Harry Potter & agency.

So, it's no secret that I adore Harry Potter.

 

Today, I have been challenged to relate the Gospel to my favorite book. 

 Challenge accepted. What an easy task this will be.

 

One reason that I love Harry Potter so much is because it is chalked full of gospel truths.

Great moral truths.

 

Truth #1 Immortality: One of God's greatest gifts.

 

Harry is a wizard who was orphaned as a baby. An evil man name Voldemort killed both of his parents. However, this physical separation did not impede Harry's understanding that he would be with them again.

Man, Harry must've read the Book of Mormon or somethin'...

He knew that his parents loved him and he had hope that one day, they would reunite.

Talk about faith amidst adversity.

 

 

"Your life didn’t begin at birth and it won’t end at death. Before you came to earth, your spirit lived with Heavenly Father who created you. You knew Him, and He knew and loved you. It was a happy time during which you were taught God’s plan of happiness and the path to true joy. But just as most of us leave our home and parents when we grow up, God knew you needed to do the same. He knew you couldn’t progress unless you left for a while. So he allowed you to come to earth to experience the joy—as well as pain—of a physical body." (mormon.org)

 

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." 1 Corinthians 15:22

 

 

 

Truth #2 God's plan includes freedom of choice.

 

Sirius Black, Harry Potter's Godfather taught Harry,

 

"We've all got both light and dark inside of us.

What matters is the part we choose to act on.

That's who we really are." 

- Sirius Black

 

Wow!! Talk about inspired words Sirius. Props. I'm thinking that Sirius must've somehow gotten his hands on The Book of Mormon as well.

 

This gospel truth is also highlighted in the scriptures...

 

"Men... have become free forever, knowing good from evil: to act for themselves... they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil" 2 Nephi 2:26-27

 

The reality is, that there is a very real being whom is set on destroying our happiness, who tempts us every day... but we can fight those temptations as we CHOOSE THE RIGHT.

 

Truth # 3 Even when the pressure amounts, the best thing to do is "look up."

 

 

 

Lets be honest, the majority of Harry's life he suffered rejection, ridicule and opposition.

Most of the time other people did not want to accept his role... many just didn't believe in him.

But something I respect about Harry, was that he always stood strong to his moral code.

What he believed to be true.

 

Mormons are also encouraged to, "stand up for what they believe, regardless of prevailing opinion. It may not be easy, popular, or fun. Sometimes taking a stand means subjecting yourself to ridicule, slander or even physical abuse. In this kind of situation, a person can rely on the Lord to help them maintain their beliefs. He expects us to do what we believe is right in any situation, and He will help us have the moral courage to do it. It isn't enough to look away or to keep quiet. Looking away can sometimes be a sin in itself. We are acting as Jesus acted when we stand up for what we believe and take action." (mormon.org)

 

Let us look up, to the source of all truth and light, our Savior Jesus Christ.

"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6

 

 

These are just a couple ways I thought that Harry Potter related to the gospel.

Now, I knoooow that I have probably overlooked some gospel truths as related to Harry Potter, after all I have been doing this "mission thing" for quite some time... #missionfog so when you think of some, feel free to message me.

 

Will you relate the gospel to Harry Potter today?

 

 



The Bible || The Book of Mormon

Have you ever stayed in a Marriot hotel??

If so, I would imagine that you have run across a little blue book in your night stand drawer.

 

Today I want to talk about something I am very passionate about.

That little blue book titled "The Book of Mormon."

 

Maybe a missionary, a friend or a co-worker has once offered you a copy.

 

 

So, what is The Book of Mormon?

 

I normally break it down in this way...

The Bible is the communication between God and man as recorded in the Eastern Hemisphere.

& simply all that The Book of Mormon is, is the communication between the people in the

Ancient American continent and God.

It is a history of their experiences with prophets and Jesus Christ. 

 

      The Bible || The Book of Mormon

 

 

 

We read of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ in the Bible.

Peter, John and Mary Magdalene find the empty tomb,

and Jesus Christ himself appears to Mary saying:

 

15 ...Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

  16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni;

which is to say, Master.

 17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father;

and to my God, and your God. (John 20: 15-17)

 

He later appeared to his apostles.

 

After his resurrection, The Book of Mormon provides a very unique account of his ministry among the people in the Ancient Americas.

 

8 ...they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them.

 9 And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying:

 10 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.

 11 And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.

(3 Nephi 11:8-11)

 

The purpose of The Bible and The Book of Mormon is the same.

 

To convince all men that Jesus is the Christ.

 

 

“I bear solemn witness that we are true and full believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and in His revealed word through the Holy Bible. We not only believe the Bible—we strive to follow its precepts and to teach its message.”

—M. Russell Ballard

 

 "The Old Testament does not lose its value in our eyes when we are introduced to the New Testament, and the New Testament is only enhanced when we read The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. In considering the additional scripture accepted by Latter-day Saints, we might ask: Were those early Christians who for decades had access only to the primitive Gospel of Mark (generally considered the first of the New Testament Gospels to be written)—were they offended to receive the more detailed accounts set forth later by Matthew and Luke, to say nothing of the unprecedented passages and revelatory emphasis offered later yet by John? Surely they must have rejoiced that ever more convincing evidence of the divinity of Christ kept coming. And so do we rejoice."

 —Jeffery R. Holland ("My Words...Never Cease")

 

^^fantastic talk--by the way.

If you have interest in learning more about why Latter-Day Saints believe in an open canon,

I would highly recommend "My words...Never Cease" by Elder Jeffery R. Holland.

 

In the past year I've shared more copies of this book than I can count.

In gas stations, in the produce section next to the bananas (bleh bananas),

on doorsteps and best of all, in your member-friends home.

 

 And I do it, because I know that it is true.

 

If you, like many of my dear friends here in the south, have a difficult time accepting more scripture, I invite you to ponder in your hearts this scripture.

 

7 Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?

 8 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. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.

 9 And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever...

(2 Nephi 29:7-9)

 

So, if you happen to be a little skeptical about the idea of more scripture... consider The Savior's words "wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 7:20)

 

 

And I would add to that, you are the only Book of Mormon some people may ever read.

 

FAQ's:



 

(Fun fact: there is a copy of The Book of Mormon in every night stand in every room in every Marriot hotel.) 

Three minutes and fourty-two seconds with a Mormon Missionary.

I have decided that I want to make a big part of my blog hearing from more people than just me. I feel strongly that it is important for everyone's voice to be heard, and that individuality is an essential part of our divinity. These are some master teachers you'll be hearing from who have pure and sincere testimonies. & they have been called by a prophet of God to share what they know.

Unfortunately, we are experiencing some technical difficulties as far as uploading the video directly to blogger goes... so go ahead and click here to watch the video via Facebook.

Featuring Elder Rivera from Toluca, Mexico. Elder Rivera loves to play rugby, he can write with both of his hands at the same time creating a mirror image & he's a Mormon Missionary.

So, if you have ever found yourself wondering what those crazy kids in suits riding bikes are up to...

Or the girls... :)

We are normal people who would love to answer your questions and share with you why we are doing the crazy things we do.


Hey y'all welcome to my little corner of cyberspace.

I have to start off by telling y'all something actually rather profound that my friend Brenda told me the other day while we were discussing religion and God. All of that good stuff that you get to talk to about as a missionary. She was telling my companion and I about what a crazy world we live in, and how "kids these days just don't get it."
*insert head nod here* Yeah, what are those #hasttags about anyways?

We agreed with her and continued talking about her love of the bible.
She said something I haven't been able to stop thinking about.

"Even if you don't believe it, it is a good book to live by, and when you live it, you'll believe it."

#brendaisms

What she said essentially embodies everything that I will discuss here on this blog. It also reminded me of a verse in The Book of Mormon.

"And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good."

Alma 32:33

Every principle or doctrine that I will write about, I will also invite you to pray about.

Faith is the first, most basic principle of the gospel. That is why it is often times the most difficult thing to have. I think Faith gets overlooked all too often.

"Faith is a strong belief that motivates a person to act. Faith that elads to forgivness of sins is centered in Jesus Christ, whose Atonement makes forgiveness possible. Faith in Jesus Christ is more than a passive belief in HIm. It means believing that He is the Son of God and that He suffered for your sins, afflictions, and infirmities. It means acting on that belief. Faith in Jesus Christ leads you to love Him, trust Him, and obey his commandments."

I add my invitation to Moroni's.