Ponder the Path

“When the Lamb shall stand upon Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand, having his Father’s name written on their foreheads…” Revelations 7:4 The summary below represents the compilation of research I did to define what is known about the 144,000 spoken of by John in the 7th chapter of the Book of Revelations. The questions I sought answers to were: Who are the 144,000 that John Speaks of in Revelations 7? When will they be chosen and what are they called to do?  Going into the study I believed the most likely answer to the questions were: They are 144,000 High Priests who will be organized under the priesthood administration of Christ himself and set apart to administer the gospel over the individual tribes of Israel in capacities necessary for the preparation of the second coming of Christ and his millennial reign. That the 144,000 High Priest would be called and ordained during the latter end of the final days before the coming of Christ in Glory, most...

In my study and summary of the Myths of Christianity that the Book of Mormon Refutes (see myth #1 here , myth #2 here , myth #3 here , myth #4 here , myth #5 here , myth #6 here , myth #7 here .) This next, and last of the myths, is that we are saved IN our sins -- rather than being saved from sin. It is important to note that many Christians teach obedience to the commandments of Christ as a necessary part of salvation, but unfortunately, there are also teachers who deny the need for obedience and works and by so doing essentially preach that Christ came to save us in our sinful state, rather than turning us from it. This myth is closely related to Myth #6: We are saved by grace alone. In that essay I wrote: "An increasingly popular teaching in Christianity today is that no matter what a person's "works" (their deeds and choices) believers are saved by an act of belief through "grace” alone. Significant proselytizing efforts have been devoted to the concep...

Charlie and I have been studying in the Book of Mormon the sermon of King Benjamin this past week (Mosiah chapters 2-4). We did a scripture poster that was inspired by a particular verse that stood out in chapter 4 at the conclution of his sermon. Our discussion focused on verse 27. In an earlier verse, and throughout King Benjamin's teachings, he is bold in putting the followers of Christ under obligation to keep the commandments of Christ. He says, "And now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them." ( Mosiah 4:10 ) To this we often think, "Well, this is the hard part," and unfortunately we often become overwhelmed and discouraged which becomes a stumbling block between us and Christ. King Benjamin knew, and the Lord certainly knew, that this would be the natural next thought in our minds at the conclution of such a powerful sermon on our duties to God, and so King Benjamin did not conclude his sermon until he gave this wise instruction on the ...

In my study and summary of the Myths of Christianity that the Book of Mormon Refutes (see myth #1 here , myth #2 here , myth #3 here , myth #4 here , myth #5 here , myth #6 here ) I covered many myths that have arisen from misinterpretations of scripture or the doctrines of men that have woven their way into the teachings of Christian sects. The next myth the Book of Mormon boldly refutes, that a person can find happiness living in sin, is a myth that has wormed its way into the attitudes of Christian people from the antithetical teaching of moral relativism which had its birth in the secular world and is a doctrine of atheism. This false philosophy teaches people that that “each person is free to choose for him or herself what is right and wrong” ( Truth and Tolerance by Dallin H. Oaks ) and that there are no absolute truths and that happiness is not achieved by adherence to those truths, but rather, happiness is a fluid concept that is relative to the individual’s desires. It is exp...

So far in my study and summary of the Myths of Christianity that the Book of Mormon Refutes (see myth #1 here , myth #2 here , myth #3 here , myth #4 here , myth #5 here ) the subjects I have tackled have been verily straight forward. This next myth hits at the very heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ which is the divine atonement of Jesus Christ and the power that flows into our lives from it. The atonement is central to God’s plan for the salvation of his children and their happiness now and forever. Myth 6, “We Are Saved by Grace Alone,” is more nuanced and will take longer to uncover the misconceptions that have grown up around the teachings of grace. The phrase “Saved by grace alone,” is not entirely false, but it is almost universally misunderstood. The reason I define it here as a myth is because the concepts of salvation and grace as taught commonly among Christians are shrouded in fundamental misunderstandings on the central points of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Book of M...

To continue with my study and summary of the Myths of Christianity that the Book of Mormon Refutes (see myth #1 here , myth #2 here , myth #3 here , myth #4 here ), this next myth is related to the last myth that the practice of baptism began during New Testament times and all those who lived before Christ were lost. The Book of Mormon refutes the practices of baptism without immersion and the proper authority. Most of the Christian world is ambiguous about the need for baptism not to mention the proper form of baptism or questions of authority to baptize. Many believe that baptism is ceremonial and that there are no specific requirements related to the practice. Those who perform baptism believe that the sincere feelings of their heart are the evidence of their authority to do so, but the essential nature of baptism in the Plan of Salvation should prompt follower of Christ to seek more certain knowledge of the proper observance of the ordinance. Jesus was clear about the essential ...

To continue with my study and summary of the Myths of Christianity that the Book of Mormon Refutes (see myth #1 here , myth #2 here , myth #3 here ), this next myth seems kind of singular at first glance, but the impacts of having lost this plain and precious truth have led to many false doctrines that have negatively impacted Christianity in expansive ways. For almost two thousand years Christian doctrine taught that baptism as a practice began during New Testament times and was a symbolic witness of the "new gospel" of Jesus Christ. This was taught in spite of Old Testament reference to the concepts of baptism in the stories and symbols of the scriptural text. The Book of Mormon provides the clear critical link that weaves a golden thread through the Old Testament, New Testament, and Last-day Restoration of all things ( Acts 3:21 ). The Book of Mormon record makes clear that the ordinance and covenant of baptism was practiced under the Mosaic Law, before the coming of Chri...