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.

Be Happy Cause I Said So!

        So why is Hank so happy? ........ Any ideas? Hmmm I really don't know either.
        Well is there a reason for him to be happy? Yea im sure.
        Is there a reason for any of us to be happy?    Think about this one.
        Is there a reason for any of us to be happy?

      Yea I really don't ever think that hard. Ha ha
      Well I really want to convey this in the best possible way that I can. I start with a profound doctrinal truth. God is our Father. He being Gos is a supreme, endless and eternal being. He is all powerful, all knowing, and almighty! Truly he governs the Heavens and the Earth. The universe's, however many of them may be, and all of its elements are subject to his matchless power and will. Every principle, law, and governing force in this life is all to the will of God. He loves us and wants our eternal happiness. He wants us to learn and grow so that we can become like him. But he doesn't send us here to feel alone and forsaken. He has given us blessings throughout our lives. And if we are faithful to him and keep his commandments he will indeed bless our lives more than we could ever imagine!

     I always can appreciate a good flowchart ha ha. So this states of yer not happy then change something. Well what we need to change is our perspective and our look on things. Lets realize that God loves us  and he will bless us. Lets do the things that he will bless us for. Obeying his commandments, praying, loving all of his children and serving him, and there are so many more thing we can do. God is great! He wants our happiness:)

    Its my prayer that we can all learn to recognize the wonderful blessings that God gives us daily. Even if ts as simple as the breath we breathe, the food we eat, or the happiness we have in our families. So I admonish all of you to look always on the brighter side of things and be happy:)

Love Yall
Elder Savage

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

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

The Original Cowboy

 
  When i hear someone mention the term cowboy i don't just imagine some dude on a horse chasing cows somewhere. When i hear of a cowboy i think of a small town man that loves his family and would do anything for anyone at a moments notice. I think of a man who works hard and earns his pennies at the end of the day. I think of someone who is a good example to others and raises his children by precept and example.

    I take my hat off to those who we would call the good ol boys. The old timers who are still farming long after retirement. The ones who have raised their children to be respectful to others and God loving. Who never miss an opportunity to go to a grandkids sports game and would never turn down a hug or bedtime story. The ones that gave service to this great country by defending our freedoms over seas. But the ones who maybe i respect the most are the ones who have built their lives upon their savior Jesus Christ. I have met and shook hands with who i think are some of the greatest men who ever walked the earth. No i have not met anyone who has been in any movies on the news or important to any politics, but the ones I have met I will never forget. They are some who have given their entire lives in service to others. They have great grandchildren who love their Heavenly Father with all their hearts. These men look back on their lives and believe that they lived the best life they ever could have. They thank God everyday for the blessings that they have received from above.

   It is my goal in life to have the same attitude as these old timers have. I want to be ninety years old and look back on my life and do nothing but smile. I want that same satisfaction to know that I had faith in God my entire life. I want to feel like I'm closer to Jesus Christ than ever before. I want to be familiar with happiness like the old cowboys are.

   From the example of these old men i am trying all i can to be a better person now. I will try all I can to love everyone I come in contact with, never miss an opportunity to help someone in need. I will love my family and have them as my number one priority over everything else. I will have faith in God and pray to him everyday. I will defend Jesus Christ and hold him dear as my savior, and as my advocate with the Father. I encourage all of you to do the same.

   I testify that Jesus Christ is the only way that we can be saved in the kingdom of God. I know that i am a child of God and that He loves and cares about me and all of his children. I know that there is a life after this and this is why I will live my life here as good as i can.

Love yall

Elder Savage