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In the Epistle of James, we read: “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord” (James 5:14). In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we use pure olive oil to anoint and bless the sick. This function is performed by males who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood.
The oil that is used in the anointing must have been consecrated at some point prior to the time of the blessing. To consecrate means “to declare sacred.” The LDS Church website (www.lds.org) gives the following instructions for consecrating oil:
One or more Melchizedek Priesthood holders may consecrate pure olive oil and set it apart for the purpose of anointing the sick. No other oil may be used.
To consecrate oil, a priesthood bearer:
- Holds an open container of olive oil.
- Addresses our Heavenly Father.
- States that the ordinance is performed by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
- Consecrates the oil for the blessing and anointing of the sick.
- Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.
After oil is consecrated, it can be used at any point in the future for the anointing and blessing of the sick. Administering to the sick is also performed by Melchizedek Priesthood holders. Usually two bearers of the Melchizedek priesthood perform the ordinance. One will anoint the head of the sick person with the consecrated oil. The other will then seal the anointing and give a blessing. Again, the LDS Church website contains instructions on how this is done.
Anointing:
- Puts a small amount of oil on the person’s head.
- Places his hands on the person’s head and calls the person by name.
- States that the ordinance is performed by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
- States that he is anointing with consecrated oil.
- Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.
Sealing the Anointing:
- Calls the sick person by name.
- States that the ordinance is performed by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
- Seals the anointing.
- Pronounces a priesthood blessing as the Spirit directs.
- Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.
Source: http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,13-1-1-7,00.html
There is a woman in our ward whose husband died a few months ago, leaving behind his wife and two young daughters. The family had additional changes in circumstances after the death of the father that necessitated a move to another state. Unfortunately, the only day on which they could move was a Sunday and not just any Sunday, but Father’s Day.
I will always remember the first counselor in our bishopric standing up in priesthood meeting and saying that there was nothing better we could be doing on Father’s Day than helping a family who has just lost their father. These inspired words touched the hearts of the men in our ward. The evening of Father’s Day found 21 of us at the home of this dear family who were still grieving for their father. There were so many of us that we formed an assembly line and routed boxes and furniture out of the house and into the truck, filling the moving truck in less than a half hour.
Isaiah 1:17 -> “Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.”
I pray that the Lord will bless and comfort this family.
A few times each year my wife asks me: “When Christ died, was everyone who had died up to that point resurrected?” My answer always has been: “I don’t know, but we should find out.” I finally did some research and discovered the following:
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- When Christ died, all the righteous dead who had lived and died up to that point were resurrected.
- Matthew 27:52-53 -> “And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose. And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.”
- D & C 133:55 -> “And from Moses to Elijah, and from Elijah to John, who were with Christ in his resurrection, and the holy apostles, with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, shall be in the presence of the Lamb.”
- At the beginning of the millennium, all righteous people who have lived since Christ was resurrected will be resurrected. This is the morning of the first resurrection.
- Revelation 20:6 -> “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”
- Luke 14:14 -> “And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.”
- 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17 -> “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
- D & C 88:97-98 -> “And they who have slept in their graves shall come forth, for their graves shall be opened; and they also shall be caught up to meet him in the midst of the pillar of heaven— They are Christ’s, the first fruits, they who shall descend with him first, and they who are on the earth and in their graves, who are first caught up to meet him; and all this by the voice of the sounding of the trump of the angel of God.”
- The afternoon of the first resurrection is when all people who were good but not worthy enough to receive a full inheritance in the kingdom of God will be resurrected.
- D & C 88:99 -> “And after this another angel shall sound, which is the second trump; and then cometh the redemption of those who are Christ’s at his coming; who have received their part in that prison which is prepared for them, that they might receive the gospel, and be judged according to men in the flesh.”
- The second resurrection is when the wicked will be resurrected. This happens at the end of the millennium.
- Revelation 20:5 -> “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. “
- D & C 88:100-101 -> “And again, another trump shall sound, which is the third trump; and then come the spirits of men who are to be judged, and are found under condemnation; And these are the rest of the dead; and they live not again until the thousound years are ended, neither again, until the end of the earth.”
- The resurrection of damnation is the resurrection of those who gained a perfect knowledge of Jesus Christ through the Holy Ghost and then denied it, chose Satan, and came out in rebellion against Christ.
- John 5:29 -> “And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”
- D & C 100:102 -> “And another trump shall sound, which is the fourth trump, saying: There are found among those who are to remain until that great and last day, even the end, who shall remain filthy still.”
- When Christ died, all the righteous dead who had lived and died up to that point were resurrected.
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock (or just busy like me) you would have noticed that mormon.org was recently changed. I noticed this sometime in late September. The changes are welcomed as the website keeps its simple architecture and is well organized for potential investigators.
The navigation tabs on the top are evidently the most important parts of the website:
- Basic Beliefs
- Worship With Us
- Ask A Question
I like that things are straight forward and to the point. Information is readily available for finding out what our Church really is about and cover:
- The Restoration of Truth
- Heavenly Father’s Plan of Happiness
- Jesus Christ: Our Savior
- The Commandments
- Membership in Christ’s Church
- And the ability to Chat Live with Missionaries.
This website is a strong missionary tool. However, it can be an even better tool if we use it in our daily lives. As members, we are constantly asked about our faith and our beliefs. Along with explaining what we believe and bearing our testimonies, referring people to mormon.org can reinforce what we teach.
Every Member a Missionary. It only takes a few moments to mention mormon.org to someone. Our brothers and sisters are waiting to hear our message about the restored gospel. It is my hope that we can all listen extra carefully to the promptings of the spirit and act on when it comes to sharing our truths.
I’ve come across an important message in Alma chapter 34, taught by Amulek, son of Alma, in the Book of Mormon a few times while studying in the past nine months since.
The gist of the message is: Do not procrastinate!
Don’t put things off that you can do today, for tomorrow. Especially for things of a spiritual matter.
For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.
And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.
Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world. (Alma 34:32-34)
We came to Earth to obtain a body so that we may learn to control it and display obedience to Heavenly Father. Doing so during this probationary period prepares us for the blessings to come: Living with Heavenly Father and receiving all that he hath.
One who is not aligned with the Gospel can start changing today and should not wait for tomorrow. How do you change? Salvation comes by taking advantage of the atonement of Jesus Christ, repenting of your sins and obeying the commandments and living gospel.
In the preceding verses, the day is our life on Earth. Our labor is works that show our faith and obedience. Night is when we die. The state of your spirit, whether it be dirty or clean, becomes its permanent state after death. Who wants a dingy spirit in their perfect and brand new body? Labor cannot be performed after death. How can you show faith or obedience when you know you’ve already died and still exist?
This is why we must live righteous every single day. We do not know what day will be our last.
And what if you live good for your whole life and then so happen to pass away during an off day or off week?
What if you put off your labors until night?
That didn’t seem right to me.
I remember my missionaries answering that the labor can still be done, it will just be more difficult. Things that take ten minutes to do with a body may take ten years without one.
The severity can be seen by a scenario setup by my missionaries:
Take for example smoking. What happens if you’re a regular smoker and don’t have a cigarette for a day? You begin to crave it. If you don’t kick the habit of smoking in this life, imaging having cravings for a cigarette when you do not have a body? If it takes you one month to quit smoking in this life, it may take you one hundred years!
Last night, while leaving a restaurant I was carrying my youngest to our minivan while I walked past a beggar. He was sitting on the curb and looked up at me and said “Sir?”
In the past I would ignore these people as if they did not exist three out of four times. I am sorry to say that I did just that as I walked by. The fact that I ignored him was a reflex move.
As I ignored him I started to feel that I shouldn’t have. Was that the spirit prompting me?
As I walked closer to my minivan – I thought in my mind that I have to go back. I had read scripture on this and it is now ringing in my ear.
I put my little boy into his car seat, packed up and we started to drive away. As we drove I started to console with my wife:
“I should go back there and help him.”
She, who has exampled charity many times since I’ve met her, told me that if I felt I should, then I should.
My wife pulled back up to him and I rolled down the window and asked him if he’s hungry. He nodded his head yes.
I hopped out of the car and asked him to follow me in and I will buy him something. He didn’t want to.
“I can’t, I’m eight-sixed” he said.
I replied, “That’s OK, tell me what you want to eat and I’ll bring it to you.”
He put his head down and shook his head no.
“Can you just give me some money?”
“No” I said, “I don’t give money out but I will feed you if you are hungry.”
He said “nevermind.”
I asked him “are you sure?”
He nodded yes.
I went back into our minivan and then we drove off.
The scripture that I had read was of what Jesus Christ taught:
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25:34-40)
I am wondering, should I have given him money?
He was hungered and I offered to feed him. My reasoning behind not doing so is so he doesn’t use it for things that would not help him.
Yesterday in Priesthood, we had our final lesson out of the Spencer W. Kimball book. Chapter 24 was about Sharing the Gospel. It was a very good lesson. I found myself participating more than usual as I am passionate on missionary work.
The Lord promises us great blessings as we share the gospel. It is likened unto a spiritual adventure. All work pays off when even one soul expresses repentance and faith and the desire to be baptized.
An interesting point that was brought up was that the Lord has told us that our sins will be more readily forgiven as we bring souls unto Christ. The following is said in Doctrine and Covenants Chapter four:
Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men. Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day. Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work; For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul; And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work. Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence. Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen. (D&C 4)
There are many people waiting for us to teach them about the plan of happiness, the plan of salvation.
Also in this final lesson we talked about how the Lord has entrusted all members of the Church with a responsibility to serve as His messengers.
It becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor. (D&C 88:81)
I think of the feelings I had when I first came to know the truths that I know now. I hope to help someone feel the way that I did.
In my previous post, Romney to Explain the LDS Church in a Speech, I noted that Mitt Romney will be explaining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a campaign speech. It seems he did very little explaining and touched more on the subject of what this country was founded on: freedom. More importantly, religious freedom. Early on in his speech, Romney makes a great point that no one can deny:
Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom. Freedom opens the windows of the soul so that man can discover his most profound beliefs and commune with God. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone.
I often thought about the commandments we follow, more specifically keeping the Sabbath holy. A president works twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. How can he follow keeping the Sabbath holy?
This is how.
From what I’ve been learning in Gospel Essentials class, our duty, loyalty and faith comes in the following order: God first…then everything else falls into place (family second, and career third, etc.) Think of the story of Abraham and Isaac and how he put the Lord first.
Romney clearly shows what he puts first:
When I place my hand on the Bible and take the oath of office, that oath becomes my highest promise to God. If I am fortunate to become your president, I will serve no one religion, no one group, no one cause and no one interest. A president must serve only the common cause of the people of the United States.
He will put God first. He will put his promise to God above everything else.
Like I mentioned earlier, Romney also touched very little on explaining his faith and more about how the country is based on freedom of religion and the important role of religion in the United States. He says:
There are some who would have a presidential candidate describe and explain his church’s distinctive doctrines. To do so would enable the very religious test the founders prohibited in the Constitution. No candidate should become the spokesman for his faith. For if he becomes president he will need the prayers of the people of all faiths.
He is right, no presidential candidate should describe and explain doctrine. That would be missing the entire point of electing someone to the presidential office. He is also right when he says that a president will need the prayers of the people of all faiths.
Mitt Romney also has the same opinion that I have: That most religions are some how derived from one source, which is God.
I believe that every faith I have encountered draws its adherents closer to God. And in every faith I have come to know, there are features I wish were in my own: I love the profound ceremony of the Catholic Mass, the approachability of God in the prayers of the evangelicals, the tenderness of spirit among the Pentecostals, the confident independence of the Lutherans, the ancient traditions of the Jews, unchanged through the ages, and the commitment to frequent prayer of the Muslims. As I travel across the country and see our towns and cities, I am always moved by the many houses of worship with their steeples, all pointing to heaven, reminding us of the source of life’s blessings.
Hearing Romney say these things confirmed to me that this country is built on blessings and faith in the Lord. I’m impressed with Romney – now it’s time to see what he politically stands for and what he can do for our country. 🙂
Click Here for the text of Romney’s Speech.
You can watch the entire speech here:
Mitt Romney’s Speech (part 1 of 4)
Mitt Romney’s Speech (part 2 of 4)
Mitt Romney’s Speech (part 3 of 4)
Mitt Romney Speech (part 4 of 4)
I came across an amazing video on YouTube tonight and thought I’d share it with everyone. The video depicts the growth of the Church as measured by Stakes. Stakes are made up of five to twelve congregations in a geographic area.
There are over 27,000 congregations consisting of almost 13,000,000 (million!) members. Every day at least one convert baptism takes place thanks to the help of over 53,000 missionaries.
As you watch this video, think of how fast the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is growing and what qualities and attributes a Church would have to have in order to be accepted by so many people in less than 180 years on this Earth.
This is…
…the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth… (D&C 1:30)
LDS Stake Growth 1830-2004
LDS Pad: The Journey Back to Heavenly Father 
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