From: Francis Harper
wbfrmsup@iowatelecom.net
Francis Harper Message for 5/24/2019
Dear Ones,
Moroni summarized the process of bringing souls to God when he wrote: “yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him” (Moroni 10:29). We have a two-fold mission. The initial step is to evangelize. This is proclaiming the message of Jesus; teaching it, explaining it, and inviting all to come to the Lord with humble and contrite hearts, repenting of their sins and being baptized for the remission of their sins.
Nephi described this first step as the gate: “For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water: then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost. And then are ye in this straight and narrow path which leads to eternal life” (2 Nephi 13:24-25). This completes the first step in bringing souls to God.
Then Nephi asks: “And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this straight and narrow path, I would ask, if all is done? Behold I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far, save it were by the word of Christ, with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save; wherefore ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, . . . feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, . . . and now behold, my beloved brethren, this is way; and there is none other way nor name under heaven, whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God” (2 Nephi 13:27-31).
The second and final step in preparing souls to live with God in his eternal kingdom is often neglected! “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Mark 13:13). The final part of the soul saving process is to perfect, or “zionize”, all who been evangelized.
Paul wrote: “Let us go on unto perfection.” He warned: For he hath made it impossible for those who were once enlightened [evangelized], and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God . . . if they shall fall away, to be renewed again unto repentance . . .” (Hebrews 6:1-6).
Sadly, we must admit, many who come unto Christ and are baptized, do not go on to perfection! The warning of the apostle Paul should be taken very seriously. Jesus said: “. . . No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).
Many Christians, including Restorationists, need to be warned: “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think” (Romans 12:3). Peter thought he was converted and was offended when Jesus said to him, “when you are converted, strengthen your brethren” (Luke 22:32).
The theologian, A.W. Tozer said: “Probably less than one out of ten evangelicals knows anything experientially about the new birth.” Bill Bright, a notable evangelist, said, “Many who call themselves Christians, who attend church regularly, have never experienced the new birth and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.”
Remember the mission: “Prosecute the missionary work in this land and abroad . . . All are called according to the gifts of God unto them; and to the intent that all may labor together with God for the accomplishment of the work entrusted to all (Doctrine and Covenants 119:8 a-b).
Let this be our slogan: “Each one, win one.” Let the desire of Alma be the desire of our hearts. “O, that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people. . . . yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God, to bring some soul to repentance, and this is my joy” (Alma 15:52, 61). Our business as Christians is saving the lost at any cost!
My Love to All,
High Priest Francis Harper
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Remember the Mission
Those who have served in any of the military services of our country will quite likely recall being taught to remember the mission of their unit. Even the privates were expected to know the mission. Many businesses and organizations have adopted mission statements to keep their employees and members focused on the attainment of their objectives.
Likewise, as followers of Jesus we need to know and remember our mission. The Apostle Peter stated the mission of Jesus Christ in 1 Peter 3:18: “for Christ also once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit, that he might bring us to God.” As disciples of Jesus our mission is also to bring souls to God.
Our mission is restated in a latter day revelation: “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God; for, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him. And he hath risen
again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him on conditions of repentance. And how
great is his joy in the soul that repenteth. Wherefore you are called to cry repentance unto this
people. And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy, if you should bring many souls unto me!” (Doctrine and Covenants 16:3 c-f, 4a).
We who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ must never be content with simply living “a good life.” It is possible for us to live a good clean life, keeping ourselves “unspotted from the
vices of the world” (James 1:27) and miss “the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians
3:14). We not only need to be good, as it has been said, “we need to be good for something!” We need to remember the mission for all who follow Jesus is to bring souls to God. “. . .
The voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days . . . that faith might increase in the earth; . . . that the fullness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and simple, unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers . . . for I the Lord can not look upon sin with the least degree of allowance;
nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven”
(Excerpts from Doctrine and Covenants, section 1).
The Lord says to us as he said to Alma, long ago: “marvel not that all mankind [seven billion], yea, men, and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again” (Mosiah 11:187).
The enormous task of bringing souls to God should not deter or discourage us. You may recall the story of the millions of starfish which were stranded on a beach, being carried back to the ocean one by one. And a person passing by, saying to the one saving the starfish, “your efforts to save a few of so many will not make any difference!” “It will make a difference to this one,” said the person who was saving the starfish, as he picked up another one and headed toward the ocean.
Likewise, saving souls is a one by one business. Jesus left the ninety-nine to save the one
lost sheep. He loves each one. But it is not likely the Lord will arrange an appointment for us
with a hungering and thirsting soul until we have a knowledge of the truth and have a sincere
desire to bring souls to him.
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