No Coincidences

Tag: history

  • 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.
  • Godhead – My Understanding

    Godhead – My Understanding

    Two posts ago I discussed the doctrine of the Trinity and my opposition to it.

    This will be a much gentler post, detailing how I personally come to the belief and understanding of the Godhead as true doctrine. 

    First, an explanation I didn’t give last time. Definitions:

    1. Trinity or Trinitarian belief:  God is one God, but three coeternal and consubstantial persons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  The three persons are distinct, yet are one “substance, essence or nature” (homoousios).  In this context, a “nature” is what one is, whereas a “person is who one is. (From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity).  (Also, huh?).
    2. Godhead: God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost form a group known as the Godhead.  Each member is a different, individual being, yet all three are united in thought, desire, knowledge, power, and purpose. (From https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2019-08-0080-godhead?lang=eng). (Also, visit that link to watch a 7-minute video to learn more).

    How can I say “I know” the Godhead to be true?

    The Godhead is one of the unique beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

    A majority of Christianity believes in the Trinity.

    In this post, I won’t go into detail on the doctrine, differences, importance, history, etc. of the distinctions between Trinitarian and Godhead belief.  That I’ll likely save for another day.  In this post I simply want to explain how I have come to know for myself that the Godhead is true and correct doctrine.

    The short answer to how I can know the Godhead to be true is:

    Through study, prayer, and upbringing.

    My understanding of this principle and the knowledge I have of it can be broken down very simply.  It’s a similar breakdown that explains much of my testimony in the restored gospel.

    In reading the Book of Mormon, I know without a shadow of a doubt that it is the word of God.  I know that it was translated through the power of God.

    If the Book of Mormon is true, then Joseph Smith is a prophet. 

    Joseph Smith told us he saw God the Father, and Jesus Christ on His right hand.

    Joseph Smith History 1:17:

    It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other-This is My Beloved Son, Hear Him!

    Joseph Smith never wavered on this fact. 

    This could be where it ends, but I’ll add some notes on upbringing and study.

    Upbringing – obviously, I must mention that my upbringing played a role in my believing this to be true.  I was raised to believe in the Godhead; therefore, it is much easier for me to accept as truth.  That said, it was up to me to ask questions, read the book for myself, study Joseph Smith’s history and understand the principle for me to come to the knowledge.  Because I was raised to believe it to be true didn’t make it true.  Which leads to the next point.

    Study – As I said, through study and research I have determined the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.  It is an inspired book. 

    Prayer – My testimony of the Book of Mormon, mentioned in study, not only comes from logical, mind-centered study, but from personal revelation.  I’ve felt the Book of Mormon is true.  I’ve prayed to know the Book of Mormon is true.  I’ve received my answer, through prayer, that the Book of Mormon is true.  Prayer is an irreplaceable ingredient. 

    The principle of the Godhead has been distorted, attacked, and misunderstood for centuries.  One of the first attacks Satan always makes is on the nature of God.  If Satan can confuse us on who God is, he can confuse us on who we are.  We are children of the Almighty God. 

    I am grateful for modern revelation and prophets that make simple and powerful truths known.  I am grateful to know that while God is magnificent and powerful, He is not un-knowable.  The understanding of God as my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as my brother, who gave His life for me, strengthens my faith and helps me put my trust in them.

    This truth is eternal, and this truth is important. 

  • The Trinity

    The Trinity

    I’m not going to cite a bunch of scriptures supporting my point.  In my experience that does nothing because individual scriptures can be interpreted in a million different ways.  Any scripture I give that seems clear as day to me to show God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost as three distinct personages is quickly explained away and followed up with another scripture that someone believes shows they are one being. 

    Instead of trying to convince anyone of this doctrine, I more want to give my thoughts on it.  I also want to briefly discuss the importance of this doctrine and why I believe it has been so adamantly fought over throughout the centuries. 

    First, the “they are one” controversy with the many scriptural references is so easy for me to understand.  They are one in intent and purpose, so they are one.  Christ, when praying to His Father said, “let them be one, Father, as you and I are one.” (John 17:21-23)  Why would Christ say this?  Given the doctrine of the trinity, was Christ praying that his apostles would morph together into one super spiritual being?  No, it doesn’t make sense.  What Christ was praying for was literal.  “Let them be one, as you and I are one” – in intent, purpose.

    Second, what sense does a unified being make?  I know we are human, and we don’t understand much of anything about the true nature of Heaven, of eternity, of what is next.  I have faith in a lot, but I understand little.  Maybe the next life is filled with multiple personality Gods and beings that I’m meant to worship.  Maybe God can split into three personages.  Maybe He did this to make us understand some deep, important principle.  Maybe?  Or maybe every person who counseled over this principle (the famous Nicene Creed) and ultimately came to a decision we follow hundreds of years later didn’t understand.  God isn’t setting out to confuse us.  He doesn’t want us to NOT comprehend Him.  He wants us to know how much He loves us.  He wants us to know He SENT His only begotten son, who also loves us.  He wants us to know the Holy Spirit can be a constant companion to us.  He doesn’t want to confuse us.  He isn’t throwing out stumbling blocks all along the way to make things more difficult.  This life isn’t intended to be a maze of confusion that we may be lucky to determine what God wants us to know.  He wants us to seek Him and to seek truth.  He WANTS us to understand.  God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are three separate, distinct beings.  I don’t know this (yet), but I have faith and hope that it’s true.

    The Godhead: One In Purpose – ToGather Saints

    Joseph Smith saw them.  That’s why that moment was so significant.  They didn’t speak to Him from the clouds.  They appeared in their bodies.  To show him, “you are like us, and we are like you.”  They have bodies of flesh and blood.  Christ really came here, His Father’s Son, to attain a body and die for us.  That principle is pure and beautiful.

    Have you ever wondered why Christ ate fish and bread with the apostles after his resurrection?  Why was that account included in the scriptures?  The scriptures are full of important information, obviously.  Why was this seemingly unimportant detail included?  Not because Christ was trying to make His apostles comfortable.  It was included because it was important.  Christ was showing that He had a body.  Just as we, when we are resurrected, will be resurrected with our bodies. 

    This brings me to the third point, exactly why this doctrine was fought so hard against for all of history.  Satan is cunning.  Satan knows what is and isn’t important to our salvation.  With the fervor and aggression Satan has fought this doctrine with, it seems obvious to me how important it is.  This doctrine is so important because the corruption of it distances us from our Heavenly Father.  That is Satan’s great purpose.  What greater way to distance us from our Father than corrupting His image into some unknowable, un-understandable, un-comprehendible being?  It is the opposite of what God is.  He knows us, He understands us, He comprehends us, and he wants us to understand Him.  This bizarre trinity He’s been morphed into makes it so hard to communicate with Him.  How do you communicate a triple being you can’t imagine?  Not the same, personal way you can communicate with your own father.  Not the way your loving Heavenly Father wants you to communicate with Him.  A father that sent His only begotten Son to save the rest of His spirit children. 

    I wish I could be more eloquent on this topic.  Of all topics I wish I had a poet’s or philosopher’s eloquence for, this is it.  Because it’s important.  But I’m not a poet or a philosopher.  My words fall short of what I want to portray.  I wish so much that everyone could know Heavenly Father the way I feel and know Him.  He and Christ are so important to me.  Combining them in one takes away one of the most important persons in my life.

    This truth is eternal, and this truth is important. 

    To learn more about the truth of the Godhead, visit here:

    https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/article/do-members-of-the-church-of-jesus-christ-believe-in-the-trinity

  • Faith and Signs

    Faith and Signs

    3 Nephi chapter 2 is a fascinating and important part of the Book of Mormon.  It’s especially important to our day.  There’s a chance our moment in history could be parallel to this time in the Book of Mormon record.

    The start of chapter 2 tells us that despite many signs, wonders, and prophesied events coming about, the people continued to harden their hearts and scoff at the idea of a being like Jesus Christ, the Son of God, ever visiting them.   

    Verse 8 reads:

    “Now the Nephites began to reckon their time from this period when the sign was given, or from the coming of Christ; therefore, nine years had passed away.”

    There are two important points I want to make here.

    First, many miraculous signs happened.  This resulted in an extremely short-lived conversion. 

    3 Nephi 1:22 in part reads:

    “the more part of the people did believe, and were converted unto the Lord.”

    A mere 3 years (3 years!) and we have 3 Nephi 2:1:

    “the people began to forget those signs and wonders which they had heard, and began to be less and less astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven, insomuch that they began to be hard in their hearts, and blind in their minds..”

    We see here how an outward sign can have a bolstering effect on faith, but ultimately signs create temporary faith.  The people didn’t do the necessary work to grow, strengthen, and develop their faith.  Within 3 years those signs were a distant memory.  Their day to day deeds and thoughts were what shaped them.  Those who continued to pray, look for Christ, and study the words of the prophets looked forward to a miraculous day.  Those who saw a sign and only momentarily changed their thinking or habits soon fell back into their disbelieving and hard-hearted ways.

    Terrance Szink says, “the conversion was the result of an outward sign and required no work on the part of the people.  They had seen the sign but, for the most part, they did not sustain their faith.”

    Faith must be practiced daily. If not, it will die like a flower without water.  We are entering a time just like this time in the Book of Mormon.  We are entering a time when signs will become common.  Miraculous events will happen around us.  How many around us will harden their hearts and not see what is right in front of them? 

    There will come a time when Biblical prophesies will start to be more obvious.  There are already signs around us that have been prophesied for centuries.  These signs will become more obvious.  This will only temporarily make people look to God, if it does at all.  Soon people will scoff at believers. People will speak of science and coincidence.  Many will say Christ is not coming because He doesn’t come in their expected timing.  Christ will come exactly when He intends to.

    The second point I want to make is more just an interesting thought.

    How funny is it that a vast majority of the people in the Book of Mormon quickly forgot the signs they’d seen? Yet, as a whole, the people changed how they kept track of time.  They started to speak of years in terms of the time since the sign appeared.  How ironic is that?  These people that didn’t believe the sign still acknowledged it was important enough that they changed how they tracked time.

    It’s reminiscent of today.  As a society we use the year 2020 as the time since Christ’s birth.  Yet, how many people among us today don’t even believe in Jesus Christ?  How many don’t believe He was the Son of God? He was important enough for us to mark our calendar by Him but not important enough to actually believe in Him.

    I believe many will have to answer for this hypocrisy one day.  The signs of Christ are obvious.  The impact He had on the world are so profound, and yet many still deny.  One day we will all have to stand before God and either accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, or reject Him.  I hope on that day our hearts are not hardened and we don’t deny the grace and love that will be right before us.

  • The Glory of the Sun

    The Glory of the Sun

    I recently finished a book that was so packed with wisdom I couldn’t come close to taking it all in.  Every page provided a new insight.  Every thought was provoking.  It is amazing to walk through the minds of men and women so in touch with the spirit or some form of knowledge I don’t yet have.  It’s my favorite part of reading.  From reading his words and thoughts I could feel his closeness to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and therefore come closer to them myself.

    The name of the book was The glory of the sun which refers to 1 Corinthians 15:41:

    “There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.”

    Doctrine and Covenants 76:70 reads:

    “These are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical.”

    Sterling W. Sill, author of this book, was a general authority in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He was asked to share a series of gospel messages each week for a year over the radio.  The series was called “Sunday Evening from Temple Square.”  Those 52 addresses were put into this book.  It’s amazing to see that so many unique and powerful messages can come from one individual. 

    Sterling W. Sill

    Every message was so good, I could randomly turn to a page and share an important thought.  There was one in particular I found pertinent to our current moment in history.

    Elder Sill shared his messages at the height of the cold war so there is an emphasis of freedom and liberty throughout. 

    In one of his addresses titled “Five grains of Corn” Elder Sill reviewed the custom of Thanksgiving.  Elder Sill pointed out that Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday.  It is a day we give thanks to our ancestors who bravely came here and suffered through much hunger, affliction, and death.  He reminded me that during Thanksgiving we give “deep gratitude.. for the rich productivity of American soil.”

    I believe it is important for us to remember the blessed nation we are fortunate to live in.  The United States of America is a chosen land.  One thought Elder Sill presented was the idea that we live more lavishly and comfortably today than any king in history.  He pointed out that if we had to live as King Solomon, even in all the glory of his palace and kingdom, it would be a great hardship to us.

    What a thought!  The average person in America lives with more comfort than any historical king!  How blessed we are and how often we take for granted this great nation we live in.  It truly is a promised land. 

    What has always separated America from any other nation is our freedom – the freedom that gives us the ability to worship our God however we please. If you look at the short history of the United States it becomes quickly apparent what separates us.  It is the freedom we enjoy, particularly religious freedom.  It saddens me that as a nation we are turning from the God who has so blessed us.  It is part of the agency God has given us, the freedom this nation is founded on, that currently allows so many to turn from God.

    This paragraph from the book rings so familiar to our current landscape that I will quote it in whole.  Elder Sill says:

    “In the United States we have just gone through a great political election to decide who would represent us in the governing councils of our country for the next four years.  We have been sharply divided on issues and people.  We have settled the matter by an appeal to the ballot box.  No blood was shed, no life was in danger, no one had any thought of trying to liquidate his opponent.  No one even pounded with his shoe or threatened to throw it at anyone.  Now all Americans will settle down and give full support to the government that they, under God, have created.  Now we will all unite in building a greater America and help to carry out our divine mission to promote freedom, justice, and happiness in the world.”

    Election day is tomorrow.  It is my sincere prayer that we as a nation can unite and support whoever wins this election.  It is my prayer that there is no bloodshed, danger, threats, or pounding of feat.

    The final and important point Elder Sill gives in this message is about our faith in God that I have already mentioned.  Specifically, the devotion to His Son, Jesus Christ. 

    The Mayflower Compact, written by those coming to settle a new America reads, “We whose names are underwritten have undertaken for the glory of God to establish in Virginia the first colony for the advancement of the Christian faith.”

    The New England Federation Compact Agreement reads similarly, “We all have come into these parts of America with one and the same end, namely to advance the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

    I hope we can remember our Thanksgiving for this promised land.  I hope we can remember the freedoms and liberties we enjoy, and how great it is to be a part of the democratic process.  Finally, I hope we can remember who it is our ancestors came to America to serve, who’s kingdom they wished to establish. 

    “America was established as a kind of laboratory or experiment station to show what would happen to any people who cared and dared to follow Jesus Christ.” – Elder Sill.

    How blessed our ancestors were and how blessed we’ve been as we’ve looked to Jesus Christ.  I hope that can continue.