Post 44a: May the Spirit of Christmas Linger Among Us Through Continuing Service to Others.

To Access This Blog's Index, Please Scroll Down To the Fifth Paragraph From the End of This Post!

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TODAY'S THEME



The Wise Men Worship Jesus -by Albrecht Dúrer


 Mormon Messages: Wise Men Still Seek Him


As Christmas 2011 Has Come and Gone So Has the Birthday of the Lord Jesus Christ's First Latter-day Prophet, Joseph Smith. He was born December 23, 1805.

American Prophet -by Del Parson



Joseph Smith Was Known as Truthful


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DISCLAIMER
This Blog is not owned by or affiliated with the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church.




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TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX: To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or To Search The Index For Any Other Blog Post You Desire To Access), After You Have Read All of This Paragraph, Please Scroll Back Up And Click on the Following: The Spirit of Christmas Remains With Us Throughout the Year Through Service to Others. A Mormon Messages Video, "Wisemen Still Seek Him" is Shown in: -Post 44a. When The Picture of Our Savior, Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy Comes Onto Your Screen, Please Scroll Down In The Index To Your Target Item Or Use the Alphabetical Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed).

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"Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?" Legal /Statement. Thank you for visiting. The author retains intellectual property and creative licensing rights. Permission to use or reprint must be given in writing. © Est.2008 Neil Birch Legal /Statement.

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I deeply appreciate your readership and hope you found very beneficial, that which was presented to you in this blog post.

If you have any questions about what you have read or viewed in this post or in any previous posts of mine, or if you even have a curiosity about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and or its teachings, please e-mail me. I'm Neil and my e-mail address is: jneilmelva@gmail.com. If you contact me I'll get back to you just as soon as possible.

I invite you to let your friends and relatives know about this blog if you think they would be interested in it. Please be advised that I also have an additional blog. It is in Spanish: Its content is translated from the English in this blog:

Neil Birch

Post 43z: Each of the THE HOLY SCRIPTURES Are Gifts From God Which Lead Us Back To Him. In Each Case These Sacred Gifts Were Made Available at Great Personal Sacrifice by Believers Who Did God's Will in Providing Them.

To Access This Blog's Index, Please Scroll Down To the Fifth Paragraph From the End of This Post!

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TODAY'S THEME

The Empty Tomb -by Clark Kelley Price

THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, An Example:

(From an Authorized King James Version of the New Testament) Luke 24:1 NOW upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

8 And they remembered his words,

9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

13 ¶ And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;

23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.*

28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? (emphasis added)

*I must share with each of you good readers of this blog post a special line of reasoning of mine pursuant to my having read verse 27 above while typing this blog post entry. Please scroll back up right now and read that verse again and then return quickly back here. Thank you!

I thought of the boy Jesus as he must have often read scriptures from what was the Hebrew version of the Old Testament, (which I usually read in English and you, in whichever language you happen to use) which he must have begun reading at a fairly young age; scriptures which actually contained many prophecies about himself!

No doubt, his dear mother had, in his childhood, begun teaching  him the truth that the actual father of his earthly body was God, Our Eternal Father, and not Joseph, his step-father, yet various verses of scripture lead us to believe he loved and obeyed his step-father, Joseph.

Jesus surely must have early on in his young life begun realizing that the many prophecies of the Redeemer and Saviour of the World he found in the Scriptures he was reading (Remember Verse 27, in which the just Resurrected Jesus Christ in that scripture reviewed all of the scriptures with His two disciples who needed to be reminded of them by him), would eventually be applied to Him personally!

My sudden realization that Jesus had learned as a boy about the truth regarding who he really was and the responsibility that comes with that caused tears to begin trickling down my cheeks. No ordinary boy could ever have such realizations as he did about who he really was! What a sacred life Jesus lived as a boy, yet I'm sure he was a very typical boy in many ways!

I'm positive the prayers Jesus offered after that sacred realization had first come upon him were much more intense and eventually, much more interactive with his Heavenly Father, than the prayers other boys his age were offering. After all, his Heavenly Father, to whom his mother and very good step-father taught him to pray, was his real father in a miraculous yet very factual way!

I must now insert one of my most favorite paintings of our Savior. In it he as a Twelve Year Old is shown teaching Learned Ones in the House of the Lord! (The Temple in Jerusalem). Surely it was the sacred writing of the Scriptures which inspired this great artist to paint this masterpiece!


Christ in the Temple -by Heinrich Hofmann

Dear Readers,  please click on the link just below to read in verses 41 through 50 the Apostle Luke's account of the twelve year old Jesus' experience in the temple pictured above. You will have the entire chapter on the screen. Please scroll down to begin reading at verse 41.

Luke 2:41-50



 OTHER SCRIPTURES

The Bible and the Book of Mormon -by Greg K. Olsen

In the Latter-Days the Lord Has Provided Us With Additional Books of Scripture, the First of Which was: the Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ:

Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 3:12 (The Words of Father Lehi):Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write (the Book of Mormon); and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; (the Bible) and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord. (clarification and emphasis added)

Mormon Messages: The Blessing of Scripture!



William Tyndale

As we just learned from the video, William Tyndale personally translated the Holy Bible into the English language so that ordinary men and women and their children of his day could increase their faith and overall spirituality by accessing its sacred words in their own language. One estimation (from Wikipedia) suggests the New Testament in the King James version is 83% Tyndale's and the Old Testament 76%. Despite the great  importance of his accomplishment Government and Church authorities condemned his actions and had him executed.

Also, The Book of Mormon Was translated and published through much Personal Sacrifice on the Part of Its Inspired Translator, Joseph Smith, Jr. The Prophet Joseph and his brother, Hyrum, were killed by a drunken and unjustifiably angry mob who were incited by a Newspaper editor and other prominent persons who wanted that killing to take place.


The Angel Moroni Appears to Seventeen Year Old Joseph Smith -by Tom Lovell

Joseph Smith History 1:33 He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people. (emphasis added)

The following revelation which became scripture, was received by the Prophet Joseph Smith from the Lord on March 20, 1839. 

Doctrine and Covenants 121:7 My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

8 And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

I hope that each of you blog readers will agree with me when I say that I am sure the Lord Jesus Christ, who spoke those two sacred scriptural verses (just above in blue) to the Prophet Joseph Smith, would tell us that the scriptural message given just above applies also to the great and good man William Tyndale who was willing to have his life taken rather than to giving up his project of translating the Bible into the English Language (I am assuming that someone here on earth has vicariously performed the necessary ordinances for William Tyndale in an L.D.S. Temple along with his having accepted the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ when it was taught him in the World of Spirits after his assassination.)
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DISCLAIMER
This Blog is not owned by or affiliated with the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church.


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TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX: To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or To Search The Index For Any Other Blog Post You Desire To Access), After You Have Read All of This Paragraph, Please Scroll Back Up And Click on the Following: A Translation of the Holy Bible in the English Language (the language of the Common Man in England) was Provided, (According to Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints In a Mormon Messages Video,) by an Englishman, William Tyndale Who Was Executed near Brussells, Belgium on October 6, 1536 for Having Made that Translation!  -Post 43z. When The Picture of Our Savior, Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy Comes Onto Your Screen, Please Scroll Down In The Index To Your Target Item Or Use the Alphabetical Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed).

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"Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?" Legal /Statement. Thank you for visiting. The author retains intellectual property and creative licensing rights. Permission to use or reprint must be given in writing. © Est.2008 Neil Birch Legal /Statement.

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I deeply appreciate your readership and hope you found very beneficial, that which was presented to you in this blog post.

If you have any questions about what you have read or viewed in this post or in any previous posts of mine, or if you even have a curiosity about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and or its teachings, please e-mail me. I'm Neil and my e-mail address is: jneilmelva@gmail.com. If you contact me I'll get back to you just as soon as possible.

I invite you to let your friends and relatives know about this blog if you think they would be interested in it. Please be advised that I also have an additional blog. It is in Spanish: Its content is translated from the English in this blog:


Neil Birch

Post 43y Our Loved Ones Taken From Us by Death Will Be Restored to Life Through the Resurrection. That Truth is Verified In This Post by Book of Mormon Prophets and a Present Day Prophet and by the Words of Our Resurrected Lord, Jesus Christ Which He Spoke to the Ancient Nephite Nation in A.D. 34!

To Access This Blog's Index, Please Scroll Down To the Fifth Paragraph From the End of This Post!

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TODAY'S THEME

The Eventual Resurrection of the Dead was a subject many Nephite Prophets focused upon. This list I provide you is a partial list, but includes many significant statements on this important subject of Resurrection which constitute sure evidence of the truthfulness of the promise of a resurrection of all mankind.

These scriptures are in addition to the ones quoted in my just previous blog post. The following are words of the Prophet, Moroni, son of the Prophet, Mormon (Between A.D. 400 and 421)

Book of Mormon: Mormon 9:13 And because of the redemption of man, which came by Jesus Christ, they are brought back into the presence of the Lord; yea, this is wherein all men are redeemed, because the death of Christ bringeth to pass the resurrection, which bringeth to pass a redemption from an endless sleep, from which sleep all men shall be awakened by the power of God when the trump shall sound; and they shall come forth, both small and great, and all shall stand before his bar, being redeemed and loosed from this eternal band of death, which death is a temporal death.



The Resurrected Jesus Christ -by Simon Dewey

About 82 B.C.)

Alma 11: 40 And he shall come into the world to redeem his people; and he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall have eternal life, and salvation cometh to none else.

41 Therefore the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption made, except it be the loosing of the bands of death; for behold, the day cometh that all shall rise from the dead and stand before God, and be judged according to their works.

42 Now, there is a death which is called a temporal death; and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death.

43 The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time; and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt.

44 Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.

45 Now, behold, I have spoken unto you concerning the death of the mortal body, and also concerning the resurrection of the mortal body. I say unto you that this mortal body is raised to an immortal body, that is from death, even from the first death unto life, that they can die no more; their spirits uniting with their bodies, never to be divided; thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal, that they can no more see corruption.



The Great (yet very humble and spiritual) Nephite Prophet, Abinadi, Appears Before Wicked King Noah and His Court -by Arnold Friberg (remember this humble prophet, Abinadi allowed his life to be taken rather than give into the threats of the king and his priests.)

The following words of the prophet, Abinadi were copied by one of the wicked priests (Alma the Elder) of King Noah who had become converted through what was taught by Abinadi. (About 148 B.C.)

Mosiah 15: 18 And behold, I say unto you, this is not all. For O how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that is the founder of peace, yea, even the Lord, who has redeemed his people; yea, him who has granted salvation unto his people;

19 For were it not for the redemption which he hath made for his people, which was prepared from the foundation of the world, I say unto you, were it not for this, all mankind must have perished.

20 But behold, the bands of death shall be broken, and the Son reigneth, and hath power over the dead; therefore, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead.

21 And there cometh a resurrection, even a first resurrection; yea, even a resurrection of those that have been, and who are, and who shall be, even until the resurrection of Christ—for so shall he be called.

22 And now, the resurrection of all the prophets, and all those that have believed in their words, or all those that have kept the commandments of God, shall come forth in the first resurrection; therefore, they are the first resurrection.

23 They are raised to dwell with God who has redeemed them; thus they have eternal life through Christ, who has broken the bands of death.

24 And these are those who have part in the first resurrection; and these are they that have died before Christ came, in their ignorance, not having salvation declared unto them. And thus the Lord bringeth about the restoration of these; and they have a part in the first resurrection, or have eternal life, being redeemed by the Lord.

25 And little children also have eternal life.

26 But behold, and fear, and tremble before God, for ye ought to tremble; for the Lord redeemeth none such that rebel against him and die in their sins; yea, even all those that have perished in their sins ever since the world began, that have wilfully rebelled against God, that have known the commandments of God, and would not keep them; these are they that have no part in the first resurrection.

27 Therefore ought ye not to tremble? For salvation cometh to none such; for the Lord hath redeemed none such; yea, neither can the Lord redeem such; for he cannot deny himself; for he cannot deny justice when it has its claim.

28 And now I say unto you that the time shall come that the salvation of the Lord shall be declared to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. (emphasis added)



Nephi and His Father Lehi Examine the Liahona While Others Look on -by Arnold Friberg

Between 600 and 592 B.C.

1 Nephi 10:11 And it came to pass after my (Nephi's) father (Lehi) had spoken these words he spake unto my brethren concerning the gospel which should be preached among the Jews, and also concerning the dwindling of the Jews in unbelief. And after they had slain the Messiah, who should come, and after he had been slain he should rise from the dead, and should make himself manifest, by the Holy Ghost, unto the Gentiles (Each of Us, Today.)

2 Nephi 2:8 Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise. (clarification and emphasis added)

Explanation about Resurrections Which were to Occur and Which Did Occur Soon After Christ's Resurrection. (This Scripture was Recorded in About 6 B.C.)

Helaman 14:25 And many graves shall be opened, and shall yield up many of their dead; and many saints shall appear unto many.

A.D. 34

3 Nephi 13:9 Verily I say unto you, I commanded my servant Samuel, the Lamanite, that he should testify unto this people, that at the day that the Father should glorify his name in me that there were many saints who should arise from the dead, and should appear unto many, and should minister unto them. And he said unto them: Was it not so?

10 And his disciples answered him and said: Yea, Lord, Samuel did prophesy according to thy words, and they were all fulfilled.

11 And Jesus said unto them: How be it that ye have not written this thing, that many saints did arise and appear unto many and did minister unto them?

12 And it came to pass that Nephi remembered that this thing had not been written.

13 And it came to pass that Jesus commanded that it should be written; therefore it was written according as he commanded. 



President Thomas S. Monson

In a Video, just below, President Thomas S. Monson of the  Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint Gives His Sure Prophetic Witness that there is Life after Death! -Post 43y

We Can Live With God Again


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Alex Caldiero, Poet and Scholar, Utah Valley University, Orem, Utah (U.S.A.)

"I hear Joseph Smith's voice every time I read it (The Book of Mormon). He was a farmer. He was young. He was unlettered and he put this all together. So you have this rough hewn kind of text ..." Alex Caldiero, poet and scholar, Utah Valley University. (clarification added)

Viewers of this blog post, please answer this question: Can you see in the scriptures quoted above regarding the Resurrection, the writing of a "young, unlettered farmer?" Or can you see "this rough hewn kind of text" that this young uneducated farmer Joseph Smith was supposed to have just "put all of it together?"

In my blog posts 1 and 2, I refer to the words of a scholar taken from the PBS Video, "The Mormons," shown on Prime Time TV in late April and early May of 2007. 

I have referred back to those words frequently, in my posts. In fact, I derived the title of this blog,

"Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?"

from the thoughts that first came to mind after listening to Alex Caldiero's words (quoted above) in the PBS video.

This morning I decided to go back to that video and get his exact words for you to read. I carefully copied them and they are recorded just below the photo of Professor Caldiero above.

If you have been reading my blog posts right along or have otherwise seriously and prayerfully studied the Book of Mormon, it will be easy for you to ascertain that Alex Caldiero has not really read the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Instead, you will realize it must be his very uninformed viewpoint that caused him to say that the words of the book of Mormon are the rough hewn kind of text an uneducated farm boy had put all together.

There was much in that PBS video with which I strongly disagree. I find that many other "Mormons" agree with me on that. There is the allegation by one of the experts shown in it, that the report of the resurrection of Jesus Christ was just a conspiracy brought about by Jesus' twelve apostles and is the "scandal of Christianity." In my view that charge is scandalous!

There were some very good parts in "The Mormons" the PBS Program back in 2007, but too much of it was quite incorrect and biased. Professor Caldiero's saying that the Book of Mormon was "beautiful in all of its imperfections" is far "off-base." Any diligent and honest student of the Book of Mormon, like many of you may be, would be able to say: "It, along with the Holy Bible, contains the inspired words of God through His holy prophets." A case in point are the inspired words of the prophets Moroni, Alma, Abinadi, and several other prophets including our Resurrected Savior Jesus Christ's own words which are quoted in This Post.

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DISCLAIMER
This Blog is not owned by or affiliated with the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church.


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TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX: To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or To Search The Index For Any Other Blog Post You Desire To Access), After You Have Read All of This Paragraph, Please Scroll Back Up And Click on the Following: The Future Resurrection in which Each of Us Will be Restored to Our Bodies Which We Will Lose Through Death is Testified of in the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ by Prophets of God! Book of Mormon Prophets Also Testify that there Already Has Been a Previous Resurrection! President Thomas S. Monson Testifies in a Video at the End of This Post That We Will Live After Death!-Post 43y. When The Picture of Our Savior, Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy Comes Onto Your Screen, Please Scroll Down In The Index To Your Target Item Or Use the Alphabetical Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed).

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"Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?" Legal /Statement. Thank you for visiting. The author retains intellectual property and creative licensing rights. Permission to use or reprint must be given in writing. © Est.2008 Neil Birch Legal /Statement.

___________


I deeply appreciate your readership and hope you found very beneficial, that which was presented to you in this blog post.

If you have any questions about what you have read or viewed in this post or in any previous posts of mine, or if you even have a curiosity about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and or its teachings, please e-mail me. I'm Neil and my e-mail address is: jneilmelva@gmail.com. If you contact me I'll get back to you just as soon as possible.

I invite you to let your friends and relatives know about this blog if you think they would be interested in it. Please be advised that I also have an additional blog. It is my Spanish Blog: Its content is translated from the English in this blog:

Neil Birch

Post 43x: When Fully Prepared to Meet Your Maker You Will Possess an Eternal Perspective Which Will Carry You Peacefully Through Troublesome Times!

To Access This Blog's Index, Please Scroll Down To the Fifth Paragraph From the End of This Post!

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TODAY'S THEME



And He Healed Them All Every One -By Gary Kapp

In this painting the Resurrected Jesus Christ is shown healing those among the Nephites of Ancient Central America in  A.D. 34 who had physical afflictions.

He urged each of the Nephites (and all of the rest of us who were to eventually read the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, when it was to be brought forth by His power in the Latter-days) to live in accordance with His Gospel that we may each stand guiltless when we are lifted up by His Father to be judged by Himself, Jesus Christ, when He ultimately stands to judge the World.

Book of Mormon, III Nephi 27:13 Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.

14 And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—

15 And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works.

16 And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world. 

17 And he that endureth not unto the end, the same is he that is also hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence they can no more return, because of the justice of the Father.

18 And this is the word which he hath given unto the children of men. And for this cause he fulfilleth the words which he hath given, and he lieth not, but fulfilleth all his words.

19 And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end.

20 Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day. (emphasis added)

With that Eternal Perspective (two words used by Elder Russell M. Nelson in the video you will soon experience)  firmly implanted in our hearts and minds we can each live faithfully in accordance with those magnificent words of our Savior Jesus Christ as our guides in peacefully facing all of the challenges of life (among which is the challenge of death), which almost constantly seem to present themselves to us. 

I will now give you the opportunity of viewing the Mormon Messages Video in which a modern day Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Russell M. Nelson, tells us he was calmly confident in facing his  own imminent death but some of the other passengers in their small airliner were having great difficulty facing their own deaths as they were spiraling down toward the earth because one of the aircraft's engines was burning.

Pay close attention to the calm and confident sound of his voice as he tells us:

"I was ready to meet my maker!"

In the video Elder Nelson also mentions several other difficulties, besides the fear of dying that people are experiencing in their lives, such as the loss of loved ones through death which was something he experienced in the loss of a wife and a daughter.

Elder Nelson would surely tell us that becoming fully prepared to face our  Maker, Jesus Christ by faithfully following the scriptural guidance given above in blue will help each of us find great peace in this world of afflictions.

I Neil Birch, Author of this blog post want to make it clear that the message I have given above differs in its emphasis from the message Elder Russell M. Nelson delivers in the Mormon Messages video which you will now view. I am confident he would agree with the message I have delivered, but my emphasis is on additional important matters other than those very important matters which were the focus of Elder Nelson in this very well-done video. The producers of this video are obviously very skilled at what they do.

"Mens' Hearts Shall Fail Them," a Video Involving Elder Russell M. Nelson

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DISCLAIMER
This Blog is not owned by or affiliated with the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church.


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TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX: To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or To Search The Index For Any Other Blog Post You Desire To Access), After You Have Read All of This Paragraph, Please Scroll Back Up And Click on the Following: An Eternal Perspective of Life is Necessary to Remain at Peace Within One's self in these Turbulent Times of the Last Days of this World's History. At the end of this post you can view a Mormon Message Video, Men's Hearts Shall Fail Them featuring Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve. -Post 43x. When The Picture of Our Savior, Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy Comes Onto Your Screen, Please Scroll Down In The Index To Your Target Item Or Use the Alphabetical Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed).

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"Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?" Legal /Statement. Thank you for visiting. The author retains intellectual property and creative licensing rights. Permission to use or reprint must be given in writing. © Est.2008 Neil Birch Legal /Statement.

___________


I deeply appreciate your readership and hope you found very beneficial, that which was presented to you in this blog post.

If you have any questions about what you have read or viewed in this post or in any previous posts of mine, or if you even have a curiosity about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and or its teachings, please e-mail me. I'm Neil and my e-mail address is: jneilmelva@gmail.com. If you contact me I'll get back to you just as soon as possible.

I invite you to let your friends and relatives know about this blog if you think they would be interested in it. Please be advised that I also have an additional blog. It is my Spanish Blog: Its content is translated from the English in this blog:

Neil Birch

43w The Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation, (or the Revealing of the Mind and Will of God) is Always a Functioning Spiritual Gift in Jesus' Church.

To Access This Blog's Index, Please Scroll Down To the Fifth Paragraph From the End of This Post!

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TODAY'S THEME



The Apostle John (The Revelator) at a Young Age

Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

In all ages of the World's history whenever the Priesthood of God has been present on the earth, including during our time on earth, the Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation (or testimony of Jesus) about which the Apostle John (the Revelator) wrote as recorded above was and still is an essential part of the Lord's work.

In ancient Central America in about the year 73 B.C. the Prophet Alma (the Younger) revealed something by that Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation to his son Helaman.

The Prophet Alma the Younger, father of Helaman -by Al Young

The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ: Alma 45: 2 And it came to pass in the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, that Alma came unto his son Helaman and said unto him: Believest thou the words which I spake unto thee concerning those records which have been kept?

3. And Helaman said unto him: Yea, I believe.

4 And Alma said again: Believest thou in Jesus Christ, who shall come?

5 And he said: Yea, I believe all the words which thou hast spoken.

6 And Alma said unto him again: Will ye keep my commandments?

7 And he said: Yea, I will keep thy commandments with all my heart.

8 Then Alma said unto him: Blessed art thou; and the Lord shall prosper thee in this land.

9 But behold, I have somewhat to prophesy unto thee; but what I prophesy unto thee ye shall not make known; yea, what I prophesy unto thee shall not be made known, even until the prophecy is fulfilled; therefore write the words which I shall say.

10 And these are the words: Behold, I perceive that this very people, the Nephites, according to the spirit of revelation which is in me, in four hundred years from the time that Jesus Christ shall manifest himself unto them, shall dwindle in unbelief.

11 Yea, and then shall they see wars and pestilences, yea, famines and bloodshed, even until the people of Nephi shall become extinct—

12 Yea, and this because they shall dwindle in unbelief and fall into the works of darkness, and lasciviousness, and all manner of iniquities; yea, I say unto you, that because they shall sin against so great light and knowledge, yea, I say unto you, that from that day, even the fourth generation shall not all pass away before this great iniquity shall come. (emphasis added)

In the year A.D. 34 The Resurrected Jesus Christ, the co-facilitator of all prophecy and revelation foretold the same truth regarding the eventual falling away of His Nephite Flock.

The Resurrected Savior, Jesus Christ Teaching the Nephites in Ancient Central America in A.D. 34 -by John Scott

III Nephi 27:32 But behold, it sorroweth me because of the fourth generation from this generation, for they are led away captive by him even as was the son of perdition (Judas Iscariot); for they will sell me for silver and for gold, and for that which moth doth corrupt and which thieves can break through and steal. And in that day will I visit them, even in turning their works upon their own heads. (clarification added)

The Prophet Mormon Abridging the Golden Plates -by Tom Lovell

In about the year A.D. 245 the Prophet Mormon inscribed this next scripture on his plates of gold from which eventually, in 1830 became a part of the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. 


That Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation serves to guide prophets (and all worthy members of God's one and only true church) in all ages to function in His all important and Eternal work in the way He, the Lord Jesus Christ desires!  However whenever His people fall away from righteousness to the extent that the Nephites eventually did something similar to what happened to the Nephites as described below could also happen to them.

4 Nephi 43: And also the people who were called the people of Nephi began to be proud in their hearts, because of their exceeding riches, and become vain like unto their brethren, the Lamanites.

44 And from this time the disciples (the three Nephite Apostles) began to sorrow for the sins of the world.

45 And it came to pass that when three hundred years had passed away, both the people of Nephi and the Lamanites had become exceedingly wicked one like unto another. (clarification added)

All of the above is clear evidence that the Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation is very accurate in foretelling the future.

It certainly can be said: that where there is no functioning Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation in a church, it is not being led by the Lord Jesus Christ.

I now provide you with the opportunity of hearing from the present Latter-day Prophet of the Lord's one and only true church upon the earth in our day, President Thomas S. Monson, as he tells us by the means of one of his addresses during the most recent General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of an experience of his where that Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation, under very unlikely circumstances, brought about a needed speaker at a meeting at an L.D.S. temple in Frankfurt, Germany which was soon to be dedicated.

You will hear President Monson tell about how through his fully trusting in the power of the Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation, which he refers to simply as Inspiration, the right man was at the right place exactly at the very right time to deliver a very important message to a large group of Latter-day Saints.

Again, the Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation plays a key role in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ's Church in whatever time of the world's history and in whatever situation it was or is required. It will also guide worthy members of His true Church upon whom the Gift of the Holy Ghost has been bestowed by His approved Priesthood bearers, through life's frequent and often very difficult challenges.


President Thomas S. Monson of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

 When the page comes onto your screen after you have clicked on the link below, I suggest you click on the word: Watch which you will find on the right side of the page that will come onto your screen. That will allow you to enjoy watching the expressions on President Monson's face while also listening to his words.
 
Stand in Holy Places 

Editorial Comment by this Blogger, J. Neil Birch: We live in a day of amazing progress in means of communication! Everybody is texting and cell phoning and communicating over great distances in our present day world by using electronic devices of all kinds making our communications much more effective than ever before!

Let me however indicate that mankind in our great advancements in means and effectiveness of our communications is still "light years" behind the means of communications the Lord Jesus Christ and His servants here on earth have been using for many thousands of years (actually all the way back to Adam and Eve!)

Please recognize that which I have indicated in this post as having happened by the power of the Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation which emanates from the Godhead, God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost, is a mere "drop in the bucket" of prophetic communications between God and His servants here on earth about matters of great importance which have taken place since Adam's time on earth!

No electronic devices were needed in each of the examples I gave in the main body of this post: Alma's telling his son, Helaman of the eventual fall of the Nephite Nation, The Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ telling also of that coming fall from righteousness at a time when His Nephite Flock were very righteous and were being taught by Him in person!

Perhap's President Thomas S. Monson's example of communication by the Spirit of God is even more pertinent than the previous examples I've given in this post as we compare the Lord's means of communications with His servants here on earth with the modern electronic tools we are now using.

No cell phone or any other electronic device were needed to influence Brother Peter Mourik (who is from the Netherlands), at the very last minute to be rapidly driven to the Frankfurt Temple to deliver the message President Monson knew the Lord wanted him to deliver!

Simply summarized: Through the Gift of the Holy Ghost:

President Monson knew that the Lord wanted Brother Mourik to deliver that talk in the temple! He not only knew that, he also by the Spirit knew that Brother Mourik would deliver that talk even though he knew on good authority that he was busy elsewhere and wasn't planning to be at the temple until a day or two later when the temple was to be dedicated!

President Monson knew that so surely, by the Spirit of God, that he would be there to give a talk, actually announced (without any physical evidence that he was there): "Brother Mourik will now address us!"

Then also in our summary we must focus on what was happening to Brother Mourik who had been busily engaged in other matters:

The Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation through the Gift of the Holy Ghost which had been bestowed upon him after his baptism into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, clearly let him know he had to be in the Frankfurt temple immediately if not sooner!

As President Monson indicated there was a fast driver who made himself and his car available! And there came Brother Mourik walking from the back of the room up to the podium to do just what the Lord wanted him to do. President Monson with his complete trust in the Lord announced something he had no earthly evidence would happen! And it happened just as you heard President Monson tell us in his General Conference address!

Thousands upon thousands of LDS missionaries throughout this world of ours can also testify that they were led by the spirit to teach the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ to people they never knew before who had been prepared by the spirit to be taught by them and then brought into the Saving Net of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

There is not time to begin to mention the many kinds of events and circumstances that occur in our lives where the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God is needed so urgently!

This summary of what is accomplished through the power of the Gift of the Holy Ghost shows that gift can effect everything that is important to members of His church:

The way we treat our children and our eternal companions, our wife or husband and how we perform our church assignments, how we can avoid disastrous circumstances.

Maybe those modern electronic devices can help in all of those important things but they are in no way as effective as the Spirit of the Lord that has been bestowed upon each member of His Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! Enough Said!

Neil Birch
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DISCLAIMER
This Blog is not owned by or affiliated with the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church.


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TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX: To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or To Search The Index For Any Other Blog Post You Desire To Access), After You Have Read All of This Paragraph, Please Scroll Back Up And Click on the Following: The Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation is Always a Functioning Principle of the Church Authorized by the Lord Jesus Christ -Post 43w. When The Picture of Our Savior, Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy Comes Onto Your Screen, Please Scroll Down In The Index To Your Target Item Or Use the Alphabetical Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed).

___________

"Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?" Legal /Statement. Thank you for visiting. The author retains intellectual property and creative licensing rights. Permission to use or reprint must be given in writing. © Est.2008 Neil Birch Legal /Statement.

___________

I deeply appreciate your readership and hope you found very beneficial, that which was presented to you in this blog post.

If you have any questions about what you have read or viewed in this post or in any previous posts of mine, or if you even have a curiosity about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and or its teachings, please e-mail me. I'm Neil and my e-mail address is: jneilmelva@gmail.com. If you contact me I'll get back to you just as soon as possible.

I invite you to let your friends and relatives know about this blog if you think they would be interested in it. Please be advised that I also have an additional blog. It is my Spanish Blog: Its content is translated from the English in this blog:

Neil Birch

43v Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2011, A Day on Which Americans Will Express Gratitude to God for Many Wonderful Things! Those of You From Other Nations Can Express Your Gratitude to Him Along With Us!

To Access This Blog's Index, Please Scroll Down To the Fifth Paragraph From the End of This Post!

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TODAY'S THEME

Alma 34: 37 And now, my beloved brethren, I desire that ye should remember these things, and that ye should work out your salvation with fear before God, and that ye should no more deny the coming of Christ;

38 That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you. (emphasis added)



Thanksgiving Day in the United States of America - November 24, 2011


I Have Chosen to Dedicate This Blog Post of Mine Published Tuesday, November 22, 2011 to the Wonderful Holiday Which is Celebrated in the United States of America on the Third Thursday of November Every Year!

I have chosen Three Newspaper Articles I have Read Very Recently Which Demonstrate Important Things For Which, I, J. Neil Birch am Very Grateful!

The First Article Helps Me Feel Deep Gratitude for the Founding of the United States of America in Which I and many of you live!

'The Hand of Providence' by Marianne Holman, Church News staff writer

This Second Article Helps Me Feel Deep Gratitude for the Truthfulness of the Resurrection of Our Lord, Jesus Christ:

Daniel Peterson's article on the defiance of key apostles of local authorities in Jerusalem after the Savior's resurrection.

This Third Newspaper Article Helps Me Remember My Deep Gratitude For My Knowledge of the Truthfulness of the Book of Mormon!

Monument to Three Witnesses has stood 100 years

On Thursday, November 24, 2001, Thanksgiving Day in the U.S.A. I added to this post the following Mormon Times (Deseret News) Article:

Gratitude to Our God is Paramount, by Daniel Peterson

This Next Expression of Gratitude Comes About Through a Very Special Video:

Beautiful Heartbreak: Hilary Weeks -Every Step

There are Many More Things For Which I am Grateful for Which I Provided Just Several Examples. You Could Surely Add to This List, Mentally and in Your Heart, Things For Which you May Also Be Grateful Wherever You May Live in This Wonderful World of Ours!

I Wish I Could Read Your Lists. You are Welcomed By Me to List Several of Those Special Things for Which You Are Personally Grateful No Matter Where You May Live in This Wonderful World in a Comment you Can Choose to Make at the End of this Blog Post!

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DISCLAIMER
This Blog is not owned by or affiliated with the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church.

____________


TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX: To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or To Search The Index For Any Other Blog Post You Desire To Access), After You Have Read All of This Paragraph, Please Scroll Back Up And Click on the Following: Thanksgiving Day, the Third Thursday of November Each Year in the United States of America! There are Many Things to Celebrate! -Post 43v. When The Picture of Our Savior, Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy Comes Onto Your Screen, Please Scroll Down In The Index To Your Target Item Or Use the Alphabetical Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed).


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"Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?" Legal /Statement. Thank you for visiting. The author retains intellectual property and creative licensing rights. Permission to use or reprint must be given in writing. © Est.2008 Neil Birch Legal /Statement.

___________



I deeply appreciate your readership and hope you found very beneficial, that which was presented to you in this blog post.


If you have any questions about what you have read or viewed in this post or in any previous posts of mine, or if you even have a curiosity about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and or its teachings, please e-mail me. I'm Neil and my e-mail address is: jneilmelva@gmail.com. If you contact me I'll get back to you just as soon as possible.


I invite you to let your friends and relatives know about this blog if you think they would be interested in it. Please be advised that I also have an additional blog. It is my Spanish Blog: Its content is translated from the English in this blog:

Neil Birch

43u Inspired Words in the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ Assure Us that the Righteous Whose Lives are Lost Through Tragedy Will in the Lord's Own Due Time, be Resurrected and Brought Before Him to be Rewarded for Their Righteousness.

To Access This Blog's Index, Please Scroll Down To the Fifth Paragraph From the End of This Post!

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TODAY'S THEME



Jesus Was the First to be Resurrected

Mormon 7:6 And he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead, whereby man must be raised to stand before his judgment-seat.

7 And he hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, whereby he that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end.

From those inspired words of the prophet Mormon from the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, we can with surety assume that any righteous individuals who are taken unexpectedly from life will come forth during the Resurrection of the Just.

I have been given permission by my friend, Mormon Soprano to use her most recent blog post. It is entitled "Tragedy or Destiny in Texas." You Will View a Video at the end of her Blog post in which the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Mormon Missionaries' Missionary Song, "Called to Serve"  is featured.

Those of you who live in the State of Utah, U.S.A. have read of the death of two LDS missionaries who were performing their divinely appointed tasks when tragedy (destiny) struck very recently!

I now put you in the very capable and caring hands of Mormon Soprano!

Tragedy or Destiny in Texas

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DISCLAIMER
This blog is not owned by or affiliated with the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church.


____________


TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX: To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or To Search The Index For Any Other Blog Post You Desire To Access), After You Have Read All of This Paragraph, Please Scroll Back Up And Click on the Following: Because of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ We Will Each Be Resurrected and Blessed According to Our State of Righteousness! -Post 43u. When The Picture of Our Savior, Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy Comes Onto Your Screen, Please Scroll Down In The Index To Your Target Item Or Use the Alphabetical Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed).

_____________

"Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?" Legal /Statement. Thank you for visiting. The author retains intellectual property and creative licensing rights. Permission to use or reprint must be given in writing. © Est.2008 Neil Birch Legal /Statement.

____________


I deeply appreciate your readership and hope you found very beneficial, that which was presented to you in this blog post.

If you have any questions about what you have read or viewed in this post or in any previous posts of mine, or if you even have a curiosity about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and or its teachings, please e-mail me. I'm Neil and my e-mail address is: jneilmelva@gmail.com. If you contact me I'll get back to you just as soon as possible.

I invite you to let your friends and relatives know about this blog if you think they would be interested in it. Please be advised that I also have an additional blog. It is my Spanish Blog: Its content is translated from the English in this blog:

Neil Birch