Foundations of my Faith: Youth

I mentioned before in this blog, that I grew up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My parents took us to church every Sunday. Church attendance was a given. So, that's where I've spent three hours of my week for as long as I can remember. I learned a lot more growing up than I may have realized. I learned that God has a plan for us, His children. He loves us. He wants us to become like Him. Jesus came to earth to suffer for our sins. He also took upon Him death. Unlike any before, on the third day, He rose, never to die again. Because He rose, all mankind will rise and stand before God the Father to be judged. This is what I learned as a child, week in and week out. I know it is true. I learned of God's dealings of mankind, as recorded in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. I learned of God's dealings with man in modern times in the Doctrine and Covenants. I learned of the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith. I learned of his visits from Angels, and from The Father and the Son in a grove near his upstate New York home. I learned all of this and I knew it was true.

In the Church of Jesus Christ, children are baptized at eight years old. Baptism is a covenant between God and man. We promise to repent and keep God's commandments. God promises to forgive our sins through the power of His Son.

I knew that baptism was the right thing to do. I wanted to follow Jesus. So, when I was eight years old, I was baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. These ordinances were performed by my father. He received the authority by being called in the proper manner, by those holding authority. That's the way God's authority works. God calls a prophet. The prophet is give authority to act in God's name. Others are called of God by His mouthpiece, the prophet, and a portion of the authority is distributed, by the laying on of hands. Always there is order. Always there is a head in the church. Always there are those in authority, those holding keys, by whose permission we perform the ordinances of salvation. And so it was that my father was given authority and permitted to baptize and confirm me a member of the Church under the direction of those who held the keys of these ordinances.

What a great blessing. God has directed that all men in the Church live worthy. If they do so, they may receive and exercise priesthood. They can bless their wives and their children. We can be sealed together in holy Temples. God has made it all possible because he loves us. By His authority and keys, husbands and wives can be sealed together for eternity, with their children. God has given us the power, through His Son, to become like Him. I know it is true.

The title of the post is "Youth". These are the things I learned in my youth. I was sealed to my parents in October 1985 in the Provo, Utah Temple. I was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by my Father on 1 August 1987 in Spanish Fork, Utah.

I thank God for the faith I learned in my youth.