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(This article was inspired by a General Conference talk by an Apostle, President Boyd K. Packer of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.) The Prophet Joseph Smith was the Lord’s instrument to restore the Lord’s Church in these last days. Once the Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored, and Smith sealed his testimony with his blood, the mantle of Prophet fell on Brigham Young, who was acting as the President of the Twelve Apostles at that moment. After leading the saints to the Salt Lake Valley, the Prophet Brigham Young and some of the Twelve Apostles went to the top of a large hill with a yellow bandanna from Apostle Willard Richard’s walking stick and they waved it aloft as an “Ensign to the Nations of the World.” This initiated the Gathering of Israel in the Last Days. Brigham Young named the hill, Ensign Peak. The Priesthood had been restored to the earth by angelic messengers; their duty, and our duty, was and is to take the Restored Gospel to all nations. This is going on now and is on the increase. The Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith in a revelation that this Church would be a refuge and He (the Lord) even gave the name of His church for these Last Days: “And also unto my faithful servants who are of the high council of my church in Zion, for thus it shall be called, and unto all the elders and people of my Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, scattered abroad in all the world; For thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Verily I say unto you all: Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations; And that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth.” (Doctrine and Covenants 115: 3-6) We are asked to be the “Light” or “Standard” for the Lord. The standard is the scriptures and the word of the Lord through His living prophet. These standards and ordinances are to be administered by those with the restored priesthood. Everyone was instructed in the spirit world and knows good from evil. With the freedom we have been given to choose, we can do either. If we ever choose evil, we have the chance to repent and turn back to the Lord, thanks to the Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We need to teach our children the standards of morality. The power of creation is within us during this earthly test for two reasons. One is to see if we will learn to use it only in marriage and not outside of marriage. Two, as we use it we create bodies for our brothers and sisters still in the spirit world, so they can come here for their test. We learn the law of tithing as delivered by Malachi and in modern revelation. We learn to take the sacrament each Sunday and renew our covenants we made, or will make, at baptism. We are to live ordinary lives and keep the commandments and live our lives as close as we can to the Saviors. He set the example. To be safe for whatever comes, we need to live the Gospel. The “Words of Wisdom” (Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants) the Lord gave us, is the key to physical health, mental clarity, and personal revelation. This told us back in the time of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 180 years ago, that we should not drink coffee, tea, liquor, tobacco or harmful drugs. They can adversely affect our bodies, cloud our minds, and take us away from Spirit. Today, science has shown us that these substances have a damaging effect on one's health. This war for our souls that started before our lives and is continuing here on Earth will not end until the Lord comes at the last day. Be happy and not afraid. If you have faith, you do not have fear. You have one or the other. Choose faith. Live the Gospel and be a standard to the world. Be the light to them. If you'd like to learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, you can click here to chat live with real missionaries.
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Boyd K Packer, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, prophet, apostle, commandments, souls, love,
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