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2000 Strong for Christ
Leading youth to the knowledge of Jesus Christ
Newsletter
We Know,
That Overcomes the World.
The months prior to our 2000 Strong Camp this past August were perhaps the most challenging and difficult times of my life, mostly because I was unemployed and was having trouble getting a job. My self-esteem and confidence were definitely shaken. I knew I had to keep on keeping on and not give up, but it was getting harder and harder. During the camp commitment service, Neil Simmons quoted this Scripture: "Seek not the things of this world but seek ye first to build up the Kingdom of God and to establish His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." Awhile back I had told my pastor that I would like to be more active in my priesthood calling, so he put me on the schedule, and right after camp I noticed that I was to bring the morning message one Sunday. I didn't want my lack of confidence to affect my preparation, so I asked my dad if he would offer a prayer of administration for me a week before the Sunday I was to preach. Right after that prayer my dad related to me that he was led to tell me that if I would continue to prepare and be faithful, something good was in store for me very soon. That was on a Sunday, and two days later I received a call for a job interview the next Friday, which I went on. I delivered my sermon on that Sunday and the very next day I received a call for a second interview. I got the job and continue to work there. I realized then that what happened was I was quickened by what Brother Neil had said at camp about seeking first to build up the Kingdom and then He would add His blessings, which was reaffirmed to me by what my dad had been led to tell me after administering to me. I bear witness to the truth of this Scripture - that if we first seek to do the things God wants us to do and to put off our own concerns and desires, He will indeed bless us. I thank my Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ for creating the job opportunity. God knew that I had been struggling mightily. At the same time, He expected me to do His work as a believer and Teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood of His Church, although I know that I fall way short. I know without a doubt that when I put off my own concerns and needs and endeavor to do His work, He blesses me beyond measure. I bear record that He will bless all of us if we will only "seek not the things of this world but seek first to build up the Kingdom of God and to establish His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."
Youth in the Old Testament
By Janet Thomas
Although we remember most of the well known people in the Old Testament because of the things they did as adults, we can somethimes discover hints about what these remarkable people were like in their teens. In fact, discovering the decisions and choices they made while growing up may help you in living your life today. Here are four examples:
MOSES
After being discoverd as a babe in the bulrushes and taken to the palace to be raised as a prince, Moses recieved a first-class education (See Acts 7:22) in his teens, when he may have been taught to read and write Egyptian.
ISAAC
Born to his parents Abraham and Sarah when they were in their old age, Isaac was a child of promise and heir to his father's fortune. The Scriptures say that Isaac was a "lad" when he accompanied his father and was prepared to become a sacrifice (see Genesis 22:3-19). He learned from his father to follow the Lord's guidance and to demonstrate his faith; Isaac's life was preserved.
SAMUEL
Samuel was born as a gift form the Lord to his mother Hannah. She promised to give him to the Lord to be raised by the priest Eli. As Samuel grew up, he began to serve and when he was about 12 years old, he was awakened by the voice of the Lord calling to him in the night (see 1 Samuel 3:4-10). Even as a boy, Samuel learned to listen to the voice of the Lord. This began his preparation to become a prophet.
DANIEL
After his family and people were captured and taken to Babylon, Daniel and three friends were brought to serve in the palace of the king. As teenaged boys, they refused to eat the meat and drink the wine that those in the palace consumed. They kept the commandmants and were blessed with knowledge and skill. Daniel 1:20 says that the king found these four young men to be "ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm."
From these examples it is clear the Lord did work with youth in the Old Testament, and as a result they literally changed their world.
BOOK OF MORMON
3 NEPHI 12 BELIEVE IT OR NOT
By: Fred Greene
Nephi recorded all the words of Jesus during His days of ministry among the Nephites. About 400 years later, Mormon would abridge all the records of the Nephites, including some which Nephi wrote of the words of Jesus. During the abridgement process, Mormon inserted the following remarks concerning Nephi's record.
3 NEPHI 12:
1 And now there cannot be written in this book, even a hundredth part of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people; but behold the plates of Nephi do contain the more part of the things which he taught the people;
Mormon is admitting to us that he is only providing a "hundredth part" of what Nephi recorded of the words of Christ. If his assessment is correct, there is more recorded by Nephi of the teachings of Christ than that recorded in the whole New Testament. More importantly, the writings of Nephi are recorded as witnessed, while the writings of all four of the New Testament gospels were written many years after the experience. Why does Mormon only give us the lesser or smaller amount of the record of Nephi and not all of it? Perhaps the reason is the diminishing state of the Nephites at the time Mormon was abridging the record. The Nephites were losing the war against the more numerous Lamanites. Soon, Mormon would ask the Lamanite leader for a cease fire in order for all his people to gather in one place for a final decisive showdown at a hill called Cumorah. Mormon must have been feeling the pressure of time and events closing in on him. His final entries on the Golden Plates must have been made with great intensity and anguish. While this certainly is a real consideration, Mormon writes that there is yet another even greater reason.
3 NEPHI 12:
3 And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things, then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them.
4 And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation.
5 Behold I was about to write them all which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbid it, saying, I will try the faith of my people; therefore I, Mormon, do write the things which have been commanded me of the Lord.
Here, Mormon reveals he was going to write all the words of Christ recorded by Nephi for us to receive through the Book of Mormon; however, the "Lord forbade it, saying, "I will try the faith of my people." We know the Book of Mormon came to us in these latter days because of the faith of Joseph Smith and others. We also know the purpose of the Book of Mormon is to convince the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ. Now, we know that the Book of Mormon is also a trial of our faith. If our faith is strong in the revelation of the Book of Mormon, other even greater records will come forth. If we doubt, or disbelieve, in the revelation and words of the Book of Mormon, then we only cheat ourselves from greater revelations yet to come. Therefore, we are currently under trial by faith. Do you think we are getting a passing, or failing grade? Perhaps its time to truly assess our faith and belief in the miracle of the Book of Mormon. Remember, the Book of Mormon is the only book which challenges you to the test of truth. The promise is recorded by
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true;
5 And if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost; and by the power of the Holy Ghost, ye may know the truth of all things.
My testimony to you is that it is true - all of it. At the age of 16, after reading and studying the Book of Mormon, I took
