Materialism

One day, people will talk about what is happening today by saying, "One hundred years ago..." They will undoubtedly point out the vastly different beliefs and practices of society then versus now. Technology and scientific knowledge will have advanced beyond what is considered cutting edge today.

Oddly, it is possible to believe in that very reasonable future, and at the same time have confidence in today's scientific model of the universe. Odd, because if past experience is any teacher, knowledge evolves and replaces old ideas at an ever-increasing pace. It would make more sense to believe in such a future, and therefore approach today's knowledge as tomorrow's outdated 100-year-old understanding of science, instead of placing absolute confidence in it.

Materialism can have two meanings, and they are closely connected. One has to do with the pursuit of ownership, material goods, wealth. The other is broader, and seems less ignoble: The belief that the universe consists of nothing but what can be demonstrated to exist via the scientific method. That second kind of materialism is gripping modern society, threatening religion and society itself.

Evangelical Materialism

The quintessential anti-Christ from scripture is Korihor. His hypocritical certitude shines through:

"Why do ye look for a Christ? For no man can know of anything which is to come.

"...ye cannot know of things which ye do not see..." Alma 30:13-15. He teaches with certainty about the future, saying that he knows there will be no Christ, while denying the power to predict the future.

"And many more such things did he say unto them, telling them that there could be no atonement made for the sins of men, but every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that that every man conquered according to his strength; and whatsoever a man did was no crime" (Alma 30:17).

Today's marketers of atheism leave out that last part about the non-existence of crime and utility of conquest in their public discourse. Nevertheless, it is a logical extension of the belief that there is no God, no law, no afterlife, and no judgment. Moral relativism is the figurative gem in the center of the forehead of the idol of atheism.

Today's rational materialists preach that science and technology have made a mostly-peaceful, prospering world for us, and that we ought to throw religion overboard as a cumbersome and embarrassing relic. This is a faulty conclusion. Large portions of Asia were the testing ground for this notion for about the last century. Atheism was the official state religion; reason, rationalism, science, empiricism, logic, these were supposed to be the guiding stars of their ships of state.

What was the result?

Millions of innocent people slaughtered, imprisoned, and impoverished; the evaporation of personal freedoms; the effective enslavement of the populace. The shackles began to fall in the late 1980s, but Asia is still largely reeling from the oppression of its now-vanished rational-materialist states.

Those who point to the west, Europe and the Americas, and the rising prosperity there, speak as though this wealth and peace are the result of modern science. Atheist Asia had science and technology, too. What makes the difference between the outcomes?

At least one thing that materialists seem unable to see is that the West is saturated with Christian principles, even if only as a residue of expectations for behavior and social norms. Compassion, kindness, fair play, mercy, humane treatment of others, forgiveness—all these virtues are woven into the tapestry of how children are raised and values inculcated in society. And this saturation with Christian principles, even if disassociated from religion, accounts in a large way for the difference between Asia's nightmare and the West's prosperous dream.

Asia discovered what happens when people in power accept Korihor's premises—that there is no objective, self-evident right or wrong. As the West rejects Judeo-Christian beliefs in God and judgment and the afterlife, and adopts secularism as the de facto institutional and state religion, moral relativism, the disbelief in right and wrong as real things, will rear its head, and society will plunge (or drift slowly, imperceptibly) into a morass of dishonesty, exploitation, and outright violence.

It will not be enough to simply raise everybody to be nice and kind. Inquiring minds will ask, Why should I? And Korihor will be there converting new disciples with his answers: "...whatsoever a man [does is] no crime." (The attempt to raise a generation of nice people without religion is resulting, ironically, in ostracism, cruelty, and even violence—lashing out in the attempt to enforce tolerance, of all things.)

Korihor begins to waffle at the last minute as Alma debates him:

"And now Korihor said unto Alma: If thou wilt show me a sign, that I may be convinced that there is a God, yea, show unto me that he hath power, and then will I be convinced of the truth of thy words.

"But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator...

"...Now Korihor said unto him: I do not deny the existence of a God, but I do not believe that there is a God; and I say also, that ye do not know that there is a God; and except ye show me a sign, I will not believe" (Alma 30:43-44, 48).

Moral relativism is opportunistic, not rigid, so he shifts his position according to convenience. Certainty is a certainty up front; meanwhile, the rats are ready to jump ship at the first sign of sinking.

Blank Checks

Despite the intelligence of its promoters, explanations for the order noted by Alma tend to become circular. We know there is no God, therefore the universe must be perfectly capable of doing all this on its own. But the burden of science is proof; repeatable experimentation yielding consistent results. What experiment can anyone perform to test the existence of God?

"And now what evidence have ye that there is no God, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only" (Alma 30:40). Order is the hallmark of intelligence at work.

In lieu of any experimental laboratory data, materialists will begin to offer themselves blank checks, ideas that cannot be proven empirically, to show that God is unnecessary.

There are so many worlds out there, there is bound to be more accidental life existing on some of them. Really? Show me. That is the burden of science. Instead of finding many places where life could reasonable exist, exploration presents us with a universe filled with living essays in how to not create a planet capable of sustaining life.

Life began so early in the fossil record that it must be easy for life to come into existence spontaneously. Really? That means blind chance is more powerful than all scientists on earth, because so far none have created life from scratch. Are we qualified to comment on the ease with which life can be created on accident from dead matter without preexisting life until after we do it on purpose?

There are an infinite number of universes out there, so one of them is bound to have intelligent life in it. Really? Has anyone substantiated this claim? Or are we conveniently imagining an infinite number of dice-rolls to account for the immense improbability of the existence of life? (As though the dice remember what was rolled previously, anyway.)

The fine-tuning of fundamental forces shaping the universe to permit and promote the existence of life; the position of our sun in a relatively safe, cool space in the galaxy; the constant stability of temperature and lack of violent outbursts from our sun (common among stars elsewhere); the position of the earth relative to the sun (neither too close nor too distant), the position of our moon, stabilizing our planet's rotation like a kite tail; the magnetic field around our planet (missing from other local planets) mitigating solar radiation and only letting through enough to sustain, rather than destroy, life; the persistence of the right amount of oxygen in our atmosphere for eons, so that we neither suffocate (too little) nor incinerate (too much); the abundance of water on our planet; all these things and more testify of a divine Intelligence at work.

There is also an artistic flourish to our planetary perspective: Our only moon perfectly subtends our only star, when viewed from the surface of the earth. That phenomenon appears nowhere else in our solar system. What are the odds that it would be seen here, where there is someone to appreciate it? (Eclipse-watching arrested much human activity and attention on an entire continent, recently.)

All these things are miraculous, yet also quickly dismissed as evidence for God by materialism when its logic is only embraced to support moral relativism. It is emotional convenience, not logical rigor.

Korihor confesses the origins of his ideas:

"...the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel, and said unto me: Go and reclaim this people, for they have all gone astray after an unknown God. And he said unto me: There is no God; yea, and he taught me that which I should say. And I have taught his words; and I taught them because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind; and I taught them, even until I had much success, insomuch that I verily believed that they were true; and for this cause I withstood the truth, even until I have brought this great curse upon me" (Alma 30:53; emphasis mine).

Pleasing to the carnal mind—this is the main ingredient, the sugar that makes the whole thing palatable. As soon as empirical evidence for God appears, logic is thrown out the window because the existence of God is not pleasing to the carnal mind.

I do not believe that the average modern atheist is having visions of demons, or that they are all of them being insincere. There are honorable atheists (I have met some). But the destructive societal outcome is the same for subscribing to a faith-free existence.

Islands of Safety

With sophisticated arguments against God promoted abundantly, and the mocking inhabitants of the great and spacious building "point[ing] the finger of scorn" (1Ne. 8:33), it will take more than a preponderance of tangible evidence for the existence of God to preserve faith in Christ today. Alma had seen an angel with his own eyes, but he did not give that as the reason for his certainty.

"Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?

"Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me" (Alma 5:45-46).

The Spirit and its influence in our lives are tangible (though non-transferable, typically) evidences for faith in Christ. Guidance, impressions, peace, love, joy, a changed heart; all these things are evidence that bolsters our faith.

Personal experience, especially the kind that comes from years of seeking God in private and living the standards set forth by His prophets, creates layers of confidence to stabilize us, especially when times get hard and Satan tempts us to "curse God and die" (Job 2:9), or to die spiritually.

The Book of Mormon has great power to anchor us to the "rock" of Christ (Hel. 5:12). It anticipates the sordid materialism and logic of our day, and gives us the alternative. Just as Korihor is a faith-shaker and anti-Christ, so Alma and Amulek become faith builders. Two chapters after Korihor's ignominious end, Alma and Amulek give us a masterful sermon on planting the word (Jesus Christ, His suffering, death, and resurrection) in our hearts, and nurturing it. At some point in the process, faith becomes trust, trust becomes confidence, confidence becomes knowledge. It can come instantly, but typically, it grows steadily, bit by bit.

It is not necessary to have an answer to every doubt and criticism. "We heeded them not" was the way Lehi and those partaking of the fruit of the tree of life dealt with mockers. There are things we know; we should not throw them away because of what we do not know or currently understand (yet).

A pattern of asking questions, and getting to the point where we are ready for, and receive, answers, is part of long-term discipleship. Put questions on the shelf—for years, if necessary—with full confidence that the Lord can, and will, answer them the instant we are ready to receive. "What powershall stay the heavens? As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it up stream, as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints" (D&C 121:33).

A good fast and testimony meeting becomes a rich tapestry of evidences, recently gleaned, from the lives of the congregation. The Spirit becomes palpable and undeniable during priesthood ordinances.

Those who are interested in having spiritual experiences can participate in Temple work. Even seeking out the dead to submit their names for Temple work is fraught with miracles as information that was hidden is recovered. The Temple is a bulwark of spiritual warmth and light in an increasingly cold and dimming world.

The testimonies and teachings of living prophets and Apostles are yet another shield for our faith. They point us to Christ, teach us how to access His power and stand against Satan and the avalanche of temptations and sophistry we cope with daily.


Rather than prioritize and trust in the physical, material things of this world, and place primary trust in the evidence of our bodily senses, we can exercise faith and trust in the whisperings of the Holy Spirit. It seems paradoxical, but relying upon this intangible, invisible voice will guide us far better than logic, human technology, or current moral or social trends.

God knows all things and loves us immensely, individually. He therefore wants us to be happy as He is. He gives us spiritual guidance and nourishment. These things will bleed into the physical realm, when necessary, for our benefit, provided we remain faithful to Him.

This requires us to prioritize spiritual things above the physical, and exercise faith in His outcomes,  certain, though (as yet) unseen.

Priesthood Ordinances: Their Permanence Throughout Time

The scriptures tell us that God is the same “yesterday, today, and forever” (D&C 20:12). It is consoling to identify any form of permanence in a world that is changing so rapidly. God’s nature is such that His perfections and attributes allow us to exercise faith and have confidence in Him.

It stands to reason, then, that His requirements for salvation and exaltation would ultimately be the same for each individual throughout time.

“How could Abel offer a sacrifice and look forward with faith on the Son of God for a remission of his sins, and not understand the Gospel? … And if Abel was taught of the coming of the Son of God, was he not taught also of His ordinances?” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 59). While the shedding of blood and animal sacrifices were suspended at the coming of Christ, the principle of sacrifice, as well as all other ordinances, have been conveyed and taught in every Gospel dispensation from the beginning of the world until the current dispensation.

Baptism

The ordinance of baptism was taught to Adam:

“And our father Adam spake unto the Lord, and said: Why is it that men must repent and be baptized in water? And the Lord said unto Adam…

“…That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, an so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory;

“For by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified, and by the blood ye are sanctified;

“Therefore it is given to abide in you; the record of heaven; the Comforter…” (Moses 6:53, 59-61).

Then Adam was baptized by God Himself, by the Spirit of the Lord:

“And it came to pass, when the Lord had spoken with Adam, our father, that Adam cried unto the Lord, and was carried down into the water, and was laid under the water, and was brought forth out of the water.

“And thus he was baptized, and the Spirit of God descended upon him, and thus he was born of the Spirit, and became quickened in the inner man” (Moses 6:64-65).

So the receipt of the Holy Spirit was associated with baptism from the beginning.

The Temple of Solomon included amongst its furniture a Brazen Sea resting on the backs of twelve brazen oxen. It was about thirty feet in circumference and about seven feet deep. Although any ceremonies associated with this Font were sparsely recorded in the scriptures, it does not take much imagination to recognize that it was more than likely designed for ritual immersion.

We read of John baptizing Jesus and numerous other individuals, as well as Jesus teaching the necessity of baptism to receive salvation:

“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). In case the reader wants to know whether the water spoken of here is literal or figurative, John writes seventeen verses later:

“After these things cam Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea; and there he tarried with them and baptized.

“And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized…” (John 3:22-23). There is no need to wander about the scriptures or misconstrue Ephesians 5:26 to understand the context of Jesus’ statements to Nicodemus.

After His resurrection, Jesus Christ sent His disciples into the world to teach and baptize everyone:

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost…” (Matt. 28:19).

The authority to perform this introductory ordinance was restored by John the Baptist when he appeared as a resurrected being to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, and said the following after laying his hands on them:

“Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness” (D&C 13:1).

Joseph and Oliver then baptized each other as John the Baptist directed them.

“Immediately on our coming up out of the water after we had been baptized, we experienced great and glorious blessings from our Heavenly Father…We were filled with the Holy Ghost…” (Joseph Smith History 1:73).

The ordinance of baptism is consistent from one dispensation to the next.

Confirmation, The Gift of the Holy Ghost

“We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

“We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Articles of Faith 1:3-4).

On the day of Pentecost, Peter spoke to a large group composed of people from diverse nations. They asked,

“Men and brethren, what shall we do?

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:37-38).

Later, Peter and John came to Samaria, “…that they might receive the Holy Ghost…

“…Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost” (Acts 8:15, 17).

Peter and John came to lay hands on some who had already been baptized by Philip, because they had authority to give the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The Sacrament

The Lord gave the Israelites the Passover as a meal to commemorate their deliverance from slavery in Egypt.

Later, the Lord instructed Israel to create a Table of Shewbread as part of the Tabernacle, then the Temple of Solomon. In each case, the Table was to hold twelve loaves of bread. The symbolic significance of twelve loaves was obvious; one loaf for each of the twelve tribes. In other words, a place was set at the Table for everyone, for all the faithful.

Jesus instituted the ordinance of the sacrament at the Last Supper, which He conducted during the Feast of Passover.

Our sacrament table today is a cousin of the Table of Shewbread in the ancient Tabernacle and Temple of Solomon. We meet each week to commemorate our deliverance from sin through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ—His suffering, death, and resurrection on our behalf. Because He died and was resurrected, all of us will be resurrected after we die. Because He took our sins, and their consequent loss of the Spirit, upon Himself, we can receive His identity, and the consequences of His obedience—always having His Spirit to be with us—upon ourselves.

Naming Children

Jesus was given a name and presented at the Temple. Though circumcision and all other forms of ritual blood-letting were done away with after the death of Christ, children are still named and given a blessing today. This ordinance is not necessary for salvation, but it parallels the life of Christ, and that is the fuller purpose of ordinances—to access the power of Christ, create a unity between us and Him, and put us on His path of eternal progress.

Dedicating Graves

Just as we imitate Christ in the beginning of life, so the death and burial of Christ are imitated. Dedication of a grave and clothing the body are not necessary for salvation. However, the ordinance of dedicating a grave imitates the designation of a grave site for Jesus’ burial, and clothing the body in Temple robes is a figure of the return to God’s presence. Jesus’ body was prepared for burial; it is fitting that our dead are also washed and robed.

Anointing and Blessing the Sick

Jesus lays His hands on many in the New Testament, and heals them. Such blessings are not necessary for salvation, but they are a part of His plan. Whether given for emotional comfort or guidance, or physical healing or spiritual comfort or healing, priesthood blessings constitute a large part of the scriptures and a large part of the lives of Latter-day Saints now.

“Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray for him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

“And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him” (James 5:14-15).

Patriarchal Blessings

Jacob gave a patriarchal blessing to each of his sons (see Genesis 49). He gave explicit descriptions of their temporal blessings, what to expect in this life, admonitions, reproofs, counsel, and spiritual directions, how they would fare in their relationships with God.

The confluence of physical and spiritual, temporal and eternal, heritage and posterity, premortal, mortal, and postmoral, is found in the personal scripture offered in patriarchal blessings given to individual Latter-day Saints today. Such blessings constitute a page from the book of an individual’s possibilities, a road-map for one person’s mortal journey.

The Temple

Just as the Temple anciently showed Israel a covenant path back to God, so the modern Temple shows the Latter-day Saints how to live and walk a covenant path back to God. Washings, anointing, clothing, covenants of obedience, sacrifice, purity of living, chastity, devotion of self, consecration of all, prayer, instruction, and a ritual return to the presence of God were included in the Temple of the scriptures, and the modern Temple today.

Marriage

Parley P. Pratt noted that Adam and Eve were immortal beings when they were first married, and that it stood to reason, therefore, that marriage was originally intended to last forever.

“Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord” (1Cor. 11:11).

“Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matt. 19:6).

Jesus told Peter, “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. 16:19). God shares His power to act in His name, the priesthood, with men today as well.

Though one Prophet, President, and High Priest holds the keys on earth at a time, all are able to benefit from that power who will receive ordinances, make and keep covenants, and live accordingly.

Jesus Christ compared Himself to the Bridegroom, the Church to the Bride, and His Second Coming to a great Wedding Feast.

“Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage…

“…So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

“And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

“Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

“For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt. 22:4, 10-14).

The tendency among modern Christians is to despise ceremony, ritual, formality, contracts, and covenants with God. And yet the scriptures they read are rife with such things. The Temple, ritual, ordinances, and sacraments are abundantly described as part of Christian worship both before and after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and He teaches, receives, and performs them all.

Why send someone to hell for being improperly dressed in the above parable?

“Being born again…comes by the Spirit of God through ordinances” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 162). If the Pharisees Jesus condemned had stumbled by forsaking the spirit of the law in favor of the letter alone, many modern Christians have made something close to the opposite mistake.

Ordinances that crowd the pages of scripture are not vestigial. They were important enough to capture the attention of the writers, and demand the expenditure of precious time, care, ink, and parchment anciently. They still matter now.

Priesthood Ordinances

Joseph Smith taught:

“Being born again comes by the Spirit of God through ordinances” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 162).

How? How do ordinances facilitate spiritual rebirth?

Perhaps a review of those ordinances essential for salvation will help us answer this question.

Baptism

Few things recapitulate physical birth quite as obviously as the ordinance of baptism. Nicodemus sneaked in secret to talk with Jesus one night, and their words are recorded in John 3:

“…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

“Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

“That which is born of the flesh (a mother) is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:3-6).

The symbolism of baptism is manifold; a bath to cleanse our sins, death and burial of sinful old persons, and resurrection, are each legitimate interpretations. It also represents the womb, being immersed in amniotic fluid, and being born into the world.

In case there is any doubt that Jesus and Nicodemus were talking about baptism (immersion) in water, a few verses later the same chapter offer clarity:

“After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.

“And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there; and they came, and were baptized” (John 3:22-23).

Water baptism is the context, and the early Church obviously taught the necessity of this ordinance (or sacrament). It is a powerful way to symbolize birth into Christ’s Church.

Confirmation

Before an unborn child emerges from the womb, his or her eternal spirit enters the body of that child. After immersion in water, baptism, a person has hands laid on his or her head, and is confirmed a new member of the Church. During this confirmation, the person hears this command: “…I confirm you a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and say unto you: Receive the Holy Ghost.”

Our bodies receive their spirits before leaving the womb; we receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, the companionship of His influence, after we leave the waters of baptism. “…that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

Yes, we are promised to have the Holy Spirit with us as long as we are keeping the commandments, but confirmation is not necessarily the moment when we are fully spiritually reborn. Typically, we spend a lifetime heeding the command to “Receive the Holy Ghost.”

John Taylor reports what Joseph Smith told him: “…you have been baptized, you have had hands laid upon your head for the reception of the Holy Ghost, and you have been ordained to the holy priesthood. Now, if you will continue to follow the leadings of that spirit, it will always lead you right. Sometimes it might be contrary to your judgment; never mind that, follow its dictates; and if you be true to its whisperings it will in time become in you a principle of revelation so that you will know all things” (Deseret News: Semi-Weekly, Jan. 15, 1878, p. 1).

Joseph Smith taught: “We consider that God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated from heaven to the intellect; and that the nearer man approaches perfection, the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin; and like the ancients, arrives at that point of faith where his is wrapped in the power and glory of his Maker and is caught up to dwell with Him. But we consider that this is a station to which no man ever arrived in a moment: he must have been instructed in the…laws of that kingdom…” (TPJS, p. 51).

“It is one thing to see the kingdom of God, and another thing to enter into it. We must have a change of heart to see the kingdom of God, and subscribe to the articles of adoption to enter therein.

“No man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations. The Holy Ghost is a revelator” (TPJS, p. 328).

As we exercise faith in Christ and repent, the Holy Spirit will guide us into what we need to repent of next, what to do next in order to be changed and improved and polished.

The Spirit “strives” with us. (This implies a struggle; imagine the behavioral tug-of-war between children and parents.) The Spirit encourages us to let go of the bad we are fond of, and accept the good things we hesitate to adopt. There is always something to repent of, as long as we are alive and know enough to be accountable for our sins.

Sacrament

Just as an unborn child is fed in the womb through the umbilical cord at its navel, and fed by mother and then by both parents after birth as that child grows, so Christian life and spiritual growth involve regular spiritual feeding. The emblems of the Sacrament (Eucharist in other churches), or the Lord’s Supper, are a part of that regular feeding. And it is a family meal.

Instituted by Jesus at the Passover, we meet each Sunday (“the Lord’s Day”) to partake of bread and water. While this ordinance is technically not necessary for salvation, it is what we have been commanded to do. We do not emerge from the waters of baptism and walk directly past angels and Jesus into heaven. We stay here on earth, working out our salvation, preparing and repenting and anticipating the day when we will stand before God to be judged of our works.

While most other ordinances are individually administered, the Sacrament is a group ordinance. It could be construed as group repentance. We collectively meet and quietly reflect on Jesus Christ, His suffering and death on our behalf, and what we need to do in the coming week in order to improve.

Just as athletes feed their bodies to heal and be strong between bouts of exertion, we partake of the emblems of the Sacrament as spiritual food on the Lord’s day of rest. Done properly, the ordinance allows us to “always have [Jesus’] Spirit to be with us.”

It is a long journey for most of us; what sustains us through the decades? The Sacrament—it is the most frequently administered ordinance in the Church. If God wants us to repeat this ordinance weekly for the rest of our lives, it must be very effective in giving us the sustaining help we so desperately need through the trials and tests of life.

Ordination (for Males)

In order to receive exaltation, men must receive the priesthood. Women do not need to be ordained to the priesthood in order to be saved. There is a parallel between physical birth and spiritual rebirth here, as well.

Everyone must be born of a woman in order to leave God and come to this earth. She can give birth to anyone but herself.

Everyone must receive priesthood ordinances administered by men and be spiritually reborn thereby in order to return to God. A priesthood holder can administer these ordinances to anyone but himself.

Women beget us physically, and we die spiritually as we leave the presence of God; men officiate in the the ordinances that allow us to be spiritually reborn of God, and as we die physically we are then able to return back to His presence.

Yes, men make a small but essential contribution at the beginning of the process of physical birth; yes, women are involved in performing essential ordinances at the end of the process of spiritual rebirth (especially marriage); but it is bad form to talk too extensively or too openly about these things in public.

Initiatory

A new child is attended to quite earnestly by parents. The child is cleaned, clothed, fed to start life properly. The child is given a name.

Similar ordinances are performed in the Temple. “And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.

“And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.

“And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats:

“And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations” (Ex. 40:12-15).

Names

Throughout the scriptures, new names are given to various people to signify the end of an old life and the beginning of a new life, or a new calling: Abram and Sarai to Abraham and Sarah; Jacob to Israel; Simon to Peter (or Cephas; they both mean Small Rock); Saul to Paul; and so on. This puts spiritual rebirth on a parallel with physical birth once again.

“Then the white stone mentioned in Revelation 2:17 will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one, whereby things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms will be made known;

“And a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word” (D&C 130:10-11).

Endowment

The garments of childhood meant to cover nakedness are soon covered with the clothes of an adult. The word “endued” (endowed) as used in Luke 24:49 means to be clothed.

“…(in the sense of sinking into a garment); to invest with clothing (literally or figuratively)…array, clothe (with), endue, have (put) on. (Greek Dictionary, pg. 28, entry 1746, Strong’s Concordance of the Bible).

“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued (clothed) with power from on high…”

“…And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

“And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen” (Luke 24:49, 52-53).

To be endowed in modern Temples carries all the implications of that word; clothed, endowed with new power and knowledge.

The purpose of the endowment is to empower us to return to the presence of God, and to empower us to perform the work of God here in this life. Missionary work and marriage (having a family, parenthood) are both preceded by receiving one’s endowment in the Temple because these tasks are the work of the Lord. He wants His servants prepared with the necessary tools before they begin helping with His work.

Just as His disciples were commanded to wait at Jerusalem for an endowment of power before they went into all the world, so we go to the Temple to receive power formally before assisting in God’s work.

Sealing to Family

“The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World, 1995).

In the Temple, we are sealed as husbands and wives; any children born to couples thus sealed are then eternally sealed to their parents. Those who are sealed after children are born can have their children sealed to them as though they had been born under that covenant.

This doctrine of eternal marriage ties all the deepest questions about life together. Why did God create the universe, this earth, and life on it? Why are we here? Where did we come from? Where do we go after we die? What will we be doing in heaven? What does it mean to be like God?

Among the reasons God has put us here on this earth is to create a family. Through priesthood power, the promises we make with our spouses, those relationships between husband and wife, parents and children, can rise with us in the resurrection and be permanent.

“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 19). Why was it necessary for Jesus to grant this authority to Peter?

“All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both in time and for all eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and commandment through the medium of mine anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this power…are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead” (D&C 132:7).

If a man dies deep in debt, does that debt follow him into the next life and damn him? No, if he was honest, that contract is dissolved the instant he departs this life. This cleans the slate, so to speak, for all of us, and rids us of baggage and guilt and responsibility for so many things at the Judgment Day. Alas, it also means that marriages and family relationships are dissolved, too.

But Jesus gave power to Peter to seal on earth AND in heaven. This power was later given by Peter, James, and John to Joseph Smith. It is still on the earth today, and is only to be found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and in no other organization.

Why come to earth and go through the arc of life? Why put us through birth, puberty, marriage, begetting children, old age, and death? Because these things show our readiness to participate in the same activities and relationships in eternity. Eternal life is to know God; how better to know Him than to be like Him and do what He does?

The context for the following verse is an explanation of the law of eternal marriage:

“This is eternal lives—to know the only wise and true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent. I am he. Receive ye, therefore, my law” (D&C 132:24).

Christians have prayed for millennia to “Our Father which art in heaven,” and yet the majority have never taken that phrase, or its implications, literally. If we are the children of God, what is our trajectory? Cubs grow into wolves and lions; seeds become mighty trees. What are we going to grow into?

If Jesus was fully divine and fully mortal, and He ascended back to the right hand of God to rule forever, what does it say about our course and development if we are to be His disciples and follow in His path, and be “joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17)?

After this crowning ordinance of marriage-sealing, we come full circle. The man and woman have received the necessary ordinances and accoutrements for spiritual rebirth; now they begin the process of physically begetting others, bringing children out of the presence of God into this world.

Ideally, those who have been spiritually reborn are ready and waiting to raise those who are fresh from the presence of God, to help them along the path of spiritual rebirth and back into the presence of their heavenly Parents.

Other Ordinances

Resurrection is, perhaps, the last ordinance associated with this earth, and it could be characterized as physical rebirth. Our spirit bodies were born in heaven; we are spiritually reborn here on this earth. Our physical bodies are born on this earth, and reborn as we burst from the grave and into immortality. Everyone will receive this gift of resurrection, their spirit bodies reunited with their physical bodies, restored and without pain or death ever again.

But only those who have been thoroughly spiritually reborn and received all the priesthood ordinances will have the power to beget children after the resurrection. Romantic love in the next world is only for those who are completely spiritually reborn, and therefore fully capable of raising offspring.

To be like God, our Father, is to have His abilities and do what He does. We imitate on a tiny scale here on earth, the activities of our heavenly Parents.



Priesthood ordinances recapitulate aspects of physical birth and physical development, but they facilitate spiritual rebirth and progress instead. Internal and external, physical and spiritual, male and female, temporal and eternal; all these aspects are woven together as part of the trajectory, the path from eternity into this life, and again as we progress in this life back to eternity. Jesus Christ oversees and coordinates all these things. His Atoning sacrifice makes all this possible.

It is easy to take ordinances for granted; to see ordinances as mundane, or perceive them as pedestrian; but the eternal results will be of great consequence.

“Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33).

To Weep

One of my college professors was an active and open anti-Mormon (though he seemed not to understand it, oddly; he wanted to embody a paragon of objectivity).

He said that Latter-day Saints weep at funerals, and therefore they do not really believe in heaven or an afterlife.

I wondered if, at any time when he was a member of the Church, this professor had read the following verse:

“Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die…” (D&C 42:45).

The Lord gives us not only the ability to weep, but permission to do so. It is a blessing not to be shamed for having feelings.

On the other hand, it is important not to conflate emoting with spirituality. Tears may be shed for numerous reasons; most of them are not spiritual.

“And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy” (Mosiah 4:20).

Peace, love, joy, and, apparently, silence, are among the fruits of the Spirit.

Testimony Meeting

People who get up to share testimonies in Fast and Testimony meeting will often weep. This is not necessarily good or bad. I sometimes wonder if sharing less feeling and more thoughts would be more effective; in other words, sharing more information about personal revelation and experiences with the Spirit, and less about how these makes us feel, would help others to experience the same thing.

Imagine being grilled by someone who is not a Latter-day Saint:

“Why are you willing to give ten percent of your income, enormous amounts of your time, and defer to a group of elderly men by following their instructions?” An attempt to answer these questions would definitely include elements of a testimony, but in the original sense of the word: a courtroom deposition given by a witness.

Far from tender hearts and wet eyes, a response to such interrogation would be sober, factual, and to the point. The hymn sums it up: “The Spirit whispers this to me and tells me it is true” (I Know My Father Lives, Hymns, 302).

The next logical question would be something like, “Why are you so willing to trust those whispers, impressions, and promptings?

This could be followed by a multitude of personal stories about being led by that same voice out of danger, into success, or into a crucial learning situation that affected a person’s life for years afterward.

All of this could transpire without expecting tears.

Tears in sacred settings are appropriate; they do not, however, necessarily intensify spirituality, or even indicate authenticity of spiritual experiences. Perhaps the injunction to “bridle all your passions” (Alma 38:12) is a good guide for shedding tears in worship settings. A bridle does not eradicate; it guides and restrains, if need be.

Brother Joseph: A True and Faithful Guide

Openness about feelings notwithstanding, coherency and dignity are hallmarks of true messengers of God.

Joseph Smith taught regarding the excited and bizarre behavior exhibited at various groups’ religious meetings, such as swooning, twitching, falling, shouting, etc., “Now God never had any prophets that acted in this way; there was nothing indecorous (undignified) in the proceedings of the Lord’s prophets in any age…” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 209).

“…there is nothing unnatural in the Spirit of God” (TPJS, p. 214).

“Not every spirit, or vision, or singing, is of God” (ibid, p. 162). This might be said of shedding tears or other strong emotions exhibited in church settings.

The Spirit is a revelator; if no revelation, no knowledge, is communicated, then that manifestation is most likely not of God: “…a manifestation of what? Is there any intelligence communicated? Are the curtains of heaven withdrawn, or the purposes of God developed? Have they seen and conversed with an angel—or have the glories of futurity burst upon their view? No! …all the intelligence that can be obtained from them when they arise, is a shout of ‘glory,’ or ‘hallelujah,’ or some incoherent expression; but they have had ‘the power’” (ibid, p. 204).

“A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge” (ibid, p. 217), so we ought to make sure that, regardless of whether we weep or not, we convey the knowledge the Lord prompts us to speak when we get up and share our faith with others.

Jesus Christ Weeps

Joseph Smith criticized a particular kind of people whom he referred to as “long-faced hypocrites,” people who attempt to seem holy by being sour and stoic, dampening emotional expressions, while also being judgmental toward others. He preferred to associate with coarser people who were open, friendly, and, honest, than with pious frauds. There is a time and place for silence and stoicism, solemnity and sobriety, but there is also a time and place for tears, laughter, and other emotions.

Jesus wept.

A granddaughter tried to stifle her tears while discussing her divorce, and her grandfather consoled her:

“Remember John 11:35—‘Jesus wept.’” In this verse, Jesus wept for his friends, Mary and Martha, who ached for the loss of their brother, Lazarus.

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15).

“And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

“Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me” (Alma 7:12-13).

Jesus Christ also wept tears of joy after His resurrection, as recorded in 3 Nephi:

“…and he said unto them: Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full.

“And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.

“And when he had done this he wept again…” (3Ne. 17:20-22).

There is something more mature about tears of compassion for others, versus tears for personal pain. Jesus Christ embodies pure compassion for us, even when we are in our sins.

In any case, it is neither a sin, nor a character flaw, to be sad or to weep.

Abinadi quotes Isaiah regarding the mortal Messiah:

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

“Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted” (Mosiah 14:3-4).

A Joyful End

While tears for our own sorrows are also legitimate, their end is eventually inevitable.

“He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces…” (Isaiah 25:8). To wipe away a person’s tears is an intimate and tender act, requiring close physical proximity.

Spark, Then Fire

Many religious groups work themselves into exuberant frenzies during their worship services. Nephi seems to take a different approach.

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel” (2Ne. 31:13).

He seems to insist that we first go through formalities, and get the Spirit, experience actual rebirth, and then express the natural feelings that come as a result of these revelations and spiritual experiences. 

If shouting and joy are part of worship, why are our worship services so quiet (or at least, attemptedly)?

Elijah witnessed a roaring pyrotechnics display from God—a fire, a wind that broke rocks, and an earthquake. But God was not in any of these phenomena. Immediately afterward, Elijah heard a small, still voice, and it was the voice of God.

Moroni writes at the end of the Book of Mormon about the proper way to conduct a church meeting:

“And their meetings were conducted by the church after the manner of the workings of the Spirit, and by the power of the Holy Ghost; for as the power of the Holy Ghost led them whether to preach, or to exhort, or to pray, or to supplicate, or to sing, even so it was done” (Moroni 6:9).

The Spirit whispers; are we listening carefully? Or are we distracted?

“…as the Holy Ghost falls upon [us], it is calm and serene…” (TPJS, pp. 149-50).

“A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; (i.e.) those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus” (ibid, p. 151).

Letting the Spirit in requires us to be still. Then we will have the authentic gifts and fruits of the Spirit. These can include joy, tears, sorrow for sin, a desire to repent, and plenty of knowledge about what each of us needs, on an individual basis, to do next in our lives.

A reverent and attentive congregation is more likely, then, to experience these blessings and receive these gifts.



Tears, joy, sorrow, laughter, are all legitimate parts of this mortal journey. Keeping our feelings restrained and within the boundaries of dignity in sacred circumstances (such as church meetings) fosters clear communication and strong witnesses. It allows others to feel the Spirit authenticate the truth of our words, which can then enable them to learn the truth and validity of what we are saying.

April 2018 Conference: Thoughts and Reflections

Watching President Russell M. Nelson sustained by the body of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was a rich and powerful spiritual experience for me. The instant he stood and his name was read, I experienced something powerful, yet difficult to describe, but the message from God to me was clear: This is the Lord’s prophet.

The next week was Fast and Testimony meeting, and so many others expressed what I had felt; that this was the Lord’s next chosen mouthpiece, a representative for Him. This knowledge is priceless. It transcends logic, reason, what can be detected with the five senses, the “arm of the flesh” as Nephi calls it.

Impressions: Unity

There is always room for growth, as well as room to discuss and interpret and parse and ponder in Gospel study. The scriptures present a wall of almost 2500 pages of information spanning thousands of years. That unity can prevail in a Church with that much scripture implies divine influences are at work.

Individual testimony, like the oil in the lamps of the Five Wise Virgins, cannot be bought or sold. It is nontransferable. We can state the reality of what we believe, testify, but that is not the same thing as enabling others to enjoy our personal spiritual witness born of experience.

Such testimony is obtained in the closet, on our knees in prayer, and in the small acts daily, weekly, and consistently done. There is no royal road or privileged shortcut to testimony.

What are the linchpins of testimony? We are bound to have different understandings of details amid all those thousands of pages of scripture (as well as Church history and widely varied personal life experiences). Joseph Smith taught that the closer to the trunk of the tree we are, the less likely we are to fall out of the tree.

In other words, there are more basic, foundational points of doctrine upon which everyone under the influence of the Spirit will agree. These doctrines and principles are closer to the “trunk” of unity that Church members accept as immutable truth.

Here are some of the basics:

God is our Father in Heaven, a perfected, resurrected being of flesh and bone who loves us, His Spirit children.

Jesus Christ is His perfected, resurrected Son, our Savior who makes it possible to overcome physical and spiritual death and return to God forever one day.

The Book of Mormon is the word of God, a second witness confirming and strengthening the testimony of witnesses found in the Bible for the divinity of Jesus Christ and His resurrection.

Joseph Smith was called of God in his early youth to receive revelations and restore what was lost through centuries, not just knowledge, but the keys necessary for sealing on earth and in heaven.

Today we have living prophets and Apostles again on the earth who hold and pass down those keys. Russell M. Nelson is the current successor to the Prophet Joseph, and the other Apostles also speak for the Lord.

Another basic witness we could add to these fundamentals is the validity of Temple ordinances and covenants—if you want sacred spiritual experiences and to grow your witness that all of the above statements are true, attend to any aspect of the work of the Temple.

The Spirit whispers and writes the truth of these things into our hearts indelibly, especially when we are doing those simple things the Lord has asked us to do.

Get and Follow the Spirit

In this most recent General Conference, to a greater degree, we were admonished to get, keep, and follow the Spirit. “Receive the Holy Ghost,” we are told as we are confirmed members of the Church of Christ. Obeying that commandment is this life’s work in a nutshell.

The possible answers to the question of why this is important are too numerous to count here, but the parable of the Ten Virgins illustrates one answer clearly. Each member of the Church must have his or her own testimony to be prepared to meet the Lord when He comes again.

D&C 45:56-57 interprets the parable:

“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.”

Critics and shirkers adopt an easier task; it does not take much effort to walk downhill. Those who choose to follow the voice of the Spirit find themselves asked to climb—to ascend into the difficulty of uphill struggles. The ability to admit the limits of our strength and knowledge, and supplicate the Lord for His enabling power to do His work are and will be essential in coming days.

And how the critics have multiplied.

Assumptions in society today often include that everyone has a right to be declared equal to others; everyone has the right to acceptance and tolerance of others; everyone has the right not to be offended; that nothing should be spoken if it might hurt others’ feelings, even if it is the truth. (Curiously, the Latter-day Saints are often excluded from the shelter of this umbrella of unearned respect, tolerance, and prohibition against criticism. Who wants or requires such a bizarre, ephemeral stamp of approval, though? Those with weaker positions.)

The psychological and emotional nursery wallpaper for Latter-day Saints is persecution, or at least, a lack of acceptance. In every age and every milieu, the Church members, upon arrival, have been ostracized by some, however many or few. We come to expect it, and even grow a bit nervous if the background chatter of anti-Church noise grows silent, like crickets suddenly silenced. We wonder: Is everything OK?

The faintest whiff of favoritism or inequality is enough to send some into paroxysms today. Egalitarianism is a strange god; it flies in the face of a cursory survey of reality. Equal means same. If everyone is unique, then how can we truly be equal?

A more parsimonious explanation is needed. We like hearing that we are all equal to each other because it feeds our vanity. (Observe how kids argue over dessert disbursement sometime; if the portions aren’t precisely identical, tempers can flare.)

Being told we are unique also flatters our vanity. Unique typically means valuable; it also implies that we hold a metaphysical territory of sorts, best-in-category in some kind of unspoken contest to outdo others. “I am the best chess-playing skier with red hair on earth.” It’s not much, but it’s something. Niche = identity.

So we swallow contradictory statements combining equality and uniqueness because they are coated with the saccharin of flattery. Pride is a truth-allergy, and this is another example of departure from reality to prevent emotional inflammation.

Add the Lord

Those who lack actual spiritual experiences (at least, any they are aware of) are left, like scavengers, to pick through such bones and tendons and sparse gristle to feed self-esteem. Even the best of any category are likely to be dethroned tomorrow. To become great in the eyes of the world is not to become much, or for long.

Instead of becoming the best hockey-playing cellist with sleep apnea, or something desperate like that, in order to feel a sense of worth and specialness, Latter-day Saints are encouraged from childhood to look up to God for such affirmations.

We came from God, the Father of our spirits, in a forgotten pre-mortal state. We existed as conscious beings with God, even before this world existed. We agreed to come to this earth to be tested, to receive physical bodies, and that the Savior would be Jesus Christ. Everyone accepted Him before we were born into this life.

Though our memories of that life with God are veiled as part of this mortal probationary time, we can learn about God and re-initiate our relationships with Him. “I am a child of God,” sing our three and four year-old children. And yet it is not an invitation to arrogance; quite the opposite, in fact.

As with so many things, the Lord’s way is inverted from the world’s. This is the case with leadership in the Lord’s Church.

Here the Lord displays His shocking policy:

“He riseth up from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

“After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded… (Peter protested this vocally.)

“…So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

“Ye call me Master, and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.

“For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

“If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” (John 13:4-5, 12-17).

This flips the worldly notion of authority and prominence on its head. And this orientation towards service is characteristic of the Brethren, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve. Rather than retire into passive comfort as they age, we can watch them wearing out their lives, serving the Lord by serving His children.

Accepting any authority figure is becoming increasingly unpopular. Why are Latter-day Saints so willing to accept the authority of the Church’s General Authorities?

Add the Lord and His invisible spiritual influence to the analysis. Faithful members have a personal, immutable spiritual witness (at least, ideally) that those leaders are called of God. Start with that assumption; from there it becomes reasonable to follow them and pay close attention to their instructions.

Also—the love these men have for the members of the Church is obvious when they speak.

More leadership policy from the Lord:

“…when we…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, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man” (D&C 121:37).

In contrast to such negative behaviors or feelings, the Spirit of the Lord is present and confirms what Church leaders say. What behaviors and attitudes instead grace their conduct?

“No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

“By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile…” (D&C 121:41-42).

Love of Truth

Nephi chastened his brothers:

“…I knew that I had spoken hard things against the wicked, according to the truth; and the righteous have I justified, and testified that they should be lifted up at the last day; wherefore, the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center” (1Ne. 16:2).

Their younger brother, Jacob, gives a sermon that applies well to this most recent General Conference, but to the Church in general of any age:

“O, my beloved brethren, give ear to my words. Remember the greatness of the Holy One of Israel. Do not say that I have spoken hard things against you; for if ye do, ye will revile against the truth; for I have spoken the words of your Maker. I know that the words of truth are hard against all uncleanness; but the righteous fear them not, for they love the truth and are not shaken” (2Ne. 9:40).

Weaning ourselves away from dependence upon false flatteries and accolades of the world and sensing God’s love for us instead will enable us hear difficult truths—about ourselves, our behaviors, our desires—and to make necessary changes when the Lord’s servants speak for Him.

Rather than point downward to retirement and ease and comfort and convenience and shedding burdens, Church leaders stand at the base of the mountain, asking us to drop what will not help us, pick up the necessary tools, and ascend into the high peaks where struggle and upward pushes are the daily norm. (It is also possible to inconvenience ourselves unwisely; not every call from others inviting us to struggle is an invitation to expend time and energy and resources profitably. Again, staying attuned to spiritual promptings is key.)

This General Conference it felt like the bar was once again being raised. Nothing short of an active, vibrant personal relationship with the Holy Spirit will suffice anymore. Being able to receive and follow personal revelation is indispensable. The world seeks kindness in flattery, but kindness resides ultimately (and then solely) in truth. Even if that truth is a call to repentance.

We can trust that Jesus Christ will still support us if we are offering Him our best efforts, and He will cover our sins and shortcomings and foolish errors with His matchless love.

Violence

In The Family: A Proclamation to the World, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve state, “…we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets” (read by President Gordon B. Hinckley, September 1995).

In recent months the question of random mass-shootings has divided America. In the past, boys owning and learning to using firearms rarely led to the kind of violence we see today. Some see easy access to weapons as the main problem, and ask how to limit such access to the wrong individuals. That might help to some extent.

A better question might be: how did we raise young men that perpetrate such horrendous crimes?

Spiritual Roots

The natural tendency of those who rely on the arm of the flesh, human wisdom, tools, willpower, etc., is to look for causes of problems and their solutions in empirical things. Sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, logic, reasoning—these are their primary resources in assessing problems.

The Gospel asks us to use an eye of faith and search in the light of Christ to see that which is invisible to the natural eye. There are spiritual roots to many of our problems, and legislators, pundits, and others who wish to be helpful, are effectively gagged, forbidden from mentioning any of them as they grapple with the issues that vex us.

It is helpful to recognize that, ultimately, virtues like love are gifts from God. Jesus Christ is “the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:9), and we feel the influence of that light and see the results as people exhibit kindness and altruism.

It is possible to dim this light within individuals, through sin, and nations, through normalization of sin. The degradation of the family is coupled with the acceptance of sexual sin.

“Every spirit of man was innocent in the beginning; and God having redeemed man from the fall, men became again, in their infant state, innocent before God.

“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 93:38-39).

If we break one commandment, we are more likely to break others because we dim the light of Christ within us. That light empowers and promotes good behavior, and in its absence, cruelty will eventually proliferate.

“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matt. 24:12). Sexual sin is rampant in America today, and it drains its participants generally of spiritual light. Acceptance of such sin is now as prevalent as sin itself. As a nation, we cannot help but expect to witness an increase in unkindness, contempt, bickering, even brutality. Some might ask—what’s the connection? Divine light we receive, or lose.

Warnings

The Book of Mormon does many things. One of its purposes is to warn the inhabitants of the Americas about God’s rules and expectations for this land.

Recent archaeological discoveries have shown that hundreds of buildings lay covered by the jungles of Meso-America. Advanced civilizations have a hard time getting and keeping a permanent toehold in North and South America. Asia and Europe and Africa each have examples of more or less permanently occupied settlements; why is that not the case in the Americas?

“And he had sworn in his wrath…that whoso should possess this land of promise…should serve him, the true and only God, or they should be swept off when the fulness of his wrath should come upon them.

“For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God. And it is not until the fulness of iniquity among the children of the land, that they are swept off” (Ether 2:9-10).

Lest critics declare that God is being cruel Himself, we can read further to discover how peoples are actually swept off from the face of this land: They destroy themselves. God simply gets out of their way, withdraws His Spirit, and Satan takes charge. And the people then begin to destroy each other.

Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd. When we sin, we move ourselves further from His protection, and closer to the wolf, to Satan. When we reject the Lord through sin, we do not move onto neutral ground; another influence takes the place of His light—darkness. There is no such thing as a spiritual vacuum.

Led Carefully to Hell

Immediately when we come under Satan’s influence, he and his angels will encourage us to think, feel, believe, and behave in destructive ways. Health and hygiene and sleep patterns and order may disappear from our lives. Suddenly we cannot stand life or feel internal peace without various destructive substances and behaviors. Loud music damages our hearing, yet we crave it. Money seems to slip through our fingers. Honesty and kindness become ancillary to our personal aggrandizement. Patience melts into anger. Joy turns to sarcasm and mocking and depression.

All these things are visible results of being under a negative spiritual influence—if, through sin, we forsake the good influence.

“For the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man. And when the Spirit ceaseth to strive with man then cometh speedy destruction…” (2Ne. 26:11). There is a wrestling match between us and the Spirit of the Lord—trying to get us to accept God’s will. But perpetually refusing to follow those promptings means the Spirit will withdraw, and we are then vulnerable to Satan.

What is the spiritual origin of violence?

“For the kingdom of the devil must shake, and they which belong to it must needs be stirred up unto repentance, or the devil will grasp them with his everlasting chains, and they be stirred up to anger, and perish…” (2Ne. 28:19). Hot, irrational anger is our lot when we refuse to repent.

“For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good.

“And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them carefully down to hell” (2Ne. 28:20-21).

In the end, it will avail us little to try to teach kindness in an environment where other forms of sin are so enthusiastically endorsed, if not tacitly approved. We can teach each other to be kind and empathetic, but if we leave the door open to sin, violence will still be our societal lot.

“…others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains…” (2Ne. 28:22). In the name of reason, we are being asked to throw our faith overboard; once dispensed with, the mounting problems will baffle the very people who demanded eliminating that solution.

The Arm of Flesh

How do we prevent violence? 

Some advocate stricter regulations and controls for deadly weapons, and this entails the destruction of freedom. Is safety more important than freedom? Shall we ban and regulate anything that can be weaponized or is potentially lethal? Following this line of thinking leads us down a dark path. The only perfectly safe environment we can imagine resembles a prison. Is physical safety worth creating a dystopia?

Limiting weapon access of mentally disturbed individuals is wise; how can we do that without disarming everyone?

Others insist that distributing more weapons, arming everyone, is the solution. Again, following this line of reasoning to its ultimate conclusion leads to potentially unsavory scenarios. Is this the world we want?

This highlights the attempt to solve spiritual problems through worldly, human means. It leads us down blind alleys and contradictory dead ends. If the problem is comparable to a weed, these types of proposed solutions amount to hacking at the leaves.

The Solution

Repentance and faith in Christ are the way individuals experience a change of heart, receive the Spirit. These things cannot be enforced; they must be chosen of an individual’s own free will.

“…redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth…

“…Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth…” (2Ne. 2:6, 8).

He alone has the power to change our individual natures, and thereby create a society free from violence and sin.

Voluntary Disarming

Ammon and his brothers went to the Lamanites, a murderous and violent people, to teach them the Gospel. Some people rejected their message, while others accepted it. Those who accepted this message were purged of their hatred and violent tendencies to the point that they became pacifists, totally disposing of their weaponry, lest they be tempted to kill again.

“Now there was not one soul among all the people who had been converted unto the Lord that would take up arms against their brethren; nay, they would not even make any preparations for war; yea, and also their king commanded them that they should not.

“Now, these are the words which he said unto the people concerning the matter: I thank my God, my beloved people, that our great God has in goodness sent these our brethren, the Nephites, unto us to preach unto us, and to convince us of the traditions of our wicked fathers.

“And behold, I thank my great God that he has given us a portion of his Spirit to soften our hearts…

“…And now it came to pass that…all the people…took their swords, and all the weapons which were used for the shedding of man’s blood, and they did bury them up deep in the earth” (Alma 24:6-7, 17).

The people disarmed themselves willingly, at their king’s request. No legal compulsion needed; no hypocrisy of enforcing non-violence with threats of violence.

Hate is a horrible burden to carry; seeking revenge can lead to a cycle of retaliation. Ammon reflects on the burden the Lord took away from the Lamanites:

“Blessed be the name of our God…

“For if we had not [taught them the Gospel], our…brethren, who have so dearly beloved us, would still have been racked with hatred against us, yea, and they would also have been strangers to God” (Alma 26:8-9).

A “rack” inflicts pain. Hate is a burden, even when the feeling is justified. Hurting the people who hurt us might be just or fair, but it does not heal our wounds.

Forgiveness keeps the ripples of hate from spreading. Hate ends when any party decides to relent their death-grip on justice, and offer forgiveness.

The Lamanites who disarmed paid the ultimate price. Theirs was no cheap lip-service extolling kindness.

They “prostrated themselves before [their enemies] to the earth, and began to call on the name of the Lord; and thus they were in this attitude when [their enemies] began to fall upon them, and began to slay them with the sword” (Alma 24:21).

A thousand and five died without any resistance. But it softens their attackers:

“Now when [they] saw this they did forbear from slaying them; and there were many whose hearts had swollen in them for those of their brethren who had fallen under the sword, for they repented of the things which they had done.

“And it came to pass that they threw down their weapons of war, and they would not take them again, for they were stung for the murders which they had committed; and they came down even as their brethren, relying upon the mercies of those whose arms were lifted to slay them.

“And it came to pass that the people of God were joined that day by more than the number who had been slain; and those who had been slain were righteous people, therefore we have no reason to doubt but what they were saved” (Alma 24:23-26).

Without faith in the afterlife, in the justice and mercy and plan of God, we will be incapable of ridding ourselves as a society of retribution. Valuing our own physical safety above all else makes it harder to show the courage that is a prerequisite for real forgiveness and kindness.

As Satan tells the Lord, “Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life” (Job 2:4). Satan’s notion is still sold and believed by many today—that rational thought leads to the disbelief that we are eternal beings. Only those with faith and hope in the next world (the life Lord has prepared for us) are able to effectively forgive and not retaliate.

Job is known for his patience, not lashing out or blaming God or anyone else for his misfortunes. Where did his immense forbearance originate?

“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).

To eliminate violence, we must repent of other gross sins, receive the Spirit, and experience a change of heart ourselves to remove hate and retribution. Then we can offer authentic forgiveness and patience to others. Those who receive such kindness will be more likely to reciprocate it.

Agency and Offerings

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints asks each member to pay ten percent of personal income, along with as generous an offering to the poor as we can give. Critics have snorted at the idea that God would ask people to part with money. Why does God need our cash?

While we can point at Temples, chapels, institute buildings, and an impressive program for helping the poor and assisting in times of natural disaster or other need, there is an essential reason for paying tithing that is not as obvious. It has been said that we pay tithing, not with our money, but with faith.

If it would be nice to have the extra money, or we are in a pinch financially, yet we still tithe and donate faithfully, it shows everyone—God, angels, mortals, and ourselves—where our priorities truly are. It demonstrates where are hearts are located.

Our ownership of things is illusory; God is the actual owner of the materials of this world, and they obey Him. When we make sacrifices of time, talents, or possessions, we are giving back to God things He already owns. There is only one unique possession we truly own that we can offer to God: our free will—our agency—in other words, our hearts.

Sincere Offerings

Summary notes on one of the Prophet Joseph Smith’s sermons included the following idea:

“God would not exert any compulsory means [upon us], and the devil could not…” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 187). He will not override our agency—we are agents unto ourselves, to act and not be acted upon. So all obedience, sacrifices, etc., that we offer to God are really demonstrations of how we choose to commit ourselves. They reflect the true orientation of our free will, our hearts.

“…I the Lord, require the hearts of the children of men…

“Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days” (D&C 64:22, 34).

We Latter-day Saints hear the word “willing” each week in the sacrament prayers. It is possible to keep the commandments grudgingly. What we intend, plan, hope, are ready, wanting, waiting, willing to do—that is what the Lord cares about most. Willingness is an internal state; we witness to God that we are willing, not grudging, when we partake of the sacrament each week.

“…for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing.

“For behold, it is not counted unto him for righteousness.

“For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God” (Moroni 7:6-8). Yes, it is safer to keep the commandment, even if we hate doing so, but in the long-term that mode of being and doing will fall short and deny us the blessings that come from having the faith to trust that God knows what He is doing, the faith to obey Him more willingly.

What about times when we are willing, when we are truly motivated to obedience by our love for God? When we sacrifice whatever He asks of us, externally and internally?

“And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And 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). When we offer our whole selves to God, not just a convenient percentage, then we have really given Him what He wants.

Because our agency is out of His way, He can do whatever He wants with us. He wants to baptize us with His Spirit, to change our natures and make us into new beings. This cannot happen if obedience is grudging or perfunctory or apathetic.

Our love for God must at least approximate His intense love for us. Sacrifices allow us to show that we care more about Him than whatever is on the altar. They demonstrate the magnitude of our love.

Mechanics

Agency requires a few elements, internal and external, to exist. One is knowledge of what our choices will lead to. If we are ignorant of consequences, we do not have agency. Another other is actual options, good and bad. We also need the freedom to choose between those options. One standing at a crossroads needs the ability to actually move in order to walk the right or left path.

God telling us the consequences of our actions is not the same thing as forcing us to do anything. He forewarns us of consequences of our actions for our benefit. He gives us enough information, and sets us loose to act for ourselves.

Agency Misconstrued

Cain gloried in murdering Abel, declaring “I am free” (Moses 5:33). His ability to choose joy was quickly lost, however.

“And the Lord said: What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother’s blood cries unto me from the ground” (Moses 5:36).

Cain goes from exultation to whining in a few verses:

“My punishment is more than I can bear.

“Behold thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the Lord, and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that he that findeth me will slay me, because of mine iniquities, for these things are not hid from the Lord” (Moses 5:38-39).

Notice Cain’s selfish bent—he goes from self-determination proponent to insisting that others modify their behavior, become his keeper. He thought anonymity would prevail, but his secret murder was publicized, and is to this day. He gloried in murder, but laments that others will kill or ostracize him out of self-preservation.

Should those who exploit others also expect acceptance from people they intend to exploit? Or will people avoid them? Hypocrisy and secrecy and double-standard thinking always follow sin (whether or not it is as extreme as Cain murdering his brother).

This is the inevitable course of sin—fleeting pleasure at first, followed by the loss of light, disillusionment, the hung-over morning after feeling, the regret, the dull ache or pervasive misery that lingers (until we repent). It becomes obvious to others that we have sinned, and shame cripples our interactions with others, and with God.

Righteousness, following the instructions of God, tends to have the opposite effect—difficulty at first, followed by an increase of light, communion with God, blessings both spiritual and temporal, and a deep, abiding sense of peace and assurance that everything will turn out alright. Virtue enables us to look others in the face without flinching, and even be open and kind and confident with them, and with God.

Help to Choose Well

While the Lord does not compel anyone, He does help those who strive to keep His commandments to clear the bar He has set for them.

“…the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them” (1Ne. 3:7).

Whatever barrier we face in keeping His commandments, the Lord prepares a way to overcome it.

This assistance can come directly from Him; it can come in the form of a messenger sent by Him; it can come as grace from Him.

Dispelling Darkness

Consider a much more joyful account than Cain’s. Moroni explains that,

“Behold, it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that wrought the change upon the Lamanites, that they were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost” (Ether 12:14).

Nephi and Lehi were brothers and missionary companions who went to teach the Lamanites, who then threw them into prison.

“And after they had been cast into prison many days without food, behold, they went forth into the prison to take them that they might slay them.

“And it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi were encircled about as if by fire, even insomuch that they durst not lay their hands upon them for fear lest they should be burned. Nevertheless, Nephi and Lehi were not burned; and they were as standing in the midst of fire and were not burned” (Helaman 5:22-23).

This is the point in our modern fictional tales when the heroes would inflict vengeance upon their foes, destroy them (or at least humiliate them). But that is not what happens; as emissaries of Jesus Christ their goal is to save, not destroy, sinners—even the ones who jailed them, starved them, and intend to kill them.

“And it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi did stand forth and began to speak unto them, saying: Fear not, for behold, it is God that has shown unto you this marvelous thing, in the which is shown unto you that ye cannot lay your hands on us to slay us” (Helaman 5:26).

The earth shakes, a cloud of darkness suddenly encircles the Lamanites, but then they receive instruction from the Lord Himself:

“And it came to pass that there came a voice as if it were above the cloud of darkness, saying: Repent ye, repent ye, and seek no more to destroy my servants whom I have sent unto you to declare good tidings” (Helaman 5:29). Instead of condemnation, the Lord offers them repentance and forgiveness, good news.

“And it came to pass when they heard this voice, and beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul…” (v. 30).

The Voice tells them again to repent, and the walls of the prison shake, but the cloud of darkness around them remains. Then one of the Lamanites, Aminidab, a believer who had dissented, turned toward Nephi and Lehi,

“…and behold, he saw through the cloud of darkness the faces of Nephi and Lehi; and behold, they did shine exceedingly, even as the faces of angels…

“…And it came to pass that this man did cry unto the multitude, that they might turn and look. And behold, there was power given unto them that they did turn and look; and they did behold the faces of Nephi and Lehi” (v. 36-37).

In a state of darkness, shock, and fear, they were paralyzed by the miraculous things they were experiencing, but God gave them power to turn and look. They saw the faces of Nephi and Lehi as they conversed with the angels of God.

They cried, “What shall we do, that this cloud of darkness may be removed from overshadowing us?

“And Aminadab (the dissenter who was once a believer) said unto them: You must repent, and cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ, who was taught unto you [by previous missionaries of God]; and when ye shall do this, the cloud of darkness shall be removed from overshadowing you.

“And it came to pass that they all did begin to cry unto the voice…even until the cloud of darkness was dispersed.

“…they saw that they were encircled about, yea every soul, by a pillar of fire” (v. 40-43).

This is an extremely generous God they are dealing with. They imprison and starve, and then intend to murder, Lehi and Nephi, but after they have repented and prayed for forgiveness, the Lord has encircled them with the same glory as Nephi and Lehi. These same people

“…were filled with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory” (v. 44).

The voice of God again assures them:

“Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world” (v. 47).

Angels then minister to these same Lamanites, and

“…they did go forth, and did minister unto the people…insomuch that the more part of the Lamanites were convinced of them, because of the greatness of the evidences which they had received” (v. 50).

Whether an actual or figurative cloud of darkness is settled upon us, we can cry to God our Father for forgiveness. We can choose repentance. We can leave behind our sins (and any who encourage us to sin). We can have power given to us to turn and look—to look to Christ, to see things from the perspective of faith God wants us to have.

Faith in Jesus Christ will allow us to break free from sin, if we will choose it. If the offering seems too big for us to make, we can receive power from God to turn and look, to make that offering.

What Kind?

Any virtue, when not stabilized and informed by others, can become a vice, or go far afield of its original purpose. This is also true for the virtue of kindness, even with its good intentions.

Consider Jesus responding to Peter’s attempt to be kind:

“From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

“Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

“But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men” (Matt. 16:21-23).

This is one of the harshest reproofs Jesus ever gave anyone. And Peter’s motive seems to be kindness—and love for Jesus. Why did Jesus call Peter “Satan?”

Peter’s kindness was misdirected—massively so. He was unwittingly asking Jesus to avoid performing His atoning sacrifice—the very purpose for which Jesus was born. If Peter’s wish had been fulfilled, then there would be no way to for humanity to repent, be resurrected, and return to our Father in heaven—not for anyone. His short-term version of kindness was long-term mass cruelty for everyone. So Jesus rebuked Peter harshly.

After Jesus Christ was resurrected, He taught why He suffered and died. Peter forsook his original short-term kindness. The Atonement was completed, and Peter learned why.

Enoch understood the importance of Jesus’ sacrifice, suffering, death, and resurrection, because God showed him the future in vision. He asks anxiously:

“When shall the day of the Lord come? When shall the blood of the Righteous be shed, that all they that mourn may be sanctified and have eternal life?” (Moses 7:45). He knew the importance of all that suffering Jesus Christ would go through, and so he anticipated it. Peter actually tried to stop it with a sword.

Which kindness is really kindness? Enoch’s, because his kindness encompassed a larger, more accurate picture of the world; it was informed by revelation.

Nehor-esque Niceness

What misapplications of kindness can be found in the world today? The Book of Mormon features a slew of anti-Christs, false teachers who promote false ideas that are convenient in the short-term. All of their appealing philosophies, and their variants, are believed and extolled currently.

Korihor is the flashiest member of this group, but his defeat and public humiliation sank his philosophy—the idea that God does not exist, therefore it is alright to do whatever we want.

But Nehor’s philosophy was far more palatable—the idea that priests should be popular and supported financially by their adherents, and that “all mankind should be saved at the last day, and that they need not fear nor tremble, but that they might lift up their heads and rejoice; for the Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed all men; and, in the end, all men should have eternal life” (Alma 1:4).

This is a trendy way of warping kindness—asserting that God is so kind that He will let everyone into heaven to live with Him, regardless of our behavior.

This sugary philosophy and its charismatic propagator seem friendly on the surface. His message of popularity and the kindness of God overriding the need for repentance had mass-appeal. But the Book of Mormon shows how those two messages—first, just be nice, and second, it does not matter what you do—eventually contradict each other.

Nehor ends up murdering a national hero, Gideon, when Gideon points out publicly that Nehor is teaching false doctrine. So much for being nice.

Today, in North America, the laws of God and the mores of the time have diverged significantly. Looming over the topography of the current zeitgeist is the idea that it is somehow immoral to offend anyone or hurt feelings by saying something they do not like—even if it is truth.

Yes, kindness IS a virtue, and cruelty often masquerades as honesty. But at some point, the attempt to be kind by withholding truth becomes a form of cruelty.

Alma informs his wayward son, Corianton:

“…wickedness never was happiness.

“And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness” (Alma 41:10-11).

Missionaries like Alma are sent forth to help people understand how to access God’s Spirit to a greater extent, and thereby experience true peace, love, and joy in this life.

What about those embroiled in sin that also seem to be having a good time? “But if it be not built upon my gospel, and is built upon the works of men, or upon the works of the devil, verily I say unto you they have joy in their works for a season, and by and by the end cometh, and they are hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence there is no return” (3Ne. 27:11). Jesus is speaking here about false churches, but it applies well to those who seek joy in sin.

The purpose of identifying sin as sin, and demonstrating what God’s commandments actually are, is not to shame anyone, but rather to delineate the path away from misery, and towards happiness.

Nehor’s universalism misconstrues God’s love, which includes honesty and correction when necessary.

Yes, God is the Judge who dispenses justice, but typically, in this life, we whip ourselves. God and those who follow Him are tasked with putting up warning signs about the inevitable consequences of bad actions: Turn back; there is a cliff in that direction; NOT SAFE. Joy is up the high path of repentance and covenant-keeping.

Stabilizing Virtues

There is a degree of lazy convenience to the kindness coupled with permissiveness promoted by so many in the world today. It is much harder to warn others that their lifestyle choices are ultimately destructive. Sacrificing popularity to warn others requires greater love for them than offering tacit approval for unwise behavior.

What virtues can direct kindness so that it actually IS kindness, instead of mere personal convenience?

It is good to be kind, as a general rule. However, attempts to be kind, even the most well-intended, can backfire. An anecdote comes to mind: Farmers noticed deer struggling during a particularly harsh winter. The well-meaning farmers put out food for the deer. All the deer starved to death with full bellies; they could not digest the type of fodder the farmers provided.

Knowledge of all possible consequences is a lofty expectation. Who is omniscient? Who can see how all possible scenarios will play out?

God does. If we get, keep, and follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we can be warned in advance not to do certain things, even things that seem to us like kindness.

Correction can also backfire; someone wrapped in sin might not be ready to hear a message of repentance. The Lord can warn us and direct us about what to say or do to best help others repent.

God’s knowledge can inform our attempts and desires to be kind.

“By kindness, and pure knowledge…

“Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost…” (D&C 121:42-43).

The fake kindness of carte blanche acceptance of all behavior lacks the virtues of patience, long-suffering, and love unfeigned. It lacks the courage to correct; it lacks the wisdom to see the need for correction or a better path to happiness. It lacks that mature form of love Jesus embodies:

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

“But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep” (John 10:11-12).

Because modern philosophies of kindness are about convenient permissiveness rather than commitment and discipline, we can expect its adherents to flee whenever those they profess to love need an uncomfortable amount of time or service or effort. Kindness is, in the end, too expensive for a selfishly-oriented person to apply continuously.

Costly Kindness

What does it look like when people adhere to kindness above anything else? The price is high:

“Now when the people saw that they were coming against them they went out to meet them, and prostrated themselves before them to the earth, and began to call on the name of the Lord; and thus they were in this attitude when the Lamanites began to fall upon them, and began to slay them with the sword.

“And thus without meeting any resistance, they did slay a thousand and five of them…” (Alma 24:21-22).

“Love your enemies,” Jesus taught. This has been observed so rarely that it is not even commonly associated with Christian practice and worship. Yet it is kindness towards others prioritized beyond all convenience for self. It demonstrates how God’s expectations can diverge from our need for reassurance and carnal security exhibited when we are not sufficiently reborn.

What, Then?

Jesus displayed kindness that included a willingness to offer correction when it was needed. He inconvenienced Himself to show kindness. Rather than tell His hearers to roll over, hit the snooze button, and go back to sleep, He encouraged everyone He met to take the next step toward God, whatever it was for that individual or group.

His highest priority was making God happy, serving Him, and serving people secondly.

“…My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34).

“…I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (John 5:30).

“For I came…not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38).

There is no better guiding star, no better magnetic field for the compass needle of our hearts to calibrate with than God’s will. It points in a truer direction than all other available guides or impulses. God knows everything, and loves us perfectly; any information or instruction we get from Him will, therefore, be the kindest of all, however difficult or odd it seems to us.

How can we learn God’s will for us?

His Holy Spirit can warn and direct us.

His living prophets and Apostles give general rules. Every six months, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hosts General Conference, and invites everyone to hear inspired messages. These prepare us to face trials and temptations and other snares and difficulties in the months ahead. They help us tune our violins of testimony with the piano of God’s law, as delivered through His chosen servants.

The scriptures are another valuable source. They help us learn general principles with specific application in our lives. What we study in the morning often has application, or helps us, that very day.

God can, and does, use a myriad of other ways to communicate with us, but why look for some strange or new thing when the obvious tools are already before us?

In any case, learning God’s voice, and heeding it, will lead to the best results for ourselves and those we want to help. That is better kindness than permissiveness, or good intentions that backfire. We need not be commanded in all things, but the Lord can direct our efforts, if we listen to His Spirit, to maximize the results and avoid accidentally harming instead of helping.

“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). We receive joy from God, and can help others feel that same joy; that is true kindness.

The purpose of the Gospel and the Church is not to facilitate our attempts to build a private kingdom here on this earth, stocked with power, wealth, popularity, or the pleasures of the flesh. Instead, they help us understand how to undock our hearts from these unreliable sources of joy, and then find peace, love, and joy from Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit.

This paradigm may seem flipped, but those who have stood on both worlds, relied on both sources for joy, can testify that God has the near-monopoly of those intangible assets we seek. In the end, He is the source of kindness. He is the only sure foundation, because all else crumbles, sooner or later, as we try to build our dreams upon it.

Faith in Christ, repentance of sin, covenanting through baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost through the laying on of hands, and pursuing its promptings; these things will generate more joy than all other temporal sources. Sharing these things is ultimate kindness.