All things testify of Jesus Christ

I have a natural curiosity of all things and a strong desire to learn.  That desire and the strong love of discovery and exploration has taken me to many new and exciting places, introduced me to a wide variety of educational studies and given me a greater appreciation and understanding of a plethora of people both living and dead.

The last few months have had me exploring books and podcast by a diverse group of individuals with great and varied backgrounds.  Some have gained large followings and produced volumes of work and others not so grand.  Each has had his own search for truth and each has had to come to his own conclusions, and it is those conclusions that have driven their lives work and directed their energies into action.

I was told of a popular 'new' atheist that has drawn much attention.  He has a podcast that covers a wide range of topics but always seem to circle back to his central theme of atheism.  His logic and reasoning on some subjects is sound and sensible but that same practical logic is overlooked when it turns to the topics of theology.  This paradox shows itself strongly when the conversation turns to moral issues as he seems to have a strong sense of right and wrong but will not recognize the source from which it comes.  Any evidence of a Supreme Being will not be acknowledged in the least no matter how or in what form it comes in.

Another podcast I came across was that of an apostate, one who had the truth but turned away from it.  He was raised in a good family and taught the gospel from his youth.  He was moving forward down a bright and prosperous path when a trial of his faith came.  He initially did what he thought was right and yet the consequences that followed were not easy to handle.  His faith was shaken and as he proceeded toward his writing profession, he was introduced to a new group of social contacts that did not strengthen his faith but rather made it possible for him to renounce his roots.  His habits became more worldly and he scorned his past and mocked those that still belonged to where he came from.  His criticism of the old was used as justification for his new lifestyle, taking strength in his denials in an effort to overcome his guilt.  It may seem as though he has come to peace with it but I wonder.

Yet another podcast shows the views of a Jewish Rabbi who has come to a sense that his duty is to convince all Jews that Jesus is not the Savior.  He is highly educated and well read.  He knows well the scriptures of not only the Jewish people but also those of many others.  He has become a counter point to all those that would try to convince others of the divinity of Jesus Christ but especially to those that would try to convince the Jewish people.  Because his scriptural knowledge is so vast when compared to those he converses with it might be easy to be persuaded by his arguments but the conclusions he draws from the references he uses are not the same that others might find.  His teachings do increase my understanding by adding contextual reference to my readings and for that I am thankful.

The last to be mentioned is an autobiography of a man who found God and dedicated his life to him.  He studied the scriptures and came to his knowledge of God and his words and his ways by a dedicated effort to answer questions that related to Gods will.  His life was not without struggle and challenges but he was always trying to choose do what God would have him do rather than take the easy path or follow the dictates of other men.  His life was revelation by scriptural study that somehow missed the fullness he was seeking.  He went on to establish a worldwide church through the use of radio broadcast and print media.

These examples all come from the current era but any study of history and scripture will show that these individuals are not unique.  Their stories have been told time and again by and about others over and over throughout all earthly time.  They are not the first and they will not be the last.  They are the story of mankind.  And in them one and all their stories to me still testify of Christ.

"...The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator."  Alma 30:44

In my life I have learned that all things testify that Jesus is the Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit I know that it is true.  From the examples above you can tell that they have not received their testimonies from the Spirit of Truth and yet their words still testify.

If you would have even a simple desire to know for yourself, then do the work for yourself to know for yourself that your testament might be your own.

"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; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of all 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."  Moroni 10:4-5.

I wish that all mankind might know God the Eternal Father and is son Jesus Christ.  I wish that all might know the truth of all things.  It is available to any and all that would know.

This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farrwest.