No Coincidences

Tag: Salt Lake City

  • Christ’s Church in the Wilderness

    Christ’s Church in the Wilderness

    I’d like to discuss an interesting pattern. That pattern is that Christ’s Church is always established in the wilderness. Let’s explore: 

    Adam was cast out of Eden into the lone and dreary world. He ventured into a world that was essentially a wilderness. It was here that he received gospel teachings and likely would have established Christ’s Church. 

    Noah established Christ’s Church when the world became so wicked that all the people save Noah’s family were destroyed by the flood. Noah re-established Christ’s Church in a world that had literally become a wilderness.  

    Abraham seemed to steer away from civilization and established his covenant family in the wilderness. 

    Moses removed the Israelites from a life of slavery, in so doing, removing them from Egypt. They ventured into the wilderness. Moses re-established the covenant with Jehovah, and established Christ’s church. 

    Christ was from Nazareth, not Jerusalem. He taught and preached mostly on the outskirts of cities. It could be said that He established His Church from the wilderness.  

    Let’s venture to a different branch of the tree, other children of Israel, to continue to establish this pattern: 

    600 years before Christ came to Earth to re-establish His Church on the outskirts of Jerusalem, Lehi was commanded to leave Jerusalem. Why? To find a promised land. A promised land that was essentially a wilderness. This is where Lehi was to establish Christ’s Church. 

    In ~147-145 B.C. Alma the elder re-established Christ’s Church in the wilderness when he escapes from wicked King Noah and baptizes 204 souls in the waters of Mormon. Read Mosiah 18 for more on this.

    And finally, in 1830 Joseph Smith restored Christ’s Church to the Earth. What happened? Given this pattern, could the Church be established in New York? Boston? Even Ohio or Illinois? Even those cities and states were too “civilized” for God’s Kingdom to be fully established there. So the Church had to move to the wilderness. As God’s pattern always dictated. Fresh ground for His Kingdom, for His Saints. For new wine does not belong in old bottles (Matthew 9:17).

    I love finding patterns that re-affirm the truth of Christ’s restored Church today. God works through patterns. Here is an obvious pattern. God has never been able to establish His church amongst “civilized folks.” It has almost always seemed to take a wilderness. It was in the wilderness of the Salt Lake Valley, among the mountain tops (Isaiah 2:2)  that God allowed the wilderness to blossom as the rose (Isaiah 35:1) for His chosen people. 

    Oh look, more prophesies fulfilled by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. More patterns continued, more completed. Funny how that works. 

  • 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.