THE GREAT AND SPACIOUS BUILDING - maybe not so unfamiliar after all

The Lectures on Faith are great. So is the Book of Mormon. 

The past week I've been sick and decided to listen to the Book of Mormon instead of reading. I listened to 1 Ne. 12 and made a connection I haven't made before. We read (or, I heard):

"And the large and spacious building, which thy father saw, is vain imaginations and the pride of the children of men." (1 Ne. 12:18)

This together with these sobering words from the Lectures on Faith gives me a new take on what groups of people are in the large and spacious building.

"It is in vain for persons to fancy to themselves that they are heirs with those, or can be heirs with them, who have offered their all in sacrifice, and by this means obtained faith in God and favor with him so as to obtain eternal life, unless they in like manner offer unto him the same sacrifice, and through that offering obtain the knowledge that they are accepted of him." (Lectures on Faith 6:8)

According to this, most of Christianity (the Church included) is caught up in the vain imagination that salvation is achieved by just "being good" (as that is taught in the different denominations). Whereas it's a great start to be a good person, according to the Lectures on Faith, it cannot be the end goal for someone who is desirous to "obtain eternal life".

STREET LIGHTS AND THE STARRY SKY

The buzz and noise of this world is like street lights on a clear night–they show you what's right in front of your nose, but make you unable to behold the starry splendor of God's creation. 

For you to see farther, you need to travel some distance in the dark. Then, your whole being adjusts to the lack of man-made light and is able to take in what God has already given you, thousands of lightyears ago.

AND THEY WERE HEALED EVERY ONE - the works of real believers

(This post is kind of a continuation of the side note found at the end of the last post "The Components
of Faith".)

Staying clear of deception is a tricky aspect of our mortal probation. Early on, the name of the luciferian game was called out as lying, deceiving, blinding and leading men captive (see Moses 4:4). This is the spiritual reality which we must be aware of.

Because of this, I must recommend D. Christian Markham's books "There are save two churches only", vol. I and II, found here. I will share this little teaser from the introduction: 

"Gray only exists from a distance. The closer one looks, the more one scrutinizes, the easier it is to clearly observe that which is truly white and truly black within every shade of gray."

In order to help us avoid deception, the Lord counseled us to

"seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given; For verily I say unto you, they are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments, and him that seeketh so to do; that all may be benefited that seek or that ask of me, that ask and not for a sign that they may consume it upon their lusts. And again, verily I say unto you, I would that ye should always remember, and always retain in your minds what those gifts are, that are given unto the church." (D&C 46:8-10)

These gift are given to those who love the Lord and those who, at least seeks to, keep all his commandments. Do we really seek to keep all his commandments? Or are we cherry-picking and changing those commandments to better suit us? These are important questions, for if we don't even seek to be obedient, these gifts won't be given to us.

One of these gifts is the gift of healing. We read:

"To another [is given by the Spirit of God], the gifts of healing." (Moroni 10:11) 

"And to others it is given to have faith to heal." (D&C 46:20) 

"To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit." (1 Cor. 12:9)

These are gifts given to those who believes in, loves and seeks to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. From the New Testament we learn that Jesus healed many people. The same thing is true with regards to the Savior's ministry among the Nephites. His works were great. Nevertheless, he said:

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do;" (Joh. 14:12)

I find this fascinating. Here we have the Only Begotten Son of God, the embodiment of the love and power of God, and he says that his disciples will do greater works than he did? Talk about raising the bar...

After the day of Pentecost, Peter was a new man. Gone was the fisherman and denier. In his place stood the stalwart apostle and mighty servant of Christ. We read:

"And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one." (Acts 5:12-16)

No believer in the scriptures deny that Peter, and his associates, were real apostles. The reason for this is that we read their testimony of the risen Lord and we read about their "greater" works. They were real believers.

How is it today? What would happen today, if members from around the US or the world would bring their sick, those that were vexed with unclean spirits, lame, blind, deaf, cancer stricken people to the doors of the Church Office Building? What would happen if Temple Square was to become a field hospital were healing by the gift of God was expected? Would we see the fifteen "apostles" go around, healing every one like Peter and his associates, whose successors they claim to be? I have my doubts. 

How about you? What do you believe in this regard, and why?

THE COMPONENTS OF FAITH - and on having faith "not to be healed"

As I'm rereading the Book of Mormon from a different angle, I rediscover a great deal of verses. They seem to have become more powerful and more interesting, since the last, or first time I noticed them.

Some of these verses are found in 1 Ne. 10. They read: 

17 And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a vision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God—and the Son of God was the Messiah who should come—I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men. 

18 For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him. 

19 For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round.

Below, I've parted the concepts, color coded them and also put in a bonus verse from 1 Ne. 2.

And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a vision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost,  

he received [the power of the Holy Ghost] by faith on the Son of God—and the Son of God was the Messiah who should come— 

I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost,  

[the power of the Holy Ghost] is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him,  

as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men. For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him.  

For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost,  

as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round. (1 Ne. 10:17-19) 

Blessed art thou, Nephi, because of thy faith, for thou hast sought me diligently, with lowliness of heart. (1 Ne. 2:19)

I guess many things can be learned from these verses. What stands out to me is how we are given a definition of fatih. In short:

Faith = to seek Jesus diligently with lowliness of heart

To the poor zoramites, Alma said:

And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true. (Alma 32:21)

I'd like to paraphrase it this way:

Faith is not a result, but the intent of your heart and mind, for if you, with hope, focus your mind and heart on Jesus, the veracity of Him will be shown you.

Or from the Lectures on Faith: 

[Faith] is the assurance which men have of the existence of things which they have not seen, and the principle of action in all intelligent beings. (1:9)

Faith is the combination of your belief, hope/desire and action. You believe that you will reap as a consequence of sowing, with the hope of reaping a benefit from sacrificing seeds for sowing (seeds which you could have consumed) you perform the actual sowing and then look forward to the reward with the eye of faith (that is, the combined effect of your belief, hope and action). Remove either of the ingredients in faith, and it's barren and unfruitful. Therefore, it's not weird that James will show his faith through his works (James 2:18). He understood that without works, there is no faith, but mere belief.

For faith to be fruitful and yield dividend, it has to be focused on something that is true. Faith can be had and expressed in relation to agricultural practices (evidence of this are abundant), or in summoning evil spirits (ample evidence of this could be given from users of ouija boards), or in God and Jesus Christ (until you experience God yourself, even though there's a lot o, it's anecdotal).

Nephi is a great showcase of faith. We read:

For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceedingly high mountain, which I never had before seen, and upon which I never had before set my foot. (1 Ne. 11:1)

Nephi believed the Lord was able to make it all known unto him, he desired it (that is, he hoped that he would be the beneficiary of the Lord using this power of concealing the mysteries of God) and he did the work (in this case, pondering; I guess Nephi previously had filled his mind with things to ponder about).

How can faith become more of a principle of power in my life? What traditions and unbelief must I shed before this can happen? Lord, have mercy and grant me real faith!

____________

A side note: David Bednar taught that we should have "faith not to be healed". I guess that is an idea he got from D&C 42: "And again, it shall come to pass that he that hath faithin me to be healed, and is not appointed unto death, shall be healed." This talks about dying, and that when God has decreed that someone's time is up, it's up! This doesn't talk about being healed when you're sick, it talks about trying to postpone your "expiration date". God won't allow that!

But, this doesn't say that God won't let you be healed or that he has a purpose with you being sick. The biggest purpose of giving us sickness has to be to grow our faith, and what would grow it more than being healed by it?

Clinging to this erroneous idea and also believing that God won't heal you even though you have true faith in him can easily become an excuse and a way to justify and explain away your lack of faith and unbelief. We give ourselves the opportunity to say that God wants us to learn something that we haven't learned and we will never have to own up to how far away we are from having real faith.

I'm far from having this kind of faith, but the ability to see a want is a good beginning (sometimes, it's more soothing and comforting to get a correct diagnosis than to be actually healed!).

FORBIDDEN PATHS - a risk for every true Christian

Lehi's dream is a well known piece of scripture. As I've been studying it the last couple of days, some new things has emerged.

Wandering off and being lost vs. forbidden paths

In his dream, Lehi said that he saw

"numberless concourses of people, many of whom were pressing forward, that they might obtain the path which led unto the tree by which I stood. And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence in the path which led to the tree. And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost." (1 Ne. 8:21-23)

Lehi goes on to describe another group of people who

"came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree. And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed. And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth. And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit. And after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed, because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost." (v. 24-28)

The first group never got to the tree. They "just" lost their way and wandered off. Nephi relates his father's words rather matter-of-factly. But when he talks about those who actually reached the tree and ate of the fruit, he states that they "fell away into forbidden paths". Both groups were lost, but I dare to say that those who fell away into forbidden paths after having had a bite of the fruit were worse off in the eternal scheme of things.

Partaking vs. tasting

Words matter, and they have different meanings. If it were not so, we wouldn't have so many different  words. The words "partaking" and "tasting" denote two different ways to ingest fruit.

Lehi partook of the fruit, as did others. The common theme for those who did is that they didn't get lost. But hey, didn't we just read that...? Well, yes, we did. But note that Nephi says that "after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed, because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost." I believe this is significant.

Partaking denotes a thorough consuming, a feasting, whereas tasting is halfhearted and uncommitted. Think about the implication of the difference between fully consuming and feasting on the fruit of the tree of life and merely tasting it. One who has tasted the fruit knows what they are walking away from when they go lost (that is, they will walk in paths that God has forbidden), but those who didn't even taste the fruit, aren't held to the same standard (D&C 82:3).

What does partaking of the fruit symbolize?

Nephi later told his older brothers that, "the [fruit of tree of life] is most precious and most desirable above all other fruits; yea, and it is the greatest of all the gifts of God." (1 Ne. 15:36) Later on, through Joseph Smith, we are taught that "eternal life […] is the greatest of all the gifts of God." (D&C 14:7) Fully partaking of the fruit could be seen as a symbol of having received eternal life. This begs the question–how many of the members of the Church are actually partaking of the fruit? I know what I believe, but what about you?


Knowing vs. denying Jesus

Nephi taught the following:

"After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments, by the baptism of water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and after this should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me." (2 Ne. 31:14)

What could, from God's perspective, be more forbidden than to leave him after we've gotten to know him? I can't think of anything. That's why I believe that the forbidden path is leaving and denying Jesus after we've gotten to know him. 

We partake of the fruit when we:

• repent of our sins,
• witness unto the Father that we are wiling to keep the commandments of Jesus by being baptized by water,
• have received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and
• can speak with the tongue of angels.

When we experience this, we "shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise." (Moroni 7:41) In this position, we will get to know the Son, and it's definitely forbidden to leave him once there.

THE MATRIX OF MODERN MORMONISM

"You take the red pill, and I'll show you how deep the
rabbit hole goes."

When I first saw "The Matrix" back in 1999, I was blown away! It was a great movie–thougtprovoking, symbolically rich, deep and packed with great action. I loved it! 

Just a few days ago, approximately ten years after my latest viewing, I saw the movie once more. In these ten years, the movie hasn't changed, but I have. The movie, in my mind, used to be about people waking up to the truths of mormonism and shedding the blindfolds of unbelief. For quite a few years, that was a functioning paradigm for me. Now, it's completely reversed.

In the movie, Mr. Anderson goes about his daily business as a software engineer, while committing computer crimes on his spare time under the name of Neo. Mr. Anderson/Neo has this splinter in his mind, a feeling that he's in a dream which he can't wake up from, that something is wrong with the world.

Eventually, he is given the choice of the blue and red pill–blue and he will wake up in his bed believing whatever he want to believe, and red for the chance to see how deep the rabbit hole goes. Before the choice is made, Mr. Anderson/Neo, is told that he's only offered the truth. He chooses the red pill.

When Mr. Anderson/Neo is shown and has the chance to witness that the world, as he knows it, "has been pulled over your eyes to blind [him] from the truth." The cognitive dissonance makes him throw up and wish to return. Soon, he realizes that he can't, and doesn't really want to return to the state of blissful ignorance.

"The Matrix" is a movie about waking up to the state of modern Mormonism. I can't remember that I've had a splinter in my mind about it for my whole life, but when I finally got to see that there even existed a rabbit hole, I wasn't scared to tumble down it. Now, I sometimes wish that I could go back, but deep down I don't want to, and I understand that I can't–the sense of freedom, purpose, direction, understanding and clarity is something to cherish and something heretofore unknown. Today, it's more certain that there's no way back, than what lies ahead.

The red pill I challenge everyone to partake of is Robert Smith's book "Teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of Men: Tradition in Modern Mormonism." It's a great read! Remember, all that's offered is the truth!

APPROACHING GOD'S WORD - some lessons from 1 Nephi 1-5

Even though I've read the first few chapters of 1 Nephi many times, I've still been taught a few new lessons. This one is about different approaches to the messenger and message of God. Lehi's (by name known) family consists in this part of the narrative, of Lehi and his wife Sariah and his sons Laman, Lemuel, Sam and Nephi.

Lehi

"In that same year there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they must repent, or the great city Jerusalem must be destroyed. Wherefore it came to pass that my father, Lehi, as he went forth prayed unto the Lord, yea, even with all his heart, in behalf of his people. And it came to pass as he prayed unto the Lord, there came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before him; and he saw and heard much; and because of the things which he saw and heard he did quake and tremble exceedingly." (1 Ne. 1:4-6)

Lehi seems to believe the words of the prophets, for he prays for and in behalf of the wicked people. I would guess that he's been aware of the wickedness of his people, and he might have waited for God's warning to be proclaimed.

It's hard to show from the text that Lehi was seeking for more knowledge than what he had received from the prophets. Still, the Lord showed him great things.

The power of the intercessory prayer can't be underestimated, nor can the power of believing the words of God's real prophets.

Lehi's approach is that of belief in the words of others. A seemingly functional way to approach the word of God.

Laman and Lemuel

"Now this he spake because of the stiffneckedness of Laman and Lemuel; for behold they did murmur in many things against their father, because he was a visionary man, and had led them out of the land of Jerusalem, to leave the land of their inheritance, and their gold, and their silver, and their precious things, to perish in the wilderness. And this they said he had done because of the foolish imaginations of his heart. And thus Laman and Lemuel, being the eldest, did murmur against their father. And they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them. Neither did they believe that Jerusalem, that great city, could be destroyed according to the words of the prophets. And they were like unto the Jews who were at Jerusalem, who sought to take away the life of my father. […] But, behold, Laman and Lemuel would not hearken unto my words; and being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts I cried unto the Lord for them." (1 Ne. 2:11-13, 18)

Laman and Lemuel disbelieves in the words of the prophets, they are stiffnecked and hardhearted, they call Lehi foolish and they murmur (because they knew not God). This is the opposite approach, the one of dis- and unbelief. Despite this, they left Jerusalem (and returned twice without staying there).

Nephi

"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers." (1 Ne. 2:16)

The text doesn't fully describe Nephi's intents and what he said in his cry unto the Lord, but it seems that he didn't go to the Lord for confirmation that his father spoke the truth. Instead, he went to the Lord to learn of His mysteries for himself. In my mind, there's a big difference in this. Instead of just "feeling good" about the direction his father was leading the family, Nephi gained great knowledge and got his own promises from the Lord. Nephi seeks a first-hand experience!

Sam

"And I spake unto Sam, making known unto him the things which the Lord had manifested unto me by his Holy Spirit. And it came to pass that he believed in my words." (1 Ne. 2:17)

Nephi tells Sam about his (Nephi's) experience (which confirms that of Lehi). Sam believes the testimony of Nephi. This experience and this belief seems to have sent Sam on his own journey to the presence of Christ, for later, Lehi blesses Sam with these words (it should also be noted that Sam, later in the Book of Mormon, is called a just and holy man; see Alma 3:6):

"And after he had made an end of speaking unto them, he spake unto Sam, saying: Blessed art thou, and thy seed; for thou shalt inherit the land like unto thy brother Nephi. And thy seed shall be numbered with his seed; and thou shalt be even like unto thy brother, and thy seed like unto his seed; and thou shalt be blessed in all thy days." (2 Ne. 4:11)

Sariah

"For she had supposed that we had perished in the wilderness; and she also had complained against my father, telling him that he was a visionary man; saying: Behold thou hast led us forth from the land of our inheritance, and my sons are no more, and we perish in the wilderness. And after this manner of language had my mother complained against my father. And when we had returned to the tent of my father, behold their joy was full, and my mother was comforted. And she spake, saying: Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath commanded my husband to flee into the wilderness; yea, and I also know of a surety that the Lord hath protected my sons, and delivered them out of the hands of Laban, and given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them. And after this manner of language did she speak." (1 Ne. 5:2-3, 7-8)

Sariah must have had a hard time leaving Jerusalem and then letting her sons go back to get the plates. It seems that she fully believed once she'd seen physical evidence of the Lord's hand in preserving her sons. Still, she must've had some kind of desire to believe, for she went with her husband into the wilderness.

Conclusion

We choose how to approach the words of God. Either we believe the words of others, we disbelieve, we believe after getting "proof", or we seek our own knowledge of the mysteries of God. Let's choose wisely.