The First Epistle of Elder Savage

                              (Jesus Christ statue, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)

        God is our loving Heavenly Father! He is all powerful, all knowing and perfect in every way! He created Me, You, your dog, cat, the space time continuum, and all the galaxies in the entire universe. He is the father of everything. God the Father is the Supreme Being in whom we believe and whom we worship. He is the ultimate Creator, Ruler, and Preserver of all things. He is perfect, has a body of flesh and bones, and has all power, and knows all things. We are his children and he cares for us, even that it is His work and His glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
      
     Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, the Son of God. He is our Redeemer and mediator with the father. He is the Lamb of God, the very Messiah as prophesied of by Isiah.  Each of these titles points to the truth that Jesus Christ is the only way by which we can return to live with our Heavenly Father.
Jesus suffered and was crucified for the sins of the world, giving each of God’s children the gift of repentance and forgiveness. Only by His mercy and grace can anyone be saved. His subsequent resurrection prepared the way for every person to overcome physical death forever. These events compile what we refer to as the Atonement. In short, Jesus Christ saves us from sin and death. For that, He is very literally our Savior and Redeemer. In the future Jesus Christ will return to reign on earth in peace for a thousand years. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and He will be our Lord forever. It should never be mistaken or mis-conceived concerning the Christianity of the Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. For the title which they bear they have taken upon them, not only their unshaken faith in Jesus Christ as their savior, but more importantly by the devotion and determination of these Saints, to live every principle of their life as closely to that one perfect life that Christ lived.

      The Holy Ghost is the third member of the "God Head". The God Head is what we describe as Our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost, and will be described in my own words later in this essay. The Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit, without a body of flesh and bones. He is often referred to as the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of the Lord, or the Comforter. The Holy Ghost works in perfect unity with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, fulfilling several roles to help us live righteously and receive the blessings of the gospel. He witnesses of the Father and the Son and reveals and teaches the truth of all things. We can receive a sure testimony of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ only by the power of the Holy Ghost. His communication to our spirit carries far more certainty than any communication we can receive through our natural senses.

      Jesus Christ was created by our Father in Heaven as was You and Me, and Satan too. So, yes Satan is our brother as is Christ. Now unless you believe Satan is more powerful than God and had the ability to create himself, without being existent and also grant himself limited power to another supreme being's laws, ... ok ill stop now because it is ludicrous to even conceive such a fact that Satan is anything other than our brother. Hard to accept? Well if we have a Father, then we are his children. There is only one God who could have possible created us, so we are his children and brothers and sisters with every one else. Now I'm not building Satan up in anyway, but I'm tearing him down in every way I can, by teaching the true doctrine of Jesus Christ. Satan will NEVER have children, he will never have a body, he will never ever taste even a fraction or particle of joy or happiness, and he will never progress any higher. Yes even he is ultimately stripped of anything he has ever had or ever will have that could be credited to or described in any way as "good". He will endure the most ultimate of any punishment, and it will never cease for him, ever. Yes eternal and endless damnation.
     
       Well then... I have just explained to you in the clearest and most direct wording I could describing the relationships of the Major forces of power in whom we might ever associate with. Alrighty then, we talked about God a lot. Now if I did not make it clear before, let me make it absolutely clear right now. Our Heavenly Father, and the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are not one person, or being in anyway at all. Now do not overcrowd me with apathetic philosophy's declaring words without knowledge. I know the scriptures, and I know that they are true. So you may at times come across verses of scripture that may say in effect, "The Father, The Son and the Holy Ghost which is one god..." This does not scarcely indicate in any way nor means that God is a Three headed mysterious omnipresent mist of confusion, nor would it indicate to any learned theologian that God is a three dimensional supernal manifestation of his humble self in a ultimate throne of power. Nope no way. Any time one wants to learn about, and then explain any conception of a Trinitarian God he must first endure a agnostic study of the writings of supposedly learned men, and be educated upon such matters from worldly sources, rather that it be an appeal to scripture or a supplication of prayer. No where in Gods holy inspired words does he teach anything resembling a Trinitarian God.

      However the divine connections between The Father, The Son and the Holy Ghost are of such absolute importance that they must be one in their mission, one in their power and authority, and one in purpose, or God as we know him must cease to be God. He cannot continue in anything, except he be within perfect, and absolute divine harmony, and exactness to his role, purpose and identity. He cannot and he will not. Anything that is done by Heavenly Fathers power, must be perfect. Here we find the role of Jesus Christ and his ministry on this world, in simplistic harmony with the ordinations placed upon him by God The Father. He came into this world not to condemn the world, but the world through him might be saved, by a vicarious work for everyone who has ever lived or will yet live upon this earth. We sacredly refer to this work as the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the most important event as far as the bands of time prevail us to comprehend. If it where not for this Atonement we could never be made clean in the eyes of God. Without Christ's atonement there is no hope anywhere for salvation. His Atonement was in accordance perfectly with the will of God to such the extent when Christ cried out to his Father "If thou be willing let this cup pass from me, not as I wilt, but thy will be done." Jesus Christ used his agency that day, he loved us with such a Godly love he gave everything and endured everything so that our souls may not be lost. Now it may be a little easier to also see the role of the Holy Ghost. His special mission to bear divine Godly witness to the children of men, of purposes of Father, and of the atonement of Jesus Christ, so that we might receive this guidance of the Spirit to help us follow them, that we also might inherit everlasting life. The atonement of Jesus Christ is available to all, but only accessible through the ordinances of salvation when administered by the proper priesthood authority. If you have not partaken of the Love of Jesus Christ, I invite you to do so now. Find the missionaries wherever you may be, listen to their message, and follow Jesus Christ by being Baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God. It will change your life, and you will receive a remission of your sins, and I promise the blessings of God will be upon you and your family.

     I love my Heavenly Father, and I love my Savior Jesus Christ, and I am forever thankful for the guidance and direction of the Holy Ghost. I bear my testimony to whoever may hear of these words, or stumble across this epistle, that I know that God has again called a prophet among the nations. We have authority and power from God to Baptize for the remission of sins, confer the Holy Ghost, and many other sacred ordinances. But above all we have the opportunity to come together as families, in the sacred temples of God and be sealed together for time and all eternity! The Book of Mormon is the word of God, and it was translated by his power through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know these things are true, or I would not testify, or declare these words. I have put it all to the test, I've studied and I have prayed to Heavenly Father numerous times to receive and reassure the testimony I have gained. Now if you have not gained such a testimony by asking in sincere prayer, if this church is true, I invite you to do so now. I boldly declare that God loves his children and that the windows of heaven are open. God answers prayers, and he will answer yours.

Know that I love you, and that God loves you.
In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
Elder Savage

P.S Sorry about grammar and punctuation errors if there be any.

The Aurmor of God

We are all enlisted till the conflict is o’er. …

Soldiers in the army, there’s a bright crown in store;

We shall win and wear it by and by.

Haste to the battle, quick to the field,

Truth is our helmet, buckler, and shield.

Stand by our colors—proudly they wave. …

Hark! ’tis our Captain calls you today;

Lose not a moment, make no delay!

Fight for our Savior, come, come away! …

Fighting for a kingdom, and the world is our foe. …

Glad to join the army, we will sing as we go;

We shall gain the victory by and by.

Dangers may gather—why should we fear?

Jesus, our Leader, ever is near.

He will protect us, comfort and cheer.

(Hymns, no. 210.)

        

     This analogy I take this directly from the Bible which is from Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians. He speaks of The whole armour of God, and how it is important in strengthening our testimonies, building our faith and protecting us from the Adversary. This is what Paul has to say....

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day. …

“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

“And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.” (Eph. 6:11–18.)

The great unrest in the world today and the wars and rumors of wars are affecting us greatly; but as Paul says, our greatest and most deadly struggle will be “not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, [and] against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

     Consider the following questions:

Are we studying the scriptures so that we can increase our knowledge and faith and testimony regarding the gospel? Do we keep the commandments? Are we honest and truthful in our dealings? Do we keep the Sabbath day holy? Do we observe the Word of Wisdom? Do we pay an honest tithing? Do we attend our meetings and respond to the calls made of us by our authorities? Are we virtuous and clean and pure in heart and mind and deed?Do we fight against the evils around us—pornography, abortion, tobacco, alcohol, drugs? Do we have the courage to stand up for our convictions? Can we truly say we are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ? Do we live peaceably with our neighbors and avoid gossip and backbiting and spreading unfounded rumors? Do we truly love our neighbors as ourselves?

    If we can answer yes to these questions, then we will have on the whole armor of God, which will protect us from harm and preserve us from our enemies. If we must answer no to these questions, then our armor is weak, there is an unshielded place which can be found, a vulnerable area for attack, and we will be subject to injury or destruction by Satan, who will search until he finds our weaknesses, if we have them.

       Examine your armor. Is there an unguarded or unprotected place? Determine now to add whatever part is missing. No matter how antiquated or lacking in parts your armor may be, always remember that it is within your power to make the necessary adjustments to complete your armor.

Through the great principle of repentance you can turn your life about and begin now clothing yourself with the armor of God through study, prayer, and a determination to serve God and keep his commandments.

     Remember, keep your armor on! Always, Satan never stops trying to bring us down or to hurt us. He will do all he can to drag us away from Jesus. Let us make sure we are always ready for battle! And when we do fight, let us always repair our armor for the next fight.

     Most of this analogy I stole from my awesome companion Elder Richins, and I now claim it for my own! Ha Ha I'm kidding the credit is his.

  

Love Yall

Elder Savage

Jake the Rancher

                  

                  Jake, the rancher, went one day to fix a distant fence.

          The wind was cold and gusty and the clouds rolled gray and dense,

As he pounded the last nail in and gathered tools to go.

The temperature had fallen and the snow began to blow.

When he finally reached his pickup, he felt a heavy heart,

from the sound of that ignition, he knew it wouldn't start.

So Jake did what most of us do if we'd have been there.

He humbly bowed his balding head and sent aloft a prayer.

As he turned the key for the last time, he softly cursed his luck.

They found him three days later, frozen stiff in that old truck.

Now Jake had been around in life and done his share of roamin'.

But when he saw Heaven, he was shocked -- it look just like Wyomin'.

Of all the saints in Heaven, his favorite was St. Peter.

Now, this line, it ain't needed much, but it helps with rhyme and meter.

So they set and talked a minute or two, or maybe it was three,

Nobody was keepin' score -- in Heaven time is free.

"I've always heard," Jake said to Pete, "that God will answer prayers,

But one time I asked for help, well He, just plain wasn't there.

Does God answer prayers of some, and ignores the prayers of others?

That don't seem exactly square -- I know all men are brothers.

Or does he randomly reply, without good rhyme or reason?

Maybe, it's the time of day, the weather or the season.

Now I ain't trying to act smart, it's just the way I feel,

And I was wonderin', could you tell -- what the heck's the deal?

Peter listened very patiently and when Jake was done,

There were smiles of recognition, and he said, "So, you're the one!

That day your truck, it wouldn't start, and you sent your prayer a flying,

You gave us all a real bad time, with hundreds of us a trying.

A thousand angels rushed to check the status of your file,

But you know, Jake, we hadn't heard from you in quite a while

And though all prayers are answered, and God ain't got no quota,

He didn't recognize your voice, and started a truck in North Dakota.

  Moral of the story? Say your prayers!  

    I know that God is in fact our loving Father in Heaven, and because he is, He loves us! Well because he loves us, his children, He will bless our lives. He does this by answering prayers, telling us what to do, what path to follow, or to testify or truth, comfort when in need, and teach things we need to know. Well how he tells us, he doesn't come in a pillar of fire or anything but He tells us through the Holy Ghost, and He tells us by feelings, promptings, happiness, truths, and just down right makes us feel awesome about something. Example praying about the Book of Mormon he will testify of the truth, and we will feel it by feelings we cannot describe. If it is a decision to get baptized, when praying about it we will feel completely convinced that it is right by the Holy Ghost. We will feel good about the decision and we will feel happy and joyful.

   I add my testimony today that I KNOW that God hears and answered our prayers, maybe not in the way we wish or the way we hope, like ol Jake, but He does love us, and He will hear us forever.

Love Yall

Elder Savage

Press Forward Like a Cat

     If ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.
     What does it mean to "Press Forward"? How do we do this, and how can we gain this "Eternal Life"?
     Well have I gotten an analogy for you. When I think of pressing forward and enduring to The End I think of it as pushing our way through. The best pusher I can think of is a Cat. Ha ha not a cat, cat. I mean a Caterpillar, and no not the worm things that magically turn into butterflies. I mean a Caterpillar Bulldozer.

    Oh yea! Yup well this is a pretty good example of a Cat Dozer. Well lookin at a machine like this you can only imagine how much pushing power it really has. Anything that gets in its way is gone! Don't park your car in this things way or you probably wont have a car anymore, same goes for a school bus or any large buildings, bridges or ... well pretty much anything. This machine can knock over any tree, rock, or anything that gets in its way.

   Brothers and Sisters we need to be like a Bulldozer! We have the Lords promise that if we stayed anchored in our faith, that nothing can come before us that we cannot handle. We need to keep our hearts steadied and solid with the teachings of the Lord, meaning the words of the Prophets and the scriptures. We need to have that huge solid shield in front of us to protect us from any "rocks" or trials and tribulations and temptations. This shield is the Holy Ghost. We need to always remain worthy to have its companionship and protection. And most of all we need to be in control of our lives. That huge dozer is all in control and check by a few levers and pedals and we also much make sure we have complete and total control in our lives.

   And most important of all we mush press forward at all times with Faith in Jesus Christ! We must never give up hope or let trial in our lives shake us. We need to stand up and arise at any situation that we Believe in Christ! We know that God lives and that He loves Us!

      Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. (2 Nephi 31:20)

   We have the Lords promise! We must always endure to the end! We must press on and push through!

Its My Philosophy

      

       Well as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I often find my words being cut short and my mind left un-spoken. Which most of you who know me probably think that's a good thing. ha ha. Well lets let the matter be clear to everyone that can read these words or hear my voice, I am going to tell you straight up, and straight down who I am and what I believe.

      First and foremost of all I know that there is a God. I know that He is our loving Heavenly Father, and stating such I also know that He created You and I. And He also created everyone and everything we know, and everything we cannot comprehend. He is the master painter of the universe, the ultimate engineer in all living things and the supreme Governor of this world, Galaxy and universe. I know that He is loving and caring beyond our wildest imaginations and because He is, He knows us, even down to the number of hairs on our heads. He wants our eternal salvation and our everlasting happiness and joy, and to bring this to pass, is His work and His glory.

    Secondly I bear my testimony on the truthfulness of the everlasting gospel. I know that the Prophet of the world today is Tohmas S. Monson. He is the only one on this earth today with the right privilege, and commission to exercise every priesthood key and every necessary ordinance pertaining to the salvation of man. I know that he, and others before him such as Gordon B. Hinkley and all those through Joseph Smith where directly called of God to be his servants. Speaking of said Joseph Smith, I know that our Heavenly Father, and His Son Jesus Christ appeared to him on a early spring morning in 1820. At that time he was commissioned to to be a prophet of God and to restore the True Church of Jesus Christ. In this vast and bewildering calling he was also told to retrieve and ancient record and to translate the words by the power of God and to compile a book. We know of this book as The Book of Mormon. It is real, physical evidence that we can read with our eyes and hold in our hands. But the real evidence or should I say the ultimate convincing power behind the is that the Book of Mormon testifies of its own truthfulness, and this comes directly from God. As we read these words the Spirit of God will testify to our hearts as well as to our minds to the truthfulness of the message it contains. I have receives this answer, and I know that it is true.

       Thirdly I bear my testimony about my beliefs pertaining to the family.  I know that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children. It is through our families that we can obtain happiness in this life. In our families we can learn and grow strong in the teachings of Jesus Christ. In our families we can always have peace and comfort in times of trial and tribulation. In our families we can grow strong and defend the firery darts of the adversary. A husband and wife have a very sacred calling as having the opportunity to be a mother and a father. To have children is the greatest blessing that anyone could ever have and it is all that I look forward to in my life is someday to be a worthy husband and father. I know that there is no greater calling and there is no greater joy.  My greatest hope and ambition in all my life is someday to have an eternal family. To be married and sealed in the temple of God and to have my children sealed up unto me so that through out all time and all eternities I will have my wife, and I will have my children. I guarantee it and I Know that it is true.

       In closing I would also bear my testimony of the divine calling of Jesus Christ. I know that he is the Son of God and that He, by exercising His agency and his power, had the love and compassion for the welfare of our souls to suffer all sin and all sorrows and hardships and ultimately to give his life in place for ours. I know that Jesus Christ did really did do this, and thus making Him the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind. I testify that it is through, and only through Jesus Christ the we can be with our Father in Heaven forever. I love my savior, I love my family and I love this church. This is what I believe in. This is what makes me, me. If you ever want to know what else I believe in or if you have any questions about the church or about life, ill be your Huckleberry. I am Jacob Savage, and I know all these things are true. In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love Yall

Elder Savage

9/11 Heros Remembered

         Its been 10 years since the tragedy of 9/11. On that day over 2,819 people lost their lives.

      Since that day we have been fighting terrorism in the middle east. As you know, or should know we have been fighting and putting and end to Al-Qaeda and other major terrorist groups. Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the president or ruler of Iraq during the time of the terrorist attacks at new york. He has killed hundreds of thousands of people and has supported many terrorist groups. He was hung in the streets of north west Baghdad. Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden was the one that first formed Al-Qaeda and planned and executed the 9/11 attacks, we hunted him down for 10 years and finally found him and killed him.

      If it wasn't for our soldiers volunteering to go and defend our freedoms how many freedoms would we have today?

    Some one one said "Only two people have ever offered to die for you . . . Jesus Christ and the American GI. One died for your Soul, the other for your Freedom!"

     I take my hat off and salute all of our American soldiers and the New York Fire Department. I'm thankful to all those who have ever given service to this great country. I will proudly stand up for every American that has ever given service to this great country. Dont disregard the sacrifice these men have made, it goes a lot deeper than polotics and a state of mind. Those men defending my freedoms means that  I can go to bed every night not worrying about someone knocking down my door and taking all my food and possession's. I don't have to lay awake wondering if i am going to be able to walk to the store without being stabbed and mugged. I can honestly lay my head at night and not have a worry in the world.

  

     I thank my American Soldiers and my American veterans for that. And because I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I know what my purpose in life is. I know where I came from and where I'm gong. And I know why I am here.  How could i ever receive such a blessing as this if The United States of America wasn't founded on the institute of the freedom of religion!

   I am a patriot, and I love my country. I'm thankful for all of my blessings being a Member of the LDS church and being a citizen of the greatest country that has ever been on the earth.

LoveYall

Elder Savage

He Gave His Life In Service

 

       And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. - John The Revalator

      Well i was recently informed that one of my closest friends back home recently died. His name was Riley. Yes he was a white horse, a gelding that stood about fifteen hands and had the strength to move mountains. He had a way about him that you really don't find among other horses. When he was around children he would never make a quick step or kick at flies. Kids would be walking under him or playing with his head and his feet would be as solid to the ground as posts. When a child was riding he would never throw his head or brush against trees. Yet when you needed to make time on the elk hunt you could count on him to cross the rockiest, steepest terrain as smooth and as fast as any horse could. Shoot i can remember him going up the rocky jagged bucket trail with my cousin on him when he was 26 years old and he never missed a beat.

      All 29 years of his life he Never missed an opportunity to work his hardest or pull his own weight and that of someone Else's. Jesus Christ is also one i think of when i think of selflessness and service to others. It was his mission to come to this Earth and make it possible for us to live with our Heavenly Father. He gave every second of his life in service to the Children of God.

      Christ only once in his whole 33 years of life used his Godly Powers for himself, and that was to keep himself alive long enough to suffer all the pain and agony of our sins. He knew why he come to this world but he has enough love and compassion for our souls that he hung on the cross and bled from every pore, for us. 

      I use the example of my horse not to compare to the life of Christ, but to help others understand the  example set before us by the Lord. Be selfless, be kind, uplifting, helpful, encouraging. Have charity in our hearts, to love all men as Christ has loved us. A man once asked Jesus what the first and greatest commandment was and he replied "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

     I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I know that he lived his life for us, and He ended it for us. I know Jesus Christ made it possible for us to live in God's kingdom. I know that i will see my Savior in the next life and be able to shake his hand and bow down in his grace. And i know my horse will be there too!

Love Yall

Elder Savage