So, I find that when I pray for something like patience, I get it. However, I have to develop it. And so, I don't pray for patience any more. Just kidding. I do. It's just that when I do, I have to remember this epic poem from a recent conference address by President Monson:
I know not by what methods rare,
But this I know, God answers prayer.
I know that He has given His Word,
Which tells me prayer is always heard,
And will be answered, soon or late.
And so I pray and calmly wait.
I know not if the blessing sought
Will come in just the way I thought;
But leave my prayers with Him alone,
Whose will is wiser than my own,
Assured that He will grant my quest,
Or send some answer far more blest

     When we pray, we're usually asking for things. What's interesting is that we often pray for people to be healed, or we pray that trials will pass...some times I think "...What am I hoping will happen? Not everyone who I pray for is going to get better...so why bother?" The "blessing sought" may not come the "way [we] thought". His will is wiser than my own. I realized that the reason I pray for other people isn't because it's going to magically make everything right in life for them. It's so that I can love them more. So that I have the opportunity to think about what they really need in their life at the time. Alma says in 34:27 "Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you." We are supposed to pray for people so that we can love them more. Then, we should act to help answer their prayers with our own hands as Alma describes in the following verse: "28 And now behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, do not suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if yea turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need—I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith." The Lord doesn't NEED us to do His work. He WANTS us to. He wants us to pray for others and think of them so that when possible, we can be the answer to their prayers. We can be the solution. We can become part of their lives and love them.
    Paul says:"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep shall your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." And, to add to that Lamentations 3 says "25 The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord." We don't have to be careful and neglect praying for things just because we aren't sure that they will come to pass. We should most definitely pray for the health and safety of ourselves and others. The trick is to keep our minds centered on the fact that Christ loves us, understands us, and will give us peace, which may be our answer. To know that if we actively but "quietly wait" (I think of a quieted mind: trying to not over worry ourselves) on him, and have hope in him, he will answer our prayers in the way we need them answered. He is aware of us. I know that. I could share so many experiences that have proved that to me. Have hope and faith. Pray for what you feel in your heart you need. And then trust that even if it's not the answer you wanted or expected, it will be for the best. And be the answer to someone else's prayer. There is no greater blessing than that.
     

    Recently I reached Isaiah again. Oooooh boy. Everyone's favorite. But As I've tried more sincerely to better understand what he has to say, I've learned a lot and seen how awesome his writing really is.
    I know I'm not alone in that whenever I get to Isaiah, whether it's the chapters quoted by Nephi in the Book of Mormon, or his whole book in the Bible, I muddle through the best I can and feel more confused than when I started reading. It's like after you read Alice in Wonderland. I think "...I know something happened. I just don't know what...What did I just read?" I don't feel so bad about that when I read what Nephi has to say about it in chapter 25: "Now I, Nephi, do speak somewhat concerning the words which I have written, which have been spoken by the mouth of Isaiah. For behold, Isaiah spake many things which were hard for many of my people to understand; for they know not concerning the manner of prophesying among the Jews... Wherefore, hearken, O my people, which are of the house of Israel, and give ear unto my words; for because the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy. But I give unto you a prophecy, according to the spirit which is in me; wherefore I shall prophesy according to the plainness which hath been with me from the time that I came out from Jerusalem with my father; for behold, my soul delighteth in plainness unto my people, that they may learn."
     Ok, so even Nephi knows that Isaiah is hard to understand. He tells us that we have to have the spirit of prophesy. I guess that's just not my forte, because I never really understood much of what Isaiah had to say. At the same time though, I know that I shouldn't just give up on trying to understand because Christ himself says in 3 Nephi 23:1-3 "And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah. For surely he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are of the house of Israel; therefore it must needs be that he must speak also to the Gentiles. And all things that he spake have been and shall be, even according to the words which he spake." If Christ says that I need to be studying the words of Isaiah so that I can be prepared for the future, I should probably do that.
     Something I realized is that we're not totally alone in trying to understand Isaiah. Because Nephi recognizes how confusing it is, and how important it is, he tries to help us understand parts. Nephi basically takes the prophecies of Isaiah and explains them in the chapters following where they are quoted (starting around 2 Nephi 25). Don't worry if you don't understand every word that Isaiah says, because what Nephi has to say in the ensuing chapters is pretty much what Isaiah was trying to get across. In plain English. I mean, that's not ENTIRELY true and you shouldn't give up on trying to learn enough about Isaiah to understand what he has to say since he has some really beautiful and important prophesies. 
     Keep plugging along. Find study guides and use them. The writing of Isaiah is super confusing, but it's got a lot of meaning. Many things he prophesied have already come true, however much is still to come and written for us. He also helps us to know about where we came from. I wanted to share that because I know how discouraging it can be to read something and have no idea what it means. But if you have a real desire to know, follow the Spirit and use available resources to help you. You will at least learn the things that you personally need to know from it. Isaiah is important. Don't skip him just because you don't understand. 


     

    Today I'm writing on a suggestion from another sister missionary in my zone. Previously, we've talked about how at the end of Revelations, John says: "18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." which is the famous warning not to add to the Bible that people like to use to argue against more modern revelation. We've also discussed how this would actually make more sense as being a warning not to add to John's writings alone, as opposed to the whole Bible. If you don't remember, look through my previous posts in "Devil or God" and you'll find that discussion. We're moving on with life.
     So, now then, Nephi, in chapter 14 of the beginning of the Book of Mormon, starts saying some things that are similar to Revelations. Suddenly, in the middle, he stops because an angel says to him "25 But the things which thou shalt see hereafter thou shalt not write; for the Lord God hath ordained the apostle of the Lamb of God that he should write them. 26 And also others who have been, to them hath he shown all things, and they have written them; and they are sealed up to come forth in their purity, according to the truth which is in the Lamb, in the own due time of the Lord, unto the house of Israel."
     Huh. Nephi randomly decides that he isn't going to continue because someone else is supposed to write the rest. Could it be that he was trying not to add to those things? Nephi was in the middle of describing how the last days would be and what would happen in the Millennium, and the angel tells him to just stop.
     John had spent time in Revelations talking about what the Millennium would be like. His warning and words were sacred enough that Nephi was warned not to impose on the things that had already been written. He'd seen all those things as we can tell from the "the things thou shalt see hereafter". It was not for Nephi to write, but rather for one of the apostles ordained by Christ though. And those things were sealed to come forth in purity: for those who think that we disrespect the Bible with the clause about "as far as it is translated correctly", we believe it is a book that has much good and much purity. We do feel that the translation was inspired, but much of it was also work that was according to the knowledge of man. Those things that we needed have come forth though, and we use the writings of the Book of Mormon to help clarify what was confused by the weakness of man. 
     Both of the discussed scriptures from today are actually super awesome, so I definitely recommend a thorough study and attempt to understand the chapters. *By the way...the picture, I know, is not related. I just really, really like it.

     Not gonna lie: one reason I'm super glad not to have lived a loooong time ago (aside from the fact that there wasn't toilet paper...or toilets...also, speaking of modern technology, please ignore my typos...no spellcheccccck) is that I don't have to live by all the laws that the Israelites had to observe. It was like "if thou shalt do anything wrong, thou shalt have one of various extreme penalties". At least that's how it is in my mind. Read the first five books of the Old Testament and you'll know what I mean.
     That being said, the laws were in place for a reason. We shouldn't confuse that with them being our salvation, but they were necissary. In Mosiah 13, Abinodi informs the priests of Noah: "27 And now ye have said that salvation
cometh by the law of Moses. I say unto you that it is expedient that ye should 
keep the law of Moses as yet; but I say unto you,
that the time shall come when it shall no more be expedient to keep the law of
Moses. 28 And moreover, I say unto you, that 
salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the
sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish,
notwithstanding the law of Moses.
29 And now I say unto you that it was
expedient that there should be a law given to the children of Israel, yea, even
a very strict law; for they were a stiffnecked people, 
quick to do iniquity, and slow to remember the
Lord their God;
30 Therefore there was a law given them, yea, a law of performances and of 
ordinances, a law which they were to observe strictly from day to day, to keep them in
remembrance of God and their duty towards him.
31 But behold, I say unto you, that
all these things were types of things to come."

     Those laws were a "type" or similitude of things to come.All those sacrifices the Israelites were doing were meant to cleanse them of sin. They were supposed to sacrifice animals "without blemish". Like Christ. Had Christ not performed the atonement, then all those animal sacrifices would have been moot anyway though. 
     Recall that as soon as Moses turned around, the ancient Israelites went to Aaron looking for something to worship. The codes and laws they had were extremely strict: they pervaded a lot of their daily lives. Part of me thinks that after the calf incident, the Lord decided to keep the people busy. If they had a law to keep for everything, and that law was set for by the Lord, then it should remind them of him and how they ought to act. You know why we're supposed to pray over meals? Not because they're all poison. Obviously. Rather, it's to help us remember who we depend on, and who we're thankful to for all that we have.
     As we read, we find Laws of Moses were not meant to bring salvation. Christ himself says in Matt 23: "25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity."
     The Laws of Moses were meant to help cause an inner change. To bring humility and to help the people understand how to avoid evil. And, to point to Christ. The Pharisees, who knew and kept the Law better than anyone, here are rebuked because they did not understand why they had the Law. They kept the Law but used it to their advantage and to condemn others as we find in the Bible.
     Similarly, we have laws and commandments today for like reasons. If we just keep the laws that God gives and don't actually worry about how they help us come closer to Him, we will never be close to him. We will be like the Pharisees: empty inside. One can serve a mission, and baptize, and teach, and not be successful at all. Because we have misunderstood our reason for serving. As you consider why you're serving a mission, or fulfilling any calling, or keeping any law that God has given, figure out what it is supposed to do to help you to get closer to God. When you have been changed for the better, you have been successful.

If you want another super epic connection to these scriptures, check out 2 Corinthians 3. It ties into Christ's statment in an epic way. Oh Paul. He's awesome.

   God helps those who help themselves. In other words, YOU
have to do something. If you just pray about something with no intention of
going after it, do you really expect him to just grant you what you want?
Remember that he's God. Not a genie. It doesn't work that way. And some things
we will have to work for much harder than others. Some sins will be extremely
challenging to overcome. That being said, the Lord will never give us a
challenge that we cannot overcome, and there is no addiction that cannot be
broken. Patience will be important. Prayer and willpower will be important. Use of means provided (such as recovery groups, medicine, ect) will be needed. But there is nothing that we cannot overcome if we will become determined to keep
trying and overcome it. 
      Here, we come to our scripture from the Bible; 1 Corinthians 10: 13 which reads, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
     Just because something is "common to man" doesn't mean it's simple or easy, or that we can rationalize that it's ok because everyone else does it. The beauty is that here we find the promise that we will be able to escape those temptations and
addictions. And I consider "bear" to mean that we will be able to withstand them. The temptation may not be taken away, but we don't have to be a slave to them. We can overcome them.
     To follow that, Alma 13:28 says, "But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, 
and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering".
     In the context, he's talking about not procrastinating repentance. Isn't part of that overcoming the temptations we have tsin? The instruction is to be humble. Know that you may not be able to do it on your own. Call on His holy name. Pray for strength.
Watch: don't put yourself in a situation that would make temptation arise. Be ready. See it coming so you can avoid it or steel yourself against it. Be lead by the Spirit. Be humble: listen to council. Be meek: be willing to seek for help without being too prideful to be affected. Be submissive: obviously not to your addiction. Be patient: GIVE YOURSELF TIME. DO NOT GIVE UP. You won't overcome your greatest trials in a day, or even a week. And the Lord knows that. Be full of love: love for yourself, love for God, love for those in your family or friends that you may be affecting, and love for those who help you. The more
love you have, the more you will want to succeed. The people you love will be your motivation. And be long-suffering: It won't be easy. It may not be fun. But get through it. It will be worth it in the end.
     We will not be tempted more than what we can overcome. That doesn't mean we can do it all on our own,
or that it will be quick and easy. Use the medicines and councilors that are available to help you overcome your addictions. Have hope that you can overcome temptations, and with patience, prayer, and doing what you can to "help yourself", you will find the power to be stronger than whatever is holding you back. You can do iiiiiiiit! 

Epic program by the Church for addiction recovery:
https://addictionrecovery.lds.org/steps?lang=eng
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 

      Isaiah 53:3 and Alma 7:11. These are such powerful passages. They explain what what things Christ took on himself in the Garden of Gethsemane. Often, I think we only look at that part of the Atonement as salvation from sin. I did anyway. Regardless, it was much more than that.
     Isaiah says " 3 He is  despised and rejected of men; a man of  sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we  esteemed him not.
 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth."

     I bring no explanation to this. It needs none. I only bring up Alma to show that they support each other.

     Alma says: "11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me."

     From either of those, how could anyone miss that the suffering of Christ was so much more than simply for sin? 

     Sorrows. Transgressions. Griefs. Pain. Sicknesses.

     Then, he will take on him death. Pain, and afflictions, and death. So that we are free from all of them.

     No one promised us an easy life. The only promise we have is that we don't have to drown in those things that make it hard. Have hope in Christ. Have faith. Serve your mission to give others the same hope.

     Oh Paul. He is awesome. He's just...awesome. I just love the New Testament. And partly because I love the writings of Paul. Let's take a look at Hebrews 12:1-2:"...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

     The great thing about the gospel of Christ is the idea that we can leave behind mistakes. We are defined by our divine nature: our being offspring of a Heavenly Father. We do not have to be defined by what we look like, or by our personality traits, or by the person we were before. We forever have one title. Child of God. 

     Alma says words very similar to those in Hebrews: Alma 7 reads:"15 Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism.

 16 And whosoever doeth this, and keepeth the commandments of God from thenceforth, the same will remember that I say unto him, yea, he will remember that I have said unto him, he shall have eternal life, according to the testimony of the Holy Spirit, which testifieth in me."

     Paul uses the word "weight" and Alma says "sin". In my opinion, "weight" connotates more than sin. It references those pains and fears we have that are not sins, but are things that slow us down and hinder our progression toward perfection. I like that Alma adds the idea that they "bind you down to destruction". The beauty of the Atonement is, as I will expound on in later posts, it covers not only sin, but all pains, fears, and temptations which we would feel. Anything that would cause us to stop getting better, and weigh us down. We always think of heaven as being upwards, right? So we don't want to be weighed down, or bound to the person we were before. We need to be free to ascend. 

     So, we leave behind those things which are weights in our mind. Sins. Hurt. Grief. Naturally, they will reoccur from time to time, but we have to lay them aside as soon as we can. And be patient with ourselves, which is Paul's next point. We aren't perfect. And it will take a long time before we come even close.
     Then, Paul says that we must look unto Jesus. I doubt he's just telling us to look at Jesus, especially since we can't see him. When we look to Christ, we are searching for hope. And, to understand him better. If we are to do that, we are to follow his example. Eventually, we can be perfect. We're still human though. 
     Alma gives us the solution to our humanity, which is repentance. Considering that by reading on in Hebrews 12 we find that Paul is writing is specifically about enduring chastisement, I think it's very fitting that the first thing that Alma mentions is that we must show God that we are willing to repent of our sins. When you get chastised, and you're truly humble, what do you do? Repent, and improve. 
     That improvement comes with baptism. We repent, and we are baptized so that we can follow the example Christ set for us. Then, as Alma says, we shall have eternal life. But, recall again that Paul says that we must have patience. Things must be done in order, and life will be hard, and we will make mistakes, but it's enduring to the end that helps us to become truly Christlike, and that will be the real test in life. We have to take up our cross, endure, and if we do so, we will be set at the right hand of God.

    Today, I'm going to flip what I usually do. I'm going to take a Book of Mormon verse and explain it using the Bible. Fun stuff, right? Not that the Bible isn't awesome, but usually it says things like "have faith" over and over without any details about how faith is obtained.
     Let us now open our copies of the Book of Mormon (hear that kids? Not Books of Mormon, nor Book of Mormons) to Helaman 14. "15 For behold, he surely must die that salvation may come; yea, it behooveth him and becometh expedient that he dieth, to bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, that thereby men may be brought into the presence of the Lord.
 16 Yea, behold, this death bringeth to pass the resurrection, and redeemeth all mankind from the first death—that spiritual death; for all mankind, by the fall of Adam being cut off from the presence of the Lord, are considered as dead, both as to things temporal and to things spiritual. 17 But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind, and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord. 18 Yea, and it bringeth to pass the condition of repentance, that whosoever repenteth the same is not hewn down and cast into the fire; but whosoever repenteth not is hewn down and cast into the fire; and there cometh upon them again a spiritual death, yea, a second death, for they are cut off again as to things pertaining to righteousness."

    That is a bit of a brainful. In the context of the following verses, remember that some of the people who believed in Christ didn't believe that there was to be a resurrection of the dead. And here, Paul gonna break it deown for us:

12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all  die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his ccoming.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
     
     That, my friends is a step-by-step walk through of two people saying the same thing. Because Adam died, man will die. Christ died. Then was resurrected. Therefore, we will be resurrected because he was. Now, both have a few little add ons that the other doesn't.
      Helaman describes how there is spiritual death (being cut off from God which results in unhappiness) and physical death (our souls separating from our bodies). The fall of Adam brought on both kinds of death (notice that God walked with Adam in the Garden of Eden, which caused him to leave the Lord's presence, therefore the spiritual death), and the Atonement saved us from both. However, if we chose not to repent, despite the fact that we will be resurrected, we will not be able to continue in the presence of God.
     Paul basically is saying "if we have hope in Christ but not that we'll be saved from death...that would be a sad thing". Paul makes this super basic and easy to understand though, so I don't feel the need to do a lot of detail here. As a side note, he actually wrote this in a pattern super commonly used by Hebrews. When I find what it's actually called, I'll write it out. It's a super cool fun fact for your day.

 

      When I say that we should trust our feelings, I don't mean to disregard all sense and logic. The Holy Ghost works through what we feel, however, that being said there are ways that we can make sure that our feelings aren't going to mislead us. I bring this up because one of my awesome investigators mentioned love as an example: people think they're in love and then get divorced 52 hours later. Romantic love is a super ridiculous thing which I won't even dare to touch (although I do believe that any two people who have true charity can always make it through), but that's definitely a fair point. How do we protect ourselves from the deception of our feelings? 

Let us now observe the wisdom of 1 John 4:
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
    
     That seems pretty cut and dry to me. A false prophet says that Christ never came in the flesh. A true one will testify of him. While that's awesome for when we're talking about whoever is talking about Christ, I think it's harder to see how we can use that for more than just religious choices. Fortunately, we can apply it to all of our lives, if we look at another way of explaining it:

Taking it a step further, check out Moroni 7:

11 For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil.
12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually.
13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.
15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.
16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.
19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.

     Now that your brain is screaming "HUGEUNNINTERUPPETEDBLOCKOFTEXXXXXXT AAAARG", let me give you a hand by using Book of Mormon as an example, since that's usually what's in question anyways:
     A quote from Jefferery R. Holland, a current apostle like the ones that Christ ordained while he was on the earth, said of the Book of Mormon “No wicked man could write such a book as this; and no good man would write it, unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do so". No "bitter fountain" would create a book that brings such peace. And if a "good fountain" knew it to be a lie, they would never would even think of writing such a book because it would be a lie and deception of huge magnitude: to the damning of souls. 
      Then, Moroni asserts that if a thing is good, we can know it comes from God, and if it is evil it comes from Satan. We've already established that Satan wouldn't fight against himself: and Moroni's word is that he fights "continually". Continually is an action word. Not occasionally, not weakly, continually. All the time. Striving for defeat. He doesn't quit. He doesn't take breaks.
     On the flip side, anything good inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God is of God. Those are action words as well. Invite. Entice. They ask you, and help you want to do good. To love God.Why would Satan want to convince you to do good or love God if he was fighting continually against him? He wouldn't.
     Does the Book of Mormon invite us to do good, or persuade us to do evil? Does it ask us to believe in Christ or persuade us not believe in him? 
    Moroni doesn't leave it there though: he admonishes that we search diligently. That action word that tells us to not complacently say "well, this seems good", but to come so close to Christ by educating ourselves that right and wrong are black and white. As we come close to Christ and understand the Spirit, gray areas melt away. I've seen this happen for myself. I still have to really think about it at times, but when I use the test that John and Moroni give, I feel very safe. Good=God. Bad=Satan. Closer to Christ/Good Works=Good. Taking myself or others farther from Christ=Bad. Should I sit and do nothing today or should I go out and get things done? Will being lazy bring me closer to Christ (considering that I'm not super tired so doing more stuff will make me want to kill people)? Can I help anyone if I don't do anything? Will I get any better if I don't do anything?
     And, as I have come to understand the Holy Ghost better, I have learned to ask Father in Heaven through Christ for witnesses of what I should do in gray areas.
     You can have the same thing happen. You have the same access to the Spirit and answers. You have the way to judge. You can know from where comes the answers you receive. Some things get confused by our own logic: but pray for answers and the Lord will help you find understanding. I know because I do it every day.

Where I got my super cool quote from a talk about the Book of Mormon (I suppose this might go better in the post about The First Vision, but I like it here too because it still relates):
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/safety-for-the-soul?lang=eng#watch=video
     



 

     In Matt 3:14 when Christ asked to be baptized, here's what happened: "But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?" 
     Translation: "Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. YOU should be baptizing ME." 
     Yet, Christ replies "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him."
     In 2 Nephi 31:5, Nephi gives even more significance to the statement that John the Baptist made. Nephi says, "And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfill all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!" Isn't that what John said? 
     "You think you need to be baptized? Then I really need to be baptized."
    Despite how John felt, "he suffered him". John baptized Christ. And, Nephi, going on in his writings explains why:  "31:7 Know ye not that he [Christ] was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments... 9 And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them.
     Despite John's imperfection, and Christ being holy and perfect, Christ had to be baptized. Christ is our example. He had to show us how to "fulfill all righteousness". From Nephi, we have learned that to do that means to humble ourselves and give our Heavenly Father a witness that we are willing to be obedient and keep the commandments. Christ didn't need to be cleansed from sin. But he knew that that's something we would need.
     Nephi continues: "10 And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?...12 And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do."
     Numerous times in the Bible, we have record of Christ saying "follow me", "come, follow me", and "follow thou me". We must reflect on Nephi's question: Can we follow Christ if we do not keep the commandments of the Father? The Father commanded that we follow Christ. Therefore, if we intend to follow Christ, we will be baptized, as well as keep all the other commandments we have been given. Because that is what he did.
     We will mess up.  We will not be perfect. We will not always follow Christ. But we will be given credit for making our best effort.  Baptism is something simple that we can do to follow Christ. And then, following baptism, we can receive the Holy Ghost to always be with us always just as Christ did.