Create a Regular Routine of Prayer and Scripture Study
Another way to build a happy life is to build a relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. A great way to do that is through prayer and scripture study.
President Uchtdorf said: “To strengthen our relationship with God, we need some meaningful time alone with Him. Quietly focusing on daily personal prayer and scripture study… will be some wise investments of our time and efforts to draw closer to our Heavenly Father.”
Prayer is an opportunity to communicate with our Father in Heaven. He knows us, loves us, and wants to hear from us! When we pray sincerely, offer our thanks, and ask for the things we need, He listens and always answers in His own way and time.
When it comes to scripture study, there is no one right way to do it. The important thing is that you do it! President Russell M. Nelson has taught, “Daily immersion in the word of God is crucial for spiritual survival.” Spending time each day in the scriptures will, without a doubt, help you build a life of faith and strength.
Did you read that? What wise counsel. I wholeheartedly agree with President Uchtdorf. Here is a perfect example of what Christians who do not understand Mormonism struggle with. Having read the above, most Christians would not only endorse what is said, but also question why someone like me would say that Mormons are not Christians. So what’s the problem?
Firstly, the God to whom Mormons pray is not the God of the Bible. The Mormon God was once a sinful man who achieved exaltation and became a God himself – this is not the God of the Bible.[1] The Mormon God is one of a plethora of gods believed in by Mormons – this is not the God of the Bible.[2]
Also, when President Uchtdorf speaks of studying the Scriptures, he doesn’t mean the Bible. Yes, Mormons will look at, and occasionally use the Bible, but they believe that it is only valuable as far as it is translated correctly.[3] Mormons will spend far more time reading and studying false scripture like the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants.
Surround Yourself with Those Who Encourage You to Do Good
Heavenly Father wants us to connect and build relationships with others—especially family and friends. We are often shaped by those we spend time with. Whether they are members of the Church or not, you should surround yourself with people who help you live the gospel, keep the Lord’s standards, and become a better person. You can also help those around you to do the same. Which of your friends is helping you build your foundation on righteousness?
One of the verses that has stuck with me from my time with the Jehovah’s Witnesses is 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NWT): ‘Do not be misled. Bad associations spoil useful habits.’ This verse was constantly used to make us aware that we shouldn’t make friends with worldly people. The same idea is found within Mormonism.
Again, the advice given is not bad, but we need to hear what is really being said. Though it says that whether the people we meet with ‘are members of the Church or not’ it then suggests that, ‘you should surround yourself with people who help you live the gospel, keep the Lord’s standards, and become a better person'. In other words, stick with fellow Mormons.
Find Joy in Building Your Foundation
There are many other ways you can build your life to be spiritually strong and have joy, including going to church and partaking of the sacrament, making and keeping covenants, and following the counsel of living prophets.
It’s important to remember that all of these things take work and time. There’s always building and learning to be done, but you don’t have to do it alone. The Lord will help you each day as you try your best to build a life that you and He can be proud of and that will bring you joy.
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27
Notice the difference. The Mormons are told to follow the counsel of the living prophets of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and hear the advice that they should try their best and the Lord will do the rest. Whereas Jesus says we are to hear His words and put them into practice. By doing so our building will stand; not because of anything we have done but because of all that Jesus has done.
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