Joseph of Egypt: Blessings Within Trials

I have recently been studying the old Testament, my goal is to read the entire Old Testament. However, I don’t want to just read it, I want to get something out of it. I have learned a surprising amount of things while only just starting the Book of Exodus.  I would like to discuss one thing that I have learned from my studies.

Joseph was sold into Egypt by His brothers because of their jealousy, because Joseph was loved by His father Jacob.  Joseph being sold into Egypt could have been a negative experience, and in some cases I am sure that it was, being away from family and such. However, if Joseph would not have had faith in God it could have been a far worse experience for Him.

Even when Joseph was cast into prison on false accusations, people found Him as a pleasant and honorable man, and he was quickly given responsibilities within the prison.  While in the prison Joseph interpreted the dream of the Pharoah’s chief butler, and was sent to interpret the dream of the Pharaoh. Pharaoh immediately put Joseph in a position of power to make provisions to prepare for the famine that was foretold in Pharoah's dream.

One thing that I thought was very surprising was the way that Joseph easily forgave his brothers, who sold him into Egypt, for what they had done.  The scripture says that Joseph was gracious and forgiving toward his brothers:

“So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.

And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.

And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”

Joseph being sold into Egypt was a divine act by God, even though while in the process, it didn't seem so because it was done out of anger from His brothers. God had something good in store for Joseph and for Egypt.  In Genesis 45: 6-8 it talks about how God brought Joseph into Egypt for a reason:

“For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.

And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.”

Joseph had the faith that God was letting him go through this trial of being sold by his brothers for a reason, and he was faithful to the Lord, and while being faithful He was blessed to know why He was sold into Egypt, and He was happy for the Lord's purpose in that happening.

The most important to me that I learned from Joseph’s story is that when we go through undesirable events in our lives, don’t lose faith, and have a positive attitude, you never know what the Lord has waiting for you!

General Conference

Every Six Months Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and those who are not of our faith, but who would like to participate, get the opportunity to hear the words of living prophets and apostles.  This Semiannual event is called General Conference.

Everyone is invited to watch General Conference. If you are interested in watching General Conference there are number of different ways you can attend via Satellite. it will broadcast at your local Latter-day Saint church, on LDS.org, and even Facebook.

General Conference is a time where we get to receive further gospel learning for the general leadership of the church. We learn more about gospel principles that, if lived, will bless our lives and the lives of those around us. It is a time where we can learn more things pertaining to what God is continuing to reveal to us.

Some noteworthy things that happen at General conference is the announcements of new temples being constructed or dedicated, and new programs that have been put into place to bless the lives of God's children, such as, The Perpetual Education Fund.

General Conference this year starts on Saturday October 6th and will last until Sunday October 7th, there will be two sessions each day, one that starts at 10 a.m and will go until 12 p.m MDT. the last session for both days will start at 1 p.m. and end at 3 p.m.

Here is a link for more information of how you can watch the Conference by the internet.

Faith, Courage and Comfort

While serving as an online missionary, I have run into a good amount of people who are not very fond of the church. They come to argue, make fun of, disprove, and to convert us.  A lot of people on chat don’t have a desire to learn what we actually believe.

The Little Drummer Boy

With Christmas coming soon, I am very excited for many things! One major thing that we as missionaries get to do on Christmas is calling our families! As a missionary I only get to communicate with my family once a week through email, so getting to call home is a great opportunity that I am very thankful for! However, besides all the presents and candy and food, what is Christmas all about? It is about the birth of The Savior, who has brought us something even better than a phone call home! In about a year and a few months I will be heading home from my mission because my two year service will end. I will be returning home just because that is what happens after a period of missionaries service has ended. But  Jesus Christ, however has brought  us the opportunity to be able to return to live with God after our time on this earth is up! Being able to return to live with God is something that would not have been possible without Jesus Christ.

The Joseph Smith Experience

All people have a problem of some sort, each of these problems can be solved through the gospel of Jesus Christ. One must take the steps necessary to receive the help they are looking for. What is that step that we should take to find the solutions to our problems? The very first thing we must do to find the solution to our problems is to come to know that the gospel is true for ourselves.

How does one come to know that it is true? There are the simples answers that we always hear, like read the Book of Mormon and pray to know if it is true. This statement is true, and it is probably the most important thing that someone can do to know if the Gospel is true. But there are further steps that we can do to find an answer.

Confounding of False Doctrine

Have you ever wondered why there are so many different Christian churches? Have you ever wondered why they all teach so many different things? In the  Bible we read  that there is “ One Lord, One Faith, One baptism.” So the question that is left is which one is right? There is so many different  doctrines coming from one source—the Bible , how do we interpret the things it says to come to any sort of conclusion of what is right? These are question Joseph Smith had when he wanted to know the truth.

Cry unto the Lord

On Dictionary.com Prayer is defined as , “ …Spiritual communication with God”. I think this is a very good description of what prayer is. Through prayer we can communicate with God, We can talk with him, share the desires of our heart as Joseph Smith did when he had the experience in the Sacred Grove.  Prayer is not different than when we would talk to another person in the aspect that we are talking with someone, but that someone is our Father in Heaven.  We can talk to him as we would to someone else, however it is important to use pronouns that are respectful, such as those found in the scriptures like, Thee, Thou, and Thy.  When I pray and communicate with God I feel closer to him, and I can feel of his Spirit. It is very enlighting to my mind and I can feel a peace that I can not feel anywhere else.