Why a book of Mormon hero?? because... I LOVE SUPER HEROS. A lot. My favorite one is Batman, why? He doesn't have super powers, he isn't super natural. He took his weakness His fear and made it strength. He used his wealth to better the world, He used his brains as a means of protection over his home. His fear of bats became his source of power.. one of the greatest heros of all times. Even better than Batman are real men, with real lives, real trials and great faith in Christ. I picked a hero of the week because it changes. ALL THE TIME. The book of Mormon is full of such incredible men and women who truly follow Jesus Christ. Which teaches me how I can repent, change and become a better disciple of my Savior each and every day. This week I am going to talk about CAPTAIN MORONI...
He is bold, he is brave, and he is NOT afraid to stand up for what is right, what he believes, and his family.
Moroni is incredible. He believes Jesus is His Savior. He doesn't just believe this he lives it.
Here are a few verses of Scripture about Moroni:
11 And Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect understanding;
yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy
in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from
bondage and slavery;
12 Yea,
a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many
privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people; a man who
did labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of his people.
13 Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ, and he had sworn with an oath to defend his people, his rights, and his country, and his religion, even to the loss of his blood.
17 Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.
Alma 48
Moroni is converted to the Lord. He will do anything he can to defend his beliefs and to keep his family free and protected. EVEN TO THE LOSS OF HIS OWN BLOOD!
What would/do you give to follow Jesus Christ? I know that we live in a world where it is hard to believe. Where it is hard to follow and at times we are asked to stand alone in the faith. Being a missionary I have had a lot of experiences where I have had to clarify confusions people have with the Mormon faith, I have been loved and I have been hated. I have been invited in and I have been cast out.
We all have our moment of conversion. Our moment where we decide.. Who will I follow
"For thus saith the scripture: Choose ye this day, whom ye will serve."
Alma 30
"24 ¶No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
Matthew 6
To be as converted as Moroni is a daily process. Conversion isn't a one time movement. If one wants to become good at something you must practice. I always wanted to play every instrument as a kid, I wanted to be good at everything, but I wouldn't practice to get there. I would not stick with it.. Therefore.. I can dabble on on a lot of things.. But none of them are my true strength.
I found that I have a passion for make up, costume make up, creepy make up, pretty make up.. I LOVE IT. It is an art that I can express myself with. I worked at it. I took classes on it.. I watched youtube video after youtube video and it has become something that I enjoy doing and that as I do it I escape from the stresses of the world and can turn my beautiful friends into terrifying monsters.
yes.. this is the same person
I have learned to direct that passion to the gospel. My new escape is finding rescue in the words of Christ. The book of Mormon and the Bible. Hand in hand. Becoming converted is an art, it is a practice. I learned yesterday that it is important to read from the book of Mormon each and every day to have spiritual fortifications around our heart and mind 24/7. I AM FAR FROM PERFECT. Therefore I have to fortify my weaknesses with spiritual back up so that I can become like Moroni.. Firm in the faith. Firm and immovable in his beliefs. I missed a day of reading from the book of Mormon yesterday, and my whole day was off! I wasn't as happy, I wasn't as energetic and the spirit wasn't as much with me as it could have been. READ THE BOOK OF MORMON DAILY!
Become passionate about Jesus Christ, as the violinist practices for hours a day, the basketball player shoots hoop after hoop after hoop practice after practice.. We can not become deeply rooted in something if we aren't putting forth effort. Direct your passion to Christ. As we love Him he loves us in return. As we draw nigh unto him he holds us closer.
63 Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Serving God has forever changed my life. I am devoted. I will do my best to not waver. To hold onto the truth and never let it slip away. God doesn't ask a lot of us.. all that he asks is that we keep his commandments.
"15 ¶If ye love me, keep my commandments."
John 14
and this is what we get in return
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
John 15
Obedience, a law with a promise
20 I say unto you, my brethren, that if you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you, and has kept and preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has granted that ye should live in peace one with another—
21 I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.
22 And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.
23 And now, in the first place, he hath created you, and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto him.
24 And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless
you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto
him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye
to boast?
The book of Mormon is so easy to relate with, it takes real men and women with real life trials and helps you to see that as you trust in God you can over come anything. Through Moroni's example I want to strive to be more bold, to be brave in declaring Gods words, to reach out and lift those who need their faith strengthend, to lift those who feel to weak to stand. Through Moroni's example I wish to be more obedient. To be more willing to follow my father in Heaven. To not be afraid to sacrifice what I want right now, for what is eternally important. To not give into temptation, to not miss my opportunity to speak up.
We must choose whom we will serve. who we will follow and who we will trust.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
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