Leadership taught by the Savior

Throughout high school, I was involved in Leadership with a variety of activities. It started with class councils, which moved to Leadership class, which moved to ASB, then to State Leadership positions, and then leadership with sports teams. Although I spent hours in classes, at conferences, and practicing my leadership skills, I believe that Christ's example gave me a strong base for my leadership skills and style.

In the New Testament, Christ showed leadership by example. He didn't just tell people to heal leper, he did it himself. He told his apostles that the master is no better than the servant, so as he served, so should they.

In the Church of Jesus Christ today, we try to lead by the same example as Christ did. I believe the only thing a leadership title should show is how much you should serve others. This style of leadership should be shown throughout the world though. As a president, vice president, or even a member of a group or country, it is your job to serve others.

The power of service is unmeasurable. You never know how much a little bit can help.



Video:http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-10-017-opportunities-to-do-good?lang=eng

Take Heed and Watch

Take Heed and Watch

For this week’s blog, I wanted for focus on warnings given in the scriptures, specifically in Mark and Matthew.

In the Joseph Smith Translation of Matthew, verses 46-50, the Lord tells a story about a man and a thief. If you knew someone was going to break into your house one night, wouldn’t you stay up al night and wait for him? Christ suggests the same thing.

The scriptures prophesy the second coming of our Lord and savior. He doesn’t say when “in the night,” but he does say he is coming. This should give us enough to know that we should prepare.

Something’s we should watch for that show he is coming are listed below.

1.     Men will deceive you

2.     Men will put you and trial and beat you

3.     He will tell you he is coming

These three items came from Mark 13.

In other scripture, Christ also gives us warnings and suggestions for his second coming.

1.     D&C 87:8 Stand in Holy Places and be not moved.

2.     JST 1:37 Treasureth the word of Christ.

3.     JST 1:46-50 Be Ready

4.     D&C 33:17 Keep oil in your lamps.

5.     D&C 45:56-57 Take the Holy Ghost as your guide.

These are just a few things that can help us to prepare for his coming. He will be with us if we find it hard to do these things.

To Learn more, visit lds.org or mormon.org.

What we can learn from Christ

This week’s blogs are about chapters 21 and 22 in Matthew. In these chapters, Jesus teaches a couple parables. These parables share similarities with the magistrates and rulers and people in Jesus’ time. It also gives us some perspective in today’s day about what we should or shouldn’t be doing.

The first was the parable of the Fig Tree. The parable tells the story about a tree that was supposed to produce fruit to eat. However, the tree was empty, and Jesus commanded than no fruit would grow on these trees so they withered away. This reminds me of when the Temple in Jesus’ time was used for casting lots and unholy things. If the people or the buildings aren’t being used to teach truth and righteousness, then they won’t be able to teach at all.

The second parable I’d like to share is the parable of the wedding guest. It is found in Matthew 22. The story is about a king who invites his kingdom to a wedding but they all do not want to go. Even after sending servants telling the people of all the goodness at the wedding, they do not want to go.  They end up killing a servant that enrages the king and the king burned their cities. After the destruction, the servants gather as many people as they can and send them to the wedding. When the king enters the wedding and looks at the guests, he was speechless. There was on man not in his wedding garments. This man, the king sent out into outer darkness. The parable ends was the phrase “many are called, but few are chosen.” In the Joseph Smith translation, it continues with “wherefore all do not have on the wedding garment.”

The king in this second parable is our Heavenly Father, and this wedding is our after-earth life we can choose to live with him. We are all called to return and live with him. And there is so much goodness that comes with that. However, some will chose not to go back and they will be destroyed. Christ has come and died for the world, but still some do not want to return. And even when they do, they have to be worthy to live with the Father in Heaven.

These two parables have things we can learn things and apply them to our daily lives. To learn more about these parables or about the LDS faith visit: www.lds.org

Christ's Parables

This week’s blog post is on Jesus’ parables. First a parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels. Frank F. Judd in the Ensign said, “the mater teacher’s parables show both the justice and mercy of God at work among those who hear them.” Just like each person interprets the scriptures in a different way, Parables taught by Christ can be interpreted in different ways, however, they are taught with a specific message in mind.

In Luke chapters 16-18, Christ teaches a number of parables to help those listening understand certain principles.

The first parable we read about is about the unjust steward. A rich man had a steward over him, and a Master over the rich man. The Rich Man was not doing well in his businesses and because the steward over this rich man did not want to make his master mad, he forgave some of the debt of the rich man to make it seem that he was doing his good job.

Although the reason for the stewards forgiveness us unjust, Christ commended the steward.

The principle of this parable is to 1. Teach the care with which the saints of God should approach the task of preparing for their eternal future and 2. Teach about how to handle financial affairs here on earth.

To much is given much is required. If we are given money and land to work with, we must take on the responsibility to take care of that land and spend the money wisely. If we live with responsibility here on earth, we will be blessed with responsibility in Heaven.

To learn more about parables like this one visit: www.lds.org or www.mormon.org.

Christ's Parables

This week’s blog post is on Jesus’ parables. First a parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels. Frank F. Judd in the Ensign said, “the mater teacher’s parables show both the justice and mercy of God at work among those who hear them.” Just like each person interprets the scriptures in a different way, Parables taught by Christ can be interpreted in different ways, however, they are taught with a specific message in mind.

In Luke chapters 16-18, Christ teaches a number of parables to help those listening understand certain principles.

The first parable we read about is about the unjust steward. A rich man had a steward over him, and a Master over the rich man. The Rich Man was not doing well in his businesses and because the steward over this rich man did not want to make his master mad, he forgave some of the debt of the rich man to make it seem that he was doing his good job.

Although the reason for the stewards forgiveness us unjust, Christ commended the steward.

The principle of this parable is to 1. Teach the care with which the saints of God should approach the task of preparing for their eternal future and 2. Teach about how to handle financial affairs here on earth.

To much is given much is required. If we are given money and land to work with, we must take on the responsibility to take care of that land and spend the money wisely. If we live with responsibility here on earth, we will be blessed with responsibility in Heaven.

To learn more about parables like this one visit: www.lds.org or www.mormon.org.

Christ's Parables

This week’s blog post is on Jesus’ parables. First a parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels. Frank F. Judd in the Ensign said, “the mater teacher’s parables show both the justice and mercy of God at work among those who hear them.” Just like each person interprets the scriptures in a different way, Parables taught by Christ can be interpreted in different ways, however, they are taught with a specific message in mind.

In Luke chapters 16-18, Christ teaches a number of parables to help those listening understand certain principles.

The first parable we read about is about the unjust steward. A rich man had a steward over him, and a Master over the rich man. The Rich Man was not doing well in his businesses and because the steward over this rich man did not want to make his master mad, he forgave some of the debt of the rich man to make it seem that he was doing his good job.

Although the reason for the stewards forgiveness us unjust, Christ commended the steward.

The principle of this parable is to 1. Teach the care with which the saints of God should approach the task of preparing for their eternal future and 2. Teach about how to handle financial affairs here on earth.

To much is given much is required. If we are given money and land to work with, we must take on the responsibility to take care of that land and spend the money wisely. If we live with responsibility here on earth, we will be blessed with responsibility in Heaven.

To learn more about parables like this one visit: www.lds.org or www.mormon.org.

We believe in apostles.

 Article of faith # 6 states, “We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.”

Some apostle duties are given to men called the seventy.

In Luke 10, Christ called the first seventy of the church. He called them to first go out and meet with the people and preach the word of god. He then commanded them to heal the sick.

The Quorums have the apostolic duty to travel around the world, be missionaries, and serve those in the locations they are over. Just like Christ ordained his original seventy with power to overcome Satan’s temptations, the quorums now have that same power.

For more information about the LDS church go to www.mormon.org.