No Coincidences

Tag: leaders

  • We are Scripture

    We are Scripture

    As I read the historical background of Section 136 of the Doctrine and Covenants, I’m struck by the realization of how much the pioneers of the 1840s parallel the children of Israel leaving Egypt.

    The pioneers were leaving persecution, and in many ways bondage, just as the children of Israel.

    The pioneers had a humble leader, being inspired of God.  Brigham Young said, “What I know, I have received from the heavens…Men talk about what has been accomplished under my direction, and attribute it to my wisdom and ability; but it is all by the power of God, and by intelligence received from him.”

    The pioneers were on a covenant path.  The destination was not as important as the journey.  Section 136 is all about the pioneers learning to trust and follow God, whatever happened.  This has many parallels with the children of Israel, from manna coming to heaven to their rejection of the full covenants with God along their way.

    The pioneers were going to settle a new promised land.  The children of Israel were going to settle the Lord’s city.

    The comparisons go on and on.

    As I’ve been writing this, I have said: the pioneers compared to the children of Israel.  It’s important to realize that the pioneers were the modern children of Israel.  It is no coincidence that their story so perfectly parallels the Exodus from Egypt.  God works in patterns.  This is proof of His work.

    Brigham Young, when worries came from the pioneers about them being behind schedule in their goal to have crops planted, is quoted as saying, if the Saints “had done all [they] could,” he would feel “just as well satisfied as if [they] had a thousand acres planted with grain.  The Lord would do the rest.”

    Ultimately, the pioneers settled Utah.  Salt Lake City has become a bustling and powerful city of the world.  The desert has blossomed as the rose, (Isaiah 35:1) just as Jerusalem became a powerful city in ancient times.

    I believe we often read the scriptures and forget that we are scripture.  Very little differentiates us from the followers of God 2000 or 4000 years ago.  Different places, different time, new technology; but we are still following God, trying our best to keep His covenants, and trying our best to come closer to Him.

    If scripture verses were written about you, what would be written?

    With this understanding comes an important realization.  History repeats itself.  I believe we can read of the ancient Jews condemning their Christ to death on the cross and scoff at the idea.  We are ~170 years removed from our “time in the wilderness,” our pioneer days.  If Christ came before Zion today, would we know Him?

    I hope we would, but sometimes I worry for Zion.  We know Zion will become complacent in the last days.  It’s important that we stay vigilant in our devotion to God and to our covenants with Him.  Otherwise we risk the same fate that befell Jerusalem so many years ago.

  • 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

  • He Lives

    He Lives

    The Book of Mormon.

    The Apostles, Prophets, Bishops, leaders.

    The Prophet Joseph Smith.

    The temples.

    The missionaries.

    Knowing why I’m here.

    Knowing where I’m going

    These things are all amazing.  These are all fruits of the gospel.

    But.

    Why are they amazing?

    After seeing a great vision of eternity, of all the heavens, of the glory, love, and light we will all receive in the next life, after this vision, Joseph Smith and Sydney Rigdon wrote this:

    “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

    For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father.” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:22)

    How I wish I could scream this to the world.  Jesus Christ lives!  He died for you, for each of us.  He died so you need not fear death, trials, or tribulations.  You needn’t fear anything.  He died for your reassurance.  He died for your comfort.  He died for your sins.  He died for you.

    All those things mentioned at the start are amazing, glorious, and wonderful because they point to one thing:  Him.  Jesus Christ.  The Savior of the world.  Without Him all of it would be for nothing.  Temples, prophets, scripture, what good are they?  They are only good for what they point us to.  The light and love of this world.  Jesus Christ.

    I wish the world could see this.  I wish the world could see that all these things are just tools pointing to someone far greater.

    Ultimately the gospel of Jesus Christ brings comfort.  The Plan of Salvation brings peace.  The Plan of Happiness makes this life a joy.  How could this life be anything less when you know the bigger picture?

    I don’t fear trials because I know they help me grow.

    I don’t fear tribulations because I know they benefit me for eternity.

    I don’t fear death because I know where I’m going if I continue to look to Christ.

    I wrote this months ago. Now I’m coming off a situation that has been a trial and tribulation.  I believe I can say with a little more confidence today that I don’t fear death.

    It can be naïve to say I welcome trials and tribulations when life is wonderful and peaceful.  I appreciate that my life is wonderful and peaceful because of the Gospel and the peace it preemptively brings me before trials.  It’s easy to say these things when everything is going well. I’m glad I can say them when things are hard as well. 

    Despite current challenges, I feel so blessed.

    Of course, I don’t want tests and trials, but I know when they come, they are for a great purpose.  I hope when opportunities come for my faith to be tested it can feel like an open book test.  I hope I can face trials in life as if I have the answers, which I believe I do.  It’s easy to say until a true tragedy hits my life.  I don’t hope for a true tragedy, but I hope for the strength and faith to endure tragedy if it comes.

    Coming off the accident I had, I still don’t feel like I’ve gone through a tremendous trial.  It has been challenging, but not overly.  I don’t feel like it has been that difficult at all.  I don’t know how much of that is the fact that the challenge wasn’t actually difficult or due to all the support I have around me, especially the support of God.

    These are all the benefits of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I wish the world had this same peace I have been profoundly blessed to be given.

    He lives!