Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Who we come from, not where


"May 1st, 1885. Having entered into the month of May this morning, I fervently thank God that He has led me, these thirteen years past, with a strong hand. Let me relate how he has led me. 

"Nineteen years ago I first knelt down before God; I then thanked Him, from my very heart, for bringing my wife safely through the great pains of child-bearing. That was the first time in my life that I knelt down to pray in earnest. It was at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. I and my family had been attending the Presbyterian Church at Newbiggin, under the ministry of Rev. Dr. Robinson; through him the great God spoke, and the light dawned on my soul. For some years after that I attended places of worship in Blyth, after leaving Newbiggin in 1867. The 'little drop of the creature' was my stumblingblock. 

"I was persuaded by a gentleman of Blyth to join the God Templars; not only as a deal for myself, but that I might be a light to others. This was in 1872, thirteen years ago. Giving up all company and companions, I determined even to let business go, rather than sit in the scorner's chair for the sake of a livelihood. I flung my whole heart and soul, my wife and children, all I had, upon the Lord; and gave Him the reins to drive as He pleased. 

"A few days after joining the Good Templars I went to an evening meeting in the Wesleyan school-room, conducted by Rev. J. Reid, minister of the English Presbyterian Church in Blyth. His subject was "spiritual life." I came home and said to my wife, 'I am saved for ever; Mr. Reid has told me all things ever I did." From that day till now, I have never had a single doubt as to my salvation, that is, for thirteen years. 

"That the reader may judge for himself which is the best side of the question, I will now give a slight sketch of my life while without God, and and in the world. I was forty years with the window shutters on, and I have been thirteen years with them off, five years between as a half-and-half man." (The Lord's Dealings with William Horn, 1887) 

This is an excerpt from the intro to my great great great great great great grandfather William Horn's book. In this book it talks about his conversion to Christianity and his travels as a minister/missionary. I was overjoyed when I found this book. I love family history. I've really gotten into it ever since my rocking seminary teacher took the last two weeks of school to have us in the family history center. I began to collect all these names for the temple. Over the summer I was able to attend the Manti temple and do baptisms and confirmations for the female names I had at the time. I loved it.  It was such an amazing spiritual experience, and every time I even talk about it I feel the Spirit. I love these people and I've grown closer to them over time.

I was just looking at my family tree a while ago and I noticed that the man who raised my great great great grandfather wasn't his biological father, it was his stepdad. Something happened in 1848, I don't know if it was consensual or not, but Jane Duncan had her boss's baby. They were not married and Robert Lumgair (great great great great grandfather) was not interested in marriage. About five years down the line Jane married a man named James Robertson. My great great great grandfather was named William Robertson Lumgair, his biological father's last name and his step father's last name. James Robertson raised another man's child, adopted the little boy, and later on James and Jane had many more children. James was loving enough and enough of a man to love this woman and her illegitimate child, who he then made legitimate by adopting him. What love, what charity!

This Christlike act was so unheard of at the time. Women were shunned if they committed adultery, especially if a child came about because of it. James Robertson must have seen past that when he married Jane.

I bear my testimony to you that the temple can bring families closer through the sealing power. It is a glorious and sacred blessing to be able to know who you come from, not just where. In the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, amen. 

This Christlike act was so unheard of at the time. Women were shunned if they committed adultery, especially if a child came about because of it. James Robertson must have seen past that when he married Jane.

I bear my testimony to you that the temple can bring families closer through the sealing power. It is a glorious and sacred blessing to be able to know who you come from, not just where. In the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

"May 1st, 1885. Having entered into the month of May this morning, I fervently thank God that He has led me, these thirteen years past, with a strong hand. Let me relate how he has led me.

"Nineteen years ago I first knelt down before God; I then thanked Him, from my very heart, for bringing my wife safely through the great pains of child-bearing. That was the first time in my life that I knelt down to pray in earnest. It was at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. I and my family had been attending the Presbyterian Church at Newbiggin, under the ministry of Rev. Dr. Robinson; through him the great God spoke, and the light dawned on my soul. For some years after that I attended places of worship in Blyth, after leaving Newbiggin in 1867. The 'little drop of the creature' was my stumblingblock.

"I was persuaded by a gentleman of Blyth to join the God Templars; not only as a deal for myself, but that I might be a light to others. This was in 1872, thirteen years ago. Giving up all company and companions, I determined even to let business go, rather than sit in the scorner's chair for the sake of a livelihood. I flung my whole heart and soul, my wife and children, all I had, upon the Lord; and gave Him the reins to drive as He pleased.

"A few days after joining the Good Templars I went to an evening meeting in the Wesleyan school-room, conducted by Rev. J. Reid, minister of the English Presbyterian Church in Blyth. His subject was "spiritual life." I came home and said to my wife, 'I am saved for ever; Mr. Reid has told me all things ever I did." From that day till now, I have never had a single doubt as to my salvation, that is, for thirteen years.

"That the reader may judge for himself which is the best side of the question, I will now give a slight sketch of my life while without God, and and in the world. I was forty years with the window shutters on, and I have been thirteen years with them off, five years between as a half-and-half man." (The Lord's Dealings with William Horn, 1887)

This is an excerpt from the intro to my great great great great great great grandfather William Horn's book. In this book it talks about his conversion to Christianity and his travels as a minister/missionary. I was overjoyed when I found this book. I love family history. I've really gotten into it ever since my rocking seminary teacher took the last two weeks of school to have us in the family history center. I began to collect all these names for the temple. Over the summer I was able to attend the Manti temple and do baptisms and confirmations for the female names I had at the time. I loved it.  It was such an amazing spiritual experience, and every time I even talk about it I feel the Spirit. I love these people and I've grown closer to them over time.

I was just looking at my family tree a while ago and I noticed that the man who raised my great great great grandfather wasn't his biological father, it was his stepdad. Something happened in 1848, I don't know if it was consensual or not, but Jane Duncan had her boss's baby. They were not married and Robert Lumgair (great great great great grandfather) was not interested in marriage. About five years down the line Jane married a man named James Robertson. My great great great grandfather was named William Robertson Lumgair, his biological father's last name and his step father's last name. James Robertson raised another man's child, adopted the little boy, and later on James and Jane had many more children. James was loving enough and enough of a man to love this woman and her illegitimate child, who he then made legitimate by adopting him. What love, what charity!

This Christlike act was so unheard of at the time. Women were shunned if they committed adultery, especially if a child came about because of it. James Robertson must have seen past that when he married Jane.

I bear my testimony to you that the temple can bring families closer through the sealing power. It is a glorious and sacred blessing to be able to know who you come from, not just where. In the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

 

Thursday, October 2, 2014

The Big Three

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Over the next few days I will be posting and Article of Faith (a key point of our gospel) and then breaking it down to what it means. 

We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in His son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. 
This basically means that we believe the Godhead are three separate beings: Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. Heavenly Father created us. Jesus Christ lived a perfect life so that he can suffer for our sins, die, and then live again that we may live again also. The Holy Ghost is the messenger from our Heavenly Father. He warns, prompts, inspires, and comforts us. The Holy Ghost tell us what we need to know in response to our asking. In the scriptures, you'll oftentimes see Jesus saying, "the Father is in me and we are one", but this just means that they are one in purpose. What is that purpose? To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39). 

I know and love my Heavenly Father, who lives and love me too more than I can possibly imagine. I am grateful for my Savior and his sacrifice. I have felt the promptings of the Holy Ghost and I know they are from God. I leave these things with you in the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.