No More Strangers and Foreigners

My wife and I recently (2 months ago) moved to Fishers, Indiana to serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I was raised in Northern Indiana so for me it is like coming home even though it has been 48 years since leaving for college. I grew up in a small farming community (Argos, Indiana) of about 1600 people which is far different than the area we are living in now. Fishers is part of the Indianapolis metropolitan area and has a population of just over two million people. It is also different than where we lived for the past 30 years in Cache Valley Utah which has a population of 124,000 and where about 83% are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Compare that with the .007% of Hoosiers, citizens of Indiana, that are members of The Church.

Another culture shock to us is the diversity of the people that live in our neighborhood. We live in an apartment complex and we have a lot of families from India, many that are Hispanic, and many African Americans. Also, unlike the naturally friendly nature of our neighbors in Cache Valley, it is difficult to get to know our neighbors here. We only know the names of two of our neighbors next to us. Hopefully that will change as time goes on. So far, I have learned the Indian (East Indian, not native Indian) greeting, namaste, which means “I bow to you”. Whenever we meet any East Indian and greet them this way they are more accepting and friendly.

The point of all this is that we are trying to fit in and learn to love our neighbors as we hope that they will love us. It is easy to learn to love your neighbors when they have the same values and beliefs that you do, but how do you respond when they don’t share those values and beliefs. Sister Lori Wadsworth speaking at a BYU Devotional quoted President Boyd K. Packer:

“You are a child of God. He is the father of your spirit. Spiritually you are of noble birth, the offspring of the King of Heaven. Fix that truth in your mind and hold to it. However many generations in your mortal ancestry, no matter what race or people you represent, the pedigree of your spirit can be written on a single line. You are a child of God!” (Seeing the Divinity in Others)

President Packer is reminding us that every member of the human race are children of God, our Heavenly Father and we need to remember that when we interact with them. Even saying “them” seems like I am putting “them” in a different class. It should not be us and them, we are all in one class, that of Heavenly Father’s children. Sister Wadsworth continues:

“Look around you. You are surrounded by children of God. Every single person on the earth now and forever is a child of God. It doesn’t matter what their religious or political affiliation is, it doesn’t matter where they come from or the color of their skin, and it doesn’t matter if they are just like you or are vastly different from you—they are all children of our Heavenly Father.”

Sister Wadsworth then shared a statement published by The Church regarding respecting everyone and eliminating bullying:

“We remain committed to support community efforts throughout the world to prevent suicide, bullying, and homelessness. Every young person should feel loved and cared for in their families, their communities, and their congregations. We can come together, bringing our perspectives and beliefs, and make each community a safe place for all.”

She then shared a quote from the Church’s Instagram account where a member talked about how she felt she did not fit in and suggested that if we are having a hard time understanding someone that we should move in closer:

“Move in to see the mother hurting because her daughter is ostracized because she won’t be baptized like the rest of her peers. Move in to see the teenage boy terrified to tell his parents that he doesn’t want to serve a mission. Move in to see those who struggle with doubts or grief and still want to fit in. Move in to see [how] amazing [people are], regardless of where [they are] on [their] faith journey. Honestly, the worth of a soul is way, way too great to not move in when the chance presents itself. Plus, you may be surprised at what you find.”

This counsel is good for us as we try to get to know our neighbors, especially those of different nationalities and cultures that we don’t understand. The Savior’s teaching to love others as we would have them love us applies to us as we interact with everyone that we come in contact with. The more we see and treat everyone as our brothers and sisters, as children of Heavenly Father’s family, we will move beyond our preconceived ideas and learn to understand their ideals and culture and eventually we will all be “no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” (Ephesians 2:19)

Your comments and questions are welcome. If you like this post, I would ask that you share it with your family and friends on your social media.

What’s In a Name?

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the announcement that was made encouraging members and the media to use the proper name of The Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, instead of the common nickname Mormon Church or LDS Church. (It’s Not Mormon’s Church) Since that time, I have tried to use the proper name of the church when talking to people I meet, but I have to admit that I am still guilty of using the “Mormon Church” because it is easier to say it and people know the name. After general conference last weekend, I now understand the importance of using the full name and not shortening it. President Nelson explained why it is important:

“What’s in a name or, in this case, a nickname? When it comes to nicknames of the Church, such as the “LDS Church,” the “Mormon Church,” or the “Church of the Latter-day Saints,” the most important thing in those names is the absence of the Savior’s name. To remove the Lord’s name from the Lord’s Church is a major victory for Satan. When we discard the Savior’s name, we are subtly disregarding all that Jesus Christ did for us—even His Atonement.

“After all He had endured—and after all He had done for humankind—I realize with profound regret that we have unwittingly acquiesced in the Lord’s restored Church being called by other names, each of which expunges the sacred name of Jesus Christ!

“When we omit His name from His Church, we are inadvertently removing Him as the central focus of our lives. names, each of which expunges the sacred name of Jesus Christ (emphasis added)” (The Correct Name of the Church).

I had never thought of it this way that we are removing the name of the Savior from His Church when we shorten the name or use a nickname. This was a wake-up call for me, I am serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I represent the Lord and His Church. If I really am his representative, how can I eliminate his name when I speak of His Church?

This past week while standing in a checkout line at a grocery store a woman behind me looked at my name tag and said: “I love Jesus, I wish I had a badge like that”. When I asked if she knew much about our church she took another look at the badge and admitted she did not know anything. When I said: “you might know us as the Mormon Church” and she said is that the same church? When I said yes, she was surprised. This is what President Nelson is talking about; the world know the Mormon Church and they know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but they don’t know it is the same church.

I had another experience while on a bike ride with a group here in Fishers, Indiana. One of the riders is a minister for a local Christian Church and we were talking about how the church has changed the name of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. Ron, the minister, asked why. I told him that we are trying to get away from the name Mormon Church and use the real name as directed by the Lord. I told him that we are trying to help people understand that we are Christians and that Christ is central to our worship and is the head of our church. Ron did not respond but at least he knows how I feel and that we want the world to know we believe in Jesus Christ.

President Nelson concluded his talk with these words:

“My dear brothers and sisters, I promise you that if we will do our best to restore the correct name of the Lord’s Church, He whose Church this is will pour down His power and blessings upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints,¹⁷ the likes of which we have never seen. We will have the knowledge and power of God to help us take the blessings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people and to prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord.

“So, what’s in a name? When it comes to the name of the Lord’s Church, the answer is “Everything!” Jesus Christ directed us to call the Church by His name because it is His Church, filled with His power.” (The Correct Name of the Church)

I am interested in the blessings that President Nelson promised so I will do all I can to use His name and the full name of His Church when speaking to those I come in contact with. I am proud to be His representative and bear witness that he lives and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His Church here on the earth.

Your comments and questions are welcome. If you like this post, I would ask that you share it with your family and friends on your social media.

Why the Badge?

Elder & Sister Potter
in Indiana

We are often asked why we decided to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My wife and I both served missions when we were young, and we have always wanted to serve a mission together. We are now serving in the Indiana Indianapolis Mission. Sister Potter is the mission

nurse and I am the office secretary. We are excited to have the opportunity to support the Lord's Youth Battalion here in Indiana. President Russell M. Nelson has suggested that there is nothing more important for the youth today than to be able to participate in what he called the Lord’s Youth Battalion (Hope of Israel).

As a young missionary I served in the Alaska British Columbia Mission and my wife served in the Bolivia Mission. She served as a nurse during her time in Bolivia. Her time was spent teaching the people of Bolivia good health and sanitation practices and even taught first aid to the Bolivian army. I was a regular missionary and spent my time teaching everyone that wanted to listen about the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that we have prophets on the earth today.

Salt Lake Temple

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is one of the greatest blessings we have in our lives. Because of our Savior we have the opportunity to overcome our natural selfish tendencies and become born again. Through the temple ordinances we have the blessing of being sealed for time AND all eternity, not just in this life.

We love knowing we have living prophets to guide us today and are excited to have the blessing of listening to the prophet and Apostles speak to us next weekend in general conference.

If you want to know what the Lord would like you to do, come and listen to General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 6-7 by going here: (General Conference)

Your comments and questions are welcome and if you like this I would ask that you share it on your social media with your family and friends.

Developing Christlike Characteristics

I recently read a talk by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titled “The Character of Christ”. In the talk he said: “I have also pondered the relationship between Christ’s character and the Atonement-and the implications of that relationship for each of us as disciples of Jesus Christ.” This question has been pressing on my mind for some time. I have a firm testimony that Jesus Christ is literally the only begotten son of our Heavenly Father and that he is our Savior. I also know that it is only through Jesus Christ that we can overcome our worldly nature and become cleansed from our sins and become his son.

With that knowledge I have to question am I willing to go through the life changing, born again process that Alma and the sons of Mosiah experienced in the Book of Mormon. Alma and the sons of Mosiah were enemies to the Church of Christ and they went about trying to destroy the church until an Angel of the Lord appeared to them and told them to stop seeking to destroy the church or they themselves would be destroyed. For the rest of their lives they spent their days in the service of the Lord’s church. They experienced the process of putting off the natural man and submitting to the spirit and were born again. (Mosiah 27:11-32) Later Alma speaking to the people of Zarahemla asked: “have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this might change in your hearts?” (Alma 5:14)

I would hope that I have experienced this change in my life. I want to follow Jesus Christ and do my best to keep God’s commandments. But am I really striving to develop the characteristics of Jesus Christ? Elder Bednar quoted Brigham Young when he said:

“I will take the liberty of saying to every man and woman who wishes to obtain salvation through him (the Savior) that looking to him, only, is not enough: they must have faith in his name, character and atonement; and they must have faith in is father and in the plan of salvation devised and wrought our by the Father and the Son.” (“The Character of Christ”)

Elder Bednar continues:

Perhaps the greatest indicator of character is the capacity to recognize and appropriately respond to other people who are experiencing the very challenge or adversity that is most immediately and forcefully pressing upon us. Character is revealed, for example, in the power to discern the suffering of other people when we ourselves are suffering; in the ability to detect the hunger of others when we are hungry; and in the power to reach out and extend compassion for the spiritual agony of others when we are in the midst of our own spiritual distress. Thus, character is demonstrated by looking and reaching outward when the natural and instinctive response is to be self-absorbed and turn inward. If such a capacity is indeed the ultimate criterion of moral character, then the Savior of the world is the perfect example of such a consistent and charitable character.” (“The Character of Christ”)

 Elder Bednar then sites several examples from the New Testament where Christ demonstrates his complete love for others in the midst of his own suffering. He suggested the experience that Christ had when he was tempted of the devil after fasting for 40 days, at the last supper when he spoke of the Holy Ghost that would come and comfort the Apostles after he was gone, healing the soldiers ear in the Garden when Peter cut it off, and while he hung on the cross he was more concerned about his mother as well as the soldiers and the thief on the cross than he was about his own suffering.

Elder Bednar challenges us to develop that Christlike character when he said:

“We can in mortality seek to be blessed with and develop essential elements of a Christlike character. Indeed, it is possible for us as mortals to strive in righteousness to receive the spiritual gifts associated with the capacity to reach outward and appropriately respond to other people who are experiencing the very challenge or adversity that is most immediately and forcefully pressing upon us. We cannot obtain such a capacity through sheer willpower or personal determination. Rather, we are dependent upon and in need of "the merits, mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah" (2 Nephi 2:8). But "line upon line, precept upon precept" (2 Nephi 28:30) and "in [the] process of time" (Moses 7:21), we are enabled to reach outward when the natural tendency is for us to turn inward.” (“The Character of Christ”)

As my wife and I serve as full-time missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Indiana Indianapolis mission, I want more than anything to develop the character of Christ that Elder Bednar spoke of and I would hope that I can one day say that I have experienced the total change of heart from the natural man to one that has been born of the spirit and has become his disciple.

I welcome your comments and question and hope that you will share this with your family and friends on your social media sites.

It’s Not Mormon’s Church

This week President Russell M. Nelson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints asked the members of the church and the media to no longer refer to the church as the Mormon Church or LDS. In the new Style Guide – The Name of the Church it states:

While the term "Mormon Church" has long been publicly applied to the Church as a nickname, it is not an authorized title, and the Church discourages its use. Thus, please avoid using the abbreviation "LDS" or the nickname "Mormon" as substitutes for the name of the Church, as in "Mormon Church," "LDS Church," or "Church of the Latter-day Saints."

People inside and outside The Church have used the terms Mormon Church or LDS Church since the beginning of the church so why the change now? Individuals that were not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints started calling it the Mormon church because of Joseph Smith and The Book of Mormon. It did not take long for the members of the church to adopt the term as well. Many people believe that The Mormon Church and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are two different churches, not the same church.

After Christ’s death and resurrection he appeared to the people living in the Americas and established his church there just as he did in the old world. When the people asked Jesus what they should call the church he answered:

Have they not read the scriptures, which say ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name? For by this name shall ye be called at the last day;

And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day.

Therefore, whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do it in my name; therefore ye shall call the church in my name; and ye shall call upon the Father in my name that he will bless the church for my sake.

And how be it my church save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses’ name then it be Moses’ church; or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel. (3 Nephi 27:5-8)

And in a revelation given to Joseph Smith the Lord said: “for thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” (Doctrine and Covenants 115:4)

The Savior made it clear that there would be two things that would distinguish His Church from all others; first – it would be called the Church of Jesus Christ. The true Church of Jesus Christ would not bear a man’s name like Lutheran, Calvinism, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, St. Teresa of Calcutta, or Mormon. It would not be called by the name of the country like Greek Orthodox, Roman Orthodox, the Church of England, etc. Some churches are called after an event such as the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

The second way we would know if it is the true Church of Jesus Christ is that it would be built on His Gospel and have his authority. In other words it would teach the same things that the ancient apostles taught, have the same organization as they did, and have the priesthood authority to administer the saving ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Speaking the members of the Church of Jesus Christ in his day, the Apostle Paul stated that they

are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (Ephesians 2:19-20)

When Christ established his church in the meridian of times he called 12 Apostles and gave them the priesthood authority to cast out devils, heal the sick, baptize, and preach the kingdom of God (Luke 9:1-2 and Mark 3:14). After Christ’s death, resurrection, and assentation into Heaven, the remaining eleven Apostles needed to fill the vacancy left by the apostacy and death of Judas. One of the qualifying characteristics was that the new Apostle needed to be a witness of Christ’s ministry and resurrection (Acts 1:22). The authority to act in the name of Jesus Christ can be traced from the head of the Meridian Church which was Peter, James, and John to Jesus Christ who called them and ordained them

As already established in an earlier post (“Why Do Mormons Believe in a Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ?”) – see even I am guilty of using the word Mormon to describe The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and I need to repent and change as our prophet has asked, the priesthood of God that was given to the ancient apostles was lost due to apostacy. There was no continuation of that authority once the apostles were no longer on the earth. The Catholic church claims that there was a continuation of the priesthood from the Apostle Peter to the Pope; however due to the facts already established The Catholic Church does not bear the name of Jesus Christ nor is it built on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. No other church (that I am aware of) claims to have a restoration of the priesthood of God except The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints.

On May 15^th 1829, John the Baptist appeared to the prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and gave them the Aaronic Priesthood (Doctrine and Covenants 13), later that month Peter, James, and John appeared to Joseph and Oliver and ordained them to the Melchizedek Priesthood (Doctrine and Covenants 27:12), and again on April 3, 1836 Moses, Elias, and Elijah all give Joseph and Oliver other priesthood keys for the gathering of Israel and the sealing ordinances of the temple.

Since the calling and ordination of the Prophet Joseph Smith, there has not been a break in the priesthood authority of each of the succeeding prophets to President Russell M. Nelson, the Lord’s prophet and mouth piece to the world today.

The Lord through his prophet has asked the members of his church to refer to his church as outlined in the Scriptures and according to his commandments. We are not the church of Mormon, nor are was the LDS Church; we are The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Lord himself has stated that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth (Doctrine and Covenants 1:30). You can recognized it is the true church because we have the same foundation of apostles and prophets as the church that Jesus Christ established, we have the restored priesthood of God, and we teach the same Gospel of Jesus Christ that has been established since before the foundations of this earth.

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