2.356 Ye Shall Have Power

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus calls us the salt of the earth, a bold reminder that our lives are meant to carry his flavor, his truth, and his love to the world. Join me each day to explore one verse of scripture and one thought, striving to stay full of savor and truly live as savory salt. Hello, my friends.

It's great to have you with me. Today, let's be anxiously engaged in a good cause and bring to pass much righteousness. We believe in Jesus Christ, and because we do, we also believe in so much more.

This week, we've technically finished all of the Doctrine and Covenants. Congratulations on reaching that. And while this podcast is designed to be more of an evergreen style, meaning you could listen to it at any given time.

For those of you that are listening to it live, this week is the week of Christmas. I'm not going to have specific Christmas-based messages throughout the week because we are still finishing the Book of Mormon that we've been reading. And so what we'll do is sprinkle in some messages of Christ, but still continue on finishing the Book of Mormon.

This week, you're reading Moroni chapters 2 through 8, and then we will finish up the new year here and transition into Season 3 as we wrap up Moroni. Our message today comes from Moroni chapter 2. And inside of it, I think it's very interesting.

I love that we have the Book of Moroni. As it says in chapter one there, Moroni is basically saying, "Look, I thought I was going to be gone. I didn't know I was still going to have time.

But now that I had some time to reflect and see what plates have been put together here, there are a couple of key things I want to make sure I'm going to be able to reflect on. What is the you?" In chapter one, he's writing to the Lamanites. He's hoping that at some point in the future, the Lamanites are going to get this record and have a change of heart and a repentant mind and be able to turn to the Lord.

It's a cool message really because we see the love that Moroni has for the very people that brought the full destruction of his people to pass. Let's take a look at Moroni chapter 2, verse 2. A lot of these chapters are very small until we get to 7 and 8, but there's such great gold nuggets inside of here.

In Moroni chapter 2, we get the view. What's the first thing that Moroni thinks is important for the Lamanites to realize? He says, "Look, you've got all these plates, but since I've got some extra time, I'm going to make sure I add some bonus pieces here." Well, what's the first thing he adds?

Let's take a look at verse 2. He's talking about Christ and Christ's disciples, specifically the 12 disciples that he calls when he was on the earth. And in verse 2 it says this: "And he called them by name, saying, Ye shall call on the Father in my name in mighty prayer; And after ye have done this ye shall have power that to him upon whom ye shall lay your hands, Ye shall give the Holy Ghost; and in my name shall ye give it, for thus do mine apostles." Now, what's the first thing that is important for Moroni to make sure they understand?

That there is some power here that Jesus Christ gives to his disciples. What does that power do? Well, when they have the power, they're able to lay their hands on others and give the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Names of the biblical principles of our religion are the testimony of the apostles and prophets concerning Jesus Christ. The Bible says that he died, was buried, and rose again the third day and ascended into heaven, and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it. Now, even inside of that, Joseph Smith presents an assumption that there are apostles and prophets of Jesus Christ, one of the standout pieces of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with our living prophet and apostles.

I'm grateful that Moroni saw this and said, "You know what, I think it's important to make sure that the people that are going to get this record understand that there is a power and authority that the Lord will give to his apostles. And that through that, they will be able to grant the Holy Ghost to those that believe." I believe in the power and authority of the priesthood here on the earth today. And I'm grateful for what it does for us.

That's all for today, my friends. Lift up your hearts and rejoice. Cleave into the covenants you have made, and together we will be savory salt.