Is Death the End of Life?

 

Each year, about 56.6 million people die worldwide. Most, if not all, of us have experienced the passing of people we care about. I know how hard it is to go to the funeral of someone I love. Encountering death naturally leads us to ask the following question: Is death the end of life? Yes, our physical bodies stop working when we die. However, the Google dictionary defines life as "the existence of an individual human being or animal." So, my question remains. Do we continue to exist after mortality, or does death lead to our ultimate annihilation?

 

Unfortunately, 28% of Americans believe there is no heaven, no place of eternal rest when this life is over, no place for us to be reunited and dwell in happiness with our families again. What a gloomy perspective to have! How can anyone cope with a loved one's death without the hope and joy that comes from believing in heaven?


One thing that stuck out to me as I looked at the aforementioned survey results was this: More members of the Church of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly referred to as "Mormons") believe in heaven than members of any other major religious denomination. Why do Mormons believe in heaven? How does it benefit us? How can you or anyone else come to know death is not the end?

Our belief in heaven is centered in our belief in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer. We believe our Lord Jesus was hoisted on a cross at Golgotha over 2000 years ago and was "slain for the sins of the world (Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 11:33)." However, He was the literal Son of God and had consequently inherited divine power over death. To Christ, death had no sting; the grave had no victory (Holy Bible, 1 Corinthians 15:55). On the third day of His martyrdom, our Savior and God triumphantly attained unto the resurrection of the dead. In other words, His body and spirit (commonly referred to as a soul) were reunited.

This great act made it possible for all of us to live again after this life. We jubilantly declare with the ancient prophet Job: "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms destroy my body, yet in my flesh shall I see God (Holy Bible, Job 19:25-26)." The promise of a physical resurrection is extended to every human who has, does, or will dwell on this planet. The Apostle Paul taught "in Christ shall all be made alive (Holy Bible, 1 Corinthians 15:22)."

 



Knowing there is life after death has helped me a lot. I would like to share one of my Facebook posts from about a year and one-half ago:

Not long ago, a friend of mine passed on. However, there were no tears in my eyes; I felt no sadness. Rather, I felt complete peace. My knowledge of God's plan of salvation brought me joy in times of trouble. I know where we came from, what the purpose of life is, and where we are going after this life.

 If you are unsure whether or not there is a life after death, there is a way to find out. To find out, you need to put yourself in a situation where you can have a spiritual experience, and then you need to be willing to listen for God's answer to you. This can sound a little confusing if you haven't had such an experience before; it's kind of like how it is hard for a color blind person to understand what the color yellow looks like. Let me explain what I mean by allowing yourself to have a spiritual experience. Then I will explain what I mean by listening.

There are a variety of ways you can allow yourself to have a spiritual experience. I often have them when I am offering sincere prayers to God, reading from the Holy Bible or Book of Mormon, or attending church. I also often have them when I am in nature pondering on the greatness of God's creation or when I am visiting religious historic sites and considering why spiritual leaders have done what they have. These activities help to connect me to God. Once I have this spiritual connection, I am in a position where He can teach me.
 

For example, earlier this month I went to Nauvoo, Illinois for a few days. This is an important religious site for Mormons since it is a place where thousands of the early church members lived. While there, my family visited Carthage jail where Joseph Smith, a Mormon prophet, was killed by a mob that stormed the jail. I thought about how Joseph knew that many people were threatening to kill him if he didn't denounce himself as a prophet and the Book of Mormon as the word of God, yet he would not. How can someone love God more than death? I could feel God's power reaffirming to my soul that Joseph knew death was not the end of existence, and he would be rewarded for staying true to what God wanted him to do. This strengthened my faith in there being a life after death.

It is possible to have a spiritual experience but not recognize it. We are used to listening to the big voices of politics, advertising, and social media, but God speaks to us in a still, small voice through our thoughts and feelings. We need to be attentive and willing to learn. But. I can testify that if you do those things which will enable you to have spiritual experiences and listen for God's answers, you will come to know as I do that God lives and loves you and has provided a way for you to return to His presence and live with Him after this life is over. Coming to know this may take time and effort, but it is within your reach. Seek for this knowledge.

How Can We Save America?

America's Liberty is in Jeopardy:

When I was younger I loved everything about the Fourth of July: the city parade, the food and homemade ice cream my family would always make, the fireworks, etc. Unfortunately, since I have gotten older and learned more about America's political arena, Independence Day has started to become a day of mixed emotions. Sure, I am patriotic; I love the principles this nation was founded on, and I would give my life to defend our liberty if needs be. The problem is, I have realized that independence for our Founding Fathers and the independence we see in America today have two different meanings.

Let me explain by going back in time to our great nation's creation. At the time of the Revolutionary War, eastern America was under British rule. There were taxes on almost everything. If you didn't follow what the government said, your property could be seized. Religious freedom was limited. To great men like John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson, this was not liberty. They viewed a free country as one in which the government existed solely to protect the "unalienable rights" with which "we have been endowed by our Creator" "among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." They envisioned a country in which the government did not rule the people but, rather, in which the people ruled the government. They dreamed of an America in which the government placed restrictions on the people only if such restrictions were necessary to maintain other people's unalienable rights.

 





About a decade after the United States declared its independence from Great Britain, our Founding Fathers were inspired by God in the drafting of the United States Constitution. It was a document designed to make these men's ideas of how a government should operate a reality.

As I have come to better understand the United States Constitution, and the Founding Fathers' intent in writing it, I have come to the sad realization that our nation has been drifting away from sound constitutional principles. We've been losing our independence that has been won and so adamantly defended at an enormous cost.

Yes, we still have the freedom to vote for our political leaders, but America has once again turned into a country in which the government rules the people. Federal, state, and local bureaucracies, rather than elected officials, regulate such things as tax codes, environmental procedures, federal land use, healthcare, and so on. Taxes exist on almost everything and are continuing to raise. We never really own our property as government bureaucracies will seize it at its discretion. (See Note 1 below.) Religious freedom is suffering great persecution. (See Note 2 below.)

America's liberty is in jeopardy!

How We Can Save America:
The holy scriptures teach us valuable lessons about how we can politically fix our nation. In the Doctrine and Covenants (a collection of revelations to modern-day prophets) the Lord teaches “the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established…should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles; That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment. Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another. And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood (D&C 101:77-80).”
God has approved the United States Constitution, so we need to defend and reverence this document.

A former prophet and leader of the LDS (Mormon) church named Ezra Benson set the example for us. He said “I reverence the Constitution of the United States as a sacred document. To me its words are akin to the revelations of God, for God has placed his stamp of approval on the Constitution of this land. I testify that the God of heaven selected and sent some of his choicest spirits to lay the foundation of this government as a prologue to the restoration of the gospel and the second coming of our Savior (President Ezra Taft Benson, The Constitution – A Glorious Standard).”
How can we reverence the constitution? First, we need to read it and learn what it really means. Second, we need to elect political leaders that are going to abide by sound constitutional principles. Third, we need to invite others to do the same.

Political action can help in the process of saving America, but it may not be enough. A book of sacred scripture called the Book of Mormon teaches us something even more effective than politics. After Christ was resurrected and ascended into heaven, he visited a people called the Nephites that lived in the ancient Americas. For nearly a century afterward, the Nephites had the ideal society. The Book of Mormon record states “And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people. And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God. There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God. And how blessed were they! For the Lord did bless them in all their doings; yea, even they were blessed and prospered until an hundred and ten years had passed away; and the first generation from Christ had passed away, and there was no contention in all the land (Book of Mormon, 4 Nephi 1:15-18).”
Why were their no political problems in the land? It was "because of the love of God that did dwell in the hearts of the people." We need to help spread the love of God throughout this country if we want to save America. This will start with us. We need to develop our own love of God and let this love shine through us to others. We need to be proactive in serving others in need. We need to share the gospel of Christ with our family, friends, and acquaintances. As we defend the Constitution and help increase our nation's love of God, we will be doing our part in saving this great land of the free and home of the brave!

Note 1: For example, every time a freeway is built, the government seizes the property of each person that lives in the freeway's planned course.

Note 2: For example, in 2014 Jack Phillips declined to make Charlie Craig and David Mullins a cake for their same-sex wedding because doing anything to support a same-sex marriage was contrary to their religious beliefs. Charlie and David took Jack to court and won. In other words, LGBT rights was treated with higher regard than religious liberty.

How Has My Family Found Increased Peace, Joy, Unity, and Love?

We live in a world full of turmoil. Most of the time when I get on Facebook I see heated political arguments. I talk to people that are struggling with their finances every day. Evils such as pornography, drug usage, and same-sex relationships are widespread. Many portray these things as acceptable or even desirable. I have watched far too many families get torn apart with nasty divorces. We each have challenges in life. For example, I am almost constantly struggling with medical problems. Even though so many things are going wrong in the world, my family has succeeded at finding great peace, joy, unity, and love. How did we do this? The answer is simple. We have the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives.

A while back in the LDS General Women's Conference, Sister Cheryl A. Esplin gave an analogy for what the gospel of Jesus Christ does for our families. She said:

"A Young Women leader held up two soda cans. In one hand she held a can that was empty and in the other hand a can that was unopened and full of soda. First, she squeezed the empty can; it began to bend and then collapsed under the pressure. Next, with her other hand, she squeezed the unopened can. It held firm. It didn’t bend or collapse like the empty can--because it was filled. We likened this demonstration to our individual lives and to our homes and families. When filled with the Spirit and with gospel truth, we have the power to withstand the outside forces of the world that surround and push against us. However, if we are not filled spiritually, we don’t have the inner strength to resist the outside pressures and can collapse when forces push against us."

 How can we fill our families spiritually? The answer is given in a document titled "The Family: A Proclamation to the World." It says "Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."

I just got home a couple days ago from serving a missionary. While on my mission, I encountered multiple families on the verge of divorce. I found nothing that helped bring these families back together better than getting them to start reading their scriptures and praying as a family every day. There is a lot of truth in the saying "A family that reads and prays together is a family that plans to stay together."

Since the day I was born, my family has always been there for me. My family has been a place of safety and refuge from the world. I testify that home can be a heaven on earth when a family works together to turn their family over to Jesus Christ.

I invite you to read "The Family: A Proclamation to the World." You can find it at https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng

Is Jesus Christ Our Savior?

About one and one-half years ago, I took a tour through the Mormon temple in Phoenix, Arizona just before it was dedicated to the Lord. Some of the nonmembers that took this same tour were surprised to find pictures of Jesus Christ all over the walls of the temple. Some of these people thought that we worshipped Joseph Smith or something like that. That is not true. God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ are who members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often nicknamed the Mormon church because of the Book of Mormon) worship.

In one of my previous blog posts titled "Is There a God and Why Does it Matter?" it was shown that God exists. God is our loving Heavenly Father. This Easter season, I hope that we will learn more about and remember one of God's greatest expressions of love:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

God's only begotten Son is Jesus Christ. The most fundamental tenet of Christianity is the belief that Jesus Christ suffered, bled, died, and was resurrected for us. I have learned for myself that Jesus suffered "pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and...[took] upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people" (Alma 7:11) in the Garden of Gethsemane. He later said that this "suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit--and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink" (D&C 19:18). Then, "he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world" (1 Nephi 11:33). God sent Him into the world to do so, and Jesus willingly suffered and died because of His great love for us. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).

Because of this selfless act, we can be forgiven of our sins, be spiritually cleansed and improved, and live again after this life in the presence of God. In remembrance of Christ's sacrifice of His body and His blood, many Christian religions, including the Mormons, offer up their sacraments by partaking of bread and water that has been blessed by priests. Every Sunday, I go to church and offer up my sacraments. As I do so, I try to visualize Jesus Christ suffering and dying for me. In these moments, I can feel the Holy Spirit confirm to me that the Lord Jesus is my Savior from sin, sorrow, and death.

I felt similar feelings last Easter when I viewed a beautiful life-sized statue of Jesus at an LDS temple visitor's center in Mesa, Arizona. I was overpowered with emotion as I saw the spear wound in his side and the nail prints in His hands and feet. I could feel Christ's incomprehensible love for me. I have also had many spiritual experiences that are too sacred to write here that have allowed me to know with absolute certainty that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and my Savior. If I were to deny this, I would deny the very power of God and would be denied entrance into the kingdom of heaven. I cannot utter such a lie.

I know that each of you can also come to know that Jesus is your Savior. Learn of Him. Live like Him. Earnestly ask God for understanding and faith. Answers will come. They may not come immediately or in the way that we think they should have come, but I am certain that they will come. You will grow firm in your testimony of Christ as you yield your heart to Him. You can learn more at https://www.mormon.org/beliefs/jesus-christ

My favorite hymn expresses my feelings for Him:

1.	I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
	Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.
	I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,
	That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.
	Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
	Enough to die for me!
	Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!
2.	I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine
	To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,
	That he should extend his great love unto such as I,
	Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.
	Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
	Enough to die for me!
	Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!
3.	I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!
	Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?
	No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,
	Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.
	Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
	Enough to die for me!
	Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

Does God Still Speak to Us Today?

Some people don't believe that God speaks to mankind today. Others don't believe that God has ever spoken to mankind. However, I know that God loves us because I have seen His hand in my life time and time again. Because He loves us, He wants to communicate with us. I love communicating with my family because I love them. Likewise, it is only logical that a loving Heavenly Father would find joy from communicating with us, His children. God's love is unceasing, so He never stops speaking to us.

 

I have had many people ask me over the years how I can have such great confidence in my religious beliefs; how do I know that I am not wrong? My response is beautifully simple: God has told me so. Now don't worry, I'm not a schizophrenic that needs to be locked up in a high-security psychiatric facility. I am not claiming that God has come down from heaven and made a personal visit to me. God only physically speaks face to face with people in very, very special circumstances. He also occasionally speaks to people through visions and visits by angels. Most of the time, however, He communicates with men, women, and children through the Holy Ghost and prophets.

When we pray sincerely, God listens. When the time is right, He responds to our concerns and questions through the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is a spirit, so He can speak to us spiritually. We can recognize His answers by listening carefully to our thoughts and feelings. The scriptures tell us what the Holy Ghost feels like: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance" (Galatians 5:22-23). I have had the Holy Ghost speak to me many times in response to my prayers.

 

In addition to giving answers to people through the Holy Ghost, God also speaks through prophets such as Adam, Noah, and Moses. God speaks to the prophet, then the prophet delivers the message to everybody else. The prophets words are recorded in the scriptures. 

I once had somebody ask me why we need a prophet if we have the Holy Ghost. I responded by telling him that the world is like an enormous auditorium. God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are on the stage, speaking to the world. Unfortunately, only those that are close to the stage by their obedience to God's commandments can hear Them speaking. However, there is a prophet in the room really close to the stage. He listens to what God is saying and then repeats these words into a microphone. Even though only some people can hear the Holy Ghost, everybody can hear what the prophet is saying.

Because God loves His people today just as much as He loved the people in the time that the Bible was written, God has called a prophet to speak to the people on the earth today. His name is Thomas S. Monson. A few months ago, I watched a video about His life. I felt the Spirit powerfully testify to me that he really is a prophet of God. You can also come to know that he is a prophet. You can watch him speak each April and October during LDS General Conference. You will feel the Spirit and learn how to draw closer to God.

Is There a God and Why Does it Matter?

Whenever I go up in the mountains, I love to find a spot unmarked by human interference and bask in the beauty of nature. I look at the complexity, diversity, and symmetry of everything around me. I consider how it all came to be. It could not have happened by chance. It is illogical to suggest that a bunch of wet concrete, wood, drywall, and glass being dropped down out of the sky could conglomerate into a beautiful mansion. It is equally illogical to suggest that some random explosion of space, time, energy, and matter randomly resulted in this organized, beautiful planet with all of the living things upon the face of it.

 

When a house is constructed, creativity, skill, and hard work are required. There are many details that architects, engineers, and contractors need to figure out in order for the final product to emerge. So much more creativity, skill, and hard work is required to make a world like ours. Who was the Creator of our Universe? The answer is given in the first sentence of the Holy Bible: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Genesis 1:1).

There are many things that testify to me that there is a God that created this Universe. Reason tells me there is a God. The scriptures are laid before me. I have had many powerful spiritual experiences. Indeed "all things denote there is a God" (Alma 30:44, The Book of Mormon).

Why does it matter if there is a God? The answer to this question requires the understanding that God is our loving Heavenly Father. If there is a loving God, then following Him will bring increased peace and joy into our lives. If He is our Father, then we are His children and can grow to become like Him. Knowing that there is a God allows us to have a sense of purpose and direction in life.

You can come to know that there is a God and show your devotion for Him by praying to Him and keeping His commandments. As you do so with a sincere heart, intending to act on the answer you receive, the Holy Ghost will teach you that God is real through your thoughts and feelings.

Visit Mormon.org to learn more about God and how He can improve your life! You can also chat with Mormon missionaries online at Mormon.org/chat and ask them any questions you might have about God.

Why am I a Mormon?

My name is Kacey Leavitt, but my current church title is Elder Leavitt since I am a missionary. I have attended the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often called the Mormon church, since I was really little. I am still a faithful member of the church. I will forever love being a Mormon!

So, what is it about the LDS church that I love so much? It is far more than tradition or years of being brainwashed that keeps me going to church every week. When I was younger, probably about 7 or 8 years old, I decided that I wanted to know for myself if the Mormon religion is true. I had been told at church that a prophet named Joseph Smith translated ancient American records into English in the 19th century. This book has come to be known as The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. I was also told that if I read and prayed about it, God would tell me that it is true through my thoughts and feelings. I would then know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that the Mormon church is true.

I decided to read the Book of Mormon. I was a little bookworm at the time, but no book had ever touched my heart like the Book of Mormon did. At the end of the book, I read a marvelous promise given by a prophet named Moroni. He said:

"3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

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; 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.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things" (Moroni 10:3-5).

I still have never had any words strike me as powerfully as those words did. They penetrated my mind and heart. I knew that, even if the rest of the Book of Mormon was a fraud, there was eternal truth in the concept that, if we ask God in faith, He will teach us truth.

I got down on my little knees and asked God if the Book of Mormon is true. I felt feelings of peace, joy, love, and power and knew that the Book of Mormon is true, Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and this is God's true and living church upon the earth today.

Since then, many powerful, life-changing spiritual experiences have reaffirmed and strengthened my faith. I will forever rejoice in my knowledge that I am a member of Christ's true church!

Visit https://www.mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon to get your own free copy of the Book of Mormon. Then, read and pray about it. It will improve your life!