154: INCOMPLETE PERSPECTIVE

The word 'perspective' comes from the Latin preposition 'per' and the Latin verb 'spicio'. 'Per' is a preposition which means "thoroughly" … and the verb 'spicio' means "to see" or "to observe". So the root meaning of the word 'perspective' is to "observe thoroughly".

Sometimes our perspective on things is not accurate, and rarely, if ever complete. Many times we see from a certain vantage point and think that it is all there is know about a subject. As mortals, we don't observe thoroughly.. our perspective is incomplete.

Here is a good illustration. Below are some photographs of Mt. Olympus taken from different angles and at different times of the year. They are all of the exact same mountain, yet the mountain looks completely different depending on your viewpoint and the time of year. Mount Olympus is where I was born and raised. I have hiked this mountain with my dad, as well as with my wife. I know the mountain well, but even I still have not seen the mountain from every angle.

Someone could be viewing the mountain from the front, and his description of the face of the mountain would be accurate, another could be viewing the mountain from the side and his view would be accurate as well, but would differ from the others perspective. We would do well to learn from all perspectives, not limit our views. It is my opinion that Zion will be comprised of people who all know the "mountain".. and have reached the summit, but possibly from different vantage points and have taken different trails to reach the top... What is then so beautiful, is that we can learn from each other and have a more complete perspective.

 Views of Mount Olympus in Salt Lake City

...

That beginning said... the various earthly perspectives of this mountain is only the beginning. All things should be viewed with a heavenly perspective. Below are a few photos I took of this same mountain, Mt. Olympus with the sun. No longer does the mountain become the focal point, but it is the light of the sun and colors that create the beauty. These are examples of what it looks like when heaven meets earth. Our perspective increases when we view things from an eternal perspective.

...

May we have our eye more fully opened, may we have ears more fully tuned, may we be more open to see things from all perspectives, and may we be humble and teachable to learn more about our true nature and our divine mission in helping to connect heaven to earth, and with God to Man.

... 

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153: THE TRANSITION... MOVING TO THE NEXT STAGE

Today is 3.1.13.

I’ve been working on this post for a few days and thought today would be a good day to post this. I think it is important for many reasons. I took the above photograph because I think it is highly symbolic. You can see two hands, a younger looking hand on the left, and a more adult hand on the right. The young hand can either be interpreted as letting go of the rod, or actually reaching up and trying to grab it. I think it represents both.  The rod then seems to vanish and then is replaced by an actual hand which is parting the veil. I use this photo to hopefully illustrate a few stages in the progression of faith. These stages are based off of James Fowler’s book, Stages of Faith written in 1981. While some might already be aware of his research, I think it might be useful to a few that might understand more fully what is currently happening in masses within the LDS Church, as well as other religions. The Lord is hastening his work and it is beautiful to witness and be a small part in what is happening.

The following is a brief synopsis of each stage we go through in our development of Faith. Stages 3, 4, 5 are the most important to understand  for us at this time. I have taken some liberty in expressing some variations to Fowler’s work, but the main concepts remains the same.

Stage 1: Primal Faith: (birth to child):

In this first stage, we develop basic faith and trust in those we love, primarily our parents who provide our basic needs for life. For example, if I cry, Mom will feed me or pick me up. Simple concepts of good and bad are taught. We learn that obeying the “rules” is important because it means avoiding punishment. Rules are seen as being fixed and absolute. It is in this stage that we learn the most basic ideas about love and God.

Stage 2: Child-like Faith: (child to teenager):

Faith increases outside of the family structure. We continue to accept the ideas about God in very literal ways. God lives up in the sky with the angels. He is our Heavenly Father. We are his children. The Devil lives in Hell and he tempts us to do evil. Decisions are made based on the principle of "What's in it for me?" Obeying the rules is important because we receive rewards. "If I follow the rules, God will give me a good life." "If I pray, God will grant my wish." In this stage, we begin to sort out the “real” from the “make-believe.”

Stage 3: Institutional Faith: (teenager to adult)

At this stage we rely on a religious institution to give us stability and to give us answers to our questions about things we don’t understand. If those in authority say it is so, it must be true. We tend to have a hard time seeing outside our “box”. The authority of the leaders is emphasized to the individuals or groups that represent one's beliefs.. We become attached to the forms of our religion and get extremely upset when these are called into question. This is the stage in which many people never move beyond it. This stage can also be called "Conventional/Group Faith", meaning that most people in this stage see themselves as believing what "everybody else" believes and would be reluctant to stop believing it because of the need they feel to stay connected with their group. Here authority is located outside the self - in the church leaders, in the government, in the social group.

In this stage, the church is like a wise and protective parent; we trust it implicitly

Most of the people in traditional churches are at this stage. Religious institutions "work best" if the majority of their congregation is in Stage 3 and the institutions discourage people from questioning since it threatens the viability of the institution if people start questioning!)

When a person cognitively realizes that there are contradictions between some of his authority sources and is ready to actually reflect realistically on them, he begins to be ready to move to the Fourth Stage.

Stage 4 – Skeptical Faith (questioning adult):

In this stage, we begin questioning what we took for granted in Stage 3; most experience negative emotion toward Stage 3 experiences. This is the tough stage, when people start seeing outside the box and realizing that there are other "boxes". They begin to critically examine their beliefs on their own and often become disillusioned with their former faith. Ironically, the Stage 3 people usually think that Stage 4 people have become "apostate" when in reality they have actually moved forward. Those who break out of the previous stage usually do so when they start seriously questioning things on their own. A lot of the time, this stage ends up being very non-religious and some people stay in it permanently. Religious groups are always trying to discourage people from making this step.

In this Stage, the church is like a parent whose flaws and mistakes are exposed at their worst

Stage 5 – Mystical Faith: (maturing adult):

It is in this stage that acceptance or reconciliation is reached. It is coming to terms with what we learned in Stage 4 and transcending above it. They start to accept the paradoxes in life. They begin to see life as a mystery and often return to sacred stories and symbols but this time without being stuck in a theological box. People at this stage sometimes disobey what were previous rules in stage 3, if they find them to be inconsistent with their paradigm shift. They have experienced connection with heaven, and have been comforted from the pain they experienced in Stage 4. Most people in stage 3 do not like people in stage 5. Stage 3 perceive Stage 5 people to be off the mark, misguided, unruly, and apostate.

In this stage, the church is like a sweet grandparent that sometimes says wise things, sometimes funny or antiquated things, but is a benevolent forebear, and we excuse their shortcomings and failures.

Stage 6 –Transcendental Faith: (selfless adult):

It is in this stage that we gain complete internal peace and wisdom, becoming a whole person with spiritual power and insight. Those who do live their lives to the full in service of others without any real worries or doubts. Few people operate at this stage all the time. It is the ability to put oneself in other people's shoes, and actually become a mediator for them. At this stage, people have a principled conscience and will follow universal ethical principles regardless of what the official laws and rules are.

Stage 7: Completed Faith: (graduated adult):

I have added this additional stage. (mainly because I like the number 7 as the number for completion.) This is just my opinion, but I feel in this stage, the person is willing to and sometimes even are required to die, becoming a martyr for the cause.

In closing:

I wanted to post the above photograph and label it to what I see as a great illustration of the Stages 3, Stage 4, and Stage 5 look like. I know that most of the posts on this blog have been to leading Stage 3 people into Stage 4. I have learned that leaving stage 3 before the person is ready can be damaging. It actually can do more damage than good. Each stage is very important to go through. The journey should be individual and on their own terms. Focusing on pointing and helping the stage 4 people into Stage 5 should be a work that all of us should be engaged in, if not only personally, but also in helping others.

  

152: PRESERVING THE SHELL

On December 17, 2010, a fire started inside the Provo Tabernacle. It basically destroyed everything inside the walls. Because the Tabernacle is such an iconic building that has been apart of tradition in Utah Valley since 1883, the outer structure has been preserved. Currently nothing is inside these walls. It is hollow, it is a shell.  The plans now are to built a temple within the confines of the shell.

This is quite a project for the Church to undertake.

This photo brought a few thoughts to my mind. This is my opinion, but too often, I think we limit ourselves in our sacred experiences when we have restrictions, walls, and barriers that we need to fit things into.  I wonder if instead of outside appearance/walls  directing or dictating what the inside will look like....that we were free to have the inside direct what the outside looks like.

I have always liked this quote by President Ezra Taft Benson:

“The Lord works from the inside out.

The world works from the outside in"
....

PS... I  have appreciated the well wishes to my toe for those who read my previous blog. For the record, I did not keep my toenail/shell. I am patiently allowing a new nail/shell to grow in its place.

Unrelated News Story:
Some unrelated news item was left on a previous post about the LDS Church business partner  in the building of City Creek Shopping Center. Interesting times we live in:  City Creek Taubman LINK
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150: CONNECTED TO THE LIVING VINE

Below is a statue I discovered in Liberty Park in Salt Lake City.  It depicts a young man lifting his friend to higher ground. They are connected by holding on to each others arms. It is difficult to see the delineation between their two arms. It is as if they have joined and melded together, There is no separation. They are unified, and they are one. 

It is a blessing when friendships like this can be formed here in mortality. These friendships give us insight on the type of relationship we need to have with our Savior. Christ uses the example of a living "vine" to describe himself in John 15:1  "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman." This description suggests that we should have a living connection to the Him. A living connection implies you are in contact with Him. You hear from and listen to Him. He is a part of you and an active part of your life and growth.

A friend of mine stated, "How each of us received contact with God, how we hear His voice, and what gifts we possess are unique. There is no single, universal way for one to hear His voice and know that He is. And so it is a mistake to ignore your own unique talent for "hearing" your Father in Heaven. He did not send you here powerless to hear Him. But it will require you to develop the capacity. Relying merely upon your "feeling" or "emotions" alone is insufficient; you must learn to hear His voice."

Sidenote:

Here is another quote about the importance of friendship from a blog that I think is worth reading:  Weeping for Zion

"One thing I am eternally grateful for is friendship.  Having others around me, to lift me up when things get hard or to share in the best moments of this wonderful life is a precious gift that we should always try to nurture.  Those who connect like this often feel like there is a tangible feeling of ‘oneness’ that is invaluable for both and all parties."

The author of the blog is currently expounding on the Book of John. He is currently on chapter 15.

"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Greater love hath no man this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

These things I command you, that ye love one another."

John 15: 12-17

149: MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS EAGLES.

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary;

and they shall walk, and not faint."

Isaiah 40:31

This statue is located in a small upstairs room in the Church History Museum in Salt Lake. I stumbled upon it last year trying to find a secluded place. It was a tender mercy. It is symbolic to me in many ways.  Here is the story behind the sculpture:

 The Hopi tell the story of a chief’s son who was given an eagle to raise for a ritual sacrifice. The boy grew to love the eagle, and rather than see it killed, he set it free. As punishment, the boy was banished from his village. In the wilderness, the eagle protected the boy and taught him to fish and hunt. Becoming lonely, the boy decided to return to his village. His people were frightened by his survival and knowledge. Assuming that he had survived by magic, the villagers had him bound. In an effort to drive him away, the youth of the village tied eagle feathers on his arms and back and taunted him. Hearing the eagle’s call, the boy ascended a cliff and leaped. At the moment of leaving the ground, he was transformed into an eagle and he flew to the sun.

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"And he said unto them,

Wheresoever the body is gathered; or, in other words,

whithersoever the saints are gathered, thither will the eagles be gathered together;

or, thither will the remainder be gathered together"

JST Luke 17:37

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"And now I show unto you a parable.

Behold, wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together; so likewise shall mine elect be gathered from the four quarters of the earth."

JST Matthew 1:27

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148: OUR DESIRES

DESIRES OF AN "IDEAL"  MAN vs. AN "IDOL" MAN

According to a survey that I found online, the most desired thing most Americans (men and women) want is more money. Rounding out the list of other desires include the following:

• wanting to look better
• wanting to get a higher paying job
• wanting to save more money
• wanting to be popular
• wanting more free time
• wanting more fun, recreation, and pleasure
• not wanting to be lonely
• wanting to be comfortable

In complete contrast, we read in Abraham 1:2, the desires of Abraham' heart.  In just one verse, here are a few desires that  he sought after.

• to be a greater follower of righteousness
• to be one who possessed greater knowledge
• to be a father of many nations and a prince of peace,
• to receive instructions and  keep the commandments of God
• to become a rightful heir, a High Priest and hold the right belonging to the fathers.

I think it is important to point out that this verse in Abraham 1:2 is in chiasm form. Here is the entire verse in the chiastic structure.

1: And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me:
   2: I sought for the blessings of the fathers,
      3: and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same;
         4: having been myself a follower of righteousness,
             5: desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge,
         4: and to be a greater follower of righteousness,
              5: and to possess a greater knowledge,
                     6: and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace,
              5: and desiring to receive instructions,
         4: and to keep the commandments of God.
      3: I became a rightful heir, a High Priest,
   2: holding the right belonging to the fathers
1: It was conferred upon me from the fathers."

The center of the chiasm is to be a Father and to be a Prince of Peace. Once again, the reference to Christ who is the IDEAL... the Prince of Peace.
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CHARACTER TRAITS OF AN "IDEAL"  MAN vs. AN "IDOL" MAN

Unlike the surveys conducted for popular magazines found at the checkout lines at the grocery stores.. which list the qualities an "ideal" man from physical attributes like large muscles, and his possessions from cars, to his job and  his  income. I've been reading Hugh Nibleys book, Abraham in Egypt. I came across a paragraph that outlines a few characteristics of an "ideal" man using Abraham as the example. This list is complete contrast to what the world considers as the "ideal man".

• He is dependent on God's guidance and mercy... 
• He is a pillar of strength to others in time of crisis, 
• He is the support of all in time of need,
• He is concerned before all for the care of the poor and the weak.  
• He is self-disciplined and good-natured, 
• He is utterly devoid of any trace of meanness, arrogance, or covetousness,
• He is kind-hearted and fair to everyone
• He is bold and independent in thought and action
• He has quick intelligence to "solve difficult problems"
• He has a special concern for the helpless,
• He is ever aware that the secret of survival in bad times is working together.
• His hospitality is boundless.
• He wants everybody to be happy in serving God.
• and finally he seeks "not for prosperity but for the salvation of men."

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Sidenote: 

A friend of mine asked me the other day what my greatest desire of my heart is .It is a question that we all should ask ourselves. He sent the below link to this video. I think it is well done.   .

147: BEING ADDED UPON

"and they who keep their second estate
shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever."

ABRAHAM:

THE FRIEND OF GOD because he was the FRIEND TO MAN.

From Abram to Abraham, to Father Abraham, we see a beautiful progression in names and titles being added upon to Abraham. Because of his lifelong practice of unwavering faith, God gave Abraham covenant blessings, including that his descendants would be as numberous as the stars.

His unquestioning trust in God and the beautiful friendship he built with the Most High brought these covenant promises into his family and they persist to this day.  Millions of Arabs acknowledge Abraham as their lineal parent, as do millions of Jews.  Latter-day Saints hold him as their forefather, as well as more than one billion other Christians and Muslims consider Abraham to be their father in a symbolic sense.

We read in Hebrews 11:  "But without faith it is impossible to please him:  for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."

Hugh Nibley writes, "The wonderful thing about Abraham is that he always does the right thing, whether anybody else does or not. He had to get along with all sorts of people, most of them rascals, and he treats them all with equal courtesy—he never judges any man. After Pharaoh had tried to put him to death, and after he had taken his wife away from him, Abraham could still not refuse his old enemy in his need and laid his hand upon his head and healed him.

He was "the Friend of God" because he was the friend of man. Abraham knew that the priesthood operates "only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness" (D&C 121:41); it may command the elements and the spirits, "but never force the human mind."

When Melchizedek was instructing him in the mysteries of the priesthood, he told him that Noah and his people were permitted to survive in the ark "because they practiced charity." On whom? Abraham asked, since they were alone in the ark. On the animals, was the answer, since they were constantly concerned with their comfort and welfare.

Again, Abraham once beheld a great vision (described also in the Book of Abraham) of all the doings of the human race to come; what he saw appalled him—he had never dreamed that men could be so bad, and in a passionate outburst he asked God why he did not destroy the wicked at once. The answer humbled him: "I . . . defer the death of the sinner, [who might possibly] repent and live!"

145: A TIME OF WORLD UPHEAVAL

"finding yourself on the wrong way on a freeway during rush hour"

We live in times when the world is in great upheaval. This has always been the case whenever there is a transition from one dispensation to another. Not only is there always great wickedness amongst the people, it is also accompanied with climatic earthly destructions.

We are not the only ones who have and will experience this. Past dispensational heads like Noah and Abraham also lived in times little short of an earthly hell.

Below are some excerpts from the writing of Nibley that I wanted to share. I have a new found respect for his work and the things he wrote.

"If we fancy Noah riding the sunny seas high, dry, and snug in the ark, we have not read the record—the long, hopeless struggle against entrenched mass resistance to his preaching, the deepening gloom and desperation of the years leading up to the final debacle, then the unleashed forces of nature with the family absolutely terrified, weeping and praying "because they were at the gates of death," as the ark was thrown about with the greatest violence by terrible winds and titanic seas."

After all that...

"Noah went forth into a world of utter desolation, as Adam did, to build his altar, call upon God, and try to make a go of it all over again, only to see some of his progeny on short order prefer Satan to God and lose all the rewards that his toil and sufferings had put in their reach."
....

In Abraham's day, men had perverted the order of life, so God altered the order of nature. The problems he had to face were forced upon him largely by the evil times in which he lived.

There is a definite correlation between the behavior of man and the behavior of nature. The universe is so organized, according to this, that when man revolts against God's plan of operations, to which all other creatures conform, he finds himself in the position of one going the wrong way on a freeway during rush hour: the very stars in their course fight against him.

As it was in the days of Noah, so in the days of Abraham, a very old Christian writing explains, the world was ripe for destruction, according to the principle that whenever men fall away completely from God, destruction must follow.

.......

In desperation, men turned to worshiping idols.

The sophisticated people of Abraham's time wanted the sanction of holy beings which at the same time were one hundred percent compliant with their own interests and desires, just as people today search out those scriptures which support their interests and push the rest aside.

There were displays of astonishing luxury and sophistication, the style being Babylonian rather than Egyptian, and apparently already in a state of decadence just before its destruction by an earthquake.

It is not surprising that "the men of Sodom were the wealthy men of prosperity, on account of the good and fruitful land whereon they dwelt. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah were not condemned for their ignorance of the God of Abraham but rather for their greed; they were destroyed because they did not strengthen the hand of the poor and heeded not the needy.

For them everything existed for the sole purpose of being turned into cash. One cannot help thinking of the church builders in Mormon 8:37 and 39, who adorn themselves "with that which hath no life" while calmly ignoring the needs of the living.

That this emphasis on wealth and status was the real wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah is attested by both the Bible and the Pearl of Great Price.
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Excerpts from Hugh Nibley's "The World of Abraham".
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144: THE CENTER PUZZLE PIECE

 I find it interesting that the four gospels in the New Testament are titled.. 

• The Gospel according to St. Matthew
• The Gospel according to St. Mark
• The Gospel according to St. Luke
• The Gospel according to St. John

Each of these apostles of Christ wrote their accounts "according to" what they saw, heard and witnessed. It is their testimonies.  "According to" is defined as "as stated or indicated by, or determined by". 

Everyone has their own testimonies, perspective, and interpretation of things. Some seem to vary or even conflict with one another. In the end,  hopefully each are sharing what they know to be true and belong to the whole picture, a greater truth.
It reminds me of this parable of the Elephant and the blind men.

A group of blind men touch an elephant. Each man touches only one part of the animal. The man who touches the trunk says, “The elephant is like a tree trunk.” The man touching the tusk says , "The elephant is like a solid pipe.” The man touching the tail says, “The elephant is like a rope.” The man who touches the leg says, “The elephant is like a pillar.” Though they described the same animal, each man had his own point of view that was limited in perspective. Without honoring one another’s perspective, and without the will and skill to intelligently communicate, misunderstandings about what is “real” could escalate and cause conflict—each man believing he is right and the other wrong, when in actuality each is experiencing just one dimension of a greater truth.
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In the last days, many will be decieved. Even the very elect may be deceived. (Matthew 24:24) Discernment is one of the most important gifts that we can recieve from the Lord. We need to constantly be asking for discernment. Many have part of the truth and they are pieces of the puzzle. Some see and feel the "trunk" of the elephant, others the "tail".  Few can see the entire elephant. We need to make sure that all of these pieces we see and feel connect in with the center puzzle piece.. Jesus Christ.

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 Behold, my beloved brethren,

THIS IS THE WAY;

and there is none other way nor name given under heaven

whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God.

........ 

Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ,

and the only and true doctrine of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Ghost,

which is one God, without end.

Amen.

2 Nephi 31: 19-21

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143: ASSURANCE

This past week, The Church News celebrates President Thomas S Monson's five year anniversary as our sustained prophet, seer, and revelator. It also marks his 50 years as being called as a General Authority. There are several articles that are interesting to read that honor his dedicated service. Here are a few of the article titles:

• Worldwide travels
• The Prophet's ministry
• Teachings of the Prophet
• Timeline of noteworthy events during his five years as prophet.
• Message from the President Thomas S Monson.

I read the article that contained his message and the following word stood out.. The word 'assure'.

President Monson states.

"I assure you that the Church is in good hands. The system set up for the Council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve assures that it will always be in good hands and that, come what may, there is no need to worry or to fear."

Assure: . To make safe as from risk. To convince, persuade, or sooth. To tell someone something positively to dispel any doubt they many have.

We live in such a blessed time, I am so glad that the system that is set up for the Brethern assures that is will always be in good hands.

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

Footnote:
 I did a scripture search on lds.org for the word  'prophet' and the word 'assure'. This was the verses that came up:

"..behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place. (meaning the prophets gives the people assurance of peace)

Then the Lord said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.

Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed." Jeremiah 14: 13- 15.

142: HOW QUICKLY WE CAN FALL

We read in the first part of the book of Alma about his experiences in preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  After baptizing thousands into the church...there was peace and harmony. No contentions, nor wars around the city of Zarahelma. The Church was established more fully, and many joined and were baptized. In fact 3,500 souls united and were baptized over the following year. They all enjoyed continual peace for a season.

However....
ONE YEAR LATER...

The people of the church began to wax proud. But they had every reason to be... they were members of the true church. They had been baptized by the hand of Alma,  the High Priest.   Notwithstanding, The people of the church began to be lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and set their hearts upon the riches and upon the vain things of the world.  They turned their backs upon the needy and the naked and those who were hungry.
Those who could see what was happening, beheld it with great sorrow.

How unfortunate for the people of Alma. They should have known better. Didn't they read their scriptures and remember that this happens over and over again? Couldn't they get it right?... Didn't someone tell them that there are three things we can not avoid in this life.. taxes, death, and avoiding the pride cycle?.
.......


Isn't it great that we have finally gotten it right? We have the restored Church, we have living prophet who can't lead us astray. This could never happen to us in the Latter Day Church. :)


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Personal Sidenote:

Both of these photos were taken around 4:00 PM yesterday above the Salt Lake Valley. In a previous post I mentioned the pollutions and hazardous air quality in Salt Lake City. The only escape is to ascend to higher ground. For those living in the city, it is difficult to see the type of air you are breathing until you rise above it. In fact from in the Salt Lake valley, the air is so thick it is almost impossible to see the mountains and the majestic peaks covered with white snow. The sun can barely penetrate through the dark polluted air. The sun can only be seen in higher elevations.

On a quick hike above the city yesterday, the scriptures opened to the 5th chapter of Alma.

 "O ye workers of iniquity;

ye that are puffed up in the vain things of the world,

ye that have professed to have known the ways of righteousness

nevertheless have gone astray,

as sheep having no shepherd notwithstanding a shepherd hath called after you

and is still calling after you,

but ye will not hearken unto his voice!"

Alma 5: 37

But the next verse gives us hope:

"Behold, I say unto you,

that the good shepherd doth call you;

yea, and in his own name he doth call you,

which is the name of Christ;

and if ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd,

to the name by which ye are called,

behold, ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd.

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

 Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men,

for the arms of mercy are extended towards them,

and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you.

Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life;

yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely.

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

What a blessing and gift the Book of Mormon is to us.

141: INCREASING THE POWER OF THE SPOKEN WORD

"I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness”

Isaiah 41:10

The Ancients who understood spiritual energy have found that when one raises one's arm to the square, as when taking an oath, the arm acts as an antenna to draw spiritual energy, increasing and magnifying the power of the spoken words.

Moses raised his right arm in the parting of the Red Sea and the elements obeyed his words.

Christ with his right arm to the square as he spoke the words for Lazarus to rise from the grave.

Native Americans raise their right arm in a greeting, increasing the power of their saluation of hello.

When taking on an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, the President will raise their right hand to the square. Those entering the militiary as well as any public office will also raise their right arm to the square. Those testifying in court raise their right hand to the square.

When a church member is newly baptized or moves into the geographic boundaries of a ward or branch, the individual's name is presented to the congregation and members are invited to raise their right hand to welcome that member. We also raise our right hand to sustain or give a vote of thanks for those in their ward callings.

There are many other examples that I could share, some of which are sacred.

I found this interesting that all through the generations on this earth we can see the importance of the arm raised to the square..which is a symbol as well as a literal means to increase and magnify the power of the spoken words.


Sidenote:
Some scriptural references:
“The predominance of right-handedness provided a ready basis for metaphors and geographic perspective in the Ancient Near East…In social concourse, oaths and agreements were affirmed with the right hand (Gen. 14:22; Ezek 17:18; Dan 12:7), expressions of fellowship were sealed with a right-handed handshake (Ezra 10:19), and giving and receiving were done with the right hand (Ps 26:10; Gal 2:9).” (Dictionary of Biblical Imagery 727-728)

140: I HAVE CALLED YOU MY FRIEND

"For you have loved to seek me, and I have called you my friend."

Apocalypse of Abraham. IX

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Abraham desired to possess a greater knowledge and was seeking God earnestly. Because Abraham loved to seek God, Abraham has the distinction of being the only person in the Old Testament whom the Lord calls "my friend" , or more literally, "my beloved friend." This is a divine compliment paid to Abraham.

The word 'friend' comes form the Old English word 'freogan' which means "to love, to favor," The word also derives from the Germanic word 'frijojanan' which means "to love"

...

I recently recieved an email from a friend which ended his email with the word Namaste. I wasn't familiar with the word so I looked it up.

Namaste is a gesture that represents the belief that there is a Divine spark within each of us that is located in the heart chakra. The gesture is an acknowledgment of the soul in one by the soul in another. 

 To perform Namaste, you place the hands together at the heart charka, close the eyes, and bow the head. It can also be done by placing the hands together in front of the third eye, bowing the head, and then bringing the hands down to the heart. This is an especially deep form of respect. You bring the hands together at the heart chakra to increase the flow of Divine love. Bowing the head and closing the eyes helps the mind surrender to the Divine in the heart.

 Namaste allows two individuals to come together energetically to a place of connection and timelessness, free from the bonds of pride. If it is done with deep feeling in the heart and with the mind surrendered, a deep union of spirits can blossom.

Namaste is a symbol of gratitude and respect and thereby allowing the truth to flow—the truth that we are all one when we live from the heart.

"Thy friends do stand by thee,

and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands."

Doctrine and Covenants 121: 9

NAMASTE!

139: FALSE SPIRITS

"Behold, verily I say unto you, that there are many spirits which are false spirits,
which have gone forth in the earth, deceiving the world.
And also Satan hath sought to deceive you, that he might overthrow you."

D&C 50:2

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Here we read in a 1831 revelation given to Joseph Smith that there are MANY false Spirits abroad on the earth that go forth and deceive. Not only are there false spirits deceiving, but Joseph Smith states.. and also Satan. It is a one, two punch. False Spirits.. and also Satan.

During this period of time of the restoration, much light was being restored, we read that a so-called spiritual phenomena was not uncommon among the members, some of whom claimed to be receiving visions and revelations. When greater light is given, greater darkness and disception also occurs. You release forces in opposition to light and truth. They have to be balanced. It is an eternal principle. There is day and night, there is health and sickness, there is pleasure and pain... there is truth and there is deception.

Many false spirits will claim to be a light to others. They are seeking to teach others a form of the truth, but in the end, it is their agenda, promoting their own glory, and or their own will. Those who attempt to distract, and to deceive, and mislead, want you to indulge and keep nothing in the bounds that the Lord had prescribed  but to seek for excess in things.

The difficulty with any addition to understanding is always in sorting out what is true and right, figuring out what ought to be kept.. vs. what is false, incomplete or misleading, and should be discarded. It is also important to have the right source when drawing light, for there remain many false spirits in the world.

We know that there  will be false prophets in the last days.. but with that, there also must be true prophets as well. So while there are false spirits abroad on the earth, there must also be true ones which will always point you to Christ.

That being said, just like a boxer in a ring, to avoid being knocked out... hold your hands high, elbows low, and move your head.

138: O YE POLLUTIONS

In an article in the USATODAY.  it was reported that there is a public-health emergency in the greater Salt Lake City area.   A friend of mine who lives out of state sent me the below newspaper article.  

Below is todays current AQI (Air Quality Index) report on the air quality nationwide. The colors show how clean or polluted your air is, and what associated health effects might be of a concern.  Green areas=Good Air. Yellow Areas= Moderate Air Quality.  RED= Hazardous Air. http://airnow.gov/

 You can see that the greater Salt Lake City is the only place in the country lit up in the RED color... which is coded for UNHEALTHY AIR. With this warning,  the report says that everyone may begin to experience health effects and members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.

Pollution is the presence in the environment of a substance or thing that has harmful or poisonous effects. Physical pollutions are easy to see, and to monitor. However, probably even more deadly then physical pollutions are spiritual pollutions. The prophet Moroni, who saw us in these the Latter-Days, went to great lengths to testify and warn us of our situation.. our awful situation. 

Moroni states: 

 "and your churches, yea, even every one,

have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts...

O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker,

why have ye polluted the holy church of God?

. 

Moroni is asking us a question. "Why have ye polluted the holy church of God?"

• Do we know which church is the holy church of God?
• Is that us?
• Is that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
• If not, then what other church is it?
• Do we not testify that we are the ONLY true church, the holy church of God?

Just in case we still don't think Moroni is referring to us, he states, ALL THE CHURCHES.. yea EVEN EVERY ONE have become polluted. No exceptions. Moroni is lamenting at our awful state. Could the pollutions found in the physical air in the Greater Salt Lake City be symbolic of the pollutions in the holy church of God?

We have become polluted.

We have introduced into our environment things that are harmful and have ill effects both physically and spiritually.

Sidenote:

Here is the Salt Lake Temple in 1899.

.

.

Here is the area around the Salt Lake Temple (seen in the background)

 after 5,000,000,000.00 billions of dollars went to "beautify" the area around Temple Square.

Pollutions? 

I testify that Moroni saw our day and that his words are true.

I add my words.. "O ye pollutions, why do you sell that which will canker."  

137: "AT ONE" WITH GOD

I wanted to share a few lines from Nibleys' "One Eternal Round: The Hermetic Vision", a chapter in the book, Temple and Cosmos.

(In case you are like me and had to look up the word 'Hermetic', here is a definition:  It is a set of beliefs and practices whose aim is the influencing of the world through contact with the heavenly forces.)

Nibley startes out the essay with defining the word 'atonement' and what it really means. He says:

It is a bringing together of God and man.

Those humans, spirits, or angels, who are "at one" with God

are naturally at one with each other

and with all his creatures.

Nibley goes on to say,

"In each dispensation the world went bad while the prophets united in futile protest, as in the days of Samuel, Hezekiah, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. In the powerful phrase of Ether, "the prophets mourned and withdrew from among the people" (Ether 11:13). The prophets always tended to form societies of their own for mutual comfort and security, for they usually appear in numbers in time of crisis: "And in that same year there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they must repent" (1 Nephi 1:4).

They were not well received. When not preaching it was their custom to keep a low profile, or simply to depart from the scene ..., a pattern we find repeated over and over again in the Book of Mormon. The holy outcasts would form with their followers a community of saints, a church, waiting and working for Zion. Zion itself is a model of such a retreat from the world: "And from thence went forth the saying, ZION IS FLED" (Moses 7:69).

In their retreat the righteous refugees take particular pains to preserve the sacred records—we think of Moses, of John, of Ether, of Moroni, etc., preserving, studying, and editing the sacred writings by special command. Without that protective care, the malice and envy of the wicked or the carelessness of the stupid would soon distort and mock the holy books. The righteous recluse—sometimes appointed by God to survival, escaping the persecution, wars, and natural disasters—is a standard fixture of history: "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues" (Revelation 18:4).

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136: LDS CITY CREEK CENTER: AWARDED BEST MALL IN THE AMERICAS

It is award season right now where the world gives praise and awards are given ( ie.. Golden Globes, Oscars etc) Who would have thought that not only are there awards for entertainment and media, but also for malls?

It was reported today in the Deseret News that our LDS Church Mall was named the best mall in not only in America... but in the Americas (Canada, US,and South America).

Click here for the link: City Creek named best mall in the Americas

"Opened in March, City Creek is the centerpiece of Salt Lake City's mixed-use downtown redevelopment project, undertaken privately by City Creek Reserve Inc. — a real estate arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “City Creek Center is a world-class experience in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City," said general manager Linda Wardell. "People have recognized this, and downtown Salt Lake City is more vibrant than ever."


One commenter on the article stated this: "City Creek is an outstanding achievement.  We are all very fortunate to have a downtown shopping development of this magnitude.  Many thanks to the Mormon Church for bringing this project to our city.  Thank you Mormon Church!"

Maybe I am alone.. but I find all of this to be quite troublesome. What causes me even greater concern is how we choose to market and advertise our LDS Mall.  Here are a few photos that I took along the freeway of the new billboards advertising City Creek. In the first billboard shown, the advertisement uses the word: "Enchants" to describe City Creek. A synomym for the word "enchant" is "beguile".  That word sounds familiar.
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135: WARNING VOICE IN MILDNESS AND MEEKNESS

"Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people,

and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor".

"Let your preaching be the warning voice, every man to his neighbor,
in mildness and in meekness"
"and lift a warning voice unto the inhabitants of the earth;
and declare both by word and by flight that desolation shall come upon the wicked."

Doctrine and Covenants 88: 81. 38:41, and 63:37.

Testify of what?
Warn people of what?
What does a warning voice in mildness and in meekness sound like?
What is the desolation that will come?
Who are the wicked?

Below is a trailer for the movie, "The Impossible". I think it is very symbolic on many levels. We see a family enjoying a vacation as if all is well,  and yet, like a thief in the night...their reality of their aweful situation blindsides them.
The title of the movie, "Impossible" is interesting. If you take the word IMPOSSIBLE, and add an apostophe between the first two letters which is I'M (Note: an apostrophe looks likes the Hebrew letter, yod. This small letter looks like an arm or a hand reaching down from heaven)..
the word IMPOSSIBLE now reads I'M POSSIBLE.

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Yes, Babylon fell. History repeats itself. Babylon will fall again. We, today, are at a worse situation than even ancient Babylon was then – but think these things are not possible because of our pride. What is coming is so sad and it did not have to be this way. But people have made their choices.

...

"However, The battle we are all called upon to fight is not external. Some people spend their time stirring people up to alarm them about carnal security. They are trying to sell something. There are fortunes being made by proponents of fear. But the audience for such things are only being distracted from a much greater, more immediate battle. Until the internal condition of the individual has been conquered and brought into alignment with heaven, there is no amount of political, social, economic or military security which will matter in the long run.

I think it more advisable to seek for and listen to the Lord, and secondarily those teachers who will convert you to the Lord; rather than any other advice or movement advocated by those promoting causes. Teachers ought to point to Him. Not to themselves. No one but the Lord is coming to rescue you; and no group will be able to overcome error apart from Him. Ultimately the battle we each face is the Lord's. We must cooperate with Him for Him to be able to win it. When He does, however, the victory is ours for we are the ones who He redeems.

The path back to the Lord's presence is an individual one. It is not likely to be accomplished while in an audience. There is no "support group" needed. It is you. What goes on inside you. What you love most. He will one day associate with a group in a city; but that group will be comprised of individuals who have previously met Him."

excerpt from a blogpost written almost exactly one year ago to the day. LINK

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Sidenote:
I really liked this excerpt from a Letter written by Joseph Smith:

Dear Brethren in Christ, and companions in tribulation:

"Let the elders be exceedingly careful about unnecessarily disturbing and  harrowing up the feelings of the people. Remember, that your business is, to preach the gospel in all humility and meekness, and warn sinners to repent and come to Christ. Avoid contentions and vain disputes with men  of corrupt minds, who do not desire to know the truth. Remember that “it  is a day of warning, and not a day of many words.” If they receive not  your testimony in one place, flee to another, remembering, to cast no reflections, nor throw out any bitter sayings.  If you do your duty, it will  be just as well with you, as though all men embraced the gospel."

Joseph Smith Letter to Brethren Abroad, December 1833 LINK

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134: ONE OF THE BIGGEST DECEPTIONS OF THIS WORLD

We preach of Zion, but continue to march deeper and deeper towards Babylon.

This was the first year that across the country, Thanksgiving Day turned into a day of Shopping. Instead of Black Friday.. we now have Grey Thursday. Employees of the big department stores had to work, since the store opened for the first time for thousands and thousands of shoppers to buy gifts for Christmas right after having Thanksgiving Dinner..

I didn't write about this sooner, but I felt I still needed to post something about this. I am sure there is a huge range of opinions out there on Santa Claus. Sure he is a good-intentioned symbol of love and giving. But I have come to the conclusion that he is probably one of the biggest deceptions in this world that we tell our children. We go to great lengths to do all we can to make our children believe in Santa.( leaving behind crumbs of cookies that are left out, making reindeer tracks in the snow, etc etc)  I think more effort goes into teaching our children that Santa is real than we do in teaching our children that  Jesus Christ is real.

Sidenote:

It has almost been a year since The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints held the red ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of their multi-billion dollar mall. On that day, the First Presidency and Presidency Bishopric along with the Utah's Governor and other high officials exclaimed, "Let's Go Shopping!". 

How fitting then to build at almost the exact spot of the ribbon ceremony,  a 30-foot-tall "Santa workshop" as the location for Santa Claus to welcome the children to sit on his lap. (See below middle). It was advertised in the news that Santa would magically appear on the rooftops of City Creek Center on November 15 before joining the crowds near his "Lantern cottage " where he will visit with families through December 24, 2012. (See below video). 

Here is the video of Santa Claus's grand arrival to the LDS Shopping Center at City Creek.

 

Addendum:  For those who are deaf, a "Sign Language" Santa was available at City Creek Nov. 29 from 2-6 p.m., so deaf children can visit with Santa. Also if you wanted to take pictures with Santa with your pets you could come on December 6, from 6-9 PM. Also, to make these convenient so you didn't have to stand in line, you could register at the check-in booth and then receive a text message when it was your turn. All of this information was from the City Creek Center website.

I would like to write more about this, but I think I will leave it at that for now.

133: THE CREATION, THE FALL, AND THE ATONEMENT

In the beginning was the gospel preached through the Son. 

And the gospel was the Word, and the Word was with the Son,

 and the Son was with God, and the Son was of God. 

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made which was made.

JST John 1:1-3

Below is a very short video that conveys the very essence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To watch the video.. click here: LINK TO VIDEO to watch it in a larger format so you can read the text a little easier than this embedded video file on this blog: 

131: IN ME YOUR JOY IS FULL

JOY TO THE WORLD...THE LORD HAS COME.

"For in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full.

Therefore, care not for the body, neither the life of the body;
but care for the soul, and for the life of the soul.
And seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls,

and ye shall have eternal life."

Doctrine and Covenants 101: 36-38

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While family, friends, gifts, presents, and food can all bring us joy during this holiday season, only in and through our Savior Jesus Christ whose birth we celebrate tomorrow can our joy be full....  May each of us feel of that exceedingly great joy and peace that only He can give.