From: Paul Gage
LIVING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD NOVEMBER 3, 2022
May the blessings of the Lord be upon you as we enter this month of Thanksgiving,
Do you have that “Kingdom feeling” as you go through each day? Every day becomes a new opportunity to look into the mirror, and the mirror of our lives and make a personal, self evaluation. Am I where God wants me, not talking about location? Am I where I need and want to be in my Kingdom living?
If not, we simply need to go back to “square one” and ask ourselves some soul-searching questions. The scriptures mention in several places about keeping God’s commandments IF we love Him. That refers to all the commandments and not just the ones that are more obvious or convenient.
This type of personal evaluation is always vital to our spiritual growth and development, but especially as we approach another opportunity to partake of the bread and wine, symbols of the body and blood of our
Savior, Jesus Christ. Take time to read the prayers that are to be read over the emblems. D&C 17:22-23. God gave specific wording for these prayers. Did you ever wonder why? God apparently gave specific words for these prayers so there would be a unity among the Saints. All over the world when this ordinance is performed, the same prayers are read, if that Branch or group is holding fast to this scripture.
In these prayers we are “to witness unto Thee, O God, the eternal Father…”
We profess to take the name of the Son, always remember Him, and keep His commandments, so that we in turn “May always have His Spirit to be with us.” By having His Spirit with us always we can live the “Kingdom life” and it will show in our lives and thus shine out to the world. This becomes extremely important to each of us every day, especially since we don’t know if we will have another day to live.
Mark Forscutt, an early church leader, became very ill. Even though he was Administered to, several times, his condition continued to worsen. To all appearances, he passed away, and arrangements were made for his funeral. Just as the family and friends were meeting for the funeral, a slight movement was noticed in Mark. He was placed on the bed, life returned to him, and gradually he regained his health.
Mark later explained, what he had experienced. After his spirit left his body, he passed to the other world, accompanied by an Angelic Being. He was taken through a beautiful city. Mark stopped before a lovely mansion, which he entered. It was most beautiful. He was overjoyed, when he was told that it was to be his home, if he were faithful. Then the messenger said, "Come Mark." they left the city and returned to earth, where Mark could see his body, and the people gathered about to mourn his passing. Very reluctantly, Mark stood, not desiring to enter into his body. "Why, must I return?" he asked.
"Your work is not done, and you have only begun to earn that mansion," the heavenly messenger explained.
“They that trust in the Lord in mount Zion, cannot be removed, but abide forever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His people from henceforth even forever.” Psalm 125:1-2.
Paul Gage
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