Does God Exist?

For me, the answer is an undeniable YES!!  Many will say, "Well you just believe it because that is what your parents taught you and you are too narrow minded to believe anything else. You live in your little Mormon bubble and haven't experienced the things of the world to know any better."

Yes I was taught to believe in God our Father, and our Savior Jesus Christ. Yes, I went to church every week with my family even if there were days that I didn't necessarily want to. Yes, for a time I believed what I was taught because my parents believed and wanted me to believe it. There comes a time in every person's life when they question the things they believe. I don't think there is anything wrong with that.  I don't remember how old I was exactly but I think it was around probably fourteen our fifteen that I wanted to know if the things my parents taught me about the Restored  gospel of Jesus Christ was true. I thought about the story of Joseph Smith and how he as a young boy wanted to know which church to join. There was so much confusion for him as each church he visited had different interpretations of Bible passages. He wanted to know which church taught the truth and then join up with that church. He read in James 1:5 that says,^aIf any of you lack ^bwisdom, let him ask of God, that ^cgiveth to all men liberally, and^dupbraideth not; and it shall be given him."  
So he did pray to God and received an answer.  I decided if he could pray and receive an answer then I could too. I did pray and received an answer.  We are taught that the  Holy Ghost testifies of Christ and helps  us know the truths that were taught by Christ. We are taught the fruits of the Spirit or the Holy Ghost so  that we know when he is testifying truth to us.  When I prayed, I felt peace in my heart and felt love all around me. I knew this was answer to my prayer that what I was learning was true.  I had a desire to follow Jesus Christ. I have tried my whole life to live as God would have me live. I fall short every day, but the desire is there and the atonement of Jesus Christ that allows me to repent and be forgiven is real.  Because of the joy I have felt through living the gospel and because of the love and forgiveness I have received, I desire to share it with others. In Mark 16:15 Christ taught his disciples, "Go ye into all the world, and ^apreach the ^bgospel to every^ccreature."   It is our responsibility as followers of Christ to share our testimonies of Christ and his gospel.  I don't ever want to offend anyone and have them think I am trying to push my beliefs on them, but I want them to know that out of love for them that I desire to share this great gift.  The gift of love and peace that only our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ can give. So many people struggle in their lives to find peace.  I know that if they find God, they can find peace.

When Kary had his stroke, my faith took a beating from the storm. I questioned everything all over again. I wondered how God could have let this happen when I have tried my whole life to be good and serve him. I questioned whether  God existed because if he did, surely he wouldn't have allowed this to happen to my family. But then I remembered and thought back in all the times in my life that I felt His presence.  I Remembered how he had answered my prayers in various ways at other times in my life..  THERE was no denying what I had experienced then.  I realized that God was with me. HE WAS carrying me and giving me strength that I could not have received from anyone else, nor could have mustered up the strength on my own. I felt His love for me. I continue to feel His love for me. Everyday. He brings me peace and comfort. He drank the bitter cup for me. He took upon himself my sins, my pains, my sorrow, and my suffering so that I don't have to suffer and so that he could succor me in my times of need. There is nothing He does not understand because He descended below us all. He suffered all.  This I know and am so grateful for because I have HOPE in Him!

Why do people wish to deny the existence of our Great Creator?  To me, it is like a child turning from the parents who gave them life and not acknowledging how they came to be.  It would break any parent's heart to have their child turn away from them and never want anything to do with them.  
Hampton Keathley IV, co founder of bible.org said this about why people deny the existence of God, "When people deny the existence of God, whatever reason they give is just an excuse under the real reason, which is, (I don’t want to be responsible to God. I want to do whatever I want.)"
I have kind of thought that about people who deny God. If there is no God, there is no eternal consequence to my actions for good or bad so I will eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow I will die!

My invitation to anyone who is questioning the existence of God and truly wants to know, that they should study God's words in the Bible  and Book of Mormon, ponder on it, then pray to God and ask Him to let you know He is there and I promise you will know of a surety, as I know, that He lives and He loves you.

Prophets and Apostles

I recently watched the last episode of "The Bible" that aired on the History Channel. It was about the atonement, sacrifice, and resurrection of Christ and how the people rejected Him.    It also told the story of the apostle Paul and how he was called of God to be a witness of Christ.  I have always been amazed by that story.  Anyways, it has had me thinking about how since the beiginning of time God has called men as prophets to teach His gospel. (Amos 3:7) From Adam, to Noah, Moses, etc...Then of course, Christ came himself to teach the people and fulfill His purpose in God's plan.  He called apostles to help preach His gospel as well.  Also since the beginning of time men have misinterpreted God's words and corrupted God's laws.  Even though God called these prophets to teach His word and call men to repentance they were rejected by those who were supposedly believers of God and Christ.  Why would they reject those men who were called of God whom they confessed to believe in?  They even rejected Jesus Christ himself.  Why did they not recognize the Savior or why did they not recognize the men that had been called by God.  This is an answer I do not know and have often thought upon.  I do have an answer however of how they could have known for themselves if they had had the desire. We find the answer in James 1:5

"5 ^aIf any of you lack ^bwisdom, let him ask of God, that ^cgiveth to all men liberally, and ^dupbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

6 But let him ^aask in ^bfaith, nothing ^cwavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."

 So we can ask God himself if we want to  know truth. Christ also taught the apostles that the Holy Ghost would be a witness to us of His teachings. John 14:26 
"26 But the ^aComforter, which is the ^bHoly Ghost, whom the Father will send in my^cname, he shall ^dteach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you"

God will let us know the truth of all things by the power of the Holy Ghost. Awesome! So how do we know when the Holy Ghost is witnessing to us? Galatians 5:22-23 

But the ^afruit of the ^bSpirit is ^clove, ^djoy, ^epeace, ^flongsuffering, ^ggentleness, goodness, ^hfaith,

 23 ^aMeekness, ^btemperance: against such there is no law." 

So if you are hearing or reading something about Christ or about His gospel, the Holy Ghost will let you know if it is right. For me I always get a feeling of peace when I recieive a witness from the Holy Ghost.  It is hard to describe but I just feel good inside and know that it is right in my heart.

It is my testimony that we have prophets and apostles in our day just as in days of old.  We have the opportunity to hear them speak this weekend.  I invite all of my friends and family to listen to their words and ask God in faith if they are true and if they are indeed called of Him to teach His gospel.  I have had my own testimony from the Holy Ghost that it is true.  I have a desire to share this blessed knowledge with everyone.  We are so blessed to have a living prophet to guide us in these last days.    Please tune in this weekend.  There are 4 different sessions that you can choose from or you can choose them all.  Even if you tune in out of pure curiosity...do it!!!  You will recieve a pure witness from the Holy Ghost if you ask in faith. Of this I know!