Sep

28

Esta são algumas das palavras do Presidente Faust em relação aos Templos, na Última Conferência Geral da Igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Útimons Dias (Igreja Mórmon) :

“Ao longo da história da Terra, a adoração no templo sempre foi parte significativa da vida dos santos, pela qual eles demonstravam o desejo de aproximar-se do Criador. O templo foi um lugar de aprendizagem para o Salvador quando esteve na Terra; o templo fazia parte da vida Dele. As bênçãos do templo estão mais uma vez disponíveis em nossa época. Uma característica ímpar da Igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Últimos Dias é seu ensinamento sobre templos e sobre o significado eterno de tudo o que neles fazemos. Nossos majestosos e belos templos agora estão por toda a Terra. Neles, o mais sagrado dos trabalhos é feito. O Presidente Gordon B. Hinckley assim falou sobre os templos: “Existem poucos lugares na Terra onde as perguntas que o homem faz sobre a vida recebem as respostas da eternidade”. As solenes perguntas “de onde viemos?”, “por que estamos aqui?” e “para onde vamos depois?” têm respostas completas nos templos. Viemos da presença de Deus e estamos aqui na Terra para preparar-nos para retornar à presença Dele.

In 1906, o Presidente Joseph F. Smith foi o primeiro Profeta que visitou os Santos na Europa enquanto ele era o profeta. Ele disse que um dia os templos iriam encher a terra. Parecia uma coisa bem dificel naquela epoca, e na verdade ate’ 15-20 anots atrás ainda parecia uma benção para um dia longe.

Porém, nos últimos anos através da inspiração e trabalho do Presidente Hinckley nos vimos a realização desta profecia, o pelo menos o começo dela.

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Sep

26

O Presidente George Bush and o profeta da Igreja Mórmon, Presidente Gordon B. Hinckley, encontraram-se pela quarta vez desta vez nos escritórios centrais da Igreja em Salt Lake City, Utah, nos Estados Unidos. Para ler a notícia clicar aqui.

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Sep

25

This is an interesting experience found in Parley P. Pratt’s autobiography about tje Prophet Joseph Smith and his power when preaching:

“While visiting with brother Joseph Smith in Philadelphia, a very large church was opened for him to preach in, and about three thousand people assembled to hear him. Brother Rigdon spoke first, and dwelt on the Gospel, illustrating his doctrine by the Bible. When he was through, brother Joseph arose like a lion about to roar; and being full of the Holy Ghost, spoke in great power, bearing testimony of the visions he had seen, the ministering of angels which he had enjoyed; and how he had found the plates of the Book of Mormon, and translated them by the gift and power of God. He commenced by saying: “If nobody else had the courage to testify of so glorious a message from Heaven, and of the finding of so glorious a record, he felt to do it in justice to the people, and leave the event with God.”

The entire congregation were astounded; electrified, as it were, and overwhelmed with the sense of the truth and power by which he spoke, and the wonders which he related. A lasting impression was made; many souls were gathered into the fold. And I bear witness, that he, by his faithful and powerful testimony, cleared his garments of their blood. Multitudes were baptized in Philadelphia and in the regions around; while, at the same time, branches were springing up in Pennsylvania, in Jersey, and in various directions.” (Chapter 36)

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Sep

21

Be true !

September 21, 2006 | Leave a Comment

I was reading an interesting part of the autobiography of Parley P. Pratt. In chapter 34 he describes his wandering while trying to reach the Mississippi river to escape from the state of Missouri. At that time the Governor of that state had issued an extermination order against the Mormons and many crimes had been committed against them. Parley was running for his life but he was still a very honest guy and in his autobiography he feels urged to justify himself for not telling the truth about who he was to strangers he met. This are his words:

I would here remark that some persons will perhaps be disposed to censure me for saying that which was not strictly true in all its points, in order to avoid discovery, and make good my escape. But I can say, from the bottom of my heart, that I feel perfectly justified in so doing, not only because it accomplished a good object, and seemed according to wisdom, but we have numerous instances in Scripture where God’s prophets and people acted in a similar way for a similar end. For instance, the New Testament justifies Rahab, and even commends her, and includes her in the sum of the faithful, because she hid the spies under the flax and deceived their pursuers by stating that they had left the city and fled to the mountains; and thus she became an accomplice, or an aider and abettor of the people and purposes of God. David also, who was the Lord’s anointed, and a man after his own heart, dissembled a number of times to save his life. At one time he deceived the national priest, and thus obtained both bread and armor, under pretense of being on the king’s errand, while he was in fact an outlaw, then in the act of fleeing for his life from that same Saul. And Jesus himself mentions this to the Jews, and justifies it. At another time he feigned himself insane, by figuring on the wall and letting his spittle drizzle down on his beard, in order to escape the Philistine judges. Oh, yes, says one, but he was the Lord’s anointed, and, therefore, had a right to save his life at all hazards to fulfill God’s purposes. To this I reply, that I am also God’s anointed, and have a greater reason for living and a more worthy object to accomplish than he had. That may be, says the objector, but who believes it? I answer, one hundred people believe me in the days of my trouble and humility where one believed David. And well they may; for I have a greater work to accomplish than he ever had. But the world may blame unjustly. I care not a straw for their judgment. I have one only that I serve, and him only do I fear. The hypocrite who censures me may yet be placed under similar circumstances, and then judge ye how he would act. (Chapter 34)

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Sep

10

President Monson

September 10, 2006 | Leave a Comment

In the last two days I went to a conference of the Mormon Church in which members from the stakes of Utah County were together to listen to our leaders.

President Monson was presiding and Elder Samuelson and Elder Wirthlin also spoke.

Many good things were said during the uplifting conference but I want to mention just one.

Elder Withlin said that heros never gives up, they don’t ask “why me?” but “what now?” They focus on the destination, where they want to go, not on the problems. He mentioned the challenges of Michelangelo while painting the Sistina Chapel.

We should all try to focus on what to do next instead than complaining about the problems we need to face.

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Sep

10

The first comment to my blog was.. why you don’t blog about something interesting? This is a good point, but unfortunately I can’t follow the suggestion of writing about my noble Martinengo ancestors since I am not aware of any such noble personage in my ancestry, and at the end of the story I wouldn’t care too much.

I am planning to blog about the gospel. I don’t have a lot of time so that I will focus on what is of most value for the souls of men and not about other things, unless they really get my attention. However, I will try to be interesting, but probably I will not be interesting all the time!

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