Faith+

" We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. " Articles of Faith #4 Yesterday for me was an incredible day. My oldest and only boy made the decision to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints . We decided that we would ask our kids. We would give them lessons to...Read Full Story

Why We Baptize In Jesus' Name The subject of water baptism has long been called a great issue and no doubt has been made much by many church leaders of the past and present. In our study of it, let us first consider its importance, or the necessity of being baptized. The Importance of Water Baptism Christian water baptism is an ordinance instituted by Jesus Christ. If it is not important in the plan of God, why did Jesus command it in Matthew 28:19? And why did Peter follow up by saying, "Be...Read Full Story

Today, we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord in the river Jordan by Saint John the Baptist. John the Baptist is my patron (Confirmation) saint, so this is a personally important feast day for me—one which reminds us of humility, of service, to others, and to the saving graces offered to us through rebirth in Christ.  The Baptism of the Lord is also the first of the five Luminous Mysteries of the Holy Rosary . 15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John...Read Full Story

We read in 1 Kings chapter even that the Brazen Sea was made by Hiram for Solomon and it stood by the Temple of God. King Solomon added ten bronze bowls, each four and a half feet high, six feet square, containing 230 gallons of water, and decorated with lions, bulls and winged creatures. They sat five to the south, five to the north of the temple entrance, on large bronze stands having four bronze wheels on axles. The priests immersed themselves in the brasen sea for purification (symbolic...Read Full Story

What did Jesus of Nazareth endure on the day of His crucifixion? First, let's study the practice of crucifixion itself, that is, the torture and execution of a person by fixation to a cross. Historically, the first known practice of crucifixion was by the Persians. Alexander and his generals brought it back to the Mediterranean world, to Egypt, and to Carthage. The Romans apparently learned the practice from the Carthaginians (as with almost everything the Romans did) and rapidly developed a...Read Full Story

Good Harbor Beach (courtesy of Gull Cove House) Walking on Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester, Massachusetts on Friday evening we were amazed at the patterns in the sand. The tide was low yielding an expansive sandy beach that stretched far down to the ocean. An area of the ocean had separated, causing a dry 12 foot wide strip of land that stretched from the main beach clear across to a small island, thick with vegetation. In high tide, this piece of beach is always covered and it is...Read Full Story

Supposedly a tasteful magazine of sophisticated humor, the New Yorker has taken the creative art form of cartooning to a new level. At first glance, the July 21 issue cover featuring the Obamas in a fist bump was so hilarious, that I almost missed the point. When I came to my senses a few moments later, I nearly wept. The New Yorker’s quite defensively stated purpose for the cover is to expose the absurdity of wrong-headed attitudes towards the Obamas. Regrettably, Barry Blitt’s artistry...Read Full Story

I was talking to someone on the phone the other day about my experience with the legislative process in Maryland and he commented that it sounded like I had been involved in this kind of thing for quite some time.  I started to tell him that I had been working with legislators and other public servants since 2005, but then I began to get a little nostalgic about my life, and realized that I actually had been involved like this for nearly thirty years. You are currently looking at a...Read Full Story

I wrote this post right after I began blogging. Although written for the new year, it’s been a good reminder as life picks up it’s pace through the holiday season. What do you think of the idea of living “intentionally but flexibly”? Old Year is rapidly fusing with New and I am reminded of a letter we received some time ago from acquaintances who were living in Amman, Jordan .  They had lived in the Middle East for a long time and they talked about the conflicts they experienced with...Read Full Story

My name is Dena Hamilton. I am currently living in Mississippi with my husband. We have 6 children and 1 grandchild between us. We were married on New Year's Eve in 2009. At the beginning of our relationship, we were both employed, in reasonable good health and full of hope for a bright future. This was not to be the case. In 2008 I became so stricken with Fibromyalgia that I was no longer able to work. I filed for disability, which began a long 2 year wait for my benefits to start. One year...Read Full Story