June 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment
I have recently read a very inspiring book by Dr. Belnap, A Brain Gone Wrong - help for troubled teen.
I have noticed that on Meridian Magazine there is a series of articles about this book and I will refer to them for more information at the end of this blog post.
But this is the starting point of the book:
The twenty-first century faces a war with no name and no marked battleground. The casualties are our youth. They come from every address and ability and they are being squandered in what was once considered the lifestyle of only a degraded few.
Our feel-good culture, eroded by bad behavior, bad choices, and for many teens a succession of very bad days has drugs, alcohol, suicide, eating disorders, violence and the occult just a quick step from the corner lemonade stand. Some youth survive the onslaught; many do not.
Today’s youth face a society with blurred lines of right and wrong and in many cases, no wrong at all. Teens are raised amid decay in families, schools and the streets on which they live or roam. Gangs have stepped in to fill the void of family; media, fashion, peer pressure and popularity now dictate what were once decisions made at the kitchen table. The scenes are ugly, scarred and riddled with pain. Youth are forced to live beyond their years and to make decisions not even contemplated by their parents: Do I drink? Take meth? Smoke? Use birth control? Join a gang? Bring a gun to school or even stay in school? Do I distinguish myself by the way I dress, tattoos, the color of my hair? Or my sexual preferences? Should I consider suicide because my life is sad and hopeless?
It is hard to be a teenagers in our current society, and it is not easy to be the parent of teenagers, but still the family is where they can find the best opportunities to survive the war.
A Brain Gone Wrong - on Meridian Magazine
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven
June 24, 2008 | Leave a Comment
I am receiving comments from protestants friends about my previous blog on the Mormon Miracle Pageants.
One of them says,
Jesus died on the Cross for you and Bleed for you. That is it, we do not work for salvation, it is a GIFT! Stop trying to make it so hard for yourselves.
I have no time right now to engage in a deep doctrinal discussion, but I can’t avoid thinking…
good luck my friend, good luck my protestant friend! I hope you will follow the commandments, because even if you think it is not important, and that you are already saved, it will matter a lot, and not only at the end of your life, but soon, sooner that you think. Even in this life we start reaping the consequences of our actions. Really it would be very easy if all it was required was to profess with our mouth that we accept Jesus. But I suppose you follow the commandments at your best, even if your doctrine practically teaches you that they are not important.
But did you ever read James?
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:17-20).
Unfortunately I know that by quoting scriptures it is hard to convince people, so my best suggestion is to go read the Book of Mormon, and pray about it, and trust that the Lord will let you know the truth of all things.
In any case, good luck!
June 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment
I have found some interesting statistics about what nonmembers of the Mormon Church think of the Church at LDS Media Talk:
According to a recent Pew study of 1,461 American nonmembers of the Mormon Church:
I am sure that these statistics are a lot worse in most of the other countries around the world.
Someone commented to that blog post by saying,
it seems to me that we may never change some people’s minds, because frankly, they don’t like us, and will believe any negative ideas they hear.
It is a good point, many people will never change their minds. But is this what we are really trying to do?
I really think that the Internet will be key in letting millions of people know about the LDS or Mormon Church. Missionaries waste too much time trying to find people. However, we are not trying to “change some people’s mindsâ€, we are trying to find those who will listen to the voice of the Lord, those who
“are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it†(D&C 123:12). They will change their own minds…
When I met the missionaries (see my conversion story) they did not have to change my mind. I changed it. I only needed to know that there was the true Church of Jesus Christ on the earth. A willing heart and the Spirit did the rest.
June 18, 2008 | 4 Comments
Yesterday I went to Manti, Utah and watched the Mormon Miracle Pageants. Before the performance started, I noticed these people from other faiths with their signs about the Bible or other websites, usually against the Mormon Church.
Usually I avoid them, but this time I decided to talk with a couple of them. It was an interesting experience. All of them insisted on salvation by grace. They have a hard time to understand or accept a simple and even logical concept as that of progression. The have an all-or-nothing attitude. Or you are saved or you are damned, or you believe or you do not, or you pay tithing or you do not. They do not understand or they do not want to understand degrees. Also, they want something simple and easy. Jesus does everything for you.
They do not get the big picture and insist on words or specific scriptures trying to prove their point. I know that discussing religion with them is almost useless, but I tried to understand them. There was another one who was only yelling, trying to be like Samuel the Lamanite. I could not even talk to him, he just kept yelling and really nobody was listening to him, he should have tried with a megaphone.
There were also a father and a son. The father left the LDS Church after going unworthily to the Temple when he was 18, according to his own words. His parents are still active in the Church, but his son was with him trying to convert Mormons….
I told his son that because his father left the Church he was losing the blessing of the temple and he told me that “Mormons do terrible things in the temple, they do baptisms for the dead”… When he said that I did not know if I should laugh or cry. I thought about his father. He went to the Temple at least once and he knows that we do not do “terrible things”, but his choices have “terrible” consequences in the lives of his family and his posterity. As a convert I am particularly sad when I see people who were born in the Church break the progression of their families. I think how sad must be his parents.
For some reason when he was 18 he gave up. Why? At one point he told me that it is hard for some people to keep the commandments. I had the impression he was trying to tell me that he prefers his new doctrine because there is really no effort or possible failure implied.
According to his doctrine, you accept Jesus and you are saved, while in the Mormon Church you are taught that you need to fight against your nature to follow the commandments and keep improving your life (even after accepting Jesus). He probably felt unworthy when he was 18 and he gave up. He was inactive for many years and then a few years ago he was “saved” by some Protestant group. He wishes it was that easy. But it is not. On the other hand, it is not impossible and it is not just for a few special people, but all men and women can qualify for the true salvation. However, it requires humility and perseverance: true salvation is a process not a single event.
During the performance it was remembered how important is to let people know the true principles of the gospel, because when the true doctrine is not known and practiced, human being have the tendency to fall into transgression and entire societies may end up being destroyed, as it happened with the ancient Nephites.
While there I have thought again about the power of the Internet. How important is for us to explain true principles to all mankind,
“teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things…(Matthew 28:19-20)
June 16, 2008 | Leave a Comment
I have found a relatively new and interesting blog, LDS Media Talk whose authors are Larry Richman (LDS.org Product Manager), Joel Dehlin (LDS Church CIO), David Nielson (Managing Director, Audiovisual Dept, LDS Church), and David Frischknecht (Managing Director, Curriculum Dept, LDS Church).
The purpose of the blog is to “share ideas with LDS parents and youth who are interested in learning how to use technology to strengthen families and build The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes referred to as the “Mormons,†the “Mormon Church,†or “Mormonism†).
The blog is not an official official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the information and opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors, but I am happy to see that the use of technology at Church headquarters is gaining momentum.
June 12, 2008 | Leave a Comment
I have found something really interesting, called “The Baptist Version of The Book of Mormon - Protestant Doctrines within the Book of Mormon” by Lynn Ridenhour, a Southern Baptist Minister.
It is an amazing article. I am copying it here because I do not want to see it disappear in the future from the internet, but I recognize his authorship and commend it for what he did and his sincerity.
This is his article that currently can be found at http://www.centerplace.org/library/bofm/baptistversionofbofm.htm
“I’m a licensed Southern Baptist minister and I embrace the Book of Mormon.
That is, I believe the truths recorded in it. No, I’m not a convert to the Mormon faith, nor am I a member of any particular “spin-off” restoration group such as the RLDS (Reorganized Latter-day Saints), Hedrikites, or Strangites. I’m still a Baptist minister. To be exact, I’m “charismatic Baptist.” That is, I still embrace the “born again” experience. I still believe you’re saved by grace. By the shed blood of Christ. Salvation is by faith alone in His finished work on Calvary. I still believe in the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. I believe and embrace those cardinal doctrines of Protestantism.
And you know what?…
I still believe the Book of Mormon too! Read more
June 11, 2008 | 1 Comment
Azul Airlines, a low-cost Brazilian airline initiative led by JetBlue founder David Neeleman, will begin flying early 2009. An interesting interview with David Neeleman about his new company can be found following this link: Azul Airlines Unveiled (CNBC video)
June 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Another great video from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church), finally telling the true story about the priesthood and the black people in the Church.
Too much has been said that was wrong. This is a great video for those who honestly seek for the truth. For those who do not seek the truth… anotehr missed opportunity…