If You Were to Ask

"Is this all there is?" has been called the Terrible Question. Is there to be an abrupt end of the good life before it's even started? Or of the wonderful life before we can do and experience all that we want to do? Or of the unhappy life before there has been a chance for happiness?  Or of the life filled with pain and sorrow without relief? And will our immense endowment and endless capacities be shut off before we have a chance to fully use them? Are we to settle with the idea that we will be absorbed into the "nothing from which we came?"

What of our minds and emotions? Recorded in what are traditionally the two most ancient writings in existence, the Shabako text of the Memphite Theology, and the Sefer Yetzirah, which was held by most of the early rabbis to be the world's oldest book and a composition of Abraham, both writings tell us of the seven openings of the head, the seven orifices or receptors--two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, and one mouth. The Egyptian account tells how these receptors receive impulses, energy quanta from the world outside, organize it in the brain, give it meaning in the breast where values are imparted, the thymos of the Greeks, the seat of emotion. When the individual has thus composed images and impressions of the outside world he/she is prepared to communicate to others.

What comes in by seven receptors, goes forth by the one powerful projector, which is the sacred word of mouth. The logos is more than a myth; it is actually the only way with which we convey our thoughts and beliefs and convictions to others; the only way in which they can have any image of the world we are experiencing. By the word alone we make a common universe of discourse. Through this discourse we spend our time "conversing among ourselves" almost always relying on what we have heard or learned from others, adhering more to those so called experts in their fields, but still just sharing horizontally what we have heard, read or experienced from our paltry and skewed vantage point. But is there more? Much more!

Do we value the treasures of the earth so much, that we can't get past them and begin in earnest searching for the treasures of heaven? But, you might ask, are there such treasures? And are we forsaking them for what we can only see and understand, what we receive from others? There are Treasures of Heaven, and that brings me to why I am sharing this. Why? Because we want for you the same treasures that we have diligently searched for and discovered, and now treasure and value above all else. 

But I can't just go to my treasure chest and show you. Sure, I can try, but I would spend most of the time trying to explain to you why they are treasures! The paradox is that you must desire and search for them yourself.  

For many years, every year, Annie and I would travel to Moab, Utah to hike up to the Delicate Arch.  I remember the first time we hiked together to discover this one of a kind treasure tucked away in the hills of Arches National Park.  We had to work to get there by hiking about 1.5 miles, only to walk the final part of the trail and discover this magnificent treasure as our view opened at the end of the trail. We could not see it until we got to it. Unbelievable!  But also indescribable! It has to be discovered, and cannot be fully appreciated until it is.  Was it worth traveling 250 miles to see it? Every single time!

And because we treasure it and want those we love to experience it, we tell you about it, show you photos and encourage you to go and discover it. Why? Because we want you to experience and discover the beauty, the majesty, the reverence that we experienced and discovered. Why? Because we want to share this treasure with you. We can all relate to this. We want to share the good things, the treasures we discover with those we love and care about, knowing that we really can't share what we experienced, but we try nevertheless because we need to share, and where we can share our experiences, it makes us happy and glad.

There is, however, a treasure of greater worth that we want to share. Something of real consequence that only an angel could deliver. There is a clinical description of this angel named Moroni, of just what he was like and what happened when he came. And then there is that handing over of solid metal plates--we didn't see them, but they were translated in a work so staggering that it may risk challenging to call it the most remarkable achievement of the human mind--that is, if Joseph Smith was not telling the truth about its origin! After all what everyone really wants is "life and that more abundant," as the Lord says, and not only more abundant than we are getting, but it should be eternal, not cut off in the middle or running down to imbecility the way it always is. It should not end in corruption. 

Fortunately, a brilliant light penetrated the Judeo-Christian world’s centuries-old darkness in a grove of trees in the spring of 1820, when, in answer to a remarkable young man’s prayer, the youth saw and conversed with the Father and the Son, who appeared to him as distinct but identical physical persons. Angels subsequently visited the earth and the Book of Mormon, a record of ancient American inhabitants descended from Jews, was translated from golden plates and published to the world. That scriptural work—a second witness of Jesus of Nazareth—while it accords with the biblical account on all points, eliminates many doctrinal stumbling blocks that have vexed Jews and Christians alike.

But where is the hunger and thirst? Why are people so complacent to settle for that which gives no life, which has no life? We not only find the answers to these questions in the Book of Mormon, which, by the way, is named after Moroni's father Mormon, who received the records which had been kept and preserved, abridged them and gave them to his son Moroni, of which the translation is but a hundredth part of what was recorded, who delivered them to Joseph Smith to be translated by the power and authority of God. Only a hundredth part you ask? Why? To test our faith to see if we will receive what we have, only to receive more if we do! But also to be a witness against us if we won't receive what has been given. 

The Book of Mormon was given to the world, not just as a sign to convert it but as a testimony to convict it. It is given without reservation or qualification as a true history and the word of God: “A record of a fallen people, the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also.” If the Book of Mormon is to prove “…to the world that the Holy Scriptures are true” it must stand firm and unmoved without any external support. And it does. Critics can only attack its origin, but the book stands as a testimony of its existence.  It invites any test and it will stand up to all of them.

Aside from records from 2200 BC which were found and kept with their own, their record begins with a man named Lehi and with his family and others who left Jerusalem in 600 BC and came to what is now Central and South America. The record spans over 1000 years ending in about 420 AD and contains a record of Jesus Christ coming to visit some on the inhabitants on the American continent after His resurrection.The story, however, is not in the origin of the Book, but in its content, which like the Delicate Arch, one must put in the work and search the words of the Book to see and receive its treasures. And treasures they are! The main message of the Book of Mormon is to repent or turn to God, relying wholly upon His merits and not our merits and good works. Why? You must search the words of the Book to find out. It is all spelled out in there--words of God. 

And God's motivation? Because God loves us and wants us to have all that He has. Love is the motivation, just like our love for you is our motivation to invite you to search for the treasures of heaven.The admonition of Mormon to his son holds to the very end, delivered as it was after all was lost:  "And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay...."

But we would never attempt to 'sell' it to you using images of the world or the latest and best techniques to 'convince' you. It cannot be done. By His words alone, however, you can hear and see. His treasures are hidden for a reason--to see if those seeking for more than this world has to offer--will go on a treasure hunt and discover the treasures for themselves. For those seeking comfort in the conventional, the unconventional may be disarming. But the principal guide is certainly the Book of Mormon. The divinity of that work can be sustained by one argument alone, if that were all we had, namely, the sheer outrageousness of the thing: a tapestry unequaled in all the library for its richness and detail, an inexhaustible well of knowledge, and the prophetic book of the age.

The message of the world by comparison has been reduced to its lowest denominator. Electronics and digital media have made no change in the content, just the same message, no matter the hardware, software or resolution, and as a result we keep asking the same question "Is this all there is?"

It should be enough to note that the gift of writing was given to man by God for the express purpose of recording His communications with men. And the Book of Mormon is full of such words, recorded and translated for the world to see, hear, discover and treasure. Definitely not like any other book you have ever read. As I said if this was the work of a man, it would be without question the greatest work in American history, and much more difficult than the real book. But it is not and Joseph never claimed that he wrote it.  How would an uneducated man like Joseph Smith write of two migrations from two totally different cultures to the American continent, one in 2200 BC and another in 600BC, and be historically and culturally accurate?  

And yet, the most vocal critics have never read the book! They criticize and mock its origins. They ridicule Joseph Smith but couldn't tell you a-b-c about the contents of the Book of Mormon. So don't dismiss this just because you may not believe it, or more likely because you may not want to believe it, or you have heard from others who do not believe it. Belief is irrelevant. The question is not whether we believe or do not believe, but whether it is true or not. To believe something isn’t the same thing as knowing it. We may believe whatever we want, whether it is true or false. But we can’t know something is true unless it is true. Because each of us has the God-given ability to determine truth from error, we have a personal responsibility to do so. This is not something to leave to chance. There is too much riding on it and too little time to waste. This is about seeing and hearing, and you can only see and hear if you have walked the walk. And what do you lose by searching for the treasures of heaven? Nothing. But what do you lose by not searching for them? Everything!  

Life is a personal journey in which we can advance at whatever pace we want toward a more intelligent (light and truth) condition than we started from. And if we become more intelligent, then we become more useful, influential, and powerful in the service of the very truth that makes us so.

What would it take to convince you that there is a God and that He has revealed himself and His truth through His words? Is there absolute proof?

I have thought a lot about what it would take to convince me, and I have concluded that it would depend on me. What I mean by this is that unless I was someone who was seeking for something, either knowledge, truth or some type of validation about my life, no matter what was available it would be meaningless without some desire on my part to want to know it. Without this desire no matter what truth and knowledge was out there, I would probably not seek it. What would not help me are stories about believers, famous or otherwise; history, good or bad; believers' testimonies or beliefs. The question for me is not belief, but whether there is truth. It must be either or. There can be no maybe.

The question for me then would be, what would it take to arouse in me a desire to seek for truth? I would first need to know that there is some truth to seek. Not some creed or institutional beliefs, but real truth. So if someone gave me a definition of truth (not what they thought was truth), but real truth, that would be meaningful to me, and perhaps arouse in me a desire to find that truth. 

For example, if someone said to me that the word of God is truth, that would cause me to want to know if there really was a God and if that God has revealed His words to others, and if records of these words have been kept. I believe I would want to test this definition of truth, but would be reluctant to rely on someone's interpretation of these words. If I thought that I could know of myself if these words were truth, perhaps I would be interested enough to find them and search them. It would require for me, however, some instruction on how to come to know if the words in fact were truth. These instructions would have to come from God and not from some person. That person could, however, direct me to these instructions and I could test them to see if I could come to know of some of the truth or the truth of some of His words. I would want to know that the recorded words were His and not commentaries or incorrect translations.

For example, if someone told me that there is an experiment that I could try to test His words, I would want to try it. This experiment would have to be a valid experiment and have a scientific basis with all the necessary elements and controls to measure the results, and through this experiment, I could come to know that the experiment was itself revealed by God. The key for me would be if I could know the truth for myself and not rely on others. Perhaps, then, through these words I could come to know that there is a God and that His words are truth, and then I could know all things I needed to know and do through His words. His words would then be for me the standard by which everything would be judged.

Such an experiment does exist, and it meets all the criteria described above. And so we want to share with our dearest friends that which is of greatest worth to us, that which is light and truth, which truth and light can be discerned by you. Whether you desire to try this experiment or not, our love for you will only increase. Our motivation is to share and give you more of ourselves. There are just some things that cannot be shared. Although we are sharing these insights with you, we will understand if you treat them as fiction. Compared to today’s well-worn interpretations, some of these views may seem radical indeed. 

We invite you to put them to the test, however, to see if they are not enlightening, empowering, and freeing to your spirit for that flight to heaven which God has invited every one of us to take. 

Get your own digital copy of the Book of Mormon here and begin your treasure hunt now. Be assured that His treasures await you!

An Example of a ‘Dead’ Prophet’s Relevance Today

Last week I posted Mythical Category of Dead Prophets. As a follow-up I want to show just how relevant Isaiah is today by discussing only the first 6 verses of Chapter 1 of Isaiah. I will let you decide how relevant this ‘dead’ prophet is. Keep in mind that this is the same prophet that Christ said we should search. “Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah” (3 Nephi 23:1 emphasis added).

These six verses are from the preface of the Book of Isaiah which dates from about 701 B.C., which is almost 3000 years ago. What could be relevant to us today from a record written so long ago?

1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz which he beheld concerning Judea and Jerusalem during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah:

Earlier, in 722 B.C., Assyria had conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel (10 lost tribes) and taken them captive into Mesopotamia. The first chapter of the Book of Isaiah chronologically is chapter 6, which describes Isaiah’s calling as a prophet in the year of King Uzziah’s death in 742 B.C.

Isaiah’s prophetic ministry spanned about fifty years, and yet he uses the singular term ‘vision” which shows that Isaiah’s writings are one from beginning to end. Isaiah integrates his early oracles and later written discourses into a single prophecy that spells out an end-time scenario. Although Isaiah's prophecy was historical concerning Judea and Jerusalem, it is also an end-time prophecy in which “Judea” and “Jerusalem” are codenames that designate Jehovah’s end-time people. And who are his end-time people? We are, and everything Isaiah prophecies concerning Judea and Jerusalem he prophecies about us, the Lord's latter-day people. This also is proof that Jesus’ words--that all things that Isaiah “spake have been and shall be, even according to the words which he spoke” (3 Nephi 23:3) are true. He carefully selected events in history that would repeat themselves in the end-time.

2 Hear, O heavens! Give heed, O earth!

Jehovah has spoken:

I have reared sons, brought them up,

but they have revolted against me.

Isaiah begins his prophecy by calling on the heavens and the earth, which were witnesses of the Sinai Covenant (Deuteronomy 4:26; 30:19). That is the covenant Jehovah made with Israel as a nation, through which the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob became a people of God (Exodus 6:7). The “heavens” and the “earth,” however, don’t refer simply to the physical heavens and earth but to those who reside in them. Heavenly witnesses to Jehovah’s covenant no doubt include Israel’s ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and others who would retain the utmost interest in their descendants’ welfare.

Additionally, when Jehovah made the covenant with his people Israel, it included both those present and those not present (Deuteronomy 29:14-15). This alludes to the idea that there existed others yet unborn who were parties to the covenant as much as the people who stood with Moses at Mount Sinai. In fact, even though Jehovah’s people Israel may have at different times alienated themselves from Jehovah, the covenant itself was never annulled. According to Isaiah, even the new covenant Jehovah makes at the dawning of the millennial age is a compound of all former covenants He made.

Isaiah uses the phrase “Jehovah has spoken.” And Jehovah here speaks formally which makes this an official decree.  This suggests that at that point in time there had arisen a need for a reassessment or stocktaking. His people’s affairs continued for a time but then noticeably deteriorated. So Jehovah issues a pronouncement condemning his people or warning them of the inevitable consequences that must follow. These consequences take the form of curses or misfortunes that pertain to Jehovah’s covenant with his people, which, after repeated admonitions, become irreversible. And by warning His people at that time, He is warning us as well.

Jehovah says that “I have reared sons, brought them up, but they have revolted against me.” The word “sons” is a legal term common to covenants such as that made at Mount Sinai. As the prophets from Moses to Malachi adopt the emperor-vassal model to define Jehovah’s covenant relationship with Israel collectively and with persons individually, the word “sons,” as used in the present context, implies the breaking of covenant relationships by those with whom Jehovah has covenanted. The term “sons” also denotes God’s “children. Revolted in this sense means turning away from Jehovah. Hence the call of the prophets to return ye, return ye, return ye.

Isaiah prophecies that Judea/Jerusalem are taking their blessings and privileges for granted, and they are “revolting” or “transgressing” against their source—Israel’s God. They have turned from their God. Because Isaiah’s prophecies tell us what did happen, he tells us what is happening now among the Lord’s people in these latter days. This is part of the vision that Isaiah saw concerning us.

3 The ox knows its owner,

the ass its master’s stall,

but Israel does not know;

my people are insensible.

Israel . . . my people. 

We learn that Isaiah speaks on two distinct levels simultaneously, and that the “Israel” he addresses, therefore, is primarily two: (1) those who were Jehovah’s covenant people anciently; and (2) those who are Jehovah’s covenant people in the end-time. Accordingly, Isaiah enables us to read his prophecy as relating to Israel’s past, while his ‘what has been shall be’ structure enables us to read it as relating to the end-time. In that end-time context, names such as “Israel” designate those with whom God has covenanted. While we are identified with the Gentiles in Book of Mormon prophecies, we are identified with Israel in Isaiah’s prophecies. So there is no out for us.

Why does Isaiah use terms  ox and ass? While the ox is a ritually clean animal—because it divides the hoof and chews the cud (Leviticus 11:3)—the ass is not. Such dual imagery of beasts at times appears in Isaiah’s writings to represent (1) Israel’s natural or ethnic lineages; and (2) the nations of the Gentiles, or those lineages of Israel that assimilated into the Gentiles after its exile from the Promised Land. In an allegorical but not a contextual sense, therefore, this implies that Jehovah acknowledges a covenant relationship with both Israel’s ethnic lineages and those lineages that assimilated into the Gentiles. There really is no out for us! We can't claim mistaken identity!

The ox knows . . . Israel does not know. The verb “to know” expresses an intact covenant relationship—as when Adam “knew” his wife Eve and she conceived and bore a son (Genesis 4:1). Israel’s “not knowing,” on the other hand, implies that Jehovah’s people have broken the covenant with their God or, more accurately, voided their relationship with him by turning away from Him (cf. Matthew 7:23). Although righteous individuals (those repenting) among us may come to know Jehovah—as he manifests himself to those who love him—Isaiah prophecies that most of us appear unwilling to do what it takes (cf. Matthew 25:12).

My people are insensible, which also means non-discerning or uncomprehending, as in “not knowing” how He feeds His people--they being ignorant of spiritual truths. Says Paul, “The things of God no man knows but the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11). Unless one obtains the Spirit of God that comes with keeping the law of his covenant, it is impossible to know God or to comprehend his truth. And the truth is His word (D&C 84:45).

4 Alas, a nation astray,

a people weighed down by sin,

the offspring of wrongdoers,

perverse children:

they have forsaken Jehovah,

they have spurned the Holy One of Israel,

they have lapsed into apostasy.

From addressing his people personally as “Israel . . . my people” (v 3), Jehovah now addresses them impersonally as “a nation,” signifying their alienated state, a people who have gone astray and burdening themselves with “sin,” which, over time, ends in outright “wrongdoing.” That occurs collectively and generationally. The “offspring of wrongdoers” turn into “perverse children,” meaning that the rising generation has by now become thoroughly corrupt. “Forsaking” Jehovah and “spurning” him finally become conscious and deliberate acts. See The Closing of the Mormon Mind.

The title of “Holy One,” together with “Valiant One” (v 24) designates Israel’s God more than thirty times in the Book of Isaiah. In this case, it contrasts Jehovah’s holiness with his people’s unholiness. Still, it points to what Jehovah’s people should become—“holy” or “sanctified,” like their God. Both titles—“Holy One” and “Valiant One”—characterize Israel’s God as his people’s exemplar. We observe this when Jehovah exempts a righteous remnant of his people called his “holy ones” and “valiant ones” from a worldwide destruction (Isaiah 13:3). Those who will not be exempt are those who have spurned the Holy One of Israel.

They have lapsed into apostasy. Jehovah’s people have become entirely “estranged” from Him. They have “gone backwards” to what they used to be before they became Jehovah’s covenant people, when they didn’t know their God. In effect, they have become godless again like the world’s heathen nations, but now more so because they have rejected the light they once had. This is true even though they give lip service and attend to their religious duties. The apostasy into which they began to backslide a generation ago is now complete. They have dwindled in unbelief. 

5 Why be smitten further

by adding to your waywardness?

The whole head is sick,

the whole heart diseased.

To be “smitten” of God or experience covenant curses—through plagues, misfortunes, natural disasters, and enemies—constitutes Jehovah’s final attempt to bring his people back to a state of blessedness by influencing or inducing them to repent of evil. Instead, they persist in their waywardness, which only compounds their plight (Isaiah 42:18-25; 59:8-10). Illness and disease become rampant, reflecting a society sick in mind and body. This is true also of  the people’s “head” or leadership, and their “heart” or core institutions—in short, their entire establishment, political and religious (Isaiah 7:8-9; 9:14-16)—has degenerated to a pathological state.

6 From the soles of the feet even to the head there is nothing sound,

only wounds and bruises and festering sores; they have not been pressed out or bound up, nor soothed with ointment.

Like the wounds, bruises, and sores of an enemy—one who receives no chance of being ministered to—Jehovah’s alienated people find themselves in similar circumstances. When someone in a gulag becomes ill, that is his problem; he is dispensable. That is the condition to which Jehovah’s people are reduced in his Day of Judgment. They have rebelled against Jehovah and squandered their inheritance. Then, when their entire society breaks down, their curse becomes irrevocable. Nevertheless, although a majority suffers misery, there remains hope for some who repent. The idea of head to toe depicts that even religious leaders have gone astray.

The idea of being “soothed with ointment,” which is denied the wicked, Jehovah doesn’t deny the righteous. We observe his healing and anointing his repentant people later in the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 30:26; 57:18-19; 58:8; 61:3). 

It is for you to search Isaiah’s words and discover those who are soothed with ointment and those who are not. 

In other words, although Isaiah has us wade through the judgmental parts of his prophecy before he presents Jehovah’s glorious promises, all doesn’t end in gloom and doom. If Jehovah’s people repent in time, they may yet qualify for his divine blessings.

They who have ears to hear let them hear. See Isaiah 6.

Mythical Category of Dead Prophets

Again and again we have been told by our leaders to read the scriptures for ourselves by way of obtaining a testimony for ourselves. But have we shunted our responsibility by creating a mythical category of dead prophets? Perhaps we have done this without actually branding the ancient prophets as irrelevant so much as deferring exclusively to the "living prophets." But when Gabriel and Moroni (who are still very much alive) came with their messages to mortals, what each delivered was a package of quotes from the Old Testament. In fact, when the Lord himself came to the Nephites he insisted on checking their written records and insuring that the prophecies of Malachi and of Samuel the Lamanite where updated. Here was the author of it all present in person, but he did not shove the old records aside. Instead, He deferred His further teaching to the written record and to the prophets of old "for the profit and learning" of future generations.

In fact after the Lord's resurrection when he met with his apostles, and "beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself" (Luke 24:27 emphasis added). Here is the author of it all teaching from the scriptures. The effect on the listeners was also recorded, "and they said to one another, did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" (Luke 24:32)

Even though we are continually admonished to search the scriptures (scripture narrative), or to read them and to ponder them (pulpit narrative), for ourselves, none will deny that good teachers can be of real assistance, especially those with the gift of knowledge:

"And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom.  Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand; Of things both in heaven and in earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and perplexities of the nations, the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms--that ye may be prepared in all things..." (D&C 88:77-80).

Who then is to teach us the scriptures? It has always been our boast that we have no professional ministers who have been to school and learned to interpret the scriptures for us. The understanding of scripture is a function, not of office, but of revelation, as is evidenced on a day in May 1829:  "Our minds being now enlightened, we began to have the Scriptures opened to our understanding, and the true meaning and intention of their more mysterious passages revealed to us in a manner which we never could attain to previously, nor ever before had thought of" (History of the Church, 1:43).

But the scriptures do not deliver their messages to us automatically. The mind must always intervene, yours and others who have used theirs and had their own minds enlightened as the scriptures were opened to their understanding. Again Alma is the example: "For because of the word which he has imparted unto me, behold many have been born of God, and have tasted as I have tasted, and have seen as I have seen; therefore they do know of these things of which I have spoken, as I do know; and the knowledge which I have is of God" (Alma 36:26 emphasis added).

Next an Example

Letter To My Grandchildren

To My Grandchildren, Their Spouses and Their Children

(And to all the Sister Missionaries and young adult ward members who have visited us in Verdun.)

At one time in my life, I wanted to be the type of grandfather who could provide you with opportunities for fun and adventure. I wanted to spend time with you, take you on trips, provide reunions where we could all gather and have good food and create memories together.

But there came a time in my life when I realized I could not be that type of grandfather. There were several reasons including my divorce and new marriage, there being so many of you, and not being able to afford these kinds of opportunities. But at some point in my life I also realized that perhaps while fun and memorable, these type of activities were not the greatest good I could do for you.

I know you may not be mindful of me, but I am mindful of each of you. I am curious about you, worry about you, but most of all I love you. And because I love you, I share God's gifts to me with you. He has promised me that someday you will recognize that the gifts of the Spirit given to me, were given to benefit you, and that you will rejoice in Him who is the giver of these gifts. And that when you think of me, you will remember that "...in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things...." (D&C 59:21).

And so I asked myself what would be the greatest good that I could do for you? Many experiences led me to desire and discover this greatest good, but what could I do that would cause you to want to know of and understand why Christ is the greatest good, or why Jake in his homecoming talk said 'it is all about Christ?' I worried that you may reject the messenger, and therefore not receive the message. Resist the urge to opine on what you think the greatest good is, and continue to read and discover what He means by the greatest good.

I have found the greatest of all treasures, the treasures of heaven, and I want to share these treasures with you. But like any treasures they only become yours if you discover them. If you allow me I can help you do just that. I've done the searching and the digging, have found the treasures, and continue to enjoy them. But rather than trying to explain to you why they are the treasures of heaven, perhaps you can just continue reading.

But, you may ask, why would you even want to hear about the treasures of heaven and about Christ from me? You may think you already know all you need to know. But you don't! Not even close! I am now an old man with more treasures than you can imagine.

I don't have these treasures just because I am old, but because I have spent years searching for and finding these treasures. I gave up long ago seeking for earthly or worldy treasures, but instead spent my time seeking for the treasures of heaven. And my Father in Heaven opened up to me His treasure chest. He has revealed to me personally the truthfulness of all that He has revealed to others. He has given me gifts of the Spirit, the Spirit of Revelation and the Spirit of Prophecy.

Knowing that in the Father and Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, I am sharing just a few treasures and cautions in this letter. So read this as coming from someone who loves you and who knows treasures and how to find them. Hopefully you will discover a few treasures you can take with you and share. Pour mes petits-enfants français, I recommend that before you continue you read Is It A Good Seed.

Some of my treasures are prophecies of events leading up to the Lord’s second coming. Much is yet to happen before Christ comes again, yet being unprepared and unaware of the events leading up to His coming will catch you on the wrong side of His words when the irrevocable division spoken of by Nephi, Isaiah and Christ occurs.

Because I am older I can see tragedy coming from a considerable distance, but when you are young tragedy does not seem to pertain to you and certainly never catches up to you. But a tragedy it will be if you do not heed His words.

There may be some of you who believe that all you have to do is follow the prophet. Some may know that we must look to God and live, and not follow and put our trust in a man, no matter his ecclesiastical title. Some of you may be struggling with the organized Church. And there may be some of you who are wondering if you really believe in God. And others of you (my French grandchildren) who have not been taught at all because your parents and grandparents were not taught and did not know the truth.

This message is for all of you because no matter where you are in your journey, the remedy is the same.

One of my greatest treasures is knowing the Lord's definition of truth. Yes, He has told us what truth is:

The word of the Lord is truth, and

Whatsoever is truth is light

(light can be discerned), and

Whatsoever is light is spirit,

Even the spirit of Jesus Christ

(D&C 84:45).

Truth = Light = Spirit = Jesus Christ

So His words are Him! If you want to draw nearer to God, feast upon His words. If you do, I promise you that you will hear His voice in His words!

There you have it! A standard by which we can judge and compare everything! Can you appreciate how important this is? Can you appreciate that you do not have to believe anything that is not true, no matter who says it? Can you imagine that you should believe His words, no matter who says them? It is not me saying this. No one but God could say this.

You are not bound by creeds, talks from the pulpit, handbooks, lesson materials, or even what your parents taught you. Can you imagine that one word from the mouth of the Savior, from the bosom of eternity, strikes everything else as insignificant? 

This is the reason He has caused His words to be recorded, and we should listen to those who speak and teach His words, no matter who says them, even if it is just your grandfather.

This said, there is only one focus and that is, to feast upon His words so that you will have His sword of truth and can cut through all the crap. And His words will tell you 'all things you must do.' I cannot emphasize enough how important this is as we are nearing the time when Christ will come again. There is so much to happen between now and then, and it is all spelled out for us in His words. You do not want to be caught unprepared.

Sadly I must confess that I taught my children what I had been taught. You see, the traditional teachings are not light and truth (D&C 93:39-40), and I failed to teach them light and truth as the Lord commanded me. Only His words are light and truth.

I did not teach them, as commanded (D&C 68:25), to understand the doctrine of faith, baptism and repentance, before they were eight years old. But I could not teach what I did not know and had not yet experienced. I taught what I had been taught: to be good, to be active in the church, do do their duty, or, in other words, to be religious.

It is preferable to be under grace and not under the law. Some of you may believe that repentance is a change of behavior. It is not! It is a change of direction. Repentance means to turn to Christ, put our faith in Him and rely alone upon His merits.

It is only because of His words that we enter into His way, and only because of His words that we continue in the way. Faith only comes by hearing the word of God. It then follows that because of our faith in Christ we have access to His grace.

It was only after I had feasted upon and obtained His words, and then heard His voice in His words as He revealed the truth of His words to me, experienced being redeemed and born again, that I could teach them to others, but with mixed results. I say mixed, because so few understand the language of God, but some desired to and have experienced His words and His Spirit. This was my motivation for writing a blog, so that perhaps I could remedy the traditional teachings with light and truth and share them with you and others. 

I worry that you, like me, may have been taught only the traditional gospel, rather than the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some of you may be struggling with the organized church, with religion in general, perhaps going through a destruction of what you have been taught. There is a lot to struggle with.

Others of you may believe that all you have to do is "live the Gospel." Some may think that Conference talks are the word of God, but to assume so, without knowing the word of God could find you on the wrong side of God's words. And some of you may be questioning the Book of Mormon.

There is so much noise out there that it is impossible not to hear it, read about it or see it. Some of it is valid, but it is usually delivered without any remedy, and it is the remedy that I want to emphasize.

Some of you may have already left the church because you no longer believe some or all of its teachings. Remember that belief is irrelevant. It is not what we believe or do not believe that matters, but whether something is true or not true. That is always the question--the only question. Do not assume that just because you believe something, that it is true. On the other hand do not assume that just because you do not believe something, that it is not true!

Christ does, however, invite us to leave the fold and follow Him to living waters and green pastures. And by 'leaving the fold' I mean leaving behind religion and coming to Christ, looking to Him and relying totally upon His merits and not upon any of our own merits. It will be because of His righteousness that you will be redeemed, not your own.

But those who leave without the Shepherd to guide them, are more than foolhardy; they put themselves in peril.

Those who stay and 'practice' their religion are equally at risk, having failed to repent because they have not been taught what Christ teaches about repentance, thinking that by their good works they will have earned His salvation, or perhaps that Christ will make up the difference. Annie and I choose to stay involved because we love the people. It is where we can do the greatest good by bringing our brothers and sisters to Christ. We also can witness to God directly that we want to take upon us His name and always remember Him, when we partake of the sacrament.

There is only one remedy--His words, and believe me when I tell you, you will not always find His words coming from the pulpit, even the pulpit at the Conference Center. Talks should not be your source. You must first find His words as they are recorded in the Old and New Testament, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine & Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. Only then will you be equipped to know the difference between the message and the messenger.

Always remember that the Book of Mormon is a work so staggering that it may risk challenging to call it the most remarkable achievement of the human mind--that is, if Joseph Smith was not telling the truth about its origin! Add the truthfulness of its origin, and you can see the hand of God and can hear His voice in His words in the book.

It was not until He began revealing to me the truthfulness of His words, that I came to know His words.

Truth without personal revelation is just information. Truth with personal revelation is to know the truth. I want you to know as I know, and the knowledge that I have is from God.

All His words come together in Christ, and Christ will always lead us to His Father. Christ only taught His father's words (John 12:46-50), and sent the Holy Ghost to bring all His words to our remembrance (John 14:46).

God's more or less principle as described by Alma in Alma 12:10-11 teaches that we are either receiving more of His words until we know the mysteries of God in full, or we harden our hearts against His words until we know nothing, and are bound by the chains of hell. It is either or.

His words can be and are transfigured. In fact, Moroni and Nephi and others prophesied that we, His latter-day people, would transfigure His words, that we would teach for doctrine the commandments of men mingled with scripture, and that many would be led astray because of this.

Christ himself prophesied that it will be so bad that we will reject His words and the fulness of His gospel, and that His gospel will be taken from us, and we will become as the salt of the earth that loses its savor (3 Nephi 16:10;15).

If you were to ask now what is this greatest good, I would direct you to the Lord’s answer. Joseph's ministry was to proclaim Christ's Gospel, and in doing so “will do the greatest good,” and will “promote the glory of him who is your Lord” (D&C 81:3-4 emphasis added). Don’t assume that you know ‘Christ's gospel’ because I can guarantee that you more than likely do not. If you are interested He has defined His Gospel in 3 Nephi 27:13-21.

This letter from a German soldier from Verdun written in May 1916 is an illustration of the greatest good.

My dear good old parents,

It's war here, war in the most horrible of all its forms, and in our distress we become aware of the closeness of God. At present, things are becoming extremely difficult. But in the depths of my soul, I feel serene rather than worried. "Let me go so that I can see Jesus." It must be beautiful to be able to look at God in His magnificence. I think about the afterlife a great deal, with joy. I do not fear judgement. I'm a poor creature, a miserable sinner, but how great is God's grace, how great the Saviour's love! This is why, without fear or distress, I am doing my duty for the Fatherland and for my love of the German people. Thank you, my dear parents, for leading me to the Saviour. It is the best thing that you have ever done!

With my tenderest love, May God keep you! (Johannes Hass. Died at Verdun on 1 June 1916)

God's words have now become my words because He has given them to me. Those of you who are feasting upon His words will recognize them, but those of you who are not, will not recognize them because you have no frame of reference except the pulpit narrative or the opinions of others. Believe me, the scripture narrative is different than the pulpit narrative. Or better yet believe Him when He says:

“And I, Jesus Christ, your Lord and your God, have spoken it, These words are not of men nor of man, but of me; wherefore, you shall testify they are of me and not of man; for it is my voice which speaketh them unto you; for they are given by my Spirit unto you, and by my power you can read them one to another; and save it were by my power you could not have them. Wherefore, you can testify that you have heard my voice, and know my words” (D&C 18:33-36). 

To “follow” Jesus (Matthew 10:38; 16:24; 19:21) thus looks far beyond being “saved” to becoming even as He is (3 Nephi 27:27).

And I can so testify!

So if you are inclined for whatever reason--curious, to prove me wrong, really want to know, really need to know, or any other reason--then search what I have written. Compare everything with His words. Look up the references and desire more of His words. As you receive His words, pray for the Spirit of Revelation and the Spirit of Prophecy, and know for yourselves. Then, as He promised, you will speak with the tongue of angels. Do not be part of the majority that will deny the gifts and power of God (Moroni 10), because only those who work through the gifts and power of God will do good.

I have linked a few posts here for easy reference, hoping that there may be a few that will interest you, and help you focus on His words and not mine. It is His voice that I want you to hear in His words.

I send this because I love you and because I want you to desire and choose His mercy, and avoid His justice. 

There is an upside to ignorance, and a downside to knowledge. Knowledge makes life messier. It makes it a bit more difficult for a person who wishes to shrink the world to his or her worldview.

Love,

Your grandfather.

Obstacles to Receiving the Word of God

I Am a Sinner

Why I Teach His Gospel of Repentance

Teaching Young Children to Understand the Doctrine of Repentance

Repentance: Introduction

Is It a Good Seed?

Look To God and Live

Alma's Teachings on Mercy and Justice

Alma Believes the Words of Abinadi 

He Flattereth Away

Jesus' First Prophecy

Gentiles in Prophecy Part I

What if God Actually Spoke?

The Pharisee and the Publican

We Are the Wild Branches

The Stranglehold of Babylon

That Which We Work For We Worship

I Know in Whom I Have Trusted

Saved From Our Sins

The Cart Before the Horse

Ten Reasons Why

Deny Not the Gifts of God

Unaware