after thinking I felt the most appropriate place to write this was on my personal blog. To me it is sad, wherein many are interpreting things to which they are not privy to the whole story and are jumping to various camps of thought etc. Here are some of my thoughts and feeling on the subject….
Anyone remember the story of the manuscript of the first 116 pages of the Book Of Mormon? Martin Harris was privileged to be scribe for a time and , begged, pleaded until Joseph did the same of the Lord and of Deity….in return we have a sad story of events that attempted to disrupt/frustrate the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ upon the earth today…that being said…..if we were to worry about our own singular salvation and that of our family, most of this would be a smaller affair….i’m not here to judge or mock or whatever….
it is truly tragic that it has come to this….that the predictions of prophets past and the visions of Lehi are in full effect today….I wonder what the rod of iron looked like and the paths of those who wandered off and were lost or were ashamed when they were mocked and scorned by even some that fill the pews in congregations throughout the world today….how great it is that a Savior that understands each individual perfectly stand as an advocate to the Father in our own personal behalf’s….it is a marvelous plan…sure I am frustrated with the dogma and culture that disrupts much in the world today as some seem to have strayed or misunderstand…
I still remember being a missionary towards the end of my two years of service and bringing a fella off the street in for sacrament. A few had problems accepting his smoke ridden clothes and some crass demeanors, but this gentleman accepted an invitation to come and worship his Lord even while down trodden and perhaps quite lost….it was my privilege to escort him and sit with him until he left halfway through the meeting to return to his life and worries….policy and procedure and administration of the affairs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are directed at the hand of Jesus Christ through priesthood keys…if the leaders are indeed wrong we have had repetitive assurance from Wilford Woodruff to current day that those persons would be removed and the ways of the Lord and His Father would not be frustrated…
further, speaking to those that went off the beaten path, example the first edition of a certain book published as Mormon Doctrine held some strong opinions of an Apostle that misinterpreted many things…in fact for up to 3 years he was silenced until he delivered a remarkable testimony illustrating in a way only a contrite human working towards forgiveness could because he understood that he needed the Lord’s assistance in righting what he did as wrong. a second edition was published, but many in the culture of the faith had already run with the concepts and until recently the Church procedurally disavowed the mistakes of one held in esteem and mistakenly represented the Lord…..
I have really appreciated the words of Elder Holland lately wherein he state “Brothers and sisters, this is a divine work in process, with the manifestations and blessings of it abounding in every direction, so please don’t hyperventilate if from time to time issues arise that need to be examined, understood, and resolved. They do and they will. In this Church, what we know will always trump what we do not know. And remember, in this world, everyone is to walk by faith.
So be kind regarding human frailty—your own as well as that of those who serve with you in a Church led by volunteer, mortal men and women. Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we. And when you see imperfection, remember that the limitation is not in the divinity of the work. As one gifted writer has suggested, when the infinite fulness is poured forth, it is not the oil’s fault if there is some loss because finite vessels can’t quite contain it all.10 Those finite vessels include you and me, so be patient and kind and forgiving.”…..Click here for talk source
Further, Elder Oaks spoke to this topic during Priesthood session that was simulcast to open audiences. he was plain, direct, and kind in his delivery of the following: “the Lord has directed that only men will be ordained to offices in the priesthood. But, as various Church leaders have emphasized, men are not “the priesthood.” Men hold the priesthood, with a sacred duty to use it for the blessing of all of the children of God.
The greatest power God has given to His sons cannot be exercised without the companionship of one of His daughters, because only to His daughters has God given the power “to be a creator of bodies … so that God’s design and the Great Plan might meet fruition.” Those are the words of President J. Reuben Clark.
He continued: “This is the place of our wives and of our mothers in the Eternal Plan. They are not bearers of the Priesthood; they are not charged with carrying out the duties and functions of the Priesthood; nor are they laden with its responsibilities; they are builders and organizers under its power, and partakers of its blessings, possessing the complement of the Priesthood powers and possessing a function as divinely called, as eternally important in its place as the Priesthood itself.” Click here for talk source
One last illustration that serves as an example is from Alma in the Book of mormon in Chapter 42 when he counsels his son Corianton the following “42:29 And now, my son, I desire that ye should let these things trouble you no more, and only let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance. 30 O my son, I desire that ye should deny the justice of God no more. Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point because of your sins, by denying the justice of God; but do you let the justice of God, and his mercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart; and let it bring you down to the dust in humility.”
Salient words to all imperfect humans (for the record I still sink in water) that may not have the whole story…should one want to know more, turn to God in the name of Jesus Christ and request that the 3rd member of the Godhead, the Holy Ghost to confirm if things are not true….with the understanding that the opposing side can deceive many while exercising similar dominion….then counsel from D&C 129 helps us further to distinguish things should it come to that…..a re-reading of the complete chapter is endearing to understand the attributes of God….
lastly a simple testimony from one that has been around the block as a sinner and from trying to identify, discover and understand the redemptive powers of the Only Begotten Son of God, the blessed Savior of the complete world from the time of Adam until the last soul that comes to fulfill the measure of earth’s creation….I don’t know things perfectly, however I do know of some realities that I cannot deny due to experiences with the Spirit too personal to share…Jesus is indeed the Redeemer of this world….he and His Father did visit the boy Joseph and directed him not to join any church, and in time directed Joseph through the angel Moroni to translate a book that details two major groups that left the Old World and discovered a promise land in the Americas….Further, Joseph and other participated in events that lead to the Restoration of the Keys of the Priesthood that allowed for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to be restored upon the earth today including the keys of sealing allowing families and eternal relationships to endure beyond mortal death. There has been a succession of prophets front he martyrdom of Joseph Smith until today and a current and living prophet named Thomas S. Monson holds the mantel as Elijah once did and had it fall to Elias as Elijah was called to the Lord Jehovah in a cloud and chariot as described in the Old Testament. To me the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true, it is a reality that is my burden to hold as I have repeated asked for the Spirit, a 3rd member of the Godhead to confirm if these things are not true. I once was like Alma the Younger and sought to prove the Gospel and its Church as untrue and false. I couldn’t do it, so I ignored it, I tried to leave it, and determined if it was true eve I a sinner may be able to repent and keep repenting, and I was permitted to have confirmation through the Holy Ghost. It doesn’t mean ALL things were revealed to me, rather the pattern and path by which I may follow was proven and has been proven to me time and time again.
My sincere desire is those that are getting caught up in this affair can listen to the counsel of Alma, and find peace and comfort that are fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).
Finally, Christ instructed his, at the time, fledgling and presumably naive and clueless Apostles: Matthew 7:20 – Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Good luck folks and good night. That is all. until next time!
#2014 #FaithBased #Personal
