How can we know if God speaks to us?

Hello everybody! Today is a good day. Well I am here to talk about something that is often asked. HOW CAN WE KNOW IF GOD SPEAKS TO US? God speaks to us and in this post I will focus on how He does and how we can notice His answers.

We should first recognize that the Lord will speak to us through the Spirit in his own time and in his own way. … We cannot force spiritual things.

“In most cases, ‘His own way’ is not the thunderous interruption or the blinding light, but what the scriptures call ‘the still small voice’ (Kings 19:12). The still small voice does not scream in our ear or cause confusion in our heads. Our God is not a God of confusion but a God of order.He gives us the still small voice to help us in our lives. He gives us the Holy Ghost to help give us direction in our decisions and there for safety. God loves us so He would give us something to help us in our lives. 

In Galations 5:22-23 it states

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

When it talks about fruit of the spirit it is representing some of the ways we will recognize it such as the feelings above. When you read from the Book of Mormon, Bible or when listening to a modern day prophet or apostle speak you may have calm feelings and that is the spirit talking to you. Whoever speaks truth can speak by the power of the Holy Ghost. The spirit is there to testify of truth and so that you can gain a testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ and many other things. The Spirit may cause a burning in the bosom and that is also manifestation of truth. 

Have you ever had a thought come to your head and not know why but you follow the promptings? If the thought is good it comes from the Holy Ghost. I have heard of different stories of when people were driving down the road and they had a thought to stop and they did so. After they pulled of the road there was a car that went flying by and would have hit them if they stayed traveling on the road. That proves the Holy Ghost is there to protect us and keep us safe. There are millions of these stories and all thanks are to God. 

One important thing to realize is that there is a difference between the GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST and the POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST. 

When people speak of the Power of the Holy Ghost it talks about a power that all men may receive for short times. They will not have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. Which means the Holy Ghost will not be with them at all times and all places whereas, the Gift Of the Holy Ghost is given as a constant companionship. As long as the person is worthy of the gift from God.  

The Gift of the Holy Ghost is given by priesthood power (the authority to act in God's name). In the New Testament Acts Chapter 8 it shows how the Gift of the Holy Ghost is given. It is given by the laying on of Hands just as Peter and John showed us. This is the only way we can receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

One of the most important things we need to look at is how we pray. Do we pray just to pray? Do we pray only when we need help? Do we pray at all? Do we pray in the name of Jesus Christ? We need to look at these things. Do you honestly only want to talk to somebody just when they come for help or would you like to have a good relationship with them? Well God is the same He wants us to talk with him at all times and in all places. He wants a relationship with us. He wants us to tell Him what we are doing what we are in need of. We need to thank Him for all that He does for us. After we look at these things, prayer will bring us closer to God. Family prayer will build a relationship with our family stronger than anything else can. I will talk about prayer in another post but we need to pray sincerely with all purpose of acting on the answer we receive.

I know that Gods speaks to all of His children. Whether it be through a prophet, a friend, scripture or a thought. God speaks to you. God Loves you. As long as we are doing our part He promises He will do His part. "I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say, but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise" D&C 82:10. God is there for all of His children and will always be no matter what we do.

Clarksville March 29, 2011

Well another week has went by in Clarksville. Time just keeps flying. Well we were at Wal-Mart a week ago and we had the craziest experience. These younger kids came up to us and asked us some questions about our church. 

1. Are you guys Mormon?

2. Who do you worship?

Well we were quite blown away. At first they thought we were Jehovah Witnesses. That is why they asked question 1. Then when they found out we were Mormon they asked another common question, #2. We replied we worship Jesus Christ. They were influenced and always told that we worshipped Satan and Joseph Smith. Definitely not the first time being asked those questions.  It was quite the experience. I love my mission. I love being able to correct peoples false ideas. Show them the light of the truth. I love being a Mormon Missionary!

Who am I?

My name is Eric Hansen. I am 20 years old. My birthday is May 26. I grew up in a small town in Alberta, Canada. I have 10 people in my family. Mom and Dad 5 brothers and 2 sisters. and now 3 other sisters and 5 nephews and 2 nieces. I am number 5 and 5th boy. I LOVE MY FAMILY. I graduated from High School and then went to Brigham Young University-Idaho for a semester. Majoring in Computer Information Technology with a possible minor in Arabic language. My hope and dream is to go work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI), Secret Service or some other Federal Law Enforcement Agency. That is my dream from when I was a little boy. I love helping people and saving lives. I love knowing that I am changing lives for the better.

God has blessed me and my family many times. Too many to count. I AM A MORMON!

Interests/Hobbies

I love going on road trips and just being with friends and family. My favorite vacation place is Lake City, FL. I love going out with my cousins into the mountains and go four wheeling. I love Christmas and being able to spend it with my family. As a boy I always dreamed of going and helping people and saving lives. 

Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer for sure, Piano, Mechanics, Shooting firearms, Favorite TV Series- NCIS,  NCIS Los Angeles, 24, Smallville, Fringe 

Favorite Movies- Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration, Finding Faith in Christ, The Restoration, SWAT, The Hurt Locker, Shooter, The Bourne Series, Taken

Some of the best memories are from when I was with family and friends doing what seemed like nothing but serving others.  In the scriptures we learn that when we are serving our fellow beings we are only serving our God. (Book of Mormon, Mosiah 2:17). As a boy my dad taught me to always serve others as he was a perfect example of it. I learned from him and my brothers and then from people I worked for. No matter what if there was someone that was needing something, if we could we would go and help out. God blessed us because we were on the receiving end sometimes. As a young boy and learning that, it has helped me throughout my life. 

Mission (Very Brief Overview)

I am currently serving a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I am in the Tennessee Nashville Mission. I am not changing lives but I am being one of Gods hands and changing souls. Bringing them back to Him through teaching the Gospel of jesus Christ. I have been out for one year. I served in Fairview, TN for my first 6 months. I had the best time of my life there. While serving there I was able to serve around very many good members of the Church and other good people. There was one man that helped me in so many ways I can not even name them all. Ray Flake took me under his arm and helped me through many trials. He taught me about the importance of the Gospel and families. He taught me how to become a better person. In times of huge need he helped. His family was always there for me. They were not the only ones there were many who helped out also. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Fairview Branch was always there for us. When needing different items or help they were there. With these people are many great memories which will be discussed in another post. 

I was able to serve many people during the flood. As many probably know about the April/May 2010 flood around Nashville area. I will write more about this at a later time. 

I met many very awesome families. While there I was able to go and visit many churches including Fairview Church of Christ, New Hope Church of Christ, New Hope Baptist Church, Berean Free Will Baptist Church, Liberty Hill Church of Christ and many others. I had an awesome time visiting these churches and learned lots and gained many friendships. While in Fairview I was able to help many people build their Faith in Jesus Christ. After leaving Fairview I was stationed in Martin, TN for 2 weeks. Then I went to Mayfield, KY for 16 weeks. I gained many more friends and was fortunate enough to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. From there I went to Clarksville, TN where I am now located. I have been here for 7 weeks now. At all of the places I have got to help people strengthen their Faith in Jesus Christ and help them learn of their relationship with our Heavenly Father through the power of prayer. While helping others I have learned who I truly am and my true relationship with Heavenly Father. Coming to know of this has helped me through trials that have been put in front of me. Through hardships with me and also family and other people. I have learned the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. The only and true doctrine of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. My testimony of this Gospel has not come from man but has come from the third member of the Godhead. The Holy Ghost. If we pray and ask God for things He will answer our prayers. In the Epistle of James 1st chapter 5th verse it reads, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to allmen liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." It is by the power of the Holy Ghost by what we feel (Galations 5:22-23) that we receive answers to those prayers. 

TO BE CONTINUED...

Who is Jesus Christ?

JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD! I KNOW HE IS! I KNOW HE LIVED GREAT AND DIED GREAT! He died for each one of us. 
The Holy Bible teaches us that Jesus Christ's mother was Mary, His father on earth was Joseph, that He was born in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth, and labored with Joseph as a carpenter. When he turned 30, He began a three-year ministry of teaching, blessing, and healing the people of the Holy Land. He also organized His Church and gave His apostles "power and authority" (Luke 9:1) to assist in His work.
Jesus Christ is the only way by which we can return to live with our Heavenly Father. Jesus suffered and was crucified for the sins of the world, giving each of God’s children the gift of repentance and forgiveness. Only by His mercy and grace can anyone be saved. His subsequent resurrection prepared the way for every person to overcome physical death as well. These events are called the Atonement. In short, Jesus Christ saves us from sin and death. For that, he is very literally our Savior and Redeemer. In the future Jesus Christ will return to reign on earth in peace for a thousand years. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and He will be our Lord forever. Jesus Christ went into the Garden of Gethsemane and took upon Himself all.
In the Book of Mormon is Alma 711-13  it states, And he shall go forth, suffering pains and ^aafflictions and^btemptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will ^ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

 12And he will take upon him ^adeath, that he may ^bloose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to ^csuccorhis people according to their infirmities.

 13Now the Spirit ^aknoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the ^bflesh that he might ^ctake upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me. (www.lds.org)

Jesus Christ suffered all. He broke the bands of death that through Him we might be saved in the Kingdom of God if we are obedient to His commandments. That is why He is called Our Savior and Redeemer. What are you willing to do to show your Faith in Christ? He set the example in all things that we should do. He was baptized by water to show us how it needs to be done.  I know Jesus Christ rose from the Grave. He was resurrected in a perfect immortal glorified body. We will all receive a perfect body like His. He is Our savior. 

Who is Joseph Smith?

Many people hear about the Prophet Joseph Smith but do they hear and know the truth about him. Well at the age of 14 years old in the spring of 1820 in upstate New York Joseph Smith was really worried about his salvation and how can he know if he was saved. 
Joseph Smith wrote, “So great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was [ … ] to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong [ … ] In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it?”(Joseph Smith-History 1:8, 10). Joseph turned to the Bible for guidance. He read,

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5).

This verse deeply impressed him. He decided to pray about what he should do, with simple faith that God would hear and answer him. 

In response to a humble prayer, God called Joseph to re-establish the Church of Jesus Christ.

In the spring of 1820, Joseph went to a grove of trees near his home and knelt in prayer. He described his experience: “I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me [ … ] When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other-This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Joseph Smith History 1:16-17). Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. I know that he truly did see them and they have bodies of flesh and bones. Bodies just like ours but glorified and immortal. His prayer was answered and the Restoration of the Gospel came forth. 

Joseph Smith gave his life for the cause of truth.

We sometimes think that dying for a cause is the purest display of devotion, but living for something is usually much more demanding. Joseph Smith did both. He wore out his life in God's service, suffering derision and violence for the things he believed. He did not die in public with the sympathy of the world; he was shot by a mob while he was locked in a jail on false charges.

He showed his devotion to God in life and in death. It was said of him, “he lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and . . . has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood” (Doctrine and Covenants 135:3).

The Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum. Carthage Jail, Carthage, Illinois.

Some people mistakenly believe Mormons worship Joseph Smith. This is false; we worship God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Joseph was not a perfect person, nor a deity. He was a man of virtue who fulfilled an extraordinary calling.

He did God's work until the day his life was taken and we honor him for his faith, humility, and devotion. We are grateful for the Church he helped establish, the scripture he translated, the revelations he received and the things he taught that help us understand the ways of God.

The faithful way Joseph Smith did his work during his brief life inspires us to fulfill our own responsibilities, however large or small they may be.

Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God. He did this work and saw God. He did go forth proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He is a man of honor. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. He has Risen! He lives today! I bear you my witness in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Welcome

Well hello everyone welcome to my blog. I am so excited to be able to share my awesome experiences with you. This is the most exciting time of my life. I absolutely love sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What more exciting is there than that? Jesus is the Christ. The Savior and Redeemer of the World. We have a Loving Heavenly Father who sent His Son Jesus Christ to pay the price for us that through Him we can return to live with God again.  Jesus Christ suffered every pain, affliction, trial, tribulation, hardship, sickness, whatever you want to call it because of His love for us. He did not have to do but He wanted to do it because He loved us. He has suffered that we might not have to suffer. He has given us hope. It is only through Jesus Christ that we will gain salvation. He has given us agency or freewill to choose what we are gonna do.
 
He would do it even if it was to save just one life. He truly is our Savior. I do testify of that. He has come and redeemed the world only on condition of our obedience to His Gospel . If we do not obey His Gospel then how are we to receive Him?  Jesus said, "Follow thou me." Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father? (2 Nephi 31:10) Book of Mormon. I hope yall enjoy this and study the life of our Savior Jesus Christ. Knowing His life will bless you. God Bless!