Loyalty

    Loyalty to God combines your faith with obedience. It involves serving, following, staying, losing yourself, being firm and focused, pondering, delighting, praising, and above all knowing God and Christ. To be loyal often means obeying before understanding, being proud of your testimony and staying true to the love that is in your heart. If you know God and love Him, then your loyalty to Him will not let you stray, but rather bring you to Him and all the blessings, love, and power that come with your relationship to Him.

*Gen 18:19 - Loyalty = obedience=blessings of the covenant

*Gen 22:12 - Loyalty to God should be above even loyalty to family

*Josh 24:15 - Loyalty = service, Judges 2:7

*Ruth 1:16 - Loyalty is following, staying, your people/God are my people/God

*Matt 6:24 - You cannot serve 2 masters, hold to the one

*Matt 10:39 - Loyalty sometimes requires you to lose yourself, 

*Rom 1:16 - Loyalty sometimes requires you to lose yourself, to lay down your life, D&C 103:27-28

*1 Ne 3:7 - "I will go and do" - Loyalty is knowing God and obeying

*Jacob 1:8 - If you know Christ, you will not rebel

*Mosiah 17:9 - Be loyal to your testimony

*Alma 48:13 - Capn' M = man of loyalty, firm in faith of Christ, sworn to protect rights

*D&C 134:5 - Be loyal to your government as long as it protects freedom of conscience

*Moses 5:6 - Loyalty sometimes means obeying before understanding

*JSH 1:25 - JS Jr stayed loyal to the First Vision

*1 Ne 17:50 - Loyalty is a combination of faith and obedience - the two most powerful things to bring miracles

*2 Ne 4:16 - Loyalty = delighting and pondering, 2 Ne 9:49 - and praising

*Alma 20:26 - Loyalty brings blessings, love, and power

Faith

     Faith. That classic mustard seed. That all-powerful essence of something hoped for but not seen. The foundation of salvation, of purpose, of life. The power by which God is, works, creates. You could spend your entire life studying faith, striving to increase it, strengthening it, fighting for it - and in fact you should, because why else are we here but to learn how to work, create, and be like God. Everyone was given a measure of faith, do not compare it to others. All you need is a seed to do wonders, but you can add faith by faith until you have a perfect knowledge. Always gaining increasing charity, hope, humility, strength, confidence, protection, comprehension, fullness of God, the Spirit(and everything the Spirit brings: love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness godliness, intelligence, etc.), the riches of His glory and the inheritance of his kingdom and all that He has. Adding your faith is an active purpose, it is studying, being sound in your faith, obeying, taking care/providing for your own, it is sacrificing, it is fighting for it and against the doubt that causes you to sink, God to hide, and storms to rage. Faith is using the Atonement - the ultimate gift, power, and purpose of faith that brings Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, to dwell in our hearts and bring miracles and healing - for nothing is impossible with faith and the Atonement, even and especially the forgiving of sins and the Resurrection. Christ is praying for your faith - strengthen it, pray for it, defend it, help others do the same, and by so doing you will be united in faith, one with each other and one with God. And when Christ comes, you will have your trial of faith - the only thing that is truly yours, to enter into His love, His inheritance, and eternal life.

*Deut 32:20 - God hides from those with no faith/are perverse - He finds an end to them

*Hab 2:4 - The just(justified by faith(Rom 3:28, Rom 5:1) live by faith(Rom 1:17, Gal 3:11, Heb 10:38), their souls are upright (ultimate peace by faith in Christ - Gal 2:16)

*Rom 1:17 - Righteousness of God revealed faith by faith

*Matt 6:30, Luke 12:28 - "Oh ye of little faith" When your faith shrinks, remember what God does for the earth and its creatures

*Matt 8:10, Luke 7:9 - Jesus marveled at the faith of the man who needed but a word to heal his servant

*Matt 9:22 - FAITH MAKES PEOPLE WHOLE - yourself and others - Mark 5:34, 10:52, Luke 7:50, 8:48, 12:9, 18:42, Matt 9:29, 15:28 - daughter made whole

*Matt 14:31 - When you let doubt outweigh faith, you sink

*Matt 17:20 - You need faith only the size of a mustard see to move a mountain(Luke 17:5 - you don't need greater or more faith). "Nothing shall be impossible to you." - Luke 17:6, Matt 21:21, Mark 11:22-24

*Matt 23:23 - Faith is a "weightier matters of the law" - pay more attention to it than the outward worship

*Mark 4:40 - When fear overcomes faith, storms rage. Luke 8:25

*Luke 18:8 - "when the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?"

*Luke 22:32 - Christ prays for the strength of our faith, when yours is strong - help others

*Acts 3:16 - The name of Christ has power, but faith in the name of Christ brings miracles

*Acts 14:27 - God opens the door of faith

*Rom 3:3 - Our belief or unbelief does not change the faith of God

*Rom 3:25 - ATONEMENT works by FAITH, grace works by faith - Rom 4:16 - faith of our father Abraham

*Rom 3:27 - There is no boasting in faith, only humility

*Rom 10:17 - Faith comes by hearing the word of God

*Rom 12:3 - God has given everyone a "measure of faith" do not judge your (high or low)compared to the measures He has given others

*Rom 12:6 - Live up to your proportion of faith

*Rom 14:23 - Don't be a hypocrite with your faith

*1 Cor 2:5 - Let your faith stand in the power of God, not the wisdom of man

*1 Cor 13:13 - Faith abides with hope and charity

*1 Cor 15:14-17 - Without the resurrection, faith has no purpose

*1 Cor 16:13 - Faith helps us stay strong and endure

*2 Cor 5:7 - "For we walk by faith, not by sight:

*2 Cor 10:15 - When faith is increased, so is hope(and humility)

*Gal 2:20 - "live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved you and gave himself for you."

*Gal 3:2,14 - Spirits comes through faith

*Gal 3:26 - You are a child of God through faith

*Gal 5:5-6 - Spirit comes through faith(which comes through charity)which brings hope

*Gal 5:22 - Fruit of the Spirit is more faith(and more love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness)

*Eph 2:8 - You are saved by grace through faith

*Eph 3:12 - Act with confidence by faith in Christ

******Eph 3:16-19 - FAITH=to have Christ dwell in your heart, to be rooted and grounded in love, to be granted riches of His glory, strengthened with might of Spirit, to comprehend the breadth, length, depth, and height of the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, and to be filled with all the fullness of God.

*Eph 4: 5-7, 11 - One Lord, one faith, one baptism - Or one right authority, but "one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" - all unique children of God with same divine right, also "but unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ." - We are all given various levels of grace/faith to overcome, endure, learn, help each other.

*Eph 4:13 - "unity of faith" is knowing the fulness of Christ

*Eph 6:16 - Faith is a shield to protect you from "fiery darts of the wicked" -Shield also love, helmet is hope for salvation(1 Thes 5:8), so faith and love are from the heart, hope is from the head.

*1 Thes 3:10 - Pray to perfect parts of faith that are lacking - pray that you may see God's face

*2 Thes 1:3 - Faith and charity increase together - something to be grateful for

*2 Thes 3:2 - Those without faith are unreasonable/wicked

*1 Tim 1:4-5 - Do things that are "godly edifying" in faith, charity out of a pure heart, of good conscience and faith unfeigned

*1 Tim 2:15 - Women are saved with childbearing continuing in faith, charity, holiness

*1 Tim 4:1-3 - Lots of things will lead people away from faith -love of money 1 Tim 6:10, 21, corrupt minds 2 Tim 3:8

*1 Tim 5:8 - If you provide not for your own, you have left the faith

*1 Tim 6:12 - "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life"

*2 Tim 4:7 - "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith."

*Titus 1:13(2:2) - Be sound in your faith, you will be rebuked if not

*Heb 4:2 - Listen to the gospel with faith

*Heb 6:1 - Faith is one of the foundational principles of the doctrine

*Heb 6:12 - Faith(and patience) are active works - don't be slothful with them! James 1:3 - the trying of our faith worketh patience *James 2:14,17,18,10,22 - Faith without works is dead, but faith with works is made perfect

*Heb 10:22-23 - Draw near to God and stand fast with faith

*Heb 11:1 - Faith is things hoped for but not seen

*Heb 11:4,6 - Like Abel and Cain, it's impossible to please God without faith since you must believe He's there

*Heb 11:17 - Sacrifices require faith(just like Christ with His sacrifice and like Heavenly Father sacrificing His Son)

*Heb 11:1-39 - Lots of examples of faith and rewards of faith - subdue/obtain kingdoms, promises, wrought in righteousness

*Heb 2:2 - Jesus is the author(authority) and finisher of our faith

*James 1:6 - Ask in faith, nothing wavering

*James 2:5 - Poor of world are often the rich in faith(as well as in the Kingdom)

*James 5:15 - Prayers of faithful will heal the sick - part of healing is forgiving sins

*1 Pet 1:7, Ether 12:6 - Your trial of faith is more precious than gold - it will be what is found with you(with praise, honor, and glory)when Jesus comes. -After 1st trial of faith, then you will have faith in greater things - 3 Ne 26:9, D&C 105:19

*2 Pet 2:5-8 - To be fruitful in Christ add to faith virtue and knowledge and temperance and patience and godliness and brotherly kindness and charity

*Jude 1:3 - Fight for your faith

*Rev 13:10 - Patience/faith of saints - Karma, all shall worship/acknowledge Christ in the end

*1 Ne 3:7 - Obedience is faith in action - knowing the Lord would not command unless a way was prepared

*1 Ne 7:12 - The Lord can do anything and will do anything for those with faith

*1 Ne 16:28 - Liahona works by faith(as with the direction of our lives)

*2 Ne 9:23 - Cannot be saved without faith(and fruits of faith: repentance and baptism)

*2 Ne 25:25 - FAITH MAKES US ALIVE IN CHRIST

* 2 Ne 26:13 - The Spirit works through faith, and together they bring Christ, mighty miracles, signs, and wonders. - D&C 35:9, 3 Ne 19:35 - there are none without faith, Ether 12:12

*2 Ne 31:19 - Unshaken faith and word is a straight path to endurance, hope, love, use of Atonement, and then eternal life. - Hel 8:15 - Looking to Christ with faith leads to eternal life

*Jacob 4:6 - Feasting on word leads to powerful/unshaken faith - can command nature. -Moroni 7 - Faith is the power to do anything expedient in Lord

*Enos 1:5-8 - Atonement works through faith - it makes you whole, it makes you clean, brings you the kingdom - 3 Ne 27:19

*Jarom 1:4 - Spirit works through you/reveals to you according to your faith

*Mosiah 3:9 - Salvation comes through faith in Christ

*Mosiah 27:14, Alma 2:30 - God answers prayers of the faithful

*Alma 14:26 - Faith brings strength unto deliverance *remember that when you are enduring

*Alma 15:10 - Faith heals(D&C 42:48, 3 Ne 17:8) Alma 34:17 - Faith brings repentance

*Alma 22:16 - Faith and repentance bring hope and salvation - Alma 57:26

*Alma 32:21 - Faith is to hope(hope not possible without faith Moro 7:42) for things not seen but are true,(Ether 12:6) faith is an imperfect knowledge - Once it is a perfect knowledge, it is no longer faith, like the brother of Jared(Ether 3:19) but once you have a perfect knowledge, then greater things are revealed(Ether 4:7)

 *Alma 48:15 - Faith leads to obedience which leads to prosperity

*Hel 5:47 - Faith in Christ brings peace

*Ether 12:4 - Faith brings hope, an anchor to soul, good works, glory to God, sure and steadfast

*Moroni 10:4 - Faith in Christ brings truth

*D&C 4:5-7 - Faith qualifies you for the work. Ask and you'll receive, knock and it's opened to you

*D&C 8:10, 18:19, 10:47, 29:6 - You can do nothing without faith - ask in faith, but not for things you know you shouldn't, ask also with hope and charity

*D&C 19:31 - Preach faith in Christ - Moses 6:23 taught to men from beginning, D&C 63:10 - signs come by faith and the will of God

*D&C 20:29 - Endure with faith in Christ

*D&C 88:118 - Seek learning/words of wisdom/best books and study and teach by faith

*D&C 138:33 - FIRST faith, then repentance, baptism, the Holy Ghost, enduring AF #4

*Moses 7:13 - Power of the language of faith bring mighty miracles

*Moses 7:47 - Through faith, Zion is with you

Sustaining Church Leaders

     Leadership is a sacred calling - made holy only by the unity it requires between God and his children. God calls leaders, but we appoint them or disapprove them. If we appoint them, then God blesses them with wisdom, joy, charity, patience, faith. If we are obedient to these leaders, we receive the same blessings. It is your responsibility to make sure you are sustaining worthy leaders, then obey/follow them and help others do the same. There is great comfort in this sacred circle of unity and sustaining.

*Ex 4:16 - Words of prophet are words of God

*Num 27:19 - It's important to set/change leaders in front of congregation

*Deut 34:9 - Hearken to the leaders who are obedient and have the spirit of wisdom

*2 Chron 20:20 - Believe in prophets and you will prosper

*Matt 10:41 - If you follow the prophet, you receive same reward as prophets

*Luke 22:32 - Help others follow the prophet(part of sustaining)

*Acts 2:42-47 - Following leaders will give you increased charity and blessings - 3 Ne 12:1

*Rom 1:12 - Comfort to follow leaders, mutual faith

*1 Thes 3:7 - Comfort in unity

*Heb 13:17 - Obey/submit to leaders so they may lead with joy

*1 Ne 3:6 - Favored when you don't murmur about what leaders ask of you

*D&C 1:38 - Voice of God from the voice of servants - receive patience and faith - D&C 21:5, D&C 112:20 - Who receives servants of God, receives God

*D&C 20:63 - Licenses to do callings come from sustaining/vote of church

*D&C 26:2 - All things are done by common consent of church(by much prayer and faith)

*D&C 38:34 - God commands, voice of church appoints

*D&C 102:9 - Appointed by revelation but acknowledged by voice of church

*D&C 107:22 - Leadership is upheld by confidence, faith, & prayer of church

*D&C 124:44 - It's our choice to approve/disapprove of God's names he suggests for leaders

*Ex 7:1 - Even prophets need voices(Moses and Aaron)

*Josh 24:15 - It's up to you who you and your family who you serve/sustain

*2 Ne 7:9 - Pay attention to who you are sustaining because you will face the consequences

*D&C 36:2 - When you are sustained, you are taught by the Spirit

*D&C 124:84 - When you lead, make sure you're doing it through the Lord

Curse

     As with all things in life, curses are a choice. For God always gives the choice of life and blessings or death and curses. Curses are intricately connected to 2 things: family and land. Curses can come from parents or children and last generations. Curses leave you separate, unconnected while blessings join generations. It is by connecting family that curses are removed, by honoring parents. Curses can be covenants, sins of the lips, signs of nature, signs of skin. Curses only come from rebellion, from following Satan and desires of the natural man. To remove curses, you must simply shake off the dust/chains and put on armor and obey God. God is eager to remove any and all curses and bless abundantly through obedience and the Atonement, to give promised land and an eternal family.

*Gen 3:14 - Satan/serpent cursed to crawl on belly/eat dust

*Gen 3:17 - Ground cursed for Adam and Eve, eat in sorrow all their days, Isa 24:6 - cursed earth = desolation, D&C 61:17 - Cursed land, blessed in last days for saints to partake of fatness, D&C 61:14 - water blessed and cursed

*Gen 4:11-15 - Cain cursed with a mark so no one could kill him, cursed to not grow things but to be a fugitive/vagabond (Moses 5:36-40)

*Gen 8:21 - Lord promises after Noah to never curse earth/living things again

*Gen 9:25 - Because Ham did not respect his father, Canaan his son was cursed to be servant to his brothers' generations

*Gen 12:3,27-29 - Abrahamic covenant - to curse those that curseth thee

*Gen 49:7 - Simeon & Levi cursed(scattered/divided) because of cruel and fierce anger

*Ex 21:17, Lev 20:9, Prov 20:20, Matt 15:4, Mark 7:10 - Do not curse your parents - you will die, their blood will be on your hands, you will be in obscure darkness, "die the death"

*Ex 22:28 - Do not curse god or the ruler of your people

*Lev 19:14 - Do not curse deaf or block blind - fear the Lord - others may hear and see

*Lev 24:15-16 - If you curse God, you bear your own sins, be put to death

*Deut 11:26-28, Jacob 2:29 - Cursed if you don't obey commandments(go after other Gods)

*Deut 23:5 - Out of love, God turns curses into blessings

*Deut 27:15-26 - Cursed be those who: worship graven images, esteem parents lightly, steal, make blind wander, perverteth judgement, sexual sin, violence, bribery, hears the law and disobeys

*Deut 28:15-68, Deut 29 - YIKES! If you do not obey, you will be cursed in EVERY aspect of your life until you are destroyed - Jer 11:3

*Deut 30:7-11 - If you do keep commandments, it's your enemies who will be cursed in every aspect of their lives

*Deut 30:19 - God has given us the choice: life/blessings or death/curses

*Josh 8:34 - Book of law contains list of blessings(Dan 9:11) and curses -  2 Crong 34:24

*Neh 10:29 - People entered into a "curse" to obey God's laws - can a curse be a covenant then? - Acts 23:12 - People bound "curse" to kill Paul

*Job 1:5 - Job sacrificed in case His children cursed God

*Job 1:11 - The battle over Job between God and Satan was because Satan said he would curse God and God said he would not - the battle they have over all of us.

*Job 2:5-10 - Job's wife said to just curse God and die, he didn't. Cursing is sinning with your lips. -Job 3 - He cursed his day/himself, but not God(Jer 20:14). - Job 31:30, Ps 10:7(deceit, fraud, mischief, vanity, Ps 62:4 - hypocrites curse with heart - Jer 48:10

*Jer 35:18 - desolation=curse

*Psalms 37:22 - blessed to inherit the earth, cursed are cut off

*Prov 3:33 - Curse the unjust

*Prov 27:14 - Waking others up early will be a curse to you :)

*Isa 34:5 - Cursing is part of judgement

*Jer 17:5 - Cursed to trust in man/depart from Lord - Dan 9:11, 2 Ne 4:34 something Nephi knew, 2 Nephi 28:31 - only trust men led by the Holy Ghost

*Zech 8:13 - Lord uses you as a curse to your enemies

*Mal 1:14 - Cursed be the deceiver(someone unwilling to sacrifice), robbing God (Mal 3:9, 3 Ne 24:9)

*Mal 2:2 -- Hear, give glory, put word in your heart or your blessings will be cursed

*Mal 4:6, 3 Ne 25:6 - If you do not turn towards each other(genealogy), the earth will be cursed

*Matt 5:44, Luke 6:28, 3 Nephi 12:44 - Bless them that curse you, don't curse back - Romans 12:14

*Matt 25:41 - To be cursed is an everlasting fire preapred for devil and his angels

*Matt 26:74, Mark 14:21 - Peter cursed/swore he didn't know Jesus

*Mark 11:21 - If you don't have faith/are fruitful - you will be cursed(like fig tree having no root or branch)

*John 7:49 - If you don't know the law, you are cursed - as well as if you don't follow the law - Gal 3:10

*Gal 3:13 - Christ has redeemed you from curse of law/since you can't follow perfectedly

*James 3:9 - We bless God and curse men with same tongue - DON'T

*2 Peter 2:14 - Unrighteous people have cursed children

*Rev 22:3 - Curse will be removed from the earth - Alma 45:16 - blessing and curse = land

*1 Ne 2:23 - Cursing from God comes from rebellion

*1 Ne 17:35-38 - When children rebel, God curses land - no power over it, when we obey land becomes blessed(see promised lands - a sacred and holy inheritance, even in heaven) - Jacob 2:29, 3:3

*2 Ne 1:18 - Cursing often lasts generations(sword, famine, hated, led and captive by devil)

*2 Ne 1:22-24 - What to do to not be cursed/destroyed: armor of righteousness, arise from dust, shake off chains and obscurity, no more rebellion - Alma 23:18

*2 Ne 4:6 - Curses can be put all on the parents and not the chilren

*2 Ne 5:21,24-25 - Curse of dark skin, become scourge to unrighteous-Jacob 3:3, uncursed become white/fair - 3 Ne 2:15

*2 Ne 29:5 - Careful who you curse, because it will return on your own head

*Alma 3:19 - You always bring on your own curse/condemnation

*Alma 17:15 - Children can be cursed because of parents

*Alma 30:53 - Following Satan and natural man = cursed -Moses 5:52

*Alma 32:19 - More cursed if you "know" and transgress instead of "believe" and transgress

*Hel 13:21 - Can be cursed because of riches/love of riches

*D&C 41:1 - He "delights" in blessing us with "the greatest of all blessings" but for those who profess His name and hear not, they are cursed with heaviest of all cursings

*D&C 121:16 - Cursed if you complain about anointed - saying they are sinning when they are doing what God commanded

*D&C 124:93 - Prophet has power to bless, curse, bind, loose

*D&C 128:18 - Baptisms for the dead/welding link between generations is what will lift curse

*Moses 5:25 - Repentance always prevents cursing

*Abr 1:24,26 - Ham's generation cursed to the priesthood, cursed by land(although later blessed with land and wisdom)

*Abr 2:11 - "bless them that bless thee, curse them that curse thee" opposite of cursed = eternal life, blessings of the gospel

Authority

     Authority means you are chosen and ordained. It is intricately connected to Christ as all authority is subject unto Him and the sole purpose of spiritual authority is so that Christ may be glorified and praised. God and Christ are the ultimate authority to call, to allow servants to speak, preach, baptize, give Holy Ghost, call and ordain others, rule, teach, judge, learn and use scriptures, raise children, open and inherit kingdoms, and in short, administer to all spiritual things. Authority comes from lineage, it can be lost and restored and are the keys to dispensation. Authority among men can easily be lost or taken and must be used as sacred trust in connection with faith, charity, and the Holy Ghost. We all have authority over ourselves and our respective callings - so take care how you use it and make sure you're always using it to direct yourself and others to Christ.

*Ex 3:12 - God uses authority to call prophets(Moses) - whose purpose is to bring people back to Him Eph 4:11, 2 Chron 24:19, Isaiah 6:8 (you also have authority to accept callings), stays with them and supports them

*Ex 7:2 - God gives authority to speak for Him, Ezek 2:7 - to preach -D&C 42:11

*Matt 8:9 - Authority requires faith - that people will do what you ask, also faith to be called to do what you are asked to do - Ether 12:10

*Matt 10:1(Luke 9:1) - with authority comes power against and over unclean spirits, sickness, disease - Mark 1:27, Acts 19:13-16

*Matt 21:23 - People questioned Christ's authority - astonished He taught with authority -Mark 1:22

*Mark 13:34 - Christ gave authority to His servants and has authority to send them(Isa 48:16, Jer 7:25) - to preach, baptize - like Noah - D&C 68:8, Moses 8:19

*Luke 19:17 - Christ builds your authority after seeing what you do with a little

*Luke 22:29 - God and Christ have authority to appoint kingdoms, give authority to open kingdom on earth - D&C 112:21 *When you don't have authority and act like you do - you lose the kingdom - 1 Sam 13:8-14, 2 Chron 26:16-21

*John 5:27 - Christ has authority to judge. All judges must have authority - Alma 11:2

*John 5:45 - Christ has authority of His Father's name - doing everything His father taught Him - John 8:28

*John 15:16 - Authority means to be chosen and ordained, given power to bring fruit, have answered prayers

*John 20:21 - Through Christ's authority, we are sent to do His will - just as He was sent by God

*Acts 13:3 - Priesthood/laying on of hands = authority, ordained-Acts 14:23, *2 Ne 5:26 - Authority to consecrate priests and teachers

*1 Ne 2:22 - Through God's authority you can rule and teach - Alma 17:3, Luke 10:1 - 2 by 2s, 70s - Titus 2:15 - Let no man despise thee - preach, rebuke, exhort

*Mosiah 21:33 - without authority you can't baptize

*Alma 25:5 - The authority of men can easily be usurped, or corrupted Mosiah 24:8

*Alma 49:30 - It is a holy order of God when you are called to preach - D&C 18:26

*3 Ne 18:36-37 - Christ gave apostles/disciples power to give the Holy Ghost-cannot be bought Acts 8:9-20, Acts 19:6

*D&C 20:2 - JSJr called/ordained of God, D&C 27:8 - given priesthood

*D&C 25:3 - Authority to call and forgive sins *D&C 63:62 - Be careful how you use the Lord's name if you don't have authority, it's in vain

*D&C 107:8 - Mel priesthood has authority in administering spiritual things

*D&C 113:8 - Strength of Zion is the authority of the priesthood, which is a right by lineage - once lost then restored - Abr 1:3 - conferred upon the fathers

*D&C 121:39 - Almost everyone that gets even a little authority must be very careful to exercise righteous dominion - do it with charity, faith, and the Holy Ghost (v. 40-46)

*D&C 128:9 - Every dispensation of the priesthood comes with the authority and power to bind on earth and in heaven.

*D&C 134:10 -  Religious authority gives rights to try men on religious grounds, not for property, life/politics

*AofF 5 - Authority is one of our tenets of faith - that you must have the RIGHT authority to preach, baptize, give Holy Ghost, and administer

*Acts 18:24 - Apollos was "might" in scripture - gave authority to convince people Jesus is the Christ

*1 Peter 3:22 - All authority is subject unto Christ

*1 Peter 4:11 - You have authority to preach/minister SO that Christ may be glorified/praised

*Moses 6:58 - You have authority over your children

*D&C 11:15 - Make sure you don't preach until you are called to do so

*D&C 84:21 - Without authority of priesthood - there is no power of godliness

*D&C 110:16 - Authority is part of teh keys of the dispensation

*D&C 121:37 - With an degree of unrighteousness, authority is withdrawn.

Promised Lands

     Promised lands are holy - for they are sacred places of righteousness and freedom - places to raise children in liberty, free to teach and practice worship to the Lord, free from confounding of true principles. All that is required to have these blessings, these tender mercies is obedience and faith to the Lord. It is a place to build Zion/New Jerusalem - to fulfill prophecies of the scattered people being reunited in the Lord. If you become lost, or a stranger in the land without land of your own - you may always repent and be returned to land. Promised lands are so sacred, that they are on par with being promised seed/posterity/children(to be like God) and if you remain faithful, you will keep your land in the eternities.

*Gen 12:1,7,13:14-17,15:7,18,17:8,24:7, Abr 2:19, Gen 26:3, 28:13(35:12, 48:4), 48:21, 50:24, Ex 20:12, 32:13, Deut 1:8, Deut 34:1-4, Josh 21:43, 1 Chron 16:18, Psalms 105:11, Acts 7:5, 3 Ne 20:14 - The Lord covenants to give seed and land and land to seed. Land is as great a promise as children/posterity.

*Num 27:12 - When children of Israel wer disobedient they were lost, without land. Once they obey, they get land (Num 34:1-12)

*Heb 11:9 - By faith, you can sojourn in the land of promise

*1 Ne 2:20, 7:13, 18:23, Ether 13:2, 2 Nephi 3:2 - must be obedient, faithful to keep land of promise

*1 Ne 5:5 - Lehi rejoices in(for)promised land, 12:1, 13:14 - multiplied land of promise

*1 Ne 10:13 - Led to the promised land to fulfill prophesy of being "scattered"

*1 Ne 13:30 - This promised land is choicest above all others - must be righteous to be in it. - Ether 1:42, 10:28, 13:2, 2:7

*1 Ne 14:2 - promises that come with land - blessings, fruitful, no captivity, no confounding

*2 Ne 1:5-7 - No one comes to the land of promise unless led by the Lord and as long as they are obedient they will always have it and freedom and liberty - 2 Ne 10:11, Ether 2:7

****D&C 38:20 - If you've been promised land as an inheritance, it is also yours in eternity

*2 Ne 9:2 - When you repent(Jesus), you are restored to your lands of promise

*Jacob 2:12 - precious ores within promised land

*Ether 6:12 - Being led to promised land is tender mercy, much cause for rejoicing

*Ether 13:8 - New Jerusalem to be built in land of promise

*D&C 103:11, 109:64 - The scattered people will return to their promised lands and build up Zion

*Abr 1:16 - Lord had to remove Abraham to a "strange" land because of the disobedience of the people, the Lord will take to the safety of a promised land if you are obedient

Guidance, Divine

     The majority of the time you must seek/ask for divine guidance. The Lord provides many ways to guide you - through prophets, warnings, signs, nature, chastenings, angels/messengers, temples/mountains, divine tools(scriptures, gifts, visions, prayer) and above all, the Spirit. All divine guidance takes a sincere heart, meekness, a willingness to obey(otherwise, why would He trust you with His guidance?), repentance, etc. All of these are the same efforts you make to become more like Christ. The rewards for having faith in His guidance is the inheritance of His kingdom with its accompanying blessings and eternal life. He brings peace and rest to your sou, making you like an eternal spring/watered garden with the fruits of patience and love - you will be like Christ - an ultimate reward in itself.

*Gen 24:27 - The Lord's guidance is in the creation of families, seek His help to find a spouse - helped servant find Rebekah, (uses SIGNS as divine guidance)

*Ex 13:21 - Led the people of Moses by a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night(uses NATURE as divine guidance)

*Psalms 23:2 - He leads us by "still waters" makes you lie in "green pastures" which restores your soul, protects you, comforts you, anointest you, His guidance brings us back to Him and all His blessings

*Psalms 25:5,9 - He leads in truth, you must be meek to accept His guidance

*Psalms 27:11 - With His guidance, the path becomes plain.

*Proverbs 3:6 - If you acknowledge Him in all your ways, He will direct you on all your paths

*Isaiah 58:11 - He will satisfy your souls in drought, make your bones fat, make you like a watered garden, or a spring of water that never dies - make you like Christ.

*Amos 3:7 - Guides you through PROPHETS

*Matt 4:1 - Even Jesus had Divine Guidance, was led by the SPIRIT

*James 1:5 - If you want guidance, you have to ask for it - it will be given to you liberally - guided by PRAYER and REVELATION

*2 Thes 3:5 - God will direct your heart towards love and patience and ultimately to Christ *Good scripture to memorize as a parent

*1 Ne 2:16 - Nephi had great desires to know the mysteries of God, and the Lord guided him by visiting him and softening his heart.

*1 Ne 4:6 - Nephi led by SPIRIT, not knowing what to do - D&C 38:33 - God leads servants with unbeatable POWER to go wherever He needs them

*1 Ne 16:30 - Guided by directions of Liahona - SPIRITUAL TOOLS

*1 Ne 18:3 - Nephi went to mountain often to pray for guidance, the Lord showed him great things - VISIONS

*2 Ne 5:5 - Guided by WARNINGS

*Mosiah 26:14-15 - Guidance came after faith and pouring out soul to God - VOICE OF THE LORD

*Alma 48:16 - God guides you to safety and deliverance when you keep commandments and resist iniquity (Captain Moroni) - D&C 20:71 - be inspired by COMMANDMENTS

*Hel 10:3 - Nephi was pondering when voice came to him -Moses 6:24 - heard VOICE OF THE LORD

*Ether 2:5 - Lord guides by a cloud with his voice - NATURE and VOICE OF THE LORD

*Moro 10:4 - God will guide you(manifest truth to you) by the HOLY GHOST if you: 1. ASK in the name of Christ 2. With SINCERE HEART 3. REAL INTENT 4. FAITH in CHRIST - D&C 6:14 - Ask often and you will receive instruction

*D&C 8:2 - Guided by the HOLY GHOST telling you in your mind and heart - it is a gift, same as Moses had

*D&C 11:12 - Put your trust in the SPIRIT which leads to do good, do justly, walk humbly, judge righteously

*D&C 78:18 - Be of good cheer for Him to guide you. Blessings of guidance = kingdom and blessings and riches of eternity.

*D&C 112:10 -  Be thou humble, Lord shall lead thee by the hand, give answers to prayers

*JSH 1:12 - With great force and every feeling of the heart

*1 Kings 3:12, 4:29 - Through GIFTS a wise, understanding, large heart

*Matt 28:20 - If you obey, He is always with you. 

*1 Ne 11:25 - Rod of Iron = Guide to God's love - SCRIPTURES

*Moses 3:19 - Guides by the SPIRIT if 1. Yields to it 2. Put off natural man 3. Use the ATONEMENT 4. Become like a child 

*Alma 8:14 - Guided by an ANGEL

*D&C 95:1 - Guides by CHASTENING