* All About Mormons Newsletter *
April 2000
Welcome to the All About Mormons Newsletter. If you like what you read, email this to friends and family! If you have poems, stories, object lessons, questions, answers, or good ideas to contribute that are not restricted by copyright, please send them to jenny@mormons.org (If you get unusual letters mixed in with this newsletter, please let us know so we can be sure you get it in plain text next time)
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All About Mormons apologizes to Linda Ellis for using her poem, "The Dash" in our newsletter without authorization. We received this inspirational poem without an author named and without a copyright notice and wrongly assumed that the author had chosen to remain anonymous and approved of the Internet circulation of the poem. We have since learned that Linda Ellis wrote this poem, owns the copyright, and does not want it to be circulated without her express permission. We have removed it from our site and we would ask you to also remove it from your files unless you buy a copy of it from her through her website at http://www.lindaslyrics.com . She informed me that her poem has been circulated without her permission or her name attached all over the Internet. Should you come across the poem again, I ask that you not forward it and ask those who forwarded it to you to respect the copyright as well. Thank you for your help. J
*In this newsletter:
*Book of Mormon Quote of the Month
The Book of Mormon is a volume of sacred writings comparable to the Bible. Its principal purpose is to testify of the divinity of Jesus Christ and the truthfulness of his teachings. For a free copy, call (U.S.) 1-800-528-2225.
"For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." (Mosiah 3:19)
*Focus This Month: The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ
I always believed that the Book of Mormon was another testament of Jesus Christ.
When it was given that subtitle, I figured that it was a testament of Jesus Christ just as
the New Testament was a testament of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ came to the New World and
ministered to his people on that continent just as he did in the Old World. Therefore, the
record of this ministry made both books testaments of Christ.
However, I have come to see that the Book of Mormon testifies of Christ all through its pages, not merely during a few prophesies and during Christ’s appearance to the righteous Nephites and Lamanites after his resurrection. This became clear as I took the challenge of our ward mission leader. He challenged the ward to read the Book of Mormon in three months—this would mean reading six pages a day. Furthermore, he challenged us to write what we learned about Jesus Christ during each day’s reading on a paper he provided.
I thought that some days’ reading would not provide any information about Christ. I have been surprised that each six page section has at least one thing to say about Jesus Christ and most days has so many things to say that I wrote what I learned in tiny, cramped writing to fit two lines within the space provided. It has been overwhelming to read my notes and to be reminded that the Lord is wiser than man, he keeps his promises, he will uphold his people when they are righteous, he came to earth to save all men if they will repent, he loves us, he is kind and merciful, he is just, he is the only way to salvation, and so much more. It was especially comforting to me during a family medical emergency to read this and remember the blessing given to my daughter. I knew that the Lord would keep the promises he made through my husband as a priesthood holder. I was able to feel peace and security even though her condition medically remained uncertain for hours. Just as the Book of Mormon testifies, Jesus Christ kept his promise that he gave in my daughter’s blessing and she is healthy, strong, and growing normally.
I am very grateful for taking this Book of Mormon challenge and for writing down the things I’m learning about Jesus Christ. I believe that everyone will likewise benefit from reading the Book of Mormon in a short time and writing what they learned about Jesus Christ. I urge you to take the Book of Mormon challenge. It will bless your life and strengthen your testimony of Christ.
*Object Lesson: Law of the Harvest
It’s the spring planting season. What are you planting? Peas, beans, corn, carrots, actions? What? Yes, actions are just like seeds. I planted peas in the garden last night. I expect that in about 63 days (according to the package) we will be eating sweet, fresh peas at our house. Likewise, our actions have similarly predictable results. Some actions are like pea seeds—when planted, they bring desirable results. Other actions are like weed seeds, bringing ugliness, painful prickles, strangulation of anything good in your life, and loss of control.
The scriptures teach us the results of many of our actions. Alma reminded his son, "wickedness never was happiness" (Alma 41:10). The prophets also tell us the good or bad results stemming from various actions. If you plant respect to parents, your own children will probably follow your example and your golden years will feel golden. You will also be blessed in that your days will be long upon the land (Exodus 20:12). If you plant virtuous living, you will reap peace and joy. If you plant following the gospel and keeping your covenants with God, you will reap happiness in this life and eternal life in the life to come. On the other hand, if you plant dishonesty, you will reap distrust, unhappiness, and possible civil punishment. Without repentance, you will also harvest a resurrection with the unjust and an eternal reward in hell (2 Nephi 9:34). If you plant immodesty, you will reap lack of respect, loss of the Spirit of God, and immorality of thoughts, words, and actions.
Of course, as the gardener of your life, you decide what you will plant, what you will cultivate, and what you will weed out. You don’t have to experience all of the evil fruits of bad choices if you read the scriptures and listen to the prophets and make choices that fit with the Lord’s plan for happiness. If you make mistakes, repent. Correct your behavior, and fill your life with positive choices from this point on. As anyone who has gardened can tell you, weeds creep into every garden, even when we are vigilant. Weeding early and often will prevent the weeds from taking hold and controlling the garden. Likewise, repenting early will prevent sins from taking over and destroying our lives.
Sometimes people make wrong choices and seem to enjoy a good life in spite of, or even because of, these wrong choices. Remember that the harvest is not complete until after the Lord’s day of judgment. On that day, goodness that was not noticed or rewarded in mortality finally will be rewarded and all unrepented sins, even those that were glorified or hidden in mortality, finally will be punished. On that day, I hope all of us will look on the garden of our lives and see that we have cultivated the best of ourselves and weeded all the evil out of our lives so that we will reap joy and eternal life with our Father in Heaven.
The scriptures are full of this gardening imagery. They call it the law of the harvest. Here are some final thoughts on the subject as found in the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants.
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Galatians 6:7-9)
"Therefore, prepare ye the way of the Lord, for the time is at hand that all men shall reap a reward of their works, according to that which they have been--if they have been righteous they shall reap the salvation of their souls, according to the power and deliverance of Jesus Christ; and if they have been evil they shall reap the damnation of their souls, according to the power and captivation of the devil." (Alma 9:28)
"Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward." (D&C 6:33)
For more information about what the prophets are saying now, see the General Conference section.
*What’s New on All About Mormons?
All About Mormons has information to keep you in touch with the Church, including Church related web sites and Internet services, Church phone numbers, and magazine information. Check it out on our Welcome page!
*Fun Stuff: Jacob’s Missing Descendent
by Dr. John P. Pratt
ŠAll rights reserved
See http://www.johnpratt.com/items/puzzles/jacob/jacob.html for an interesting Bible puzzle. To submit your answer to Dr. Pratt, send your answer and how you reached your conclusion to john@johnpratt.com Mention that you found the puzzle in this newsletter (AAMN) and the next newsletter we should know who received the highest score out of our readers.
*Response of the Month: What have you done to become more self-reliant?
We’ve started gardening and learning to produce our own food in other ways. I like to use cream of mushroom soup for a sauce with my noodles. I learned how to make it from scratch so I don’t have to rely on a soup manufacturer to make it for me. Then, if I’m out of time, I can use the canned soup, but when I’m out of the cans, I can make it myself. We’ve started our food storage. We don’t have a year’s supply yet, but we’re working on it. I’m mending clothes and learning to sew our own clothes. I’m learning to spend the money that we have more wisely and providently. I am buying books and watching shows that tell me how to fix things and do things myself instead of hiring out to do simple things like fixing a leaky faucet.
*Question of the Month: How do you encourage your family to develop a healthy lifestyle?
Thank you for your wonderful responses so far. Let us know what you think. We want your wisdom and input!
Reader responses will appear in the next newsletter. E-mail responses to jenny@mormons.org
See you later!