The Truman Show

From owlofthedeseret.com/blog

We've all been living in a sort of Truman Show, haven't we?

For those of you who haven't seen the movie, ​here's a recap (SPOILER ALERT):

At birth, Truman is legally adopted by a major television network to be the unknowing star of a television series, in which his entire life is watched by an audience of millions through an intricate series of hidden cameras.

Everyone participating in this created world is an actor except for Truman himself. Truman is the only “authentic” person in this constructed world; even his mother, father, and wife are paid actors/actresses.

Throughout his entire life, the television network is on a continual mission to keep Truman in ignorance of his situation through the manipulation of his environment.

The film follows Truman’s eventual realization of the true nature of his reality and his dramatic escape from the artificial world.

(http://www.philfilms.utm.edu/1/truman.htm)

Fake News

Years ago I stumbled across something that flipped my paradigm. It was life-altering (kind of like when Truman realized he was living in a Studio Set rather than the real world).

You see, during my youth and my missionary years, I had been told that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was going to build Zion. 

. . . I had been taught that the Church was the "stone cut out of the mountain" and that "no unhallowed hand" could stop the work from progressing.  

. . . People said we'd follow the Prophet's call when it was time to return to Jackson County.  

. . . I understood that the early saints had missed their chance to see the New Jerusalem, but maybe this generation of members would succeed where our ancestors had not. 

Well, guess what?  

Not the Main Show?

So, you're probably wondering what I learned that changed my outlook so dramatically.

I was reading in 3 Nephi and . . . well, I'll let the Savior speak for Himself:

​   But if they [the Gentiles] will repent

  and hearken unto my words,

  and harden not their hearts,

  I will establish my church

  among them, and they shall come

  in unto the covenant

  and be numbered among this

  the remnant of Jacob,

  unto whom I have given this land

  for their inheritance;

  And they [the Gentiles]

  shall assist my people,

  the remnant of Jacob,

  and also as many of the house of Israel

  as shall come, that they may build

  a city, which shall be called

  the New Jerusalem.

  And then shall they assist my people

  that they may be gathered in,

  who are scattered

  upon all the face of the land,

  in unto the New Jerusalem.

(3 Nephi 21:22-24)

Did we catch that?!

  

  Q No. 1:  Who does the Lord call "my people?"

  A:  The remnant of Jacob (not the Latter-day Saints).

  Q No. 2:  Are the Latter-day Saint Gentiles in charge of building the New Jerusalem?

  A:  No, the Lord promised that the New Jerusalem will be built by the remnant of Jacob.

  Q No. 3:  So what is the role of the Latter-day Gentiles in the building of Zion?

  A:  Our role is to "assist" the remnant of Jacob.   

  Q No. 4:  Will all Latter-day Gentiles be able to assist?

  A:  No, only those who have:

  

     1.  Hearkened to the voice of the Lord; and

     2.  Not hardened their hearts; and

     3.  Been numbered among the remnant of Jacob

What Does This All Mean?

​   1.  We're not the main show.  We're the opening act.  We're playing on stage warming up the crowd.  That's right ― the crowd that came to see the headlining band play (which is not going to be us!).

2.  It was never the job of the Church to build Zion (which explains a lot, since we haven't been able to).

  3.  The mission of the Church was to bring the gospel to the "remnant of Jacob" (i.e., Lamanites).  They're the ones who will build the New Jerusalem.

  4.  Everything that has occurred since 1820 in the Restoration has been prelude to the main event.  We're the stage hands.

  5.  The Latter-day Gentiles, for all of our money, status, and keys, will not be in charge.  The irony!  If we're "numbered among the remnant of Jacob" we'll get to "assist." 

(So we better humble ourselves because we're going to be second string, the junior varsity, the water boys, the assistants to the president.)

And I would ask: how are we doing? Not very well since we don't even understand our role even though Joseph Smith did. And why? "...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" (2 Nephi 32:7). So not only will most of us be unprepared to "assist" His people, our children and grandchildren will also be unprepared because we don't (perhaps can't is a better word) teach them!

Gratefully there are those like Tim Merrill who love enough to teach us.

​