Better

First, I’ll tackle the “better.”  When I started sharing this journey opportunity online it was not as well thought out as I would have liked.  Admittedly, I was overwhelmed by the command from the Lord to take my personal experiences and learning and use them to enlighten others in an objective way.  It was a lot to wrap my head around.

I will say that it is a very real challenge to first, learn something, second, know it, third, experience it and then try and teach someone else how to know it and experience it also. Much harder than you might think.  Also, to take what is in my mind, heart and soul and convey that in eloquent words is a very real struggle for me.  Unfortunately, words will never suffice.

Early versions of this are mediocre at best and for that I apologize.  I am not a writer or an author.  I am even horrible at writing in a journal which my wife will testify of.  English was my worst subject in school.  Despite encouragement from my mom, I did not read very often growing up.  When I did it was by assignment and I opted for the cliff notes.  If I did crack a book open it had to be a non-fiction book full of pictures.  All of this is evident in the study guides in what others would probably consider a hodgepodge style, not-so-eloquent wording, poor grammar and questionable punctuation at times.  My wife will sometimes do some editing when she has the time but spare time is rare these days and I would never fault her.

This is why it is so important to use the spirit of truth.  I am not the king-maker or the source of the gold.  By way of command from the Lord, I am merely pointing any person to the location of the gold.  I am certifying that the gold is below the surface.  With the right amount and type of digging you will discover that the gold is not only there but freely available.  You will discover patterns or veins of the placement of the gold.  And ultimately you will find that the veins lead back to real King-Maker and source of the gold, Jesus Christ, Himself.

So, I know I am behind on a few series blog posts but recently I was directed to update the “Introduction” to The Doctrine of Christ Study Guide.  This particular study guide started out with no introduction at all and then migrated into more of some type of instruction on how to use the guide.  But I always wanted to improve it.  Ultimately, I wanted to find the right words to try and convince any person why they should start their own unique spiritual journey with The Doctrine of Christ Study Guide.

I still find it hard to put it all into the exact, right words.  I am sure I will continue to make small changes here and there when the words from my mind catch up to light in my soul. If you have started your journey through any of these study guides and have received anything at all from the Lord, I would encourage you to share with family, friends and all.  Maybe this “better” Introduction, coupled with a call to “awake” coming from the Lord through the spirit will be helpful in convincing them to start their spiritual journey with The Doctrine of Christ Study Guide.

More

I mentioned that I am behind on my blog posts series and maybe even a few other things that the Lord has helped me to ponder and understand.  However, nothing has been more amazing and consuming than the scriptures and especially the Book of Mormon.  Oh how I love the scriptures.  I wish everyone could see what I see and feel what I feel.  My heart years for others to understand how important they are–to know how critical it is to not just have a generic testimony of the potential contained in the scriptures but to feast upon them and use them to come to know the Lord, Jesus Christ.

So, lately I have come across a few more gems in the scriptures.  If you are familiar with the study guide, you will know that there is a complete section dedicated to uncovering different expressions or phrases that reference receiving the literal and even very personal presence of Jesus Christ, Himself, while in mortality.  These include second comforter experiences and fulfillment of a complete redemption.  What started out in the beginning with citing six common phrases, if I remember right, has grown to now include “more”–now 34 phrases and terms used in the scriptures.  The Lord, through what Neal A. Maxwell calls “an unbroken chain of a prophet-originator, a prophet-editor, and a prophet-translator collaborating in a remarkable process”¹, reveals and re-reveals the amazing truth of Christ’s doctrine.  With that I invite you to feast, ponder and pray on each one of those.

In the spirit of “more” let me add that if you are reading blog posts and have not yet at least started or completed your own spiritual journey through The Doctrine of Christ Study Guide, then you have certainly missed the point.  I don’t blog because I like to write and aspire to be a notable author or because it a hobby or I have nothing else to do.  This could not be further than the truth.  As a matter of fact, one reason I don’t blog more often is simply because I lack the time.  Any of my blog posts, including this one, are meaningless without any of the study guides but most especially, The Doctrine of Christ Study Guide.  I will forever invite you to start your spiritual journey to know your Savior, Jesus Christ in the complimentary study guides.

JourneyDoctrineOfChrist.org is based on complimentary, online Study Guides to help you learn, believe, live and teach the Doctrine of Christ. The Study Guides invite any and all to see and know this truth for themselves that the Savior, Jesus Christ, has in fact introduced His doctrine and He personally invites all to literally receive Him while in the flesh (mortality).

Blog posts are intended to supplement the Study Guides.  Per all blog posts, seek the understanding and confirmations from the Lord in your own personal revelation.  Study guides are intended to point you to both the Lord’s written word and His voice (personal revelation). These study guides will help you uncover what the Doctrine of Christ is and other essential topics that will help you in your journey to come into His presence while in mortality. All study guides are available at JourneyDoctrineOfChrist.org

1   Neal A. Maxwell, “The Book of Mormon: A Great Answer to ‘The Great Question’” in The Voice of My Servants: Apostolic Messages on Teaching, Learning, and Scripture, ed. Scott C. Esplin and Richard Neitzel Holzapfel (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2010), 221–38.