The Greatest Work?

Several years ago there was a push from Church headquarters to simplify in order to give more priority to family. Since then, it seems that local and general programming has only intensified with super-activities and entertainments that require massive time commitments and costs. I wonder if we have forgotten the words of Harold B. Lee in 1973 (40 years ago):

“The greatest work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own home.”*

As we seek to create spiritual and conversion experiences for our young people (in super-activities), I wonder if we have also forgotten a corollary of President Lee's remark:

The greatest missionary work we will ever do will be within the walls our own homes.

Mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, aunts and uncles, and siblings—is not missionary work within the family the priority portion of the call: “Every member a missionary”?

And what is the nature of that “missionary work”? Does it not go far, far beyond instruction and teaching? Doesn’t the Apostle Paul make it very clear what the vital core of that work is? See 1 Cor. 13.

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* https://www.lds.org/ensign/2002/06/father-consider-your-ways?lang=eng

Adam [& Eve*]’s Transgression

We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression. (Pearl of Great Price - Article of Faith #2)

We memorize this Article of Faith and we know that:

... all mankind, by the fall of Adam being cut off from the presence of the Lord, are considered as dead, both as to things temporal and to things spiritual ((Book of Mormon - Helaman 14:16)[; and]

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (New Testament - 1 Corinthians 15:22)[;]

but recently, while pondering these concepts, I have became more aware of the fullness of the Atonement in that both physical and spiritual death have been ENTIRELY overcome so that, in the end, not one soul shall remain physically OR spiritually dead because of our first parents’ transgression.

Let me explain.

We are very clear that the resurrection overcame physical death because every soul who ever lived shall likewise be resurrected, but sometimes we are not as clear that the atonement also overcame the spiritual death that resulted from Adam & Eve’s actions. In other words, the first spiritual-death is vanquished when every soul (good or evil) appears before the bar of God at judgment. Here is scriptural support:¹

Therefore, as the soul could never die, and the fall had brought upon all mankind a spiritual death as well as a temporal, that is, they were cut off from the presence of the Lord, it was expedient that mankind should be reclaimed from this spiritual death. (Book of Mormon - Alma 42:9; bold emphasis added.)

And it shall come to pass that when all men shall have passed from this first death unto life, insomuch as they have become immortal, they must appear before the judgment–seat of the Holy One of Israel; and then cometh the judgment, and then must they be judged according to the holy judgment of God. (Book of Mormon - 2 Nephi 9:15; bold emphasis added.)

... And he suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day. (Book of Mormon - 2 Nephi 9:22; bold emphasis added.)

And these things doth the Spirit manifest unto me; therefore I write unto you all. And for this cause I write unto you, that ye may know that ye must all stand before the judgment–seat of Christ, yea, every soul who belongs to the whole human family of Adam; and ye must stand to be judged of your works, whether they be good or evil; (Book of Mormon - Mormon 3:20; bold emphasis added.)

... there is a space between death and the resurrection of the body, and a state of the soul in happiness or in misery until the time which is appointed of God that the dead shall come forth, and be reunited, both soul and body, and be brought to stand before God, and be judged according to their works. (Book of Mormon - Alma 40:21)

... the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice. (Book of Mormon - Alma 42:23; bold emphasis added.)

And because of the redemption of man, which came by Jesus Christ, they are brought back into the presence of the Lord; yea, this is wherein all men are redeemed, because the death of Christ bringeth to pass the resurrection, which bringeth to pass a redemption from an endless sleep, from which sleep all men shall be awakened by the power of God when the trump shall sound; and they shall come forth, both small and great, and all shall stand before his bar, being redeemed and loosed from this eternal band of death, which death is a temporal death. (Book of Mormon - Mormon 9:13; bold emphasis added.)

But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind, and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord. Yea, and it bringeth to pass the condition of repentance, that whosoever repenteth the same is not hewn down and cast into the fire; but whosoever repenteth not is hewn down and cast into the fire; and there cometh upon them again a spiritual death, yea, a second death, for they are cut off again as to things pertaining to righteousness. Therefore repent ye, repent ye, lest by knowing these things and not doing them ye shall suffer yourselves to come under condemnation, and ye are brought down unto this second death. (Book of Mormon - Helaman 14:17-19; bold emphasis added.)

How is it that all men and women, in our various gradations of sin and corruption, can stand before God at the last day? Is it because justice has been satisfied in full by Christ’s atonement? That He paid every possible price in advance?²

Having ascended into heaven, having the bowels of mercy; being filled with compassion towards the children of men; standing betwixt them and justice; having broken the bands of death, taken upon himself their iniquity and their transgressions, having redeemed them, and satisfied the demands of justice. (Book of Mormon - Mosiah 15:9)

BUT THEN does the second spiritual death (in gradations³) come to those who will not accept the gift of mercy because they cannot (in self-will?) abide the law of the gift-giver’s abode?

For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory. And he who cannot abide the law of a terrestrial kingdom cannot abide a terrestrial glory. And he who cannot abide the law of a telestial kingdom cannot abide a telestial glory; therefore he is not meet for a kingdom of glory. Therefore he must abide a kingdom which is not a kingdom of glory. ... And they who remain shall also be quickened; nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received. (Doctrine and Covenants Section 88:22-24, 32)⁴

The gift of the atonement is unfathomable in that He can stand betwixt us and justice. Perhaps someday we shall begin to comprehend the heights and depths of what that means!

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* And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. (New Testament 1 Timothy 2:14)

1. Other supporting references: (Book of Mormon - 2 Nephi 2:10; 2 Nephi 9:10-12; Alma 12:15-16; Mormon 9:13-14; Helaman 14:15-16; etc.)
2. Recognizing there is a class of souls who shall not be forgiven: New Testament - Matt. 12:31-32; Luke 12:10; and Doctrine & Covenants 132:27.
3. Doctrine & Covenants 76:86-88
4. See also, Book of Mormon - Mormon 9:1-6

NOTE posted October 4, 2013: I recently came across Tad R. Callister's, The Infinite Atonement (chpt. 6), wherein he says all this in a clearer, more eloquent way."

"Approaching Zion Project"

I have begun following the "Approaching Zion Project" initiated by Sam Brunson at Times and Seasons*. His second post raises a major issue for him, being what he terms: Nibley’s generalizations about people and his mischaracterizations concerning the rich.

For those who share his concerns, I submit that the same charges of generalization and mischaracterization could be levied against every prophet, and even, the Father and the Son, themselves. Isn’t Nibley just déjà vu the scriptures? Has he said anything more than others have said? as in:

THE LORD: And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them. (Old Testament Deuteronomy 31:16)

ISAIAH: O house of Jacob, come ye and let us walk in the light of the Lord; yea, come, for ye have all gone astray, every one to his wicked ways. (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 12:5)

ISAIAH: HEAR ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness. ... Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass; (Old Testament Isaiah 48:1, 4)

ISAIAH: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Old Testament Isaiah 53:6)

JEREMIAH: Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. (Old Testament Jeremiah 51:17)

JESUS: And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. (New Testament Matthew 19:24)

GOD: Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. (New Testament Hebrews 3:10)

JACOB (bro. of Nephi): But wo unto the rich, who are rich as to the things of the world. For because they are rich they despise the poor, and they persecute the meek, and their hearts are upon their treasures; wherefore, their treasure is their god. And behold, their treasure shall perish with them also. (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 9:30)

HELAMAN: 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 prosper those who put their trust in him. Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper 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 precious 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 harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One—yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity. ... O how foolish, and how vain, and how evil, and devilish, and how quick to do iniquity, and how slow to do good, are the children of men; yea, how quick to hearken unto the words of the evil one, and to set their hearts upon the vain things of the world! Yea, how quick to be lifted up in pride; yea, how quick to boast, and do all manner of that which is iniquity; and how slow are they to remember the Lord their God, and to give ear unto his counsels, yea, how slow to walk in wisdom's paths! Behold, they do not desire that the Lord their God, who hath created them, should rule and reign over them; notwithstanding his great goodness and his mercy towards them, they do set at naught his counsels, and they will not that he should be their guide. (Book of Mormon Helaman 12:1-2, 4-6)

This is just a minuscule sample. In addition, we could do a scripture search of the terms: “this people” or “my people” and witness how consistently general, God seems to remain. Why generalizations? Could it be the BIG picture? the unending déjà vu of things? a perpetual warning? a scriptural perspective of predispositions?

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* http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2013/05/the-approaching-zion-project-what-is-zion-a-distant-view/ (This déjà vu is an elaboration on my comment #49.)

Attachments

I came upon a conversation yesterday where some relatives and friends were discussing the mystery of “Why do so many bad things happen to good people?” and “Why is life so full of hardships?” Since this has been a persistent grief and exploration of mine for decades, I made the observation that I thought it was not such a mystery—that hardships are to break us of our attachments to the things of this world. If our unrelenting attachments are to things telestial / terrestrial isn’t that what we will inherit—a telestial or terrestrial sphere? Provided however, that everything telestial / terrestrial that is of eternal worth will be included in the celestial sphere. It’s just that we can’t become rigidly attached to anything here in this world.

A mother interjected fervently: “Except for our families.” In reflex, I agreed: “Except for our families.” But within minutes, I knew we were both wrong: that we cannot be stubbornly attached to anything here—not property, fame, wealth, ideas, philosophies, pleasures, convictions, expectations, people, etc.—not even beloved family members. I take my justification from Jesus’ words:

He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. (New Testament Matthew 10:37-39)

If our attachment to something in this world (even family) is so great that we will not do or accept God’s will, however wrenching and seemingly unreasonable, then we will lose that thing we are so attached to, plus our life’s potential. Isn’t that the message of Abraham’s story concerning Isaac? But if we are prepared to give up (or accept) whatsoever He wills, then and only then shall we find “our life.”

That is not to say, we should not love and care deeply. To love and care is the second great commandment; but there is a first great commandment¹ that takes priority when the two come into seeming conflict.

That’s the sense I make of why we continually encounter painful wedges between our attachments and our faith, hope, and charity. It is not an easy or welcome spiritual reality for most of us trying to navigate in this “rational” world, but as Jesus said:

... Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. (New Testament Luke 18:29-30)

And as Isaiah and Paul said:

For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. (Old Testament Isaiah 64:4)

Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (New Testament 1 Corinthians 2:9)

What are our attachments? How many sharp wedges have we already endured to break us away from the limitations of this world? How many more will be required? How do we know and discern what is God's will for our individual lives?

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1. New Testament Matthew 22:37-40: Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

In Good Company

Recently I have listened to the interviews of John Dehlin at Mormon Stories.¹ There he speaks of the pain that has been his companion for many years—the pain of witnessing a world in pain.

This is what I would say to the John (and Jane) Dehlins of this world. Pain and confusion are déjà vu nigh every prophet of old, plus a thousand, thousand other seekers of truth. Why so much sorrow in this world? Why so much pain in seeking to know God? in trying to reconcile His character, plan, and promises with this mortal life? in trying to endure His ways?

From my observations, it seems we have two extremes in believers: those who are perpetually of “good cheer”; and those who cannot shake the sorrows of a broken world. I have a sister on the perpetual cheer side. I have struggled for decades on the grief side. We each think the other is too extreme, which is undoubtedly true, but I take consolation in the counterweight we are to each other.

Those who manage to do as the Savior directed:

... In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (New Testament John 16:33);

are probably the more healthy and balanced as they grieve the tribulation, yet remain of good cheer—like the people of Mosiah:

“Now this account did cause the people of Mosiah to mourn exceedingly, yea, they were filled with sorrow; nevertheless it gave them much knowledge, in the which they did rejoice” (Book of Mormon Mosiah 28:18).

But nonetheless, many of us struggle with the discord between a God who self-describes as a Being of lovingkindness and the state of His creation.

These are some of the things that have, at times, given comfort:

▪ the Savior being described as “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:” (Old Testament Isaiah 53:3);
▪ the poignant verse, “Jesus wept.” (New Testament John 11:35); and though he undoubtedly laughed and smiled at times, the descriptions of Him seem to confine themselves to the sorrow side;
▪ the honesty of Biblical Job² in crying out his despair and confusions; and then, of God’s preference² for Job’s integrity over that of God’s own defenders, Job’s friends;
▪ the lamentations of Old Testament Jeremiah, e.g., “OH that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!” (Old Testament Jeremiah 9:1);
▪ the cries of Ezra who, like Jeremiah, sorely lamented before God about the fate of the mass of humanity; and God’s reply: “For you come far short of being able to love my creation more than I love it.”³
▪ that God and the Heavens should weep for suffering mankind (Pearl of Great Price Moses 7:28, 31, 37, 40);
▪ that Enoch had bitterness of soul and wept, and wept, and wept, and wept (Pearl of Great Price Moses 7:41, 44, 49, 58);
▪ the description of the only designated survivors from a sword of justice as: “the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof” (Old Testament Ezekiel 9:4);
▪ the lamentations of Nephi, Jacob, Limhi, Alma, etc.: “... why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?” (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 4:26); “... I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiffneckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be”(Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 32:7); “... wherefore, we did mourn out our days” (Book of Mormon Jacob 7:26); “... great are the reasons which we have to mourn;” (Book of Mormon Mosiah 7:24); Alma’s prayer (Alma 31:26-35);
▪ the baptismal covenant that we are “willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort,” (Book of Mormon Mosiah 18:9);
▪ the beatitude: “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted” (New Testament Matthew 5:4);
▪ the words of Joseph Smith expressing his “painful anxiety” about the world and Zion: “I am led to exclaim, "O that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night"; and “... if the fountain of our tears be not dried up, we will still weep for Zion. This from your brother who trembles for Zion, and for the wrath of heaven, which awaits her if she repents not.” (Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 13, 19; see also Doctrine & Covenants 21:8.)
▪ the forewarning: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. ... And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you” (New Testament John 16:20, 22); “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you [and almost every mortal soul], as though some strange thing happened unto you” (New Testament 1 Peter 4:12);
▪ the scripture that I turn to perhaps more than any other: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Old Testament Isaiah 55:8-9).

And though many of us yet lack the balance of Jesus’ admonition, yet I take consolation that we are not alone in struggling to comprehend the contraries of life and a loving God; and that sorrow and grief are acceptable before God as we mourn with those that mourn, and strive to trust in a Being greater than ourselves.

THE Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. (Old Testament Isaiah 61:1-3)

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1. http://mormonstories.org/john-dehlin-and-faith-reconstruction/
2. http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2010/01/finding-god.html . See also: “Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor? ... My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep” (Old Testament Job 30:25, 31).
3. (The Fourth Book of Ezra, The Old Testament Pseudephigrapha: Vol. 1, Apocalyptic Literatures & Testaments, ed. by James H. Charlesworth, pp. 543-544, bold emphasis mine)

Tones & Pitches

You are a parent:

▪ your child is snuggled in your arms while you are reading The Velveteen Rabbit.
▪ your child is standing beside a precious heirloom that lies in pieces at her feet—an heirloom you had lectured her, more than once, about not touching.
▪ your child has just spontaneously shared his only cupcake with a friend.
▪ your child is still lingering before a TV cartoon after three supper calls while the rest of the family waits at the table for grace.
▪ your child has just witnessed the death of a beloved pet.
▪ your child is innocently venturing into a swift-moving stream.
▪ your child is lying in a hospital bed awaiting another painful surgery.

Does the tone of your voice vary?

Does the tone of God’s voice vary?

Often we hear about the vengeful tone of the Old Testament God. Can we discover the reason in the text? What about the opposite tone? Have we ever looked for it?

Once Upon a String (A Parable of Things Déjà Vu)

Once upon a time, there was a man with strings—or rather string ends that would erupt, here and there, from his hands, face, throat, lips, and tongue, like skin tags—short tapering ends that were plainly visible, except the man didn’t seem aware of the string ends. He was a VIP, so no one mentioned them to him either. Those who wanted to were intimidated by those who wouldn’t because the man was an extra-special VIP. But one day, a simpleton pulled on one of the string ends and the VIP completely unraveled.