LDS Freedom Forum

Brothers and sisters
I, like many of you; we are feeling this need we have,
this desire to seek the Lord and his righteous at this time,
repenting of our sins and coming together in Christ.

A great sifting is going on in our church.
A dividing of the wheat from the tares.
And I think for many of us, it's not what we think it is.

YOU ARE NOT SAVED JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE A MEMBER
AND YOU GO TO CHURCH.
Those who think they are righteous and are saved just by
attending their church meetings and even the temple,
church callings, etc. and think they've done their spiritual duty
for the week, will be cast out and burned with the tares.

And those who humble themselves daily, with a
Broken Heart and Contrite Spirit, on their knees repenting of their sins,
continually seeking the Lords face in prayer, asking the
Lord for his spirit to be with them always, to guide there lives,
to enlighten their minds and teach them all things of his gospel,
Taking upon you the name of Christ.
Servants of Christ - doing the things He (Christ) did,
loving, teaching, helping and forgiving others.
This is the gospel of Jesus Christ, not just attending church.
Spiritually is not an outwardly thing you do once a week
by going to church.

Anyone can go to church

It's one thing to say "I Love You"
but it's entirely another to demonstrate that
love, showing continually, unconditionally,
in many ways your unwavering love for that person.

It's one thing going to church, but it's entirely another
thing to accept and to live The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Is going to church in itself spirituality ? no.
The very act of going to church won't save anyone.
Anyone can go to church.
I guarantee you that church attendance records
are not kept in heaven.
Just like I believe that just because you get married in the temple
doesn't mean you will be together forever, if you have a terrible
relationship with your spouse that has flustered and died away,
but because they got married in the temple, do you really
think they would be together or should be together ? I don't.

Too many members go to church like they go to the gym.
They go, they've done their (spiritual) duty
for the week and feel good about it.
Going to church doesn't make you closer to God. (unless)
it changes your life ! And it shows in your life by your fruits.
Again - going to church is like going to college.
You can go for years, and learn a lot but that won't get you
anywhere with your career unless you take what you've learned
and go out and apply it, in our lives and in the lives of others.
For many - The Gospel of Jesus Christ is like - a man was given an
expensive car to go on an extravagant vacation to a beautiful place,
but he didn't want to work, to get money for gas so he could go there.
Are you working to put gas in your car ? Not just by going to church,
but doing what He (Christ) did.

"Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be?
Verily I say unto you, even as I am."
3 Nephi 27:27

"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

"so faith without works is dead"
"I will shew thee my faith by my works"
James 2

Jesus said
"But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant."

Mosiah Chapter 2:17
"And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom;
that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of
your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."


Matthew 25:40

40 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.

It's there, Christ is at the door but we have to
open the door and fully accept him and do the things he did.
He will be in us, and work through us to do his work.

This reminded me of a talk that Elder Uchtdorf gave back in 2014.

Nearly 200 years ago, the American short story “Rip Van Winkle” became an instant classic. The main character, Rip, is an unambitious man who is very good at avoiding two things: work and his wife.

One day, while wandering in the mountains with his dog, he discovers a group of strangely dressed men drinking and playing games. After accepting some of their liquor, Rip becomes drowsy and closes his eyes for a moment. When he opens his eyes again, he is surprised to find that his dog is gone, his rifle has rusted, and he now has a long beard.

Rip makes his way back to his village only to discover that everything has changed. His wife has died, his friends are gone, and the portrait of King George III in the tavern has been replaced by a portrait of someone he does not recognize—by General George Washington.

Rip Van Winkle had been sleeping for 20 years! And in the process, he had missed one of the most exciting periods in the history of his country—he had slept through the American Revolution.

In May 1966, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. used this story as an illustration for his speech “Don’t Sleep Through the Revolution.”1

Today, I would like to take the same theme and propose a question to all of us who hold God’s priesthood: are you sleeping through the Restoration?

Sometimes we think of the Restoration of the gospel as something that is complete, already behind us—Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, he received priesthood keys, the Church was organized. In reality, the Restoration is an ongoing process; we are living in it right now. It includes “all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal,” and the “many great and important things” that “He will yet reveal.”2 Brethren, the exciting developments of today are part of that long-foretold period of preparation that will culminate in the glorious Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

This is one of the most remarkable periods of the world’s history! Ancient prophets yearned to see our day.

When our time in mortality is complete, what experiences will we be able to share about our own contribution to this significant period of our lives and to the furthering of the Lord’s work? Will we be able to say that we rolled up our sleeves and labored with all our heart, might, mind, and strength? Or will we have to admit that our role was mostly that of an observer?

I suppose there are a variety of reasons why it is easy to become a bit sleepy with regard to building the kingdom of God. Let me mention three major ones. As I do, I invite you to ponder if any might apply. If you see room for improvement, I ask you to consider what could be done to change for the better.

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/ ... n?lang=eng