So
what do you think the questions are? Where to make the most money, or
to locate the lost treasure of El Dorado? Where to find true love?
How to make yourself irresistible to others? Who shot JFK? Is there
life after this? Is there really a God that knows me and cares about
me enough to make Himself known to me? Ah, now we are getting warm.
You see money and fame fade away, we all die and many believe we move
on to the next plane. All you have to do to realize these truths is
to look at the covers of some of the grocery store papers that tout
the lives of the rich and famous to see how their popularity
disappears over time. Note how often you will read of their losing
their wealth, health, and loves of their lives that only 6 months ago
when they were wed their pictures made the cover as the big news. Now
their break up is equally covered. Yet, we all must pass the portal
of death and our beliefs or lack there of will be tested. Whether or
not life goes on is linked to a larger question – is there a God.
And if there is a God, does He care about you and I enough to let us
know.
George
Harrison of Beatle fame was interviewed about what he was motivated
by and what his passion was about. He responded with his questions
for life. As I drove down the road a year or so after his death
listening to his interview being broadcast I heard a recording of
George ask some of the same questions many who seek higher
understanding ask. Where did I come from? Why am I here? And lastly -
Where am I going after this life? Many have professed to know the
answer to these questions. How exactly does one figure out for
themselves to either believe someone else or find out personally.
This writing is to give an account of what I know to be true. I have
experienced for my self what follows. Yet, though I would desire that
you believe me, I would ask you not use me as your only source of
truth and greater understanding. For I know that there is a greater
source than me alone.
Doesn't
everyone want the truth? Surprisingly, the answer is no. For those of
us that crave more light and knowledge than that which we already
have, the thought of being ignorant or deliberately misguided is
abhorrent. But think for a minute what would change in your life if
you learned the purpose of life was not what you had envisioned? If
this new information obligated you to make difficult decisions so you
could align yourself with what you now know to be true. Such daily
decisions as how you lived your life, and affected what you ate and
drank or which habits or hobbies would be appropriate to continue to
have or not. Your life would never be the same. It would push you to
choose one way or the other, be congruent with your new understanding
by changing your decisions or rejecting the truth. Let's say for
instance that unlimited rewards and progression is available to those
that are willing to learn to follow direction. These directions would
in turn be seen by some as limiting and for others a freeing,
depending on your point of view. They would be given as needed by
someone you will need to trust to help guide you without any real
tangible evidence other than you “just feel” is right. You would
be asked to give away all of your selfishness for selflessness, to
forward the cause of others as well as self. And you would be asked
to put a higher power at the top of the priority list instead of
following what the world at large believes to be important. Nervous
yet? What if all that was asked of you is to give all you have to be
rewarded with all there is? Would it be worth it? Oh and by the way
there is no other way to achieve it. You may settle for less but your
progress would then be limited eternally. Well, you guessed it. This
is part of the big plan of progression. It takes faith and desire and
a willingness to hold out for rewards you currently can't see, touch,
or hold. Sounds like a stretch huh? This is not even close to a get
rich quick scheme. This sounds really challenging. Yet, isn't any
thing of any great value difficult to achieve and worth the
sacrifice?
So
let us review history just a little. There is a man that shows up and
says he talks with God. The God. He says he is sent to help out all
of his people from being held as slaves to the most powerful country
on earth. After a series of faith promoting miracles that number 10,
the people are freed and more miracles are manifest to keep millions
alive in a very hostile environment. Every one together sees these
miracles. As this humble slow of speech leader takes the people into
a wilderness area and says that God wants them to have the same
experience that he has received. God wants them all to talk face to
face with Him. God desires to show how to return to His presence and
receive all that He has. The people witness the presence of God on
the mountain in front of them, they also witness the effects of the
leader as he communicates with God ( he glows). There can be no doubt
that in 3 days of preparation God will call up everyone onto the
mountain and visit with them and bestow light and knowledge and give
a marvelous manifestation of power. The mountain rumbles, lightening
flashes, the celestial horns blow and the people are commanded to
come forward. Would you go? They did
not. They were too afraid to accept the
responsibility or the possibility of seeing the unknown bothered
them. Whatever their thoughts, they refused to go up and see God and
chose instead to remain in their present state. Unbelievable!? Yes.
Yet true. Moses was the man. The people were the Israelites. The
record is found in Exodus Ch 19 through 20. Note verse 19 of chapter
20.
“And
they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let
not God speak with us, lest we die.”
They
turned down the opportunity to see and hear for themselves, and have
the greater priesthood, Melchizedec, commonly in their midst . Due to
their disobedience the lesser priesthood was given to Aaron and his
sons to administer on Israel's behalf. The people had refused God’s
way and would then be given what they could tolerate. The decline
continued and eventually showed itself in true color when the entire
nation of adults save 2 desired to return back to their former
masters and instead of going into a land of milk and honey –
everyone over the age to 20 (except Joshua and Caleb) chose to die in
the dessert. The people were brought to Canaan and sent in 12 men to
review the land. The men came back and reported the land was flowing
with milk and honey and brought the proof in the form of fruit. But
10 of the 12 said there were also people of strength there including
giants. The 10 said they appear as grasshoppers compared to the large
individuals living there. They refused to go in (forgetting who leads
them and the miracles they all witnessed previously) and say to Moses
- Numbers 14:1 -4
“And
all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people
wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against
Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them,
Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had
died in this wilderness! and wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto
this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children
should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into the
wilderness!”
Fear
now ruled them. God would allow their words to be fulfilled. He let
all of them die in the wilderness that were over 20 years old when
they left Egypt - save Caleb and Joshua the faithful two who plead
for all of people to go into Canaan. Be careful what you ask for, you
may get it. Amazing how when given the opportunity to be cared for by
God, given protection, and guided by a living prophet on a daily
basis they rejected the path and wanted to return to their former
life. The pull must have been pretty incredible. What would you
choose? Would you overcome the fears and petitions from the majority
to stand with the righteous minority for the unpopular, yet true? You
have just that opportunity today. Because that choice is before you
now. Are you willing to change to be the person God desires of you.
Do you even believe in God? Maybe you have been misdirected by
family, friends, or loved ones into believing erroneous ideas of God
(there are more thoughts about what is right and true than you or I
have experienced) how do you know they are aligned with what God
teaches or would have you follow? With so many different precepts,
doctrines, and opinions they all can't be right - can they?
Assuming
you are not one to believe others that have preceded you in this life
and have serious doubts about the intentions of others. Assuming also
you do not want to be lead astray in making such an important
decision. What do you do? Doing nothing is usually a poor idea. Lazy
and slothful behavior will usually not get rewarded. Like a mystery
drama that has intrigue about whom to trust – whom do you trust?
There are literally dozens locally to thousands nationally with
individual and distinct voices that claim to have a message for you.
Of those, are there any that represent God and do not lead anyone
astray with part or complete misrepresentations? Is there a special
way to know whom to trust? Certainly if there is a God that loves us,
He would provide a way to detect the correct path or individuals to
help us. With that, lets look at how to talk to the source ourselves.
Wouldn't you want to hear God's voice or see Him yourself? Are you
willing to change from what you are now to something better? Do you
yearn to be able to have communication with God directly? Is there a
part of you that really really wants to know what He knows? Would you
have wanted to hang out with a guy like Moses and learn from him?
There is a way to get an improved communication with God, let's
review a few things. First of all you don't have to be perfect to get
answers to prayer. An excellent example is Balaam. In Numbers chapter
22 – 24, 31 vs. 8. He gets answers to prayer, yet lusts after
worldly position and money. He is asked by a local king to curse
Israel, yet gives them a blessing. He then tells the enemy of Israel
how to get them to sin and lose favor with God by committing
adultery. For this he is slain. The point is - he was not perfect.
Yet, he could get answers to prayer. At least until he followed after
his selfishness and greed and went against the Lords chosen people
and the Lords wishes. You can make good choices and be on your way to
more light and knowledge and either stay on track or get off. It is
up to you. But you can get
answers. The question is are you motivated to pursue it.
How
to find the answers to life's mysteries or how to talk with God
Step
1 – You gotta want to know with all your heart. You really
have to realize that there is no bigger question to ask. None. Either
He is there or He is not. Something has to burn within you to want to
know and find out the truth for yourself. If you only want to know
passively, you really don't desire to know. It simply is not that
important to you. You must be willing to find the answer out at all
cost. There are ways others have recorded that He gets in touch and
gives direct revelation. Either God will contact you directly without
you knowing He is coming (this rarely occurs) or you must seek Him
out and qualify yourself by pondering, have a sincere heart, real
intent, and exercise faith. You may be thinking “yeah right a few
quid pro quos to rationalize why I'm not going to get my answer”.
The truth is - you will have to want it – or you will not qualify
yourself. You see if you are casual about your desire and really
don't put forth your effort and you do get answers to your questions
about life's mysteries – just how will you apply that new knowledge
if you didn't really desire it in the first place? My guess is you
won't very well at all. If I give my child a toy that they were not
personally invested in caring for it the toy won't last very long due
to neglect or abuse. Yet, should that child really work to their best
ability to acquire funds to purchase that toy, and I meet their
shortfall, they will care for that toy and help to preserve it. It is
a law we witness on many levels. We must be invested to achieve the
maximum benefit. If personal revelation came in the form of a
messenger to you and that left no doubt as to the authority of the
message, and you received the information that God lives and His
servants were associated with a specific group/church, how
accountable are you for the knowledge you have received? Let’s say
another person never received such a visit and lived and died with
out knowing anything of God. How accountable are they for knowing the
truth? Less than you? I would think so. If you know more, it makes
logical sense you are responsible for more.
Doctrine
and Covenants 82:3
“For
him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against
the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation.”
A
just God provides a way for any of His creations to progress equally
without favor to one person over another. Let's call them a standard
set of rules that all must play by. Though circumstances are not
equally distributed – ie. someone born in deepest Africa in the 900
AD time frame or even modern day rural India where the caste system
is taught to everyone in the village vs. someone that was born today
with access to schooling, religious choices, and parents that taught
their child how to ask and seek out God. How are they each judged?
God would know their hearts and their choices by which they lived by.
He would judge each by the knowledge of truth they had and how they
lived by it. Hence when a choice is available to be made, you will be
judged by which choice you chose. Would it be right to give more
information to an individual before they could handle it? Unless they
are capable and willing to act upon the information given – why
would you burden someone? You would not give a toddler a razor and
hold them accountable for their actions. Yet, at what age would you
hold them accountable for their choices? A just God would have a way
to determine this. He knows our hearts and judges according to that
which we allow to be there and our intentions. Note the following -
Romans
8:27
“And
he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,
because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will
of God.”
2
Corinthians 3:3
“Forasmuch
as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered
by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God;
not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.”
Hebrews
4:12
“For
the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any
two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and
spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Revelations
2:23
“...and
all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins
and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your
works.”
Doctrine
and Covenants 6:16
“Yea,
I tell thee, that thou mayest know that there is none else save God
that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart.”
Doctrine
and Covenants 137:7-9
“...All
who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have
received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of
the celestial kingdom of God; Also all that shall die henceforth
without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their
hearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom; For I, the Lord, will judge
all men according to their works, according to the desire of their
hearts.”
Our
hearts may be changed as well and opened up to feeling His Spirit
more intently. Praying for an open heart to be sensitive to the
promptings of the Spirit is a great prayer. Having a changed heart
allows us bring the sacrifice He has asked for of a broken heart and
a contrite spirit. Yet, we control what we let into our hearts. We
must decide for ourselves that which we seek after. That is what we
are judged by and the works we perform in our lives.
Throughout
the recorded sacred records of scripture we read that if we seek Him,
we will find Him. If we knock He will open. And if we ask He will
answer. I find this to be a great relief. It is up to me to determine
my progress and I alone am accountable for my choices. It is up to me
to look for God and get my own answers. Who can I trust until
I know who
to trust? God - if He is there! That is the question to have
answered.
Insight
on How to Pray
There
are a few guidelines that will help you to access the powers of
heaven through prayer.
Meditate
and ponder about what you really want to know and why - so you will
have a good idea about what you desire to achieve in your prayer.
Address
God directly out loud in a speaking tone as if to someone listening
in the room while doing your best to visualize a person that loves
you and is waiting to hear from you and respond to your sincere
desires.
Begin
with “Heavenly Father”.
Then
give thanks for somethings you acknowledge you have that you are
grateful for IE. health, strength, air, shelter, family, friends,
freedom, a job, rain, sunshine, food, and so on explaining why you
are grateful. (make it what you really are thankful for these things
and you are sincere) Remember to speak in conversational speech to
Heavenly Father as you would a close friend that you wish to thank
for giving you all that you have – hence you should feel and be
truly thankful while expressing your gratitude. How would you like to
be communicated with if you were on the other end? Repetitious
conversations won't get too far with a friend, why would God be any
different?
After
giving thanks and gratitude proceed to ask as specifically as
possible for what you desire – example “I desire to know for
myself that thou art there. Whilst thou manifest to me by a warmth in
my chest or some other specific recognizable sense that I may know
for assurity that thou art there and dost love me. Should thou doest
this I shall do my best to follow what thou wouldst have me to do.”
Use your words vocally to close the prayer “in the name of Jesus
Christ. Amen”
Wait
for the answer. Be patient. Repeat as you feel prompted as necessary
until the answer comes. When the answer comes be sure to offer
another pray of gratitude for the answer. This prayer process may be
done during a fasting time (avoidance of food or water for a period
of time, say a day or 24 hours). Fasting once a month is usually safe
if there are no concerns about needing food for diabetic reasons or
water with dehydration. This fasting makes your intent and desire
more focused and clear. Be sure outside distractions of radio, TV, or
others are reduced as much as possible to allow you to be able to
focus on your prayer and receiving the answer. Kneeling in your
bedroom is a wonderful place should you desire.
I
have used a more reverential speech pattern (thee, thou, doest) in
this prayer language as an example of how you may if comfortable be
more submissive to God. Consider it prayer protocol if you will –
though not mandatory it is more respectful.
Once
you have acquired this pattern and ability to get answers you may
then ask what ever you desire and expect an answer. With the
communication line open realize that our answers may come in varied
responses. You may get – a warm peaceful feeling verifying you have
made the right choice, a feeling of discomfort or a feeling of being
unsettled. You may also get a direct feeling of No, Yes, Not Now, Be
Patient, Later, a vision, a dream, an angelic messenger, or an
inspired individual who is directed to you just to name a few. Once
you recognize you are able to ask and get answers, you have achieved
something miraculous as far as the world is concerned. You will no
longer believe there is a God.......you will be entering into knowing
that there is a God. The peace that comes from knowing you are a
child of God is priceless. What ever happens in my life I may seek
direction and guidance to help me through any circumstance. You can
too.
Step
2 – In John chapter 7 vs. 14 – 17 Some of the leaders of
the Jewish people were marveling of Jesus and his teachings in the
temple grounds where he regularly taught. They asked of Jesus how he
knew literature or had higher education. Jesus responded to them by
saying
“My
doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me. If any man will do His
will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of god, or whether
I speak of myself.”
Doing
Heavenly Fathers will leads one to knowing of Jesus' doctrine and his
being verified by the Father. This verification comes in the way of
the Holy Spirit whose job it is to testify of the Father and the Son
(2 Nephi 31:18, John 15:26 Moroni 10:7). Doing His will means that
one must 1st know
what that is then have the strength to go and do it. This sounds much
easier than it really is. It is work. In addition to knowing the
previous principle is to find others that have found out and read how
they did it. We can learn a lot from those that have preceded us.
There are many prophets that have recorded histories and words of
encouragement. Seek out some inspiration from those that have gone
before. You will need to know how to develop the faith necessary to
approach God and expect an answer. Another good point to remember is
that your prayers will be answered in the Lords time, not yours.
Though there are times that they do coincide. Note to be careful what
you ask for, you will likely get it and it may not do you any good. A
verse that comes to mind to stress this point about working to your
detriment is found in the Doctrine and Covenants Sec 88:64-65 that
states.
“Whatsoever
ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is
expedient for you; And if ye ask anything that is not expedient for
you, it shall turn unto your condemnation.”
You
may pray to know what to pray for. Remember the rebellious Israelites
that would rather die in the desert, they got what they asked for.
Asking for guidance in your prayers is always a good idea to include
in your prayers. It is appropriate to ask for guidance, insight,
strength to overcome temptation, the willingness to forgive freely,
the desire to do right always, the ability to discern right from
wrong, and to be open and receptive to truth. God desires that we
progress and grow. He readily sends experiences and opportunities to
mold us into the person we may become as we allow Him to take over.
All we may offer to Him that is not already His is our agency, our
right to choose. If we offer to Him to do it His way and to always be
compliant to what He would have us to do, we offer up the one gift we
may give to Him. He is always ready to receive it and offer all He
has to us in return.
Step
3- The next step is to go and do. Reading is necessary. Or at
least gathering information from one of His sources of truth. You
must be willing to ask if the information is from one of His
servants. Until you are informed by an answer to your prayer – whom
do you trust to guide you? Being led astray by 1 of 10,000 random
voices is highly likely. Once He has answered your prayers by the
still small voice that rings of peace, calm, and love you will be
able to follow that pattern of studying, pondering, asking and
receiving to add to your existing base of knowledge. A wonderful
chapter that offers a guide to follow as how to judge is found in
Moroni Chapter 7 verses 12 to 26.
“Wherefore,
all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil
cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth
against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do
that which is evil continually. But behold, that which is of God
inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing
which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve
him, is inspired of God. Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren,
that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which
is good and of God to be of the devil. For behold, my brethren, it is
given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way
to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as
the daylight is from the dark night. For behold, the Spirit of Christ
is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I
show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do
good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the
power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect
knowledge it is of God. But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do
evil and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then
ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after
this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good,
no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject
themselves unto him. And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the
light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see
that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye
judge ye shall also be judged.
Wherefore,
I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the
light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay
hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not ye certainly will be a
child of Christ. And now, my brethren, how is it possible that ye can
lay hold upon every good thing? And now I come to that faith, of
which I said I would speak; and I will tell you the way whereby ye
may lay hold of every good thing. And God also declared unto
prophets, by his own mouth, that Christ should come. And behold,
there were divers ways that he did manifest things unto the children
of men, which were good; and all things which are good cometh of
Christ; otherwise men were fallen, and there could no good thing come
unto them. Wherefore, by the ministering of angels, and by every word
which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise
faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good
thing; and thus it was until the coming of Christ. And after that he
came men also were saved by faith in his name; and by faith, they
become the sons of God. And as surely as Christ liveth he spake these
words unto our fathers, saying: Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the
Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall
receive, behold, it shall be done unto you.”
You
must now apply it and seek to get your answers. An ancient prophet
outlined the way to know for yourself. It is up to you to seek out
more truth than you currently have. Expect to have improvements in
your closeness to God. Reach out to Him. Find out what is asked of
you and do it. Be as obedient as possible to what is asked to you.
The Lord loves obedience and exactness. Note some of His declarations
–
1
Samuel 15:22
“And
Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and
sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is
better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”
Doctrine
and Covenants 130: 20-21
“There
is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of
this world, upon which all blessings are predicated-
And
when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law
upon which it is predicated.”
Doctrine
and Covenants 82:10
“I,
the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I
say, ye have no promise.”
Get
the picture? He likes obedience, a lot. Be as obedient to what you
know to do and pray to know more of what He would have you to do.
Background
information
People
connected to a higher purpose have many advantages. They are able to
be more focused and deliberate about their actions and motives.
A
seminar speaker once taught me to look at my life in three areas. One
was my overall purpose, the others were related to work and family.
Think of your areas of work and family as two directions of energy.
Should you desire to increase your performance in work you may make a
list of activities which would allow you to achieve your goal. If
family performance needs improving you would have a different set of
activities which would help you. He explained that if your work
purpose pulled your arm on the right further towards the right, and
the family purpose pulled your left arm to the left, you would be in
pain if energy was placed in both directions. Too much of one leaves
the feeling of guilt over abandoning the other. The motion of effort
is not parallel but opposite. Only by aligning the purposes which
allow effort to be moving you in a congruent direction will you be
able to fully achieve great feats. Until then you respond to the pain
and strive to avoid it.
I
suggest that your overall purpose to which your work and family fit
under is a spiritual happening. You see, I believe that we are here
on the earth not by accident at all. But instead by choice. A choice
made long ago to allow ourselves to be able to progress and grow in a
way we were unable to prior to coming here. My belief is that we are
children of a Heavenly Father (God) who desires that we obtain
eternal life and immortality, this has been taught by many prophets,
teachers, and religious leaders. Immortality is being able to live
forever. Just because you will live forever it does not mean you will
be living where God lives. Eternal life is to live as God lives. That
means to have progression and posterity (kids). To also be as He is
and have what He has. Why would any parent want less than the best
for their own children? If He is our Father wouldn't He want the best
for us? We are meant to progress and grow. While on this earth we are
to be tested to prove ourselves. Should we test well, we are offered
all He has. On our journey here on earth our intent is very
important. Our true reasons for doing things will later be on display
for us and God to review. Heavenly Father isn't fooled. True motives
are what we are judged by. God looks upon the heart of his children
and knows who we really are and what we are capable of. He also knows
our weaknesses and will allow experiences and obstacles to come into
our lives to help shape us into the persons we may truly become if we
do not rebel against Him.
When
we align ourselves with His perspective the important things become
clearer. Understanding our purpose on the earth then influences all
that we do. Without that knowledge we are essentially aimless or
worse - left the influences of those that would deliberately or not
deliberately lead us astray. Setting goals is an excellent way to
avoid aimlessness. By being more focused we may achieve our
objectives. Until we understand God's perspective, we impose our own
viewpoint or accept someone else's version. If God's version is what
we desire to have we will be greatly disappointed with anything less.
Can you imagine that His desire is to give you all that He has. This
requires that we fulfill our part of an agreement. So God set down
some guidelines to follow in this agreement. It was delivered by
authorized administrators known as prophets.
Amos
3:7
"Surely
the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his
servants the prophets."
Doctrine
and Covenants 1:38-39
“What
I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and
though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass
away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own vice or by the
voice of my servants, it is the same.
For
behold, and lo, the Lord is God, and the Spirit beareth record, and
the record is true, and the truth abideth forever and ever. Amen”
I
don't know about you, but I am very reticent to say I know more than
Moses, Noah, Isaiah, Peter, Paul, James, John, or Elijah about who
God is or what He wants. As His servants that were given special
responsibilities to bear witness to what they knew to be true and
what they were commanded to say. Yet, are prophets on the earth
anymore at all? If they are not - then there is a strong argument
that neither is the authority to work on behalf of God since that is
how He has performed His work in times past. Former prophets have
given us writings that help us to know what God would have us to do.
Many now say that those were just stories or that is old information.
In
answering the 1st question
of “they are just stories and God really does not exist”. One has
to answer for them selves if God really is there and He really does
involve Himself in our lives on a day to day basis. How would one
find out for themselves? A Book of Mormon prophet named Alma gave a
sermon that answered how to know if it is true or not. In the
32nd chapter
of Alma he addresses a group of humble by circumstances group that
desire to know how to worship God. Alma rehearses with them that they
must be willing to exercise some hope that there is a God that then
leads to faith. They then choose to do the things that God asks of
them such as keeping the commandments. As they do this they are to
make note of how they feel. Like a seed that is planted in soil it
must be nourished and watched over to determine if the seed is good.
Only by caring for the plant will you know if it is a fruitful or
not. It may take time and certainly will take effort. Alma mentions
to experiment upon his words to see if they don't lead to a increase
of faith and fruit (spiritual enlightenment). Reading the words of
God and really desiring to know if God is there will allow you to
draw your own conclusion. The question is “Do you really want to
know if God is there?” Should you find out He is – what would
that mean to you? Finding His words in a clutter of books is at best
difficult. The Old, New Testament, Doctrine and Covenants and Book of
Mormon are good starting points. There are others that claim to be
inspired as well. The question is are they?
When
a person reads a claimed “Word of God” is there some test to know
if it is whole and undefiled? Certainly the message of salvation by
prophets has not always been well received as history supports.
Therefore there are those that would destroy the messenger and the
message if possible. Have sacred texts remained in tack without
alteration by copyists and translators? Did God protect a text of
scripture to be unaltered for our day? The Bible’s history of how
it was organized initially as ancient text in and before Christ's
time is reasonably recorded in itself. Yet it also records other
texts of scripture that have since been lost. It refers to missing
scriptures: Book of the Covenant (Exodus 24:7), Book of the Wars of
the Lord (Numbers 21:14), Book of Jasher (Joshua 10:3), Book of the
Acts of Solomon (1 Kings 11:41), Books of Nathan and Gad ( 1
Chronicles 29:29), Prophesy of Ahijah and visions of Iddo ( 2
Chronicles 9:29), Book of Shemaiah ( 2 Chronicles 12:15), Book of
Jehu ( 2 Chronicles 20: 34), Acts of Uzziah ( 2 Chronicles 26:22),
Sayings of the Seers ( 2 Chronicles 33:19), An earlier epistle of
Paul to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 5:9), another epistle of Paul
to the Ephesians ( Ephesians 3:3), an epistle of Paul to Loadicea (
Colossians 4:16), a former epistle of Jude (Jude 3), Prophecies of
Enoch (Jude14) and in John the Beloveds words (John 21:25) “ And
there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they
should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself
could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.”.
We
may correctly assume then that there are words of importance given by
claimed authorities of God that have not been available to us today
in our Bible. They may have been removed by people deliberately or
simple not included due to their not being found as the Bible was
organized at a latter date. Either way we don’t have all scripture
in the Bible. As a reference to lost or unknown scripture the Book of
Mormon also has a verse in 2 Nephi 28:29-30 that states:
“I
command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north,
and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall
write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which
shall be written I will judge the world,”.
Ezekiel
in the 37th chapter
prophesies of a latter day when there would be two sticks “books”
of writing. One for Judah (the Jews wrote the Old and new Testiment)
and one for Joseph and his son Ephraim. The book for Joseph is the
Book of Mormon as it was written by descendants of Joseph – Lehi’s
family that left Jerusalem in 600 B.C..
I had
a thought about those individuals that insist that this life is all
there is. They have concluded that organized religion is a sham
geared to separate a fool from their money by playing on their
emotions and fears of the afterlife (of which in their opinion there
is none). So I think even if there is not an afterlife and no
prospect of my progressing eternally, I have a life now that I enjoy
believing what I do. So if I die without one, I have not lost
anything. Yet, if there really is a God and I am doing my best to be
prepared, then I am doing what He has asked of me. While on the other
side the individuals that have doubts about any God will find
themselves on the other side of life facing the prospects of not
having prepared themselves at all for meeting God nor having done
anything He asked of them. I like my options better. I will have lost
nothing, while they risk losing it all. Which will you choose?
In
answer to the second question of “That is old stuff” You have to
ask yourself does God change? Does He die? Does He cease caring for
His children? I think not. The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem did not
accept Jesus as the Messiah and had the Romans crucify Him due the
perceived threat to their power structure. He is claimed by many to
have resurrected. His followers willingly laid down their lives
rather than deny what they knew/believed to be the truth. These were
very committed individuals to His cause. Either He (Jesus) was who He
said He was or He wasn't. He claimed to be the Son of God. The
Jehovah of the Old Testament. The creator of the world and savior of
all mankind. The only way
by which we may return to our Heavenly Father. After His resurrection
in Jerusalem He went to other sheep that were of His fold. He came to
the Americas and visited the inhabitants here as well. His visit to
the Americas is recorded in the Book of Mormon in 3rd Nephi.
After healing the sick and injured Jesus also set up His Church in
the Americas as well as the one under the stewardship of Peter in
Jerusalem. So to determine if He is real, read and do as He
instructs. Test it out. Does following His directives give you peace
and comfort or not.
Not
only did the Savior of mankind reveal his plan to us through his own
words and example, He called others to help deliver the message as
well. The New Testament has a clear example of the original church
organization that Christ set up. It was organized as Paul states in
Ephesians chapter 2 vs. 19 -20 and chapter 4 verses 11 – 14. Note
the comments in chapter 4
that
the church is needed until....
vs.13
“Till we come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of
the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature
of the fulness of Christ:
vs.14
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro , and
carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and
cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”
Paul
was obviously pointing out that the church organization was there for
a good reason. To bring us to a unity of belief, faith, and provide a
way to avoid being deceived by those who do not have your best
interest at heart. Leading Heavenly Fathers children purposely astray
in my opinion must be relatively high on His list of things that
makes Him sorrowful. If we take Paul at his word, we are a long way
off from having unity of the faith. We must therefore still need
prophets and apostles to help us know what God would have us do.
Would not it be great to know that someone is able to consistently be
able to help us know what God wants from us today. I am inclined to
believe that if Moses or Peter were here today preaching they would
have a pretty large audience that would want to listen to what they
have to say.
Other
than those that purposefully lead others astray there are many that
see different views about what God wanted for us. A clear example of
this is the sheer number of different churches which are in
existence. A recent view of one mans review of world religions was a
count of 10,000. They present a huge volume of different doctrines
and take different sides on many issues. Which one is representative
to the doctrine Christ taught and instructed his apostles to preach?
So, you believe there is a God. If so, then there in is a probability
that there is an opposition. Referred to as Satan, Lucifer, devil,
etc. Assuming for the moment that we play C.S. Lewis and strive to
think of a game plan to hide an organization that exists from common
knowledge, wouldn't it be a great game plan to create massive numbers
of similar (yet false) churches to discourage truth seekers from
easily finding the true organization? Why make the choice clear or
easy? In fact after years of argument and turmoil among fractions
wouldn't the population feel discouraged and believe in general that
none of the churches is representative of God, or that it really does
not matter which one is chosen because all paths lead to God? I have
heard both of those view points in my life. Should I be able to able
to ask God myself, I will be able to eventually find the direction He
desires of me. That would include any organization on the earth or
one yet to come. If you lived at the time of Christ would you have
wanted to be a part of his church or someone else's? Assuming we feel
the same way about desiring to be on Gods team, we all would desire
to seek His side. I believe we are given a choice. A personal right
to choose.
Many
know that the organization that Christ set up on the earth no longer
existed. The falling away (apostasy) was predicted ( Amos 8:11, 2
Thes 2:3) and seen by the prophets of the Old and New Testament. And
there is meant to be a restoration of the gospel in its fullness as
well (Acts 3:21, Rom 11:25). An organization just like before with
prophets, apostles, and etc.. Does God really care which church you
choose to join? If not, why did He have His Son organize one and send
missionaries out to the entire world to bring everyone the choice to
join? Why did the apostles choose others to take to the place of
fallen members of the quorum if their position and existence in the
church were not important?
A great video of how one man saw in vision the apostasy and restoration but did not live long enough to enjoy membership to God's restored church may be found here --
Here
is a video of a depiction of how the restoration took place--
Paul
wrote many letters to straighten out incorrect teachings of doctrine
to kept the fledgling church on it’s path. Yet, as the divinely
chosen leaders were killed, the apostles’ lack of communication as
they were spread over the known world did not allow them to reconvene
and choose successors to continue forward. It set up the stage for
apostasy ( a falling away). The dark ages were to follow. A time when
it was impossible to find God's authorized representative, but easy
to find a more personally comfortable or a worldly viewpoint by those
who sought to take advantage by their position over a congregation.
There were political not spiritual motives involved when emperors
chose to endorse the new Christian faith as the faith of the empire.
He in turn chose the successors of the church. It no longer was a
calling from God nor Christ's church with leaders chosen by
revelation. It became the emperor’s church. I don't think a
political despot has much pull after this life compared to the Son of
God. Apostasy was in full swing at that point. If history is your
thing a discussion on apostasy may be reviewed in detail in the book
“The Great Apostasy” by James Talmage. It is very thorough in its
coverage of the facts.
Having
the proper authority to perform saving ordinances
Paul
saw our day and prophesied of it in 2nd Timothy 3rd and 4th chapters.
Should you choose not to follow God's guidelines how can you expect
to receive the rewards or blessings given to those that do? By
setting up your own church or following the teachings of another in
their own church you are fully entitled to receive whatever reward is
yours. Sneaking in the back door is frowned upon in Heavenly Fathers
house. The 10th chapter
of John there Christ extols the differences of the shepherd vs. the
thief comes to mind as a good example of this.
Nicodemus
a member of the ruling counsel in Israel came to Christ by night. He
was a member of the ruling class called the sanhedrin and believed
that Jesus was the Christ yet he feared being seen during the
daylight hours. This was in the 1st year
of Jesus' ministry and asked a sincere question of the Master (see
John Ch. 3). As he asked how it was possible to be born again to be
able to enter the kingdom of heaven the Lord outlined the importance
of baptism as a necessary step to gain entrance. Seeking the proper
authority to act in God's name has always been an essential part of
the plan. God chooses his servants. We don't choose to serve in
positions of authority. Who is in charge? Who chose Moses, Samuel,
Joshua, Enoch, Jeremiah, Issiah, John the Baptist, Peter, James, John
the beloved, and others? Note in every instance they are called out
of their routines to join with God's organization or start his
renewal (Moses). Why would it be different today? Someone with
authority would show up and lay their hands on the newly called
servant and give them authority to perform their duties.
We
read in Acts of a man named Simon who sees the Apostles baptize and
confer the Holy Ghost. He witnessed the miracles that also accompany
the Lords servants and desires to have their power as well. He had
been a sorcerer and was anxious to upgrade his ability to that of the
Apostles and offered them money to confer on him their authority to
confer the Holy Ghost. In chapter 8 of Acts Peter rebukes him and
chastises him for his unrighteous desires. The Lord chooses his
servants, not the other way around. God looks upon the heart not the
stature when he chooses someone.
Well,
the answer is found in reviewing the pattern of the Lord. Lets assume
that Jesus is the Son of God. He lived among the Jews and organized
after his death and resurrection a church.
He gave the apostles (under direction of Peter, James, and John) and
seventy (those under direction of the 12 apostles to preach the
gospel of which Stephan was one) specific instructions to preach the
gospel and organize branches of his church throughout the world for
all mankind. Note how Paul worked in writing his epistles to keep his
charges in the straight and narrow throughout the known world. They
were to correct their course to the one set up by the Lord. As the
history shows even during the apostles time the church was having
trouble maintaining correct points of doctrine and needed redirection
of the Lord's appointed servants.
Where
would you find a current prophet or Christ's church organization that
has his authority to perform sacred ordinances as He outlined them to
be done? Either the authority remained on the earth and we have yet
to have an apostasy as foretold by the prophets and apostles or we
have had an apostasy. Should you see evidence in history of a great
falling away of doctrine as described earlier – then you are then
looking for the restoration of
the authority and organization as earlier given and foretold to
return. There is plenty of evidence of the apostasy and it has been
well documented by Talmage as previously stated. Should you doubt
such claim read and review yourself. Knowledge is powerful. Yet,
without a restoration we like many reformers of the enlightened
period wait for the truth to be restored. Some of these like Luther,
Wycliffe, Wesley, and Tyndale looked for truth and when could not
find it in its fullness as it was available to Peter, James, and John
an other early Christians of the 1st century
they did the best they could with what they had. All of the
protestant churches came from their views and sacrifices. Yet, they
also knew that a reformation was short of a restoration. It lacked
the authority to act on behalf of God.
To
bring about the 1st Christian
movement it took heavenly intervention (John the Baptist's father's
angelic visit and the same angels visit to Mary the mother of
Christ). John the Baptist had the authority to baptize, and he
announced that one greater than he was to come to baptize with the
Holy Ghost. This Christ did as recorded in acts to fulfill that
prophecy and imbue the church Christ organized with personal
revelation and guidance. The early Christian church was filled with
evidences of authority and heavenly approval. Yet, did it thrive as
organized into the 2nd century?
Again history says no. If the early church came about by heavenly
means, does it not make sense to look for a restored church that was
to come after an apostasy that has similar characteristics? Where is
the Melchizedek priesthood that Moses, Elijah, Christ, Peter, James,
John, and Paul held? Aren't the ordinances needed by everyone
desiring to be obedient and faithful? Where are the possessors of the
keys that Peter was given to seal on earth and in heaven? A
restoration of the true church that Christ organized would know of
these things and more. They would have answers about where we came
from prior to this life, why we are here, where we are going after
this life. There would be prophets, apostles, elders, teachers,
deacons, patriarchs, and members of the seventy. The gifts of the
spirit would be in abundance. Miracles would not be a thing of the
past. Angelic visits would resume to the faithful as in times past.
They would have new or ongoing revelation and have an open cannon of
scripture since they would be able to have communication as in times
past with God. There would be someone that would represent the Lord
again on the earth and do His work to help us understand His will and
encourage us to do what was necessary to return to His presence.
Lives would be changed for the better for those that followed His
representative’s counsel.
There
is one church which has the appearance of the original church (Ephes
chapter 4) of Christ and claims the authority from Peter, James and
John of Christ's apostles. It also is the only church on the earth to
have temples where couples may be sealed on earth and in heaven for
time and all eternity, not until death do you part. That sealing
represents the crowning ordinance of all those in the church. In
these temples, patrons may also perform sacred ordinances for their
ancestors as evidenced in 1 Cor 15:29. This church, The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, accepts all that have a desire to
embrace the gospel plan. Through a sincere desire to know,
anyone may seek for themselves if the claims are true. If the claims
are true, then there is a living prophet and apostles just as in
Christ's day. These leaders of the church then are authorized
representatives and spokesmen for the Lord. The church is then His
church, His temples, His prophet, and His apostles. What a great find
this would be to anyone who desires to align themselves with Gods
side. The scriptures have foretold of a restoration of all things,
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints claims to be it. If
it is truly what it claims, then wouldn't you want to know? The next
step is examine their fruits, visit their services, listen to the
message, and then seek Gods guidance in determining if it is where
you are to receive the ordinances that get you on your way like
Nicodemus back into the kingdom of heaven. It is interesting to note
that the Lord Himself said about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints. Doctrine and Covenants 1 :29-30
“And
after having received the record of the Nephites, yea even my servant
Joseph Smith, Jun., might have power to translate through the mercy
of God, by the power of God, the Book of Mormon. And also those to
whom these commandments were given, might have power to lay the
foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and
out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the
whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto
the church collectively and not individually-”
Pretty
bold words for anyone to make unless they can back them up. Then
again if they are spoken by the Son of God, are you going to argue?
It would not pay to get uptight with Him. Paul offers the best
response to the Lord when confronted with needing to change. Paul
when on the way to Damascus the Lord appears and states in Acts Ch. 9
vs. 4-6
“Saul,
Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And
the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee
to kick against the pricks. and he trembling and astonished said,
Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”
Note
that as soon a Paul figures out he is on the wrong side of God he
makes a course correction. He does what we all should do, align
ourselves with the source of all truth. Is it embarrassing?
Humiliating? You bet. But what is the alternative? Stay where you are
and you find yourself opposing all that exemplifies righteousness and
truth. Many find that the price is too high for them personally to
change course. So they question, rationalize, then disobey. That is
the pattern of sin. For them the views of the world are more
pleasing, more comfortable, or more profitable.
God
is not the source of confusion ( 1 Cor 14:33, Ephes 4:5). We may all
take the invitation to seek and ask Him for guidance directly. By
seeking His will, we humble ourselves to be taught and to be an
instrument to use our talents for the benefit of others. By so doing,
we fulfill our purpose for being here. That is to help Heavenly
Father complete his work for us, to allow us to attain immortality
and eternal life.
Some
would ask, "How we are to know if this is correct?". Or
comment, "This is just your opinion that you are using it to
gain power over others or influence in some way". To this there
is a simple solution. Ask the source. Prayer may be used to receive
the answers you seek. You may have read or heard the phrase "ask
and you shall receive" Luke 11:10. If there is a God, does He
not care for you as much as His next child? If He answers other's
prayers why not yours? The steps are outlined in scripture. You are
required to have a question that you have pondered in your heart. Ask
Heavenly Father directly, not someone else (James 1:5-6, Luke
11:1-4). Conclude your prayer in the name of Christ, as he outlined
to his apostles in the New Testament (John 14:13, 16:23, Col 3:17).
If that is unusual to you because there is a lack of experience
knowing that Christ is the Son of God, that is probably a good
question to pose first and receive an answer. All prophets of the Old
and New Testament foretold and told of his coming and purpose. That
purpose was to redeem mankind. Through his atonement and sacrifice
all may have the opportunity to return to the Father and enjoy
eternal life.
The
gift of resurrection is given to all mankind; however achieving
eternal progression requires more than just existing. He said, "If
ye love me keep my commandments" (John 14:15). Ask with a
sincere heart, real intent, having faith in Christ, and the truth
will be manifest to you by the power of the Holy Ghost (Moroni
10:3-6). This answer usually comes in the form of a burning in the
chest. It may also come as a dream, or a mental impression. This
happens after the price is paid. It is not easy – yet millions
testify that their prayers have been answered after they were
sincere, exercised real intent and showed their faith. The answers do
come, just not always like we expect or as soon as we would like.
Seek to know His will, not strive to make your position the only
solution or view allowable and your understanding will be opened up
to draw closer to His. The Comforter (Holy Ghost) has His name
because He comforts. There is a distinct difference between how he
influences us and how other entities do. Until you know from
experience how the Comforter feels one may be influenced by others
claiming to be good or helpful.
