266: STAND FAST WITHOUT FEAR IN FACING THE ONCOMING WAVE

In a dream I saw myself in the middle of the ocean at night. The water and waves were black as tar. I wasn't on a ship, necessarily,.. but I WAS the ship trying to navigate through the waves and the black ocean water. I felt a sense of uneasiness and through the light from the moon I could see a HUGE massive wave approaching.





I knew that I didn't have alot of time, and I knew that the wave had the power to destroy and or capsize any ship in it's path. The only way I knew that I would be able to survive the oncoming wave was to face the wave straight on... without deviation and without fear despite the fact that the wave was visibly more powerful and bigger than I was. I knew that if I was off just one degree to the left or to the right, I would not be able to withstand the power and force of wave... but instead be tossed over and capsize.

When the wave was directly on top of me, I desperately navigated to be perfectly perpendicular to the wave to face it head on. In doing so, the bow of my ship pierced the wave, cutting and splitting the wave in half allowing my ship to stand fast and not being overtaken. 

For a brief minute as the wave passed over.. I was completely helpless and at the mercy of the Lord after all I could do. I had to surrender and allow whatever was to happen, to happen. As this huge wave passed over, I was relieved to find myself still afloat....however, I was surprised to see more giant waves in the distance that I still needed to navigate through.


The following advice was recently given at lecture about courage:

"Live this life nobly, fearlessly. When you take the wounds that come your way make sure that they come to your front! Don't let them shoot you in the back. Go about your life boldly, nobly, valiantly. Because it is only through valiance in the testimony of Jesus Christ that you can hope to secure anything. Not valiance in your fidelity to anything other than Jesus Christ. The fact of the matter is that faith must be based in Him, and in Him alone.

We are on this earth to learn about the power of godliness. This place, this terrible fallen world, this glorious opportunity in which sacrifice is actually possible. You don't avoid it, and you don't necessarily seek it out. But when it comes upon you, you face it down bravely. You stand where God places you.  And it's time now we stop running away from the conflict. It's time for us to be valiant once again. Do not be fearful. Cowardice and fear are the opposite of faith."


May we all be brave in the coming days, and standup for truth despite the consequences.
May we all be faithful and valiant once again.



Personal Sidenote:  About five years ago I became friends with a Salt Lake Police officer. We shared a common love for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We exchanged books, and talked with each other about what we were learning. We would met for lunch and had him over to our home. One time, I saw him downtown Salt Lake helping a couple with a small child. He gave them a few bags of clothes that he had brought from home. He wanted to change the perception of the stereotypical police officer. He truly loves people and wants to serve the less fortunate. He stands firm in what he knows is right. A few days ago he was asked to turn in his badge and his gun for asking to be reassigned to a different police assignment instead of participating in a motorcade in the annual Salt Lake City Pride parade. He is currently under heavy fire by the media nationwide. I am grateful for friends who stand up no matter the cost.

We live a in world where right is wrong and wrong is right. Each of us...sooner or later will have to brave and face the consequences by those who have temporary power over this world.

265: RESTORATIONS, REFORMATIONS. AND REMODELINGS.

 

Below is a painting entitled "View of Scheveningen Sands." by the 17th century Dutch master Hendrick van Anthonissen. For the past several months, this masterpiece has been under restoration at a museum at Cambridge University. For centuries, art historians have wondered why there are clusters of people gathered on the beach and on the nearby cliffs in obviously unpleasant winter weather looking at nothing.



It wasn't until the painting under went a restoration that there was something missing from the painting. The true subject of painting slowly emerged after the varnish and heavily daubed overpaint was painstakingly scraped away. The process took months. Not only were the original brilliant colors restored, but the central figure of the painting was uncovered. Of all things.. the discovery was a beached whale. It had been painted over years later by others who thought that the whale was a distraction and an eyesore. Yet to the original painter, it was the main focal point.

Here is the "restored" painting with the whale uncovered. To read more about this recent discovery , here is the link to the news article: ( LINK )

I use this story about this painting to illustrate the difference between three R words
Restoration, Reformation and Remodeling.

• A Restoration is returning something to the former, original, normal, or unimpaired condition.

• A Reformation is the improvement or amendment of what is wrong, corrupt, unsatisfactory. It is to change to a better state or improve by alteration, substitution, abolition, etc.

• A Remodeling is to change or alter the structure, style, or form of something.

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ we believe in a restoration of the Church. Yet over time it seems like we have reformed the ancient religion that Joseph tried to restore. Recently it seems that their is a remodeling taking place.


In my opinion there seems to be huge gulf today between what Joseph Smith revealed and the religion that we practice today. Like this painting that covered over the whale, we have discarded, changed, modified, added to, abandoned, ignored, and forgotten much of the original religion of the Restoration. But as we all know, history repeats itself.   I recently read a commentary on specific verses from the Book of Mormon (18 of them to be exact) that included the following observation.

"As the New Testament unfolds, we find just how entirely possible it was to be devoted to the religion, and yet so unenlightened to the truth that people would reject God. This gulf between religious people and their God highlighted Christ’s ministry. Christ’s teachings attempted to bring people back to God by focusing on what was truly important.

 Christ came to end the Mosaic Dispensation and begin new forms of worship. The religious leaders of His day were so steeped in their form of religious observances they viewed Christ as a threat to the order of things. These were not irreligious people. Quite the opposite was true. They were devoted to the faith they practiced. It was their security, their tradition, their identity. Through it, their place in the world was established. The entire Roman Empire knew of the Jews. Their religious peculiarities were well known. Their synagogues were spread from Jerusalem to Antioch, from Alexandria to Rome. Paul’s later missionary efforts would use the local synagogues throughout the Mediterranean as places to preach. The Jewish faith was the seedbed from which Christianity sprouted. The leaders of this faith were justifiably proud of their religion’s successes. However, whatever light may have been possible to gain under this religion, the leaders were so opposed to Christ they conspired to have Him killed. The religion established through a prophet of God became the superstructure used to kill the Lord who first revealed it to Moses. As these devoted followers of Moses’ law were killing Christ, they were satisfied their judgment was more than justified by their religion. Religion and the religious were the ones who opposed the Lord. The sinners and irreligious were His followers.

 At the time of Christ, the Jews were completely devoted to their religion, and yet so unenlightened to the truth that they rejected Christ. There was a gulf between religious people and what they perceived as truth. Christ’s teachings attempted to bring people back to God by focusing on what was truly important. However, the Pharisees and other religious leaders of His day were so steeped in their form of religious observances they viewed Christ as apostate and a threat to their power and authority. These Jewish people were devoted to the faith they practiced. It was their security, their tradition, their identity. Through it, their place in the world was established. The leaders of this faith were justifiably proud of their religion’s successes. Religion and the religious were the ones who opposed the Lord."

Furthermore,

"All religions are prone to drift from what matters most to what matters not at all. Particularly in a hierarchical church, there are always those who confuse the expediency of having a hierarchy with the truths which save. Attention is distracted away from God and enlightenment and onto the hierarchy. God, knowing this great weakness of mankind has caused the slide into darkness among His people in all prior dispensations, warned in revelation about this very issue. He revealed: “Hence many are called, but few are chosen. No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—” (D&C 121: 40–42.) Salvation does not come through a hierarchy. It never has. It never will. Salvation comes as individuals are brought to have their hearts changed so they sing with joy the songs of redeeming love. People may help bring others to sing this song. And an enlightened hierarchy may lead others along that path. But it is up to each person to individually choose to have their hearts change. However good or bad leaders or others may be is irrelevant to individual salvation. In any church with an orderly hierarchy, there are those who have sought for a position of authority to prove to themselves they are accepted by God. More often than not they have been dismayed, when their ambition is realized, to find they’ve accomplished nothing. God is just as distant from them as He was before. He is not found in popular acclaim or public recognition. His is the still, small voice which is available to the obscure and the meek. Generally speaking, leadership interferes with, and does not promote, contact with the Holy Spirit."
................

Sidenote:  I was sent a recent email that I also wanted to share.


“We have forgotten that it is either all about Him or not at all about Him. We've sought to make Jesus a mere "feature" and not the driving force of our lives. We've remade God and the Gospel into a simple means to selfish ends -- our own wealth and pleasure. Too many have made prayer something we do when we're in trouble, or when we're buying lottery tickets. Fellow Christians are suffering and dying around the world and we fill our minds and mouths with the latest news about people we don't even know.

The modern church is miles wide and inches deep. We try to convince the world that they should accept us because we are like them, not because we have the Answer or because we stand for something greater.”  LINK

.......

264: TOO MUCH ZEAL and NOT ENOUGH PATIENCE

This morning I woke up with images in my head from the symbolic book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The story centers around Willy Wonka, a chocolate factory inventor who hid five Golden Tickets inside the chocolate Wonka Bars. The finders of these special tickets were given a full tour of his factory for the day, and a chance to inherit Wonka's factory plus a lifetime's supply of chocolate.  

The first to win a ticket was an exceedingly overweight and greedy child who loves to eat chocolate. He ate so many Wonka bars a day that he found a ticket with ease, after almost swallowing it. Symbolically this boy represents the sin Gluttony — always eating far too much, and ultimately 'losing' Wonka's competition in the factory by falling into the chocolate river whilst trying to drink it.

The next to find the golden ticket was a girl from a wealthy family who demanded a golden ticket from her father, who bought thousands of boxes of bars so his daughter could have what she wanted. She represents Greed, always wanting things on her timetable. She ultimately 'loses' in the factory by falling down a trash chute after trying to capture one of Wonka's special squirrels, even after being told she can't have one.

Another golden ticket winner was a competitive girl who has an obsession with chewing gum competitively. She represents Pride. She belittles Charlie and calls him a loser, and boasts about all of her achievements. She arrogantly tries Wonka's 3-course dinner chewing gum and inflates into a giant blueberry. Her pride and desire to 'win' cost her place in the factory.

The fourth winner was a boy obsessed with watching television, and doesn't even like chocolate. He systematically worked out where the fourth golden ticket would be, allowing him to only buy one Wonka bar. He represents Sloth, but also represents Wrath, as he is an angry child who loves violence.

I heard that there were originally seven children to win the golden tickets, but this was later shortened to five. (Perhaps the "other" golden ticket winners had vices like Impatience, Haste, Zeal, and Envy.) 

Charlie is the last one who wins a golden ticket. He is desperately poor. He passes Wonka's loyalty test after almost failing, and eventually wins the competition and the factory. With his grandfather, Charlie enters into a multi-dimensional glass elevator which flies out of the factory. As they soar over the city, Willy Wonka tells Charlie that his prize is not just the chocolate but the factory itself; the Golden Ticket search was created to help Wonka find an honest child worthy to be his heir. Charlie and his family will live in the factory and take over its operation when Wonka retires.

I share this well known story since I think each of us have vices that keep us from inheriting all that the Father has. We tend to have too much zeal, and not enough patience... too much pride, and not enough humility, too much sloth and not enough effort, too much greed and not enough selflessness... too much attraction to the sensationalism.. and not enough stability.

263: NEW MEDIA FOR HASTENING THE WORK

Below is photo of an advertisement that appeared in last Sunday's Deseret News. A collection of past songs sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir has now been compiled and sold. It is being advertised as "INSPIRATION FOR HASTENING THE WORK."   The CD's are not cheap, the retail price is $39.98. It is being promoted for all missionaries now leaving on their missions. Since mission rules only allow the missionaries to listen to either the Mormon Tabernacle Choir or classical music, it makes a wonderful gift. If you act now,  these CD's are on a promotional sale at Deseret Book. You can get 4 dollars off of the $39.98 retail price plus discount tickets to Lagoon.

 

  

 

ON SALE NOW:

Buy the CD Soundtrack for 35.98 (save 4.00 off the retail price of 39.98) LINK

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 Also:

 

COMING TO A THEATRE NEAR YOU:

 

MEET THE MORMONS: THE MOVIE

A new movie has been produced by the Church entitled  "MEET THE MORMONS". Not only will it be shown at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, but coming this fall, the movie will be released in select theaters nationwide. The movie has been under production for the past 4 years and is currently being prescreen to audiences including Church authorities, employees and their families.  The Church hopes that there will enough demand that the movie will also be picked up and available for viewing on Netflix.

From the lds.org is the following article about the movie:

"Do you sometimes find yourself wishing there was a simple way to let others know that Latter-day Saints are just normal people who find purpose and direction as they focus their lives on Jesus Christ? That’s what a documentary movie soon to be released by the Church will help you to do.

Meet the Mormons starts with a lighthearted look at how members of the Church are often misperceived by others. Then it introduces six families, each sharing personal experiences and describing how the gospel helps them in their lives. Those featured include:

• The Bishop: Jermaine Sullivan and his wife, Kembe, from Atlanta, Georgia, USA, work to create unity in a diverse community while raising their three young sons.
• The Coach: Ken Niumatalolo, the head coach of the U.S. Naval Academy football team in Annapolis, Maryland, USA, and his wife, Barbara, with the support of their children and the coaching staff, keep the Sabbath day holy.
• The Candy Bomber. Gail Halvorsen, a 93-year-old World War II veteran, and his wife Lorraine, 90, from Amado, Arizona, USA, remind children of the value of service. Still a pilot, Brother Halvorsen drops candy from an airplane as he did during the Berlin Airlift following the war.
• The Fighter. Carolina Marin, a kickboxer from San José, Costa Rica, and her trainer and husband, Milton, balance their roles as spouses and parents of young children with their love of competition.
• The Humanitarian. Bishnu and Mangala Adhikari, of Kathmandu, Nepal, honor the beliefs and heritage of their homeland. Brother Adhikari is an engineer who has built roads, schools, and clean water systems that have blessed many small communities.
• The Missionary Mom. Craig and Dawn Armstrong and their son Anthony, from Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, tell how Sister Armstrong was a homeless single mother when she met the missionaries. The gospel they shared helped her to turn her life around. She later married Craig, and the story comes full circle when Anthony goes on a full-time mission to South Africa to share the gospel that so blessed his mother.

Meet the Mormons will be shown in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, and at other locations yet to be determined." LINK


Sidenote:

How we as members are viewed  around the world is very important to the Church, especially amongst the hot-topics with minority groups. (Blacks and Women regarding the Priesthood)  The six featured stars of the film were specifically selected to change these "misperceptions". For example, the Bishop holding high priesthood leadership position in the  movie is Afro-American who lives in Georgia.  The Fighter is a female who is a professional kickboxer. The Missionary Mom is a homeless single mother whose child out of wedlock serves a mission to South Africa.

The way that things are accelerating in the county, it's my opinion if the Church were to make a sequel to this movie called "Meet the Mormon 2".. we could possibly see one of the stars of the movie touch on the subject of same-sex marriage.

Recently a survey went out to select LDS church members with questions regarding same-sex marriages. Here were a few of the questions that were to be answered with either  Strongly Disagree, Disagree, Neither Agree nor Disagree, Agree, or Strongly Agree.

1. The Church's position on same-sex marriage is clear to me.
2. I'm troubled by the Church's position on same-sex marriage.

Next Section:  For each question, please indicate whether you think it represents the Church's position, according to your understanding of Church teachings and policy.

1. The Church teaches that legalizing same-sex marriage will increase social acceptance of violating the law of chastity.
2. The Church teaches that legalizing same-sex marriage could seriously interfere with our religious liberty to teach and live our religion.
3. The Church teaches that same-sex marriage places priority on the desires of adults, whereas marriage between a man and a woman places the highest priority on the needs of the children.
4. On January 9, 2014, The First Presidency sent a letter to Church leaders about same-sex marriage. Were you aware of this letter? Yes or No
5. Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following statement: I have personally experienced harassment, discrimination, or other social or economic costs because of the Church's opposition to same-sex marriage.
6. Which of the following, if any, have you consulted to learn about the Church's position toward same-sex marriage over the past year? (First Presidency Letter, Lds.org, Church meetings, discussions)

There were more questions on the LDS survey regarding on same-sex marriage topic including  if you know or have close acquaintances with anyone involved in such relationships/attractions. We live in interesting times of "Hastening the Work". Not sure if the "work" is being hastened or if we are just hastening the "ripening".

262: EXPERIENCING BOTH THE LIGHT AND DARK

The restoration began with a young boy going into nature, alone, and kneeling in a sacred space. He doesn’t get an audience with the Lord until after he has an audience with the adversary. Thick darkness gathered around him and he seems to be doomed to destruction.

The thick darkness included a battle. He was exposed to the adversary, the enemy of his soul. It most likely was a mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual battle.

Moses on the mount had a similar experience of being exposed to the adversary when he had his audience with the Lord.  Lucifer shows up and says Worship me.. and Moses says, Where is your glory?.. you are darkness to me. That probably has nothing to do with whether or not the appearance of Lucifer isn’t attractive or isn’t an image with a countenance that seems pleasant.

In fact, it is quite possible that the appearance of Satan is beautiful and one would say it was a God before you. The reason why Moses says.. you are darkness to me is because, not that Satan looks wretched, but because he is inviting Moses to divert his attention  and wants to deceive him.

I believe that we all will be deceived at some time and have our attention diverted. It happens everyday in this dark world in which we live. In addition to our toxic environment,  we have a tendency as humans to look to others or to an institution for our salvation. While prophets and messengers from the Lord are important and to listen to the divine message, we are not to elevate or place them on a pedestal  And while a divinely established institution is essential, and is basically a large net drawing in all manner of fish. Yes, it is part of what the Lord promised in the last days, however, it can almost become more a hindrance than a help after you have been brought into the net… especially if you are micro managed by the leaders and stop seeking for further light and knowledge.


Addendum: I wanted to share this song that I just heard.

God of mercy sweet love of mine
I have surrendered to Your design
May this offering stretch across the skies
And these Halleluiahs be multiplied

261: MINISTERING TO OTHERS

I wanted to share some of these thoughts and post on Mother's Day but was so worn out from trying to do half of what my wife normally does everyday.. (getting the kids up, making breakfast, getting them ready, making dinner, cleaning the house, taking care of our high maintenance "caboose"  etc etc).... that I haven't had the energy nor the time. So grateful to my wife and her example of how to ministers to others, to our children, and to me. A mother's ministering role is a daunting task.

A few years ago I wrote down some notes during a conversation with a friend.  I have felt prompted to now share a few of those thoughts in this post.

Satan invites us to take our eyes off the things that will led us back into the presence of God. Instead he would prefer that we worship someone or something else. Clearly the adversary wants to misled and deceive to take us on a detour. The adversary is a cunning, deceitful being who seek the misery of all mankind. We most likely will not meet the Lord without having been weathered through some adversarial opposition, nor will we be trusted with the things of God, until we have remained faithful to Him at all costs.

Because the work of God is to save souls... so those who follow Him need to be about their Father’s business which is saving souls. To be about the business of accumulation blessings for yourselves at the expense of the salvation of humanity is ungodly. It is actually Satanic. The idea to aspire to, and accumulate for yourselves great blessings from Heaven for the purpose of exalting yourself is repugnant to Him.. because that is what Lucifer does.

The idea of submitting, sacrificing, and giving your life up in order to help and benefit and bless others with no thought of what is in it for you other than a painful course of suffering and misunderstanding. The one thing that is clear from scriptures is that the Savior was misunderstood. He was misunderstood by His enemies as well as His friends. The religious leaders at the time accused Him of being a sinner, a devil. He was misunderstood by His friends and family and even His disciples.  They thought He was going to accomplish His mission in a different way than He did. They didn't understand that He would be sacrificing Himself on an altar. And they were shocked when that was the end of His mission. They tried to divert Him. Peter at one point said...Let’s establish your kingdom right here, right now. And in response, the Lord says to his chief apostle "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's"

All of our hearts will be exposed, and our desires whether Godlike or not will be exposed. We will  not get to the point that we want.. or need to, without being Godlike… which is self-sacrificing, selfless, and concerned about the salvation of the souls of men.

 That requires us to minister.. and not self-promote.

Ministering naturally happens in a family situation and comes naturally to woman. To minister
means in essence drawing on the power of God and Godliness. But is has a vastly larger meaning than the way in which we interpret it. It is a priestly advent, act, ordinance for a man and a woman to come together and there to be conception of a child. It is ministering for the woman to nurture her baby in the womb and bring the child forth and to present a new life in this world. It is ministering for the woman to shed blood in the process of bringing new life in the world.

On the one hand, everything is winding down in this world, things are falling apart, decaying, and turning back into dust, and on the other hand, there is a small driving creative force that is renewing life. We have death and destruction on one side.. and life and creativity to balance it out.

 A mother holding a baby sleeping in her arms is a pure form of ministering. In the universe of that child, the baby feels the security of heaven. The human mother is acting in a Godlike manner. It is not limited to human. I have over the past few weeks be noticing a mother Robin ministering to her three small baby birds. Here are a few more photos taken outside our bedroom window. Each image is symbolic and had been a beautiful gift given to me to learn and to be taught by Him.

  

 

  

 

260: THE FATAL SHIFT: Leaders to Managers… Shepherds to Sheepherders.

 

In fall of 1983, Hugh Nibley gave a controversial  commencement address at the Brigham Young University. He was the professor emeritus of ancient scripture at the time. The speech was so controversial,  FARMS (BYU's Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies) did not want this speech included in the compilation book, "The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley". 

His speech was entitled Leaders to Managers, The Fatal Shift.  He began his speech by saying, "Twenty-three years ago today, if you will cast your minds back, on this same occasion I gave the opening prayer in which I said: "We have met here today clothed in the black robes of a false priesthood . . ."

Here are a few more excerpts from his speech that I think are important to read and compare it to our situation today.

“Leaders are movers and shakers, original, inventive, unpredictable, imaginative, full of surprises that discomfit the enemy in war and the main office in peace. For managers are safe, conservative, predictable, conforming organization men and team players, dedicated to the establishment."

"The leader, for example, has a passion for equality. We think of great generals from David and Alexander on down, sharing their beans or 'maza' with their men, calling them by their first names, marching along with them in the heat, sleeping on the ground, and first over the wall. For the manager, on the other hand, the idea of equality is repugnant and indeed counterproductive. Where promotion, perks, privilege, and power are the name of the game, awe and reverence for rank is everything, the inspiration and motivation of all good men." 

"Managers do not promote individuals whose competence might threaten their own position; and so as the power of management spreads ever wider, the quality deteriorates, if that is possible. In short, while management shuns equality, it feeds on mediocrity."

"On the other hand, leadership is an escape from mediocrity. For the qualities of leadership are the same in all fields, the leader being simply the one who sets the highest example; and to do that and open the way to greater light and knowledge, the leader must break the mold. “A ship in port is safe,” says Captain Hopper, speaking of management; “but that is not what ships were built for,” she adds, calling for leadership. True leaders are inspiring because they are inspired, caught up in a higher purpose, devoid of personal ambition, idealistic, and incorruptible.”

...

In my opinion, there are very few leaders in the world, and unfortunately we are inundated with an over abundance of managers.



Above is a recent photo taken at the Vatican. It is beautiful bronze statue of Christ, the Good Shepherd. He holds in his arms a small lamb who lovingly looks up at Him. Following closely behind are those sheep who hear His voice. The flock consists of the male rams, female ewes, and little lambs. It is interesting that Christ is barefoot and not wearing any fine attire, but a simple robe. He also holds a staff rod, symbolic of His power.. but does not weld it.

A friend of mine recently pointed out the difference between a Shepherd and a Sheepherder. For example a shepherd cares about his sheep, while the sheepherder gets paid and cares about himself. A Shepherd is a leader, while the sheepherder is one who drives. The Shepherd goes in front of the sheep and they follow, a sheepherder drives the sheep or commands the sheep.  A Shepherd holds his staff  in his hand as a symbol of His power. A Sheepherder uses a stick as a sign of his authority and welds it to control the sheep.

In thinking about this some more, the thought came that Sheepherder usually use dogs to help herd and keep the sheep in order. The sheepdogs are trained to act on the sound of a whistle or word of command is given by the sheepherder. All herding behavior of these dogs is a modified predatory behavior. Through selective breeding, trainers have been able to minimize the dog's natural inclination to treat cattle and sheep as prey while simultaneously maintaining the dog's hunting skills, thereby creating an effective herding dog. There are a few efficient ways that the sheepdogs effectively keep the sheep under control. One way is for the sheepdog to stay in the rear and they typically nip/bite at the heels of the sheep. Another way if for the sheepdog who stays consistently in the front or head of the animals to turn or stop the sheep's movement, not allowing the sheep to go past them. Other ways is for the sheepdogs to use their loud, deep bark to control and maintain the sheep through intimidation.

Christ makes the point that He is not a sheepherder, but rather He says, "I am the good Shepherd."

One point of interest is that the word "flock" in Greek literally means "the group that's moving forward" or "the group that is moving up." Herds, or flocks, are always moving, it doesn't matter which direction, but they are always "moving forward."

Christ is the Shepherd of those moving forward. Those moving forward hear His voice. He calls them His own, and He leads these very ones forward. They follow Him. Where He has already gone, they go.  The Good Shepherd places at risk his own soul, in behalf of those moving forward. It is He, the Master Shepherd, that we are to follow, not the paid sheepherder with his sheepdogs.

259: A NEW BEGINNING: A LIVING PARABLE IN "REALTIME"

On the South East corner of our house, we have an aspen tree. It is a columnar aspen which can grow very tall, and very fast. It has now reached close to the height of 40 feet. A few years ago, the growth of the tree began to slow down.  We then noticed that some of the branches were beginning to die. Each year there have been more and more dead branches until finally this year, the aspen tree is completely dead.   Because aspen trees have very shallow roots they usually don't survive unless they receive plenty of water and nutrients to sustain their height and quick growth.
 

Our Columnar Aspen tree on the southeast corner of our home.

 When we first moved into our home, every year a red robin would build it's nest in this aspen tree.  We had a great view of the nest from our second story bedroom window. However, once the tree's branches began to die and without leaves to offer protection, privacy and safety,  the robin stopped building a nest. It has been almost 3- 4 years since the robins have built a nest in the tree.

 

 

 

 

A few weeks ago, I happened to look out our bedroom window and to my surprise, there was a new nest with 3 blue robin eggs in the upper branches of  our dead tree. This new nest is completely exposed to the elements and lacks the protection, shade and security that a living tree with leaves provides.  The symbolism of seeing three eggs together in one nest has had a profound personal impact on me. It has given me hope in a new beginning, a new dispensation of life, a new start despite being located in a dead tree that will need to be cut down soon.

 

 

 

 

 

Every day this week I have looked out our window to see the mother robin patiently sitting on her eggs. Through rain, high winds and storms, the mother robin remained steadfast in protecting and nurturing the eggs.  I watched in amazement and respect as the hail from a freak hailstorm pelted her with large icy hailstones. The pellets piled up all around her, yet there she stayed, immovable.

 

 

Early this Saturday morning, the robin eggs hatched. The hard egg shell finally cracked, and with their beak's, the birds pecked open the shell that once surrounded them to keep them safe. Without the shell, they are truly vulnerable, exposed and “naked”. It is a new day, a new birth, a new beginning for them. 

 

 

 

During this time of precarious situation when a predator could come and eat the baby birds, the father robin stays in the upper branches and keeps a watchful eye of protection while the mother robin finds food and brings back to feed the tiny babies.

 

 

 

 Unable to fully open their eyes and see, the baby birds listen for their mother. When they hear her, they stretch their little heads and necks and look heavenward. They open their mouth wide to be feed, completely dependent on their survival until they grow the necessary feathers to then fly. Once they have grown the necessary feathers to fly, they will then leave the nest, and be able to find the food themselves provided freely by their Creator.

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258: NOW WHAT IS THIS OTHER COMFORTER?

While one might think that small changes are insignificant,  we know that over time these changes slowly add up to big changes. The Deuteronomists were a group of men who made changes to scriptures. They re-translated, edited, modified scripture from the Old Testament. In fact, there are 96 books missing due to their redaction. The Deuteronomists were the forerunners to the Pharisees. They put themselves in charge and interrupted scripture. They changed the ancient Hebrew religion.


I would like to point out one change that might seem small, but I think this is a BIG change in our most recently published version of scripture. It is a change in the footnote of the scripture found in John 14:16. The footnote for the word Comforter says "Holy Ghost, Comforter."  Here is a screen shot.

 

The Comforter footnote has now been modified in the newly published scriptures and on the scriptures found online.

 

If you look at your scriptures that have been published a few years ago, the footnote to the word Comforter originally says, "Jesus Christ, Second Comforter."  

 

The footnote to the other Comforter in older versions of scripture says Jesus Christ, Second  Comforter.

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 So which is it? Is this other Comforter... the Holy Ghost, or is the other Comforter referring to the Second Comforter which is Jesus Christ?

 

You decide for yourself. I think it is pretty clear who this other Comforter is. The following are quotes from Joseph Smith and from the Doctrine and Covenants.


"Now what is this other Comforter? It is no more nor less than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself; and this is the sum and substance of the whole matter; that when any man obtains this last Comforter, he will have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him from time to time, and even He will manifest the Father unto him, and they will take up their abode with him, and the visions of the heavens will be opened unto him, and the Lord will teach him face to face, and he may have a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God; and this is the state and place the ancient Saints arrived at when they had such glorious visions—Isaiah, Ezekiel, John upon the Isle of Patmos, St. Paul in the three heavens, and all the Saints who held communion with the general assembly and Church of the First Born." (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 Vols. 3:380-81)

"The other Comforter spoken of is a subject of great interest, and perhaps understood by few of this generation. After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his sins and receives the Holy Ghost, (by the laying on of hands), which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God, and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted. When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and his election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter, which the Lord hath promised the Saints, as is recorded in the testimony of St. John, in the 14th chapter, from the 12th to the 27th verses" (Teachings, pp. 149-50).
 

"I now send upon you another Comforter, even upon you my friends, that it may abide in your hearts, even the Holy Spirit of promise; which other Comforter is the same that I promised unto my disciples, as is recorded in the testimony of John. This Comforter is the promise which I give unto you of eternal life, even the glory of the celestial kingdom; which glory is that of the church of the Firstborn, even of God, the holiest of all, through Jesus Christ his Son" (D&C 88:3-5).

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Hopefully this change to the footnote was a printing error mistake and they will fix it, and not a modification or alteration to doctrine.

257: PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:

not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." 

John 14:27

 

Here are a few photos from this morning. Instead of hiking in the mountains, I found a secluded place just east of a near by cemetery. I was accompanied by a dove who watched the sunrise with me. It was a beautiful morning. I find myself in at a time when I need to have more faith in the words of the Lord and to believe in Him.

 

256: CHRIST IS RISEN: EASTER MORNING

 Of all weeks in the year, from Palm Sunday to Easter Morning is the most sacred and holy. Unfortunately colored eggs, chocolate bunnies and candy baskets usually get center stage instead of the observance of the culminating events in Christ's life . For Christian around the world, this week is called “Holy Week.” As Latter-day Saints, we don’t use that term. We tend to focus mostly on just Easter morning and the Resurrection. However, I think it is important that we remember the entire week and not just the "finale."

 Here are a few highlights of Christ’s last week. 

Palm Sunday: The triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem when Palm fronds were waved. (Culturally, the Palm tree represents the Tree of Life).

Thursday: The Last Supper. Christ gives His final address to His disciples and washes their feet. (There is a misconception that the Last Supper was the Passover Meal. While Christ’s last supper with his disciples was a sacred meal, it was not Passover. If we remember, the Jews had to crucify him before Passover. Passover that year was on the Sabbath, (on Saturday.) That's why the Jews had to crucify Christ on Friday because they think His crucifixion would defile their Passover.)

Thursday evening: Christ’s atonement in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Friday early morning (still dark): Christ is arrested in the Garden by the temple guards (not Roman soldiers, but the paramilitary guard of the Sanhedrin)

Friday morning: The three trials of Christ take place (Annas, the High Priest and the Sanhedrin, judgment hall of Pilate

Friday afternoon: Christ is crucified.

Saturday: Christ's descent to hell to “spirit prison” (D&C 138)

Sunday morning: The Resurrection of Christ (before sunrise while still dark) and His Ascent.

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Many people have been looking in the heavens this week. Primarily to the see the full moon on Passover. Here is a suggestion of something beautiful to witness on Easter Morning this Sunday.

Photo taken at Sunrise on Easter morning on top of Hidden Peak in Little Cottonwood Canyon.

Suggestion to do on Easter morning:

A couple of years ago, a friend of mine asked me to attend an early morning sunrise service on Easter morning up on top of Hidden Peak at Snowbird in Little Cottonwood Canyon. All who want to attend can ride the tram to the top of the mountain for free. It's up in the mountains that you get a true sunrise, one where you see the sun rises on an equal plane with you or, in the case of being on top of Hidden Peak, rises below you.

For those who would like to attend this Sunday morning, the service begins at 6:41 a.m. The first Tram departs at 5:21 a.m. from the Cliff Lodge. The last Tram is at 6:21 a.m. It is important to arrive early to guarantee your spot on the Tram.

No matter what you do this weekend, whether you get up to see the sunrise up in the mountains or from your backyard.. We all would do well to think of Christ this Easter. Remember who He is,  Remember what He did.. and His relationship with each of us. He loves us of that I testify.

Full sun in Glory

Full moon over the Pfeifferhorn mountain as seen from Hidden Peak. Taken on Easter morn 2012
 

255: TIME TO FACE THE MUSIC

 When we need to confront or cope with a difficult situation we use the idiom, ‘Face the music’. To ‘face the music’ involves a situation where courage is required and most likely due to the unpleasant consequences of past actions.  There are several theories on the origins of phrase. One theory suggests that the saying derives from the theatre when the nervous actor must literally face the music from the orchestra pit when the curtain goes up. Others think that the origin is based on the drumming out ceremony in the military that accompanied dishonorable discharge.

However, I found the following to be the most profound theory.

 "Centuries ago, a Chinese man grew up loving music. It was his passion. He was jealous of those who could play and went to every concert he could just to hear music. Due to his own fear and insecurity though, he never sought to learn to play an instrument for himself, only to listen to others. 

When he became older, his love of music grew and his life’s desire was to be associated with music somehow. He devised a scheme in which he deceptively forged his way into being accepted into the Chinese National Symphony. He carried a violin with him everywhere and so deceived people into thinking he could actually play.

For years, he would travel and sit with the symphony during performances, never knowing how to play a single note. Until one year that the symphony played before the Emperor of China. He was so pleased with the performance that he requested that each musician come to his palace to play for him the next day…individually. 

The man was so distraught and overcome with fear that he went out that night and committed suicide, unable to “face the music”.

There are more phrases that we use in English. 'Wake up and smell the coffee' is used for telling someone that they need to pay attention to what is happening in a situation they are in, usually the situation is not good. The phrase, 'Pay the piper’, means to face the inevitable consequences of one's actions, possibly alluding to the story where the villagers broke their promise to pay the Piper for his assistance in ridding the town of the rats. And 'you make the bed you lie in’ which come from creating a difficult situation whose unpleasant consequences one must now endure.

In scripture, the Lord and his prophets uses the phrases like, ‘awake to your awful situation’ and ‘Awake and Arise.’

"Awake; awake from a deep sleep, yea, even from the sleep of hell, and shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound, which are the chains which bind the children of men, that they are carried away captive down to the eternal gulf of misery and woe. Awake! and arise from the dust." (2 Nephi 1: 13-14)

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Personal sidenote:

This morning it was time for me to "face the music" in a small way. I got on the scale. I have been avoiding it for months especially after my annual accumulation of winter "insulation" around the waist from excess holiday eating and lack of exercise. This was a big small step in facing the music to my awful "physical state'. However, what is more concerning to me is my 'spiritual' state. The past few days after listening to words that have pierced my core, I realize that I am not as spiritually healthy as I need to be.  Heaven help me to know how to move forward and shed the excess "fat" that I have accumulated over the years.

254: PASSOVER BLOOD MOON (the first of 4 in the tetrad)

The past 24 hours the skies over Salt Lake City have been completely clear. Not a cloud in the sky. This lunar eclipse was meant to be seen. Here are a few photos:

Before and After photos of the Lunar eclipse

 

The Earth beginning to cast a shadow on the moon.



A companion star next to the moon which had a bluest hue to it. The moon beginning to turn red.

Taken around 2:22 AM with the sun beginning to be cast on the moon again.



253: PASSOVER 2014

Photo taken of a bronze sculpture at Thanksgiving Point Gardens in Lehi.

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For the past couple of years, our family has observed Passover or “Pesach” (which means “to Pass Over’). This important sacred feast is rich in symbolism and begins this evening at sundown. Most observe Passover by holding a Seder meal (a Passover Feast) which involves a retelling and discussing the story of the Israelites’ exodus from ancient Egypt and their deliverance from slavery. This ritualized Passover meal begins an eight day feast of unleavened bread; in which no leavened bread was eaten, symbolic of the Israelites’ need to flee quickly which did not allow enough time for bread dough to rise. In addition to eating unleaven bread, the feast consists of partaking of very symbolic food including marar (bitter herbs), charoset (apple and walnut salad), zeroa (shankbone), baytzah (eggs), chazeret (vegatables).


 Five days prior to this night, a family observing Passover was to select a lamb. The lamb was to be male, at least one year old, and without spot or blemish. The lamb was brought into the family home for 4 days. This gave time for the family to bond and have attachment with the lamb, making the sacrifice more poignant.  The lamb was to be sacrificed by sundown with no bones broken. They were to take the blood and “strike” it on 2 side posts and upper post, go inside, shut their doors and not come out until morning. This was done by using a Hyssop branch which is a healing herb that treats leprosy (a death and decaying disease). The instruction from the Lord to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood was for protection from the destroying angels, and that spirit of the Lord knew to “pass over” the first-born in these homes.

Sidenote: A lamb is a very tender and loving animal. A friend shared an account with me about a butcher who had been asked to slaughter a family’s Passover lamb. The butcher anticipated a routine experience, as he had slaughtered many animals. He related how after slitting the small creature’s throat, the little lamb turned and licked the blood off of the butcher’s hands. This hardened butcher was deeply moved and forever changed. The tender licking of the blood from the man’s hand was a sign of unconditional love and forgiveness.



 In John 13 we read, “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.”

Kneel down to serve and elevate the least.

 ...

Addendum:
Here is some symbols that we discuss as a family: 



 



 One more thing:
To observe the accompanying lunar eclipse/blood moon can look to the sky starting Monday at 11:58 p.m. The moon will move closest to the center of the Earth’s shadow at 1:46 a.m. and totality will end at 2:25 a.m. The moon will be clear of the Earth’s shadow at 3:33 a.m.,

252: RARE ASTROLOGICAL EVENTS: SIGNS IN THE HEAVENS



Alignment of Mars with the Earth and the Sun.

 

Mars, Earth and the sun aligned this week in a rare “opposition of the planets”.  I took a photo below with my zoom lens of the planet Mars rising in the East horizon. Every planet has a symbol that represents it. The symbol for Mars is the male symbol we use (the circle with an arrow) which represents the shield and spear of Mars, the Roman god of war. It is the red planet.  I find it interesting that this alignment of Mars, Earth and the Sun  comes six days before a full lunar eclipse or "blood moon", when the entirety of the moon is shaded by Earth and appears as an eerie reddish color.


 

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Four Blood Moons on Sacred Holy Days
 

The two most sacred Jewish holy days are Passover and the Feast of the Tabernacles. Both of these holy days always begin on a full moon. Passover is in the spring and begins on the night of the first full moon after the vernal equinox. The Feast of the Tabernacle is in the fall and begins the night of the full moon after the fall equinox.

This year and next year, there will be a lunar eclipse on these holy days occurring on April 15, 2014; October 8, 2014; April 4, 2015, and September 28, 2015.  An lunar eclipse during a full moon is also called a blood moon because the moon looks red.  During the lunar eclipse, the Moon passes fully into the shadow of the Earth and it’s no longer being illuminated by the Sun. However, a red light is cast passing through the Earth’s atmosphere reaching the Moon which makes the moon appear to turn to blood.

Having four consecutive “blood moons” occurring at approximately six-month intervals is a phenomenon called a tetrad. The most unique thing about the 2014-2015 tetrad is that all of them are visible for all of the USA.  People in North and South America will be able to see the entire eclipse, while sky watchers in the western Pacific can catch only the last half.

 

Prior blog post with more information



 Photo was taken March 16, 2014. The last full moon before the vernal equinox.
 



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Four Solar Eclipses

(including an Total Eclipse creating the Ring of Fire)

 

 Solar Eclipses occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth and directly blocks the light of the sun. Because the moon is located between the Sun and Earth the dark side of the moon is facing Earth and is in a New Moon phase. On April 29, 2014 there will be an annular eclipse visible in Southern Hemisphere and then on October 23, 2014 there will be a partial eclipse visible for all of North America. On March 20, 2015 on the Spring (Vernal) Equinox there will be a total Eclipse and then one more on September 13, 2015.

 

 

Photo taken in 2012 at the Parowan Gap as the moon begins to pass in front of the sun before the Total Solar Eclipse forming a "Ring of  Fire" in the photo below.

Photo taken of the same Total solar eclipse down at Parowan gap in 2012.

I have shared this on a previous post but wanted to repeat:

 

"The Lord created the heaven. The Ancients viewed the heavens as being a testimony given to us on the earth. From the surface of the earth, the sun occupies a space, even though the sun is over a 100 times larger than the earth. The space of the sun occupies from the firmament of the earth is exactly the same as the space in the firmament that is occupied by the moon. Although the moon is one sixth the size of the earth. From the surface of the earth, they are identical in size, so much so that when you view them on the ecliptic that they are located, one can block out the other entirely in an eclipse. Because all these things were ordained by God to testify in the heavens about Him and about His work. And those things are bearing testimony. And they are telling you something." 

 

I believe with these rare astrological events are signs in the heavens. And yes, they are telling us something.

 

 

Sidenote: I thought this was an interesting symbolic image and story.  LINK

 

251: CONNECTION TO THE BREATH OF LIFE or Hā:

This past weekend, the members of the LDS Church gathered for their semi-annual General Conference. The Sunday session was on April 6th, an important date for many reasons.  In 1830, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized on this date.  The Church has come along way since then.

  

The purpose of the restoration was to once again connected man with God, and not necessarily to connect man to a Church. The main purpose in establishing a church is to gather and to teach others to connect with God. The church should be the means to the end, and not the end itself.

 

I watched all five sessions of General Conference. I find it fascinating to see what is spoken by those sustained as prophets, seers and revelators. I always pray that they will  magnify their callings. I take notes on what is said, and also what is not said. Here are a few thoughts:

 

The first speaker after President Monson's opening remarks was Elder Jeffrey R Holland. At the end of his talk he bore his testimony by saying “I bear witness of the Church, with a particular witness of restored priesthood keys.” I found the wording to be interesting. I compared that with the testimony given by Elder Boyd K Packer. Even though his testimony was pre-recorded, I appreciated Packer's testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I think this might be one of the last time we hear him speak, if not the last.

 

One of my favorite quotes from conference was given by Jean A Stevens, the First Counselor of the Primary General Presidency:

“Gospel is not weight, it is wings. It carries us. The Gospel is not a checklist of things to do, but rather it lives in our hearts. “

It is interesting to compare this quote that "the Gospel is not weight" to a talk given by Elder Bednar. He used the analogy of if you get "stuck in the snow", the solution is to pile on more weight (like a full load of wood in the back of 4x4 truck). The weight of this full load of wood would then help me free myself.

Also, I found it interesting that almost every talk mentioned how blessed we are to be led by our living prophet Thomas S Monson. He was prayed for, thanked, quoted, honored, and sustained and called beloved.  When he was introduced we were told that it would be our privilege to hear him speak. 

anyway.. I digress. I feel to share something else.

Early Sunday morning while everyone was still asleep, I headed up into the mountains before Conference. For me, this is where I can connect with God.. I am grateful for the connection I have with Him. I am also very grateful for friendships with those who I share this journey with. It is a blessing to me to have friends to teach me.  Here is one thing that I was taught on April 6th.

The Breath of Life:

When the Lord puts His spirit upon you, like the Lord breathing into Adam the breath of life, it doesn’t mean that he is making Adam's lungs work. It has nothing to do with that. It means that He is putting part of His essence into Adam. This essence of God enabled Adam to be able to progress, identify and connect with God.

In ancient times Hawaiians greeted each other by the “honi”.  The "honi" is when two people greet each other by pressing noses  and foreheads together and inhaling at the same time, essentially sharing each other's breaths. This is very symbolic since it represents the exchange of “ha”--the breath of life, and “mana” - spiritual power between two people.

When the foreigners ( or white man) came to the island of Hawaii, they were referred to as “Haoles”. This is because the white man wanted to greet the Hawaiians with a hand shake instead of with the sacred “honi”. The term "Haole" is derived from "ha-ole", literally meaning "no breath". The Hawaiians called the foreigners Haoles because the foreigners backed away and were uncomfortable with the "honi" greeting, and so the foreigners were described as "breathless." The implication is not only that foreigners are aloof and ignorant of local ways, but also literally have no spirit or life within.

The word  "Aloha" is also connected to the word "ha". Aloha is a very serious word and if you don't mean it, don't say it. You see, "alo" is of deity. It's like a forward call to deity. "ha" is the breath of life.  The direct translation is 'may you have ever-lasting breath.' The word has real deep meaning for the Hawaiians. It is common for the Hawaiians to say aloha and then greet each other with the honi so they could connect as they breathe in each other's breaths.

What I also find fascinating is that the translation of the word “Hawaii” is "ha-vai-`i...meaning “ha” - the breath of life and “vai” - the water of life... –“`i” -of the creator.

I love Hawaii. I love the people of Hawaii, and I am grateful to be taught by my Polynesian brothers.

 In further study since my experience on Sunday morning. I learned the following.

Yahweh is written in Hebrew letter as YHWH. or יהוה. The most prominent letter is H. To make the sound of the “H” you have a give a breath.  The sound/letter of H in Hebrew means wind, breath, spirit, or honor.   When you make a covenant with someone you share their name. So when the Lord said to Abram. I am going to make a covenant with you. The Lord takes that letter H from His name and puts it into his name Abram and and it becomes Abraham… Sara become Sarah. We can even see in the name Matt can become Matthew.

Visually the letter H in cursive even looks like wind, or breath.

 

 

Just a thought.. an ember can ignite again with a gently blow of  breathe. And the only way a fire can remain burning strong is to have the "breath or wind" constantly "blowing" upon it. If there is no air/wind, the ember will not ignite and it will eventually go out.