3
Nephi 2:1
Signs
What
1 And
it came to pass that thus passed away the ninety and fifth year also,
and the people began to forget those signs and
wonders which they had heard, and began to be less and less
astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven, insomuch that they
began to be hard in their hearts, and blind in their minds, and began
to disbelieve all which they had heard and seen—
Why
Satan
has a way of making people forget about God.
Pattern
Hel.
14:6
3 And
behold, this will I give unto you for a asign at
the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in
heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no
darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.
4 Therefore,
there shall be one aday and
a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and
this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of
the sun and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a
surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the
night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he
is bborn.
5 And
behold, there shall a new astar arise,
such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign
unto you.
7 And
it shall come to pass that ye shall all be amazed, and wonder,
insomuch that ye shall afall to
the earth.
SIGN
An
event or experience which people understand to be evidence or proof
of something. A sign is usually a miraculous manifestation from God.
Satan also has power to show signs under certain conditions. Saints
should seek for the gifts of the Spirit but should not seek for signs
to satisfy curiosity or sustain faith. Rather, the Lord will give
signs as he sees fit to those who believe (D&C
58:64).
- In those days there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders:JS—M 1:22;
Christ
the
signs pointed to Christ's birth.
Conference
By
Elder Quentin L. Cook Of
the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
...
A
stumbling block is “an impediment to belief or understanding” or
“an obstacle to progress.”4 To
stumble spiritually is “to fall into sin or waywardness.”5 A
stumbling block can be anything that distracts us from achieving
righteous goals.
We
cannot afford to have our testimonies of the Father and the Son
become confused and complicated by stumbling blocks. We cannot fall
into that trap. Our testimonies of Them need to remain pure and
simple like my father’s simple defense of the power pole on the
ranch where he grew up.
What
are some of the stumbling blocks that confuse and complicate our pure
and simple testimony of the Father and the Son and keep us from being
valiant in that testimony?
In
line with Heber C. Kimball’s prophecy, Elder Neal A.
Maxwell said in 1982: “Much sifting will occur because of lapses in
righteous behavior which go unrepented of. A few will give up instead
of holding out to the end. A few will be deceived by defectors.
Likewise, others will be offended, for sufficient unto each
dispensation are the stumbling blocks thereof!”15
Another Stumbling Block Is Refusing to See Sin in Its True Light
One
of the unique and troubling aspects of our day is that many people
engage in sinful conduct but refuse to consider it sinful. They have
no remorse or willingness to acknowledge their conduct as being
morally wrong. Even some who profess a belief in the Father and the
Son wrongfully take the position that a loving Father in Heaven
should exact no consequences for conduct that is contrary to His
commandments.
Looking beyond the Mark Is a Stumbling Block
The
prophet Jacob referred to ancient Jews as “a stiffnecked people
[who] despised … plainness, … killed the prophets, and sought for
things that they could not understand. Wherefore, because of their
blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must
needs fall.”24
If
we are to be valiant in our testimony of Jesus, we must avoid the
stumbling blocks that entrap and impede the progress of many
otherwise honorable men and women. Let us determine to always be in
His service. While seeking knowledge, we need to avoid the
philosophies of men that lessen our commitment to the Savior. We must
see sin in its true light and accept the Savior’s Atonement through
repentance. We need to avoid looking beyond the mark and focus on
Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, and follow His doctrine.
One
writer suggests that stumbling blocks may be made into
“stepping-stones to a noble character and to Heaven.”31
For
us, being valiant in our testimony of Jesus is a stepping-stone
toward qualifying for the Savior’s grace and the celestial kingdom.
Jesus Christ is the only name under heaven by which we may be
saved.32 I
bear my sure witness of both His divinity and His supernal role in
the Father’s plan. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Apply
Never
allow ourselves to get lazy about out service or our study of the
gospel. Never rationalize about keeping the commandments. Be
prayerful and humble and seek the Lord daily and we will be blessed.
Staying
strong takes effort on our parts because the adversary will find
every way to break us down but we can trust in the Lord to become
stronger and better if we rely on Him.
Hymns
210-With
Wondering Awe
I
Believe In Christ
Children
37
Stars Were Gleaming
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