No Coincidences

Tag: bible

  • Beth’s Talk on Mosiah 3:19 (January)

    Beth’s Talk on Mosiah 3:19 (January)

    This is a talk, exactly as written, by Beth, that she gave in church in January. She rehearsed the talk verbally to me multiple times before I heard it in church. Of course, through hearing it I knew it was a great talk, but it wasn’t until proofreading and preparing to post this that I was struck by how phenomenal a talk this really was. Hope you enjoy reading it as much as much as I did. And now, Beth –

    Mosiah 3:19 Talk
    January 9, 2022
    Good morning brothers and sisters.
    I wanted to start by introducing my family as we are one of the families that were blended into this ward with the recent changes in the stake. My name is Elisabeth Quackenbush. My husband is Brayden Quackenbush. We met in the Scottsdale Young Single Adult Ward in 2017 and have been married for over 2 years. We have a one year old daughter named Ivy. You’ll see her running around Sunday School for another 5 months but she is very excited to start nursery after that.

    The topic I was given to speak on this morning is the scripture Mosiah 3:19. When I was informed this was my assignment I wasn’t really surprised. This scripture comes into my mind a lot and is brought up in conversations about life all the time when I’m chatting with my husband. I think it sticks in my mind because it stands in such contrast to a lot of the attitudes of the world these days.

    For those of you that memorized scripture mastery back in the day you may remember this scripture, but as a reminder, this scripture is King Benjamin speaking to his people in the Book of Mormon. It reads,

    “For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.”

    When we break down this verse, we can derive meaning in a variety of ways. The first that I noted is that the natural man is inherently selfish. The second is the importance of change to the Eternal Plan of Happiness.

    Boyd K Packer stated in his 1990 talk, “Put Off the Natural Man, and Come Off
    Conqueror”:
    “Unchecked selfishness [of the natural man] stubbornly blocks the way for developing all of the divine qualities: love, mercy, patience, long-suffering, kindness, graciousness, goodness, and gentleness. Any tender sprouts from these virtues are sheared off by sharp selfishness. Contrariwise, I cannot think of a single gospel covenant the keeping of which does not shear off selfishness from us.”

    Through the influence of the Holy Ghost, and the atonement of Jesus Christ, we can and should change from the narrow focus of the natural man and become, “submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, and willing to submit to the will of God.”

    This idea of our ability and strength to change stands in stark contrast to the pervasive attitude of our society. This attitude states that we are born a certain way. We can’t change, and even shouldn’t want to change. If we do change, we are inauthentic. On the surface, this has a false sense of empowerment, I think. However, this idea that change is bad and that we must only be one way for the rest of our life is truly limiting, almost an eternal purgatory of mediocrity. Compare this to the freedom and growth permitted to us through Jesus Christ’s suffering, that we may improve and become like our Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ.

    My husband and I have had the opportunity to have many deep, religious
    conversations with friends of a variety of backgrounds. We often come across
    criticism of our faith’s belief that we can take steps, including repentance, baptism, and participating in temple ordinances, to change and become like God. We are accused of valuing works and forgetting the grace provided through Jesus Christ. On the contrary… His grace is the key element that permits us TO become new beings.

    In 2 Corinthians 5:17 we read, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
    creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

    Brad Wilcox does a beautiful job in his BYU talk, “His Grace is Sufficient” at outlining how the Atonement of Jesus Christ, through His death and resurrection, provides us the need to change… (forgive me for this lengthy quote but as many of you know, this talk is incredible…)

    “[Yes, we are saved by Grace but] Have you been changed by grace? [We] are so excited about being saved that we are not thinking enough about what comes next. We are so happy the debt is paid that we may not have considered why the debt existed in the first place. Latter-day Saints know not only what Jesus has saved us from but also what He has saved us for.

    “A life impacted by grace eventually begins to look like Christ’s life. While many Christians view Christ’s suffering as only a huge favor He did for us,
    Latter-day Saints also recognize it as a huge investment He made in us.

    “As Moroni puts it, grace isn’t just about being saved. It is also about becoming like the Savior. The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can live after we die but that we can live more abundantly. The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can be cleansed and consoled but that we can be transformed.“

    Again, just think for a minute… how does that compare to what we are being taught by the world? I can’t change, I shouldn’t change…

    HOW DO WE PUT OFF THE NATURAL MAN AND BECOME LIKE CHRIST?

    We can actively seek this positive change…

    In her 1998 BYU Speech, Wendy Watson, now well known as Wendy Nelson, lists some ways. One is reflection. She notes how Alma directs this type of reflection:

    “Just how does Alma invite these change-inducing reflections? One way is through his use of questions. In Alma 5 alone, more than 40 questions are offered—questions like:
    ‘Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts? . . .
    . . . If ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?‘ [Alma 5:14, 26]. Through the process of persistent questioning, Alma invites us to reflect over and over again: on our status with the Lord, on our spiritual growth and development, on things that need to change or have changed—and before we know it our desire for more change increases.”

    Another idea is to listen to the uplifting voices of authority in your life remembering, “As helpful as human voices of authority are, none can or should replace the ultimate voice of authority—the Word himself: the Savior Jesus Christ. What are you doing to hear his voice in your life? What are you doing to establish his voice as the voice of authority for you?”

    Other ways we can develop this change to become more like Him… Consistently and earnestly repent, seek out holy places, take steps of faith, pray to Him daily.”

    Sometimes change finds us…whether it be through loss, grief, depression, or trials in life, change is often thrust upon us in this mortal life. Again, the world finds few answers as to why there is such suffering and grief in the world. His eternal plan of growth and development is sometimes the only answer that makes sense. If we are to become like Christ, our innocent brother that felt all the sufferings of the world, how can we expect to be truly changed without some suffering of our own?

    Peter in speaking of [trials], said: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

    When we endure this life, put off the natural man, and develop into more Christ-like beings, we set ourselves up to feel an even greater degree of joy in this life and in eternity.

    This topic makes me think of a time when I came back to church after living a life that was not in line with what I knew to be right. I made many positive changes when I started coming back and attending the Scottsdale Young Single Adult ward. I starting observing the sabbath day, stopped a lifestyle of college partying, broke off a serious relationship, and made several other difficult but important decisions.

    However, with all this positive change and shunning of the enticings of the natural man, I still felt like I wasn’t receiving the blessings I thought I would. I wallowed in self pity over my own suffering for a while because of this and even wondered if all of my change was for nothing.

    However, I eventually decided I would stop focusing on what I needed and instead turned outward. I made it my mission to seek anyone in my ward that seemed lonely as I was. I sought opportunities to serve those that were also going through a variety of trials. And a miracle happened! The less I focused on my pain, my loneliness, my loss, and focused on loving those around me as Christ did, I really came to find true joy.

    I couldn’t believe how sincerely I loved everyone around me. I didn’t feel lonely. I developed new, Christ-like attributes. And ultimately, I shunned the ultimate trait of the natural man – selfishness. What a blessing that lesson was for my life.

    I know how hard it can be to put off the feelings we have as humans in a difficult mortal journey. It is something we will actively have to work for as long as we live. However, I know that when we let ourselves change and take on the characteristics of Christ we will prepare ourselves to find real joy in eternity. We will truly have cause to rejoice in his second coming.

    I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

  • Truths Removed from the Bible

    Truths Removed from the Bible

    This post comes directly from something I read on my favorite Book of Mormon commentary website. He received it from a book I would like to read at some point by Anthony E. Bentley: 1000 Evidences for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Part Two-A Voice from the Dust: 500 Evidences in Support of the Book of Mormon. The portion I’m taking from the book is from pages 16-17.

    In the book, Brother Bentley points out how critics like to ask for specific examples of any “plain and precious things” found in the Book of Mormon that are not also found in the Bible. He then provides this list:

    • The Lord prepares a way for us to keep all of His commandments (1 Nephi 3:7):
      • 7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I awill go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no bcommandments unto the children of men, save he shall cprepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
    • How mysteries are made known unto man (1 Nephi 10:19; Mosiah 2:9; Alma 12:10; 26:22)
      • 19 For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the bmysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the cHoly Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the dcourse of the Lord is one eternal round.
      • 9 And these are the words which he aspake and caused to be written, saying: My brethren, all ye that have assembled yourselves together, you that can hear my words which I shall speak unto you this day; for I have not commanded you to come up hither to btrifle with the words which I shall speak, but that you should chearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your dhearts that ye may understand, and your eminds that the fmysteries of God may be unfolded to your view.
      • 10 And therefore, he that will aharden his heart, the same receiveth the blesser portion of the word; and he that will cnot harden his heart, to him is dgiven the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.
      • 22 Yea, he that arepenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good bworks, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the cmysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be dgiven to ereveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance.
    • The process for receiving revelation and inspiration (1 Nephi 17:45; Enos 1:10)
      • 45 Ye are aswift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God. Ye have seen an bangel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were cpast feeling, that ye could not feel his words; wherefore, he has spoken unto you like unto the voice of thunder, which did cause the earth to shake as if it were to divide asunder.
      • 10 And while I was thus struggling in the spirit, behold, the voice of the Lord came into my amind again, saying: I will visit thy brethren according to their diligence in keeping my commandments. I have bgiven unto them this land, and it is a holy land; and I ccurse it not save it be for the cause of iniquity; wherefore, I will visit thy brethren according as I have said; and their dtransgressions will I bring down with sorrow upon their own heads.
    • The gentiles to assist the house of Israel (1 Nephi 22:8-11; 2 Nephi 10:18)
      • 8 And after our seed is scattered the Lord God will proceed to do a amarvelous work among the bGentiles, which shall be of great cworth unto our seed; wherefore, it is likened unto their being nourished by the dGentiles and being carried in their arms and upon their shoulders.
      • 9 And it shall also be of aworth unto the Gentiles; and not only unto the Gentiles but bunto all the chouse of Israel, unto the making known of the dcovenants of the Father of heaven unto Abraham, saying: In thy eseed shall all the kindreds of the earth be fblessed.
      • 10 And I would, my brethren, that ye should know that all the kindreds of the earth cannot be blessed unless he shall make abare his arm in the eyes of the nations.
      • 11 Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to make bare his arm in the eyes of all the anations, in bringing about his covenants and his gospel unto those who are of the house of Israel.
      • 18 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, thus saith our God: I will afflict thy seed by the hand of the Gentiles; nevertheless, I will asoften the hearts of the bGentiles, that they shall be like unto a father to them; wherefore, the Gentiles shall be cblessed and dnumbered among the house of Israel.
    • The law of consecration (2 Nephi 2:2)
      • 2 Nevertheless, Jacob, my firstborn in the wilderness, thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine aafflictions for thy gain.
    • The reason God allows evil and opposition to continue in the world and the importance of moral agency (2 Nephi 2:2, 10:16)
      • 2 (See above).
      • 16 Wherefore, he that afighteth against bZion, both Jew and Gentile, both bond and free, both male and female, cshall perish; for dthey are they who are the ewhore of all the earth; for fthey who are gnot for me are hagainst me, saith our God.
    • The purpose of Adam’s fall & man’s existence (2 Nephi 2:22-25)
      • 22 And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.
      • 23 And they would have had no achildren; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no bjoy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no csin.
      • 24 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who aknoweth all things.
      • 25 aAdam bfell that men might be; and men care, that they might have djoy.
    • The lost prophecy of the latter-day Joseph (2 Nephi 3:6-16)
    • God’s word is not limited to the Bible (2 Nephi 29:3-13)
    • The lost teachings of Zenos (Jacob 5:1-77)
    • A description of the natural man, and how to overcome (Mosiah 3:19; Alma 5:6-45)
      • 19 For the anatural bman is an cenemy to God, and has been from the dfall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he eyields to the enticings of the fHoly Spirit, and gputteth off the hnatural man and becometh a isaint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a jchild, ksubmissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
    • How to retain the remission of sins (Mosiah 4:11-16)
    • The true process of being born again (Mosiah 5:2-9; Alma 5:6-45)
    • The office and calling of a seer (Mosiah 8:13-17):
      • 13 Now Ammon said unto him: I can assuredly tell thee, O king, of a man that can atranslate the records; for he has wherewith that he can look, and translate all records that are of ancient date; and it is a gift from God. And the things are called binterpreters, and no man can look in them except he be commanded, lest he should look for that he ought not and he should perish. And whosoever is commanded to look in them, the same is called cseer.
      • 14 And behold, the king of the people who are in the land of Zarahemla is the man that is commanded to do these things, and who has this high gift from God.
      • 15 And the king said that a aseer is greater than a prophet.
      • 16 And Ammon said that a seer is a revelator and a prophet also; and a gift which is greater can no man have, except he should possess the power of God, which no man can; yet a man may have great power given him from God.
      • 17 But a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known.
    • The manner in which faith is developed and maintained (Alma 32:26-34)
    • The relationship between justice and mercy (Alma 34:15-16)
      • 15 And thus he shall bring asalvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.
      • 16 And thus amercy can satisfy the demands of bjustice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of cjustice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal dplan of eredemption.
    • The state of the soul between death and the resurrection (Alma 40:11-14):
      • 11 Now, concerning the astate of the soul between bdeath and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are ctaken dhome to that God who gave them life.
      • 12 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of ahappiness, which is called bparadise, a state of rest, a state of cpeace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.
      • 13 And then shall it come to pass, that the aspirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil—for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the bdevil did enter into them, and take possession of their house—and these shall be cast out into couter darkness; there shall be dweeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil.
      • 14 Now this is the state of the asouls of the bwicked, yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, cfearful looking for the fiery dindignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this estate, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection.
    • Christians and Christianity flourished before the time of Christ (Alma 46:13-16):
      • 13 And he fastened on his head-plate, and his abreastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the btitle of liberty) and he cbowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of dChristians remain to possess the land—
      • 14 For thus were all the true believers of Christ, who belonged to the church of God, called by those who did not belong to the church.
      • 15 And those who did belong to the church were afaithful; yea, all those who were true believers in Christ btook upon them, gladly, the name of Christ, or cChristians as they were called, because of their belief in Christ who should come.
      • 16 And therefore, at this time, Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians, and the afreedom of the land might be favored.
    • The symbolisms of the remnant of Joseph’s coat (Alma 46:23)
      • 23 Moroni said unto them: Behold, we are a aremnant of the seed of Jacob; yea, we are a remnant of the seed of bJoseph, whose ccoat was rent by his brethren into many pieces; yea, and now behold, let us remember to keep the commandments of God, or our garments shall be rent by our brethren, and we be cast into prison, or be sold, or be slain.
    • The perpetual cycle of the human experience (pride cycle): obedience–>blessings–>prosperity–>pride–>sin–punishment–>humility–>repentance–>obedience . . . (Helaman 12:1-3):
      • 1 And thus we can behold how false, and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and aprosper those who put their btrust in him.
      • 2 Yea, and we may see at the very atime when he doth bprosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of cprecious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do dharden their hearts, and do eforget the Lord their God, and do ftrample under their feet the Holy One—yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity.
      • 3 And thus we see that except the Lord doth achasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with bdeath and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not cremember him.
    • The “other sheep” spoken of in John 10:16 are identified (3 Nephi 15:16-24)
    • The powers of translated beings (3 Nephi 28:36-40)
      • 36 And now behold, as I spake concerning those whom the Lord hath chosen, yea, even three who were caught up into the heavens, that I knew not whether they were acleansed from bmortality to immortality—
      • 37 But behold, since I wrote, I have inquired of the Lord, and he hath made it manifest unto me that there must needs be a change wrought upon their bodies, or else it needs be that they must taste of death;
      • 38 Therefore, that they might not taste of death there was a achange wrought upon their bodies, that they might not bsuffer pain nor sorrow save it were for the sins of the world.
      • 39 Now this change was not equal to that which shall take place at the last day; but there was a change wrought upon them, insomuch that Satan could have no power over them, that he could not atempt them; and they were bsanctified in the flesh, that they were choly, and that the powers of the earth could not hold them.
      • 40 And in this state they were to remain until the judgment day of Christ; and at that day they were to receive a greater change, and to be received into the kingdom of the Father to go no more out, but to dwell with God eternally in the heavens.
    • Baptism is only for those who are accountable (Moroni 8:5-23)
    • The manner in which all truth may be verified (Moroni 10:4-5)   
      • 4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would aask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not btrue; and if ye shall ask with a csincere heart, with dreal intent, having efaith in Christ, he will fmanifest the gtruth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
      • 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may aknow the btruth of all things.

    And lastly, one of my own:

    Order of baptism 3 Nephi 11:24-27
    24 And now behold, these are the words which ye shall say, calling them by name, saying:
    25 Having aauthority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the bFather, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
    26 And then shall ye aimmerse them in the water, and come forth again out of the water.
    27 And after this manner shall ye abaptize in my name; for behold, verily I say unto you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are bone; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one.

    I haven’t personally checked the Bible for all of these truths. If anyone knows of places in the Bible that speaks of any of these truths I would gladly review them. Ultimately, it is not a competition between the Bible and the Book of Mormon. The primary purpose of the Book of Mormon is to testify of Christ, and part of that purpose is accomplished by supporting the Bible in every way. The Bible and the Book of Mormon together leave indisputable evidence of Christ’s divine mission as our Savior.

  • Am I a Christian?

    Am I a Christian?

    I was told I’m not a Christian.

    I was looking to attend a Christian University and when the counselor I was speaking to heard I was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints she got kind of upset.  She seemed truly disappointed to break the news to me.  “You can’t attend this university if you are not Christian.”

    Yes!

    I was so excited to respond to that.

    “I’m sorry if there’s confusion, but I am very Christian.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” I emphasized.

    She didn’t seem convinced.

    “I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, He is the Savior of the world, He is my Savior.  He died so I can live.  He came to this earth to sacrifice His mortal life for me.  Christ has always been and will always be my Savior.”

    We went around in circles like this for a bit.

    Finally, she said with exasperation, “Do you believe Jesus Christ visited the Americas?”

    An emphatic, “Yes, I do.”

    Her reply, “Oh you see, we don’t believe there is any evidence of this in the Bible.  I’m sorry.  You don’t believe in the same Christ we do.”

    The same Christ?

    Speaking of “evidence” in the Bible that Christ may have visited the Americas leads me to Ezekiel 37:16 which reads:

    “Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, for Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and for all the house of Israel his companions.”

    These sticks are the Book of Mormon and the Bible.  One from Judah and one from Joseph. 

    More “evidence” in John 10:16:

    “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”

    I put quotes around “evidence” because evidence is a funny thing.  Anyone can read those two scriptures and explain them away.  The real evidence is in the Book of Mormon.  Read it.

    How can someone who has never read the Book of Mormon with its constant references to Jesus Christ, its beautiful and simple doctrine of Jesus Christ, and its eloquent teachings of Jesus Christ, tell me I’m not Christian?  By their fruits you shall know them.

    Do other Christians think Christ wouldn’t visit all His children across the globe?  Do other Christians think Christ didn’t have time to show love to His other sheep?  Do other Christians think Christ only loved the Jews in Israel?

    Maybe we don’t believe in the same Christ.

    But I do know that we believe in the same Christ.  I know other Christians are confused about the nature of Jesus Christ and I know the Book of Mormon can shed light on His true nature and teach “Christianity” so much about our Savior whom they profess.  He is everyone’s Savior.  That is why I was so anxious to tell her about the Book of Mormon and explain to her that the Bible DOES testify of the Book of Mormon and show evidence that Christ visited the Americas.

    I know she didn’t hear all of what I was trying to say that day.  I know she was clouded by biases and preconceived notions.  That’s ok.  I know she’ll get a chance to learn about Jesus Christ’s love for all His children and His visit to the Americas.  Someday.

    Read the Book of Mormon for yourself.  Let me know if it’s not the purest, most beautiful, most amazing description of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth today.

  • A Dream About Prophets

    A Dream About Prophets

    I had a dream last night.  In it I was going down a stream.  I had the feeling of leaving civilization for the wilderness.  I came to a cliff.  I climbed to the top and on the precipice there was a small and shabby tent erected.  I went inside and there was an old prophet.  I spoke with him.

    A new prophet came.  The new prophet was well dressed and well-kept, not like the old prophet living in a tiny tent on the edge of a cliff.  The new prophet was respected, and I knew he came from a comfortable home.  He was well regarded by society and lived comfortably in the world.  He was told he had to take the place of the old prophet and live there in the wilderness, in a tent.

    When I woke up from this dream, I had a feeling it was important, but I couldn’t figure out why.

    What was this dream telling me?

    I write down all my dreams.  But this one felt important.

    Was Russell M. Nelson the new prophet?  Was he of the world?  Was he flawed?  What was the dream telling me?

    As I meditated in the morning, I continued to ponder this question.  On my drive into the office, I prayed to know if there was something I was supposed to glean from this dream.  I asked specifically that if there was something important that I was supposed to learn to please allow my reading for the day to guide my mind to understanding.

    I’m in Mosiah chapter 3 and Doctrine and Covenants section 133 respectively in my daily scripture study.  A few hours later I was reading verse 71, exactly where I’d left off the day prior, of section 133, which reads:

    “Behold, and lo, there are none to deliver you; for ye obeyed not my voice when I called to you out of the heavens; ye believed not my servants, and when they were sent unto you ye received them not.”

    Alongside D&C I’m reading a commentary.  The commentary for verse 71 said:

    Why Are the Prophets Rejected?

    President Spencer W. Kimball commented:

    “Various excuses have been used over the centuries to dismiss these divine messengers. There has been denial because the prophet came from an obscure place. ‘Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?’ (John 1:46.) Jesus was also met with the question, ‘Is not this the carpenter’s son?’ (Matt. 13:55.) By one means or another, the swiftest method of rejection of the holy prophets has been to find a pretext, however false or absurd, to dismiss the man so that his message could also be dismissed. Prophets who were not glib, but slow of speech, were esteemed as naught.…

    “We wonder how often hearers first rejected the prophets because they despised them, and finally despised the prophets even more because they had rejected them. Even so, why else is the record of rejection so complete? The cares of the world are so many and so entangling, even very good people are diverted from following the truth because they care too much for the things of the world.…

    “Sometimes people let their hearts get so set upon things and the honors of this world that they cannot learn the lessons they most need to learn. Simple truths are often rejected in favor of the much less-demanding philosophies of men, and this is another cause for the rejection of the prophets.

    “But while there are various excuses for rejection, there’s a certain cause for this sad record. It must not be passed over: the cares of the world, the honors of the world, and looking beyond the mark are all determined by a persuasive few who presume to speak for all.…

    “The holy prophets have not only refused to follow erroneous human trends, but have pointed out these errors. No wonder the response to the prophets has not always been one of indifference. So often the prophets have been rejected because they first rejected the wrong ways of their own society.

    “These excuses for rejection of the prophets are poor excuses. The trouble with using obscurity as a test of validity is that God has so often chosen to bring forth his work out of obscurity. He has even said it would be so. (See D&C 1:30.) Christianity did not go from Rome to Galilee; it was the other way around. In our day the routing is from Palmyra to Paris, not the reverse. Just because something is in our midst does not mean that we have been in the midst of it. We can daily drive by a museum or an art gallery but know nothing of what is inside.

    “The trouble with rejection because of personal familiarity with the prophets is that the prophets are always somebody’s son or somebody’s neighbor. They are chosen from among the people, not transported from another planet, dramatic as that would be!…

    “Of course, rejection of the holy prophets comes because the hearts of people are hardened, as people are shaped by their society. Yet even when the hardening is swift, it can also be subtle. Who, for instance, a scant twenty years ago would have foreseen the massive use of abortion in society today? Like all the diseased doctrines of the devil, the practice is pleasing unto the carnal mind.

    “Prophets have a way of jarring the carnal mind. Too often the holy prophets are wrongly perceived as harsh and as anxious to make a record in order to say, ‘I told you so.’ Those prophets I have known are the most loving of men. It is because of their love and integrity that they cannot modify the Lord’s message merely to make people feel comfortable. They are too kind to be so cruel. I am so grateful that prophets do not crave popularity.” (In Conference Report, Apr. 1978, pp. 115–16; or Ensign, May 1978, pp. 76–77.)

    It wasn’t until the very end of that statement from Spencer W. Kimball that it hit me, and I remembered – I asked for guidance in what I read today to help with my dream.  I dreamed of prophets, now I was reading a long commentary from a prophet about why prophets are rejected.

    I thought back on my dream.  I had correctly believed that Russell M. Nelson was the “new prophet.”  What I incorrectly interpreted was that Russell M. Nelson was “of the world” or wrong in some way.  My dream gave me a feeling that he was flawed.  That he was attached to the comfortable home and respectful world he lived in.

    After reading that comment from Spencer W. Kimball, I realized there was no flaw in Russell M. Nelson. 

    The attacks on prophets are starting to escalate in our current society.  See the recent backlash against Jeffrey R. Holland as an example.

    The eternal and correct view of prophets on gender, marriage, and the importance of the family is under attack.  Prophets will not deny truth.  They will continue to speak truth even as they are rejected by the world.

    Nobody embodies a “loving man” more than Jeffrey R. Holland.  If you’ve ever watched one of his tear-filled and tear-jerking General Conference addresses, you know that the man emanates love for us, for followers of Jesus Christ and for all of God’s children.

    “Those prophets I have known are the most loving of men. It is because of their love and integrity that they cannot modify the Lord’s message merely to make people feel comfortable.”

    No statement has ever fit Jeffrey R. Holland more accurately.

    I started making connections between my dream and what it was trying to tell me, so I went back and re-read where I was at in Mosiah 3:18, 19 (the verses I read before D&C that day).  It reads:

    18 “For behold he judgeth, and his judgment is just; and the infant perisheth not that dieth in his infancy; but men drink damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves and become as little children, and believe that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.

    19 “For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.”

    “And the infant perisheth not that dieth in infancy.”

    “but men drink damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves and become as little children.”

    “For the natural man is an enemy to God.” 

    “And becometh as a child.”

    “even as a child doth submit to his father.”

    “Who, for instance, a scant twenty years ago would have foreseen the massive use of abortion in society today? Like all the diseased doctrines of the devil, the practice is pleasing unto the carnal mind.  Prophets have a way of jarring the carnal mind.”

    I think my dream was reminding me what I already know to be true.  We are in the time where our society has fully rejected the prophets.  The attack on them is going to increase.  Russell M. Nelson has been a respected heart surgeon, kind, gentle, grandfatherly figure.  I believe we are quickly approaching the time that he will be cast into the wilderness and hated by a world that has always hated prophets.  I believe this is what my dream was telling me.

    Those of us with faith in Jesus Christ and His anointed servants must keep firm in our faith in Him, and in His servants.  Don’t be shaken by the attacks on His chosen servants.  If you do, your faith in Him (Jesus Christ) can be shaken next.  Trust in whom He has chosen.  Follow them as you follow Him.  The Lord’s prophets will not lead us astray.  Russell M. Nelson is the Lord’s anointed and he is our prophet.  As the world turns on Jesus Christ’s prophet, we must support and protect him from a world that will hate what he and our Lord stand for.

    For more on this topic, I read this blog post that elaborates on the dangers of choosing what we do and do not want to believe from prophets. Click the image below to read the post:

    Why it is dangerous to throw away prophets you dislike

  • Israel–Palestine Conflict

    Israel–Palestine Conflict

    I recently went about educating myself on the current conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine.  It was briefly a popular subject in the news recently.  Then, as the news is wont to do, the next hot topic came, and we didn’t hear about this issue anymore.  That doesn’t mean this is no longer an issue, only that we’re not hearing about it as much.  This problem has been ongoing for decades.

    First, a disclaimer before broaching this subject:  what is happening in the Middle East is a complex issue today, has been for a very long time, and will continue to be.  As is often the case in multi-decade feuds between different cultures, this isn’t a simple movie plot – bad guys vs good guys.  No superlatives will properly express how complex this issue is, so I won’t use any.  I’ll leave it at the statement:  this is a complex issue.

    Before I get into this complex issue, I must state something of vast importance.  It is important we don’t hate anyone, on either side.  That includes hating the Jews, which is becoming a “hip” thing to do lately.  It is of critical importance that we don’t completely vilify and blame the Jewish people for the atrocities that have been performed.  Yes, atrocities are being performed.  But, if we hate and vilify and discriminate against the Jewish people for the acts of a few or even of many, we are doing exactly what we’re so angry at the Jews for.  We are mistreating people.  Whether people are right or wrong, mistreating them is never an acceptable response.

    A little historical background on what has happened and has been happening in Israel/Palestine, for those like me who have kept themselves blissfully ignorant of the topic.

    At the end of World War II many Jewish people were displaced, their homes destroyed, they had nowhere to go.  As these refugees wondered where they should go, a natural gathering to their ancient homeland started to occur.  The only problem was their homeland was already home to a new group of people.  The area of “Israel,” the land gifted to Abraham and his Jewish descendants by God, had become Palestine.  New people had been living there for centuries.

    The Bible has long prophesied of the gathering of Jews back to their homeland.  The 20th Century has seen many Jewish people gather back to the land of Israel, making it a nation again, for the first time in 2,000 years.  Did this gathering fulfill prophesy?  In part.  That prophesy won’t be completely fulfilled until Christ returns and shows the Jewish descendants of Abraham the prints in his hands and feet and they accept the Lord as their Christ.

    Since we are witnessing, in our time, a prophesy fulfilled only in part, it’s obvious why this topic is so important to study and understand.  It fascinates me that something prophesied of for centuries has been happening right before our eyes, in our time, our parents’ time, and our grandparents’ time.  Yet we all act like this isn’t a big deal.  Prophesy fulfilled in the dispensation of the fullness of times.  Another reminder of the significance of the time we now find ourselves in.

    When I heard of the issues in Israel, I realized I needed to pay attention.  I’m aggressive in my avoidance of news and current affairs.  I know I should do better.  When I heard about Israel in the news, and as a studier and believer of the Bible, I was ashamed and embarrassed to be so ignorant on such an important topic.  My ignorance needed to be rectified.  The events in the Middle East are prophetic and important.  Which led to my study of the subject. 

    What has happened as part of this 20th century gathering is what has happened anytime a people travels to an inhabited land in hopes of making it their own.  This mass migration of the Jewish people back to Israel/Palestine has led to war, contention, and oppression.  The Jewish people have established a Jewish state: Israel exists again.  This establishment has shown little regard for the previous inhabitants.  As the Jews have established some dominance and control in the region, naturally they exert some pressure on the previous people.  The oppressed from history and particularly World War 2 have become the oppressors.  Due to a lot of outside support, the Jewish state of Israel has been given much leeway in human rights violations.  Public opinion has always been on the side of Israel, largely due to the support of Bible believing Christian countries (see documentary The Occupation of the American Mind).

    The Occupation of the American Mind | Kanopy

    There is wrongdoing on both sides.  The Jewish people/Israel are not blameless.  The Arabs/Palestine are not blameless.  There is blood on the hands of both sides.  This is in large part what makes this issue so complex.  When conflict becomes decades of conflict, an eye for an eye becomes 100,000 eyes for 100,000 eyes.

    That’s the million-foot view.  The difficulty I’ve found in researching this subject is the bias you get from both sides.  I’ve found it difficult to find completely impartial, factual, and historical information.  The best and most impartial documentary I’ve watched so far is Two Blue Lines.  That’s where much of my thoughts on this topic will come from.  That documentary really made me think about this problem from different angles.

    My hope is that I can give some thoughts on this issue, in the simplest and most layman terms, to help others realize how important it is we pay attention to what’s happening in the Middle East.  Instead of saying too much in a breakdown of this topic, I’ll just share some interesting thoughts that developed from the documentaries I’ve watched.  At the end of this, I’ll list out these documentaries if you’d like to further educate yourself on the important events happening in Palestine.

    One topic that developed in the documentary Two Blue Lines was the idea that the Jewish people had become grounded in the land and not in the people.  I believe it was a Jewish rabbi that pointed out it isn’t the land of Israel that makes Judaism, it is the people, no matter where they are.  He talked about how Judaism is confused.  God wants love.  Judaism is one with all people.  Judaism should be love and peace and brotherhood.  What’s happening in the nation of Israel is the people are becoming grounded in land, and not religion.  They have linked themselves to the earth, to something temporal.  Judaism is more than a land, it is bigger.  Judaism has survived as a people, a religion, and a culture through centuries of persecution and attempts at eradication because of their strong roots in God.  Jews believe they are God’s chosen people.  Rooting themselves to the land of Israel weakens what has always been their strength.  The issue in Israel has become a people linked to a land instead of to God.

    As a studier of the Bible, I realized I fell into this grounded in land and not in people thinking.  My first thought (when completely ignorant of the issue) was – “of course the Jews are coming back to Israel by any means necessary.  The Bible said it was rightfully theirs, the Bible tells us they would return to it, of course this is happening.”  That, though, doesn’t excuse oppressive or unloving behavior.  Prophesy told us the Jews would be scourged from generation to generation for what was done to Jesus Christ (2 Nephi 25:16), this didn’t make the Holocaust rightful in anyway.  In a similar way, just because the Jewish return to Israel was prophesied doesn’t make Jewish mistreatment of Palestinians acceptable.    

    Other thoughts, mostly from Two Blue Lines and The Gatekeepers:

    1. This is quickly going to become a more relevant issue in the United States. 
    2. A girl talked about how the Jews are repeating history.  Similar to what was done to them so recently in the Holocaust they are now doing to others.  She talks about how it’s hard to stop because it’s not one person, it’s like a movement.  It’s gaining momentum and it’s happening.
    3. One Jewish lady said that history will not look kindly on what is happening in Israel.  Live by the sword die by the sword.  They are committing war crimes.  History takes note.  Maybe not today, but one day.  She said this ~30 years ago.  We’re seeing that day come.  As mentioned, the public shift against the Jews and the state of Israel is happening now, right before our eyes.
    4. A fascinating point was made about segregation.  Israel was established in 1948.  At that time, they modeled after and looked up to the United States which was the pinnacle of the western world.  At that time the US was still a segregated country.  70 years later Israel hasn’t had a civil rights movement.  They still live in segregation, but instead of black people being discriminated against it’s Palestinians who are being mistreated.  For a real-world picture of this watch the fictional movie A Borrowed Identity.
    5. These are quotes from individuals In Two Blue Lines
      • “It’s clear that there will not be peace if we continue to demolish innocent peoples’ houses….”
      • “What is more dangerous is what this (mistreating Palestinians) does to Israeli people… as Israeli soldiers and citizens we become, from year to year, more animals.” 
      • “What’s worse is what is being done to Israeli people, we are becoming animals.” 
    6. The Gaza Strip (the most fought over land in possibly all the world) is the size of Mobile Alabama with 10x the population.
    7. As you watch this, don’t villainize the Jewish people.  Then you are perpetuating the evil.  Understand they are confused, and they are wrong.  They do need to be held accountable.  It needs to stop.  They need to stop treating others how they have been treated.  They need to treat others how they WANT to be treated.
    8. One individual pointed out that the Palestinians don’t have a state or an army.  This “war” is against a people.  You can’t have ethnic democracy, or “Jewish democracy.”  Either you believe in democracy, or you believe in a Jewish state.
    9. From The Gatekeepers – all former Shin Bet (Israel’s internal security service, think the FBI) leaders were unanimous; Israel must talk with the terrorists.  They must talk with anyone that might talk to them.  Peace cannot come through military or tactics or fighting or intelligence.  Another of the Shin Bet leaders, the oldest one in the last 7 min of the documentary talked about how the occupation is making young Israelis cruel.  They’re becoming like Germany when they occupied territories.  Not how Germany was towards the Jews, but how they were to all the others they occupied (Polish, Danish, Norwegians, etc.).  He said, “We win every battle, but we lose the war.”

    That’s some of what I learned from conflicts in the Middle East.  I’ll now present some scriptural evidence of the prophesy being fulfilled.

    From a commentary on Doctrine and Covenants section 133 (items in parentheses are my own insertions): “The Gentiles who obeyed the Gospel were commanded (v. 12) to gather in Zion (Utah/America), and those of the house of Judah were to flee to Jerusalem (seen in 20th century, as discussed) (v. 13).  This is in harmony with the prediction of Isaiah and Micah, that out of Zion (America) shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord (Bible) from Jerusalem (Micah 4:2). For from both these centers the Lord shall judge.  Jerusalem shall be re-built and become a holy city, the capital for Judah, and Zion shall be the capital and city of our God, for Ephraim and his fellows (why so many of the tribe of Ephraim are already in America).  Both shall be seats of government in unison with each other, and the Lord shall dwell in both.” (Smith and Sjodahl commentary).

    Zechariah 14:1-5 reads:

    Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.

    2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

    3 Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

    4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

    5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

    This what the Jews expected from their Savior, the Messiah.  They expected a warrior.  A soldier to redeem them from the occupation of the Romans.  Instead, they got the Lamb of God.  That phrase had largely been removed from their scripture.  Search for it in our current Old Testament and you will not find “Lamb of God” referenced.  Why?  Because it did not fit the image the Jewish people wanted from their King.  They wanted and expected a king more akin to David, not Solomon.

    Zechariah 14:1-5 is a yet to be fulfilled prophesy.  As I heard of the hate and vitriol being pointed towards the Jews in the news and on social media, I realized it was starting.  It’s long been a question: with the state of Israel so favored worldwide, how would this prophesy come to be?  When would the armies encompass them about?  As we see time and time again, political alliances and mutually beneficial allegiances turn quickly when public opinion starts to turn.  Public opinion against the nation of Israel is changing right before our eyes.  Prophesy is beginning to take its shape.

    Luke 12:54-56:

    54 And he (Christ) said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.

    55 And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.

    56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

    The Jewish people must turn to their Savior and accept that He has already come before them.  They can’t rely on alliances with the United States any longer.  They must trust in the Lord their God.  They are the chosen of the Lord, even despite their great mistakes.  He still loves them; they are still His people.  They must turn to Him and trust in Him.  Political alliances are fickle.  The Lord’s covenants with the people of Israel are eternal.

    Tragedies have occurred in the Palestine/Israel conflict on both sides.  Inhumane treatment abounds.  The opposite of love has been shown for God’s children.  We are all God’s children.  The Jewish people know this.  They must turn from their obsession in obtaining their homeland and instead make the world a promised land.  They must repent for the sins of few or many.  They must correct wrongs currently being done in the Middle East.  When they do this, they will continue to have the favor of the Lord Jesus Christ, and no one can come against them. 

    For more on the signs of the Second Coming see this link:

    https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-43-signs-of-the-second-coming?lang=eng&adobe_mc_ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.churchofjesuschrist.org%2Fstudy%2Fmanual%2Fgospel-principles%2Fchapter-43-signs-of-the-second-coming%3Flang%3Deng&adobe_mc_sdid=SDID%3D7302279A4CD5BB72-09C549BA4C3CA027%7CMCORGID%3D66C5485451E56AAE0A490D45%2540AdobeOrg%7CTS%3D1642517792

    Documentaries watched:

    1. The Zionist Story (2011)
    2. The Occupation of the American Mind (2016)
    3. Two Blue Lines (2015)
      • Can be found for purchase on Amazon Prime Video, Youtube, Apple TV.
      • Best, most impartial documentary I’ve seen.
    4. A Borrowed Identity (2015)
      • Can be found for purchase on Amazon Prime Video.
      • Fictional account of a Palestinian living in occupied territory.  This one teaches less general facts as it’s not a documentary, but teaches a lot, nonetheless.  It gives a real life feel to how this has impacted individual, real people, for generations.
    5. The Gatekeepers (2012)
      • Can be found on Hulu, Starz, Amazon Prime Video, and others.
      • Documentary of the intelligence agency in Israel.  Very powerful.