060. Discipleship to Jesus Christ: Keep His Commandments

Some remarks I gave at a gathering last month...

The word disciple appears in each of the standard works for a total of 330 times. The word disciple is of Greek origin and means “a learner, student, or pupil” who “follows one’s teachings” (Strong’s Bible Concordance, Greek 3100-3102, p.154-5). A disciple of Jesus Christ is one who seeks to become like Him by emulating Him (John 8:31; 15:8) and abiding by His word at all times (John 8:31; 13:35; 15:8). A disciple of Jesus Christ is ultimately able to pass on His teachings to others. Thus, discipleship means much more than just the transfer of information, it involves the transformation of the individual.

The early disciples of Jesus Christ certainly included the 12 Apostles, but such a title was not restricted only to them (John 6:60-67). For example, Joseph of Arimathea and women such as Tabitha were identified as disciples of Jesus in the New Testament. The Book of Acts describes disciples as being those who simply believed upon and confessed Jesus Christ (Acts 6:1-2,7; 14:20,22,28; 15:10; 19:1, etc).

Call of Discipleship

Our path to Heaven includes coming to know and obey Jesus Christ, and then following Him faithfully until the end. Discipleship is about having an ongoing and living relationship with the Lord. So, how can you be a disciple of Jesus Christ today? As we believe and participate in the Doctrine of Jesus Christ we embark on this path of discipleship. We have faith on His name, repent of our unbelief and lack of knowledge, are baptized by immersion in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost by one holding priesthood authority, become as a little child, and then Christ promises He will baptize us with His Holy Spirit. That is the Doctrine of Jesus Christ.

Then, you will have His Holy Spirit to lead you. You will know and understand what God wants you to do with your life. He will put His words into your mind and in your heart, which you must listen and respond to. You can be guided and directed in the narrow path unto Eternal Life by following His Spirit on a daily basis. By listening to and obeying His Spirit, you can be further transformed into a new creation and become more like the Savior. You can become sanctified so that your body indeed becomes the temple that it is so that He can abide with you: “Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

Then, the Lord will place you in His vineyard and you will become His servant. You will have the honor and privilege of having His Spirit with you at all times. And because you will know that Jesus Christ is with you, you will be able to speak and preach His gospel with much confidence and help bring others to Him. People whose lives you can touch will be placed into your life and you will be able to minister to them. After embarking on this path of discipleship, you must then endure to the end of your life as His disciple, being true to the light and truth given you.

Your good works alone cannot save you. Even if you have done many wonderful things that have led to the conversion of many people, that won’t save you if your personal life and conduct is not right with God and if you haven’t come to know the Lord. You can write many books or blog posts, make inspiring movies, and baptize many people, you can fill every minute of your life with volunteering and service and with positive platitudes and smiles, but if your focus is not on the Savior and being His disciple, then those efforts will not save you. Your personal life needs to be in order according to the will of God. Where your mind goes, where your heart is, what your desires are…these are all important. If you have lost your way or have back-slided or have been carousing around in all kinds of unrighteousness, but have now realized the error of your ways…hallelujah…cry out to the Lord to help you. You can repent and overcome through His grace and mercy. Get on your knees and fully dedicate yourself to Christ. Promise to give your life to the Lord fully. You may have been baptized, you may have felt the Holy Spirit from time to time, but you may not be fully sanctified because you have not committed fully to follow Jesus Christ 100%. Do not give up seeking His presence and His Spirit. Christ can pull you out of the darkest abyss and free you. He will remember the covenants you have made with Him earlier when you took upon you His name. He can cleanse you and make you free. Joseph Smith taught: “You must be innocent, or you cannot come up before God: if we would come before God, we must keep ourselves pure, as He is pure. The devil has great power to deceive…Iniquity must be purged out from the midst of the Saints; then the veil will be rent, and the blessings of heaven will flow down—they will roll down like the Mississippi river” (History of the Church, 4:605).

Once cleansed, then the Holy Spirit can abide with you fully and freely, and it will be your guide and your teacher. No longer will you need to follow other paths, gurus, false teachers and false prophets, or even your own aspirations, desires, or lusts anymore…as you abandon these things in all areas of your life you will be better able to only follow Christ. However, the Lord will not force anyone into this path. If you are more interested in chasing after your own goals, dreams, and talents, or too busy being involved in a zillion other things or if you find yourself sitting on the fence, then He will not force you to be His disciple. But you will not be following Jesus Christ if you continue to follow your own desires and will, instead of the will of God. It is 100% your decision, your choice. You have to give your life over to Him and He will open the way for you.

Requirements of Discipleship

This is the way of the disciples and apostles of Christ. It involves complete and total dedication to the Lord…all your heart, might, mind, and strength…not just a trite phrase, but a true dedication that sets you apart from others. It is not always easy to follow the Lord. Although He is merciful, He calls His disciples into an “all-or-nothing”, exacting, complete, unflinching, and deep commitment and obedience to Him that permeates all aspects of our lives. Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. And now for a man to take up his cross, is to deny himself all ungodliness, and every worldly lust, and keep my commandments.” Discipleship involves giving Him preeminence over the closest of our human relationships and over the desires and goals we have set for our own lives:

JST Luke 14:26-27,33

 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, or husband, yea and his own life also; or in other words, is afraid to lay down his life for my sake, he cannot be my disciple.

 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Wherefore, settle this in your hearts, that ye will do the things which I shall teach, and command you.

 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

The word hate in the first verse is not used in an emotional sense, but means to have a higher preference or regard for Christ over other relationships…and the word forsake means “to renounce or to leave” (Strong’s Bible Concordance, Greek 657 and 3404, pp. 39 and 165, respectively). These are stringent criteria. We have to leave behind our old ways and desires and our own will and trust in the Lord and love Him above all things. So, paradoxically, a disciple of Christ chooses to give up that which he or she cannot ultimately keep, in order to become a joint-heir with their Master, Jesus Christ, and receive all that He has instead. If we don’t make that choice, we risk losing all in the end anyway, so why not just determine within yourself to fully follow Christ?: “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” Matthew 16:25.

A disciple of Jesus Christ is also commanded to love others and to care for the poor and needy: “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

“And remember in all things the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted, for he that doeth not these things, the same is not my disciple.” (D&C 52:40)

Path of Discipleship

As Christ’s disciple on His narrow path, it is important that you get to know Him. As you get to know Him, He will abide with you. You can know Him by studying His words carefully and prayerfully without biases of others or your own. You can fast and pray in His name diligently, listening for His voice to guide you. If you cannot hear His voice, then pray that your heart will be softened and that your eyes and ears will be opened. Don’t give up until you come to know His voice. Expect false voices and deceiving spirits to try to lead you astray…pray for the gift of discernment and ground yourself in the foundational bedrock of the scriptures. Stay squarely on the narrow path and do not deviate from the rod of iron.

D&C 93:1 provides a framework for our discipleship:

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

Later in this section verse 19 says:

“I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fulness.”

There is an interesting phrase in that verse: “How to worship”. There is really nothing included between verses 1 and 19 about how to worship using our voices, the geometrical positioning of our bodies, what attire to wear, what symbols to use, or what other activities to engage in during our worship, at least in terms of what we might traditionally view or imagine as our “worship" of the Lord. The only “commands” or instructions apparent in these verses are included in verse 1, which are, again:

1.  Forsake sins, 2. Come unto Him, 3. Call on His name;

Those 3 could be conceived of as a part of our repentance.

Then, 4. Obey His voice, and 5. Keep His commandments.

Calling on His name, obeying His voice, and keeping His commandments could be conceived of as part of our discipleship. Thus, our worship of Jesus Christ entails our repentance and our discipleship. Then in verse 20: “For if you keep my commandments you shall receive of His fulness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father; therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace.”

What are His commandments? Is Christ only speaking in these verses of His universal commandments applicable to all mankind? The 10 commandments and so forth? Does a commandment need to be written in stone by the hand of God in order for it to be a commandment? No, a commandment can include any directive, impression, answer, or suggestion from the Lord to you. So, the Lord is also speaking in this verse of His personal commandments to you, as His disciple. He is speaking of the things He has asked you to do through communication of the Spirit. The commandments you have received are very likely different from the commandments that other people have received. As we keep His commandments to us individually, we can ultimately receive the same fulness from the Father that Christ also received. In verse 27 it reads: “And no man receiveth a fulness unless he keepeth His commandments.” Likewise, Christ also said in John 8:31 “If you continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” Additionally, from D&C 41:5 “He that receiveth my law and doeth it, the same is my disciple; and he that saith he receiveth it and doeth it not, the same is not my disciple…”

Therefore, one way to worship the Lord is to obey His voice and keep the commandments He has given you. Christ taught us that we show our love for Him by keeping His commandments (John 14:15). In speaking of the building of the temple in Nauvoo in 1841, Joseph Smith declared: “Let those who come up to this place be determined to keep the commandments of God . . . and then they will be prospered—the intelligence of heaven will be communicated to them, and they will, eventually, see eye to eye, and rejoice in the full fruition of that glory which is reserved for the righteous” (History of the Church, 4:273).

The scriptures are full of the accounts of individuals who received a commandment from God and acted upon it. That is what most of scripture entails….story after story of individuals hearing God’s voice and obeying it. When Christ asked Peter if he loved Him, and Peter replied yes, Christ commanded Peter to feed his sheep (John 21:15-17). That was Peter’s work, that was Christ’s commandment to him. When the rich young man came to the Savior asking what he should do to have Eternal Life, Jesus told him to keep the commandments. When the young man replied that he kept the commandments and asked about what he still lacked, the Savior commanded him to sell all that he had and then come and follow Him. When the ten lepers asked Christ to heal them, He commanded them to go to the priest. Christ gives commandments to those who follow Him so that they may know Him and show Him that they love Him. In John 15:5-10 we read:

 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

We come unto Christ by doing His will and receiving Him…receiving His commandments and obeying them. When disciples of Jesus Christ obey His commandments, blessings come for both them and for those they serve. We must come to regard the directives that the Lord gives us as commandments. JST John 6:44 “No man can come unto me, except he doeth the will of my Father who hath sent me. And this is the will of him who hath sent me, that ye receive the Son; for the Father beareth record of him; and he who receiveth the testimony, and doeth the will of him who sent me, I will raise up in the resurrection of the just.” Then, we can be like Nephi and pursue the Lord’s commands until we have accomplished them, even in the face of extreme hardship or trials. “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them” (1 Ne. 3:7). Expect set-backs, delays, illness, opposition, but persevere in faith and dedication, with reliance on the Lord, trusting that He has spoken to you. If you fail to do what He asks of you, He will of course still love you and work with you in other ways, but as CS Lewis so eloquently puts it: “Whatever you do, He will make good of it. But not the good He had prepared for you if you had obeyed him.” (C.S. Lewis, Perelandra).

During a particularly busy time during the Kirkland period Joseph Smith wrote: “No month ever found me more busily engaged than November; but as my life consisted of activity and unyielding exertions, I made this my rule: When the Lord commands, do it.” (History of the Church, 2:170; from “History of the Church” (manuscript), book B-1, p. 558, Church Archives, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.)

Fruits & Rewards of Discipleship

Jesus was quick to remind the inquiring disciples that there was a reward for following him (Mark 10:28-30):

 28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

 29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,

 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

Interesting promises…an hundredfold in this lifetime…a community of fellow sojourners, striving also to follow and know Christ, a family…and also persecutions…but also eternal life in the world to come! Discipleship brings us into the family of our Lord (Matt. 12:47-50):

 47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

 48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

 49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

As we come to know more fully our Savior Jesus Christ, we become more like Him. We begin to look, feel, and act more like the Master. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18). And also, from the 5^th of the Lectures on Faith, in describing the “Mind of the Father, or in other words, the Spirit of the Father: which Spirit is shed forth upon all who believe on his name and keep his commandments: and all those who keep his commandments shall grow up from grace to grace, and become heirs of the heavenly kingdom, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ; possessing the same mind, being transformed into the same image or likeness, even the express image of him who fills all in all: being filled with the fulness of his glory, and become one in him, even as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one.”

And again from D&C 93:1, the Lord provides the ultimate promise that you “shall see my face and know that I am” when you obey the Lord’s voice and keep His commandments.

Conclusion

Christ doesn’t just want converts…He wants disciples that will help Him do His work. It is our choice. It is hard either way…either you follow your own will, which generally leads to darkness and despair, or you follow His will and keep His commandments. Doing His will may cause you to leave your comfort zone, change your behavior, and do things that are personally difficult. Christ’s disciples were always doing things that were contrary to the practices of the religion and traditions of the day…eating bread with unwashed hands, supping with sinners and publicans, fasting in a different manner than others, doing things differently on the Sabbath day. His disciples frequently offended other people with their practices, but they only paid respect to the commands of their Lord because they were focused on obedience to Christ alone. Christ commanded His disciples (Matt. 11:29-30): “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”. The demands of discipleship to Jesus are impossible for anyone to fulfill by themselves, unaided. However, He has not left us alone in this effort as there are reassurances along the way. We promise to “always remember him, and keep his commandments which he hath given” as we participate in the ordinance of the sacrament, and in return He promises His spirit to be with us. We are far, far better when He abides with us than we could ever be without Him. If you love the Lord, then do His will, keep His commandments, and obey His voice. What does God want from you? If you want to find yourself in the same company as the other disciples and apostles of the Lord who have gone before you…then deny yourself of all ungodliness, pick up your cross, and follow the Lord as His disciple. The greatest calling, the most fulfilling challenge, and the greatest source of joy, both in this life and beyond, is found in discipleship to Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Addendum:

John 14:

 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

059. Respecters of Persons

The scriptures are replete with the message that all are alike unto God (Eccl 9:2; Moroni 8:17; 2 Nephi 26:33) and that God is no respecter of persons (Duet 1:17; Prov 24:23; Prov 28:21; Acts 10:34; James 2:9; Rom 2:11; D&C 1:35; D&C 38:16; Moroni 8:12). Yet, why do we continually compare ourselves with others? Why do we esteem others to be above or below ourselves? Why do we reverence and give deference to the wealthy, the intelligent, the famous, the elite, the well-known, the good-looking, the gospel scholar, and to those we judge to have a higher status or station than our own? For the Lord has said: “the rich have I made, and all flesh is mine, and I am no respecter of persons.” (D&C 38:16). Do we treat those of self-perceived higher status more cordially, more kindly, more pleasantly, more favorably than others in the hope that we can gain their favor and somehow magically become elevated to their level? Do we believe that we are more secure spiritually, temporally, intellectually, etc., if we find ourselves to be accepted among the elite in those categories? If so, this is not pleasing in the sight of God:
“But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors” (James 2:9);
“To have respect of persons is not good” (Proverbs 28:21);
“Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great” (Deuteronomy 1:17);

Being a respecter of persons is a form of idolatry. As we allow our egos to idolize others, we take our focus away from the Lord, who should hold our devotion, our honor, and our praise. Even Christ once responded, referring to Himself: “Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.” He also commanded: “Wherefore, let no man glory in man, but rather let him glory in God” (D&C 76:61; also 1 Cor 3:21). For if the Lord “…inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God…” (2 Nephi 26:33)…shouldn’t we emulate Him by doing the same?

The flip side of this is how you view God's interactions with you. We are all on equal footing from the Lord's perspective. Your path back into His presence is your own and you cannot judge another's. He invites us all to come unto Him. He is no respecter of persons. Your status in this world does not matter to Him; yet your humility, your repentance, and the diligence with which you seek Him does matter a great deal. Our connection and communication with Him depends upon our effort and faithfulness: "And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such. And thus they have been called to this holy calling on account of their faith, while others would reject the Spirit of God on account of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their minds, while, if it had not been for this they might have had as great privilege as their brethren. Or in fine, in the first place they were on the same standing with their brethren; thus this holy calling being prepared from the foundation of the world for such as would not harden their hearts, being in and through the atonement of the Only Begotten Son, who was prepared" (Alma 13:3-5). And conversely, the source of inequality (from God's perspective) is described in this verse: "And thus we see how great the inequality of man is because of sin and transgression, and the power of the devil, which comes by the cunning plans which he hath devised to ensnare the hearts of men" (Alma 28:13).

"And the servants of God shall go forth, saying with a loud voice: Fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come" (D&C 133:38). Idolizing and respecting others differentially will not improve our relationship with the Lord, it will likely curtail it. Instead: "Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness" (Jeremiah 13:16).

058. Orthodox Religion

Orthodoxy, from Greek ὀρθοδοξία, meaning "right opinion" or "right belief", signifies an adherence to accepted creeds, especially in religion. In the Christian sense the term means "conforming to the Christian faith as represented in the creeds of the early church". Adherents of orthodox churches will argue that their church was the first, the original, or the most true of all the churches. However, according to the Book of Mormon, there are only two churches (1 Nephi 14:10-17): 1) the Church of the Lamb of God and 2) the church of the devil, which are legion.

Orthodox churches emerge from the teachings of God's messengers, long after they are gone. The original disciples of Christ were not the founders of any orthodox, first century church. Christ did not establish an orthodox church in 30AD, nor did Peter or Paul establish any orthodox church after Christ's resurrection. Although the first orthodox church was an organization based on the teachings of Christ, it was a man-made organization. Councils were formed to search the scriptures and put into words a common belief about the nature of the Trinity or ordinances such as sacrament or other doctrines.

An orthodox church quickly becomes an idol unto itself, requiring the devotion and allegiance of its adherents to its doctrines, priests, or iconography. Reverence is given to things that are not of God, because people are no longer focused on knowing or seeking to follow Jesus Christ. Instead, adherents worship leaders and the traditions of men, and do things that God did not command them to do. Orthodox churches are heavily intertwined with business and government interests. In the pre-1990 temple endowment, satan tries to deceive Adam by sending a preacher from an orthodox religion to distract and confuse him (see prior post); in other words, to lead Adam away from the true messengers, light, and truth he was promised by God, if faithful. Orthodox churches are not of God and will deceive you.

The original disciples of Christ met together in fellowship in one anothers' homes where they preached the gospel to one another. They did not attend church services in large church buildings like we have today. They did not have beautiful buildings with carvings, fine tapestries, gold, luxurious furniture, comfortable seats, or stained glass windows. The disciples of Christ never oversaw businesses or made friends with the world or its leaders. They did not have idols on their walls in the form of pictures of their leaders, religious iconography, such as crosses, or statues. They did not have complicated rules and policies to govern themselves. All they had were the Old Testament scriptures and what they had had been taught directly from John the Baptist or Jesus Christ, or what others had written down about what they said. These disciples were making efforts to write and record the Gospel of Christ. They were then focused on exhorting people to pray, repent, be baptized, and receive and be guided by the Holy Spirit.

True disciples of Christ seek to know him by studying His words through the teachings of His servants the prophets. They seek to follow Him by keeping His commandments. They try to hear and follow His voice instead of hearing and following the voice of a leader of an orthodox church. They have as their focus of worship the Lord Jesus Christ instead of the idolatry inherent in the orthodox churches. Because it is very difficult to come to know Christ and be lead by His Spirit when participating in an orthodox church, the disciples of Christ are usually found outside such institutions. Christ's disciples separate themselves from the world. They are few.

Most will not choose to follow Christ, but will instead choose to follow the leaders, tenants, and traditions of their orthodox churches. Yet, you cannot serve two masters. Why is this so critically important?

10 And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth.

 11 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the whore of all the earth, and she sat upon many waters; and she had dominion over all the earth, among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people.

 12 And it came to pass that I beheld the church of the Lamb of God, and its numbers were few, because of the wickedness and abominations of the whore who sat upon many waters; nevertheless, I beheld that the church of the Lamb, who were the saints of God, were also upon all the face of the earth; and their dominions upon the face of the earth were small, because of the wickedness of the great whore whom I saw.

 13 And it came to pass that I beheld that the great mother of abominations did gather together multitudes upon the face of all the earth, among all the nations of the Gentiles, to fight against the Lamb of God.

 14 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.

 15 And it came to pass that I beheld that the wrath of God was poured out upon that great and abominable church, insomuch that there were wars and rumors of wars among all the nations and kindreds of the earth.

 16 And as there began to be wars and rumors of wars among all the nations which belonged to the mother of abominations, the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold, the wrath of God is upon the mother of harlots; and behold, thou seest all these things—

 17 And when the day cometh that the wrath of God is poured out upon the mother of harlots, which is the great and abominable church of all the earth, whose founder is the devil, then, at that day, the work of the Father shall commence, in preparing the way for the fulfilling of his covenants, which he hath made to his people who are of the house of Israel.

057. "He has Come, the Christ of God"

He Has Come, the Christ of God (1857) 

1.

He has come, the Christ of God:

Left for us His glad abode;

Stooping from His throne of bliss

To this darksome wilderness.

2.

He has come, the Prince of Peace:

Come to bid our sorrows cease;

Come to scatter with His light

All the shadows of our night.

3.

He, the mighty King, has come,

Making this poor earth His home:

Come to bear our sin’s sad load,

Son of David, Son of God.

4.

He has come, whose name of grace

Speaks deliverance to our race:

Left for us His glad abode,

Son of Mary, Son of God.

5.

Unto us a child is born:

Ne’er has earth beheld a morn

Among all the morns of time,

Half so glorious in its prime.

6.

Unto us a son is given:

He has come from God’s own Heaven,

Bringing with Him from above

Holy peace and holy love.

Words, Horatius Bonar

Music, William W. Gilchrist

056. You Cannot Serve Two Masters

Many leaders of large powerful churches are false guides who will lead you astray. Leaders of false churches will not tell you that you need to follow Christ. To the contrary, leaders of false churches will tell you that you need to follow them.

Yet, you cannot serve two masters. 

You must choose to follow only Jesus Christ.

If you do so, you have chosen to have fellowship with Christ.

You are then directly and only accountable to Christ, and are to be lead by the Holy Spirit.

If you choose to follow Christ and only follow Him, how can a church have any authority over you?

You will then have authority under Christ, who is your master.

True leaders and disciples of Christ know they are equal with everyone else. They are not above others. They lead others on the way of truth, to Christ. They are servants. True leaders and disciples have humility. "And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord shall rule over you." (Judges 8:23) 

Leaders of false churches accept the praises, honors, and titles of men. They do not turn away such praise when it comes, nor do they deflect it to God, who is the source of all goodness. They do not tell others the truth that Jesus taught, "Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God." (Luke 18:19). No one is worthy of praise and honor. The Lord said "let no man glory in man" (D&C 76:61; 1 Cor. 3:21). Praise and honors of men should be rejected by disciples of Jesus Christ. Leaders of false churches affiliate and make friends with the world. They associate with other world leaders and governments, with the wealthy and the elite. False religious leaders do not stand up for truth nor do they rebuke the wickedness around them. Instead, they try to appease the wickedness about them in order to hold onto their positions of power. 

Leaders of false churches claim to be God's only true representatives. Yet, God does His will in His own way and will call and work with whosoever He chooses. We cannot decide for ourselves that we are a leader of others or that we are a representative of God. We cannot force God to do what we want. He chooses and calls who He decides to choose and to call. All we can choose to do is to follow Christ, or to choose our own way which leads to darkness and despair. God is not limited to our programs, our decisions, our councils, or our policies. God wants to lead us back to Him which may involve a path that is totally contrary to what your church is doing. We must come to know Him so He can direct our efforts and lead us in a better way than we could dream up ourselves.

Leaders of false churches will tell you that the church is the body of Christ. The truth is that the body of Christ are those who come to know Him. The body of Christ is composed of those who obey His words and commands, and serve Him. If we wish to be a member of the body of Christ, we must leave the ways of false churches and the world (pursuing lusts of the flesh, endless entertainment, opulent luxuries, selfishness, ego, pride, etc). The assembly of God is not an earthly church. Membership in an earthly church and following church leaders are not the way to heaven. You are not saved because you have a church membership and you go to a church. Dependency on church leaders leads many true believers in Christ astray because they get entangled in false doctrines and practices that actually pull them away from Christ.

We must be lead by Christ's spirit, and have a real and living relationship with Him where He knows you. Do not let leaders of false churches rule over you and deceive you. The only way of salvation is to follow Jesus as His disciple, having repented by turning to Christ and separating yourself from all ungodliness and evil, been baptized, and then continue to pursue the light and truth that God has imparted to you. Christ frees us from sin if we repent and do these things. Christ commands us to live a clean and pure life. Seek fellowship with Jesus Christ. Seek to know Him, to abide in Him, and to follow Him. Then, assemble yourself with other people who are striving to be disciples of Christ and have also taken the Holy Spirit as their guide (D&C 45:57).

Then, you will be serving the true Master who is Jesus Christ instead of one of a multitude of false masters who will enslave you.

055. Like Gentile Kings of Old

Throughout time, leaders of religious movements or major churches have tended to drift from their humble beginnings as earnest seekers of truth into becoming major power players on the world's stage, admixing their religious "callings" with worldly "necessities" and pursuits. As they increase in the power they wield, they generally become quite wealthy and the luxuriousness of their lifestyles increases beyond that of the members they lead. Their activities become intertwined with the affairs of the world and their pursuit of God fades into the background as it blends in with many competing demands.

In most all Christian gentile nations, there has been a long tug of war between the secular and religious leaders, with kings on one side and popes on the other....competing for land, power, and wealth. Royal families and those connected to the religious power structure received many benefits not afforded to commoners. In our "modern" era, there are still kings and queens, but now we also have presidents and premieres, as well as other types of government leaders and officials. In addition, there are captains of industry and chief executives of multi-national corporations, with their own leadership hierarchies that include governing boards and administrative teams. And of course, we still have religious leaders who manage large church organizations and institutions filled with hierarchical leadership structures of their own.

It is often quite difficult to distinguish the powerful religious leaders of our day from our own secular government or business leaders, as well as from the gentile kings of old:

• The power to make decisions is held within a small, select group, which is not transparent. While at one point decisions were made via open meetings and common consent, those practices have gone by the wayside for the sake of efficiency or to consolidate power. If religious leaders are indeed the "mouthpiece of God", shouldn't those that believe in them simply blindly obey? Members are expected to accept as abiding law their leaders' decisions, including what they do or do not believe. 
• All expenses are paid. Using the contributions of members, every temporal need is taken care of: they have the finest clothing, live in the finest housing, eat the finest foods, have the finest means of transportation, and have the finest healthcare. They are set financially for life. 
• Dress and grooming mimics that of the rich and powerful...expensive and conservative dark suits, white shirts, ties, dark leather shoes, etc.
• Family members receive special treatment, job and educational opportunities, and positions in the hierarchy. 
• They excise a heavy tax or financial burden upon their followers. They call this tithing and twist the scriptures to maximize contributions.
• They commission expansive building projects, which they name after themselves while yet still living.
• Leaders use fear and intimidation to control and manipulate people for the betterment of a select group. Followers dare not question or criticize their leaders for fear of being shunned, cast out, or cut off from financial, social, or other personal benefits of association with a church. Leaders cast off those who disagree, dissent, or cause trouble. Because the institution has become so large, the individual is disposable and is not as important as the larger system/church.
• Leaders have fancy and formal titles that those lower than they are required to use when addressing them.
• Leaders hold their positions for the rest of their lives. New leaders move up in position at the passing away of a higher-level leader. New leaders often overthrow the views and practices of former leaders and supplant them with their own.
• Leaders point to outward signs of their righteousness and God's favor, such as prosperity, buildings, temples, wealth, and numbers of members.
• Leaders rely on a complex set of written and unwritten rules and laws to manage people's behavior; yet, in many instances, the leaders themselves are not subject to those same rules, nor are their close associates.
• Because they believe that they cannot lead their followers astray, leaders do not believe that there is anything that they will ever do to go against the will of God; therefore, all their actions are justified.
• Leaders often sit upon large thrones in palatial settings, sometimes upholstered in velvet red.

Such individuals are false religious leaders. They are not leading you towards eternal life. They are using you to enrich their own lives and the lives of their families and friends. They hide behind warm smiles and endless platitudes to lull you into a false sense of eternal security. They will do all in their power to maintain control of a structure that is more business and temporal-focused than religious and spiritual-focused. All of this behavior is totally contrary to being a true servant of God.

Look at this example of righteous religious leaders:

"And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength." Alma 1:26

And the words of Christ:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him." John 13:16

Many modern church leaders are anti-Christ because what they do leads to inequality:

"Yea, he saw great inequality among the people, some lifting themselves up with their pride, despising others, turning their backs upon the needy and the naked and those who were hungry, and those who were athirst, and those who were sick and afflicted." (Alma 4:12)

"And they began to be divided into classes; and they began to build up churches unto themselves to get gain, and began to deny the true church of Christ." 4 Nephi 1:26

It is a great inequality that seems to be fully embraced and accepted as normal throughout much of the world. However, God is no "respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34), should we be? We should strive to be equal in all things:

"Nevertheless, in your temporal things you shall be equal, and this not grudgingly, otherwise the abundance of the manifestations of the Spirit shall be withheld." D&C 70:14

"For if ye are not equal in earthly things ye cannot be equal in obtaining heavenly things." D&C 78:6 

There is a great divide between the powerful religious leaders of our day and those that devotedly follow them...they are indeed like the gentile kings of old, a separate class or caste, which elevates itself above the rest. And look at what we end up doing as foretold by an inspired prophet named Samuel in the Book of Mormon (Helaman 13):

 24 Yea, wo unto this people, because of this time which has arrived, that ye do cast out the prophets, and do mock them, and cast stones at them, and do slay them, and do all manner of iniquity unto them, even as they did of old time.
 25 And now when ye talk, ye say: If our days had been in the days of our fathers of old, we would not have slain the prophets; we would not have stoned them, and cast them out.
 26 Behold ye are worse than they; for as the Lord liveth, if a prophet come among you and declareth unto you the word of the Lord, which testifieth of your sins and iniquities, ye are angry with him, and cast him out and seek all manner of ways to destroy him; yea, you will say that he is a false prophet, and that he is a sinner, and of the devil, because he testifieth that your deeds are evil.
 27 But behold, if a man shall come among you and shall say: Do this, and there is no iniquity; do that and ye shall not suffer; yea, he will say: Walk after the pride of your own hearts; yea, walk after the pride of your eyes, and do whatsoever your heart desireth—and if a man shall come among you and say this, ye will receive him, and say that he is a prophet.
 28 Yea, ye will lift him up, and ye will give unto him of your substance; ye will give unto him of your gold, and of your silver, and ye will clothe him with costly apparel; and because he speaketh flattering words unto you, and he saith that all is well, then ye will not find fault with him.
 29 O ye wicked and ye perverse generation; ye hardened and ye stiffnecked people, how long will ye suppose that the Lord will suffer you? Yea, how long will ye suffer yourselves to be led by foolish and blind guides? Yea, how long will ye choose darkness rather than light?

Yes, we throw out true prophets and enthrone false ones. We want to follow a leader or ruler who takes care of us and pacifies us with soothing messages, but whose efforts do very little to help us repent and come unto Christ.

054. Love Your Enemies

"The religious persecution of the ages has been done under what was claimed to be the command of God. I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do to their fellows, because it always coincides with their own desires." ~ Susan B. Anthony (at a meeting of the National-American Woman Suffrage Association, 1896)

"I live in the Managerial Age, in a world of 'Admin.' The greatest evil is not now done in those sordid 'dens of crime' that Dickens loved to paint. It is not done even in concentration camps and labour camps. In those we see its final result. But it is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voices. Hence, naturally enough, my symbol for Hell is something like the bureaucracy of a police state or the office of a thoroughly nasty business concern." ~ CS Lewis (preface of Screwtape Letters, 1942)

"Every great historic change has been based on nonconformity, has been bought either with the blood or with the reputation of nonconformists." ~ Ben Shahn (Atlantic Monthly, September 1957)

"The substance and essence of Christianity, as I understand it, is eternal and unchangeable, and will bear examination forever, but it has been mixed with extraneous ingredients, which I think will not bear examination, and they ought to be separated." ~ John Adams (Letter to Thomas Jefferson, January 23, 1825)

"The patriot, like the Christian, must learn to bear revilings and persecutions as a part of his duty; and in proportion as the trial is severe, firmness under it becomes more requisite and praiseworthy. It requires, indeed, self-command. But that will be fortified in proportion as the calls for its exercise are repeated." ~ Thomas Jefferson

"Most of the harm in the world is done by good people, and not by accident, lapse, or omission. It is the result of their deliberate actions, long persevered in, which they hold to be motivated by high ideals toward virtuous ends." ~ Isabel Peterson (The God of the Machine, 1943

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive" ~ CS Lewis (God of the Dock, 1948)

"Those who are convinced they have a monopoly on 'The Truth' always feel that they are only saving the world when they slaughter the heretics." ~ Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.

"Why does it [the establishment] always crucify Christ, and excommunicate Copernicus and Luther, and pronounce Washington and Franklin rebels?" ~ Henry David Thoreau

"The monster, fanaticism, still exists, and whoever seeks after truth will run the risk of being persecuted." ~ Voltaire

"Many are destined to reason wrongly; others, not to reason at all; and others to persecute those who do reason." ~ Voltaire

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." 
~ Jesus of Nazareth (Matt. 5:44)

053. kingnoahsnewsroom.org

The following is pure satire...

Printed below is the translation of a recently discovered Nephite metalwork containing the non-scriptural, yet officially sanctioned writings of a spokesman for King Noah's court named Grima, carbon-dated to ~150 BC:

"Brothers and sisters, we live in a day of confusion and tribulation. There are wolves in sheep's clothing among us, even false prophets, who have caused doubts to spread among the flock concerning the favored status of our kingdom and the righteousness of our leaders, including our beloved King Noah. Look around you. Tell me you cannot witness God's providence and blessings upon us. For He has empowered us to prevail over our enemies the Lamanites! Yea, He has caused our vast vineyards to flourish abundantly and to excess! And lo, He has advanced our expansive and luxurious Zarahemla Creek redevelopment project! Indeed, He has poured out the riches of the earth upon us without measure! How blessed are we to live under the reign of such a righteous and wonderful king! A king that loves life and has taught us to do the same, who has protected our freedoms so that we may do as we wish with our free agency, who serves as our example, and whose words guide us in our daily lives! King Noah is the living embodiment of the legacy established by his great predecessor, even King Benjamin, for King Noah is a righteous leader of both the spiritual and the political affairs of our magnificent kingdom. How wonderful it is to have a king selected for us through the divine and simple process of birthright leadership! Rest assured, 'the Lord will never permit...any...man who stands as [king] of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God...the Lord would remove...any...man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty.'(1) Trust in this, our leaders are the inheritors of an unbroken priesthood line of authority stretching back to father Lehi. All is well!

Now, most recently, this Abinadi fellow, and our former brother in the faith, Alma, have disrupted the peace in our kingdom and the church. For we have been taught that 'we can accept nothing as authoritative but that which comes directly through the appointed channel, the constituted organizations of the Priesthood'(2). And remember, 'the moment that individuals look to any other source, that moment they throw themselves open to the seductive influences of Satan, and render themselves liable to become servants of the devil;...and are on dangerous ground.'(2) Oh yes! 'whenever you see a man rise up claiming to have received direct revelation from the Lord to the Church, independent of the order and channel of the Priesthood, you may set him down as an imposter!'(2) And never forget, 'salvation comes through the Church. It does not come through any separate organization or splinter group nor to any private party as an individual. It comes only through the Church itself as the Lord established it!'(3) On the contrary, this man Abinadi came out of nowhere, judging the church leaders, preaching that they had fallen into sin and error, pleading with them to repent, and speaking as if he knew how to better conduct the affairs of the church and direct its course. We know our leaders are righteous men who follow the revelations of God while this Abinadi was nothing more than an imposter, an interloper!...claiming that God had spoken to him, yet he possessed no authority to do any such thing in the Church.

Abinadi came among us preaching a different Gospel of Christ. His message was filled with anger, criticism, negativity, and hate. We know that true prophets only speak positive, kind words, and bring peace. True prophets do not say things that will hurt people's feelings, or cause them to question their course or traditions. And they certainly do not criticize the current, righteous leaders of our kingdom or church for that is the very definition of apostasy! We warned him once, but he returned two years later bearing the same message. He was in clear violation of the holy principles inscribed on leaf 6.7.3. of our sacred handbook of instructions(4). Apostate! Yes, Abinadi had 'repeatedly act[ed] in clear, open, and deliberate public opposition to the Church or[and] its leaders'. In very deed, he had 'persist[ed] in teaching as Church doctrine information that is not Church doctrine after [he had] been corrected by a higher authority' and obviously 'continue[d] to follow the teachings of apostate sects after being corrected by a higher authority' to the point that he had obviously 'formally join[ed] another church and advocate[d] its teachings.' We are fairly sure he was not 'in a same-gender marriage', otherwise this would have been a slam dunk case!

Brothers and sisters, our leaders represent some of the best minds in the kingdom. You could not possibly find a more well-informed, in-touch, and educated group of leaders....there are former lawyers, doctors, businessmen, and scholars among their ranks. So imagine, this Abinadi, from completely outside the inner circle of church leadership, with zero ecclesiastical training and certainly no priesthood keys to speak of, had the gall to read to our beloved leaders from scriptures as basic as Isaiah. He went on for hours about concepts as simple as the 10 commandments, the prophecies of the coming Messiah and His atonement, and the nature of God. As if our priests don't know those things already? How insulting and condescending he was towards them! Not only that, but when he was in their presence, Abinadi had some sort of power over our leaders, which stopped their speech and caused them to listen to his words, which he claimed was the power of God. We know, however, that his gift in speech, his powers of reasoning and discernment, his mastery of the scriptures and ability to connect them so eloquently, and his abilities in persuasion were only given to him by the adversary, who inspired him in such delusional wickedness. Think about it, our leaders don't need some outsider like Abinadi telling them what the scriptures mean for they are prophets, seers, and revelators. In fact, one of our wisest scriptorians asked Abinadi what he thought Isaiah meant by saying that peacemakers would be blessed. Abinadi could not give a simple answer. Instead, he turned the question upside-down and tried to apply it to the leaders! And Alma, we know that he had a weak testimony of the current leadership of the church to begin with. He was easily duped by Abinadi's deceit and then went off repeating only what he heard that false prophet Abinadi say before his demise....Alma is just a copycat Abinadi. 

Look at how few people have believed in these imposters and their supposed "message". Look at their lives, these "Abinadians"! Their lives are in ruins! Family members have disowned or disavowed them, they have lost friends, they have lost the social support of the church, some have been divorced over these false beliefs, and some have lost their jobs and are now verging on destitution. They sneak around in these so-called "fellowships", secret meetings in people's homes, performing unsanctioned ordinances, and reading from the scriptures. They distribute sacred tithing funds to assist the poor and needy among them instead of supporting the ever growing kingdom, even Zion on earth! They study apostate literature written by Alma, based on the words of Abinadi, which they claim is based on the scriptures, some of which we rejected long ago because those scriptures did not conform to our current belief system. All we need are the writings of current church leaders anyway. Are these the fruits? It's chaos...where is the peace? These people are not peacemakers, they are trouble-makers! All of these things need not be. If only they would repent of their criticism of the Brethren and return to the fold of God, all would be well. For we are the Lord's people. We are blessed. We are secure. We are happy. You see, God does not support those who criticize the leaders of our kingdom or who believe in these false prophets! Did God spare Abinadi when he was tortured and killed for his apostasy? Alma barely made it out of the city alive with only a few hundred of his "followers". In any case, these were people that we really did not want among us anyway, for they doubted and disrespected the sacred unwritten order of things and did not unquestioningly follow the counsel of their wise and chosen leaders. Good riddance to them all, for we shall again have peace! 

We know that God only works in ways that everyone can clearly see. God is a God of love and fairness and wants to make sure all His children are exalted. He will give them all a fair chance and would never send some obscure old man -- in a costume no less! -- to preach the scriptures and tell us we are off course. Certainly God would not desire us to believe in the words of some disaffected high priest who is preaching the gospel of Christ outside the boundaries of the church's superstructure and commences to perform baptisms among them as a sign of their commitment to Christ. Nor would God would require us to take the Holy Spirit as our Guide, which is not tangible and can lead to confusion, when we have church leaders to receive revelation and do the thinking for us. If anything, God would inspire someone on the inside of the church hierarchy, within the priesthood lines of authority, who would help us to lovingly understand that we are off course if that were to be the case. 

These apostates will probably say in the future, to justify their claims, that the Lord always sends outsiders to bring a message of repentance when the church or its people go astray. They will probably even go so far as to say that the promised Messiah Himself will be an outsider, when we know that it is prophesied that He will be a great King, a King of Kings, descended from royalty and will be recognized, well-received, and accepted by everyone! We know that He will  bring peace! How will those people in that future day not be able to see His light? How will they not be able to hear the words of truth fall from His lips? How will they not be able to feel His love and witness of the miracles He will perform? How will they not see the fulfillment of prophecy and have a burning testimony within them that He is the very Son of God!?!? It's ludicrous! No, the people of Christ's time will accept Him, they will love Him, they will all follow Him and treat Him like the King that He shall be! It will be clear for all to see! So, always remember, my brothers and sisters, that God will never use outside means to do His work...He will only work through His chosen and appointed servants....in them you can trust!

Now it is time to make 'an oath-like indication that we recognize'(5) the legitimacy of the reign of King Noah, blessed be his high and holy name, which is 'binding upon us.' All in favor, please raise your right hand....any opposed by the same sign? Thank you. King Noah, the voting has been unanimous in the affirmative. We encourage those who voted to the contrary to please meet with their local high priest to discuss the matter further." ~ Grima, Church Spokesman under the Most Holy and Righteous Reign of Beloved King Noah, 150 BC.

...or is it?

Footnotes:
1. "The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty." (Sixty-first Semiannual General Conference of the Church, Monday, October 6, 1890, Salt Lake City, Utah. Reported in Deseret Evening News, October 11, 1890, p. 2.)

2. "We can accept nothing as authoritative but that which comes directly through the appointed channel, the constituted organizations of the Priesthood, which is the channel that God has appointed through which to make known His mind and will to the world. … And the moment that individuals look to any other source, that moment they throw themselves open to the seductive influences of Satan, and render themselves liable to become servants of the devil; they lose sight of the true order through which the blessings of the Priesthood are to be enjoyed; they step outside of the pale of the kingdom of God, and are on dangerous ground. Whenever you see a man rise up claiming to have received direct revelation from the Lord to the Church, independent of the order and channel of the Priesthood, you may set him down as an imposter.” (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 41–42).

3. "...salvation comes through the Church. It does not come through any separate organization or splinter group nor to any private party as an individual. It comes only through the Church itself as the Lord established it." (Mark E. Petersen)

4. LDS Church's Handbook of Instructions, Section 6.7.3

5. Elder Russell M. Nelson (Oct. 2014). Sustaining the Prophets.

052. Frequency of Literary References to God, Christ, & Zion: 1750 - 2008

Although an imperfect indicator, one can get a sense of the degree to which people were focused on the things of God by what was printed (and presumably read) in different eras. The words people use is a reflection of what is on their minds and in their hearts. Using Google's Ngram Viewer one can get a standardized (by total # of publications/year) frequency plot of terms appearing in published works over time that are included in Google's electronic data base.

For example, here is a plot of the terms Lord, Jesus, Christ, and God appearing in published works between 1750 and 2008:


And here is a plot of the terms Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit, and Heaven appearing in published works between 1750 and 2008:

And finally, here is a plot of the term Zion appearing in published works between 1750 and 2008:


Note the upward trend in all 3 plots coincides with the beginnings of the 2nd Great Awakening in the early 1800s, which then starts to decline by the mid-1800s. Believers of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through Joseph Smith, jr will also note the striking changes in these trends in years of spiritual significance such as 1805 (ascending), 1820 (ascending), 1830 (peak), and 1844 (declining). It's interesting to note the slight uptick in use of many of these terms since the late 1990s. The beginning of another upward trend?

051. You Want Religion, Do You?

A few posts ago I commented on the great stumbling block of the gentiles as mentioned in the Book of Mormon (2 Nephi 26:20): "And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor." Apparently, there is something drastically amiss in our attempt to establish and promulgate "many churches", because they are easily derailed and overthrown by the adversary.

In the temple drama Lucifer tempts Adam by asking him what he wants. Adam dismisses Lucifer's question altogether and responds that he is looking for true messengers. Lucifer's reaction to Adam's answer is quite interesting: "Oh, you want someone to preach to you. You want religion, do you?" Lucifer twists what Adam was seeking for and turns it into a want, a desire, and tries to offer him a religion with a preacher man supposedly possessing all the answers.

Unfortunately, the portion of the temple drama featuring the preacher was removed in the 1990 revision as it was deemed no longer politically correct. This segment seemed to take on sort of a folksy humor that perhaps became too melodramatic or irreverent to be included in the ceremony any longer. You can find it on the internet. Anyway, there is a dialogue between Lucifer and the Preacher wherein Lucifer vets the Preacher according to his religious training and his preaching of an "orthodox religion". The Preacher is then offered money by Lucifer to teach. The Preacher says to Adam: "I understand that you are inquiring after religion," to which Adam reiterates: "I was calling upon Father." After some non-sensical teaching and questioning by the Preacher, Adam unflinchingly stays right on target and doesn't miss a beat in his response: "I am looking for messengers from my Father." To one of the true messengers who later appeared, Adam sums up the whole interaction with the Preacher as a "mass of confusion" (pun intended?). Indeed. Total chaos.

I find it interesting that Lucifer offered Adam "religion" when Adam was only seeking for truth.

I find it interesting that Adam was not interested in a paid preacher man with college training to teach him an orthodox religion.

I find it interesting that Adam sought for truth directly from God through one of God's promised and appointed servants, instead of a well-trained, paid clergyman.

Are there true messengers today?

How will you know that they are true messengers and not trained clergymen who are salaried employees of an orthodox religion?

What is the difference between the religion offered to Adam through Lucifer and the truth Adam sought from God Himself?

Many people have been hurt by the church, by the religion, and have decided to leave. Because for many, the religion is concomitant with God (similar to how many do not differentiate between the church and the gospel), they have not only walked away from the church/religion/institution that did them harm, but they have also left behind or suspended their belief in God, Christ, the restoration, the scriptures, and other truths.

I find these people to be strangely valiant and curiously noble. They, like Adam, do not want a religion, they reject it. They are not seeking a preacher strongman to guide them anymore or for an orthodox religion to feed them answers. They are more like Adam than they may ever realize. They don't want to be deceived or lied to. They don't want to be hurt or manipulated by a trained preacher who is paid to teach and convert them. They want the truth. They want answers. They want understanding. They are tired of listening to a "mass of confusion".

Yet, where many of these individuals are unlike Adam is that they have temporarily halted the quest to find the truth of God for themselves directly from God Himself. Commentaries on religious orthodoxy or historical analyses will always be incomplete shards of a beautiful stained-glass window. The complete whole can only be obtained from God Himself. Joseph was restoring the truth of how to approach God so that all could get it for themselves, just as he had, and not through a trained preacher or an orthodox religion.

I would humbly plea with those who have had their fill of religion to continue to recognize the hand of God in their lives, to turn to Him in faith for answers, and to seek the further light and knowledge that God has promised to send you. He will.

050. Prelude to 1832 Account of the 1st Vision

The 1832 account of Joseph Smith's 1st Vision records:

"I pondered many things in my heart
concerning the situation of the world of mankind:
the contentions and divisions,
the wickedness and abominations,
and the darkness which pervaded the minds of mankind.

My mind became exceedingly distressed
for I became convicted of my sins.
And by searching the scriptures
I found that mankind
did not come unto the Lord
but that they had apostatized
from the true and living faith
and there was no society or denomination
that built upon the gospel of Jesus Christ
as recorded in the New Testament.

And I felt to mourn for my own sins
and for the sins of the world.
For I learned in the scriptures
that God was the same yesterday, today, and forever.
That He was no respecter to persons,
for He was God.

For I looked upon the sun -
the glorious luminary of the earth -
and also the moon rolling in their majesty through the heavens,
and also the stars shining in their courses,
and the earth also upon which I stood,
and the beast of the field
and the fowls of heaven,
and the fish of the waters,
and also man walking forth upon the face of the earth
in majesty and in the strength of beauty -
whose power and intelligence in governing the things
which are so exceeding great and marvelous,
even in the likeness of Him who created them.

And when I considered upon these things
my heart exclaimed, "Well hath the wise man said,
'It is a fool that saith in his heart there is no God.'"
My heart exclaimed, "All all these bear testimony
and bespeak an omnipotent and omnipresent power;
a Being who maketh laws and decreeeth
and bindeth all things in their bounds;
who filleth eternity;
who was, and is, and will be from all eternity to eternity."

And when I considered all these things
and that that Being seeketh such to worship Him
as worship Him in spirit and in truth,
therefore I cried unto the Lord for mercy
for there was none else to whom I could go and obtain mercy."

Joseph Smith, History 1832, pp. 1–2; 
Letter Book 1, 1829–35, 
Joseph Smith, Collection, LDS Church Archives.

049. There is No New Thing Under the Sun

Last September I wrote a (really long) letter to the LDS church stating my beliefs and raising some concerns I had about the predicament of some of the foundational doctrinal underpinnings of our faith juxtaposed against the church's historical narrative and current practices/policies. I did so in a sincere effort to know what my church leaders would have one do given they held such viewpoints.

Much has transpired since then and I feel the time has come to make what I wrote publicly available. Perhaps some aspect of my letter might be of use to you. I'm really not interested in any attention or endless debates...I've only included my name with my letter to give what I say some authenticity and so that others will know that I stand by what I believe. I have held most of these beliefs for years. If you knew me before this disclosure, I'm the same person now. If we were friends before this disclosure, I hope we may remain friends now. I echo the words of Thomas Jefferson: "I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend."

I honestly harbor no ill will towards anyone. I only want to be of service to both God and my fellowman. I'm sure I've offended and hurt others over the years, and if I have, I'm very sorry...it was not my intent. It is also not my intent to hurt or offend anyone by sharing the contents of this letter. So, please, if you feel you will be hurt or offended by reading this letter, then don't read it. I share it only to inform and in an effort to help others deepen their faith in Christ, who is the ONLY one that can save...no other man or system will get you there, as good as they might be. I must stand up for what I believe is the truth.

This letter represents one weak and foolish man's effort to organize his thoughts and beliefs. There is really nothing new, special, or innovative in this letter as most of it is available in other formats elsewhere. There are many other sources that state these notions better than I have. In the words of Ecclesiastes, the Preacher, (1:9):

"The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be;
and that which is done, is that which shall be done:
and there is no new thing under the sun."

048. The Great Stumbling Block of the Gentiles

We had the pleasure of driving through some beautiful parts of the Eastern United States this Summer. We visited many historical and interesting places, as well as some family and old friends. It was fascinating to observe the layers of history pouring over the landscape....the blend of old quaint farm houses, weathered barns, and stone or brick churches intermixed with modern apartment buildings, shopping strips, and new looking churches. One aspect in particular that really struck me was the sheer number of Christian churches that dotted the land, including many one-off independent churches, even in the smallest of towns. Even though I have no idea how many people actually believe and attend all the churches we passed by, it gave me a sense of hope that there are many people who still believe in Christ.

On the other hand, the sheer number of variations in Christianity embodied by these different denominations made me think of the predicament that Joseph Smith found himself in as he sought for the true church of his day. Those who seek truth can easily relate with Joseph's feelings (from Joseph Smith History 1):

8 During this time of great excitement my mind was called up to serious reflection and great uneasiness; but though my feelings were deep and often poignant, still I kept myself aloof from all these parties ... so great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was, and so unacquainted with men and things, to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong.
9 My mind at times was greatly excited, the cry and tumult were so great and incessant...
10 In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it?

These questions are still incredibly pertinent. These questions have always been pertinent, since the beginning. Thank you Joseph for articulating them! Yes, what is to be done? Who is right? Is everyone wrong? How will you know it? Are these questions still important for us today? For you?

We find ourselves with an advantage that those before us did not possess...although often imperfect and incomplete, we have the perspective of history. We can look back in time, see the patterns, and learn from them. The rise and fall of civilizations, the cycles of history repeating themselves, massive triumphs and massive failures.

Source: Wikipedia "History of Colonialism"

We as Gentiles love to build things up. We love a good project. It's extremely satisfying for us to organize, work hard, and see the fruits of our labors. It's in our nature. There is nothing inherently wrong in this. I believe God wants us to use our talents, abilities, and the materials of this earth to learn, create, enjoy, and bless the lives of others. This disposition has made us very successful by the world's standards. For example, whether right or wrong, look at the prodigious colonization and missionary efforts of the Gentile nations and empires from the late 15th through the early 20th centuries. By 1914, just a handful of small nations had dominated most of the world. Rome accomplished something similar 2,000 years earlier as well as other nations before that.

This inclination of the Gentiles is also observed in the proliferation of innumerable Christian churches and denominations. A difference of opinion of minor doctrine emerges, an offshoot group forms, and soon enough another church is born. Again and again, we see the spark of light ignite in the noble efforts of inspired men and women in their attempts to break free from error, bondage, repression, and start anew. Yet after a time, the purity of their hopes, the zeal of their ideals, and the very things they sought to leave behind rear their ugly heads again, perhaps in new and unexpected forms: the revolutionary that rose up to challenge the status quo can become the vaunted idol of worship and praise...the restored truths that set people apart can become a source of pride or disdain for others...the growth that follows the birth of a new ideal can lead to stifling organization, standardization, and a change in focus that leads away from truth. The original reformers can age and die and their legacy is left to be carried forth by those who may not have paid the price to obtain the light that their predecessors did. There is drift, attempts to incorporate old and foreign traditions, mixed with human folly, ego, and individual desires. The organization grows and expands beyond the bounds originally intended and actually becomes more important than the founding ideals themselves. There are subtle modifications that occur out of convenience, changing times and preferences, as well as individual personalities. The religious tradition becomes ingrained in the community and as a multi-generational majority participates it is harder to individually see the problems and break free.

The Lord showed Nephi this interesting tendency of the Gentiles (us) in our day: 2 Nephi 26

20 And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor.
21 And there are many churches built up which cause envyings, and strifes, and malice.

Whoops. Yes, that is our great stumbling block...that our Gentile industry and ingenuity have led to the formation of many churches. We are "lifted up in the pride of our eyes" because of our spectacular accomplishments. As a church itself grows in complexity, the focus on Christ is obscured and true worship is sacrificed in favor of decorum, rules, and traditions. Such efforts and protocols can distract from the point of having a religion, a faith, or a belief in the first place, which is to come together as a body of like-minded believers, worship the Lord, serve one another, and bear one another's burdens.

Look at what the Book of Mormon says about the formation of a great church (1 Nephi 13):

 6 And it came to pass that I beheld this great and abominable church; and I saw the devil that he was the founder of it. 

26...for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away. 29...because of these things which are taken away out of the gospel of the Lamb, an exceedingly great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them.

And there it is...gotcha! How ingenious that Satan would prey upon our strength (weakness?) and inspire the foundation and building up of many churches. In so many ways it is the perfect vehicle for the adversary to have power over and bind the individual. Thus, the sad irony is that the impact of a church on the individual is unfortunately the opposite of its intended purpose, especially as the church grows in sophistication, size, and scope. Although there is much good that can come from churches, and I do believe that the Lord works with everyone, when too much power resides in a church or its leaders, and the members become dependent on their leaders, the effects of a church can become anti-Christ, as articulated by the Lord to Nephi earlier:

• Man's learning and understanding replaces God's;
• People's hearts are not open to truth;
• People are deceived into believing the church is taking care of the poor and they don't need to;
• Church status leads to pride, judgment, and exclusion of others;
• Time and effort devoted to supporting the organization of a church reduces time and effort spent on the pursuit, acquisition, and living of truth;
• People's belief that they have to go to a church leader for forgiveness of sins limits their faith in Christ to heal them, slows the repentance process if they are uncomfortable confessing to their leaders, and increases dependence on men;
• As they rely on their clergy, individuals are weakened by a diminished:
• Gospel knowledge and understanding of the scriptures;
• Ability to receive or trust personal revelation;
• Relationship with Christ as they rely on someone else for advice, answers, repentance, or to do the thinking for them.

But there is hope, much hope! Continuing in 1 Nephi 13:

34 ...after the Gentiles do stumble exceedingly, because of the most plain and precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which have been kept back by that abominable church, which is the mother of harlots, saith the Lamb—I will be merciful unto the Gentiles in that day, insomuch that I will bring forth unto them, in mine own power, much of my gospel, which shall be plain and precious, saith the Lamb. 

And then in 1 Nephi 14 (this whole chapter is important, in terms of understanding what the Church of the Lamb of God is):

 1 And it shall come to pass, that if the Gentiles shall hearken unto the Lamb of God in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also in power, in very deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling blocks—
 2 And harden not their hearts against the Lamb of God, they shall be numbered among the seed of thy father; yea, they shall be numbered among the house of Israel; and they shall be a blessed people upon the promised land forever; they shall be no more brought down into captivity; 

So, Gentiles, instead of building up churches, which are corruptible and prone to be hijacked by the adversary to lead hearts away from Christ, oppress the poor, and deny the power and miracles of God, let's listen to the words of Christ and build our hope and foundation upon Him, a foundation from which you can never fall (Helaman 5):

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Build your faith upon the foundation of Christ and you will not fall (stumble). Concluding with the words of Joseph Smith (JS-H 1):

13 ...I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to “ask of God,” concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture.

Don't remain in darkness and confusion. Venture to ask God for yourself, with real intent and faith, believing that you'll get an answer. It may not come immediately, so leave your prayer with God and go on your way in faith, humbling yourself before Him, repenting of your sins, and keeping the commandments. He will answer you in His own way, in His own time...in a way that you will uniquely know and understand. He will not leave you in the dark...keep seeking, asking, and knocking relentlessly until you get an answer.

047. "Are doubts or questions wrong?"

From Hugh Nibley: The Faithful Scholar (http://fc.byu.edu/jpages/faithintellect/nibley/Eloquent%20Witness.pdf). Originally entitled ''Nibley the Scholar," this previously unpublished manuscript is an interview conducted by Louis Midgley at a BYU forum assembly on 21 May 1974. 

MIDGLEY: Is it our lot to do or die, but never ask why? Or in the Church should we ask why and expect to receive an answer?

NIBLEY: Well, we ask that of our Heavenly Father. You have a perfect right to do that any time you want. You go to him.... Every man has to receive revelation for himself, and this is very important. One of the grandest principles of the gospel is that every man receives his own revelation. There are some good quotations from Joseph Smith on that.

MIDGLEY: Are doubts or questions wrong?

NIBLEY: You take every instance in which people ask the questions, and they are the ones who are particularly blessed. Like the brother of Jared or Moses or Abraham. And Moses*, remember, says in the Book of Moses, "I will refuse to be comforted" (Moses 7:44). He breaks down; he just doesn't understand it. And Abraham is the same way. They really question, and the Lord blesses them for that. He blesses them and shows them the way. You do find these cases in which the man almost rebels, but the Lord always welcomes that. The same thing is true of Abraham.

*I believe Nibley was referring to Enoch...no big deal, someone got it wrong somewhere, no one's perfect.

046. "Here, O My Lord, I See Thee Face to Face"

In many ways our Gentile ancestors who lived without restored gospel truths were filled with more light and a closeness to God than we are. Even their everyday language was filled with faith, references, and deference to the Lord and His involvement in their lives. Many of these individuals were inspired to write essays, hymns, and poems of praise and devotion to God. One such example I came across recently is the Scottish minister Horatius Bonar (1808-1889). Bonar's prolific writings included biographies, books, poems, and over 600 hymns. He was well known for his hymns about the sacrament in particular. There is a sacred connection to Christ and eternal truth illustrated in the prose of these hymns. I found the following particularly inspiring:

• Fill Thou My Life, O Lord, My God
• I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
• I Was a Wandering Sheep
• Thy Way, not Mine, O Lord
• I Lay My Sins on Jesus
• Jesus, Sun and Shield Thou Art
• Let Us Draw Near 
• The Master's Touch
• O Everlasting Light
• Upward Where the Stars are Burning

Some of his books include:

• Follow the Lamb ISBN 0-906731-63-1
• Light & Truth: Bible Thoughts and Themes on The Acts & Larger Epistles ASIN B002ZJRS9K
• Light & Truth: Bible Thoughts and Themes on the Book of Revelation ASIN B002ZRQ55U
• How Shall I Go to God ISBN 978-0-8010-0713-2.

One hymn struck me in terms of its tangible description of the presence of God: "Here, O My Lord, I See Thee Face to Face". I've included the lyrics below as well as a link to a Scottish choir singing this hymn. 

1.

Here, O my Lord, I see Thee face to face;

Here faith can touch and handle things unseen;

Here would I grasp with firmer hand Thy grace,

And all my weariness upon Thee lean.

2.

Here would I feed upon the Bread of God;

Here drink with Thee the royal wine of heav’n;

Here would I lay aside each earthly load;

Here taste afresh the calm of sin forgiv’n.

3.

I have no help but Thine; nor do I need

Another arm save Thine to lean upon;

It is enough, my Lord, enough indeed;

My strength is in Thy might, Thy might alone.

4.

This is the hour of banquet and of song;

This is the heav’nly table spread for me;

Here let me feast, and, feasting, still prolong

The brief bright hour of fellowship with Thee.

5.

Too soon we rise; the symbols disappear;

The feast, though not the love, is past and gone;

The bread and wine remove, but Thou art here,

Nearer than ever still our Shield and Sun.

6.

Feast after feast thus comes and passes by,

Yet passing, points to the glad feast above,

Giving sweet foretastes of the festal joy,

The Lamb’s great bridal-feast of bliss and love.

7.

I have no wisdom save in Him who is

My Wisdom and my Teacher both in one;

No wisdom do I lack while Thou art wise,

No teaching do I crave save Thine alone.

8.

Mine is the sin, but Thine the righteousness;

Mine is the guilt but Thine the cleansing blood;

Here is my robe, my refuge and my peace,

Thy blood, Thy righteousness, O Lord my God!

9.

I know that deadly evils compass me,

Dark perils threaten, yet I would not fear,

Nor poorly shrink, nor feebly turn to flee;

Thou, O my Christ, art buckler, sword, and spear.

10.

But see the Pillar-Cloud is rising now,

And moving onward through the desert night;

It beckons, and I follow; for I know

It leads me to the heritage of light.