief from our heart aches that we need. This act that allowed him to help us is called the Atonement. Where he suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane, and "His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22:44) When He hung on the Cross, And nails we driven through His feet and Hands. And the Miraculous event that crowned it all three days later, The day of His Resurrection (watch the talk given by President Thomas S. Monson, the current prophet of the Lord Jesus Christ, on the link provided under Resurrection), here he broke the "bands of death" so that all of us will have power over death and that we will be reunited with Him and with our family's some day.

When we go through these hard times what can we do? The answer, rely upon Jesus Christ. As He left the earth He said to His apostles, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace...Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:26-27) When I have hard times, when I feel like all hope is lost. I am often reminded of the song "Where Can I Turn For Peace"

Where can I turn for peace?
Where is my solace

When other sources cease to make me whole?

When, with a wounded heart, anger, or malice

I draw myself apart searching my soul?

Where, when my aching grows?

Where, when I languish?
Where, in my need to know?
Where can I run?
Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?
Who, who can understand?
He, only One.

He answers privately.
Reaches my reaching.
In my Gethsemane, Savior, and friend.
Gentle, the peace He finds
For my beseeching.
Constant He is, and kind.
Love without end.


In the Introduction to The Book of Mormon it says that, "it tells men what they must do to have peace in this life" The peace i gain is not from reading the book alone. It comes from learning of my Savior and Redeemer who is Christ and knowing that He does love me, and He does know my needs and cares. And most Importantly HE HAS A PLAN!!

Change...It can wait, right?

Often times I think to myself when I know I need to do somethings is, I'll do it later", or "it can wait tell tomorrow." But what happens when we procrastinate what we know is right? At the time it seems as though nothing is affectied but in reality everything can change!
The scriptures read, "Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this;....For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked." (Alma 34:34-35)

The Savior said to Matthew "Follow me. And he arose, and followed him" (Matthew 9:9) He invites all men to come unto him to be healed and cleansed from all there sins. When he said to matthew "follow me" he imediatly stode in his place and followed the Master. He did not wait or say "why should I?", or "I'll be right there" But he follow Him because he knew that it was right. Often times we feel in our lives that we ether "aren't ready to change," or "I'm just to weak" to follow Christ.

But there are always blessings that come from being obedient to a commandment of God. He wants us to change and have Faith in His Son, Jesus Chist. Who has the power to heal us, to save us from our sins, and to give us the strength to never turn to there sins again. God is faithful but we must choose to follow him and we must act now. There is not time to wait, there is now "tomorrow" but there is a today!

It is my testimony that through the Savior all things are possible and no matter where we are in life we can change and we can do it now, there is no need for preparing, no need for waiting but to act now and God will help us as we do so, Because he has done it for me and given me the strenght to endure a little longs, to run a little faster, to stand a little taller, and to work a little harder because I know that God will bless me for my work here on earth and through our work, His grace is sufficient to save us from our sins! (see 2 Nephi 25:23, Helamen 12:24)