Southeastern Idaho Latter-day Saints:

Mormonism 101, is this what you all believe across the board?

To the 100 or so LDS bishops in Idaho Falls, do you agree?

From Wheaton College, Alan Johnson wrote in his commentary on I Corinthians 15:  “For many years I have asked my evangelical theology students whether they believe in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.  Almost all unhesitatingly put up their hands.  But then when I ask if they believe that Jesus is 100 percent human right now as well as divine, almost no hands go up.  What has happened?  I believe they cannot conceive of Jesus as now existing in a new human form (body); instead they think of him as some sort of disembodied spirit, even after the resurrection.”

So I would declare from the pulpit in Idaho Falls: Out with the Greek metaphysical mumble jumble that would impede people from believing in the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ!  Is the afterlife only the immortality of the soul?  Hogwash!  I Corinthians 15 pierces through the philosophical smog. It is truth for the believer.  There is a future, spiritual body.  Christ is the firstfruits of this.

So from all of those in the LDS community, can I hear a hearty amen?

Last week, I stood packed in the Skyline High School gymnasium to hear Mitt Romney.  The atmosphere was electric.  People cheered their lungs out.  This past Monday, I sat in the back of the downtown Civic to see Ron Paul.  A full auditorium hollered their approval.  These community gatherings will linger as highlights in my mind for 2012.

But the greatest town gathering of all was when 500 brethren literally saw with their own physical eyes the spiritual body of the Lord Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 15:6).  This far exceeds getting together with friends and watching kooky vampires in the Twilight: Breaking Dawn movie.  This surpasses community, political events with Mitt or Ron.

Can you imagine being there long ago?  Seeing the strong, immortal, incorruptible, brilliant body of the King?  If you were among the 500, what would you have done?  If it weren’t for the Creator King and His sustaining and loving power, I think that the molecules of my current, sinful body would have just burst apart.

Easter is comin’ to Idaho Falls.  Don’t miss seeing the greatest event that shook the world.  Believe the resurrection power.

Numbers 15:1-16:50

The Curse of the Law and the Exposure of Mankind’s Heart Adultery

Now while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day.  And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation.  They put him under guard, because it had not been explained what should be done to him.  Then the LORD said to Moses, “The man must surely be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.”  So, as the LORD commanded Moses, all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him with stones, and he died. Numbers 15:32-36

Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners.  And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your God. Numbers 32:27-40

Psalm 32:1-5

Gospel Joy!

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered, blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. Psalm 32:1-2

Mark 11:1-19

Your preparation for Palm Sunday!

And think globally.  Think beyond American politics.  Hear the King of the nations.

Jesus says,

My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations. Mark 11:17

Today’s O.T. reading – Numbers 13:1-14:45

The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above.  Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in.  But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised.  (Numbers 14:29-31)

Good things ahead for these teenagers and children.  But what do you think is in store for our teenagers and children in America?

Today’s N.T. reading – Mark 10:32-52

Blind Bartimaeus knew the way of the gospel:

“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Even more so than listening to Mitt Romney last week in Skyline High School . . .

And better than enjoying Ron Paul at the beginning of this week . . .

The political hightlight occurred for me last night at the packed-out, historical Bonneville County Republican Caucus — Pastor Dave Bass of the New Geneva Orthodox Presbyterian Church lead the thousands of us in prayer.  And he led us directly to the One wherein our hope lies . . . the Messiah.

(Do you know him?  Check out one of his messages, “Remember Your Christian Roots, America!”)

From today’s Bible reading in Proverbs in Idaho Falls . . .

When pride comes, then comes shame;

But with the humble is wisdom (Proverbs 11:2).

– taken from The NKJV Daily Bible

What would Jesus Christ being saying to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Idaho Falls?

I listened to Mitt Romney live today at Skyline High.   I am glad I went.  Mitt sought to rally us all around the Creator.  And I appreciate his highlighting this beautiful description of God.  But when it comes to Southeastern Idaho culture, let me express my disagreement with the community push of Mormonism as another Christian denomination alongside of what I believe.  Though the year is 2012, we still have some pretty deep disagreements over what are the foundational stones for Christianity.

Quickly, consider at least 5 tonight . . .

1.  Latter-day Saint – God does not create out of nothing.

a saint living in the latter days (that’s me) – God did and does create out of nothing.

2.  Latter-day Saint – God and man are the same species.

a saint living in the latter days – There is God.  And I am not.  And I never will be of the same species.

3.  Latter-day Saint – God and Jesus are not equal.

a saint living in the latter days – God and Jesus are equal.

4.  Latter-day Saint – You work to attain celestial glory

a saint living in the latter days – You work because you have celestial glory

5.  Latter-day Saint – A modern day prophet can correct or add to the Bible.

a saint living in the latter days – The Bible tells us everything we need to know now about the perfect Prophet.

____

These first 5 are pretty significant discussion points, don’t you think?

Under the direction of director, K. Bruce Ford, the combined intermediate men’s and women’s choruses of Eagle Rock Junior High did a superb job last night singing, “Go Down Moses,” in their mid-winter concert.

Republican candidate Ron Paul is scheduled to make his first-ever presidential campaign appearance on Monday.

– Post Register (3/1/12)

It will be at the Civic Auditorium.