Am I a Christian?

With many people saying that Mormons are not christian, I am sure that this is a question that has come across many members minds. I also think it might be a question that comes across of members of other religions. With the world the way it is I suggest that everyone ask this question of their self. Am I a Christian?

To answer that question I believe we need to figure a few things out first. One) What does it mean to be a christian? Two) In the end who is going to be the final judge?

First to answer what is means to be a christian. Lets first take a look at what the word is implying. Christian implies that we are followers of Christ and His teachings. If I am a follower of Christ and His teachings what does that mean? It means that:

1) I am going to Follow the example Christ set. (John 10:14 "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine." If we are Christ sheep we are going to follow him.

2) It also implies that we are going to seek to understand all that he has taught us. John 5:39-40 "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." The scripture testify of Christ and His mission. They will not bring us eternal life, but they will guide us to Christ who will give us eternal life. He cannot give to those who do not come.

Finally 3) We are going to live our lives according to our beliefs. We seek Christ through the scriptures (Old Testament, New Testament, and Book of Mormon) and what the spirit tells us. We must always be looking for the promptings of the Holy Ghost to help us get on and stay on the correct path. How do we know the spirit well "...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." (Galatians 5:22-21)

And to finish off we must remember that it is not our place to judge. "Judge not that ye be not judged." (Matt. 7:1 and 3 Nephi 14:1) Who are we to say who is Christian or not. We cannot see that hearts of intents of others. We cannot be a perfect judge. "...God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel." Romans 2:16 "...names are written in heaven, where God and Christ are the judge of all." (Doctrine and Covenants 76:68, emphasis added)

Now that we know what is means to be Christians and who is to judge all, we need to change our question. It should no longer matter what I think who a christian is or even anyone else in this imperfect world. Instead we should follow the example of  Elder Neil L. Andersen, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and ask ourselves the question, "What thinks Christ of me?"

It is only the opinion of Christ that matters in the end. All else is naught to the judgement of Christ, HE who paid the price of the worlds sins. Corinthians. 6:20 "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s."

Reality: It is better than dreams

Do you ever have those days when your having a good dream and just when you are at the good part, your alarm goes off. I just had one of those recently. It was frustrating because all I wanted to do was go back to sleep and see how it was going to end. However, I knew that if I did I would get caught in a dream loop, the same scene replying over and over just before the good part. Then I would wake up feeling more tired than I was before. Plus, I would have wasted the good part of the morning that I need to prepare myself for the day that I may best serve the Lord.

It sometimes seems easier to stay in our dreams. In dreams we are the perfect person, we can do anything we want with little to no effort. The reality of life is that it is not easy, we are no longer that perfect person, anything we wish to accomplish requires work. The work and effort and challenges of this life can drive us to wish our lives away and end up having many regrets along the way.

To quote President Thomas S. Monson, who was at the time first counselor in the first presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "May we live so that when that final summons is heard, we may have no serious regrets, no unfinished business, but will be able to say with the Apostle Paul, 'I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.'" (Now Is the Time, Thomas S Monson, October 2001 General Conference)

Let us escape the captivating effects of dreams. Let us escape our fantasies. Let us "serve [Our Lord] with all [our] heart, might, mind and strength, that [we] may stand blameless before God at the last day." (D&C 4:2) Let us live our lives and make our dreams a reality.

When Time of Parting Comes

By John M. Freckleton

Does a person newly dead

Indulge in tears

When pausing for a moment

Just beyond the veil,

Beholding loved ones overcome by grief,

Retreat from what was once a bed of pain,

And murmur sad good-byes?

And does the newly dead

Rejoice that mortal agony is over,

Mingling tears of thankfulness

With sorrow for the parting from the loved ones:

Mother for her little children,

Father for beloved wife and family,

Child for loss of earthly home …

Can the spirit thus released

From all the heaviness of earth

Forget at once the happiness

That came from friends

And all the beauty earth life

Sometimes held …

And leave with no regrets

Or backward glance?

Must the leaving differ greatly

From those poignant moments

When we say good-bye

To take our leave at any time

And be without the company of those we love

For many days of longing loneliness

Or for an interlude of years?

The Full Atonement: Trial Before the Cross

Betrayed by Judas, Christ was taken before the high priest, "where the scribes and the elders were assembled." Where they "sought false against Jesus to put [Him] to death." (Matt 26:57, 59)




The trail with the high priest ended with Christ being accused of blasphemy. The high priest asked Jesus if He was the Christ, the Son of God. "Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." It was this point which the high priest condemned Christ to death for "He hath spoken blasphemy;" (Matt 26:63-66) It was with this statement that they condemned this righteous man, our Savior, and the Son of God, to death.

After the trial of the high priest Christ was taken before Pilate. After Pilate found out Christ was of Galilee, which was Herod's jurisdiction,"he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time."(Luke 23:6-7) Herod had wanted to see Christ for a while and was glad to see him in his courts. When Christ didn't answer any of His questions, "Herod with his men of war set him at naught, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate"(Luke 23:11)

After the trails, Christ's fate was left in Pilate's decision of what he was going to do. Pilate turned to the people and said he found no fault in Christ. He was then going to "chastise him, and release him.(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)". (Luke23:16-17) The people were not going to have this. They cried for the other prisoner, Barabbas, a murderer, to be released instead of Christ. They would rather have a murderer among them than Christ, who had done no wrong.

Pilate was willing to release Christ, but he gave in to the cries of the people, "Crucify him, crucify him." He then released Barabbas and delivered Christ to the will of the people to be crucified. (Luke 23:20-25) He was stripped, scourged, donned with a scarlet robe and a crown of thorns, and mocked. (Matt 27:28-31) He suffered through all that for our sins, that we could be redeemed of the fall of Adam and our transgressions,  and there was not one word of complaint from Him recorded in the scriptures. He suffered it all willingly for us.