From: B S TURNER Owner
A Group of Believers
Do you consider yourself a believer? I am sure that you do – I know that I do. As I was reading Mosiah the ninth chapter it caused me to reflect on my walk.
I am sure that you know this story – Alma had a conversion after hearing the words of Abinadi. So much so that he left a great position of power and notoriety.
He was so moved by the teachings / truth of Abinadi that he started to share the message of the Kingdom of God with any that would listen. And many did – they began to meet and fellowship against the will of their King. But they were so moved within themselves here is what happened…
[Mos 9:49] And they were called the church of God, or the church of Christ, from that time forward.
[Mos 9:50] And it came to pass that whosoever was baptized by the power and authority of God, was added to his church.
The message of God's Kingdom was so powerful that more and more began to join “the Church of God”. Alma needed help, not just any kind of help. But help in teaching the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
[Mos 9:51] And it came to pass that Alma, having authority from God, ordained priests; even one priest to every fifty of their number did he ordain to preach unto them, and to teach them concerning the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
But that was not all…
[Mos 9:52] And he commanded them that they should teach nothing save it were the things which he had taught, and which had been spoken by the mouth of the holy prophets.
[Mos 9:53] Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people.
There was a reason that there were such strict guidelines given as to what was to be taught and preached…those words that were spoken by the prophets and the simple message of repentance and faith needed to be so ingrained in us that it would be impossible to look at any one of us and not see and feel the belief and life that we have in Jesus Christ. Also so that we would not be led astray by the whims of men.
You see, when we are led astray we lose our bearings and we become easy prey to those that would take away our freedoms. If we were to have the faith that Captain Moroni had when all were against him our priorities would never change.
Alma 21: 41, 45
And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it, In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children; and he fastened it upon the end of a pole thereof.
Yea, all those who were the true believers in Christ, took upon them, gladly, the name of Christ, or Christians, as they were called, because of their belief in Christ, who should come; and therefore, at this time, Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians, and the freedom of the land might be favored.
There is no mystery in the order that Moroni laid out…God should always come first. Does He? If we are truly believers in Christ then we too should pick up the true cause that is laid out before us.
Make no mistake we are in one heck of a spiritual fight right now – In the church and outside of the church. There are so many “voices” it is hard to hear. That is until we quiet our minds and listen for the shepherd’s voice…that still, but steady, voice that is constantly calling us to come to him…come home and rest. As you listen to the other voices in the world how does their message measure up to Christ’s message?
If they are not the same you know what to do…I hope.
Ephesians 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Ephesians 4:4 In one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
I continue to be amazed and humbled by the many promises that are given to us if we would put ourselves aside and pick up the principles that Moroni which had.
Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
And that we can and are to be like Christ so that we can see him as he is –
Moroni 7:53 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son Jesus Christ, that ye may become the sons of God, that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is, that we may have this hope, that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.
To understand what that means is to be able to see the truth of the gospel in its brightness and purity; not in that cloudy, fuzzy way that we seem to see truth today both in and out of the church.
One of the most powerful scriptures to me is found in Mosiah 9:54, 55
[Mos 9:54] And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism; having their hearts knit together in unity and in love, one towards another.
May we follow these simple principles and teachings. Repentance, faith, know the word of God being able to look forward with one eye…
Yours in Christ.
Brian Turner
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