During His mortal ministry, Jesus selected twelve disciples, whom He called apostles, to lead His church. They ensured that His doctrine was taught accurately, and they administered ordinances like baptism. The Savior has reestablished that church today.
No Contention, No Disputations
Jesus clearly taught the people in ancient America that He disapproves of "disputations." After His visit, the people were happy because they avoided contention. President Dallin H. Oaks encouraged us to follow Jesus by being peacemakers.
Quoting from the Sermon on the Mount
At the end of His ministry in the Americas, Jesus visited His twelve disciples. Paraphrasing three passages from His Sermon on the Mount, He urged them to pray, to prioritize relationships over possessions, and to follow Him with precision.
“Built Upon My Gospel”
Jesus said that we are prepared to face the storms of life when we are built upon His gospel. That means that we must be willing to repent and to participate in ordinances, following the Lord's instructions instead of our own preferences.
Chronicling My Life
When I was in high school, I discovered something about note-taking. When I write something down, I remember it. I retain new information better when I carefully record it, even if I never look at my notes again. We write for many reasons, including to connect with other people, to share important information, and to... Continue Reading →
Endure
Nephi warned us that we have to keep moving along the path if we want to reach our destination. In Agile software methodology, there's an aphorism, "Stop starting, start finishing." We need to maintain our focus on the goal and avoid distractions.
Letters to the Seven Churches
John wrote letters to seven congregations of the church. In those letters, he described the Savior, gave feedback, and listed some blessings of exaltation. Taken together, the letters can motivate us to repent and receive the blessings God offers us.
Developing Christlike Attributes
Peter listed a number of attributes that we should strive to develop with God's help: faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. The Book of Mormon provides insight into each of these Christlike attributes.
Ask Not Amiss
Jesus promised that our prayers will be answered. James added a caution: we need to pray with the right motives. Bishop Keith B. McMullin taught that the Spirit can help us understand what to ask for, so that our prayers can be aligned with God's will.
Vain Jangling – Part 2
One reason to avoid speculative topics is because they often lead to conflict. Sincere questions are good, but controversial questions can provoke unnecessary and unproductive disputes. Stay on solid ground by avoiding frivolous topics.