97: A LIFE LOST, BUT ANOTHER LIFE SAVED

A good friend of mine forwarded one of those "viral" emails to me yesterday. Maybe some of you already recieved it. Just in case some have not seen this, I wanted to post a few of the photos that were contained in the email including the captions to each photo:

A father and mother kissing their dying little girl goodbye.

Then the below photo with this caption:

If you are wondering why all the medic people are bowing: In less than an hour,

two small children in the next room are able to live thanks to the little girl's kidney and liver.

This story touched me greatly since I have a young daughter around the same age as this little girl whose mortal life has now ended. Although it was very heartbreaking to see the parents kissing their daughter for the last time, my heart swelled to see the respect, and the love offered to the little girl by the medical staff all bowing in her honor for the life lost but resulted in two lives saved.

I can't help but see the symbolism of the story and how it parallels the life of Our Savior. His life was laid down for us. Through Him and Only Him are we then saved. Here are a few excerpts from the book, "Come Let Us Adore Him" written by Denver Snuffer.

"As a result of what the Lord suffered, there is no condition – physical, spiritual or mental – that He does not fully understand. He knows how to teach, comfort, succor and direct any who come to Him seeking forgiveness and peace.... He suffered that we might avoid sin by being obedient to His commandments. None of us need harm another, if we will follow Him. He knows fully the consequences of sin. He teaches His followers how to avoid sin.

He can bring peace to any soul. He can help those who come to Him love their fellow man. He alone is the Perfect Teacher because He alone has the knowledge each of us lack to return to being whole and at peace with the God and Father of us all after our transgression of His will. He is wise to what is required for each man’s salvation."......

I can't help but think that I personally need to bow more often to my Savior. I need to show Him that I am forever grateful for his sacrifice, by being more willing to forgive others, since He is so willing to forgive me. . I wished we praised His name more often in our meetings. I wish we testified more of Him. It makes me wonder what do we really worship in this world? Who do we worship? Seems like we worship success, status, wealth, prosperity, titles, positions.. instead of the One who merits it.


If only all of us would seek the face of the Lord and have the similiar experiences that others have including those we read about in scripture as well as the author of the book mentioned above. If only more of us had a testimony of Christ, more of us who have seen Him, and bear record of Him. In closing, here is another excerpt from book:
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"As the Lord made these terrible things known to the man he cried out: “Hosanna to the Lamb of God! He has trodden the winepress alone! Glory, honor and mercy be upon the Chosen One forever and ever! I will submit unto anything you see fit to inquire of me! I will bend my knee in obedience to you! Let thy will, not mine be done! For worthy is the Lamb!” Then, thinking upon how trifling his difficulties and disappointments had been in comparison with the suffering he saw imposed upon his Lord, the man added: “Surely goodness and mercy have been mine all the days of my life.

And the Lord responded: “And you shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Then the man wept.
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He can bring peace to any soul. He can help those who come to Him love their fellow man. He alone is the Perfect Teacher because He alone has the knowledge each of us lack to return to being whole and at peace with the God and Father of us all after our transgression of His will. He is wise to what is required for each man’s salvation."

95: SETTING THEMSELVES UP FOR A LIGHT

Below is a short excerpt from a Conference address given by Elder Maxwell in his 1993 Conference address, "Behold the Enemy is Combined".

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"While living amid the foreseen “distress of nations, with perplexity,” members also have prophetic leadership which provides direction. Several times a year, we sustain fifteen Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators. So we know to whom to look, even though a few “seek not the welfare of Zion” and “set themselves up for a light.”

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Who are the few that Elder Neal A Maxwell is referring who seek not for the welfare of Zion and are setting themselves up for a light? When listening to this, one could assume the "few" are some of the fifteen Apostles sustained as prophets, seers, and revelators. If you don't believe the quote..  here is the audio recording of it below, and actual video footage is as well.

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Actual footage. (approximately at the 10 minute and 30 second time mark)

Now... What is even more interesting is that Maxwell's quote was changed and "corrected" in the Ensign: Here is the altered version in the printed Ensign.

"While living amid the foreseen “distress of nations, with perplexity,” members also have prophetic leadership which provides direction. Several times a year, we sustain fifteen Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators. So we know to whom to look, even though there are a few members who “seek not the welfare of Zion” and “set themselves up for a light.”

The altered version shifts from the Brethren to a few the members of the church. Is this what Maxwell meant to say? Did Maxwell simply make a mistake in Conference? Or was this statement too damaging to the Brethren from one of their own who was calling a few of them out to repent and stop setting themselves up for a light?

Elder Maxwell is known for using precise and exact words. When you listen to the talk, it is my opinion (and I could be wrong)  that Elder Maxwell's said it exactly right the first time, that a few of the fifteen Apostles seek not the welfare of Zion and set themselves up for a light. So, I don’t know which is more disturbing, the fact that Maxwell said this in conference over the pulpit exposes some of the Brethren.. or that it was changed/covered up later on by the Church Correlation Committee.

This is not the first time something like this has happened. In the October 1984 General Conference Elder Ronald E Poelman delivered a sermon entitled "The Gospel and the Church". Controversy ensued when the version of his sermon that was published in the November 1984 Ensign differed from the sermon Poelman had delivered orally. His talk was revideotaped and copies of general conference that were included in church archives and distributed throughout the church contained Poelman delivering the revised version of his sermon. A "cough track" was included in the retaping to make it appear that the revised sermon was delivered in front of an audience. This could give a “false impression” about this being the original.

There is no doubt that those who edit, change, alter have good intentions. I don't post this as criticism. I do post these things for others to be aware that All is not Well in Zion. Using Maxwell's quote, there are some not seeking for the welfare of Zion.. and some are setting themselves up to be the light for us to follow.


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Sidenote:

GALA CELEBRATES LDS Church President Monson's birthday

The life and times of President Thomas S. Monson, 16th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, were celebrated in song and story Friday night at the church's downtown Conference Center during a special 85th birthday gala featuring the music of his life.

In front of a near-capacity crowd that included President Monson and his family on the first row, "Golden Days: A Celebration of Life" featured Broadway show tunes, popular songs and religious music that are either meaningful to President Monson or representative of special times in his life.

At the conclusion of the concert, President Monson stood at his front-row seat. He turned to face the audience and waved with both hands high over his head. The audience responded in a way they can never respond when they see him in this building during LDS General Conference: They applauded and cheered their prophet.
link to story
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94: RITUAL VS. ROUTINE

A ritual is meant to be sacred. It comes from the word “rite”.  A rite is an established, ceremonious, religious observance.  There is a danger in today’s world, that what was once a sacred ritual now becomes routine.  Ancient rituals created a new person. The symbolism of the ceremony is to reject the old and become the new.  Rituals are part of most of the world’s major religions. Our Latter-day Saint Sunday Services are among the least ritualistic. However, our LDS temple rites are very ritualistic. Three important elements associated with a ritual is the preparation for, the participation in, and the recording or remembering of the ritual.  

One of the primary temple rituals is the endowment ceremony. It is symbolic of the process of how one pierces the veil and enters into the presence of God. Even though our scriptures are full of accounts of fallible men where this experience has happened while in mortality, most think that this is to happen after we die. In the book, Signs of Life by Scott Hahn, There is a chapter about the “presence of God” and it briefly discussed the Temple. It says that:

 "It (the temple) was the divinely ordained place of God's presence. It was the one place on earth that could truly be called holy. It was the place where God's Spirit dwelt. It's important for us to get this right: Jews didn't believe that God was present only in the Temple and absent from the rest of creation. They professed, as we do today, that God is everywhere. But they also held that He made himself specially present to his people in the Jerusalem Temple and its rites. The Temple was a place where they could withdraw from the pollutions of the world and know God's presence in purity."

A routine is any mechanical performance of an established procedure. It becomes ordinary when the extraordinary is no longer found. When the understanding and purpose of the ritual is lost, it becomes a routine.  How many of us don't understand that the Temple endowment is a symbolic representation of a ritual for us to recieve in mortality. If this is the case, is our temple experience becoming just a routine?

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Sidenote:

The prophet Isaiah writes in his book in chapter 24 states that Men will have “transgressed the laws, changed the ordinances, and broken the everlasting covenant.” and at the Second Coming they will be burned.
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 It is interesting to see what happens once men begin to change, alter, and make more convenient the sacred rituals. Over long periods of time we can see the outcome what happens when religious organizations change rituals.  Here are some examples of what happened to the Early Christian Rituals to what we now see in mainstream Christianity, specifically the Catholic Church. Even now, some of these traditions listed below are no longer being followed in the Catholic Church. 

·         Women wear a wedding veil when they marry.  In addition, marriage was performed while the man and woman kneel at an altar, holding hands on top of it.

·         The baptismal fonts were placed away from the altar and/or used to be a separate building. The font was often octagonal in shape because of the significance of the number 8 as it relates to baptism and circumcision.

·         Infant baptism requires godparents to act as proxies for the infant, making covenants on their behalf.

·         After the washing of the baptism, an anointing takes place and the follow words are used:  “I sign your forehead... I sign your eyes so that they may see the glory of God.  I sign your ears so that you may hear the voice of the Lord.  I sign your nostrils so that you may breathe the fragrance of Christ.  I sign your lips so that you may speak the words of life.  I sign your heart so that you may believe in the Holy Trinity.  I sign your shoulders so that you may bear the yoke of Christ’s service... In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, so that you may live forever and ever.”

·         Eastern Catholics (& Orthodox) have a garment called a “Phylakton” which is believed to have power to protect from evil and danger.

·         When one takes holy orders, they received a new garment associated with their order, and a new name.

·         The priest’s dress during Mass has its origin in the dress of the Old Testament High Priest.

·         Priests and Nuns wear clerical clothing to remind them of their covenants.

·         Monks, Priests and Nuns are buried in their vestments.

·         Although uncommon today in the U.S.A., in Europe and South America Catholic women traditionally cover their heads during the Mass.

·         At baptism, the taking of Holy Orders, and when one becomes the Pope, a new name is taken.

·         Oil is used in healing the sick.

·         An adult who is about to participate in an ordinance must first have an interview to determine worthiness (with his/her priest), Before participating in any ordinance an LDS person engages in an interview with his/her  bishop.

·         Serious sins should be confessed to a priest before partaking of Holy Communion.  In some cases, if the sin is grievous enough, one could be told not to partake, Serious sins should be confessed to one’s bishop.  Contingent upon the sin, one might be put on probation and told to not partake of the sacrament for a time.

·         During the Mass the priest says things to the congregation, and they are expected to respond, in unison… During the endowment you are asked to respond vocally (and in unison) to things asked of you.

·         The Catholic church used to offer prayer for the church and the world which the congregation repeated after the priest uttered it….. During the endowment some are invited to repeat the words of a prayer when it is offered.

·         Every 25 years a rite is executed (at St. Peter’s in Rome, and a few other carefully selected churches).  The rite symbolizes the entry of God’s children into His presence.  The Pope approaches the door of the church and knocks 3 times with a golden hammer, upon which the door is opened and he is allowed into the sanctuary.

·         During the consecration of the host the Priest prays with upraised hands.  This ancient manner of offering prayers unto God was common in sacred places (Psalms 63:4; 1 Tim 2:8; D & C 88:120; Exo. 17:10-12).

·         Men and women used to sit separately during the Mass.

·         In many Renaissance and Baroque Catholic churches the “all seeing eye” is displayed, as is a hand coming from behind a cloud or veil.

·         The Catholic church used to place a porter (a minor order of the priesthood) at the door of the church to insure that only the worthy entered.  Later they switched to statues of angels and  gargoyles as guardians of the way…. There are priesthood bearers placed at the entrance of the temple to ensure that only the worthy enter.

·         Although the ancient Christian Church only held worship services on the Sabbath, the Catholic church eventually began to offer worship services every day, at various times.  This change came from the church’s absorption of temple practice… The LDS Church only holds it worship services on the Sabbath, but it makes its temples available on a daily basis – with numerous session times.

·         Catholic churches are built to face east… Early Mormon temples and all ancient temples were oriented toward the east.

·         The altar area of Catholic churches are very ornate, with no money being spared…. Temple Celestial rooms are often very ornate with no cost being spared.

·         During Mass one is required to stand at different points during the service, In the Temple one is told to stand at different points during the endowment.

93: WHAT KIND OF "SHAPE" ARE WE IN?

An analogy:
My wife mentioned to me this past week that our yard is in pretty bad shape. Over the past few months, I pretended to not notice all the weeds, the grass turning yellow, and some of our trees dying. The outside physical structure of the house seems fine.. but everything surrounding our home that is suppose to be green and growing, and alive has begun to die and instead  noxious weeds were taking over. It took someone to wake me up and point out the kind of "shape" our yard was in.  Ever since we got married, the outside has always been my responsibility while the inside was my wife's responsibility. Her observation and comment could have been taken as a personal attack of my lack of diligence. But she was right. The truth hurts. So instead of debating the truth, and/or blaming the state of our yard on the heat and lack of rain, I spent the weekend in the yard pulling weeds. I am still not done, but our backyard now looks alot better.

Having a yard in bad shape is one thing.. but what kind of "shape" are we in personally?.. are we keeping our bodies in good physical shape? Do we exercise? eat right?.. How about our spiritual health?. are we emotionally and mentally in good shape? If not.. how come? What do we need to change? Does it take someone else to point this out to us? Do we need someone to call us to repentance?
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Sidenote:

 I have been reading in Alma chapter 4. It is an important chapter that would make a good to study.  The first 6 verses are very interesting.  Alma had just baptized thousands of converts. Everything seemed to be in good "shape". There were no contentions or wars..  however,  the people were afflicted due to loss of their brethren, flocks, herds, and fields of grain. Just like in our yard.. weeds will continue to grow and things will continue to die. These afflictions are like "wake-up" calls for us to stay humble and  remember our constant  stewardship to keep things in "shape".

The people of Alma were humbled due to their affliction, and now with a new sense of duty, they began to prosper. However within JUST ONE year, the people of the church began to wax proud. They were lifted up in the pride of their eyes.

"...the people of the church began to be lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and to set their hearts upon riches and upon the vain things of the world, that they began to be scornful, one towards another, and they began to persecute those that did not believe according to their own will and pleasure...and the wickedness of the church was a great stumbling-block to those who did not belong to the church; and thus the church began to fail in its progress." Alma 4: 8,10

Could we liken this to our current situation? What kind of shape are we in as a church? Well, by the worlds standards we are doing quite well. It was reported on NBCNews.com that we rake in  7 Billion Dollars a year. Interesting article.  Let's just hope we don't follow the same pattern that we read about in the Book of Mormon.

92: CHANGING THE ORDINANCES (LDS MOTION PICTURES Part 2)

All of us should have the desire to bring more light into the world, instead of darkness. We bring in more light when we love, when we forgive, when we repent, when we pray for charity, and when we teach truth. Ironically, part of that process of bringing more light into this world includes bringing to light hidden things of darkness. Unfortunately error whether unintentional or deliberate, false assumptions, and disputations bring more darkness to our already very dark world in which we live. It is important to expose, and bare record of these things.D&C 123: 13

In the previous post, I mentioned that the LDS Church has built an expansive movie set sprawled over more than 800 acres to produce then distribute “The Life of Jesus Christ” Bible videos. There has been much attention to detail in all the videos, from the individual hair glued on for Lazarus beard, to the words in the script. All of the videos go through an extensive approval process by Church Leaders. These videos should bring more light into the world.

You can view all of these new Bible videos that the LDS Church has produced by going to this website.  http://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos?lang=eng

I want to bring to light something contained in one of the video posted below that has potential to bring some confusion and possible disputation. The video I am referring to is called "Christ is baptized by John".

I am puzzled about a few things after I watched this.We know that one of the first things Christ teaches the people of Nephi in His visit to the Americas, is the importance of baptism. The Lord is very specific on how this is to be done, and what words are to be said in this ordinance. One would think that Christ Himself, would have been baptized the exact way He taught us, so that we would follow His example.  (It is interesting to note that it would have only been just a few years earlier that Christ was baptized before teaching the people here in America.

“And he (Christ) said unto them: On this wise shall ye baptize; and there shall be no disputations among you...Behold, ye shall go down and stand in the water, and in my name shall ye baptize them. ..And now behold, these are the words which ye shall say, calling them by name, saying:

“Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, 

and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen”
3 Nephi 11: 25

So, if you watched the new Church video, we have altered the way Christ Himself taught us how we should be baptized. John the Baptist uses completely different words to baptize. These are the words he says:

“I baptize thee, having authority from The Almighty God, 
as a testimony that ye have entered into a convenant to serve Him.”
source unknown to where these words come from?

So why the change to the wording? Ever since I was in primary I was taught the importance on following Christ’s example on how he was baptized. Well, according to this new video that the Church has produced, I was not baptized in that way. So what is the right way? What if my very observant daugther asked to be baptized exactly the way we show in this video. Would my bishop correct me? Would it be valid?  Could this lead to disputations? (t is interesting to also note that Jesus Christ standing on his reverse side of John and John holds Christ right hand with his right hand. this is even different on how John baptizes the people earlier in the video.)

Joseph Smith taught that “Ordinances instituted in the heavens before the foundation of the world, in the priesthood, for the salvation of men, are not to be altered or changed. All must be saved on the same principles.”

Mormon 9:9–11 “ . . . God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing . . . if ye have imagined up unto yourselves a god who doth vary, and in whom there is shadow of changing, then have ye imagined up unto yourselves a god who is not a God of miracles.”
“[God] set the ordinances to be the same forever and ever. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 133)

In the Church Handbook of Instructions written by those we sustain as prophets, seers and revelators we read that the following about the procedure of baptism. We state the person’s full name and says, “Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen” (D&C 20:73).

If this video portraying Christ being baptism is going to be shown around the world with the purpose set forth in D&C 68:8, to “Go ye into all the world, preach the gospel to every creature, acting in the authority which I have given you, baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

...Then I am not sure why we are spending millions of dollars to create videos which shows Christ being baptized a completely different way using completely different words than we have been instructed by the Lord himself.

God does not change. Man does and changes the things of God.

91: LDS MOTION PICTURE STUDIO: PART 1

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The recently dedicated Jerusalem Movie Set built by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is currently being used to produce Church films. The new set is located on the LDS Motion Picture Studio South Campus in Goshen, Utah. (interesting is that the city of Goshen used to be called Sodom.)

The LDS Motion Picture Studio has developed some 830 acres — a square-mile area – into a parcel of the ancient Holy Land that includes replicas of parts of old Jerusalem, Bethlehem and other New Testament-period places.

"If you compare this to shooting on location in Jerusalem, this is a far less costly option," said Elder Robbins. He declined to disclose property, set or project costs, saying the LDS Church keeps its financial information confidential. This set has been built to last over 20 years..  (maybe with the intentions to eventually have tours (like the backlots in Hollywood)

Needless to say, The Church has spared no expense. Everything is top notch. Hired talent have been flown in from all of over the world, including makeup artists from Europe. The Church has even hired two full time paramedics to be on the set in case there are any medical problems. Below are some pictures of the sets.

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Sidenote:  Reality vs Look-Alikes.  In creating movies, a movie "set" is built, which is made to look real, but it is not. The viewer is only able to see what the director wants you to see. Actors perform who are not the real characters. It is pretend.. they are look-alikes for the real thing.. A close friend of mine recently wrote  a  list about Look-alikes.  Here are some of them from his blogpost.

Academic Credentials...... for Spiritual Credibility

Emotional stories......... for Doctrine

Success of an institution......... for God's favor

Priesthood authority for priesthood power (Boyd K Packer Conference address)
Religious platitudes........ for actual knowledge of God (2 Timothy 3:7)
Financial success.......... for God's Approval (Mosiah 12:14-15) (Luke 6:24)
"Following The Prophet"........... for Following the Lord (D&C 76:98-101)

We may also mistake:
Uniformity........ for Unity.

Human talents.......... for Gifts of the Spirit

Following the manual........ for following the Spirit (Moroni 6:9)

Praying to be "heard of men"........... for praying to be heard of God. (Alma 33:8)

Official changes........... for Revelation

and the

The City of Goshen (formerly known as Sodom)...... for the Holy Land.

90: And there were MANY who could not be kept from within the veil

One of my favorite books in the Book of Mormon is the Book of Ether. It contains the condensed history of the Jaredite people starting with their journey to a promised land and ending with their ultimate destruction. We learn about the Lord's promises to lead these people to a promised land and make them a great nation. This land  is a choice land, requiring a convenant whereon they must serve Christ or be swept off. Wars, dissensions, and wickedness dominate the Jaredites. Secret Combinations result in the destruction of the nation. The Spirit of the Lord ceases to strive with them and millions are killed in battle, The Jaredite nation is utterly destroyed. We are warned specifically that this is a pattern of how pride, greed, secret combinations destroy a once prosperous nation.

Moroni is commanded to seal up these writings of the brother of Jared—They will not be revealed until men have faith even as the brother of Jared who pierced the veil.

I wanted to share this verse from the 12th chapter, verse 19:

"And there were many whose faith was so exceedingly strong, even before Christ came, who could not be kept from within the veil, but truly saw with their eyes the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith, and they were glad."
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This scripture says... "And there were MANY" .. not just one, or a few select people, .. but MANY, who were not kept from within the veil. Is this something we should seek after? Is this something we should talk about? What does the church handbook say about piercing the veil? Do our leaders encourage this or should we settle for less."

My grandma is the youngest granddaughter of Parley P Pratt. This is what my great great grandpa had to say about his desire to be like one of the MANY who we read about in Ether.

"For my part I never can rest until my eyes have seen my Redeemer. Until I have gazed like Nephi upon the glories of the Celestial world. Until I can come into full communion and familiar converse with the angels of glory and the spirits of just men made perfect through the blood of Christ. And I testify to all, both small and great, both male and female, that if they stop short of the full enjoyment of these things they stop short of the blessings freely offered to every creature in the Gospel."
(Parley Pratt letter to John Taylor, November 27, 1836; spellings and punctuation corrected.)
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Are we stopping short of the blessings freely offered to every creature in the Gospel?
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89: DANCING WITH THE STARS AT THE CONFERENCE CENTER

"And the Lord plagued the people, because they made the calf."
Exodus 32:35
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(This is an update to a previous post about the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performing with the celebrity guest entertainer and singer, Katherine Jenkins.)

Since the demand for Mormon Tabernacle special performances is so high, tickets are distributed through a lottery system.  In case you were not one of the “lucky ones”… I am posting one of the segments of  last weeks performance. In addition to singing popular songs, Katherine Jenkins with her partner Mark Ballas performed their dance routine from the popular television show, “Dancing with the Stars”. Here is the link for you to watch.

The couple performed the Paso Doble which is a Spanish dance where traditionally the man is characterized as the matador (bullfighter) and the lady as his cape/or the bull in the drama of a Spanish bullfight. It was a crowd pleaser as you can tell by the applause. I don’t want to read too much into it.. but I think there is some symbolism.
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There are many places that I consider to be a holy place on this earth. Places like Mt. Sinai where God spoke to the prophet Moses, places like the sacred grove where the Father and the Son came to the Prophet Joseph Smith. I consider the point where heaven meets earth as sacred. Twice a year, men who are sustained as prophets, seers, and revelators speak to us from pulpit in the Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake. Many would consider that place to be a “sacred” place where they believe the mind and the will of God is revealed to us through these men. You can go on a tour of the Conference Center; however, the visitors are not allowed to come close to the pulpit.
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Now for the reason for this post. When Moses came down to speak the mind and will of God to the Israelites, he found them dancing and worshipping a “golden calf” (which was actually a small bull.) We know that King David danced in praising the Lord....so the dancing of the Israelites is actually a wonderful form of worship. However, the dancing to worship a false idol is not pleasing to the Lord.. While waiting upon the Lord the Israelites were dancing in worshipping a bull. The bull is an ancient symbol for the power of God.

I couldn’t help but think how ironic that this symbolic bull dance that spectators watched for pleasure would be performed on the very spot where messages are delivered by the Men who “sit in Moses seat”. It is at least interesting to see some similiarites between us, "the chosen people of the Lord" today and the ancient Israelites.

Sidenote: Funny how I came across this today of one of our most famous Mormons in very opportune photoshoot.

88: THE ONLY CONNECTION THAT MATTERS, THE ONE THAT SAVES.

Today, while we might feel more "connected" than ever...electronically via social media like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn,... most of us are actually becoming less connected to the only connection that really matters. This false sense of being "connected" will actually damn us since we are not yet connected to the only connection that will save us. The word connection means to "knit or link together"; "to tie or fasten together", "To join or unite", or "to have a close relationship with".
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My wife and I are currently teaching the Temple Preparation class in our ward. I wanted to share the following answer given at the end of symposium talk entitled "The Road to Emmaus"  given a few years ago.  Hopefully this will be helpful to someone in understanding  the importance of being truly connected.
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"Part of the rites in the temple are intended to communicate to you things that are most Holy. They are intended to make you Holy. They are intended to make you a suitable recipient for an audience. They are intended to make you a suitable companion for a walk down a dusty road with the risen Lord who is trying to get you to notice exactly Who it is that speaks to you. It is intended to have you understand that He lives. And that He is willing to associate with you. And that, it is not as Joseph Smith put it,.. relying on the words of an old book to a people who once lived long ago that is going to save anyone. It is the dialogue that you engage in, with Him NOW. It is the living, breathing, and vital. The Lord uses the symbol of the living vine.. and you have to connect to the living vine. He is the vine and you connect to it and get life through that. Words could not be more plain. What does it mean to be connected up with the vine and to derive subsistence from it. You have to be alive, which is not inert or an object you move from there to there, if it is alive, it is going to grow. It is going to increase, it is going to improve, it is going to have connection with. Christ was extraordinary in his selection of the things that He wanted to communicate to us what He intended the Gospel to be. And we read them and say.. “that’s cool, I’ll pay my tithing,.. I am connected.”… “ I got a card,.. I am connected.”

Well, It is intended to be more than that. In the way it becomes more than that is an individual journey in which you receive from Him and become a part of Him and He does His best and use analogies, parables and stories to make it clear to us. And the history of events as recorded in scripture are intented to make it clear to us, but at the end of the day it is up to us, up to you to have that Aha moment. That He really is talking to you and inviting you. YOU! Individually. Whereever you are, wherever you are at, whatever your confusion, whatever your doubts, whatever your uncertainties, He wants to talk to you."

It is inspiring to hear others words that that they have recieved the Lord in mortality whether in places like the Draper Temple or in their own homes. Let us not be like the wandering Israelites in the wilderness unwilling to approach, and ascend our own Mt. Sinai. Let us all recieve that testimony ourselves of Christ and be connected to the Living Vine.
here is an excerpt from a book entitled "Zion’s Redemption" by Francis Dartar published by the Deseret News Publishing Co. in 1933.

“It is the solemn duty of every Christian to seek by study and prayer the plans of God, as delineated in Holy Writ. They should daily draw nearer to Him, until they obtain a soul-satisfying testimony of His reality. This information is revealed to man in many ways, including the seeing of Him face to face. The writer, has had many of these blessings – including the latter, and the Lord is my holy witness. I have used the greater portion of my allotted space in portraying the terrible judgments that are soon to come upon the wicked. They who have obeyed the fullness of the Lord’s commandments are their own witness as to their present joy and the great blessings and love God has in store for them. When they once find Him – their faith becomes knowledge..


Fear not what man may do unto you , but rather seek to know and assist in spreading the will of Him who holds all judgments and blessings in the palm of His hands. I have felt His great love and unlimited power, seen and recognized His Holy face, as once explained. Now I know that He lives and is coming soon to fulfill His covenants and to dwell in glory with those who love Him and have kept His commandments.”

87: SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS

"And now I, Moroni, have written the words which were commanded me, according to my memory; and I have told you the things which I have sealed up; therefore touch them not in order that ye may translate; for that thing is forbidden you, except by and by it shall be wisdom in God."

Ether 5: 1

The fifth chapter of Ether only contains 6 verses. They are specific instructions from Moroni to Joseph Smith. In the first verse, we read that Moroni was commanded to write the things he did. He did not write because he enjoyed it, or to gain popularity, or to sell more books, or even to have a following. He wrote because he was obedient to the Lord. I know of very few authors today who write because they are commanded to. You can tell the difference by what they write. Those who are NOT commanded to write from the Lord contain words that flatter, or contain feel good stories, or elevate themselves to get gain or popularity. On the other hand, those who are commanded to write often offend us, their words usually contain messages of repentance.

Moroni then speaks directly to Joseph Smith with specific instructions. He tells Joseph to not touch the plates in order that ye may translate. That is forbidden. The Lord and through His wisdom will show Joseph the order and the process to follow. Even though Joseph might have wanted to follow a different order, he was told that there was a specific order to things he would translate. Joseph was warned, but he was still free to choose. Just like the commandment given to Adam and Eve who were forbidden to partake of the fruit. They still had their agency and were free to chose. Despite being told it was forbidden, Adam and Even partook. They didn't wait for further light and knowledge as promised by the Father when He said that He would visit again and give further instruction.

Too many times, we are not patient for further instruction. We should avoid what is forbidden, wait upon the Lord and be obedient to what he commands.

86: SCHOOL OF THE PROPHETS

I was really moved when I read the following account of the appearance of the Savior and the Father to the School of the Prophets in 1833 penned by Zebedee Coltrin.  I thought it was important to share on this blog for others to read.

"The salutation as written in the Doctrine and Covenants [D&C 88:136-141] was carried out at that time, and at every meeting, and the washing of feet was attended to, the sacrament was also administered at times when Joseph appointed, after the ancient order; that is, warm bread to break easy was provided and broken into pieces as large as my fist and each person had a glass of wine and sat and ate the bread and drank the wine; and Joseph said that was the way that Jesus and his disciples partook of the bread and wine. And this was the order of the church anciently and until the church went into darkness. Every time we were called together to attend to any business, we came together in the morning about sunrise, fasting and partook of the sacrament each time, and before going to school we washed ourselves and put on clean linen.

At one of these meetings after the organization of the school, (the school being organized_ on the 23rd of January, 1833, when we were all together, Joseph having given instructions, and while engaged in silent prayer, kneeling, with our hands uplifted each one praying in silence, no one whispered above his breath, a personage walked through the room from east to west, and Joseph asked if we saw him. I saw him and suppose the others did and Joseph answered that is Jesus, the Son of God, our elder brother. Afterward Joseph told us to resume our former position in prayer, which we did. Another person came through; he was surrounded as with a flame of fire. He (Brother Coltrin) experienced a sensation that it might destroy the tabernacle as it was of consuming fire of great brightness. The Prophet Joseph said this was the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. I saw Him.

When asked about the kind of clothing the Father had on, Brother Coltrin said: I did not discover his clothing for he was surrounded as with a flame of fire, which was so brilliant that I could not discover anything else but his person. I saw his hands, his legs, his feet, his eyes, nose, mouth, head and body in the shape and form of a perfect man. He sat in a chair as a man would sit in a chair, but this appearance was so grand and overwhelming that it seemed I should melt down in his presence, and the sensation was so powerful that it thrilled through my whole system and I felt it in the marrow of my bones. The Prophet Joseph said: Brethren, now you are prepared to be the apostles of Jesus Christ, for you have seen both the Father and the Son and know that they exist and that they are two separate personages.

This appearance occurred about two or three weeks after the opening of the school. After the Father had passed through, Joseph told us to again take our positions in prayer. We did so, and in a very short time he drew our attention and said to us that Brother Reynolds Cahoon was about to leave us, and told us to look at him. He (Brother Cahoon) was on his knees and his arms were extended, his hands and wrists, head, face and neck down to his shoulders were as a piece of  amber, clear and transparent, his blood having apparently left his veins. Upon the attention of the brethren being thus called to Brother Cahoon, the change seemed to pass away and Joseph said that in a few minutes more, Brother Cahoon would have left us, but he came to himself again..

Source: Minutes, Salt Lake City School of the Prophets, October 3, 1883

 http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/ZebC.html

85: ENTERTAINER/SINGER TO PERFORM AT THE MORMON TABERNACLE PIONEER CONCERT

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir will be performing their annual Pioneer Day Concert this weekend. The featured guest is Katherine Jenkins. I've never heard of her before so I did a quick google search. (Caution: It might be wise to make sure you use strict filters if you want to see the following images that come up for this star)  As reported on KSL, the choir extended the invitation to Jenkins while she was performing on "Dancing With the Stars." The performances will feature the breadth of Jenkins' abilities: show tunes, opera, and even a Welsh song. The Mormon Tabernacle singers say they are thrilled to perform with the singer.
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http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=21330826

As you know, Deseret Book always records these concerts and then sells the DVD and the CD's. Obviously inviting a certain entertainer/singer will boost sales. Recently Sheri Dew, President of Deseret Book stated in Bloomberg article, "How Mormon's Make Money":
“We here at Deseret Book think families are important, and kids are important, marriage is important, and values are important … and if there are ways we can communicate it, whether through nonfiction or fiction, we want to do it.”
So glad that we invite entertainers to sing at our 24th of July Pioneer Concerts that have the same values as we teach to our Young Women.

In case you missed last years Pioneer Concert. I wrote about it here:
http://barerecord.blogspot.com/2011/07/blog-post.html

I wonder how the Pioneers feel about how we are honoring them.

84: INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR IN THE TEMPLE

I received an email from a friend who recently attended the Temple. He told me that he saw the following words on a placard next to the Prayer Roll Box. 

"The practice of submitting long lists of names of people to be prayed for is inappropriate". 

I had to laugh.  Really? Who determined this? Is this revelation from the Lord telling us that we are praying for too many people?  How many names is considered inappropriate? Maybe the placard should be more specific and say,   "You are only allowed to write 15 names. If you write more, than that is deemed inappropriate."

Here is an excerpt from his email:

“As I read the little placard some questions immediately had to be answered.  What about that practice is inappropriate?  And who is the person who presumes to evaluate the act as not appropriate?  Would the slips of paper become too much to fit into the box?  Is that it?  Would the need for a bigger prayer roll box not speak well of the temple patrons??  Is it inappropriate to pray or intercede on behalf of multiple people if you felt so inclined? In this world of pain and suffering and affliction should we limit the prayer roll to only a few select?  Can God only handle a couple at a time?  Why not put a scripture as the placard?  One that invites the right Spirit?     

That was the discussion in my mind while waiting for the temple workers to get the session organized for such a large group.  It was an interesting topic for sure, I tried to give both sides fair treatment.  I'm still not sure what would be so very inappropriate about submitting a long list of names.  Would it not speak to the charity of the person who's heart is inclined towards their fellow man?  Or who was aware of a group of people who are in need? I guess we could sit and impose all sorts of motives upon the person participating in such a practice; but at the end of the day none of us will know their heart and whether it was inappropriate or pure.  What a shame to call inappropriate what in reality may have been pure.

Do not prophets and authors of scripture often pray and intercede on behalf of entire cities?  Do the heavens not morn over all Gods children?  I would never complain if my name was one in a long list submitted for prayer.  I think most people would be grateful someone thought to petition God on their behalf.  I took a moment just now to consider all those people who are not prayed for due to that placard.....             

Just a thought.  I guess it may look funny if the pray roll box became a huge prayer bin, with folks putting lists with everyone they know on them.  But at the same time I don't know that establishing it as inappropriate communicates the correct message either.

Speaking of inappropriate, I find being obligated to make a covenant with God seated, unable to to observe the physical gestures without invading the space of the patron beside me inappropriate.  There used to be a disclaimer that if patrons had trouble sitting and standing frequently during the session they were allowed to remain seated while those able to, would stand. However they changed it, the disclaimer apparently wasn't enough, so now I'm forced to remain seated which I find an inappropriate way to approach God to make a covenant.  I suppose what I find inappropriate and what others have deemed inappropriate are simply different.  What's more important, that we limit how long a list a person makes for the temple prayer roll?  Or that we alter the ordinances and require people to be in the most casual, sleepy of positions while they make covenants with God?  

While making a covenant with God, my view is you should be standing, or kneeling.  But then again, I sometimes submit long lists of people for the prayer role.”

83: TODAYS STORM OVER NEW YORK

This photos were posted today on the internet of a storm that rolled into New York.

http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/18/12816635-storm-darkens-sky-over-new-york-city?lite
Thunderstorms rolled through New York City on Wednesday, relieving the city of sweltering temperatures heat but replacing them with pounding rain, strong winds – and hail.

........................................

However we read in the Book of Mormon a promise that was given to those who repented and that turned back to God.

...

"Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day;

 yea, neither shall they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds;

but when the storm cometh they shall be gathered together in their place,

that the storm cannot penetrate to them;

 yea, neither shall they be driven with fierce winds whithersoever the enemy listeth to carry them."

But behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his;

and he will raise them up at the last day.

 Blessed be the name of our God; let us sing to his praise,

yea, let us give thanks to his holy name, for he doth work righteousness forever

Alma 26: 6-8

82: DREAM ABOUT A TRUE PROPHET

I normally don't share personal things on this blog, but feel that I should share the following:

A few nights ago I had a dream that I was in a large crowded building. There was a man in the building that I recognized as a friend of mine. He walked with me down to a smaller room in the building. He opened the door leading into this tiny room. It was empty and void of any grandeur. After we both entered into this room, this man sat down on the floor, Indian style. He was wearing ordinary clothes. He drew out and opened up a Book and placed it before him.  It was the Book that was important, not him.. It was the scriptures. He began to read, teach, explain, expound, and expand the words of God. The words he spoke pierced my heart. I knew and recognized that this was a true Prophet of God.. A true prophet is not Higher or Holier. He sits down on the floor at the same level of the student. He points others to Christ.  He doesn't sit in a higher position, or on a chair with armrests with fine deep colored fabric.

A true prophet is someone who has a testimony of Jesus.  A prophet knows Christ. He does not speak about himself or share his successes and victories. A prophet preaches of the need of repentance and our dependence on Christ's Atonement. He knows the fallen nature of man. A prophet reveals truth, A prophet "sees", A prophet testifies and prophesies. He is a prophet, seer, and revelator.

In the Book of Mormon we read about examples of  true prophets and false prophets. Lehi was a true prophet. He followed Christ. He spoke truth.

I quote from a recent blog post:

"Lehi propounded a true message, Korihor a false one. Lehi was Christ-like. Korihor was an anti-Christ. Lehi spoke the truth. Korihor was a liar. They were polar opposites.The difference between truth and error does not lie in the difference between religion and irreligion, but instead between true religion which will save, and false religion which cannot save. If it were any less a test, the very elect would not be deceived in the last days. Unless there are false prophets claiming they are authorized by God to preach false and idle messages, God cannot send true ones to declare the truth. The opposition of the one is required for the other. The enemy of your soul does not create a new religion, but immitates the true one. The Lord's messenger will be mirrored by the adversary's, but the reflected image will be reversed. Those who follow the image will find themselves descending, while they think they are ascending to God. Hence the name: "the Deceiver." He deceives, and even mirrors God's angels by the claim to be an "angel of light" while spreading darkness. The Deceiver's false prophets will point you to themselves, to their great works, wonderful accomplishments, and the pride you should take in following them. The Lord's will point you to Him and preach repentance. The false prophets will speak of riches here, and suggest God's favor can be measured by success in this world. The Lord will speak only of riches in another world which are only obtained through the sacrifice of all things here." Snuffer

81: MORE REAL ESTATE "INVESTMENTS" FOR THE LDS CHURCH

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is hoping to develop 140 acres of farmland in Layton into a multi-use real estate development patterned after  Daybreak in South Jordan with a mix of residential, commercial, office, civic and recreational uses.
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On April 5, 2012 the City Council approved the zone for commercial development and applied it to 107 acres of farmland along Hill Field Road currently owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints. . The other 30-plus acres planned for the project already are zoned for commercial and professional use.

However, thousands of residents are opposed to the LDS plans developing a Daybreak-like development on this land in west Layton. They've gathered more than enough signatures to bring the issue to a public vote. Brian Pead, part of the group Citizens for Responsible Growth in West Layton, said more than 6,600 signatures were collected — roughly 1,800 more than required.

The group is hoping voters will overturn actions by the Layton City Council last month that pave the way for development of West Layton Village, a 140-acre village center planned for the north and south sides of Hill Field Road between 2200 West and 2700 West. 

The property is owned by the LDS Church, but the West Layton Village project is being developed by the city and its planners, with assistance from consultants jointly hired by the city and Property Reserve Inc., a real-estate arm of the  LDS Church.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865557948/Voters-will-decide-whether-West-Layton-Village-moves-forward.html?pg=all

“We do not need another apartment building, grocery store, gas station, restaurant or doughnut shop in Layton. We have plenty.” One of the concern residents in Layton said.  http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765575174/Layton-City-must-preserve-local-farms.html?pg=all

I am just curious, I wonder if a letter will be sent prior the vote asking LDS church members to support and sustain the Church Leaders desires to develop this 140 acres of farmland into a real estate investment?


SIDENOTE:

There is good news for another LDS Church real estate development in West Valley called the Highbury Centre. Target, the anchor store of the 40 acre shopping center in West Valley is now starting to interview candidates.
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/54255179-79/target-west-valley-fair.html.csp

The Highbury Centre, which is across the street from WinCo, is being developed by Suburban Land Reserve Inc., another real estate arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/51891885-78/target-store-west-valley.html.csp