Mormonism Blog

Parley P. Pratt was one of the first great Mormon missionaries of this dispensation. He was also a member of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church).

He had a special love for the Book of Mormon and this is his interesting testimony about his discovery of the “Book of Mormon:

“I opened it with eagerness, and read its title page. I then read the testimony of several witnesses in relation to the manner of its being found and translated. After this I commenced its contents by course. I read all day; eating was a burden, I had no desire for food; sleep was a burden when the night came, for I preferred reading to sleep.

“As I read, the spirit of the Lord was upon me, and I knew and comprehended that the book was true, as plainly and manifestly as a man comprehends and knows that he exists. (Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, 3d ed., Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1938, pp. 36-37.)”

My challenge to you: are you a member of the Mormon Church? Then read again the Book of Mormon.

Are you not yet a member of the Church and you want to know the truth of all things? Then read the Book of Mormon !

All Mormons know the importance of temple service, but not all Mormons are equally faithful or equally committed, or perhaps not all members of the Mormon Church really understand the importance of temples ordinances.

Coming from a different country I have been amazed sometimes at realizing that many members who live a few miles from a Mormon temple don’t go as frequently as they could. However, I never had to do a sacrifice such as the one described by Elder Holland.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles told the story of the members of the Punta Arenas Chile Stake (see “Abide in Me,” Ensign, May 2004, 31). This stake is the Church’s southernmost stake anywhere on this planet, its outermost borders stretching toward Antarctica.

For the Punta Arenas members it is a 4,200-mile round-trip bus ride to the Santiago temple. For a husband and wife it can take up to 20 percent of an annual local income just for the transportation alone. Only 50 people can be accommodated on the bus, but for every excursion 250 others come out to hold a brief service with them the morning of their departure.

Among other things Elder Holland asks: “What does 110 hours on a bus feel like? I honestly don’t know, but I do know that some of us get nervous if we live more than 110 miles from a temple or if the services there take more than 110 minutes.”

He concludes: “perhaps the rest of us can do more to enjoy the blessings and wonder of the temple regularly when so many temples are increasingly within our reach.”

I absolutely agree. I live at 20 minutes from two temples.

Last weekend in Salt Lake City another Conference of the Church of Jesus Chrsit of Latter-day Saints was held. The online texts of the Conference are available

One interesting talk among many others was about temples. Elder Richard H. Winkel Of the Seventy said:

“When you come to the temple you will love your family with a deeper love than you have ever felt before. The temple is about families. As my wife, Karen, and I have increased our temple service, our love for each other and for our children has increased. And it doesn’t stop there. It extends to parents, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, forebears, and especially our grandchildren! This is the Spirit of Elijah, which is the spirit of family history work; and when inspired by the Holy Ghost, it prompts the turning of the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers. Because of the priesthood, husbands and wives are sealed together, children are sealed to their parents for eternity so the family is eternal and will not be separated at death.”

Clearly the importance of temples is a recurring theme in Mormonism.

I will try again to start writing something of interest to members and non members of the Mormon Church.

I will especially consider talking about the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Mormon missionaries, and the Mormon temples for a while.

I am a member of the Mormon Church and I want to make sure that those who search for good information about the Mormon church will be able to find it.

I have a good article orginally written by Massimo Franceschini that you may like. Only a few changes in the first lines have been made. Read and enjoy.The First Vision