272: CRY OUT TO JESUS

A few years ago I spent a couple days in Montana and South Dakota. We had a special permit to enter onto the Blackfoot and Lakota Indian Reservations. We hiked and spent sometime in the mountains. I was invited by a good friend of mine who was going up with his younger brother. We had some amazing experiences that I will never forget.  I received a phone call from my friend informing me that his younger brother who had become my friend had just passed away this week. His funeral is tomorrow. In his honor, I am posting a few photos from our trip on pristine Native American soil.  

 

 

Mosiah 18:9

 "Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life."



I heard this song today. I think the words are powerful.

 

 

To everyone who's lost someone they love...long before it was their time

You feel like the days you had were not enough when you said goodbye

And to all of the people with burdens and pains.. keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one, who can make it right

 For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on...they lost all of their faith in love
They've done all they can to make it right again, still it's not enough

For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains,
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you're not alone in your shame and your suffering.

When your lonely, and it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus. Cry to Jesus.

To the widow who suffers from being alone...wiping the tears from her eyes
For the children around the world without a home, say a prayer tonight

 

There is hope for the helpless

Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus

 

We will miss you James. May the Clarks be comforted at this time.

271: COMING BACK FROM A SABBATICAL

The word Sabbatical comes from the Hebrew word ‘shabbat’ (the Anglicized term "Sabbath" which means “day of rest). The root word literally means a "ceasing". It is a rest from work, or a break, often lasting a long duration. (sometimes from two months to a year.) The concept of sabbatical is described a few places in the Bible (Leviticus 25) where there is a commandment to desist from working the fields in the seventh year.  

One gains a better perspective on life after taking a sabbatical… but not just from work…. But from anything that depletes our energy.. including social media, blogs, forums, online discussions, chatting, texting, and google groups. If we spent more time talking to our families, our children, our spouses instead of texting, tweeting, posting, blogging, emailing to others in cyperspace.. we might have stronger families ties and better real-life relationships.

 Driving home from our ‘sabbatical’ on the West Coast, we saw this semi-truck.

The Church’s Public Relations/ Marketing/Advertising once again have magnified their callings/jobs by beginning to promote one of the LDS church’s websites on large moving vehicles. Some of the biggest issues that the Church deals with is Race, Priesthood and Plural Marriage. What better way to show that we have “changed” then to show an African American male with a link to our website that highlights traditional families.

Polygamy has always been something I have never really understood. Personally, it is something I have put on the shelf. To better come to grips with the doctrine that was preached especially from Brigham Young.. this might help some as an explanation.  After Joseph Smith died, many of the leaders of the church were practicing polygamy. In my opinion, it very likely that Brigham Young made a mistake by teaching polygamy as a doctrine.. when Joseph never did. In order for a large number of the leaders who had plural wives, Brigham Young needed to find a way to make polygamy legal. For the practice to be legal and protected under the first amendment, the Church and it's leaders need to advocate that it is a fundamental part of the religion. If you can establish that it is essential to your religion, then it doesn’t matter if the laws of the land prohibit it. It would be unconstitutional to prohibit it, because the first amendment protects religion and the freedom to practice it.

 Brigham Young’s teaching of plural marriage were couched in terms that were designed to win a law suit. Brigham Young is quoted by saying that plural marriage (ie “celestial marriage’) is a fundamental part of our religion, it is essential if you are going to get into heaven, it must be done… or you can’t get there. 

So for forty years, 30 years under Brigham Young, and for another 10 years under John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff… it was a fundamental part of our religion and it was taught that we couldn’t get into heaven if you didn’t have plural wives.

Then came the last law suit, and the Church lost it. It is now over with. It is now illegal to practice polygamy.

 So Wilford Woodruff, the President of the Church (what we call today as the current Living Prophet) has the dilemma of how do we take with what we have been saying for 40 years that this is a fundamental part of our religion and say.. you know what.. not only is it NOT a fundamental part of our religion , it never was, and it would be best to discontinue it.

 Instead they go to all the trouble and say, the Lord has given us a “revelation” to take it away.

 So the question is… if it was a revelation to take it away, why did many of the leaders continue to practice it?

270: SUMMER SOLSTICES

photo taken on the Summer Solstice in 2013 on Mt. Timpanogos after sunrise 

Last year on the Summer Solstice I climbed to the top of  Mt. Timpanogos to see the sunrise. It required that I hike during the darkness of the night in order to reach the summit before sunrise. To my surprise, much of the trail was still covered in snow. I had to be extremely careful since I was not equipped with the right gear. However, the whiteness of the snow was helpful in finding my way in the dark.   It was ironic that on the longest day of the year with the most sunlight, that most of my hike was done in darkness. Also ironic was that at one of the hottest times of the year, I was hiking in snow.  Oh the irony. It reminded me of the scripture in section 95 of the Doctrine and Covenants.  "..they are walking in darkness at noon-day." I have always wondered how that is possible.. to walk in darkness at noon-day... but recently learned that it is a great metaphor for being spiritually blind.

A few days before this year's Summer Solstice in 2014, a big cold front came through Salt Lake and dumped a lot of snow in the higher elevations. The below photo is taken from my home. The next day, I left for Nauvoo and flew over the Rocky Mountains. Here is was the beginning of summer and yet it looked like it was still winter.

 

photo of Mt. Olympus a few days before the 2014 Summer Solstice

flying over the Rocky Mountains on June 19, 2014

  ...

I mention all of that this as a precursor to entering into the Nauvoo Temple on the Summer Solstice on 2014.

Historical accounts of the original Nauvoo Illinois Temple mention a skylight in the attic area where the endowment and sealings were performed. The temple was not complete however.  In the rebuilt Nauvoo temple, a similar skylight has been added. This skylight allows light from above into the Celestial Room instead of the grand man made chandeliers that we use in our modern temples.

This skylight has a large sun surrounded by 24 moons in various phases (forming an eternal ring of the moon going through its phases). These are then surrounded by eight six-pointed stars. The rugs in the room have a similar pattern on them but with some added symbols such as five pointed stars. I prefer a skylight with natural light from the sun than a chandelier that needs electricity.

The skylight on the east end of the Celestial Room in the Nauvoo Temple.

269: CELEBRATING FREEDOM ON INDEPENDENCE DAY

Today is the Fourth of July. My wife mentioned to me this morning that she prefers to say Happy Independence Day instead of Happy Fourth of July. She said, "why do we emphasis the date instead of saying what we are celebrating." I couldn’t help think that she was right, we don’t say Merry 25th of December or Happy 4th Thursday in November.

This morning I went for a hike up in the mountains to see the sunrise. My daughter wanted to come with me even though  I was going at 4:00 AM in the morning. There is important symbolism with numbers, dates and time.  We had a great time together.We made it to the top of the mountain just in time to see the sunrise. It was beautiful. Here are a few photos:

 

The next several posts will highlight a couple of things that I learned in Nauvoo. I found it interesting that 170 years ago today on July 4, 1844, there was no Fourth-of-July celebration in Nauvoo. The Saints were still mourning the death of Joseph and Hyrum. William Clayton wrote, "Instead of celebrating with splendor with joy we celebrate her [the nation's] down-fall with grief and mourn for the loss of our prophet & Patriarch & pray to God to avenge their blood speedily." through the "true order of prayer" during the regular Thursday meeting of the Anointed Quorum.

In our early church history, due to events of how the early Saints were treated and even killed, some members had some difficulty in forgiving the wrongdoings of others. They were not necessarily the ideal patriotic citizens. However, today, the Church is uber-American. We are one of the truest of true American institutions. In fact, we almost elected a Mormon President in 2012.

Some insights on how we have progressed as a Church. The establishment of an institution, any institution, requires that the institution's needs  usually take some priority sometimes at the expense of the individual. With tax laws, corporate laws, charitable institutional requirements, zoning laws, property laws, city planning, building inspection, utility costs, maintenance, contract, employment and endless other requirements imposed by modern Babylon, the institution becomes necessarily an extension of the greater world. Whether or not the institution likes it, once it is launched, the world disciplines it, grooms it, influences it and changes it.

With each of these events the greater historical pressures on the institution have affected how we have developed. And we continue to develop. Carefully, mind you, but we develop nonetheless.

Gradualism is the way in which even glaciers move. Eventually, however, even glaciers reach warmer climates and begin to dissolve.

It is important for us to study, learn and remember what caused the Restoration to take place. To understand what caused Christ to come down from heaven to speak with a young man and call him as a prophet.  The fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not dependent upon the greater success of an institution or the country, but is instead dependent upon the efforts of each individual.

268: 170 YEARS AGO TODAY

One hundred and seventy years ago today, the Prophet Joseph Smith at the age of thirty-eight, and his brother Hyrum Smith (age forty-four) were both shot while confined at Carthage Jail just 20 miles away from the unfinished Nauvoo Temple. I just returned from visiting all of these sacred sites starting in Independence Missouri and ending on the banks of the Mississippi. In the next few posts, I hope to share some of my thoughts and photos as well as share my love and appreciation to these two brothers, men of God, and best friends.



 

Photo taken on the Summer Solstice on June 21, 2014

Here are just a couple of thoughts on the Nauvoo Temple:

On January 19, 1841, Joseph Smith recorded a revelation from the Lord commanding the Saints to “build a house to my name.” (D&C 124:27.) The Lord stated "the fulness of the priesthood" had been "lost unto you, or which [The Lord] hath taken away." (D&C 124:28) To "restore" it the Lord needed to personally come to a Temple that He was required to be built within a limited time frame.

William Weeks was appointed architect and superintendent of the temple construction. He was guided by the Prophet Joseph Smith,who said: “I have seen in vision the splendid appearance of that building illuminated, and will have it built according to the pattern shown me.” (History of the Church 6:196-97).

photo taken on June 2, 2014

On April 6, 1841 the foundation stones were set and a cornerstone ceremony was held. 

By November 1841, the basement rooms were enclosed. A temporary wooden font resting on twelve wooden oxen was used for baptisms. Baptisms for the dead were conducted in this temporary structure starting on November 21, 1841. By October 30, 1842, the temple walls were four feet high and a temporary floor was put on the main story. About 3,000 people gathered for the first official meeting held in the temple. 

In the time between January 1841 and the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith in June 1844, the Nauvoo Temple was not completed. The walls were only complete to the second floor.. During July, 1844, the Saints again committed themselves to completing the sacred building. However, an obvious structural change was made. It is called the "Martyr Line". Different sized bricks were used after the death of Joseph Smith. Instead of the standard sized, smaller brick that were used when the Prophet was alive, larger bricks were used to complete the walls faster. (It has been my experience as a kid when building blocks that it is not wise to stack larger bricks on top of smaller ones)

As we know the Nauvoo Temple build by the early Saints was destroyed. We built and dedicated a replica of Nauvoo Temple in 2002. To keep the building authentic to the original they replicated the "Martyr Line".

 

267: INTERCESSORY PRAYER

..
Intercession is the act of interceding (intervening or mediating) between two parties. In Christian religious usage, the term intercession is usually associated to a prayer to God on behalf of others. Some religions claim that praying for somebody who is sick can have positive effects on the health of the person being prayed for. Adherents of those religions 'believe' that prayer, like forgiveness, has a positive effect on the health and well-being of the person doing the prayer or forgiveness. It is an entreaty in favor of another, especially a prayer or petition to God in behalf of another. Probably the most well known intercessory prayers is recorded in John 17 when the Lord is in the Garden of Gethsemane.

In some of my recent studies I came across some commentary on the book of Mormon that records intercessory prayers given by some of the Book of Mormon prophets. Here are some quotes:

Lehi’s inquiry to the Lord was based upon the warnings underway at that time in Jerusalem. Lehi heard “many prophets, prophesying” a warning to Jerusalem it was about to be destroyed. These prophets would, no doubt, have included Jeremiah, who was a contemporary of Lehi’s. Lehi heard and believed these warnings, and was praying on behalf of Jerusalem as an intercessor. .

In the stone altar, we see another symbol of ancient religious practice. From Adam to Abraham to Lehi, building stone altars to petition the Lord was a common religious act. Lehi’s prayer for Jerusalem was such a petition. As Lehi offered his intercessory prayer for wayward and condemned Jerusalem, he stood before the very symbol of the Redeemer’s sacrifice. That stone altar testified of the coming sacrifice which would eventually redeem Jerusalem from her sins.

This description would suggest Lehi was outside the city walls, in a private place, petitioning the Lord. The subject of Lehi’s prayer would drive the need for privacy. Asking for the Lord to forgive and save Jerusalem, to pour out his heart on behalf of these condemned people, would not be something for public display. This private setting would also have been suitable for the Divine manifestation which came to him. One has to wonder if this event occurred, as is so often the case, at a spot which would then acquire later significance. Was it in Gethsemane? Or at Golgotha? Or in a stony spot which would later prove suitable for carving a tomb in which to lay the temporarily deceased Messiah? Or the place on Mt. Olivet where the Risen Lord would ascend to heaven? We cannot know the exact spot except by revelation. We should not be surprised to learn Lehi’s stone where a pillar of fire rested would later become the very spot where another sacrifice and another pillar of fire also rested. As the final events unfold, there will yet be another pillar to rest there.

We see this example of giving intercessory prayer by Nephi as well. Although his brothers rejected his testimony and were disbelieving, he continued to pray to God for mercy toward them. Nephi moves from his concern for "the welfare of his own soul" to the welfare of others. His concerns are selfless, sacrificial and intercessory. He has become a man of charity and full of love for others. These whom he calls his "beloved brethren" and his "people" are, in fact, those who will destroy and supplant his own descendants. Charity is the end result of this consecrated life.

My family recently saw the play Les Miserables. It contains a beautiful intercessory prayer that is sung by Valjean. Here are a few of the words:

God on high, Hear my prayer. In my need, You have always been there
Bring him home, Bring him home, Bring him home.
You can take, You can give. Let him be, Let him live
If I die, let me die, Let him live
Bring him home, Bring him home, Bring him home. 

 And another beautifully sung song of an prayer given to bless another:

Some wise counsel given to us from a friend of mine:

"We must make intercession on behalf of others, even our enemies, if we are to have a hope in Christ. We must lay down the burden of sin to enter into His presence. Much of that "sin" in each of our lives has been the offenses against us, and the resentment and anger we hold from these abuses. There are people who have done you wrong. There are some who did so intentionally. When you forgive them, and plead on their behalf for the Lord to also forgive them in sincerity and love, you are not far from the Kingdom of Heaven. Your Lord did this. You must do as He did to be like Him. It is the only way to understand your Lord. In this, you must suffer as He did, choosing to forgive offenses rather than to seek justice. When you show mercy, you merit mercy. The beginning of repentance is found in forgiving others. "

Intercession for your fellow man, including those who give offense to you, is one of the hallmarks of the saved soul. This is who Abraham was, and why he became a friend of God. . No one wants to comply with the rule. The higher way is, however, found in following the rule. It should be an absolute sacrifice, and a painful one at that, for the exception to be applied in your life. If an inspired condemnation is required at your hand and by your voice, then immediately afterwards you should make intercession with the Lord for those condemned. That is the way of those who know the Lord. Those who have been forgiven much—including those who have been forgiven everything—always love much in return."

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.

...

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.

..................................
 

 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).

....

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.