Author: saedgar

This website is a collection of many subjects and thoughts that are important to me, and some insights I’ve learned “...along the way.” I think of myself as just a simple man with a testimony of Jesus Christ and His Restored Gospel. But, I have lived (and continue to live) an extraordinary and enjoyable life. I've tried to share some highlights here. I have so many good memories. (SAE)

A Rabbi’s Take on the Book of Mormon

Taking on the Book of Mormon, a Rabbi discovers compelling evidence for the divinity of the Book of Mormon.  An interview with Rabbi Joe Charnes.

“Hebraisms” found in the Book of Mormon!

“In the Jewish mind, when we read a text that has language that is curious, peculiar, we don’t like many scholars in the scholarly academic world, we don’t try to edit our test.  We say that this structure, as clumsy or as peculiar as it is, or as repetitive as it is, it’s intentional.  Every word is necessary, every word is foundational to more sacred understanding, a sacred growth.  Had we said it in a simple way or a more literate way, you would have missed the point.  There are Hebraic or linguistic Hebraisms in the Book of Mormon.  Very often you have a series of ‘ands,’ extra ‘ands.’  In (the book of) Helaman, chapter 3, one sentence has, I think, 17 ands.”  (See Helaman 3:14-17)

Rabbi Joe Charnes

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A Message of Peace and Hope …in Christ!

Please watch this uplifting video message above.  Then, read the brief message below concerning the Atonement and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is “the Prince of Peace!”  He has atoned for the sins and transgressions of all mankind who will repent, “Come unto Him …and follow Him!”  He is the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament (the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), the Light and Life of the World, our Savior and Redeemer, the Resurrected and Glorified Eternal Son of God the Father, the Living and Eternal God of Heaven and Earth.  Through His gift of the Atonement and His Resurrection from death, Jesus Christ has redeemed all mankind from the Fall of Adam, and He has overcome death for all.  Because of Jesus Christ, we can have Hope and Peace in this life and Joy in the glorious and Eternal Worlds to come …without End!

What “we” must do is: Learn of Him; repent of our transgressions; and, follow Him!  He will prepare and glorify all who will forsake their sins, overcome the world, and follow Him and His teachings.  Jesus Christ is literally the “Chosen One” of God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Holy One of Israel, and the Holy Messiah.  It is Christ who has taken upon Himself the sins and transgression of all who will repent and come unto Him.  Jesus Christ is literally, the only “Chosen and Beloved Son” of the Living God of the Universe, “God the Eternal Father.”  Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son of God the Father in the Flesh.

The whole of humanity are “spiritually” born of God the Father in our pre-earthly existent life.  We were all spirit children of God the Father (Elohim) in our pre-existent life (in Heaven).  In this life, we were born (or will be) of Earthly (physical) parent.  During our conception and birth in our mothers’ whoms, our spirits were united with our Earthly bodies of flesh.  However, after our eventual physical death in this life (that is, our mortal death), our spirits shall return to the heavenly realms and we will await the reuniting of our bodies and spirits (the resurrection).  Prior to the glorious resurrection, our physical bodies (i.e, our remains) will be placed in earthly graves …to decay, and our spirit bodies will return to the “heavenly” realm of spirits to await the glorious resurrection and be born again. (Note: I am certain, there will be much work to be done in the Spirit World!  Be assured, we will not be just sitting around as spirits, waiting patiently to be resurrected!)

Because of Jesus Christ, we will all (eventually) be resurrection.  Our individual spirits and bodies will be reunited as one “in the glorious resurrection.”  And, the multitude of all mankind will stand before the great bar of Judgement, and the Great Judge of Heaven and Earth, even Jesus the Christ, will Judge all mankind with His perfect and righteous judgement.  Ultimately, we will all join the hosts and Kingdoms of Heaven, in various levels of Eternal Glory, depending upon our various and individual degrees of worthiness (righteousness) and preparation …as determined by the Great Judge of Heaven and Earth, our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ!

(NOTE: This overly simplified message above on this very complex and sacred matter was prepared by Scott A. Edgar.  Please ponder on it, and make it a matter of sincere personal prayer.)

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Transcript: “Preparing for the Coming of Our Lord”

 “Preparing for the Coming of Our Lord”

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith, Chapter 26

“Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight, for the hour of his coming is nigh” (D&C 133:17).

 “There will be a judgment when Christ comes.”

“The parable the Lord taught of the Wheat and the Tares had reference to the last days. According to the story a sower planted good seed in his field, but while he slept the enemy came and sowed tares in the field. When the blades began to show, the servants desired to go and pluck up the tares but the Lord commanded them to let both the wheat and the tares grow up together until the harvest was ripe, lest they root up the tender wheat while destroying the tares. Then at the end of the harvest, they were to go forth and gather the wheat and bind the tares to be burned. In the explanation of this parable, the Lord said to his disciples that “the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.” [See Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43; and D&C 86.]

“The tares and the wheat are growing together and have been growing in the same field for all these years, but the day is near at hand when the wheat will be garnered, and the tares likewise will be gathered to be burned, and there will come a separation, the righteous from the wicked, and it behooves each one of us to keep the commandments of the Lord, to repent of our sins, to turn unto righteousness, if there is need of repentance in our hearts.”

“Build up and strengthen the members of the Church in faith in God; goodness knows we need it. There are so many influences at work to divide us asunder, right among the members of the Church, and there is going to come, one of these days in the near future a separation of the wheat from the tares, and we are either wheat or tares. We are going to be on one side or the other.”

“The day will come when we will not have this world. It will be changed. We will get a better world. We will get one that is righteous, because when Christ comes, he will cleanse the earth.”

“Read what is written in our scriptures. Read what he himself has said. When he comes, he will cleanse this earth from all its wickedness, and, speaking of the Church, he has said that he would send his angels and they would gather out of his kingdom, which is the Church, all things that offend [see Matthew 13:41].”

“[The] great and dreadful day can be no other time but the coming of Jesus Christ to establish his kingdom in power among the righteous on the earth and to cleanse the earth from all iniquity. It will not be a day of fear and to cause dread in the hearts of the righteous, but it will be a great day of fear and terror to the ungodly. This we have learned from the words of our Savior himself, as he taught his disciples [see Matthew 24; Joseph Smith—Matthew 1].”

“There shall be a judgment when Christ comes. We are informed that the books shall be opened, the dead shall be judged out of the things which are written in the books and among the books will be the book of life [see Revelation 20:12]. We shall see its pages. We shall see ourselves just as we are, and we are to understand with a righteous understanding that the judgments which are meted out to us are just and true, whether we come into the Kingdom of God, … to receive these glorious blessings or whether we are banished.”

“I plead with the Latter-day Saints to stand firm and faithful in the discharge of every duty, keeping the commandments of the Lord, honoring the priesthood, that we may stand when the Lord comes—whether we be living or dead, it matters not,—to be partakers of this glory.”

“To prepare for the coming of the Lord, we need to watch and pray and get our houses in order. There are many events in the world today which indicate that the great day of the Lord is drawing near when the Redeemer will again appear to set up his kingdom in righteousness preparatory to the millennial reign. In the meantime, it is the duty of members of the Church to seek for knowledge and to prepare themselves by study and by faith for the ushering in of that great and glorious day.”

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“My Personal Testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ”

The Great Apostacy

Please allow me to share a very brief understanding about the Church of Jesus Christ in the Early Christian era. Following the resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ, His Apostles and Disciples began traveling about the region sharing and teaching the Gospel of Christ to the chosen people of God (the Jewish people). However, in a vision (see Acts 10), the Apostle Peter was commanded to begin taking the gospel to the Gentiles (the non-Jews), as well as the Jews.

As the knowledge and teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ began to spread throughout the Roman Empire, Roman hostilities towards both Jews and Gentiles under their sovereign control also began to increase. Many Christians and Jews were persecuted and slaughtered by the Roman legions (e.g., all the Apostles of Jesus Christ were either martyred/or banished.) Many Jews and Gentiles fought back, but many were slaughtered by the Roman armies (it is estimated that the Roman vanquishing of Galilee resulted in an estimated 100,000 Jews killed or sold into slavery). (NOTE: Much of this history is recorded in the writings of the ancient Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus.) In the space of about 40 years, the foundation and organization of the Lord’s true church (including a full understanding of Heavenly Father’s Great Plan of Salvation) became marginalized and/or corrupted … and eventually, Divine revelation ceased.

Also, because of growing persecution and wickedness (in both the church and the world), the pure original Gospel of Jesus Christ became corrupted by both false religious leaders and conspiring government politicians. And, the earth began to fall into what became known as “the Great Apostasy” when these false leaders began to modify the original church and corrupted the purity of the pure Doctrine of Christ. In world history, much of this period of more than 1,000 years is referred to as “the Dark Ages” when “…the heavens were sealed.”

The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

However, I testify the fullness of the Everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ has since been restored to the earth in our day. God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ have opened the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times. In the Spring of 1820, a young boy (Joseph Smith, Jr.) was seeking answers to his questions concerning which of all the churches was true, and which he should join. While searching, he came across the words of the Apostle James …which read: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5). Young Joseph later wrote that “…never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine.” Armed with confidence, the boy Joseph decided to approach God the Father in humble prayer. A brief video dramatization of Joseph Smith’s First Vision experience is provided below. Please tap the following video image to watch this short but inspiring true historical event.

(NOTE: Be sure your audio is on!  To enlarge an image, start the video, then hover over and tap the box in the lower right corner of the image.  When finished, tap the Esc key to return this point.  Repeat the process with the next image.)

After watching the inspiring short video above, please click below and listen to a beautiful and inspiring song (“RESTORED“) about the Glorious Gospel Restoration. (Music written and composed by Shawna Edwards.)

Now, after watching and listening to these videos and the music, please continue on and read a short summary of my personal testimony of Jesus the Christ and the glorious restoration of the Lord’s Kingdom on the Earth.

My Personal Testimony

Dear Family, Friends, and all whose who may read this, we are now living in “the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times.” Heavenly messengers have returned to the earth and restored Holy Priesthood authority/powers and blessings. In addition, our Heavenly Father’s “Gospel Plan of Salvation” and “the Doctrine of Christ” have been revealed (again). I believe Jesus Christ Himself sits at the head of His Church (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), and He is alive and well. He is the Creator, our Savior, our Redeemer, and literally, the resurrected and glorified Son of God the Eternal Father.

Like God the Father, Jesus Christ loves all of God’s children, and because of His Sacrifice and Obedience to God, He has made it possible for us to be completely forgiven of our sins and redeemed from the Fall of Adam. Thus, He has provided a way (if we are willing) for each of us to ultimately return and live with God (our Eternal Father in Heaven) again. “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” (The Pearl of Great Price, Moses 1:39)

Of these things I am certain, and with conviction I testify they are true. I share this testimony openly with all who will read it. And I do it with full confidence and all sincerity. I know for myself they are true; and I know you too can receive this same assurance by the power of the Holy Ghost.

“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. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” (The Book of Mormon, Moroni 10:4-5)

My name is Scott Alexander Edgar. I am a fellow servant in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and consider myself “a Follower and Disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.” If you would like to learn more, please visit the Come unto Christ web page. Also, please humbly consider approaching God the Father in sincere personal prayer concerning these true and sacred matters. God answers honest and sincere prayers. Seek to “Hear Him!“ And always remember, Jesus Christ is “…the light and the life of the World.” He wants us all to come unto Him. He is our Eternal Savior and Redeemer. Of this, I am certain!

Sincerely,

Scott A. Edgar

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