Judge not, that ye be not Judged!

Sometimes in our lives, we become too focused on what other people are doing. Now if we can help another out, in a kind loving, and ultimately caring way thats one thing. But its entirely different to get in someones face and tell them what they're doing wrong, and what they need to do to fix it. You know, I reflect a lot on our first impressions of people, how the first one is always the hardest one to shake. It can be really tough, but the problem is, when we intentionally move forward matthew 7:1-2, from this scripture we learn that we are not to judge one another, and determine what their state and standing is before God. Well why not? Won't it help us determine which church is the right one? The answer is no! Our job is to focus on our own personal salvation, and not worry about what others may think or do! When we worry about what others are doing, and look here and there to determine how everybody else is standing with god, we are infact, ignoring our own personal salvation. We then fall short of our own potential, because we are busy recognizing the wickedness in the lives of others, and not our own lives. To help others is good, but only when you are in the path of righteousness as christ latter states in the next few verses " 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye". When we focus on the bad, we will also find that we have a tendency to fall into the bad. As christ said "The light of the body is the eye, therefore if our eye be single, then our whole body shall be full of light". He also conversely said "But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If, therefore, the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness". We will only grow to be in the next life, what we allow ourselves to become in this life. Thefore if we are too busy focusing on what other people are doing, and judging them, rather then focusing on following all the doctirines of Christ, it can lead you astray. You may not follow christ, or go to his church, only because you focus too much on what other peole do, instead of what his church really should, and does teach! Let us not judge one another, but try to walk uprightly before God! I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

He's always there.

Today I wish to write about our Lord and Savior Jesus christ, and what he has done for us. There is a special spirit that accompanies this subject, and I pray that I will be able to do it justice.

So turning to the scriptures, we find in the Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 8:20 In this scripture we find Lehi a prophet of God, who in vision see's the tree of life, which is a representation of Jesus christ, and ofcourse eternal life. Lehi tell's his son's what he saw, and in a later scripture, Nephi, the writter of this account and the son of Lehi, prays to know about the vision that his father recieved. In exchange he is given a glorious manifestation, an angel, speaks to him face to face and explains the vision. In 1 Nephi 11:25 we learn that the iron rod is the word of God; which is a representation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. But what do we learn that the word of God is in the Book of John? John 1:1-5 through this scripture we learn, that the word of god is the very son of God, Jesus Christ. The iron rod, is a representation of Jesus Christ. In Lehi's vision we learn that Jesus Christ literally died for our sins, that we may partake in eternal life. But also, we learn that the key to gaining this, is to hold fast to the iron rod, or the word of God. We are to Hold fast to Jesus Christ. Jesus christ is so anxious to bless you that he is willing, and ready to guide you down the path of righteousness, to guide you through these peverbial "mists of darkness", which is anything that could distract us from this course. He is our great guide, our savior Jesus Christ, he wants to guide you. He's so excited to bless you with his atonement, that he's willing to guide you right to the fruits that he bore, his atonement, the perfection he provides us! He's there every step of the way, as we learn in Moroni 7:48 Christ's intentions are to purify us, that we may become like him. That we may stand with him, in the presence of the Father, having eternal life and Joy before us, and life with our families, with our Father in heaven, with the whole family of God forever. The Tree of life also represents this life, the fruit that Christ bore. He wants to guide you, through his words he is able to guide us, and through it we are able to get to know him on a personal level, to gain that relationship with him, that we may live with him eternally. Let us pray to our Father in heaven, and read his words! Let our redeemers cleansing love wash away our sins, and present us spotless before the Father. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.