Back to the Basics- The Gift of the Holy Ghost

     In my recent post about baptism, I talked about the need to be "born of water and of the spirit". This post will focus on being being "of the spirit". In the book of Acts in the New Testament we learn from Peter that we need to "repent, and be baptized... and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Being 'born of the spirit' is receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.
     The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead and a personage of spirit. He can only be in one place at a time, but his influence can be everywhere at the same time. The Holy Ghost is our Heavenly Father's messenger and is a special gift to us. He can guide and direct us and teach us what is true. We read in the Book of Mormon that "by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." (Moroni 10:5) That makes the Holy Ghost extremely important in our lives. With so many ideas and different teachings floating around we are promised a way that we can know what is right.
     So what must you do to have such a gift?? Prior to receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost you must be baptized by someone who holds the priesthood authority of God. Following baptism someone who holds the priesthood lays their hands on your head and will give you the gift of the Holy Ghost just as Paul did in the New Testament. (Acts 19:6) At that time you will have the Holy Ghost to be with you at all times, so long as you remain worthy.
     I am grateful for the ways that the Holy Ghost has blessed my life. I know that there have been many times when it has guided me to avoid a bad situation or to go and do something that my Heavenly Father would want me to do. I know that the Holy Ghost plays a significant impact in my life and I know it can do the same for you.
     This video will show how others have felt the Holy Ghost, aka the Holy Spirit, in their lives and how it has helped them. Enjoy!

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Back to the Basics- Baptism

     Jesus Christ taught us in the New Testament, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:3-5) In this post I am going to focus on being "born of water." To be 'born of water' is to be baptized. Baptism is a ceremony in which you are "buried in the water" (only for a quick second) and then you come out of the water. Baptism serves as a symbol of your old life passing away and being "born again" as a follower of Jesus Christ. An important aspect of baptism is that it must be performed by the proper priesthood authority (3 Nephi 11:21). In a sense, the authority is like having God's permission to do something in his name. Baptism is also the first covenant, or promise, that you make to your Heavenly Father. In this covenant, you promise to do three things:
1. Be willing to take Christ's name upon you.
2. Always remember Jesus Christ.
3. Keep his commandments.
The cool thing about making a promise to God is that when we keep our end of it, he will ALWAYS keep his. When we are baptized we promise to do our part (the 3 things listed above), and in return our Heavenly Father promises us certain things as well:
1. We are washed clean of our sins! It's literally like having a clean slate.
2. We can have the Holy Ghost (aka Holy Spirit) to be with us always. (I'll talk more about this in the next post.)
     So baptism is the first step you make in following Christ. It shows your willingness to be obedient and follow God's commandments and in return it brings great blessings into your life. Imagine being forgiven for all of your sins and anything bad you have done. That is the power of following Jesus Christ. Take that step of faith and follow him by being baptized by someone holding the proper priesthood authority authority. I promise it will be the first step you take to finding true happiness in this life.
Want to learn more about this?? Click here to chat with missionaries online or request to have them come to your home. I know it will be a good experience for you!

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

     I have been writing a lot about the basics of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and there is more to come shortly, but in the spirit of Thanksgiving and the holidays I think it is so important to remember what we have and what we are grateful for. We take too many things for granted nowadays and it's important to reflect on ALL that you have been blessed with and give thanks to God. Enjoy the video. It's one of my favorites.

A Second Witness Clears Things Up

     Every six months we get to hear from the prophet, apostles and leaders of the church in General Conference. The most recent was at the beginning of this month and I really enjoyed it. The following excerpt came from a talk that I loved (Click here for full talk.). Shortly after hearing it we were talking to a man who couldn't understand why we would need The Book of Mormon. It showed me just how much we DO need a living prophet on the earth.

      "Why is the Book of Mormon so essential if we already have the Bible to teach us about Jesus Christ? Have you ever wondered why there are so many Christian churches in the world today when they obtain their doctrines from essentially the same Bible? It is because they interpret the Bible differently. If they interpreted it the same, they would be the same church. This is not a condition the Lord desires, for the Apostle Paul declared that there is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5). To help bring this oneness about, the Lord established a divine law of witnesses. Paul taught, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (2 Corinthians 13:1).

The Bible is one witness of Jesus Christ; the Book of Mormon is another. Why is this second witness so crucial? The following illustration may help: How many straight lines can you draw through a single point on a piece of paper? The answer is infinite. For a moment, suppose that single point represents the Bible and that hundreds of those straight lines drawn through that point represent different interpretations of the Bible and that each of those interpretations represents a different church.

What happens, however, if on that piece of paper there is a second point representing the Book of Mormon? How many straight lines could you draw between these two reference points: the Bible and the Book of Mormon? Only one. Only one interpretation of Christ’s doctrines survives the testimony of these two witnesses.

Again and again the Book of Mormon acts as a confirming, clarifying, unifying witness of the doctrines taught in the Bible so that there is only “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”

   My guess is that you may now be more curious about The Book of Mormon. To learn more you can talk to me on Facebook (see my blog's homepage) or you can get a free copy for yourself by clicking here. When you get your copy take the time to read and pray about it. Ask God if it is true and you will come to know that it is a Book from God.

There Is So Much More to See

     Recently we went hiking on the Big Horn Mountains here in Lovell and it was a blast! We had hiked down a trail and come to Porcupine Falls (the picture on the right), which I loved! After walking around for a while though we saw that we could climb up another trail that would give us a different perspective. After we climbed up to this point we saw that there was so much more to be seen (the picture below is taken from that point). It was cool to see the same place from two different perspectives, both of which were gorgeous. I wouldn't say one view was better than the other or that one took away from the other. Instead it allowed me to see things that I may have otherwise missed out on. That's exactly how I feel about the Bible and The Book of Mormon.
     During our hike we had seen one beautiful perspective but that didn't mean it was the only one to be seen. In 2 Nephi 29:7-8 we read, "Know ye not that there are more nations than one?...Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another."

     The Bible is great and I love reading its words. I also love to read more of God's word in The Book of Mormon. I love to compare and see how both offer a new insight or perspective. One doesn't take away from the other but they work together hand in hand. So give The Book of Mormon a try and see how it can build your faith in Christ just as the Bible has. As you read from its pages you will find that there is so much more to see!

Below Zero

     Growing up in Texas I didn't experience very cold temperatures and it definitely never got below 0! In fact I didn't really know that it got below 0 anywhere. It just hadn't occurred to me. Well during the last year I got pretty familiar with temperatures that had a negative sign in front of them. I really didn't want to experience the cold; I enjoyed the heat and wanted it to stay warm because that is where I felt comfortable. I felt like I had never been so cold in my life when the winter arrived. I didn't think my body would ever be able to handle temperatures below 0, but somehow I survived it and I'm still alive and kickin'. Plus I learned an important life lesson.
Often times we want to stay where we are at because it is familiar and we are comfortable. We don't want to go through the "refiner's fire", or in this case the refiner's freezer, because it won't be easy. But that's not what our Heavenly Father wants for us. He knows that we all have imperfections and it often requires us doing hard things in order to become better. That's what this life is about. We face opposition and things that we may not be comfortable with but they give us experience and end up working for our good. So if you feel like you are having to do things that you don't want to or like life is just too hard, remember that I, Elder Huntsman, was able to survive an Eastern Montana winter. If I can do that then you can face any hard things you may face, especially when Jesus Christ is on your side.

Heard of Joseph Smith Before??

Many of you may have heard of Joseph Smith in your history class or from a friend that is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but you may not know much about what he did or who he really was. This movie goes through much of the life of Joseph Smith and will give you an idea of who he was, what he did and why we refer to him as "The Prophet of the Restoration." Enjoy it, I know I did.

Wanna Meet a Mormon??

     There are so many misconceptions out there about "the mormons." People will make claims sometimes that we have horns, we don't use TVs or we can only ride bikes, just to name a few. But those claims simply are not true! Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, commonly called "Mormons", are everyday people who have families, jobs and they probably face a lot of the same problems that you do. That may not be what you have heard, but watch this video and you may find that you are very similar!

Wanna Meet More Mormons?? Click Here.

Batman and The Book of James

     So what in the heck do Batman and some scriptures in the Bible have to do with each other?? Well if you're familiar with Batman then you probably know about the villain Two-Face, and if not, then maybe you've at least heard of being "two faced." I was reading the other day in the Book of James in the New Testament of the Bible and this thought of being two faced came to my mind. In James 3:10-12 we read,

     "Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh."

     How easy is it to be like this? I think really easy. When you are around your parents maybe you "yield fresh water", but when you're with you friends you "yield salt water." James tells us, "these things ought not to be." We shouldn't put on one face for church and then another for work and a different one when you are among friends. Rather we should be true followers of Christ at all times.

     You may be able to deceive some people by being two faced, but remember that God knows who we truly are and he sees us at all times. So do those things that would be pleasing to your Father in Heaven at all times and don't be a Two-Face!

God's Words Never Cease!!

     God, your Heavenly Father, loves you so much! He wants you to be happy and have success in this life. That doesn't mean that everything will go just as you want it to, but he will do all things for your good. One way that your Father in Heaven shows his love for you is by giving you his word. This includes the Old Testament, New Testament, and The Book of Mormon. But his word doesn't stop there; your Heavenly Father has again called a prophet on the earth that speaks God's words to us today and you can know that that is true! Pray about it and you will receive an answer. As the Bible says, "Ask and ye shall receive!"

What's missing??

     It's so easy to get caught up in money and possessions nowadays, but there is never enough to satisfy that hunger. We always want more, more, more. We search for those possessions or promotions that will quench our deepest thirst, but it's never enough. So if money or possessions won't fill that desire then there must be another piece that's missing. What is it?? Jesus Christ!
     Christ taught the women at the well that, "whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14) If you will 'drink of the water' that Christ has to offer, you will find your deepest desires fulfilled. You can find true happiness just like the people in this video. Hear their story! It's awesome!!

Faith and Exercise

     This is something that has been on my mind a lot recently, maybe because it's something I am always trying to work on. In Alma 32:27 it tells us to exercise our faith. So let's see how exercise and faith can relate to each other.

     1. They both require action.- You can think about getting strong all day long, but until you actually go and do something you won't gain any strength. I've thought to myself many times about how I'm going to work out so hard one day and then I'm too lazy to get up and actually do it. John Burroughs put it best when he said, "The smallest deed is better than the greatest intention." So if you want to build your faith don't just think about it, but get up and work on it!

     2. Use it or Lose it!- At one time or another in your life, you may have been really strong or in great shape. I used to be in good running shape. I loved to run! But over time I quit running and now I wouldn't do very well if I tried to run a mile. Our faith is similar. At one point you may have had a lot of faith, but now you are 'out of shape'. Remember that just because you have faith at one point doesn't mean that it will last forever. You must maintain your spiritual strength just like physical strength.

     3. You can see the results.- Over time as you exercise, you can see your muscles grow and that can motivate you to keep working. As we build our faith, we find more joy and motivation to learn about Jesus Christ and we want to continue to "exercise our faith."

     Just like exercise it isn't always easy to put in the work required to gain strong faith, but over time you will see the results that come and it will all be worth it. So try a little harder today to "exercise your faith". Serve someone else, read the scriptures, or pray and you will begin to see your faith grow.

Huntsman Family Motto

Most of my family (my sister, brother-in-law,

sister-in-law, and neice are missing though).

    

     Growing up I thought that this was the most lame thing ever! I didn't get why we would have a "family motto". My parents would make us say it regularly and it drove me nuts for some reason but over time it stuck with me and I can still remember it. This is how it goes-

     "I will honor and respect the Huntsman name which means:

H is for happiness. (We are a happy family.)

U is for united as a family. (We work together.)

N is for noble. (We have high moral principles.)

T is for trustworthy. (A Huntsman can be trusted.)

S is for sealed in the temple. (Married in the temple for eternity.)

M is for missionary minded. (We share the gospel of Jesus Christ!)

A is for ambitious. (We have a desire to succeed.)

N is for Never A Better Family!" (There isn't a better family! At least for me.)    

     Looking back I'm grateful to remember this and it makes me want to better represent my family's name. Family is so important and I don't know what I would do without them. Take the time to appreciate your family this day and let them know how much you love them!

Want To Leave the Past in the Past??

     It seems to me that when we want forgiveness, we are often the last person to forgive ourselves. We can be our own worst enemy at times. We will hang on to our mistakes even when others may have completely forgotten them and forgiven us. So can you ever really be completely rid of your sins and mistakes? Can they really be gone for good? The answer to this question comes from the Bible in 2 Corinthians 5:17.

     "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

     Think about it like this- You are a board that is perfectly whole, but when you commit a sin a nail is pounded into you and you are no longer perfect. You recognize that you have sinned and you want to be forgiven. So you sincerely repent and ask your Heavenly Father for forgiveness. Then what happens to the hole in the board (your sin)?

     Some people may think that the nail is removed, wood putty fills the hole and it is re-finished. On the surface it may look good, but deep down it would still have an imperfection. Luckily that's not how Christ's Atonement works! Rather when we sincerely repent and ask for forgiveness the old board with a nail hole is "passed away." The old, imperfect board is gone and you "are become new." You are again a perfect board. You can be perfectly whole again! So choose today to leave the past in the past. When you have repented you can be "a new creature" and move on to a better and brighter day!

Live In Thanksgiving Daily

     I know that it's far from being Thanksgiving but it sure doesn't hurt to be grateful for what you have every day! Today take the time to appreciate all of the small things around you. Be grateful for something you normally take for granted. It will make you more happy as you are more grateful. Enjoy the video!

You Are My Hands

     In a recent General Conference, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf related a story that really hit me. I was reminded of it a few weeks ago when a missionary talked about it again and I wanted to share it with you:

     "A story is told that during the bombing of a city in World War II, a large statue of Jesus Christ was severely damaged. When the townspeople found the statue among the rubble, they mourned because it had been a beloved symbol of their faith and of God’s presence in their lives.

Experts were able to repair most of the statue, but its hands had been damaged so severely that they could not be restored. Some suggested that they hire a sculptor to make new hands, but others wanted to leave it as it was—a permanent reminder of the tragedy of war. Ultimately, the statue remained without hands. However, the people of the city added on the base of the statue of Jesus Christ a sign with these words: “You are my hands.”

     There is a profound lesson in this story. When I think of the Savior, I often picture Him with hands outstretched, reaching out to comfort, heal, bless, and love. And He always talked with, never down to, people. He loved the humble and the meek and walked among them, ministering to them and offering hope and salvation. That is what He did during His mortal life; it is what He would be doing if He were living among us today; and it is what we should be doing as His disciples."

So along with that message, today I would challenge each and every one of you to do your best to be the hands of Christ in someone else's life. Go out and serve someone else and I promise you will be more happy! I know that this is true.

Families Can Be Together Forever - Part 3

The temple is a great blessing to us all because we know that our families can be together forever. Watch this video and learn more about the blessings of the temple!

Families Can Be Together Forever! - Part 1

     "Till death do you part" has always been a tough thing for me to imagine. You go through life with your spouse, learn and work together, and raise kids, and then after you die it's all over. It just never seemed right to me. You may have wondered if there is such a thing as a 'forever family'. Well I'm here to tell you that there is and your family can be together forever! This is only possible through the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. When God again called a prophet on the earth, one of the many things that was restored was the sealing power. We read in Matthew 16:19 that Christ gave this power to Peter:

     "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

     With these priesthood keys again on the earth, marriage doesn't have to end at death. Your family, whether you have one now or not, can be together forever through the restored gospel of Jesus Christ!

More to come soon...

Good News!

     It seems like it can be tough nowadays to find good news. When you turn on the TV everything tends to be about war, murderer and any other terrible thing happening in the world. It seems kind of like there isn't much good in the world. Well that's where the Gospel comes into play. The word gospel actually comes from an Old English word meaning "good news" and that's exactly what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about! Despite all of the hardships and trials we face there is good news because of Jesus Christ. I know that this is true and it brings hope to us all!

"If a Man Die, Shall He Live Again?"

     With Easter being so close I have thought a lot about what it means and why we really celebrate it. President Thomas S. Monson gave a talk in April 2010 regarding the Easter holiday and I wanted to share part of it with you:

     "Centuries ago the man Job—so long blessed with every material gift, only to find himself sorely afflicted by all that can befall a human being—sat with his companions and uttered the timeless, ageless question, “If a man die, shall he live again?” Job spoke what every other living man or woman has pondered.

This glorious Easter morning I’d like to consider Job’s question—“If a man die, shall he live again?”—and provide the answer."

     He went on to explain the Savior's sacrifice for us all and then added the following.

     "No words in Christendom mean more to me than those spoken by the angel to the weeping Mary Magdalene and the other Mary when, on the first day of the week, they approached the tomb to care for the body of their Lord. Spoke the angel:

“Why seek ye the living among the dead?

“He is not here, but is risen.”

     Our Savior lived again. The most glorious, comforting, and reassuring of all events of human history had taken place—the victory over death. The pain and agony of Gethsemane and Calvary had been wiped away. The salvation of mankind had been secured. The Fall of Adam had been reclaimed.

The empty tomb that first Easter morning was the answer to Job’s question, “If a man die, shall he live again?” To all within the sound of my voice, I declare, If a man die, he shall live again."

I too know that this message is true! During Easter remember that Christ is risen. He died for us all and was then ressurected that we too may rise one day. I am grateful for my Savior and all that he has blessed me with. If you want to know if this message is true, ask your Heavenly Father in prayer and you can know that it is!

Happy Easter!!!