Beautiful Doctrines of the Gospel

On April 3, 1836, 3 heavenly beings appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland temple and restored sacred keys pertaining to the everlasting priesthood.

...the heavens were again opened unto us; and Moses appeared before us, and committed unto us the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north. After this, Elias appeared, and committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying that in us and our seed all generations after us should be blessed. After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said: Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come— To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse—

D&C 110

"Elias" appeared in the Kirtland temple on this occasion and "committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham". What is the gospel of Abraham? Why was this key restored to the earth? What does it mean that "in us and our seed all generations after us should be blessed. "

This quote from Russell M. Nelson is amazing.

Whenever I look at stars in the sky, I am reminded that about 4,000 years ago Jesus the Christ (then speaking as Jehovah—God of the Old Testament) made a covenant with Father Abraham. Included was the promise that the Savior of the world would come through Abraham’s lineage and that his seed would be multiplied “as the stars of the heaven.” In addition, Abraham was told that through his seed, “all the nations of the earth [shall] be blessed” (Gen. 22:17–18). This covenant was to be everlasting—even through “a thousand generations” (1 Chr. 16:15). Abraham was promised “that this right shall continue in thee, and in thy seed after thee … even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal” (Abr. 2:11).
From scriptures we learn that this covenant “should be fulfilled in the latter days” (1 Ne. 15:18). Then the fulness of His gospel would be preached and many would truly believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
In 1836, keys of “the gospel of Abraham” were conferred (D&C 110:12). In 1843 the Lord declared to the Prophet Joseph Smith that “Abraham received promises concerning his seed, and of the fruit of his loins—from whose loins ye are. … This promise is yours also, because ye are of Abraham” (D&C 132:30–31).
Brothers and sisters, you may also claim the supernal blessings promised to the faithful lineage of Abraham. The Lord explained that blessings and responsibilities of His priesthood are yours because of your faith, works, and lineage—the lineage declared in your patriarchal blessings. You “are lawful heirs,” He said. “Your life and the priesthood have remained, and must needs remain through you and your lineage” (D&C 86:9–10).
The ultimate blessings of the Abrahamic covenant are conferred in holy temples. These blessings allow us to come forth in the First Resurrection and inherit thrones, kingdoms, powers, principalities, and dominions, to our “exaltation and glory in all things” (D&C 132:19). The fulfillment of the ancient Abrahamic covenant is feasible only because of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is He who has made it possible for us to dwell with God, with Him, and with our families eternally.

Swim Training

My training partner, Natalie, and I filmed each other swimming yesterday so we could find ways to improve our form. It's really hard to improve on your swimming technique without a coach or training partner. Natalie has really helped me improve over the past few months. She's improved as well. It's been really satisfying to watch her evolve into a great swimmer.

IT'S ON!!!

Winter is officially over and with the spring thaw comes a new challenge. All the men in my family - my brothers in law, Monte Johnson and Cody Reeder, my brothers, Brian and Chris and myself - are going head to head this summer at the Utah Half Ironman in Provo, Utah. This will be another chapter in our family for the history books! I'm so excited to be able to race with all these great and inspiring men. Over the next 4 months, I'll be documenting our training for this event.

Swim 1.2 miles, Bike 56 miles, Run 13.1 miles!

Cody was "prescribed" the right running shoes by the good people at Salt Lake Running Company. It turns out he over pronates, so hopefully a medium stability shoe will correct the problem.

Monte just bought a wetsuit that turned out to be too big. Right now, he's most concerned about the swim, so he's going to spend a lot of time in the pool over the next few months. Since we're swimming in Utah Lake, you might want to get a tetanus shot along with all the swim training, Monte!

Brian has commited himself to this event, and it's looking like he'll be the most prepared. His swim times in the pool are looking good, and he's started running again after taking it easy for a couple months due to a foot injury.

Chris has slated 7 hours as a good finishing time. Hey Chris! A couple words of wisdom - Eat a fudgesicle right before the race and when in doubt in the water, flip onto your back and remember "monkey, tree, rocketship"! You'll get it done.

As for me, my only new years resolution this year was to try and eat more ice cream. So far, it's going well. That's all you need to know.

Because it's there Mallory said, to an audience of misunderstanding reporters. The world has long thought that George Leigh Mallory meant the elusive summit of Mt. Everest, but perhaps he was referring to the mountain buried deep in the soul of every human being, that deep primal desire in each of us to be proven, not to the world, but to ourselves. In this, one can even hear echoes of similar desires expressed in our enthusiastic acceptance of a plan presented to us all before the world was made, a desire to be "proven herewith". Now we are here and the desire expresses itself in peculiar ways. Always the inward searching question of "would I have made it" when stories of suffering, trials, and valor are recounted. Or, the drive to climb a high mountain in some far off country. And, of course, for many it is expressed by an entry into an amazingly difficult race where the individual must transcend the physical body to draw upon deep wells of hidden mental and spiritual strength to finish. To any who desire to be so tested, the question may be posed: "why do you want to do this hard thing?" the answer is always the same, "Because it is there" the Moriah in each of us which must be climbed and conquered that we may in fact conquer ourselves"
-Brian McCombs