One consequence of the apostasy was the loss of important and eternal truths about God and our relationship with Him. Human attempts to cram the simple, straightforward Gospel of Jesus Christ as presented in the Bible into the traditions of Greek and Roman philosophy warped and even reversed many truths.
“Our Father which art in heaven…” Jesus taught His followers to pray. The implications of taking this statement literally are staggering. But when Christian doctrine was filtered through Hellenistic philosophical preconceptions, what the world at large was left with was the teaching of abject human depravity—the idea that people are naturally, automatically, and essentially depraved. In this worldview we cannot choose to do anything good, no matter how hard we try.
This may placate Greek philosophy, but it is discordant with reality. Mothers loving their children, fathers loving their children, spouses loving each other, children loving their parents, siblings loving each other, altruism towards strangers—all these things are natural and good human tendencies. They are harmonious with what God expects of us. Philanthropy, compassion, and mercy can emerge at any moment in anyone. That is part of human behavior.
True, humanity also exhibits bad and even depraved behavior on occasion, but people in general, and individuals, exhibit a mix of good and bad behavior. Good behaviors that occur daily are not as visible or memorable—we take them for granted. Obedience to traffic laws, honesty of store patrons, and general moral behavior—we just assume that is how others are going to act most of the time, and they do. Conversely, atrocities get plenty of magnification, and excess airtime.
“...good and evil have come before all men...” (Alma 29:5). And it is true; we are faced with choices all day, each day, and we can choose from a multitude of good or bad options.
Joseph Smith opposed centuries of negative depictions of humanity as essentially depraved. He taught of mortals as preexistent spirits who came, innocent, from the presence of God into a fallen world (see D&C 93). Yes, tendencies to sin are present in us now, but we are also, as Jesus taught, children of God. We can choose good or evil, partly because there is native goodness, the light of Christ, at the core of each person. “The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26:41). We are dual beings, with good and bad mingled in us, not totally monstrous or saintly.
King Benjamin Quotes an Angel
There are scriptures, even restoration scriptures, which seem to support the negative view of mortals. In King Benjamin’s sermon in the Book of Mormon, he tells his people an angel awakened him in the night with a message, and the following is an brief part:
“For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever…” (Mosiah 3:19). This sounds dire, but there is hope:
“…unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord…” Jesus Christ can change our natures from sinful to saintly.
“For I am able to make you holy…” (D&C 60:7), the Lord reassures us.
But King Benjamin’s statement still gives us the impression that, without saving grace, humanity is depraved. As explained before, not every inclination we have naturally is depraved; we also have good insticts. How, or in what sense, are we enemies to God?
Natural is Bad?
Natural has positive connotations in almost every context. At the grocery store, natural generally is better than artificial. Natural means the way it was at birth, born that way. Noel, nativity, native, navel, are all cognate with natural. Why, then, is it portrayed as bad in King Benjamin’s sermon?
Parents and Children
Instead of looking for the natural man solely in depravity (which we rarely commit), or even in little pet sins we justify to ourselves, we can find him cloaked in a far more innocuous guise.
How are we enemies to God?
Imagine the struggle between a girl and her mother. Mom wants the daughter to eat vegetables, go to bed early, wake up early, clean her room, do homework, do well in school, practice musical instruments, and otherwise spend time exerting herself.
Meanwhile, her young daughter wants to eat sugary, processed foods, stay up late, sleep in, watch movies, neglect homework, ignore lessons at school, play outside, and generally engage in amusements rather than focus, exert herself, or develop her talents.
Is the tension between Mom and daughter here indicative of evil in the girl?
The difference between this mom and her daughter is their individual perspectives. Mom looks to the future, and sees her daughter as a woman, two and three decades from now. The hard work and practice and discipline invested now will yield dividends of competency, peace, and power in that inevitable future.
Meanwhile, the daughter can only see what is immediately at hand, and has little concern for long-term outcomes. Her main reason for resisting is merely that she is short-sighted. She is not evil per se.
Not Depraved; Physically Oriented
We resist God because we have a limited perspective. Our physical natures predispose us to give priority to physical things, and neglect spiritual things when the two conflict. God sees everything, and gives highest priority to spiritual concerns for us.
Our default condition upon entering this life is to be saddled with a body full of irrational appetites. Yes, God gave us brains, and He expects us to use them, but what is their main purpose? To keep our bodies alive and comfortable. Our natures, our condition of being born with a physical body full of raw instincts, means we are predisposed to give more credence to what we can see and comprehend than to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Naturally Pragmatic
The innocuous face of the natural man is common sense, pragmatism, practicality, being safe, cautious, and reasonable. There is nothing virtuous about being unreasonable—unless the Lord tells us to do what seems unreasonable to us.
Laman and Lemuel are vilified regularly in Sunday school classes. Be like Nephi; don’t be like Laman and Lemuel. But they had the same family as Nephi, and traveled the same terrain and oceans. Why was their perception and behavior so different from Nephi’s?
Nephi explains:
“…I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers” (1Ne. 2:16).
In other words, Nephi had a private spiritual experience in which the Lord visited him and changed his nature, and therefore his changed heart responded differently than Laman and Lemuel’s to the same circumstances.
There are videos of rollercoaster passengers sitting side by side, riding the same curves and loops, yet having completely different subjective, internal experiences. One passenger is elated; the other is terrified. Similarly, Nephi is able to rejoice in his circumstances because God softened and changed his heart; his views are “glorious” because God has given him ability to see spiritually instead of just physically. Laman and Lemuel complain because they are natural men, perceiving only what is obvious to their five senses, appetites, and human logic.
Because of Nephi’s divinely softened heart and corresponding increase of faith, he perceived the journey the Lord commanded his family to go on as a good thing, and rejoiced at times rather than complaining. Without that essential faith and trust in the Lord caused by spiritual rebirth (and subsequently receiving a new nature), Laman and Lemuel murmured about the exact same ride Nephi gloried in.
Nephi received revelations and spiritual promptings, and trusted these invisible, intangible influences. As a result, he faced his challenges with more courage. He perceived things with an eye of faith. Though Laman and Lemuel saw an angel with their physical eyes, heard the voice of the Lord, and saw other miracles, they lacked the ability to prefer these sources of information to their appetites, physical senses, and mortal thinking. They saw through the brain of the natural man, which is meant to keep us alive for the next fifteen seconds, not trusting prophecies looking eight years, or six centuries, into the future.
They could not see the Babylonian army marching over the horizon to sack Jerusalem in eight years; they could only see the carnal security of their wealth there. The Arabian Peninsula is foreboding (the only country in the world today without a river). To their natural senses, even with angelic assurances and witnessing miracles, they struggled to trust that this road into the wilderness was a wiser course than staying home.
Why did they threaten to kill Nephi? How do they going from being just practical, to atrocities like murder? At least, in part, because God was telling them to do things that scared these practical, down-to-earth, common sense natural men. Like the girl whose mother’s demands seemed unreasonable to her because she could not see into the future, so Laman and Lemuel’s short-sightedness due to a lack of spiritual rebirth predisposed them to rely on their five senses, their appetites, and their human reasoning.
If Laman and Lemuel had stayed at Jerusalem, they probably would not have tried to kill Nephi. They would have taken out the garbage, run errands, and lived as good, reasonable citizens in Jerusalem (until the Babylonians destroyed it and killed or enslaved the populace). They were only depraved when God demanded they do risky things, which frightened their low-faith, high-practicality selves. Then they became dangerous towards Nephi and their other family members.
Nephi was good because he set out on his journey with some degree of initial spiritual rebirth that empowered him to trust the Lord, while his brothers balked and rebelled because of (what seemed to them to be) natural, reasonable fear.
Modern Application
Elder Ballard tells a less extreme story from his own life that typifies what the natural man looks like—not necessarily depraved, murdering and adulterous, but convinced of what he can see with his eyes immediately before him. The typical natural man hesitates to follow the invisible, still, small voice of revelation, or to see with an eye of faith.
“Years ago when I was in business, I learned a very expensive lesson because I did not...heed the promptings of the Spirit giving me guidance from my Heavenly Father. ...I [was] in the automobile business, and the Ford Motor Company was looking for dealers to sell their new line of cars. Ford executives invited...me to a preview showing of what they thought would be a spectacularly successful product. ...the Ford sales personnel were very persuasive, and I chose to become Salt Lake City’s first—and actually last—Edsel dealer. And if you don’t know what an Edsel is, ask your grandpa. He will tell you that the Edsel was a spectacular failure” (Learning the Lessons of the Past, April 2009 General Conference).
Anyone can find himself or herself trusting in human reasoning above and beyond the whiserpings of the Spirit. To the degree that we are spiritually reborn, we exhibit greater trust in spiritual promptings than in human reasoning, physical senses or appetites.
Our hesitations and weak faith result in a struggle with the Spirit, and THAT is the greater part of the natural man’s enmity toward God.
We can watch over time as our trust in the Lord and willingness to follow His promptings (as well as our ability to hear them) increase. Rebirth happens less dramatically and by degrees most of the time, so we will alternate between success and failure at first.
Progress means trusting the Spirit over what we see and touch and surmise through human reason; this indicates the process of spiritual rebirth is taking hold in us.
Less Extreme, More Effective
We might deny any trace of the natural man in us, or beat ourselves up if we perceive it in ourselves. Both tendencies are extreme, and interfere with repentance. Instead, we can think of “natural man” as our common starting point, and spiritual rebirth our destination in this life. When we are reborn, and to the extent we are reborn, we have “[put] off the natural man, and [become] a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord.”
We are not meant to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, to rely on the arm of the flesh, the natural man, to overcome or replace the natural man. It is by pairing with the Savior that this part of us is overcome or replaced with a new nature.
Natural birth, natural man; spiritual rebirth, new spiritual nature.
We can be born again, and inherit a part of Jesus Christ’s nature. That is the real solution to the problems of being a natural man.
Thursday, December 28, 2017
Saturday, October 21, 2017
Gospel = Good News
We Latter-day Saints use the word Gospel as a catch-all. It can mean The Church, all truth, first principles and ordinances, all doctrine, etc. The literal meaning is the good news. What is this good news?
Look for the good news in the following passage from the Book of Mormon as Jesus Christ defines His Gospel more specifically:
“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.
“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—” (3Ne. 27:14).
Wait—this sounds suspiciously like bad news. “…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…” “Lifted up” has positive connotations in other places in the scriptures, but to be “lifted up” “as” Jesus should give us pause.
How was Jesus lifted up? He was nailed to a cross, without clothing, and put on public display in the cruelest and most degrading manner. And we get that sense from other places in the scriptures—that the Final Judgment, that last interview with the Lord, might be severely painful (unless we are prepared for it).
Alma expresses vividly which kind of agony:
“…so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror.
“Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God, to be judged of my deeds” (Alma 36:14-15).
It is not literal coals and pitchforks that hell is made of; it is shame and dark disappointment.
“Wo unto the uncircumcised of heart, for a knowledge of their iniquities shall smite them at the last day” (2Ne. 9:33). Mere admittance into heaven is not enough to make us happy; we have to belong there—a dream about being in public becomes a nightmare if we realize we are there without clothing.
“Behold, I say unto you that ye would be more miserable to dwell with a holy and just God, under a consciousness of your filthiness before him, than ye would to dwell with the damned souls in hell.
“For behold, when ye shall be brought to see your nakedness before God, and also the glory of God, and the holiness of Jesus Christ, it will kindle a flame of unquenchable fire upon you” (Mormon 9:4-5).
We would not want to go to heaven in such a state—we would back out and flee.
“…the demands of divine justice to awaken his immortal soul to a lively sense of his own guilt, which doth cause him to shrink from the presence of the Lord, and doth fill his breast with guilt, and pain, and anguish, which is like an unquenchable fire, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever” (Mosiah 2:38).
We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God—are we all doomed, then? No, and that is the good news—we need not go into that great and final face-to-face interview with our Divine Creator unprepared. Christianity is forever talking about being “saved.” Saved? From what? People sleep through church meetings and sleepwalk through life. There is no apparent danger anywhere in sight (unless we have terminal diseases or other mortal problems).
Saved from what? What is the danger?
The danger is coming into the presence of God unprepared for that inevitable face-to-face meeting.
The Good News
“…nevertheless there was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God…” (Alma 12:24).
That is good news. We have a chance, here, now, to change our actions and our attitudes. But this alone is not sufficient to correct the consequences of sin. If a boy heaves a baseball through a priceless stained glass window, will any misery or even payment on his part piece it back together? Justice alone might require a penalty, but even that does not heal all the effects of sin.
If we break eternal laws, we can only expect eternal consequences, unless there are eternal solutions.
And the Atonement of Jesus Christ is of the magnitude necessary to heal damage and pay for our sins, because it is also eternal in scope and magnitude. It is big enough to offset our sins.
“Now there is not any man that can sacrifice his own blood which will atone for the sins of another. Now, if a man murdereth, behold will our law, which is just, take the life of his brother? I say unto you, Nay.
“But the law requireth the life of him who hath murdered; therefore there can be nothing which is short of an inifinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world” (Alma 34:11-12).
Infinity is the price necessary to redeem us from sin, and Jesus paid that price for our sins to save us from the terrible shame we would otherwise feel when our lives are publicized at the Judgment Day.
Let’s continue with the definition of the Gospel, the good news Jesus gives us:
“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” (3Ne. 27:15).
It sounds (to me) as though our appearance at the Judgment will be compulsory—perhaps we will be anxiously chatting with friends, awaiting our turn, and without warning, find ourselves flying, drawn towards the judgment bar. Jesus was lifted up with hands other than His own; “even so” is the phrase describing how we will be lifted up before Jesus.
Look for the good news in the following passage from the Book of Mormon as Jesus Christ defines His Gospel more specifically:
“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.
“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—” (3Ne. 27:14).
Wait—this sounds suspiciously like bad news. “…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…” “Lifted up” has positive connotations in other places in the scriptures, but to be “lifted up” “as” Jesus should give us pause.
How was Jesus lifted up? He was nailed to a cross, without clothing, and put on public display in the cruelest and most degrading manner. And we get that sense from other places in the scriptures—that the Final Judgment, that last interview with the Lord, might be severely painful (unless we are prepared for it).
Alma expresses vividly which kind of agony:
“…so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror.
“Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God, to be judged of my deeds” (Alma 36:14-15).
It is not literal coals and pitchforks that hell is made of; it is shame and dark disappointment.
“Wo unto the uncircumcised of heart, for a knowledge of their iniquities shall smite them at the last day” (2Ne. 9:33). Mere admittance into heaven is not enough to make us happy; we have to belong there—a dream about being in public becomes a nightmare if we realize we are there without clothing.
“Behold, I say unto you that ye would be more miserable to dwell with a holy and just God, under a consciousness of your filthiness before him, than ye would to dwell with the damned souls in hell.
“For behold, when ye shall be brought to see your nakedness before God, and also the glory of God, and the holiness of Jesus Christ, it will kindle a flame of unquenchable fire upon you” (Mormon 9:4-5).
We would not want to go to heaven in such a state—we would back out and flee.
“…the demands of divine justice to awaken his immortal soul to a lively sense of his own guilt, which doth cause him to shrink from the presence of the Lord, and doth fill his breast with guilt, and pain, and anguish, which is like an unquenchable fire, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever” (Mosiah 2:38).
We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God—are we all doomed, then? No, and that is the good news—we need not go into that great and final face-to-face interview with our Divine Creator unprepared. Christianity is forever talking about being “saved.” Saved? From what? People sleep through church meetings and sleepwalk through life. There is no apparent danger anywhere in sight (unless we have terminal diseases or other mortal problems).
Saved from what? What is the danger?
The danger is coming into the presence of God unprepared for that inevitable face-to-face meeting.
The Good News
“…nevertheless there was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God…” (Alma 12:24).
That is good news. We have a chance, here, now, to change our actions and our attitudes. But this alone is not sufficient to correct the consequences of sin. If a boy heaves a baseball through a priceless stained glass window, will any misery or even payment on his part piece it back together? Justice alone might require a penalty, but even that does not heal all the effects of sin.
If we break eternal laws, we can only expect eternal consequences, unless there are eternal solutions.
And the Atonement of Jesus Christ is of the magnitude necessary to heal damage and pay for our sins, because it is also eternal in scope and magnitude. It is big enough to offset our sins.
“Now there is not any man that can sacrifice his own blood which will atone for the sins of another. Now, if a man murdereth, behold will our law, which is just, take the life of his brother? I say unto you, Nay.
“But the law requireth the life of him who hath murdered; therefore there can be nothing which is short of an inifinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world” (Alma 34:11-12).
Infinity is the price necessary to redeem us from sin, and Jesus paid that price for our sins to save us from the terrible shame we would otherwise feel when our lives are publicized at the Judgment Day.
Let’s continue with the definition of the Gospel, the good news Jesus gives us:
“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” (3Ne. 27:15).
It sounds (to me) as though our appearance at the Judgment will be compulsory—perhaps we will be anxiously chatting with friends, awaiting our turn, and without warning, find ourselves flying, drawn towards the judgment bar. Jesus was lifted up with hands other than His own; “even so” is the phrase describing how we will be lifted up before Jesus.
Regardless, we will each arrive there, one by one, standing before Him in all His might, power, and glory, looking into us as though our every thought and feeling were screamed aloud. This is a different, yet equally uncomfortable, kind of nakedness to His.
BUT,
“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” (3Ne. 27:16).
THAT (finally) sounds like good news. To be presented blameless, free of crippling, agonizing shame before God—not desiring to have mountains fall upon us to hide our shame, or wanting to run as far and as fast from Him as we can scamper.
What makes this possible? How can a life tainted with sin throughout its duration end in cleanliness before the Lord?
Atonement, Literally
The Atonement is something Latter-day Saints speak of often. Perhaps it would be good to apply our cultural tendency for digging into the etymological roots of words to this highly important Gospel term.
Kippur is the Hebrew translated as Atonement. It is cognate (and similar) with our verb to cover. To cover is a literal translation of Atonement. What is covered? We are, our sins are: covered and erased by blood. (Sacrificial blood was spattered ritually on every important surface of the ancient Tabernacle and later the Temple at Jerusalem.)
Our definition of the Gospel as given by the Savior continues:
“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” (3Ne. 27:19).
That is the Good News—that the blood of Jesus Christ will atone for (cover) our sins; we will not be lifted up naked (like Jesus), but will have Him (mercifully) to cover us, to clothe us. What would otherwise be acutely miserable and humiliating public scrutiny will become a public display of mercy, covering our past, our record of transgressions and sins.
This covering is given freely to those who sin ignorantly. But the difference between our knowledge of right and wrong, and what we actually did, will be the measure of justice we merit. Any difference between knowledge of right and wrong and our actions must be atoned for, covered by Christ.
At-One-Ment
Why not translate kippur literally? The etymology (origin) of Atonement (kippur) and its definition are different. The origin of the word means literally to cover, but there was a lot more to it than that. Kippur refers to what the covering of sin enables—reuniting with God, at-one-ment, with our Father.
(The reunion of the prodigal son with his patient, loving and forgiving parent captures the essence of at-one-ment. He covers his returned son with a robe, as well as sandals, a ring, embraces, and love.)
And so the fuller meaning of to cover is to become at one, reuniting after a long and sad separation.
Premortal Acceptance
When this plan of how to get back from a sin-filled world and be clean again was presented at the Grand Council before the world was created, a full third of the heavenly hosts rejected it. What made the difference between those who subscribed to the plan and agreed to come here, and those who rebelled against the plan?
“And they (we) overcame him (Lucifer) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Rev. 12:11).
We were willing to risk physical and spiritual death by coming into this world because we trusted in Jesus Christ; that He would be born, and love us enough to suffer for our sins, and die, and be resurrected and glorified. Whatever He gets, His followers also inherit. That includes following in His footsteps, wherever He goes—back into His presence and the presence of His Father, forever.
Because we are not in hell now, we see no danger, and so it takes faith to believe that we are either in peril or rescued. But experiences in life let us pre-sample a little of heaven and hell. We sin, lose light, and so feel pain. We can imagine that loss of light amplified immensely in the next life.
Conversely, when we do willingly what God has asked us to do, such as receive His ordinances, attend the Temple, or at other sacred times, we get a foretaste of heaven—“earnest money,” Paul calls it. Those sweet, ineffable moments when the portion of the Spirit is turned up, and our whole being is “quickened,” convince us that there is more and more of that goodness available in the life to come.
We have afflictions, just like everyone else. But we have something more: Christ promises us strength, and to accompany us in our extremity:
“And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions” (Mosiah 24:14).
That is good news here and now. I am one more witness that Jesus does actually visit us in our pain, and strengthens us to bear our burdens, or even removes them. Either way, we can be happy in this life, as well as happily anticipating the next life.
Our Share
While there are things only Jesus Christ can do, He demands one thing from us continuously: Repent. The strengthening, grace, and sanctification we receive from Him is delivered almost entirely by His Spirit. Therefore we must change our attitudes and actions to receive the Holy Ghost. This is a continuous process; we always need repentance in some form (hence phrases like “endure to the end”).
“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.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do;
“Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day” (3Ne. 27:22).
BUT,
“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” (3Ne. 27:16).
THAT (finally) sounds like good news. To be presented blameless, free of crippling, agonizing shame before God—not desiring to have mountains fall upon us to hide our shame, or wanting to run as far and as fast from Him as we can scamper.
What makes this possible? How can a life tainted with sin throughout its duration end in cleanliness before the Lord?
Atonement, Literally
The Atonement is something Latter-day Saints speak of often. Perhaps it would be good to apply our cultural tendency for digging into the etymological roots of words to this highly important Gospel term.
Kippur is the Hebrew translated as Atonement. It is cognate (and similar) with our verb to cover. To cover is a literal translation of Atonement. What is covered? We are, our sins are: covered and erased by blood. (Sacrificial blood was spattered ritually on every important surface of the ancient Tabernacle and later the Temple at Jerusalem.)
Our definition of the Gospel as given by the Savior continues:
“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” (3Ne. 27:19).
That is the Good News—that the blood of Jesus Christ will atone for (cover) our sins; we will not be lifted up naked (like Jesus), but will have Him (mercifully) to cover us, to clothe us. What would otherwise be acutely miserable and humiliating public scrutiny will become a public display of mercy, covering our past, our record of transgressions and sins.
This covering is given freely to those who sin ignorantly. But the difference between our knowledge of right and wrong, and what we actually did, will be the measure of justice we merit. Any difference between knowledge of right and wrong and our actions must be atoned for, covered by Christ.
At-One-Ment
Why not translate kippur literally? The etymology (origin) of Atonement (kippur) and its definition are different. The origin of the word means literally to cover, but there was a lot more to it than that. Kippur refers to what the covering of sin enables—reuniting with God, at-one-ment, with our Father.
(The reunion of the prodigal son with his patient, loving and forgiving parent captures the essence of at-one-ment. He covers his returned son with a robe, as well as sandals, a ring, embraces, and love.)
And so the fuller meaning of to cover is to become at one, reuniting after a long and sad separation.
Premortal Acceptance
When this plan of how to get back from a sin-filled world and be clean again was presented at the Grand Council before the world was created, a full third of the heavenly hosts rejected it. What made the difference between those who subscribed to the plan and agreed to come here, and those who rebelled against the plan?
“And they (we) overcame him (Lucifer) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Rev. 12:11).
We were willing to risk physical and spiritual death by coming into this world because we trusted in Jesus Christ; that He would be born, and love us enough to suffer for our sins, and die, and be resurrected and glorified. Whatever He gets, His followers also inherit. That includes following in His footsteps, wherever He goes—back into His presence and the presence of His Father, forever.
Because we are not in hell now, we see no danger, and so it takes faith to believe that we are either in peril or rescued. But experiences in life let us pre-sample a little of heaven and hell. We sin, lose light, and so feel pain. We can imagine that loss of light amplified immensely in the next life.
Conversely, when we do willingly what God has asked us to do, such as receive His ordinances, attend the Temple, or at other sacred times, we get a foretaste of heaven—“earnest money,” Paul calls it. Those sweet, ineffable moments when the portion of the Spirit is turned up, and our whole being is “quickened,” convince us that there is more and more of that goodness available in the life to come.
We have afflictions, just like everyone else. But we have something more: Christ promises us strength, and to accompany us in our extremity:
“And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions” (Mosiah 24:14).
That is good news here and now. I am one more witness that Jesus does actually visit us in our pain, and strengthens us to bear our burdens, or even removes them. Either way, we can be happy in this life, as well as happily anticipating the next life.
Our Share
While there are things only Jesus Christ can do, He demands one thing from us continuously: Repent. The strengthening, grace, and sanctification we receive from Him is delivered almost entirely by His Spirit. Therefore we must change our attitudes and actions to receive the Holy Ghost. This is a continuous process; we always need repentance in some form (hence phrases like “endure to the end”).
“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.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do;
“Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day” (3Ne. 27:22).
Saturday, August 26, 2017
Lehi Explains the Fall and Redemption of Adam and Eve
Alma discussed Adam and Eve:
“Wherefore, he gave commandments unto men, they having first transgressed the first commandments as to things which were temporal, and becoming as gods, knowing good from evil, placing themselves in a state to act according to their wills and pleasures, whether to do evil or to do good…” (Alma 12:31, emphasis mine).
What are these “first commandments?”
1. Beget children.
2. Don’t die physically (separation of body from spirit).
3. Don’t die spiritually (separation from God).
(A fourth is to care for living things.)
“So God created man in his own image…male and female…
“…and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth…” (Gen. 1:27-28).
“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Gen. 2:16-17). Partaking of this fruit led to physical AND spiritual death for Adam and Eve.
These are the “first commandments.”
Why would God give His children the opportunity to sin and destroy themselves? Why put the forbidden fruit in the garden at all?
Lehi Explains
There are few commentaries on Adam and Eve that can rival Lehi’s masterful end-of-life sermon to his son, Jacob. He explains the WHY behind the events.
“…if Adam had not transgressed (eaten the forbidden fruit) he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden…
“And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin” (2Ne. 2:22-23). Knowledge of good and evil was one property the fruit bequeathed; the other was death.
In order to keep the first commandment (become parents), they had to break the second and third rules, to die physically and spiritually.
“And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil. And the law is given unto men. And by the law no flesh is justified; or, by the law men are cut off. Yea, by the temporal law (don’t die physically) they (Adam and Eve) were cut off; and also, by the spiritual law (don’t die spiritually) they perish from that which is good, and become miserable forever” (2Ne. 2:5).
Fortunately, our first parents’ deficiencies at obedience (as well as our own) were anticipated and provided for by our heavenly Parents. It was never expected that we would be flawless in our obedience (though we are expected to try to our utmost). Salvation would have to include a way to save sinners.
“Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.
“Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.
“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…” (2Ne. 2:6-8).
Adam and Eve kept the rule to beget offspring; how do they (and we) overcome physical and spiritual death?
“…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…
“…inasmuch as he shall make intercession for all the children of men…
“…because of the intercession for all, all men come unto God…” (2Ne. 8-10).
We are able to keep the rule to beget children, and be saved from physical and spiritual death by Jesus Christ.
Why not start off as immortal parents? Because we are now proving whether we can be trusted with that power permanently; it is temporarily on loan now. Immortal parents having immortal children; they should be perfect first, lest their children inherit their sinful state forever.
Any family or marriage not founded on goodness and obedience to God will be dissolved before the resurrection. Death ends anything that should not last; the resurrection restores anything that worthy of permanence.
Opposition on the Menu
Why couldn’t we take this test in a more heavenly, death-and-sin-free environment, like the Garden of Eden? Lehi explains the role of evil and good in the plan of salvation.
“For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad…”
“…And to bring about his eternal purposes…it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter.
“Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other” (2Ne. 2:11, 15-16)
God put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil into the garden, as well as the tree of life (along with allowing Satan to enter), because without the opportunity to choose between them, Adam and Eve would not have really had options, so no free will. Exposure to both good and evil, and a knowledge of the consequences of each, are prerequisites for moral agency to exist in fullness.
We fall, come down here to this beautiful yet morally corrupt place, to be tested, precisely because both good and evil are available here. The opportunity to choose sin validates our choice to do good instead. If there were only good choices available, what could our choices show about us? If there are no forks in our path, are we really navigating?
Agency requires knowledge of our options and their consequences, and power to do according to our own wills. It also requires opportunities to choose. Unless good and evil are presented at the same time, choosing the good will not show anything about us; the test of life would be invalidated. Further, we would not learn anything by experiencing the consequences of our wrong choices. We taste the bitter and learn to prize the sweet.
Joy and the Messiah
Fortunately for us, we live well beyond our procreative prime.
“And the days of the children of men were prolonged, according to the will of God, that they might repent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened, according to the commandments of which the Lord God gave unto the children of men. For he gave commandment that all men must repent; for he showed unto all men that they were lost, because of the transgression of their parents” (2Ne. 2:21).
Yes, we rightly mourn about the wickedness and consequent misery of this world, but it is part of our test.
“But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things” (2Ne. 2:24). It can be difficult at times, but all this misery and confusion is planned against by God. Lehi asks us to trust Him.
Is joy available here as well?
“Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy” (2Ne. 2:25).
“Happiness is the object and design of our existence, and will be the end thereof if we pursue the path that leads to it…” (Joseph Smith, Letter to Nancy Rigdon, quoted in The Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, compiled by Dean C. Jesse, p. 507).
How can we derive joy from anything in this fallen world?
“And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men form the fall…” (2Ne. 2:26).
Jesus Christ has not just secured happiness for us after death, but in this life, if we will learn and follow His rules.
“…And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves…
“Wherefore, men are free…to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men…” (2Ne. 2:26-27). Jesus Christ provides increased opportunities for joy in this life when we keep the commandments (or because of keeping the commandments).
Returning Home; Regaining Lost Joy
Adam and Eve left the presence of God, and then died physically. Their predicament is ours, and the solution to these problems is the same for us as well.
Do we have to wait until the resurrection and permanent reunion with God to find any joy?
“And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.
“And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.
“Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore.
“And in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam, which beareth record of the Father and the Son, saying: I am the Only Begotten of the Father from the beginning, henceforth and forever, that as thou hast fallen thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will.
“And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.
“And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient” (Moses 5:7-12).
We can get a foretaste of eternal life here and now.
We receive a portion of the Holy Spirit; that portion can increase; the greater the portion, the greater the joy. Eve says it comes to “all the obedient.”
What rules can we obey to receive a greater portion of His Spirit?
“…whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost…” (3Ne. 9:20).
As Lehi told us, Jesus “answer[s] the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered” (2Ne. 2:7).
The Holy Ghost fills us with joy; it also leads us back to God—one choice at a time; one day at a time. Continuous repentance includes following those promptings.
Opposites
When we say “opposition,” we usually mean the obstacles separating us from happiness, or what we want. Lehi’s definition seems to be more expansive. He implies that the physical world would end without opposition.
He juxtaposes opposites: punishment and misery; righteousness and wickedness; holiness and misery; good and bad; life and death; corruption and incorruption; happiness and misery; sense and insensibility; things to act, and things to be acted upon; sweet and bitter.
Without these contrasts and foils, he says that “all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead…” (2Ne. 2:11). Instead of a glob of insensate goo, the earth is alive and vibrant.
We are here to have a robust mortal experience, and this massive dose of opposites, administered in daily succession, delivers it to us.
When we are brought before God to be judged, what will we be judged on?
Actions, yes, but most of our actions will have been erased by entropy and resurrection by that point. The content of our hearts, who we are and what we really desire, will determine the final outcome.
If we are not careful, our hearts can fill up with the enticements of this world to the point that eternal things are crowded out.
“Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world…they do not learn…” (D&C 121:35). Fixation on temporal things can rob us of eternal things available in this life. We do not need to wait for heaven to find the things of eternity. We only need the ability to discern them, and let go of lesser things that keep us from getting them.
The Lord tells Emma Smith, “And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better” (D&C 25:10). That implies that they are available, like Easter eggs, hidden in plain sight, if only we will search for them.
Eternal marriage and families, priesthood power and blessings and covenants, improved character, loving relationships, knowledge and wisdom; these are all things that death cannot rob us of. They will all be valuable in this life and beyond it.
When Martha was scrambling to fix dinner, she told Jesus to tell Mary to get up and help. Jesus responded,
“Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
“But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).
Sometimes dirty dishes can languish in favor of pursuing of God.
“Wherefore, he gave commandments unto men, they having first transgressed the first commandments as to things which were temporal, and becoming as gods, knowing good from evil, placing themselves in a state to act according to their wills and pleasures, whether to do evil or to do good…” (Alma 12:31, emphasis mine).
What are these “first commandments?”
1. Beget children.
2. Don’t die physically (separation of body from spirit).
3. Don’t die spiritually (separation from God).
(A fourth is to care for living things.)
“So God created man in his own image…male and female…
“…and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth…” (Gen. 1:27-28).
“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Gen. 2:16-17). Partaking of this fruit led to physical AND spiritual death for Adam and Eve.
These are the “first commandments.”
Why would God give His children the opportunity to sin and destroy themselves? Why put the forbidden fruit in the garden at all?
Lehi Explains
There are few commentaries on Adam and Eve that can rival Lehi’s masterful end-of-life sermon to his son, Jacob. He explains the WHY behind the events.
“…if Adam had not transgressed (eaten the forbidden fruit) he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden…
“And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin” (2Ne. 2:22-23). Knowledge of good and evil was one property the fruit bequeathed; the other was death.
In order to keep the first commandment (become parents), they had to break the second and third rules, to die physically and spiritually.
“And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil. And the law is given unto men. And by the law no flesh is justified; or, by the law men are cut off. Yea, by the temporal law (don’t die physically) they (Adam and Eve) were cut off; and also, by the spiritual law (don’t die spiritually) they perish from that which is good, and become miserable forever” (2Ne. 2:5).
Fortunately, our first parents’ deficiencies at obedience (as well as our own) were anticipated and provided for by our heavenly Parents. It was never expected that we would be flawless in our obedience (though we are expected to try to our utmost). Salvation would have to include a way to save sinners.
“Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.
“Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.
“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…” (2Ne. 2:6-8).
Adam and Eve kept the rule to beget offspring; how do they (and we) overcome physical and spiritual death?
“…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…
“…inasmuch as he shall make intercession for all the children of men…
“…because of the intercession for all, all men come unto God…” (2Ne. 8-10).
We are able to keep the rule to beget children, and be saved from physical and spiritual death by Jesus Christ.
Why not start off as immortal parents? Because we are now proving whether we can be trusted with that power permanently; it is temporarily on loan now. Immortal parents having immortal children; they should be perfect first, lest their children inherit their sinful state forever.
Any family or marriage not founded on goodness and obedience to God will be dissolved before the resurrection. Death ends anything that should not last; the resurrection restores anything that worthy of permanence.
Opposition on the Menu
Why couldn’t we take this test in a more heavenly, death-and-sin-free environment, like the Garden of Eden? Lehi explains the role of evil and good in the plan of salvation.
“For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad…”
“…And to bring about his eternal purposes…it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter.
“Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other” (2Ne. 2:11, 15-16)
God put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil into the garden, as well as the tree of life (along with allowing Satan to enter), because without the opportunity to choose between them, Adam and Eve would not have really had options, so no free will. Exposure to both good and evil, and a knowledge of the consequences of each, are prerequisites for moral agency to exist in fullness.
We fall, come down here to this beautiful yet morally corrupt place, to be tested, precisely because both good and evil are available here. The opportunity to choose sin validates our choice to do good instead. If there were only good choices available, what could our choices show about us? If there are no forks in our path, are we really navigating?
Agency requires knowledge of our options and their consequences, and power to do according to our own wills. It also requires opportunities to choose. Unless good and evil are presented at the same time, choosing the good will not show anything about us; the test of life would be invalidated. Further, we would not learn anything by experiencing the consequences of our wrong choices. We taste the bitter and learn to prize the sweet.
Joy and the Messiah
Fortunately for us, we live well beyond our procreative prime.
“And the days of the children of men were prolonged, according to the will of God, that they might repent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened, according to the commandments of which the Lord God gave unto the children of men. For he gave commandment that all men must repent; for he showed unto all men that they were lost, because of the transgression of their parents” (2Ne. 2:21).
Yes, we rightly mourn about the wickedness and consequent misery of this world, but it is part of our test.
“But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things” (2Ne. 2:24). It can be difficult at times, but all this misery and confusion is planned against by God. Lehi asks us to trust Him.
Is joy available here as well?
“Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy” (2Ne. 2:25).
“Happiness is the object and design of our existence, and will be the end thereof if we pursue the path that leads to it…” (Joseph Smith, Letter to Nancy Rigdon, quoted in The Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, compiled by Dean C. Jesse, p. 507).
How can we derive joy from anything in this fallen world?
“And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men form the fall…” (2Ne. 2:26).
Jesus Christ has not just secured happiness for us after death, but in this life, if we will learn and follow His rules.
“…And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves…
“Wherefore, men are free…to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men…” (2Ne. 2:26-27). Jesus Christ provides increased opportunities for joy in this life when we keep the commandments (or because of keeping the commandments).
Returning Home; Regaining Lost Joy
Adam and Eve left the presence of God, and then died physically. Their predicament is ours, and the solution to these problems is the same for us as well.
Do we have to wait until the resurrection and permanent reunion with God to find any joy?
“And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.
“And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.
“Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore.
“And in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam, which beareth record of the Father and the Son, saying: I am the Only Begotten of the Father from the beginning, henceforth and forever, that as thou hast fallen thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will.
“And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.
“And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient” (Moses 5:7-12).
We can get a foretaste of eternal life here and now.
We receive a portion of the Holy Spirit; that portion can increase; the greater the portion, the greater the joy. Eve says it comes to “all the obedient.”
What rules can we obey to receive a greater portion of His Spirit?
“…whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost…” (3Ne. 9:20).
As Lehi told us, Jesus “answer[s] the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered” (2Ne. 2:7).
The Holy Ghost fills us with joy; it also leads us back to God—one choice at a time; one day at a time. Continuous repentance includes following those promptings.
Opposites
When we say “opposition,” we usually mean the obstacles separating us from happiness, or what we want. Lehi’s definition seems to be more expansive. He implies that the physical world would end without opposition.
He juxtaposes opposites: punishment and misery; righteousness and wickedness; holiness and misery; good and bad; life and death; corruption and incorruption; happiness and misery; sense and insensibility; things to act, and things to be acted upon; sweet and bitter.
Without these contrasts and foils, he says that “all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead…” (2Ne. 2:11). Instead of a glob of insensate goo, the earth is alive and vibrant.
We are here to have a robust mortal experience, and this massive dose of opposites, administered in daily succession, delivers it to us.
When we are brought before God to be judged, what will we be judged on?
Actions, yes, but most of our actions will have been erased by entropy and resurrection by that point. The content of our hearts, who we are and what we really desire, will determine the final outcome.
If we are not careful, our hearts can fill up with the enticements of this world to the point that eternal things are crowded out.
“Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world…they do not learn…” (D&C 121:35). Fixation on temporal things can rob us of eternal things available in this life. We do not need to wait for heaven to find the things of eternity. We only need the ability to discern them, and let go of lesser things that keep us from getting them.
The Lord tells Emma Smith, “And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better” (D&C 25:10). That implies that they are available, like Easter eggs, hidden in plain sight, if only we will search for them.
Eternal marriage and families, priesthood power and blessings and covenants, improved character, loving relationships, knowledge and wisdom; these are all things that death cannot rob us of. They will all be valuable in this life and beyond it.
When Martha was scrambling to fix dinner, she told Jesus to tell Mary to get up and help. Jesus responded,
“Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
“But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).
Sometimes dirty dishes can languish in favor of pursuing of God.
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Educating Our Expectations
Years ago at BYU Education Week, one speaker put forth the idea that we should not teach young people to expect their peers to respect them (secretly or otherwise) for making righteous choices. This is wise counsel; we should not keep the commandments to impress anyone but God.
If we keep the commandments because of social pressure in one group setting, what happens when our audience demands bad behavior in another? If audience approval is our guiding star, we will wander and lose our way.
Jesus addressed the issue of His audience’s expectations:
“And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went you out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
“But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts.
“But what went you out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet…
“…For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he…
“…And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?
“They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.
“For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drink wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.
“The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!” (Luke 7:24-28, 31-33).
The people of Jesus’ day expected contradictory things of God’s messengers. They accused John of having a devil because of his poor raiment, living in the desert, eating locusts and wild honey, etc. But they accused Jesus of being a drunk glutton because he exhibited no such abstemious behaviors as John.
The people of Jesus’ day also expected Him to be a military Messiah, to overthrow the Roman occupation in the Holy Land; in this, they were disappointed again. (Judas, a “zealot,” probably included Jesus’ unwillingness to use His power to overthrow the Romans as a chief cause for his betrayal of his Master.)
Modern Expectations
What do we expect of prophets and Church leaders today?
As in the days of Jesus, it is impossible and unwise to attempt to please everyone. Do we fast and wear camel hair in the wilderness, or eat and drink with penitent sinners in cities? Someone would be disappointed no matter what.
How fortunate that the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are more concerned about pleasing and serving God than pleasing and serving a fickle audience (of members and non-members alike).
My pancreas stopped making insulin over a decade ago. On various occasions, I have been offered sugary junk food by priesthood leaders, including Bishops, members of Stake Presidencies, and even a General Authority.
Where they then false leaders? Are they not in tune enough to know by revelation that such foods are bad for me? Or should I grow up and take care of my own personal needs? I chose the latter option, still believing firmly in the divine inspiration that put each of those men in his position holding priesthood keys and authority over me.
Social winds swirl (as they always have). Morality is becoming more and more a thing of fads. Yet those who enforce the current moral fads (whatever they happen to be) are getting more aggressive, as though they had some kind of authority to force others to act and believe a certain way. Shaming, blacklisting, petitioning to get people fired, are becoming more and more common as means of silencing vocal opposition to current social trends.
And so it is not the absence of virtue, but its confused misapplication, that drives persecution today.
“They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service” (John 16:3). Self-righteousness will be the mainspring of persecution in the last days, not the will to be deliberately evil. People who are convinced that they are on the moral high-ground, whether in or out of the Church, are becoming its most vocal opponents and most vitriolic attackers.
Curtailing Confusion
Inaccurate information leads to inaccurate beliefs, which beget unrealistic expectations. Unmet or disappointed expectations result in sad and offended feelings. Offended people leave the Church more readily. Therefore it is a good idea to get as much information—correct doctrine—into the minds of members as quickly as possible.
It is impossible to know everything; some members of the Church go their whole lives unaware of various events recorded in the scriptures they have packed to Church every Sunday since they were kids. Faith is the only thing fluid enough to cover those gaps as questions arise and knowledge is sought.
Rather than focus on things about the Church that trouble some, below I would like to outline some false expectations I see that befuddle too many. This list is mine; it is by no means comprehensive or written in stone (minus the scriptures I use to elaborate my points). But I believe that extinguishing these erroneous expectations while reading a tiny blog written by an obscure member of the Church is better than having these bubbles popped in public, where humiliation often compounds disappointment and foments anger.
1. My Personal Revelation is Incumbent upon Others
Many members seem to feel their personal revelations are binding upon others.
Our personal revelations are just that—personal. Even if personal revelation is true, unless we have legitimate stewardship over others, they are not bound to believe, follow, or adhere to our pronouncements of what God tells us privately.
Lorenzo Snow received personal revelation, on his mission: “As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become.” But he kept this revolutionary insight to himself. Later on, Joseph Smith, the Lord’s prophet and mouthpiece on the earth at the time, elaborated on this idea in detail in the King Follet Discourse. It is still probably the most controversial thing he ever taught.
If we keep the commandments because of social pressure in one group setting, what happens when our audience demands bad behavior in another? If audience approval is our guiding star, we will wander and lose our way.
Jesus addressed the issue of His audience’s expectations:
“And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went you out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
“But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts.
“But what went you out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet…
“…For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he…
“…And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?
“They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.
“For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drink wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.
“The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!” (Luke 7:24-28, 31-33).
The people of Jesus’ day expected contradictory things of God’s messengers. They accused John of having a devil because of his poor raiment, living in the desert, eating locusts and wild honey, etc. But they accused Jesus of being a drunk glutton because he exhibited no such abstemious behaviors as John.
The people of Jesus’ day also expected Him to be a military Messiah, to overthrow the Roman occupation in the Holy Land; in this, they were disappointed again. (Judas, a “zealot,” probably included Jesus’ unwillingness to use His power to overthrow the Romans as a chief cause for his betrayal of his Master.)
Modern Expectations
What do we expect of prophets and Church leaders today?
As in the days of Jesus, it is impossible and unwise to attempt to please everyone. Do we fast and wear camel hair in the wilderness, or eat and drink with penitent sinners in cities? Someone would be disappointed no matter what.
How fortunate that the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are more concerned about pleasing and serving God than pleasing and serving a fickle audience (of members and non-members alike).
My pancreas stopped making insulin over a decade ago. On various occasions, I have been offered sugary junk food by priesthood leaders, including Bishops, members of Stake Presidencies, and even a General Authority.
Where they then false leaders? Are they not in tune enough to know by revelation that such foods are bad for me? Or should I grow up and take care of my own personal needs? I chose the latter option, still believing firmly in the divine inspiration that put each of those men in his position holding priesthood keys and authority over me.
Social winds swirl (as they always have). Morality is becoming more and more a thing of fads. Yet those who enforce the current moral fads (whatever they happen to be) are getting more aggressive, as though they had some kind of authority to force others to act and believe a certain way. Shaming, blacklisting, petitioning to get people fired, are becoming more and more common as means of silencing vocal opposition to current social trends.
And so it is not the absence of virtue, but its confused misapplication, that drives persecution today.
“They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service” (John 16:3). Self-righteousness will be the mainspring of persecution in the last days, not the will to be deliberately evil. People who are convinced that they are on the moral high-ground, whether in or out of the Church, are becoming its most vocal opponents and most vitriolic attackers.
Curtailing Confusion
Inaccurate information leads to inaccurate beliefs, which beget unrealistic expectations. Unmet or disappointed expectations result in sad and offended feelings. Offended people leave the Church more readily. Therefore it is a good idea to get as much information—correct doctrine—into the minds of members as quickly as possible.
It is impossible to know everything; some members of the Church go their whole lives unaware of various events recorded in the scriptures they have packed to Church every Sunday since they were kids. Faith is the only thing fluid enough to cover those gaps as questions arise and knowledge is sought.
Rather than focus on things about the Church that trouble some, below I would like to outline some false expectations I see that befuddle too many. This list is mine; it is by no means comprehensive or written in stone (minus the scriptures I use to elaborate my points). But I believe that extinguishing these erroneous expectations while reading a tiny blog written by an obscure member of the Church is better than having these bubbles popped in public, where humiliation often compounds disappointment and foments anger.
1. My Personal Revelation is Incumbent upon Others
Many members seem to feel their personal revelations are binding upon others.
Our personal revelations are just that—personal. Even if personal revelation is true, unless we have legitimate stewardship over others, they are not bound to believe, follow, or adhere to our pronouncements of what God tells us privately.
Lorenzo Snow received personal revelation, on his mission: “As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become.” But he kept this revolutionary insight to himself. Later on, Joseph Smith, the Lord’s prophet and mouthpiece on the earth at the time, elaborated on this idea in detail in the King Follet Discourse. It is still probably the most controversial thing he ever taught.
But my point here is that Lorenzo Snow did not rush out in public and begin teaching this new doctrine, even though it came to him via personal revelation, and was 100% correct.
How do we graduate from milk to meat? This happens largely on our own time, by our own studies, due to our own faithful fulfilling of callings and Temple attendance and continuous covenant keeping. The basics lay a broad, sturdy foundation on which to build to higher levels of study.
I feel prompted to keep some of what I consider to be my greatest spiritual insights to myself; who knows what damage they could do to an unprepared hearer?
We cannot rightly expect to look normal to others while following the promptings of the Spirit. Even good members of the Church might rebuke us for doing God’s actual, specific will for us; we should be ready to offend or confuse others (if necessary) when following the promptings of the Spirit. God is our real audience.
Worse, what of false revelations or misunderstandings? Forcing two puzzle pieces together when they do not fit creates a skewed picture; the same thing happens to a mental picture of the plan of salvation when one false idea is accepted. Such skewed mental maps produce false ideas; those who carry them will then find frustration and balk when confronted with correct information.
(It is a good practice, before accepting anything as truth, to find several passages of scripture confirming a concept.)
2. “I Already Know That.”
There are layers of understanding; just because we have some correct information does not mean we have all information on a subject. Continually study the basics; they yield new insights over time, like grape vines that yield a new crop annually (especially when we view them through the lens of today’s experiences).
3. Cuddly God and Milk-Toast Savior
This might be the sorest point for some members—I read people’s comments on blogs, saying things like, “The Heavenly Father I know would never…”
“Our heavenly father is more liberal in his views, and boundless in his mercies and blessings, than we are ready to believe or receive, and at the same time is as terrible to the workers of iniquity, more awful in the executions of his punishments, and more ready to detect every false way than we are apt to suppose him to be” (Joseph Smith, The Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, compiled by Dean C. Jessee, p. 509).
God is God. That means that He is responsible to ensure that justice is inflicted in the end. Extreme measures (the Atonement) were enacted to provide us the opportunity to repent. But the scripture assures us that those who do not take that proffered escape route will “suffer even as [Jesus]” (D&C 19:17). “Weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth,” are a future reality many deny in order to dilute God to a concentration they find insipidly sweet and palatable.
4. Obedience Leads to Ease
Doing the right thing can ease burdens, and sometimes incur them. Lehi’s dream of the Tree of Life is familiar because of its vivid imagery, but we often neglect the first few verses:
“…methought I saw in my dream, a dark and dreary wilderness.
“And it came to pass that I saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me.
“And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him.
“And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste” (1Ne. 8:4-7).
Following the Savior can often lead us into (and out of) troubles. His was no comfortable path; how will those that follow Him not feel some encroaching darkness and difficulty, too? We might have to take a pay cut, lose friends, lose opportunities, and make other sacrifices, in order to keep following the Savior.
5. God Builds Self-Esteem
“…I will show unto them their weakness…” (Ether 12:27). This is not a self-esteem party.
The world prefers its happiness served in the form of praise. God gives happiness in the form of blessing obedient and penitent children, especially with an added measure of His Spirit. This is a better source of happiness, since it is not shifting and unreliable like praise from our peers.
King Benjamin includes awareness of our own “nothingness” as part of a formula for permanent happiness:
“…remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness…
“…if ye do this ye shall always rejoice…” (Mosiah 4:11-12). The source of this joy is increased faith and a greater portion of the Spirit, NOT an infusion of a sense of how wonderful and valuable we are.
A diamond in the rough is still rough. We are of infinite worth; it is just as true that we are fallen and flawed. We can leave to God the task of estimating our worth, and enjoy instead the sweet feelings of His Holy Spirit.
6. Perfection Here and Now
I frequently hear Church members state that the purpose of the Gospel is to become like God. While this is true, they mistakenly assume that we perfect ourselves, and that it happens in this life. Flawlessness will only happen AFTER we are resurrected. And it is almost all God’s job: “…this is MY work and MY glory—to bring to pass the immortality (living forever in perfect health and form) and eternal life (having a fullness of joy, knowledge, virtues, etc.) of man (that’s us).
He has actually left us riddled with flaws (“I give unto men weakness”) and we will have many of them still intact at the moment we die. He gives us weakness to make us humble, which is more important to our salvation than being flawless (for now).
What is our work, then?
“Behold, this is your work, to keep my commandments, yea, with all your might, mind and strength” (D&C 11:20).
Are we not commanded to “be perfect?” In the scriptures this does not mean “flawless.” It means to keep the whole law—whatever rules are given to us. And the written rules will not serve us well unless they are coupled with daily spiritual promptings about what to repent of, and whom to serve.
Laman and Lemuel thought the murderous Jerusalemites of their day were righteous because they kept the written law; Lehi and Nephi thought of the spiritual promptings they received as their commandments.
Can you imagine Nephi loitering at Jerusalem, reading self-help books and trying to perfect himself for eight years until Babylon sacked the city, instead of taking the wretched man that he (supposed he) was and accomplishing the things which the Lord had commanded him? Church members often delay duties they feel can only be done after they achieve a flawless state (which state will not even exist until after the resurrection).
Regardless of our flaws, inadequacies, and wretchedness, we are to follow the promptings of the Spirit, like Nephi, and do the work assigned to us by the Lord, despite our warts (of all kinds).
I detest fault-finding and negativity, but false ideas creeping into and souring the Lord’s vineyard are even more reprehensible to me. My attempt here is to point out a few things I see as obstacles to keeping the actual commandments we are given, instead of being decoyed away by substitute rules and aims.
When living the Gospel becomes burdensome all the time, perpetually joyless, it is a sign that we are doing something wrong. Expect is still a verb, and internal actions should be aligned with truth, not just our outward actions.
How do we graduate from milk to meat? This happens largely on our own time, by our own studies, due to our own faithful fulfilling of callings and Temple attendance and continuous covenant keeping. The basics lay a broad, sturdy foundation on which to build to higher levels of study.
I feel prompted to keep some of what I consider to be my greatest spiritual insights to myself; who knows what damage they could do to an unprepared hearer?
We cannot rightly expect to look normal to others while following the promptings of the Spirit. Even good members of the Church might rebuke us for doing God’s actual, specific will for us; we should be ready to offend or confuse others (if necessary) when following the promptings of the Spirit. God is our real audience.
Worse, what of false revelations or misunderstandings? Forcing two puzzle pieces together when they do not fit creates a skewed picture; the same thing happens to a mental picture of the plan of salvation when one false idea is accepted. Such skewed mental maps produce false ideas; those who carry them will then find frustration and balk when confronted with correct information.
(It is a good practice, before accepting anything as truth, to find several passages of scripture confirming a concept.)
2. “I Already Know That.”
There are layers of understanding; just because we have some correct information does not mean we have all information on a subject. Continually study the basics; they yield new insights over time, like grape vines that yield a new crop annually (especially when we view them through the lens of today’s experiences).
3. Cuddly God and Milk-Toast Savior
This might be the sorest point for some members—I read people’s comments on blogs, saying things like, “The Heavenly Father I know would never…”
“Our heavenly father is more liberal in his views, and boundless in his mercies and blessings, than we are ready to believe or receive, and at the same time is as terrible to the workers of iniquity, more awful in the executions of his punishments, and more ready to detect every false way than we are apt to suppose him to be” (Joseph Smith, The Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, compiled by Dean C. Jessee, p. 509).
God is God. That means that He is responsible to ensure that justice is inflicted in the end. Extreme measures (the Atonement) were enacted to provide us the opportunity to repent. But the scripture assures us that those who do not take that proffered escape route will “suffer even as [Jesus]” (D&C 19:17). “Weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth,” are a future reality many deny in order to dilute God to a concentration they find insipidly sweet and palatable.
4. Obedience Leads to Ease
Doing the right thing can ease burdens, and sometimes incur them. Lehi’s dream of the Tree of Life is familiar because of its vivid imagery, but we often neglect the first few verses:
“…methought I saw in my dream, a dark and dreary wilderness.
“And it came to pass that I saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me.
“And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him.
“And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste” (1Ne. 8:4-7).
Following the Savior can often lead us into (and out of) troubles. His was no comfortable path; how will those that follow Him not feel some encroaching darkness and difficulty, too? We might have to take a pay cut, lose friends, lose opportunities, and make other sacrifices, in order to keep following the Savior.
5. God Builds Self-Esteem
“…I will show unto them their weakness…” (Ether 12:27). This is not a self-esteem party.
The world prefers its happiness served in the form of praise. God gives happiness in the form of blessing obedient and penitent children, especially with an added measure of His Spirit. This is a better source of happiness, since it is not shifting and unreliable like praise from our peers.
King Benjamin includes awareness of our own “nothingness” as part of a formula for permanent happiness:
“…remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness…
“…if ye do this ye shall always rejoice…” (Mosiah 4:11-12). The source of this joy is increased faith and a greater portion of the Spirit, NOT an infusion of a sense of how wonderful and valuable we are.
A diamond in the rough is still rough. We are of infinite worth; it is just as true that we are fallen and flawed. We can leave to God the task of estimating our worth, and enjoy instead the sweet feelings of His Holy Spirit.
6. Perfection Here and Now
I frequently hear Church members state that the purpose of the Gospel is to become like God. While this is true, they mistakenly assume that we perfect ourselves, and that it happens in this life. Flawlessness will only happen AFTER we are resurrected. And it is almost all God’s job: “…this is MY work and MY glory—to bring to pass the immortality (living forever in perfect health and form) and eternal life (having a fullness of joy, knowledge, virtues, etc.) of man (that’s us).
He has actually left us riddled with flaws (“I give unto men weakness”) and we will have many of them still intact at the moment we die. He gives us weakness to make us humble, which is more important to our salvation than being flawless (for now).
What is our work, then?
“Behold, this is your work, to keep my commandments, yea, with all your might, mind and strength” (D&C 11:20).
Are we not commanded to “be perfect?” In the scriptures this does not mean “flawless.” It means to keep the whole law—whatever rules are given to us. And the written rules will not serve us well unless they are coupled with daily spiritual promptings about what to repent of, and whom to serve.
Laman and Lemuel thought the murderous Jerusalemites of their day were righteous because they kept the written law; Lehi and Nephi thought of the spiritual promptings they received as their commandments.
Can you imagine Nephi loitering at Jerusalem, reading self-help books and trying to perfect himself for eight years until Babylon sacked the city, instead of taking the wretched man that he (supposed he) was and accomplishing the things which the Lord had commanded him? Church members often delay duties they feel can only be done after they achieve a flawless state (which state will not even exist until after the resurrection).
Regardless of our flaws, inadequacies, and wretchedness, we are to follow the promptings of the Spirit, like Nephi, and do the work assigned to us by the Lord, despite our warts (of all kinds).
I detest fault-finding and negativity, but false ideas creeping into and souring the Lord’s vineyard are even more reprehensible to me. My attempt here is to point out a few things I see as obstacles to keeping the actual commandments we are given, instead of being decoyed away by substitute rules and aims.
When living the Gospel becomes burdensome all the time, perpetually joyless, it is a sign that we are doing something wrong. Expect is still a verb, and internal actions should be aligned with truth, not just our outward actions.
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Complaining Less, Trusting More
Whenever I interact with my nieces and nephews, I wonder if the way I view them is anything like the way my Father in heaven feels about me.
Yesterday my niece was distraught during a family outing at the park. She wanted to splash in a nearby water source; her mom was duly considering the possibility of allowing this splashing. But my little niece was not asking happily—she was whining.
Her dutiful mother told my niece that the more she whined, the less inclined Mom was to grant permission to play in the water. Finally, the child’s incessant crying lost her the fun of playing in the water AND the privilege of riding in her Aunt’s car, and she was forcibly strapped into Mom’s minivan instead, where she wailed and shed many tears.
The power struggle resulted in loss of joy for both parent and child. Mom won, yet lost, because she had a miserable and recalcitrant daughter; the daughter lost the joy of splashing in water and riding home with her aunt.
It seemed obvious to me—just stop complaining, dear, and Mom will give you all this stuff you want. But she insisted on whining, and forfeited her desires.
Other Children
When Israel backed out at the entrance to the Promised Land because of fear of its inhabitants, the Lord made them wander forty years in the wilderness.
“And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak…and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers…” (Num. 13:33).
“And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night…
“…Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!” (Num. 14:1,2).
Should we see ourselves as grasshoppers? No, but perhaps the more salient question might be how (we and) the Israelites perceived their God:
“How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?” (Num. 14:11).
It seems the Lord wants these people to succeed at something more than finding food in the wilderness, or demonstrating their courage in battle. Instead, He wants them to stop complaining and trust in Him.
Because of their incessant whining due to weak faith, the Lord withdraws the offer of giving that generation the Promised Land:
“How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.
“…as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:
“Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,
“Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb…and Joshua…(the only non-murmuring spies who scouted the Promised Land)” (Num. 14:27-30).
How sad—they forfeited the blessings they had worked for because of fear, because of a lack of trust at the precipice where the Lord told them to jump in. They whined until the Lord withdrew the promise and gave it to their offspring, four decades later.
The Same Lesson
Learning (and relearning) to trust the Lord in various circumstances, no matter what, seems to be remedial education for disciples of Christ.
One of the greatest witnesses that the scriptures are true is the way some people in these accounts react to miracles. The Israelites in this story trusted in what they could see, hear, and touch, and in their own strength, wisdom, and capacities. They had watched signs and miracles unfold in their delivery from bondage in Egypt, but they did not trust the Lord more than they trusted their own judgment.
They were worried about perceived threats, even though the Lord had PROMISED the land to them. The Lord was not concerned that they show their ingenuity and competence as soldiers; He had already drowned Pharaoh’s chariots for them. The ability He was most concerned about was their trust in Him.
Any one of these Israelites would have averred that he or she believed in God; but actions show whether, or how much, we trust Him. After all they had witnessed, they did not trust Him—at least, not as much as they trusted their own judgment.
A promise from the Lord, as intangible as the words themselves are, is more sure and reliable than the firmest mountains and fortifications.
“For the mountains shall depart, and the hills shall be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee” (Isaiah 54:10).
“Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.
“What I the Lord have spoken I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” (D&C 1:37-38).
Regardless of what I am facing, it seems that I am relearning this same lesson over and over—that God is in control; that I should trust His promises more than I trust my own judgment, or what I perceive through my physical senses.
Promises
Laman and Lemuel murmured because “they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them” (1Ne. 1:12). They could not see an advancing Babylonian army that was eight years away; they had never seen their Promised Land thousands of miles away in the Americas.
Lehi and Nephi only knew about these things because the Lord told them about the destruction of Jerusalem, and a Promised Land He had prepared for them.
Al Fox Carraway noted that all our blessings are referred to in the scriptures as “prepared.” They are not in the oven anymore, so to speak; they are already ready for us. We need only qualify to receive them.
“For behold, the promises which we have obtained are promises unto us according to the flesh…” (2Ne. 10:2).
What do we have to do to qualify to receive our blessings?
“…I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith” (Ether 12:6).
Great. So how do we display faith?
“Therefore go, my son, and thou shalt be favored of the Lord, because thou hast not murmured” (1Ne. 3:6).
The people of Alma had reasons to complain. They were doing their best trying to keep the commandments when a huge army appeared and enslaved them. They were in bondage, and crying to the Lord for deliverance.
They “did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts.
“And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort…”
Why? Because everything was OK? No:
“…for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage…
“…And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.
“And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage” (Mosiah 24: 12-14, 16).
The next day their taskmasters were all in a profound sleep, and they simply walked out of bondage into freedom. (Later they ran, but they still remained free.)
Cry?
We are told to “cry unto the Lord” (see Alma 34). I believe this has more to do with intensity than with whining, complaining, or murmuring.
Too often we sleep-walk through perfunctory prayers. “Zeal of the Lord of hosts” is scriptural language. He brings perfect sincerity and perfect focus to us when He speaks; we should also be fully invested when we pray to Him.
A whining prayer is better than an insipid ritual of mumbling canned phrases and collapsing into bed. At least, when complaining, we are baring our hearts to God, even if the contents include some confused fear.
But when we have heard and understood a promise from God, our responsibility is to trust Him. The absence of what we want can give us cause to complain, but faith-filled anticipation of promised blessings can soothe us until they arrive “in the flesh.”
Trusting the Lord reduces whining—greatly.
Reciprocity
As with my niece and her mom, I think the Lord sees us and our problems differently than we see ourselves and our problems. Is the real problem not getting what we want? Or is it not having faith even when what we want is delayed? We would think of being delivered from all pain and discomfort and suspense as a miracle. Perhaps the real miracle is when we can experience unwanted things in this life without complaint.
It is also worth noting that if God gave us everything we want right now, we might discover that we had unintentionally put a dose of poison (or two) on our wish list.
In any case, what God wants is for us to get good at being patient and trusting Him. The things we typically think of as problems, He could solve instantly.
Be patient with the Lord; He is patient with us. It is easy to forget what the real purpose of life is—to demonstrate faith, obedience, patience, and love for our Father in heaven and Jesus Christ. We will not be flawless in this life, and if we wait until we are flawless before we proceed, we will never complete anything.
Experience teaches us that we can trust in the Lord; trust in the Lord (including not complaining) increases the speed and frequency of blessings. There is nothing about murmuring in the following verse, but notice how the opposite of that behavior affects the Lord’s willingness to bless us:
“And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more” (D&C 78:19).
However dark this life gets, it helps me when I remember that God lives in a place of perfect fullness, light, cleanliness, abundance, knowledge, and love. Those intangible yet desirable things come to us down here, especially when we are grateful and patient and loving, not murmuring and doubtful.
Getting to that state is NOT easy, but that is part of the real problem and task of this life, so let us get to work on it anyway. Jesus Christ provides grace to assist us, and—if we calm our fears and complaints—the reassurance of the Holy Spirit that, yes, He has things well in hand, under control, prepared, and planned out for our benefit and blessings.
Yesterday my niece was distraught during a family outing at the park. She wanted to splash in a nearby water source; her mom was duly considering the possibility of allowing this splashing. But my little niece was not asking happily—she was whining.
Her dutiful mother told my niece that the more she whined, the less inclined Mom was to grant permission to play in the water. Finally, the child’s incessant crying lost her the fun of playing in the water AND the privilege of riding in her Aunt’s car, and she was forcibly strapped into Mom’s minivan instead, where she wailed and shed many tears.
The power struggle resulted in loss of joy for both parent and child. Mom won, yet lost, because she had a miserable and recalcitrant daughter; the daughter lost the joy of splashing in water and riding home with her aunt.
It seemed obvious to me—just stop complaining, dear, and Mom will give you all this stuff you want. But she insisted on whining, and forfeited her desires.
Other Children
When Israel backed out at the entrance to the Promised Land because of fear of its inhabitants, the Lord made them wander forty years in the wilderness.
“And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak…and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers…” (Num. 13:33).
“And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night…
“…Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!” (Num. 14:1,2).
Should we see ourselves as grasshoppers? No, but perhaps the more salient question might be how (we and) the Israelites perceived their God:
“How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?” (Num. 14:11).
It seems the Lord wants these people to succeed at something more than finding food in the wilderness, or demonstrating their courage in battle. Instead, He wants them to stop complaining and trust in Him.
Because of their incessant whining due to weak faith, the Lord withdraws the offer of giving that generation the Promised Land:
“How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.
“…as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:
“Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,
“Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb…and Joshua…(the only non-murmuring spies who scouted the Promised Land)” (Num. 14:27-30).
How sad—they forfeited the blessings they had worked for because of fear, because of a lack of trust at the precipice where the Lord told them to jump in. They whined until the Lord withdrew the promise and gave it to their offspring, four decades later.
The Same Lesson
Learning (and relearning) to trust the Lord in various circumstances, no matter what, seems to be remedial education for disciples of Christ.
One of the greatest witnesses that the scriptures are true is the way some people in these accounts react to miracles. The Israelites in this story trusted in what they could see, hear, and touch, and in their own strength, wisdom, and capacities. They had watched signs and miracles unfold in their delivery from bondage in Egypt, but they did not trust the Lord more than they trusted their own judgment.
They were worried about perceived threats, even though the Lord had PROMISED the land to them. The Lord was not concerned that they show their ingenuity and competence as soldiers; He had already drowned Pharaoh’s chariots for them. The ability He was most concerned about was their trust in Him.
Any one of these Israelites would have averred that he or she believed in God; but actions show whether, or how much, we trust Him. After all they had witnessed, they did not trust Him—at least, not as much as they trusted their own judgment.
A promise from the Lord, as intangible as the words themselves are, is more sure and reliable than the firmest mountains and fortifications.
“For the mountains shall depart, and the hills shall be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee” (Isaiah 54:10).
“Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.
“What I the Lord have spoken I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” (D&C 1:37-38).
Regardless of what I am facing, it seems that I am relearning this same lesson over and over—that God is in control; that I should trust His promises more than I trust my own judgment, or what I perceive through my physical senses.
Promises
Laman and Lemuel murmured because “they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them” (1Ne. 1:12). They could not see an advancing Babylonian army that was eight years away; they had never seen their Promised Land thousands of miles away in the Americas.
Lehi and Nephi only knew about these things because the Lord told them about the destruction of Jerusalem, and a Promised Land He had prepared for them.
Al Fox Carraway noted that all our blessings are referred to in the scriptures as “prepared.” They are not in the oven anymore, so to speak; they are already ready for us. We need only qualify to receive them.
“For behold, the promises which we have obtained are promises unto us according to the flesh…” (2Ne. 10:2).
What do we have to do to qualify to receive our blessings?
“…I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith” (Ether 12:6).
Great. So how do we display faith?
“Therefore go, my son, and thou shalt be favored of the Lord, because thou hast not murmured” (1Ne. 3:6).
The people of Alma had reasons to complain. They were doing their best trying to keep the commandments when a huge army appeared and enslaved them. They were in bondage, and crying to the Lord for deliverance.
They “did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts.
“And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort…”
Why? Because everything was OK? No:
“…for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage…
“…And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.
“And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage” (Mosiah 24: 12-14, 16).
The next day their taskmasters were all in a profound sleep, and they simply walked out of bondage into freedom. (Later they ran, but they still remained free.)
Cry?
We are told to “cry unto the Lord” (see Alma 34). I believe this has more to do with intensity than with whining, complaining, or murmuring.
Too often we sleep-walk through perfunctory prayers. “Zeal of the Lord of hosts” is scriptural language. He brings perfect sincerity and perfect focus to us when He speaks; we should also be fully invested when we pray to Him.
A whining prayer is better than an insipid ritual of mumbling canned phrases and collapsing into bed. At least, when complaining, we are baring our hearts to God, even if the contents include some confused fear.
But when we have heard and understood a promise from God, our responsibility is to trust Him. The absence of what we want can give us cause to complain, but faith-filled anticipation of promised blessings can soothe us until they arrive “in the flesh.”
Trusting the Lord reduces whining—greatly.
Reciprocity
As with my niece and her mom, I think the Lord sees us and our problems differently than we see ourselves and our problems. Is the real problem not getting what we want? Or is it not having faith even when what we want is delayed? We would think of being delivered from all pain and discomfort and suspense as a miracle. Perhaps the real miracle is when we can experience unwanted things in this life without complaint.
It is also worth noting that if God gave us everything we want right now, we might discover that we had unintentionally put a dose of poison (or two) on our wish list.
In any case, what God wants is for us to get good at being patient and trusting Him. The things we typically think of as problems, He could solve instantly.
Be patient with the Lord; He is patient with us. It is easy to forget what the real purpose of life is—to demonstrate faith, obedience, patience, and love for our Father in heaven and Jesus Christ. We will not be flawless in this life, and if we wait until we are flawless before we proceed, we will never complete anything.
Experience teaches us that we can trust in the Lord; trust in the Lord (including not complaining) increases the speed and frequency of blessings. There is nothing about murmuring in the following verse, but notice how the opposite of that behavior affects the Lord’s willingness to bless us:
“And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more” (D&C 78:19).
However dark this life gets, it helps me when I remember that God lives in a place of perfect fullness, light, cleanliness, abundance, knowledge, and love. Those intangible yet desirable things come to us down here, especially when we are grateful and patient and loving, not murmuring and doubtful.
Getting to that state is NOT easy, but that is part of the real problem and task of this life, so let us get to work on it anyway. Jesus Christ provides grace to assist us, and—if we calm our fears and complaints—the reassurance of the Holy Spirit that, yes, He has things well in hand, under control, prepared, and planned out for our benefit and blessings.
Saturday, June 3, 2017
Light
Jesus says of Himself, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). Spiritual light comes in different forms. It can be information that enlightens our minds; it can be an increased portion of His Spirit; it can also be a change of our own hearts, our very natures.
“And that same sociality which exists among us here (now) will exist among us there (in heaven), only it will be coupled with eternal glory (light), which glory we do not now enjoy (D&C 130:2).
To go to heaven and be exalted in God’s presence includes receiving a fullness of light. Right now we can only receive part of that glory, but it still brings joy.
1. Light We Receive
The Lord told Joseph Smith,
“…my voice is Spirit; my Spirit is truth; truth abideth and hath no end; and if it be in you it shall abound.
“And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.
“Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God…” (D&C 88:66-68).
Or, as the sacrament prayers remind us, if we always remember Him, we will have His Spirit to be with us. The more we focus on Christ and His glory in our mind, the more His light comes into our whole being.
Our actions, thoughts, feelings, speech, and interactions with others in general all affect what portion of light (or influence of His Spirit) we receive. With each increase in that light, we also receive power and invitations to act. If we follow these promptings, we receive even more light and knowledge, and even more promptings and power to act on them.
“And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness.
“That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day” (D&C 50:23-24).
Doctrine and Covenants Section 88
Joseph Smith referred to the revelation in the eighty eighth section of the Doctrine and Covenants as “the ‘olive leaf’…plucked from the Tree of Paradise, the Lord’s message of peace to us” (see the section heading). It teaches expansive doctrines, especially about how we are to gain more light. What exactly IS heaven? Yes, it is a somewhere, but it is also a condition of being, what we are, a function of what we receive.
Section 88 teaches that Jesus “comprehendeth all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth;
“Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made.
“As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made;
“As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made;
“And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand.
(But it is not only the visible universe that His power touches.)
“And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth you eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings;
“Which light preceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—
“The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God…” (D&C 88:6-13).
So His light, His power, His glory, emanate from Him and reach everywhere. This “light” holds the physical universe together and helps us comprehend things. Why are we not all enraptured in bliss all the time, then? Is heaven everywhere?
D&C 88 goes on to explain that we each receive a portion of His light, according to our behavior. There are different levels of behavior, and corresponding levels of light we can receive.
Abiding by celestial law results in receiving a portion of celestial light; abiding the next lowest law (terrestrial) results in receiving some terrestrial glory; behaving in the next lowest way (telestial) results in receiving a portion of telestial glory.
If we die with a portion of celestial light in us we will be resurrected with a fullness of celestial glory.
What does it mean to abide by a celestial law? The Lord teaches us about how we can do this by pointing out the behavior of the earth itself. The earth fills the measure of its creation—it simply does what God designed it and commanded it to do. Therefore it receives a portion of celestial glory, and one day it will be completely glorified:
“For after it hath filled the measure of its creation (done its job) it shall be crowned with glory, even with the presence of God the Father;
“That bodies who are of the celestial kingdom may possess it forever and ever…” (D&C 88:19-20).
When we fulfill the measure of our creation, the same thing happens to us; we are resurrected into a fullness of His glory.
How do we receive more of this glory, even while we are in this fallen state called mortality? By keeping His law, “the law which I have given unto you, even the law of Christ…” (v. 21).
The premortal Messiah was Jehovah, who gave the Ten Commandments and Law of Moses in the Old Testament; He gave new commandments, as recorded in the New Testament; He gave commandments later as the resurrected Messiah in the New Testament and Book of Mormon, and modern revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants. We receive God’s rules about how we should live through Christ.
“Ye who are (now, here in mortality) quickened by a portion of the celestial glory shall then (in the resurrection) receive of the same, even a fulness” (D&C 88:29).
But how can any of us hope to approach complete obedience to celestial laws? God give us grace and empowers us to obey, makes it possible to be forgiven and continue to receive light.
Receiving a greater portion of His light increases our joy; losing His light causes misery.
“…despair cometh because of iniquity” (Moroni 10:22).
Again, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy…” (D&C 11:13).
Those who live with God forever “enjoy” the fullness of God’s presence, His glory and light. Imagine the peace, joy, and love that come today when we feel the Spirit, multiplied many times. We speak of “three degrees of glory” as though they were mainly geographical locations, but look again: “degrees.” This word implies magnitude.
Heaven and hell are proper places, but they are also portable conditions.
Having an eye single to the glory of God means our whole bodies will be filled with light; obeying His rules means we receive a foretaste of heaven, a “portion” of celestial glory. And if we are deeply humble, we will be baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost.
When we follow the promptings from the Holy Spirit, we receive more light, and come nearer to God.
2. Light We Have
We are made of light and truth. We have always existed as conscious entities in some form or other.
“Ye were also in the beginning with the Father; that which is Spirit, even the Spirit of truth;
“And truth is a knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come…
“And no man receiveth a fulness unless he keepeth his commandments.
“He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things…
“…And that wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers” (D&C 93:23-24, 27-28, 39).
“If you keep not my commandments, the love of the Father shall not continue with you, therefore you shall walk in darkness (D&C 95:12).
Light, truth, spirit, glory—all are equated. We do not just have light; we are “light and truth” at the core of our being.
The human spirit is native to truth. We “taste” (detect) the goodness in principles (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 355; see also Alma 32:28). We are not just learning something new when we hear the Gospel preached; we also, in a measure, recognize it.
3. Light We Give
The planetary bodies give and receive light from each other; the same applies to people.
“…let your light so shine before this people, that they…may glorify your Father who is in heaven” (3Ne. 12:16).
The Lord gives us light; we are native to light and truth; we also share light with each other.
Missionary work involves receiving as much light as possible (through Temple ordinances and massive amounts of personal scripture study) and then sharing that light.
The more we share, the more God gives us.
“And ye see that I have commanded that none of you should go away, but rather have commanded that ye should come unto me, that ye might feel and see; even so shall ye do unto the world; and whosoever breaketh this commandment suffereth himself to be led into temptation” (3Ne. 18:25). In sharing our light, we receive more light; this means greater protection from evil for us.
“You have not taught your children light and truth, according to the commandments; and that wicked one hath power, as yet, over you, and this is the cause of your affliction” (D&C 93:42).
We are also forgiven of our sins when we share our light, our testimonies, with others:
“For I will forgive you of your sins with this commandment—that you remain steadfast in your minds in solemnity and the spirit of prayer, in bearing testimony to all the world of those things which are communicated unto you” (84:61).
Also,
“Nevertheless, ye are blessed, for the testimony which ye have borne is recorded in heaven for the angels to look upon; and they rejoice over you, and your sins are forgiven you” (D&C 62:3). Yes, some degree of worthiness before preaching is a prerequisite, but we are forgiven of our sins also as we share the Gospel with others.
If we do not share the Gospel, the light and truth we have received, we are in danger.
“But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man. Wo unto such, for mine anger is kindled against them.
“And it shall come to pass, if they are not more faithful unto me, it shall be taken away, even that which they have…
“…And in this place let them lift up their voice and declare with loud voices, without wrath or doubting, lifting up holy hands upon them. For I am able to make you holy, and your sins are forgiven you” (60:2-3, 7).
At some point we have enough light and truth that if we refuse to share what we have, we begin to lose it. The Lord invests in us so we can build others.
“Behold, that which you hear is as the voice of one crying in the wilderness—in the wilderness, because you cannot see him—my voice, because my voice is Spirit; my Spirit is truth; truth abideth and hath no end; and if it be in you it shall abound.
“And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things” (D&C 88:66-67).
Giving More; Getting More
We are not just receptacles of light; we are more appropriately conduits of His light, meant to share it with others. The more open the OUT channel is (our sharing light with others), the more can flow through our IN channel (receiving light from God). Some say, “Until I have my own testimony, I cannot teach the Gospel,” but we will never gain a full-fledged testimony, even with essential personal study, fasting, and prayer, unless we share the Gospel with others.
“Behold, [God] changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God…their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word…
“And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?” (Alma 5:7, 14).
When we receive more light from God, it becomes apparent to others, in our countenances, our words, our actions. This is not about boasting or putting on an act; we rightly attribute our successes to God.
If we are living right, we receive more light, and this spills over into everything about us; we can then share that light with others in a natural way. We do not need polish or veneer; what we are simply shines through, naturally.
“And that same sociality which exists among us here (now) will exist among us there (in heaven), only it will be coupled with eternal glory (light), which glory we do not now enjoy (D&C 130:2).
To go to heaven and be exalted in God’s presence includes receiving a fullness of light. Right now we can only receive part of that glory, but it still brings joy.
1. Light We Receive
The Lord told Joseph Smith,
“…my voice is Spirit; my Spirit is truth; truth abideth and hath no end; and if it be in you it shall abound.
“And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.
“Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God…” (D&C 88:66-68).
Or, as the sacrament prayers remind us, if we always remember Him, we will have His Spirit to be with us. The more we focus on Christ and His glory in our mind, the more His light comes into our whole being.
Our actions, thoughts, feelings, speech, and interactions with others in general all affect what portion of light (or influence of His Spirit) we receive. With each increase in that light, we also receive power and invitations to act. If we follow these promptings, we receive even more light and knowledge, and even more promptings and power to act on them.
“And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness.
“That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day” (D&C 50:23-24).
Doctrine and Covenants Section 88
Joseph Smith referred to the revelation in the eighty eighth section of the Doctrine and Covenants as “the ‘olive leaf’…plucked from the Tree of Paradise, the Lord’s message of peace to us” (see the section heading). It teaches expansive doctrines, especially about how we are to gain more light. What exactly IS heaven? Yes, it is a somewhere, but it is also a condition of being, what we are, a function of what we receive.
Section 88 teaches that Jesus “comprehendeth all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth;
“Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made.
“As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made;
“As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made;
“And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand.
(But it is not only the visible universe that His power touches.)
“And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth you eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings;
“Which light preceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—
“The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God…” (D&C 88:6-13).
So His light, His power, His glory, emanate from Him and reach everywhere. This “light” holds the physical universe together and helps us comprehend things. Why are we not all enraptured in bliss all the time, then? Is heaven everywhere?
D&C 88 goes on to explain that we each receive a portion of His light, according to our behavior. There are different levels of behavior, and corresponding levels of light we can receive.
Abiding by celestial law results in receiving a portion of celestial light; abiding the next lowest law (terrestrial) results in receiving some terrestrial glory; behaving in the next lowest way (telestial) results in receiving a portion of telestial glory.
If we die with a portion of celestial light in us we will be resurrected with a fullness of celestial glory.
What does it mean to abide by a celestial law? The Lord teaches us about how we can do this by pointing out the behavior of the earth itself. The earth fills the measure of its creation—it simply does what God designed it and commanded it to do. Therefore it receives a portion of celestial glory, and one day it will be completely glorified:
“For after it hath filled the measure of its creation (done its job) it shall be crowned with glory, even with the presence of God the Father;
“That bodies who are of the celestial kingdom may possess it forever and ever…” (D&C 88:19-20).
When we fulfill the measure of our creation, the same thing happens to us; we are resurrected into a fullness of His glory.
How do we receive more of this glory, even while we are in this fallen state called mortality? By keeping His law, “the law which I have given unto you, even the law of Christ…” (v. 21).
The premortal Messiah was Jehovah, who gave the Ten Commandments and Law of Moses in the Old Testament; He gave new commandments, as recorded in the New Testament; He gave commandments later as the resurrected Messiah in the New Testament and Book of Mormon, and modern revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants. We receive God’s rules about how we should live through Christ.
“Ye who are (now, here in mortality) quickened by a portion of the celestial glory shall then (in the resurrection) receive of the same, even a fulness” (D&C 88:29).
But how can any of us hope to approach complete obedience to celestial laws? God give us grace and empowers us to obey, makes it possible to be forgiven and continue to receive light.
Receiving a greater portion of His light increases our joy; losing His light causes misery.
“…despair cometh because of iniquity” (Moroni 10:22).
Again, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy…” (D&C 11:13).
Those who live with God forever “enjoy” the fullness of God’s presence, His glory and light. Imagine the peace, joy, and love that come today when we feel the Spirit, multiplied many times. We speak of “three degrees of glory” as though they were mainly geographical locations, but look again: “degrees.” This word implies magnitude.
Heaven and hell are proper places, but they are also portable conditions.
Having an eye single to the glory of God means our whole bodies will be filled with light; obeying His rules means we receive a foretaste of heaven, a “portion” of celestial glory. And if we are deeply humble, we will be baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost.
When we follow the promptings from the Holy Spirit, we receive more light, and come nearer to God.
2. Light We Have
We are made of light and truth. We have always existed as conscious entities in some form or other.
“Ye were also in the beginning with the Father; that which is Spirit, even the Spirit of truth;
“And truth is a knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come…
“And no man receiveth a fulness unless he keepeth his commandments.
“He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things…
“…And that wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers” (D&C 93:23-24, 27-28, 39).
“If you keep not my commandments, the love of the Father shall not continue with you, therefore you shall walk in darkness (D&C 95:12).
Light, truth, spirit, glory—all are equated. We do not just have light; we are “light and truth” at the core of our being.
The human spirit is native to truth. We “taste” (detect) the goodness in principles (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 355; see also Alma 32:28). We are not just learning something new when we hear the Gospel preached; we also, in a measure, recognize it.
3. Light We Give
The planetary bodies give and receive light from each other; the same applies to people.
“…let your light so shine before this people, that they…may glorify your Father who is in heaven” (3Ne. 12:16).
The Lord gives us light; we are native to light and truth; we also share light with each other.
Missionary work involves receiving as much light as possible (through Temple ordinances and massive amounts of personal scripture study) and then sharing that light.
The more we share, the more God gives us.
“And ye see that I have commanded that none of you should go away, but rather have commanded that ye should come unto me, that ye might feel and see; even so shall ye do unto the world; and whosoever breaketh this commandment suffereth himself to be led into temptation” (3Ne. 18:25). In sharing our light, we receive more light; this means greater protection from evil for us.
“You have not taught your children light and truth, according to the commandments; and that wicked one hath power, as yet, over you, and this is the cause of your affliction” (D&C 93:42).
We are also forgiven of our sins when we share our light, our testimonies, with others:
“For I will forgive you of your sins with this commandment—that you remain steadfast in your minds in solemnity and the spirit of prayer, in bearing testimony to all the world of those things which are communicated unto you” (84:61).
Also,
“Nevertheless, ye are blessed, for the testimony which ye have borne is recorded in heaven for the angels to look upon; and they rejoice over you, and your sins are forgiven you” (D&C 62:3). Yes, some degree of worthiness before preaching is a prerequisite, but we are forgiven of our sins also as we share the Gospel with others.
If we do not share the Gospel, the light and truth we have received, we are in danger.
“But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man. Wo unto such, for mine anger is kindled against them.
“And it shall come to pass, if they are not more faithful unto me, it shall be taken away, even that which they have…
“…And in this place let them lift up their voice and declare with loud voices, without wrath or doubting, lifting up holy hands upon them. For I am able to make you holy, and your sins are forgiven you” (60:2-3, 7).
At some point we have enough light and truth that if we refuse to share what we have, we begin to lose it. The Lord invests in us so we can build others.
“Behold, that which you hear is as the voice of one crying in the wilderness—in the wilderness, because you cannot see him—my voice, because my voice is Spirit; my Spirit is truth; truth abideth and hath no end; and if it be in you it shall abound.
“And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things” (D&C 88:66-67).
Giving More; Getting More
We are not just receptacles of light; we are more appropriately conduits of His light, meant to share it with others. The more open the OUT channel is (our sharing light with others), the more can flow through our IN channel (receiving light from God). Some say, “Until I have my own testimony, I cannot teach the Gospel,” but we will never gain a full-fledged testimony, even with essential personal study, fasting, and prayer, unless we share the Gospel with others.
“Behold, [God] changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God…their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word…
“And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?” (Alma 5:7, 14).
When we receive more light from God, it becomes apparent to others, in our countenances, our words, our actions. This is not about boasting or putting on an act; we rightly attribute our successes to God.
If we are living right, we receive more light, and this spills over into everything about us; we can then share that light with others in a natural way. We do not need polish or veneer; what we are simply shines through, naturally.
Sunday, May 21, 2017
Responding to Critics
Yesterday was beautiful. After filling the day with chores and exercise and cultural enlightenment, I had a few free moments between dusk and sleep. I wanted to at least go onto the grounds of the Temple, relax, and feel the peace that normally prevails there.
I found the usual people there—families with kids, people in their Sunday best, couples, and individuals walking on the grass or sitting by themselves meditating.
I chose a dry patch of grass, and lay down, and looked at the sky. Then I heard shouting. A lone individual was yelling something in the distance. I thought perhaps someone had gotten into an argument.
But as the shouting continued and the individual approached, the words became intelligible. It was an assault on the Church, the Temple, and Joseph Smith. The person had dropped dignity to warn supposedly-deceived Latter-day Saints to “repent of a false Gospel.”
This individual professed that the reason behind the harassment was love for his victims. While I believed there was a measure of sincerity to the motivations behind the ranting, I could not help but notice some serious flaws in its delivery.
Symptoms of Charity
What does love look like? Act like? Sound like?
“Charity seeketh not her own.” I always understood this to mean that love is unselfish, but my first mission president said this means that charity respects agency. Though the words charity and agency are not used in D&C 121, what it teaches about priesthood government could be summed up as “charity respects agency.”
The barker haranguing the saints from outside the Temple walls could not pass this test. There was no respect for me, my beliefs, or my agency.
If the barker had such great love, there would also have been patience.
Defaming the Messenger
It was obvious the main target of the verbal assault was Joseph Smith, his character and revelations. What did the assailant offer in place of the restoration? The same pablum that consoles most protestant Christians today: salvation disconnected from our behavior. Just believe in Jesus, and we'll go to heaven no matter how evil our hearts or choices.
Which is why the teachings of Jesus in the four Gospel accounts are a list of commandments and behavior-modifying instructions? No. Enormous swaths of the Bible must be discarded in order to accept this interpretation.
Perhaps this person’s stated motivation was love, but it seemed a selfish exercise instead; love takes more effort than throwing a few eggs in brief frustration, or telling others they are wrong.
Latter-day Saints have the confirmation of the Spirit when we testify of the restored Gospel; this accounts for our success in teaching and conversion. (It also helps that the Book of Mormon and the restored Gospel are true.)
How do we get people to listen, though?
The Message About Messages
In a great measure, the success of the missionary program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is attributable to its service-oriented approach. We owe this approach in part to what Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon teach us.
Joseph explained his predicament: “…being of tender years, and persecuted by those who ought to have been my friends and to have treated me kindly, and if they supposed me to be deluded to have endeavored in a proper and affectionate manner to have reclaimed me…” (Joseph Smith—History 1:28). Persecution and railing did not work with him; why would it work with anyone else?
“Nothing is so much calculated to lead people to forsake sin as to take them by the hand, and watch over them with tenderness. When persons manifest the least kindness and love to me, O what power it has over my mind, while the opposite course has a tendency to harrow up all the harsh feelings and depress the human mind…
“…the devil flatters us that we are very righteous, when we are feeding on the faults of others” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 240-41). Volcanic contempt for Joseph Smith, and contempt in general, have been the earmarks of the most vociferous critics of the Church from the beginning.
Jesus identified love as one of the main traits of His disciples (see John 13:34-35). Where love isn’t, His disciples aren’t, either.
“Ye shall know them by their fruits.” Joseph Smith is a fruitful bough, indeed. Do we need any more evidence that he was a prophet? Was he a messenger of God, as I believe? Again, “ye shall know them by their fruits.” Grapes and figs do not come from weeds and thistles.
Another irony: we teach faith in Jesus Christ as the first principle of the restored Gospel. According to the individual shouting at me last night, all we need is faith in Christ to be saved and go to heaven, regardless of our poor behavior.
Does that grace not efface any false beliefs also, if we have them? We have already cleared their bar, so to speak. One retired anti-Mormon admitted as much to me when I was a missionary. Why try to correct or convert those who, in his opinion, already qualified as “saved?”
To me this is more evidence that contempt, not love, motivated that critic.
Yes, there are some sane and good individuals who disbelieve in Joseph Smith’s prophetic calling, but they tend not to shed the appearance of goodness and sanity when they share their disbelief.
This contrasts with most LDS apostates. “...a few leave the Church who cannot then leave the Church alone” (Neal A. Maxwell, Ensign, Nov. 1980, p. 14).
Getting Evangelism Right
The Book of Mormon serves both as a missionary tract we use to bring people into the Church, and as an instruction manual to help us learn how to do missionary work. Ammon is exemplary:
“…I will be thy servant…
“…I will show forth my power…which is in me…that I may win the hearts of these my fellow-servants, that I may lead them to believe on my words” (Alma 17:25, 29). This service mentality colors all good Latter-day Saint attempts to teach the Gospel.
I remember, as a missionary, seeing a woman unloading a huge number of heavy grocery bags from the back of her car. My companion and I offered to help. She accepted our offer. We unloaded the bags, asked if there were anything else we could do, she said no, and we left.
This was far more effective than standing on the street and yelling at her; even without any attempt on our part to proselytize (it felt wrong in that moment) a seed might have been planted that could grow later, whereas a forceful approach could have hardened this good woman’s heart.
Again, instructions to all missionaries, from the Book of Mormon: “Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle your passions, that ye may be filled with love…” (Alma 38:12).
Responding
As I lay on my back listening to the shouting, wondering what to do, I felt one clear impression: Leave.
I looked for a person who had been relaxing on the other side of the lawn; she had already left. I paused for a time, wondering if I should get up and testify or reprove. No. The prompting kept coming: Leave.
I got up without a backward glance, and strolled off the lawn. But driving away felt awkward.
I worried that I might come under some kind of condemnation for not standing up and testifying, or at least attempting to listen and calm the disruptive behavior. I felt a prompting to drive back to the Temple grounds. Circling the block in my car, I looked for the barker. I found two police cars in the parking lot outside the walls; they appeared to be talking to someone. I assumed it was the antagonist.
Apparently, freedom of religion, speech, and peaceable assembly in the United States does not extend to disruptive assembly and public harassment. Police already enforce these laws—without my help.
I am glad I followed that prompting and left.
“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you…” (Matt. 5:44). Arguing with this person would have been as fruitless as his misguided attempts to “save” me from the evils he attributed to Mormonism.
As anyone loses the Spirit, the love of God, charity, departs from that person’s heart. The desire to argue and compel increases, while the ability to accept others’ free will, agency, declines. We begin to resemble Satan (devil means accuser, slanderer), and subscribe to his plan of compulsory righteousness.
This applies to Latter-day Saints and their detractors. Being right does not give us license to criticize or condemn or accuse or harass. Unless we feel prompted by the Spirit to offer correction, we are risking departure from the boundaries the Lord gives us:
“Reproving betimes (immediately) with sharpness when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;
“That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.
“Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God…” (D&C 121:43-45).
Silence
Jesus held His peace before a sign-seeking magistrate; we can do the same (unless specifically prompted otherwise) when belligerent critics demand proof that Joseph Smith was and is a true prophet.
When we fight against Lucifer with his own tools, we have already lost. Mercy is a bizarre weapon, but unless we have it in our personal arsenal, unless we can forgive and let go, we are liable to get sucked into the same vortex of contempt and self-righteousness that swallows up the people who criticize the Church, its current leaders, and Joseph Smith.
“Now there was a strict law among the people of the church, that there should not any man…arise and persecute those that did not belong to the church…
“Nevertheless, there were many among them that began to be proud, and began to contend warmly with their adversaries, even unto blows; yea, they would smite one another with their fists.
“Now this…was a cause of much affliction to the church; yea, it was the cause of much trial with the church.
“For the hearts of many were hardened, and their names were blotted out, that they were remembered no more among the people of God” (Alma 1:21-24).
Bickering and quarreling and fighting with the enemies of the Church can lead to expulsion from the Church.
Those who attempt to force their faith on others have very weak faith. Challenges to weak faith tend to elicit a violent reaction; the weaker the faith, the more violent the reaction.
Peace, calmness, confidence, and patience with self and others and everyone’s flaws, are evidence of strong and vibrant faith in Christ and the Gospel. (Boldness, too, but not to the point of overbearance.)
Anti-Doubt
I feel bad for the person who felt so distressed and angered that last night’s display—marching outside a Temple and shouting about the questions that destroyed the person’s testimony—seemed like a reasonable course of action. If that person had posed those questions to the Lord in humble, sincere prayer, answers would have been available.
Restating accusations as questions, asked humbly in prayer, is the preventative solution to a lot of apostasy. Sincere questions in prayer yield one of two possible outcomes: 1. Peace and assurance that things are alright; 2. Answers to questions (after we are ready for them). No one can force revelation, though. Humility and patience are essential.
A personal witness is like a pyramid, stacked with a broad foundation of simple Gospel principles, crowned later on with the mysteries of the kingdom. It is unsafe to share information that belongs near the top of the pyramid before we have a large, stable foundation.
It is possible to have questions about things that we are years away from being ready to receive. Faith, patience, humility, and trust in the good feelings of the Spirit are necessary in the meantime.
But the answers do come, if we do not abandon our trust in the promptings of the Spirit that led us this far. God gives answers line upon line (like the blocks stacked up in a pyramid) because the bottom lines have to be wide enough to support the grand concepts later on.
Public teaching in the Church mainly consists of building foundations, of sharing milk instead of meat lest babes choke and suffocate (like the shouter I encountered last night; he was complaining about what he could not understand, venting his frustration).
The price for answers to questions about sacred things includes open ears, prolonged obedience and personal virtue, and a demonstration of the ability to keep silent about sacred things when answers come.
I have learned through the whisperings of the Holy Spirit that, yes, Joseph Smith was and is a true prophet. If I can receive personal revelation to answer my hard questions, anyone can.
I found the usual people there—families with kids, people in their Sunday best, couples, and individuals walking on the grass or sitting by themselves meditating.
I chose a dry patch of grass, and lay down, and looked at the sky. Then I heard shouting. A lone individual was yelling something in the distance. I thought perhaps someone had gotten into an argument.
But as the shouting continued and the individual approached, the words became intelligible. It was an assault on the Church, the Temple, and Joseph Smith. The person had dropped dignity to warn supposedly-deceived Latter-day Saints to “repent of a false Gospel.”
This individual professed that the reason behind the harassment was love for his victims. While I believed there was a measure of sincerity to the motivations behind the ranting, I could not help but notice some serious flaws in its delivery.
Symptoms of Charity
What does love look like? Act like? Sound like?
“Charity seeketh not her own.” I always understood this to mean that love is unselfish, but my first mission president said this means that charity respects agency. Though the words charity and agency are not used in D&C 121, what it teaches about priesthood government could be summed up as “charity respects agency.”
The barker haranguing the saints from outside the Temple walls could not pass this test. There was no respect for me, my beliefs, or my agency.
If the barker had such great love, there would also have been patience.
Defaming the Messenger
It was obvious the main target of the verbal assault was Joseph Smith, his character and revelations. What did the assailant offer in place of the restoration? The same pablum that consoles most protestant Christians today: salvation disconnected from our behavior. Just believe in Jesus, and we'll go to heaven no matter how evil our hearts or choices.
Which is why the teachings of Jesus in the four Gospel accounts are a list of commandments and behavior-modifying instructions? No. Enormous swaths of the Bible must be discarded in order to accept this interpretation.
Perhaps this person’s stated motivation was love, but it seemed a selfish exercise instead; love takes more effort than throwing a few eggs in brief frustration, or telling others they are wrong.
Latter-day Saints have the confirmation of the Spirit when we testify of the restored Gospel; this accounts for our success in teaching and conversion. (It also helps that the Book of Mormon and the restored Gospel are true.)
How do we get people to listen, though?
The Message About Messages
In a great measure, the success of the missionary program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is attributable to its service-oriented approach. We owe this approach in part to what Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon teach us.
Joseph explained his predicament: “…being of tender years, and persecuted by those who ought to have been my friends and to have treated me kindly, and if they supposed me to be deluded to have endeavored in a proper and affectionate manner to have reclaimed me…” (Joseph Smith—History 1:28). Persecution and railing did not work with him; why would it work with anyone else?
“Nothing is so much calculated to lead people to forsake sin as to take them by the hand, and watch over them with tenderness. When persons manifest the least kindness and love to me, O what power it has over my mind, while the opposite course has a tendency to harrow up all the harsh feelings and depress the human mind…
“…the devil flatters us that we are very righteous, when we are feeding on the faults of others” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 240-41). Volcanic contempt for Joseph Smith, and contempt in general, have been the earmarks of the most vociferous critics of the Church from the beginning.
Jesus identified love as one of the main traits of His disciples (see John 13:34-35). Where love isn’t, His disciples aren’t, either.
“Ye shall know them by their fruits.” Joseph Smith is a fruitful bough, indeed. Do we need any more evidence that he was a prophet? Was he a messenger of God, as I believe? Again, “ye shall know them by their fruits.” Grapes and figs do not come from weeds and thistles.
Another irony: we teach faith in Jesus Christ as the first principle of the restored Gospel. According to the individual shouting at me last night, all we need is faith in Christ to be saved and go to heaven, regardless of our poor behavior.
Does that grace not efface any false beliefs also, if we have them? We have already cleared their bar, so to speak. One retired anti-Mormon admitted as much to me when I was a missionary. Why try to correct or convert those who, in his opinion, already qualified as “saved?”
To me this is more evidence that contempt, not love, motivated that critic.
Yes, there are some sane and good individuals who disbelieve in Joseph Smith’s prophetic calling, but they tend not to shed the appearance of goodness and sanity when they share their disbelief.
This contrasts with most LDS apostates. “...a few leave the Church who cannot then leave the Church alone” (Neal A. Maxwell, Ensign, Nov. 1980, p. 14).
Getting Evangelism Right
The Book of Mormon serves both as a missionary tract we use to bring people into the Church, and as an instruction manual to help us learn how to do missionary work. Ammon is exemplary:
“…I will be thy servant…
“…I will show forth my power…which is in me…that I may win the hearts of these my fellow-servants, that I may lead them to believe on my words” (Alma 17:25, 29). This service mentality colors all good Latter-day Saint attempts to teach the Gospel.
I remember, as a missionary, seeing a woman unloading a huge number of heavy grocery bags from the back of her car. My companion and I offered to help. She accepted our offer. We unloaded the bags, asked if there were anything else we could do, she said no, and we left.
This was far more effective than standing on the street and yelling at her; even without any attempt on our part to proselytize (it felt wrong in that moment) a seed might have been planted that could grow later, whereas a forceful approach could have hardened this good woman’s heart.
Again, instructions to all missionaries, from the Book of Mormon: “Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle your passions, that ye may be filled with love…” (Alma 38:12).
Responding
As I lay on my back listening to the shouting, wondering what to do, I felt one clear impression: Leave.
I looked for a person who had been relaxing on the other side of the lawn; she had already left. I paused for a time, wondering if I should get up and testify or reprove. No. The prompting kept coming: Leave.
I got up without a backward glance, and strolled off the lawn. But driving away felt awkward.
I worried that I might come under some kind of condemnation for not standing up and testifying, or at least attempting to listen and calm the disruptive behavior. I felt a prompting to drive back to the Temple grounds. Circling the block in my car, I looked for the barker. I found two police cars in the parking lot outside the walls; they appeared to be talking to someone. I assumed it was the antagonist.
Apparently, freedom of religion, speech, and peaceable assembly in the United States does not extend to disruptive assembly and public harassment. Police already enforce these laws—without my help.
I am glad I followed that prompting and left.
“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you…” (Matt. 5:44). Arguing with this person would have been as fruitless as his misguided attempts to “save” me from the evils he attributed to Mormonism.
As anyone loses the Spirit, the love of God, charity, departs from that person’s heart. The desire to argue and compel increases, while the ability to accept others’ free will, agency, declines. We begin to resemble Satan (devil means accuser, slanderer), and subscribe to his plan of compulsory righteousness.
This applies to Latter-day Saints and their detractors. Being right does not give us license to criticize or condemn or accuse or harass. Unless we feel prompted by the Spirit to offer correction, we are risking departure from the boundaries the Lord gives us:
“Reproving betimes (immediately) with sharpness when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;
“That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.
“Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God…” (D&C 121:43-45).
Silence
Jesus held His peace before a sign-seeking magistrate; we can do the same (unless specifically prompted otherwise) when belligerent critics demand proof that Joseph Smith was and is a true prophet.
When we fight against Lucifer with his own tools, we have already lost. Mercy is a bizarre weapon, but unless we have it in our personal arsenal, unless we can forgive and let go, we are liable to get sucked into the same vortex of contempt and self-righteousness that swallows up the people who criticize the Church, its current leaders, and Joseph Smith.
“Now there was a strict law among the people of the church, that there should not any man…arise and persecute those that did not belong to the church…
“Nevertheless, there were many among them that began to be proud, and began to contend warmly with their adversaries, even unto blows; yea, they would smite one another with their fists.
“Now this…was a cause of much affliction to the church; yea, it was the cause of much trial with the church.
“For the hearts of many were hardened, and their names were blotted out, that they were remembered no more among the people of God” (Alma 1:21-24).
Bickering and quarreling and fighting with the enemies of the Church can lead to expulsion from the Church.
Those who attempt to force their faith on others have very weak faith. Challenges to weak faith tend to elicit a violent reaction; the weaker the faith, the more violent the reaction.
Peace, calmness, confidence, and patience with self and others and everyone’s flaws, are evidence of strong and vibrant faith in Christ and the Gospel. (Boldness, too, but not to the point of overbearance.)
Anti-Doubt
I feel bad for the person who felt so distressed and angered that last night’s display—marching outside a Temple and shouting about the questions that destroyed the person’s testimony—seemed like a reasonable course of action. If that person had posed those questions to the Lord in humble, sincere prayer, answers would have been available.
Restating accusations as questions, asked humbly in prayer, is the preventative solution to a lot of apostasy. Sincere questions in prayer yield one of two possible outcomes: 1. Peace and assurance that things are alright; 2. Answers to questions (after we are ready for them). No one can force revelation, though. Humility and patience are essential.
A personal witness is like a pyramid, stacked with a broad foundation of simple Gospel principles, crowned later on with the mysteries of the kingdom. It is unsafe to share information that belongs near the top of the pyramid before we have a large, stable foundation.
It is possible to have questions about things that we are years away from being ready to receive. Faith, patience, humility, and trust in the good feelings of the Spirit are necessary in the meantime.
But the answers do come, if we do not abandon our trust in the promptings of the Spirit that led us this far. God gives answers line upon line (like the blocks stacked up in a pyramid) because the bottom lines have to be wide enough to support the grand concepts later on.
Public teaching in the Church mainly consists of building foundations, of sharing milk instead of meat lest babes choke and suffocate (like the shouter I encountered last night; he was complaining about what he could not understand, venting his frustration).
The price for answers to questions about sacred things includes open ears, prolonged obedience and personal virtue, and a demonstration of the ability to keep silent about sacred things when answers come.
I have learned through the whisperings of the Holy Spirit that, yes, Joseph Smith was and is a true prophet. If I can receive personal revelation to answer my hard questions, anyone can.
Saturday, April 15, 2017
Hope in Christ
The scriptures tell us, “…ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal…” (Moroni 7:41).
Adam and Eve’s predicament is the universal one. They were given only a few “first” commandments:
1. Beget children
2. Don’t die physically
3. Don’t die spiritually
In order to keep commandment 1, they had to temporarily break 2 and 3. Physical death and spiritual death (even thinking of them) are barriers to our happiness and hope. How do we overcome them, since we all die, and are all cut off from God’s presence (spiritual death)?
God prepared a Savior to overcome these obstacles.We can have hope in Christ because of His victories over sin and death, His resurrection and return to His Father’s presence—He did all these things on our behalf, so that we could receive them as well.
The Lord told Moses, “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). Immortality means overcoming physical death through the resurrection. Eternal life means reunion with God, the Father of our spirits, and living with Him forever, enjoying His kind of life.
So Jesus Christ overcomes physical death for everyone, and spiritual death to whatever degree we are willing to follow Him.
All will be resurrected some day; the question is, what kind of resurrection will we have?
“Now, verily I say unto you, that through the redemption which is made for you is brought to pass the resurrection from the dead.
“And the spirit and the body are the soul of man.
“And the resurrection from the dead is the redemption of the soul.
“And the redemption of the soul is through [Jesus]…”
“For notwithstanding they die, they also shall rise again…
“…even ye shall receive your bodies, and your glory shall be that glory by which your bodies are (currently) quickened.
“Ye who are quickened by a portion of the celestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness” (D&C 88:14-17, 27-29).
Jesus Christ atones for our sins, and makes it possible for us to overcome those two enemies, physical and spiritual death.
Assurances
Job expressed faith and hope from within a difficult pit of problems: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
“And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God…” (Job 19:25-26).
We can feel hope in spite of death and temporary separation from God. Hope and faith in Christ materialize together; we cannot have one without the other.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for…” we read in Hebrews 11:1. But the Joseph Smith translation gives us, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for…”
How can we be hopeful even when present circumstances look grim?
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:26-27).
The peace and hope that come from God transcend worldly assurances and consolations. The promise of comfort through the Spirit is reiterated in modern revelations.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy” (D&C 11:13).
Elder Maxwell points out that even dungeon walls four feet thick could not keep out revelation to the Prophet in Liberty Jail. Nothing of this world can stop the Lord from consoling us directly, accessing our hearts and giving comfort and knowledge by His Holy Spirit.
The knowledge that the course of our lives is in harmony with God’s will is one of the most hopeful things His Spirit can reveal to us. We can pray for that confirmation; if there is anything amiss in our lives, God can prompt us to repent of it.
Sources of Hope
There is a kind of chicken-and-the-egg question about faith, hope, and charity. Does faith beget hope? Or does hope beget faith?
“...hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men...” (Ether 12:4).
This verse indicates that hope comes from faith.
But Mormon writes, “How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope?” (Moroni 7:40).
Which comes first, faith or hope? Faith, hope, and charity have been compared to legs on a three-legged stool. Either they all arrive in us at once, or do not stand alone for very long. This is why it is good that the Lord can instill them all into our souls simultaneously, rather than one at a time.
When a car battery loses its charge, another battery can be used to recharge it. Then the recharged battery will run again—provided the car is used regularly to maintain its charge.
The Lord can infuse us with a spark of faith, hope, and His love; it is our job to get moving and improve on those initial gifts. Receiving the Spirit is the way to do so. The greater the portion of the Spirit we receive, the more intensely faith, hope, and charity manifest in our hearts, minds, and actions.
And the more they manifest, the greater the portion of the Spirit we qualify to receive. But it requires an initial investment by God through His Spirit to get that positive cycle going in us.
“And if ye have no hope ye must needs be in despair; and despair cometh because of iniquity” (Moroni 10:22).
The reverse is also true; keep the commandments and repent, and we will have His Spirit to be with us; it will infuse us with faith, hope, and every good virtue.
Faith, hope, and charity are not just things we cultivate; their best versions come as gifts from God to us.
Jesus Christ’s Roles
Talking about hope can get technical; focusing on hopeful things engenders hope.
Jesus is always with us, always mindful of us. “...and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:20).
“And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up” (D&C 84:88).
“Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days” (D&C 24:8).
Sister Al Carraway has pointed out that in the scriptures, all our blessings are described as “prepared” (e.g. D&C 78:17). In other words, already ready for us. Who prepares them? Our Father in heaven, and His Son Jesus Christ.
“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3).
He is our advocate with the Father:
“Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him—
“Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;
“Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life” (D&C 45:3-5).
He atoned for our sins to mitigate suffering.
“For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent” (D&C 19:16).
When we are happy, we can celebrate; if we are passing through pain, Jesus will help us personally.
“And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
“And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord” (Mosiah 24:14-15).
Death is an intimidating prospect. Who comes to greet us when we die?
“Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.
“And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow” (Alma 40:11).
“Wherefore, fear not even unto death; for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full” (D&C 101:36).
All flesh is in His hands (see Moses 6:32, D&C 61:6, 101:16). He subjects the devil; He controls the elements; i.e., He is the referee in this wrestling match of life, and can blow the whistle or change circumstances however and whenever He sees fit.
If we are in the thick parts of life, we can take it as a compliment; He sees we are growing and sees us as able to handle present circumstances. And little wonder life gets hard; think of what we are hoping to receive one day:
“And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father;
“And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him” (D&C 84:37-38). This life is a proving ground; we are being tested and prepared to wear “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:17).
We need hope and faith in Christ and assurances delivered by His Spirit from time to time in order to succeed and make it through victorious.
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen” (Moroni 7:48).
Adam and Eve’s predicament is the universal one. They were given only a few “first” commandments:
1. Beget children
2. Don’t die physically
3. Don’t die spiritually
In order to keep commandment 1, they had to temporarily break 2 and 3. Physical death and spiritual death (even thinking of them) are barriers to our happiness and hope. How do we overcome them, since we all die, and are all cut off from God’s presence (spiritual death)?
God prepared a Savior to overcome these obstacles.We can have hope in Christ because of His victories over sin and death, His resurrection and return to His Father’s presence—He did all these things on our behalf, so that we could receive them as well.
The Lord told Moses, “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). Immortality means overcoming physical death through the resurrection. Eternal life means reunion with God, the Father of our spirits, and living with Him forever, enjoying His kind of life.
So Jesus Christ overcomes physical death for everyone, and spiritual death to whatever degree we are willing to follow Him.
All will be resurrected some day; the question is, what kind of resurrection will we have?
“Now, verily I say unto you, that through the redemption which is made for you is brought to pass the resurrection from the dead.
“And the spirit and the body are the soul of man.
“And the resurrection from the dead is the redemption of the soul.
“And the redemption of the soul is through [Jesus]…”
“For notwithstanding they die, they also shall rise again…
“…even ye shall receive your bodies, and your glory shall be that glory by which your bodies are (currently) quickened.
“Ye who are quickened by a portion of the celestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness” (D&C 88:14-17, 27-29).
Jesus Christ atones for our sins, and makes it possible for us to overcome those two enemies, physical and spiritual death.
Assurances
Job expressed faith and hope from within a difficult pit of problems: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
“And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God…” (Job 19:25-26).
We can feel hope in spite of death and temporary separation from God. Hope and faith in Christ materialize together; we cannot have one without the other.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for…” we read in Hebrews 11:1. But the Joseph Smith translation gives us, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for…”
How can we be hopeful even when present circumstances look grim?
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:26-27).
The peace and hope that come from God transcend worldly assurances and consolations. The promise of comfort through the Spirit is reiterated in modern revelations.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy” (D&C 11:13).
Elder Maxwell points out that even dungeon walls four feet thick could not keep out revelation to the Prophet in Liberty Jail. Nothing of this world can stop the Lord from consoling us directly, accessing our hearts and giving comfort and knowledge by His Holy Spirit.
The knowledge that the course of our lives is in harmony with God’s will is one of the most hopeful things His Spirit can reveal to us. We can pray for that confirmation; if there is anything amiss in our lives, God can prompt us to repent of it.
Sources of Hope
There is a kind of chicken-and-the-egg question about faith, hope, and charity. Does faith beget hope? Or does hope beget faith?
“...hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men...” (Ether 12:4).
This verse indicates that hope comes from faith.
But Mormon writes, “How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope?” (Moroni 7:40).
Which comes first, faith or hope? Faith, hope, and charity have been compared to legs on a three-legged stool. Either they all arrive in us at once, or do not stand alone for very long. This is why it is good that the Lord can instill them all into our souls simultaneously, rather than one at a time.
When a car battery loses its charge, another battery can be used to recharge it. Then the recharged battery will run again—provided the car is used regularly to maintain its charge.
The Lord can infuse us with a spark of faith, hope, and His love; it is our job to get moving and improve on those initial gifts. Receiving the Spirit is the way to do so. The greater the portion of the Spirit we receive, the more intensely faith, hope, and charity manifest in our hearts, minds, and actions.
And the more they manifest, the greater the portion of the Spirit we qualify to receive. But it requires an initial investment by God through His Spirit to get that positive cycle going in us.
“And if ye have no hope ye must needs be in despair; and despair cometh because of iniquity” (Moroni 10:22).
The reverse is also true; keep the commandments and repent, and we will have His Spirit to be with us; it will infuse us with faith, hope, and every good virtue.
Faith, hope, and charity are not just things we cultivate; their best versions come as gifts from God to us.
Jesus Christ’s Roles
Talking about hope can get technical; focusing on hopeful things engenders hope.
Jesus is always with us, always mindful of us. “...and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:20).
“And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up” (D&C 84:88).
“Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days” (D&C 24:8).
Sister Al Carraway has pointed out that in the scriptures, all our blessings are described as “prepared” (e.g. D&C 78:17). In other words, already ready for us. Who prepares them? Our Father in heaven, and His Son Jesus Christ.
“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3).
He is our advocate with the Father:
“Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him—
“Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;
“Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life” (D&C 45:3-5).
He atoned for our sins to mitigate suffering.
“For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent” (D&C 19:16).
When we are happy, we can celebrate; if we are passing through pain, Jesus will help us personally.
“And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
“And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord” (Mosiah 24:14-15).
Death is an intimidating prospect. Who comes to greet us when we die?
“Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.
“And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow” (Alma 40:11).
“Wherefore, fear not even unto death; for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full” (D&C 101:36).
All flesh is in His hands (see Moses 6:32, D&C 61:6, 101:16). He subjects the devil; He controls the elements; i.e., He is the referee in this wrestling match of life, and can blow the whistle or change circumstances however and whenever He sees fit.
If we are in the thick parts of life, we can take it as a compliment; He sees we are growing and sees us as able to handle present circumstances. And little wonder life gets hard; think of what we are hoping to receive one day:
“And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father;
“And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him” (D&C 84:37-38). This life is a proving ground; we are being tested and prepared to wear “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:17).
We need hope and faith in Christ and assurances delivered by His Spirit from time to time in order to succeed and make it through victorious.
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen” (Moroni 7:48).
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