More on Forgiving and Judging

I tend to believe my thoughts. Something comes into my head and my first reaction is to believe it. Whether those thoughts come from my own mind or from something I've been told, my natural response is not to question, challenge or wonder about them, but just to accept them as true. 

But on those rare occasions when I do question or challenge those thoughts, I'm surprised nearly every time at how wrong they can be and how "off" my understandings and conclusions can be. And yet, even knowing that, I so quickly come to conclusions and judgments, then act and speak based on those faulty beliefs. 

But with awareness comes opportunities to do something different.  And in my efforts to change I've been studying "out of the best books," including "A Glossary of Gospel Terms." Below are some incredibly powerful passages from the Glossary:

Ignorance

"Only fools judge a matter before they hear it. Such souls warrant one's kindly efforts to persuade, not their censure or condemnation. All carry foolishness, learning year by year, struggling to overcome the many things they've neglected in their study, prayers, and contemplation. God does not grade on a curve. Therefore, when anyone begins to think he's outshone his fellow man, he should reflect again on Moses' reaction to seeing the Man of Holiness: Now for this cause I know man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed. No one has anything to boast of, even if he knows more than his fellow man. All know less than He who is more intelligent than them all. 

"Whenever I contemplate the gulf between He who is Holiness and myself, and the great charity required from Him to condescend for me, I can hardly bear the thought of feeling triumph because of the ignorance of my fellow saints. How unkind. How foolish. How uncharitable. More than that, how very unlike the Lord who we all claim to serve."

Forgiveness

"God is no respecter of persons. All are alike to Him. Qualifications are based upon the behavior and faith of the person, not on their status or past mistakes. Most people think their errors are too serious an impediment for them to find acceptance from God. He doesn't want to judge His children; He wants to heal them. He wants to give them what they lack, teach them to be better, and to bless them. He doesn't want to belittle, demean, or punish them. When they ask Him to forgive, He forgives. Even very serious sins. He does not want them burdened with sin. He wants them to leave it behind. His willingness to leave those errors in the past and remember them no more is greater than any can imagine. It is a guiding principle for the atonement."

"Christ taught His followers to forgive so that they may, in turn, merit forgiveness... Christ taught that there is atoning power in forgiving others. As a result of the things He suffered, He understood that men must forgive others in order to be able to obtain forgiveness. There are many things men do in which they lack the capacity to make amends. The price they must pay for their own transgressions is paid by forgiving all others of their offenses."

Judge/ment

"The judgment of God is provoked by those who are angry with their brother. One is not to be angry with his brother because that is the beginning of a whole sequence of events ... Anger leads to abuse. It leads to discourtesy, dishonesty, and cheating. It justifies miserable conduct because man thinks it right to give offense to another. It corrodes relationships and makes society sick. If this can be prevented in the heart, it can heal society. All must refrain from letting offenses turn into anger, dealing with them inside the heart, showing forgiveness and compassion."

"The purpose of the Sermon on the mount ... is not to equip man to judge others. It has no use for that. It is designed to change a person."

"You need to become something different, something higher, something more holy. That will require you to reexamine your heart, your motivations, and your thoughts. It will require you to take offenses and deliberately lay them down without retaliation. When you do, you become someone who can live in peace with others. Living in peace with others is the rudimentary beginning of Zion. It will not culminate in a City set on the hilltop until there is a population worthy of dwelling in the high places, in peace, without poor among them. Christ's sermon is not merely a description of what kind of person He is. It is a description of what kind of person will qualify to live with Him."

"We do 'judge' one another, because we must. But the judgment should err on the side of forgiving. It should err in favor of trusting motives to be pure and intent to be good. All should be generous with their gratitude, evaluations, and suppositions. When they know someone is misbehaving, they should make allowances for those shortcomings, forgive them before they ask, and impute no retribution because of the offensive conduct. This does not make us better than another, it makes us whole. It allows the Lord to forgive us for our own, much greater offenses against Him. For when we are generous, we merit His Divine generosity. It is how we are healed. It is the means for our own salvation. Instead of thinking ourselves better than an offender, we should look upon them with gratitude, for they provide the means to obtain salvation - provided we give them forgiveness from all their offenses. This is why we should rejoice and be exceedingly glad. They enable us to obtain salvation by despitefully using us, as long as we measure them by the same standard that allows God to forgive us. What perfect symmetry: You measure to others using an instrument that will be used by God to measure back to you. So your ready forgiveness is how God will treat you. All those grudges can be replaced with petitions to God to forgive those who abused you. As you lay aside all those sins against you, committed by others, it will purge you from all your own sins. Straight and narrow indeed. But oddly appropriate and altogether within your control."

Making Up is Hard to Do

 Forgiving is easy until it's not. And when it's not, it often seems impossible. For me, why would I forgive someone who is clearly (to me) in the wrong and doesn't feel or show any remorse for what they've done? Why should I forgive someone who continues to demonstrate that same offensive and hurtful behavior over and over? 

I've been reading a book titled "A Return to Love" and was struck by several things in a section on Forgiveness. Here's a sampling:

"If I choose to bless another person, I will always end up feeling more blessed. If I project guilt onto another person, I will always end up feeling more guilty."

"Our perceptions of other people often become a battleground between the ego's desire to judge and the Holy Spirit's desire to accept people as they are. The ego is the great fault-finder. It seeks out the faults in ourselves and others. The Holy Spirit ... sees all of us as we really are... The places in our personality where we tend to deviate from love are not our faults, but our wounds. God doesn't want to punish us, but to heal us. and that is how He wishes us to view the wounds in other people."

"Forgiveness is 'selective remembering' - a conscious decision to focus on love and let the rest go. But the ego is relentless - it is 'capable of suspiciousness at best and viciousness at worst.' It presents the most subtle and insidious arguments for casting other people out of our hearts."

"In accepting the Atonement, we are asking to see as God sees, think as God thinks, love as God loves."

"It's easy to forgive people who have never done anything to make us angry. People who do make us angry, however, are our most important teachers. They indicate the limits to our capacity for forgiveness. 'Holding grievances is an attack on God's plan for salvation.' The decision to let go our grievances against other people is the decision to see ourselves as we truly are." 

'It can be very hard to let go of your perception of someone's guilt when you know that by every standard of ethics, morality, or integrity, you're right to find fault with them." 

But the question is, "Do you prefer that you be right or happy?" "If you're judging a brother, you're wrong even if you're right. There have been times when I have had a very hard time giving up my judgment of someone, mentally protesting, 'But I'm right.' I felt as though giving up my judgment amounted to condoning their behavior. I felt, 'Well, somebody's got to uphold principle in this world. If we just forgive things all the time, then all standards of excellence will disintegrate!'"

"But God doesn't need us to police the universe. Shaking our finger at someone doesn't help them change. If anything, our perception of someone's guilt only keeps them stuck in it. When we are shaking a finger at someone, figuratively or literally, we are not more apt to correct their wrongful behavior. Treating someone with compassion and forgiveness is much more likely to elicit a healed response. People are less likely to be defensive, and more likely to be open to correction Most of us are aware on some level when we're off. We'd be doing things differently if we knew how. We don't need attack at this point; we need help. Forgiveness forges a new context, one in which someone can more easily change."

"Forgiveness is the choice to see people as they are now. When we are angry at people, we are angry because of something they said or did before this moment. But what people said or did is not who they are. Relationships are reborn as we let go perceptions of our brother's past. 'By bringing the past into the present, we create a future just like the past.' By letting the past go, we make room for miracles."

"An attack on a brother is a reminder of his guilty past. In choosing to affirm a brother's guilt, we are choosing to experience more of it. The future is programmed in the present. To let the past go is to remember that in the present, my brother is innocent. It is an act of gracious generosity to accept a person based on what we know to be the truth about them, regardless of whether or not they are in touch with that truth themselves.... When people behave unlovingly, they have forgotten who they are."

A Great Division

 "And he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. For the time speedily cometh that the Lord God shall cause a great division among the people, and the wicked will he destroy. And he will spare his people, even if it so be that he must destroy the wicked by fire." (RE 2 Nephi 12:13 / 2 Nephi 30:10.)

"Therefore, I have come to send fire on the earth, and what is it to you if I desire that it be already kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I constrained until it is accomplished? Do you suppose that I have come to give peace on earth? I tell you, nay, but rather division, for from henceforth there shall be five in one house, divided three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; mother against the daughter, and daughter against the mother; the mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law." (RE Luke 8:28 / Luke 12:51)

"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink! He that believes on me as the scripture has said: Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water — but this spoke he of the spirit which they that believe on him should receive, for the holy ghost was promised unto them who believe, after Jesus was glorified. Many of the people, therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Truly this is the Prophet. Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Has not the scripture said that Christ comes of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem where David was? So there was a division among the people because of him. And some of them would have taken him, but no man laid hands on him." (RE John 6:8 / John 7:37-43)

"And I said unto them that our father also saw that the justice of God did also divide the wicked from the righteous, and the brightness thereof was like unto the brightness of a flaming fire which ascendeth up unto God for ever and ever and hath no end." (RE 1 Nephi 4:5 / 1Nephi 15:30)

And now it came to pass in this year, yea, in the two hundred and thirty and first year, there was a great division among the people. And it came to pass that in this year, there arose a people who were called the Nephites, and they were true believers in Christ. ...  And it came to pass that they who rejected the gospel were called Lamanites, and Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites. And they did not dwindle in unbelief, but they did willfully rebel against the gospel of Christ, and they did teach their children that they should not believe, even as their fathers from the beginning did dwindle." (RE 4 Nephi 1:7 / 4 Nephi 1:35-38)

"Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of body and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creation that is not manifest in his sight, but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do." (RE Hebrews 1:10)

I believe that God works in patterns. I believe that we can understand our current situation by understanding what has gone on before. Is there a great division in our land? What is the cause of that great division? Is it the word of God, which divides us? Is it the justice of God that divides us? What is the justice of God? Is the goal at this point to unify? Are we to be one with the world? Did Christ come to unify? Are these divisions based on irreconcilable differences? Will God's people be one with all people or just with each other? What will unify them? 

Heaven + Earth = Zion

 Believing in Zion as a concept is much easier than believing in Zion as a reality that will actually come to pass on this earth. The Zion concept is beautiful and resonates in our hearts. It's the ideal, utopia, paradise on earth. It's a city set on a hill that is a light unto the world. But how do you get there? Bringing that reality to pass requires the coming together of heaven and earth and anything that involves things here on earth is necessarily messy, confusing, and incredibly challenging.

This morning I read T&C section 26 (LDS D&C 42) and was surprised at the practical counsel that was offered to the saints in their attempt to establish a New Jerusalem here on earth. I'd like to highlight a few things that stood out to me in my study.

In verse 2, several missionaries were commanded to go forth "in the power of my spirit, preaching my gospel two by two, in my name, lifting up your voices as with the voice of a trump, declaring my word like unto angels of God." It's interesting that these early missionaries were compared unto angels of God. We tend to think of angels only as those of the heavenly variety, but angels can be mortal. (The word 'angel' is derived from a Greek word that means 'messenger.') Was King Benjamin an angel when he gave his message? He said, "And now I have spoken the words which the Lord God hath commanded me" (Mosiah 1:18). Since it was not his message, but the Lord's message, wasn't he a messenger of God, essentially an angel? The Lord wanted these missionaries to act as angels as well. And maybe there are times when we are to act as angels. If that is to happen, it would necessitate us receiving a message from God, that is purely His, and then delivering it to others.

In verse 5, we learn what elders, priests and teachers were to teach, and it is simple - "the scriptures which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, in the which is the fullness of the gospel." And they were instructed how to teach: "And you shall be directed by the spirit, which shall be given you by the prayer of faith, and if you receive not the spirit, you shall not teach." 

In verse 6, the Lord references several of the 10 commandments, then instructs the saints to keep them and to cast out those who disobey and refuse to repent. I struggle with this verse, not because I disagree with any of it, but because I don't have a good example of what this looks like. Who determines a man's sin? Who determines if someone is repentant? What does it look like to cast out? I think if you are trying to prepare for Zion, you are dealing with mortals who will sin. So humble, repentant souls would be essential, otherwise things could become corrupted very quickly. But what are you casting them out of? Your worship meetings? Your communities? Or is it just that they cannot come to Zion. They cannot dwell there with a proud and unrepentant attitude. I'm not sure how this works, so in the meantime I can use this verse to examine my own heart and remember Christ's words at the end of the verse: "If you love me, you shall serve me and keep all my commandments."

When I read about the law of consecration in the past, I felt superior to those who failed to live the law according to the Lord's expectations. How selfish they were! How disobedient and petty! Now I read verse 7 and put myself in their shoes and feel very differently. Imagine receiving the command yourself:

"And behold, you shall consecrate all your properties, that which you have, unto me, with a covenant and deed which cannot be broken, and they shall be laid before the bishop of my church and two of the elders, such as he shall appoint and set apart for that purpose. And it shall come to pass that the bishop of my church, after that he has received the properties of my church that it cannot be taken from the church, he shall appoint every man a steward over his own property, or that which he has received, inasmuch as it shall be sufficient for himself and family." 

As long as this is hypothetical, it's easy. Of course, we would give it all away. Of course, we don't prize our worldly possessions over Zion. Of course, we would be quick to obey and not even think about it twice. That's what we think, but I have to ask... Really? Would you really?

And what about this verse: "And again, you shall not be proud in your heart. Let all your garments be plain, and their beauty the beauty of the work of your own hands, and let all things be done in cleanliness before me" (vs 10). How do you feel about wearing "plain" clothing? And making your own clothing? That's weird, right? Or is it? Are they on to something? Does God care about what we wear? 

Also in verse 10, this important sentence: "You shall not be idle, for he that is idle shall not eat the bread, nor wear the garment of the laborer." The more I think about Zion, the more I realize how absolutely essential this principle is. I grew up with the idea that 'being nice' is very important. Imagine living in a self-contained community where some able-bodied individuals did very little to contribute to the health and well-being of the community. What would that idleness do to a community where you were relying on one another? Would it be 'nice' to feed everyone regardless of what they do? What would that inspire others to do? How would that affect motivation? 

Here's another interesting, practical verse: "You shall stand in the place of your stewardship. You shall not take your brother's garment, you shall pay for that which you shall receive of your brother." So, even though we have this consecration principle, you don't just take things. If your brother has something you want, you pay for it. 

And how were they to govern themselves: "You shall take the things which you have received [the scriptures], which you know to have been my law, to be my law to govern my church. And he that does according to these thing shall be saved, and he that does them not shall be damned, if he continue." 

I love this verse too! "If you shall ask, you shall receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that you may know the mysteries and the peacable things of the Kingdom, that which brings joy, that which brings life eternal." Isn't that what we all want? Knowledge from God, the peaceable things of the kingdom, joy, and eternal life. 

In verse 20, we learn more practical matters: "You shall contract no debts with [the world]." 
Last one: "And every family shall have places that they may live by themselves, and every church shall be organized in as close bodies as they can be, in consequence of the enemy." (vs. 21)

Life and Blessings

One of Donald Trump's last acts as President of the United States was to write the following Proclamation on National Sanctity of Human Life:

"Every human life is a gift to the world.  Whether born or unborn, young or old, healthy or sick, every person is made in the holy image of God.  The Almighty Creator gives unique talents, beautiful dreams, and a great purpose to every person.  On National Sanctity of Human Life Day, we celebrate the wonder of human existence and renew our resolve to build a culture of life where every person of every age is protected, valued, and cherished.

This month, we mark nearly 50 years since the United States Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision.  This constitutionally flawed ruling overturned State laws that banned abortion, and has resulted in the loss of more than 50 million innocent lives.  But strong mothers, courageous students, and incredible community members and people of faith are leading a powerful movement to awaken America’s conscience and restore the belief that every life is worthy of respect, protection, and care.  Because of the devotion of countless pro-life pioneers, the call for every person to recognize the sanctity of life is resounding more loudly in America than ever before.  Over the last decade, the rate of abortions has steadily decreased, and today, more than three out of every four Americans support restrictions on abortion.

Since my first day in office, I have taken historic action to protect innocent lives at home and abroad.  I reinstituted and strengthened President Ronald Reagan’s Mexico City Policy, issued a landmark pro-life rule to govern the use of Title Ten taxpayer funding, and took action to protect the conscience rights of doctors, nurses, and organizations like the Little Sisters of the Poor.  My Administration has protected the vital role of faith-based adoption.  At the United Nations, I made clear that global bureaucrats have no business attacking the sovereignty of nations that protect innocent life.  Just a few months ago, our Nation also joined 32 other countries in signing the Geneva Consensus Declaration, which bolsters global efforts to provide better healthcare to women, protect all human life, and strengthen families.

As a Nation, restoring a culture of respect for the sacredness of life is fundamental to solving our country’s most pressing problems.  When each person is treated as a beloved child of God, individuals can reach their full potential, communities will flourish, and America will be a place of even greater hope and freedom.  That is why it was my profound privilege to be the first President in history to attend the March for Life, and it is what motives my actions to improve our Nation’s adoption and foster care system, secure more funding for Down syndrome research, and expand health services for single mothers.  Over the past 4 years, I have appointed more than 200 Federal judges who apply the Constitution as written, including three Supreme Court Justices — Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.  I also increased the child tax credit, so that mothers are financially supported as they take on the noble task of raising strong and healthy children.  And, recently, I signed an Executive Order on Protecting Vulnerable Newborn and Infant Children, which defends the truth that every newborn baby has the same rights as all other individuals to receive life-saving care.

The United States is a shining example of human rights for the world.  However, some in Washington are fighting to keep the United States among a small handful of nations — including North Korea and China — that allow elective abortions after 20 weeks.  I join with countless others who believe this is morally and fundamentally wrong, and today, I renew my call on the Congress to pass legislation prohibiting late-term abortion.

Since the beginning, my Administration has been dedicated to lifting up every American, and that starts with protecting the rights of the most vulnerable in our society — the unborn.  On National Sanctity of Human Life Day, we promise to continue speaking out for those who have no voice.  We vow to celebrate and support every heroic mother who chooses life.  And we resolve to defend the lives of every innocent and unborn child, each of whom can bring unbelievable love, joy, beauty, and grace into our Nation and the entire world.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 22, 2021, as National Sanctity of Human Life Day.  Today, I call on the Congress to join me in protecting and defending the dignity of every human life, including those not yet born.  I call on the American people to continue to care for women in unexpected pregnancies and to support adoption and foster care in a more meaningful way, so every child can have a loving home.  And finally, I ask every citizen of this great Nation to listen to the sound of silence caused by a generation lost to us, and then to raise their voices for all affected by abortion, both seen and unseen.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth.

DONALD J. TRUMP

Regardless of whether or not you have disdain or admiration for our former president, I find it remarkable that he would write this proclamation. A couple of days later, on the first day of President Biden's administration, it was removed, and then later replaced with the following:

Today marks the 48th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Roe v. Wade.  

In the past four years, reproductive health, including the right to choose, has been under relentless and extreme attack.  We are deeply committed to making sure everyone has access to care – including reproductive health care – regardless of income, race, zip code, health insurance status, or immigration status. 

The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to codifying Roe v. Wade and appointing judges that respect foundational precedents like Roe.  We are also committed to ensuring that we work to eliminate maternal and infant health disparities, increase access to contraception, and support families economically so that all parents can raise their families with dignity.  This commitment extends to our critical work on health outcomes around the world. 

As the Biden-Harris Administration begins in this critical moment, now is the time to rededicate ourselves to ensuring that all individuals have access to the health care they need.

Honestly, this makes my heart hurt. Until the last year, I never really thought much about abortion. I think someone had told me when I was a teen or young adult that Roe v. Wade made abortion a permanent part of our country so there was no point in trying to fight or debate the issue. I accepted that and moved on.

I know speaking out on abortion is really unpopular. I don’t know what people believe about life and where we come from before this life. But I believe that life is sacred and special and miraculous. Can you imagine condoning the killing of a 20-week old baby that had been born? Then how can we imagine condoning the killing of a 20-week-old baby that is unborn?  

This year we have faced Coronavirus. There have been many deaths in the US and across the nation from this virus. One of our neighbors died. It’s hard to fathom 100,000 deaths or 400,000 deaths or even get a sense of how many people are born or die every day. I think that’s one of the things that woke me up this year. I started going to worldometers.info quite often. When I saw the abortion numbers I couldn’t quite believe my eyes. For instance, right now (as of January 24, 2021) there have been over 2 million abortions carried out in the world just this year. I don’t have the numbers from 2020, but in 2017 there were over 800,000 abortions in the US alone. 

What if God viewed each of those lives as sacred? What if God intended for each of those children to be born? What if they had something to teach their parents or their siblings? What if each person who comes into this world has an impact on the world? Are we in this country serving God when we allow and even celebrate destroying so much life?

There is a promise and a warning in the Book of Ether (in the Book of Mormon): 

“And now we can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that it is a land of promise, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall serve God or they shall be swept off when the fullness of his wrath shall come upon them. And the fullness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are ripened in iniquity. 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 fullness of iniquity among the children of the land that they are swept off. And this cometh unto you, O ye gentiles, that ye may know the decrees of God, that ye may repent and not continue in your iniquities until the fullness be come, that ye may not bring down the fullness of the wrath of God upon you as the inhabitants of the land hath hitherto done. Behold, this is a choice land; and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under Heaven if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who has been manifested by the things which we have written.” 

This is a choice land. I would love to see God continue to bless it and prosper it and keep us free from bondage and captivity and other nations. I would love to see my children and grandchildren enjoy those promises as well. I believe that if we don’t repent as a nation, especially in recognizing the sacred gift of life, we will likely lose those blessings. 

On Feeling the Spirit

As I think about my beliefs over the years, I recognize a big shift in terms of my beliefs about the Holy Ghost or the Spirit. I think often in my past, I confused strong feelings with the Holy Ghost. And after all, don't we talk about the 'burning in the bosom?' Discerning what is from God and what what comes from feelings or emotions can be very difficult. One of the things that has helped me better discern is recognizing that "the Holy Ghost has no other effect than pure intelligence" (Joseph Smith, TPJS, p. 149).

D&C 50:21 says, "He that receiveth the word by the Spirit of truth receiveth it as it is preached by the Spirit of truth." I think it is interesting that here the Spirit is called the "Spirit of truth." It reminds me of D&C 93:36: "The glory of God is intelligence, in other words light and truth." Truth can be communicated to our hearts and minds. And that is what, in my experience, the Spirit does. It communicates truth to heart and mind.

Our minds can interfere with our ability to receive the Spirit of truth. We might be like those Paul described who were "ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Tim. 3:7). 

Our hearts can also interfere with our ability to receive or recognize the Spirit. A whole theater full of people can all be moved to tears at exactly the same moment. How does that happen? The music, the lighting, the words, the story all come together in a way that we all feel something at the same time. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. I love movies that evoke strong emotion in me. But certainly I wouldn't think that was the Spirit. But the same thing can happen in our worship experiences or from hearing an inspiring message.

Our feelings are important, but they should not be our guides. I think it's also interesting that in the vision of the Tree of Life, Nephi explained that his father "also saw other multitudes feeling their way towards that great and spacious building." 

We need knowledge, actual light and truth from heaven to guide us. Joseph Smith said, "A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge, for if he does not get knowledge, he will be brought into captivity by some evil power in the other world, as evil spirits will have more knowledge, and consequently more power than many men who are on the earth. Hence it needs revelation to assist us, and give us knowledge of the things of God."

In past years I always thought the Spirit brought feelings of peace. And, of course, it often does. But what about those times when the Spirit testifies of our need to repent? Does that bring a feeling of peace? It doesn't for me. Sometimes the Spirit's message contradicts something I believe deeply. And it takes a long time for me to soften to the point where I can even consider the message. So now I don't ask the question, "Do I feel peace when I hear this message," but instead, "Is there light and truth in this message?" That question leads me to study it out, search the scriptures, and then eventually to my knees. 

The Truth Makes You Feel Good, Right?

Several years ago, my husband was reading some books by Denver Snuffer and shared some of the things he'd read about the Second Comforter with me, which made a lot of sense and really helped me understand the scriptures better. But he also shared some of Denver's criticisms about the church and how the church was essentially off course. I argued with my husband that if Denver had truly been given a message from God it would be positive, uplifting and full of love and charity. My husband considered everything I said and then calmly opened the scriptures. I don't recall exactly which passage he shared, but I remember it was Alma speaking. It might have been this passage:

"O ye workers of iniquity; ye that are puffed up in the vain things of the world, ye that have professed to have known the ways of righteousness nevertheless have gone astray, as sheep having no shepherd, notwithstanding a shepherd hath called after you and is still calling after you, but ye will not hearken unto his voice! ... And now if ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd, of what fold are ye? Behold, I say unto you, that the devil is your shepherd, and ye are of his fold; and now, who can deny this? Behold, I say unto you, whosoever denieth this is a liar and a child of the devil." (Alma 5:37-39)

He asked me if Alma was delivering a positive, uplifting message? If he was demonstrating love and charity?

In my last post I mentioned Samuel the Lamanite. Would I have happily embraced his message:

"But behold, your days of probation are past; ye have procrastinated the day of your salvation until it is everlastingly too late, and your destruction is made sure."

These are harsh messages, right? If you are the recipient of a message like this, I don't think you feel good after hearing it. I don't think you feel peace or joy or spiritually nourished and uplifted. You might feel angry or upset or defensive or humbled to the dust. Almost anyone would reply, like Laman and Lemuel, "Thou hast declared unto us hard things, more than we are able to bear." But Nephi reminds us, "the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center."

Samuel the Lamanite Was Talking About Me

Not long ago, our family was studying Helaman 13, and we read what Samuel the Lamanite said to the Nephites: 

"Yea, wo unto this people, because of this time which has arrived, that ye do cast out the prophets and do mock them, and cast stones at them, and do slay them, and do all manner of iniquity unto them, even as they did of old time And now when ye talk, ye say: If our days had been in the days of our fathers of old, we would not have slain the prophets; we would not have stoned them, and cast them out. Behold ye are worse than they; for as the Lord liveth, if a prophet come among you and declareth unto you the word of the Lord, which testifieth of your sins and iniquities, ye are angry with him, and cast him out and seek all manner of ways to destroy him; yea, you will say that he is a false prophet, and that he is a sinner, and of the devil, because he testifieth that your deeds are evil."

Then it continues: 

"But behold, if a man shall come among you and shall say: Do this, and there is no iniquity; do that and ye shall not suffer; yea, he will say: Walk after the pride of your own hearts; yea, walk after the pride of your eyes, and do whatsoever your heart desireth - and if a man shall come among you and say this, ye will receive him, and say that he is a prophet. Yea, ye will lift him up and ye will give unto him of your substance; ye will give unto him of your gold, and of your silver, and ye will clothe him with costly apparel; and because he speaketh flattering words unto you, and he saith that all is well, then ye will not find fault with him." 

And man, oh man, it hit me hard . . . that was me! When I first learned about Denver Snuffer, who he was, what he was saying, I felt nothing but disdain, disgust, and super intense dislike. I wanted him exposed, kicked out, rejected as an imposter. I was 100% convinced he was deceived and a deceiver. Even though I could understand the truth of a lot of what he was saying and the scriptures were coming alive because of these truths, I didn't care. The fact was that he was criticizing the church and challenging my traditions, and therefore he was wrong and not worth listening to. 

You see, Samuel the Lamanite was right about me. I always thought if I'd lived at the time of other prophets - Moses or John the Baptist, Lehi or Abinadi, or Samuel the Lamanite - that I would have recognized them instantly. I would have listened to them. But now I think that I probably would have been angry. I probably would have questioned their authority. I think I would have congratulated myself on being one of God's chosen people who didn't need to listen to these crazy men who didn't fit in.

Would I have recognized Jesus Christ as the son of God if I had lived when He came to Jerusalem? I still hope so. I hope that after hearing His message and seeing His miracles I would have known that He was the Savior. But I might have been blinded by my own traditions. I might have been offended by his words. I tend to be pretty focused on rules and if I saw him breaking the rules, would I have focused on that and ignored the rest of what He said and did? And I wonder, if I did recognize who He was, would I have had the courage to speak openly of my faith or would I have feared being laughed at and cut off by society?  

I think true messengers always look different from one another. They're unique and they come in different ways at different times. But, in my opinion, the test to recognize them is always the same in that it is always incredibly difficult. 

The Nothingness of Man vs. The Greatness of God

I like reassurance.  I like knowing that I'm doing okay.  As a student back in high school and college, I was obsessed with grades, relishing those reassuring "A's," which told me I was smart and successful.  And dreading anything less than an “A,” which told me I was a failure.  (Ya, I know, I had some issues!!)  In the real world, I struggled to find reassurance confirming that I was living a successful life.

A few years ago, a friend pointed out the Book of Mormon's solution to struggles with self-worth:

             

". . . Humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel. And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true." (Mosiah 4:11-12)

Honestly, I didn't really understand then the connection between that level of humility and all the great stuff that could follow, but I was definitely interested in those promises . . . that I could:

·               Always rejoice

·               be filled with the love of God

·               always retain a remission of my sins

·               grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created me

But how could going into the depths of humility lead to all of that?

            I think a big problem I faced was that I wanted to be something.  I wanted to be a great mom, an amazing friend, an incredible wife.  I wanted to be an organized homemaker, a super-fast runner, an interesting conversationalist.  I wanted to be a lot of other things as well.  But I couldn’t live up to my own standard of what those things entailed.  And so I felt completely discouraged!  No matter what I tried, I couldn’t find that reassurance that told me I was that “something” I so desperately wanted to be. 

            Slowly, I’ve learned that I don’t need to be discouraged . . . because I don’t have to be “something” at all.  The Spirit has taught me to accept, instead, that I am nothing. 

            What?!?  What a terrible thing to say, right?  I mean, if I tell someone, “You are nothing,” then I better put up my fists, because those are fighting words, right? But I can tell you in complete sincerity that learning that I am nothing has been the most humbling and the most liberating truth I’ve ever learned.

            If you’re like me, you might need some convincing that this is a sound scriptural idea. 

Let’s take a look at King Benjamin.  At the end of his life, he called his people to gather together to hear his final sermon.  Now keep in mind that he referred to his people as a “highly favored people of the Lord” (Mosiah 1:13).  And what was his message to these peaceful, God-fearing people?  Among other things, he says:

“And now I ask, can ye say aught of yourselves? I answer you, Nay.  Ye cannot say that ye are even as much as the dust of the earth; yet ye were created of the dust of the earth; but behold, it belongeth to him who created you.”(Mosiah 2:25)

            No reassurance.  No flattery.  No praise for their goodness.  Only a reminder of their nothingness.  Why would he give these good people such an unflattering message?

            There was more.  He warned them:

“… men drink damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves and become as little children, and believe that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent. For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man” (Mosiah 3:18-19).

These people, who were faithfully keeping the commandments, were threatened with damnation and essentially called the enemy of God.  Did he really need to put the fear of God into these people who were already living so righteously?

Christ taught, “By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20). So let’s look at the fruits of King Benjamin’s teaching:

“And now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had made an end of speaking the words which had been delivered unto him by the angel of the Lord, that he cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and behold they had fallen to the earth, for the fear of the Lord had come upon them. 

And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.

And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words, the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them” (Mosiah 4:2-3). 

They saw their own nothingness.  They recognized that their natures were fallen and corrupt.  They believed in the Lord’s mercy and their absolute need for His atonement.  They humbly begged for mercy.  And in return, they experienced “a mighty change . . . in [their] hearts,” they had “no more disposition to do evil, but to good continually,” they received “great views of that which is to come,” and “could prophesy of all things.”(Mosiah 5:2-3) After covenanting to obey God’s commands in all things, they became “the children of Christ, his sons and his daughters” (Mosiah 5:7). 

These incredible blessings came as a result of this people seeing themselves as “less than the dust of the earth.”

 The gospel is counterintuitive.  Jesus taught, “Whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 16:25).  And King Benjamin’s people gained everything by seeing that they were nothing.    

Are we willing to hear this message?  Or do we want reassurance?  Do we want to hear that “all is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well” (2 Nephi 28:21)?  What’s wrong with that?  I mean, we’re all good people, right?  Nephi warns, “Wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion! Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well! Yea, wo be unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men” (2 Nephi 28:24-26). 

And what do the precepts of men tell us?  They say:

“Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God – he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God” (2 Nephi 28:8). 

Could that be us?  Could we want to partake of all the world has to offer, yet still believe in God?  Could we wrongly assume that our belief in Him is enough?  Could our earthly pursuits and accomplishments keep us from recognizing our own nothingness?  Could our incorrect beliefs lead us to a false understanding of our state before God?  Are we actually in eternal jeopardy unless we humble ourselves to the dust as these people did? 

The Lord does not seek to reassure us about our current state.  He does not flatter us and tell us how amazing and wonderful we are.  The only praise I see Him give is for those who humble themselves before Him, become as little children, and recognize their complete dependence on Him – those who, in essence, say, “I am nothing.” 

“You are nothing” is a hopeful message when it is coupled with a remembrance of God’s goodness and grace.  Notice how king Benjamin links the two:

“I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility . . .” (Mosiah 4:11)

            Christ said, “And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”  I believe that King Benjamin spoke the truth.  And these truths are setting me free.  I’m still learning, but it’s exciting to be able to see with even a little more clarity.  Here’s what I’m learning:

·               If I am nothing and you are nothing, then there is no need to compare:

“When you begin to think you've outshone your fellow man, you should reflect again on Moses' reaction to seeing the Man of Holiness: ‘Now for this cause I know man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed.’ (Moses 1:10.)  None of us have anything to boast of, even if you know more than your fellow man.  We all know less than He who is ‘more intelligent than them all.’ (Abr. 3:19.)”

·               If I am nothing, then earthly pursuits and accomplishments are seen as “treasures on earth” that do not last.  My nothingness motivates me to “seek first the kingdom of God” and to lay up treasures in heaven. 

·               If I am nothing, then it is possible for me to love my enemy, to not be easily provoked, to turn the other cheek.  This will never be an easy thing for any of us to do, but at least it becomes possible when I view myself from God’s eyes.  If I am something, then I can’t help but defend myself, resist evil and demand an eye for an eye. 

·               If I am nothing, then I can trust the Lord with all my heart and lean not unto my own understanding.  I can acknowledge Him in everything and allow Him to direct my paths. 

One day, maybe like Alma, we’ll each be able to say:

“Yes, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore, I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever” (Alma 26:12).

Teach Me All That I Must {Know and Do}, Part 2

What must we know to be saved?  Joseph Smith taught that “knowledge saves a man” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (TPJS), p. 357).  And in Doctrine and Covenants 131:6 we learn that “it is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.”

So what is it we must know? 

Is it enough to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, our Savior and our Redeemer? Well, if it were, then even the devils would be exalted, for Satan and His followers have that knowledge:

And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. (Luke 4:33-34)

Also James 2:19:

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well; the devils also believe, and tremble.”

So, no, a knowledge of who Jesus Christ is will not save us. 

Joseph Smith taught:

“Three things are necessary, in order that any rational and intelligent being may exercise faith in God unto life and salvation:”

First, The idea that he actually exists.

Secondly, A correct idea of his character, perfections and attributes.

Thirdly, An actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing, is according to his [God's] will.

For without an acquaintance with these three important facts, the faith of every rational being must be imperfect and unproductive; but with this understanding, it can become perfect and fruitful, abounding in righteousness unto the praise and glory of God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Lectures on Faith, 2:2-5).

So here is some knowledge that can help us in the path of salvation:

·               Correct ideas of God’s character, perfections and attributes and

·               “An actual knowledge” that we are living according to God’s will.

In this world of darkness, having that kind of knowledge seems like an incredible achievement.  I think about what I know and how small and limited it is.  I think about how quickly and easily I get off course and how I would love to have the knowledge that my life is in accordance with God's will.  As important as this knowledge is, though, as I study the scriptures and Joseph Smith's words, I can see that, in the eternal scheme, this knowledge is really only a beginning point.  It is a prerequisite in exercising faith unto life and salvation. 

So what else must we know in order to achieve eternal glory and to enter into His rest? 

There are many things I think the Lord would like us to know along the way.  He wants us to study and learn and gain knowledge of all things.  As I've been studying the scriptures lately, I keep seeing something else that we must know to be saved.  I think it can be summed up by this verse:

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3).

We must know Him.  That is the knowledge that is required for us to inherit eternal life.  Not just know of Him or about Him.  But to actually know Him. 

How can this be?  How can this happen?  We’re just lowly mortals. We’re full of sin and frailties.  We’re weak and fallen.  And He is good and great and powerful and full of light and truth and without spot.  How can we even dream of coming to know Him? 

I don’t know all of these answers, but I know that it is possible.  I know that He appeared to a boy – Joseph Smith – in answer to his earnest prayer in seeking God’s wisdom.  Joseph related:

I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (JS-History 1:16-17.)

I know that Joseph, years later, could testify:

By the power of the Spirit our eyes were opened and our understandings were enlightened, so as to see and understand the things of God—Even those things which were from the beginning before the world was, which were ordained of the Father, through his Only Begotten Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, even from the beginning; Of whom we bear record; and the record which we bear is the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the Son, whom we saw and with whom we conversed in the heavenly vision. (D&C 76: 12-14).

I know that Lehi, as a result of his faithfulness and his earnest seeking, came to know the Lord, as did Nephi and Jacob, two of his sons.  Enos knew Jesus Christ.  After being taught by Abinadi, Alma repented and followed the Lord and came to know Him.  Jesus Christ knew Nephi, the son of Helaman, and spoke with him gave him the sealing power.  And there's Adam, Enoch, Moses, Noah, Melchizidek, Abraham . . . the list goes on and on.  These were men who knew the Lord, who spoke with Him face to face.  They understood the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ because they had experienced it. 

But we are filled with unbelief.  We think:  That could not happen to me.  And we gloss over the promises given to us because they seem out of reach, or impossible, or maybe just a thing of the past. 

But whether we pay attention to them or not, the promises are there:

“Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face, and know that I am” (D&C 93:1).

That is a promise for this life.  Do we believe it?  Probably not.  Because we don’t hear about it very often.   But Joseph Smith taught it to his people.  Listen to what he said:

“After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his sins and receives the Holy Ghost, (by the laying on of hands), which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God, and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted.  When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and his election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter, which the Lord hath promised the Saints, as is recorded in the testimony of St. John, in the 14^th chapter, from the 12^th to the 27^th verses. . . .  

Now what is this other Comforter?  It is no more nor less than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself; and this is the sum and substance of the whole matter; that when any man obtains the last Comforter he will have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him from time to time, and even He will manifest the Father unto him, and they will take up their abode with him, and the visions of the heavens will be opened unto him, and the Lord will teach him face to face, and he may have a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God” (TPJS, p. 150-151).

Jeremiah prophesied of a new covenant for the house of Israel:

“But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:33-34).

We (or at least I) may be the “least of them," but it is possible for even us (even me) to come to know the Lord.  Thus we are commanded: 

“And seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life” (D&C 101:38).