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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

Anger

“Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin” (D&C 64:9). This requires some explaining.

“I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men” (v. 10). Is the Lord holding Himself to a lower standard than He holds us?

A Brief Sketch

Anger is the desire to revoke another’s agency (even inanimate objects, frustrating as they can be, have some agency; see D&C 93:30). Replacing freedom to choose with compulsion was Satan’s substitute for God’s plan.

Anger is usually about petty things, childish grievances. Despite its posturing and bravado, anger is often spawned by fear. Why hate an entire race or group of people? Fear.

Anger is typically the child of vices such as impatience, selfishness, and a lack of empathy, and an immature certainty that one is infallible, absolutely right all the time. Therefore anger is in a hurry, unconcerned with and unaware of others, their feelings and needs, and overconfident. This is the exact opposite of the suite of God’s virtues described in scripture—patience, longsuffering, compassion, mercy, kindness, love, “touched with the feeling of our infirmities” (Heb. 4:15) because He suffered them all with us.

Phrases we direct at others, such as “should,” “must,” “ought to,” “have to,” “got to,” “need to,” etc., reflect the attempt at compulsion central to anger. They are basically different ways of making an immature “I wish” sound compelling to whomever we want to compel.

Directing such phrases at ourselves begets frustration. The things we cannot stand about ourselves are the things we hate most in others; no wonder Jesus was so forgiving! He had no flaws to project onto others. Pride and jealousy and comparison create the most irrational forms of anger, bent on tearing down greatness when it is not our own. (How dare they be better than me! As though another’s joy robs us of something.)

Exceptions?

Is there such a thing as “righteous wrath?” It is possible, but it is also very rare, even close to non-existent among mortals. Captain Moroni is one example of a righteous man who becomes angry, but this is in a circumstance when bloodshed was an appropriate response to another person’s choices. How often is it OK to kill? This is an extremely rare circumstance.

The Lord is eager to forgive us. One of His jobs is to dispense justice; therefore He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to atone for sin so that we could repent and receive the forgiveness He wants to give us. God keeps all laws; the Atonement was an extreme measure on our behalf—a tether that keeps our disobedience from severing us from His presence permanently.

Does God have anger? The scriptures are meant to help reacquaint us with our Father in heaven. There is an interesting phrase the Lord uses to describe Himself: “And the anger of the Lord is kindled…” (D&C 1:13). To “kindle” means to begin a fire, the small flame from which the full blaze starts. (When Jesus drove the money changers out of the Temple, He took the time to braid His whip; this was not flying off the handle, but deliberate, controlled action.)

The Lord is our advocate (defense attorney), our Savior, and our Judge. Execution is only one of His roles, but it is one of His roles.

“Therefore I command you to repent—repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore—how sore you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not” (D&C 19:15). This is not a professional wrestler taunting an opponent. The Lord is not reveling in the opportunity to harm a foe—He is desperate here to get us to repent and avoid the necessity of administering justice. His main motivator is love, not anger.

This is probably the main reason He commands us to repent, while reserving judgment to Himself; we tend to lead with anger when it is present in us. “…of you it is required to forgive all men.”

Agency is also sacrosanct in Father’s plan; He works around our agency, whereas the mortal version of anger centers on overcoming others’ agency.

God has many enemies, but how rarely He reciprocates their anger. He is always looking for an excuse NOT to inflict justice; how can we use His roles as judge and dispenser of justice to justify our petty grudges and accusations? His precision is surgical, and even discipline is intended for our welfare; the main purpose of human anger is to gratify the one who is angry, not to benefit the target.

If we feel delighted to inflict vengeance upon anyone, even in our imaginations (where most anger plays out), we are out of tune with the Spirit.

I have heard some people using the Lord’s anger as justification for their own outbursts. Not only are we commanded to forgive universally, without exception, but we are also instructed about what happens to us when we take the role of executioner, and attempt to override others’ agency.

“…when we undertake to…exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn…

“…he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God.

“We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority…they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion” (D&C 121:37-39). When we follow Satan’s example of self-righteous imposition, we end up moving in the same direction He did, and until we repent and forgive and let go, we drift towards the edge of the same cliff he fell off of.

We are forbidden from looking for excuses to justify anger. Charity respects agency, and when we disrespect others’ right to choose their own path, we begin to lose the Spirit, and hence charity, which is a gift of the Spirit.

Anger flows naturally from wanting to force and coerce and boss others around.

The Greater Sin

Why is it a worse sin to withhold forgiveness from the offender than the original offence itself?

Jesus explained with a parable. A servant owed ten thousand talents (millions of dollars worth of gold in modern money). The master to whom he owed this debt ordered that he and his family be sold into slavery (which would barely dent the debt, but what else could the master do to even up the balance?) The servant begged for mercy; the master gave it, set the man free.

Then the man who owed the ten thousand talents “took” a fellow servant who owed him a hundred pence (significantly less than the fortune his creditor forgave him) “by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest” (Matt. 18:28). He has his coworker thrown in prison instead of showing mercy.

The master finds out what the forgiven servant did to his coworker, and says, “O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

“Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?”

Jesus concludes, “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses” (Matt. 18:32-33, 35).

Notice that when we forgive others, it does not erase their offences; it means we change our internal attitude and external behavior towards that person. Justice is the Lord’s job; our job is to forgive and repent.

Jesus Christ suffered our share of justice vicariously so that, if we repent, we can be forgiven. “…how hard to bear you know not…” He paid our “ten thousand talents.” Others can inflict great harm on us, incur huge debts and offend us greatly. But any harm others inflict on us, however great, is paltry compared to what Jesus suffered for us. We incurred a huge debt, He paid it for us, and asks us to repent so that He can forgive and forget about our offenses against Him. If we refuse to adopt this same attitude towards those who have hurt us, we impede the Lord’s ability to offer us grace and forgiveness.

“…mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own…” (D&C 88:40).

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matt. 6:12).

Angry at God

There is a temptation to view our Father in heaven as a spoilsport, ruining the fun with inconvenient commandments. But there is another, more accurate way to look at His commandments.

Imagine a guide, a man sitting at a crossroads. Travelers approach the man, and He tells them what lies at the end of each path.

“Right will lead to safety and peace. Left leads to certain death.”

What fool would say the guide is compelling people to go right? He is warning them of inevitable danger, and telling them the best way to go.

More often than we think, what looks like justice is just the natural fallout of poor choices. The commandments are the guideposts that teach us how to live “after the manner of happiness” (2Ne. 5:27). Yes, the Lord does give out punishments, but He works consistently to prevent that.

Application

As with so many things, the commandment to forgive others presupposes divine help.

Our hearts are the main place where we need to forgive. We think of the world as the thing we are meant to conquer, the zone in which agency is applied. But too often, our very best plans and efforts beget havoc. Our intentions and outcomes are often far-removed from each other.

The world inside our minds and hearts is our own designated little kingdom where we preside, by divine decree. Joseph Smith noted that “God would not exert any compulsory means, and the devil could not…” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 187).

If there is one place where you reign supreme, it is inside yourself. (Yet this is often the last place we want to pull weeds and tidy things up generally—the knee-jerk response is to look at others’ flaws.)

How can we get divine help to change from anger to forgiveness and peace?

The power of the Atonement changes our hearts to be more like the Savior’s. This power is delivered to us by the power of the Holy Ghost. We receive the Spirit in proportion to our humility and faith in Christ. The more humility and faith we have, the more we can be changed through the Atonement, and that includes having anger removed from our hearts.

Revenge is such an easy thing to desire because it feels just. It is obvious when others deserve to feel pain because of what they are doing. But the commandment is to “forgive all men.” This often takes more power than we have on our own. It takes a massive infusion of grace, sometimes. This is precisely what the Savior can do.

The Lord prepares a way that we may accomplish the things He commands us (see 1Ne. 3:7). So the command to forgive all men everywhere is not impossible to keep. Asking our Father in heaven in prayer for the power to forgive another is often the first and last line of defense against grudges and anger. Do not waste time feeling guilty about being unable to forgive others. This is like feeling guilty about not being able to heft a boulder. Focus instead on figuring out what adjustments in attitude and behavior it takes to get this blessing, the ability to forgive.

“Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19).

We need not worry that forgiving others will rob justice. Leave them in God’s hands; He knows what to do, and will not lose control the way we often do when taking justice into our own hands.

To be forgiven is a form of grace; the power to forgive others in our hearts also comes from grace.

We might be better than others, but not that much. The difference between the best mortals and the worst mortals is smaller than the difference between the best mortals and God.

“And let every man esteem his brother as himself, and practise virtue and holiness before me.

“And again I say unto you, let every man esteem his brother as himself” (D&C 38:24-25).

“God does not look on sin with allowance, but when men have sinned, there must be allowance made for them…”

“…The nearer we get to our heavenly Father, the more we are disposed to look with compassion on perishing souls; we feel that we want to take them upon our shoulders, and cast their sins behind our backs” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 240-241).

“If you do not accuse each other, God will not accuse you. If you have no accuser you will enter heaven…If you will not accuse me, I will not accuse you. If you will throw a cloak of charity over my sins, I will over yours—for charity covereth a multitude of sins. What many people call sin is not sin; I do many things to break down superstition, and I will break it down” (TPJS, p. 193).

Forgiveness is the process of letting go of each others’ hair as individuals so that we can get into heaven together, as a group. I know it is possible, with the Lord’s help, to forgive those who have hurt or offended us (and forgive ourselves).

Follow the Brethren

Joseph Smith taught:

“…all Saints! profit by this important Key—that in all your trials, troubles, temptations, afflictions, bonds, imprisonments, and death, see to it, that you do not betray heaven; that you do not betray Jesus Christ; that you do not betray the brethren…in all your kicking and floundering, see to it that you do not this thing, lest innocent blood be found upon you skirts, and you go down to hell…and [prove] a traitor to the brethren.

“I will give you one of the Keys of the mysteries of the Kingdom…That man who rises up to condemn others, finding fault with the Church, saying that they are out of the way, while he himself is righteous, then know assuredly, that man is in the high road to apostasy; and if he does not repent, will apostatize, as God lives” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 156-157).

Who are “the brethren?” They are the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve.

For some it is easy to criticize local and general Church leaders. They habitually emphasize that the men in these callings are “only human,” and look for loopholes in the scriptures to justify both their criticism of leaders, and any bad behavior they may wish to persist in.

Occasionally, I will hear or see news of fatal car accidents in which one or more of the occupants of a vehicle were ejected. How can people be ejected from a vehicle in a car wreck? Were they not securely belted into their seats? During the pleasant part of the drive, before the accident, the person wearing a seatbelt and the person not strapped in appear equally safe. They are both comfortable. In fact, the one without a belt on might seem unrestricted and freer, more comfortable as a result. Until an accident.

Part of a robust testimony includes a personal confirmation through the Holy Ghost that the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve are called of God. During pleasant times, Church membership might seem equally pleasant for those who have a personal witness about the callings of the brethren and their local leaders, and those who do not.

During moments when one must choose between the tide of popular opinion and the teachings of the Church, however, those who do not have a firm testimony are likely to be ejected from the Church, or to let go of their covenants. Trying to hold onto the world and the Church at the same time is becoming increasingly difficult, and as the gap between worldly expectations and God’s direction widens, those without personal revelation and a glowing, vibrant testimony will be more likely to become embittered and apostatize.

Nicodemus

Those who are spiritually reborn are far more likely to accept new revelations when they come. Because of their reassurance from God, they can move forward and act on stronger faith, rather than hesitating and waiting for some obvious confirmation through their five senses or logic.

On the other hand, the natural man says, “show me, and I’ll keep on disobeying anyway.” The correlation between evidence and changed behavior is far smaller than we often care to admit. Why do donuts and cigarettes exist? Everyone knows these are unhealthy, but we humans continue to indulge in destructive behaviors long after the results and evidence against them have piled up. The natural man is an enemy to God, as well as himself, and often his neighbor.

When Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, he said, “…we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him” (John 3:2). This was not good enough, and so Jesus taught:

“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…

“Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (v. 3, 5).

This confuses Nicodemus. Jesus continues,

“If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?” (v. 12).

Nicodemus was double-minded. He came to Jesus AT NIGHT, trying to hide the interview from his friends and protect his social status. Jesus gently rebukes him for this contradictory behavior:

“But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God” (v. 21).

A good way for us to gauge how we would respond to a personal appearance by Jesus to us is to look at how we receive the brethren, the First Presidency, the Twelve, and their messages to us today. We tend to cast Jesus as benevolent and convenient. But the scriptures call Him “a refiner’s fire and…a fuller’s soap” (Mal. 3:2). Like Nicodemus, when we come to Him (or His authorized representatives on earth today) we can expect to be invited to repent and stretch ourselves. Uncomfortably.

If we bring nothing but our own logic and understanding, what currently makes sense to us, to the table when we set out to do the Lord’s work and get to know Him, we will be disappointed. Nicodemus brought only this equipment, and his resulting behavior was timid and hesitant (hiding his meeting with Jesus to protect his reputation). It takes more than the five senses and logic to approach the Lord. It requires divine interaction, spiritual rebirth, to “see” and “enter” the kingdom.

Peter

Contrast Nicodemus with the impetuous Peter. Nicodemus was a learned doctor of the scriptures. Peter was a less-educated, humble fisherman. Hear the contrast between Nicodemus’ confession of Jesus’ power, and Peter’s rock-solid testimony when Jesus asks His Twelve about His identity:

“…But whom say ye that I am?

“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 16:15-17).

It is not enough to know through logic that Jesus is the Christ, or that His living representatives are true prophets because of the natural five senses. If we are to be firmly anchored to the Church, that connection must include sturdy fibers of divine interaction, personal revelation and confirmation by the Spirit that Jesus is the Christ, and that He has living, authorized representatives on the earth.

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church…

“And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matt. 16:18-19).

Nicodemus was so insecure that he arranged to meet secretly with Jesus by night; Peter was so bold he was willing to jump out of a boat into a stormy, raging sea and try to walk on water toward Jesus because He invited him. This is the difference between a testimony based on logic, and a testimony based on revelation. Revelation is the sure rock, and a better source of confidence.

Many Christians accuse the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of teaching that we are saved by men because we teach what Jesus taught—that He delegates authority (“keys of the kingdom”) to mortals, who then act in His name. We are saved by Christ, but, as in Peter’s day, Jesus calls representatives who act and speak and perform ordinances in His name.

Jesus told His Twelve, “He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me” (Matt. 10:40). In other words, if we want to receive God and Christ, at some point we must receive their chosen representatives.

It is vital that we know for ourselves, through personal revelation (just like Peter) who these representatives actually are.

When President Hinckley passed away and President Monson was called as the new Church President, I remember thinking, “I’m just going to accept the new leader without question.” But the prompting came to me, No, get your own spiritual witness that President Monson really is called of God.

Shortly afterward, I was reading something simple and clear President Monson had written, and it addressed a concern of mine at the time. The Spirit testified to me that, yes, President Monson was in fact called of God.

I think that, like Peter, we will be invited to join Jesus in tumultuous circumstances, and we therefore need more than a worldly understanding; we need a testimony resulting from personal revelation.

(As with Peter, God chooses good followers as leaders today. If you see a man called as an Apostle in the Church of Christ, you can be sure he is obedient to, and follows directions from, the Lord.)

Against the Tide

What does following God’s current servants entail today?

Following Church leaders today means adopting a traditional definition of the family that includes a man and a woman married to each other, living in total fidelity, raising the children they beget. Men are primarily charged with provided the basic necessities of life; women are charged with rearing their children. Men and women help each other in these roles.

Newly-adopted definitions of marriage and family might make adults feel good about themselves, but they are not designed with the benefit of children as a primary goal. By contrast, the purpose of marriage in the Lord’s plan is primarily creating and fostering the next generation. Love between man and woman might be enjoyable, but the purpose of that joy is to create a stable relationship where it is emotionally safe for children to land.

To protect children with same-sex guardians from emotional turmoil and confusion, and to protect the legal status of the Church, it is safer to prohibit children raised by same sex couples from attending Church meetings. (When those children reach adulthood and then decide on their own to join the Church, they are totally welcome.)

Offended

These are Church positions on current grand, sweeping social issues. It seems the trend in America has been toward making people’s feelings more important than the truth. While offending people by itself is not virtuous, risking such offense by standing firm in beliefs that reflect the truth is consistent with everything in Christianity generally, and in the LDS Church specifically.

What about moments when the flaws of local leaders make them reprehensible to the members they guide?

Again, only a testimony built on revelation from God is adequate in some cases to make such negative experiences endurable. Are we in the Church because the members make us feel good? Or are we in the Church because we feel God directing us, feel His Spirit as we participate and keep our covenants? Whether accidentally or intentionally, we will get our toes stepped on at some point if we stay in the Church long enough.

“And at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins.

“For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived—verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day” (D&C 45:56-57).

Trying to cling to the world and please others while trying to love God and keep His commandments will only get harder as time passes. The mutual exclusivity of the world’s values and God’s direction is becoming stronger and more visible. Flawed as these mortal men might be, the brethren who lead the Church follow the Lord first and foremost; those who want to follow the Lord should not be surprised when He prompts them to follow His living servants who are already doing so.

I know from the whisperings of the Spirit to me that President Monson is a living oracle of God, and that his counselors and the Twelve are also legitimate representatives of God. The peace and other good feelings that come as they teach and instruct are evidence to all that this is true. Anyone can receive revelation confirming their status as true messengers from God, if only we ask for it with a determination to act on the revelation we receive.

In the past, following the prophets was often a matter of physical survival. Today God also has chosen witnesses who speak on His behalf. It may well become a matter of physical and spiritual survival to follow those the Lord has set as leaders in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Danger has never been more attractively packaged; identifying and unraveling such smoke-screens is the duty of the Lord’s representatives today.