Churchy things to blog about

I was just listening to the Colbert Report and thought this interview was interesting. It's Bishop N.T. Wright of the Anglican Church (in a snazzy pink shirt) talking about his new book which is apparently about an "ancient dogma" regarding heaven, resurrection, and a "new heaven." He basically talks about the importance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ in terms of how it effects our afterlife and that after we go to heaven for a time then everything will be "recreated." Just watch it. It's obviously a lot to fit into a short interview, but in terms of what we are taught in the LDS church I just found it interesting.



I find interviews and conversations like this to be so interesting. It strengthens my testimony and reminds me what I believe in and why I believe in it. It makes me more confident in my knowledge of the gospel as well. I know that the church is true! I know about the plan of salvation. I know that we have a Heavenly Father who still offers us revelation and scripture and speaks to us through the prophet, Thomas S. Monson. I know that Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and I'm so thankful for the blessings that experience gives me in my life today. It really is so amazing.

Last night at institute we were reading the end of Matthew chapter 3 and the Joseph Smith Translation of those last verses. This is right after Jesus is baptized by John. The JST clarifies the account in Matthew and describes the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost in three distinct forms - three different personages appearing in three separate states all for one, unified purpose. He also had us read D&C 130:22 which he likes because it is the most clear description of the godhead available and it can open up a conversation that directly leads to sharing the story of Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove.

There was also a non-member in our class last night (there are actually quite a few this summer, which has added so much to the class) who was raised in another religion. She really seemed to embrace everything the teacher was saying - even though it got kind of deep. It's amazing to sit and watch her ask questions and see how excited she is about all of this and to be able to relate some of it to what she has been taught the rest of her life. She told me that going to her previous church was just how she was raised. That's what her family did. She didn't really feel any strong connection to the faith or feel like she belonged there. But she seems so genuinely eager to learn about the gospel now. It's fun to see and it's fun to talk to her about it. Her outlook is so new and refreshing.