Deny Not The Gifts of God

This past week's Sunday School Lesson was on D&C 46 and the Gifts of the Spirit. I thought it time to bring this post forward again. It was originally published in June 2022. I have, after prayerful confirmation, added some of God's Gifts to me, with many additional comments, to further illustrate how we continue to deny His Gifts and His Power as Moroni prophesied. 

As I have searched Moroni 10 and scriptural links to Moroni 10, I am impressed with the vision Moroni had with respect to the idea that perhaps in our day we would 'deny the gifts of God.' Why else would he be so bold, in his last written words, as to 'exhort' us to not deny the gifts and power of God, and to do so with so much fervor? He was so concerned that he emphasized his exhortations over and over again. But as with many Book of Mormon prophet writers, he was right on, since we have not heeded his warning and do in fact, for the most part, deny the gifts of God. 

Let's look at what he says: 

"I would exhort you that 

ye deny not the power of God; 

for he worketh by power, 

according to the faith 

of the children of men....  

And again, I exhort you, 

my brethren, that 

ye deny not the gifts of God, 

for they are many; and 

they come from the same God....

and they are given by the 

manifestations of the Spirit of God 

unto men, to profit them" 

(Moroni 10:7-8 emphasis added).  

Moroni then enumerates several of the Gifts of the Spirit, and then writes: 

"And all these gifts 

come by the Spirit of Christ...

and I would exhort you, 

my beloved brethren, 

that ye remember 

that every good gift 

cometh of Christ. 

 

And I would exhort you, 

my beloved brethren, 

that he is the same 

yesterday, today, and forever, 

and that all these gifts 

of which I have spoken, 

which are spiritual, 

never will be done away, 

even as long as the world shall stand, 

only according to the 

unbelief of the children of men" 

(Moroni 10:18-19 emphasis added).

Moroni's heartfelt plea is further emphasized in verse 25 where he says, "that if the day cometh that the power and gifts of God shall be done away among you, it shall be because of unbelief" (Moroni 10:25 emphasis added).

We can link 'unbelief' to another scripture speaking of us in D&C 84:54-55, where the Lord tells Joseph that our "minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because (we) have treated lightly the things (we) have received--which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation" (emphasis added).

So is Moroni's exhortation directed at us?

Based on my experience as an active church member for all of my life, and as one who has served as, and worked with many other leaders at ward and stake levels, I can say that for the most part we have and do "deny the gifts of God.' One reason, I believe, for denying the gifts of God stems from pride: we are simply unwilling to admit that others may have Gifts, that we don't have. This is especially true of ecclesiastical leaders who think that because of their callings they should be the ones with the gifts. And yet they should be the ones "discerning the gifts" among us (D&C 46:27). 

Not once have I ever been asked by a Bishop, Elders Quorum President, High Priest Group Leader or Stake President if I have any Gifts of the Spirit, and I believe that to be true of most people. Nor did I ever inquire of any of my ward members when I was a Bishop, and this is true of many bishops whom I have asked. I did once as Bishop invite someone outside our ward to speak in a Sacrament Meeting. But it was only later, after receiving more of God's words, that I recognized his ability to teach as a gift of the Spirit.

As I was taught more by the Lord about His gifts of the spirit I tried to bring up spiritual gifts in meetings, ward councils and high councils, in an attempt to call attention to Moroni's exhortation to not deny the Gifts of God, and to seek out ward and stake members who had spiritual gifts.

My exhortation always seemed to fall on deaf ears. As a ward Executive Secretary I once persuaded my Bishop to make a list of all the gifts of the Spirit in our ward. He made a start, but became focused on other more traditional ward matters and nothing came of it.

I do not say this to be critical but to simply point out the fact that Moroni's concerns about us were well founded and prophetic, at least based on my experience. Spiritual gifts as real gifts are not on our radar, not even when we have a lesson on gifts. 

I was even told once that we should not talk to others of our spiritual gifts, and could never understand this since these gifts are given to 'profit' all of us, and as a result we should know of and share our gifts with this caution: 

"Make not thy gift known unto any save it be those who are of thy faith. Trifle not with sacred things" (D&C 6:10 emphasis added). Also Paul says, speaking of spiritual gifts, "seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church" (1 Corinthians 14:12 emphasis added). 

"For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift" (D&C 88:33). And I would add that what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon others, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto others, neither rejoices in Him who is the giver of the gift. 

He has given me certain gifts of the Spirit: the gift of the word of knowledge, the gift to teach the word of God, the gift of faith, the gift of healing, and the gift of prophecy, including the Spirit of Revelation and the Spirit of Prophecy. I do not view these gifts as mine, and do not share them to call attention to myself, but rather to the Giver of these gifts. 

And only very rarely has anyone recognized these gifts of the Spirit given to me. I am grateful for those who have, for they are not denying the gifts of God. These will know right away if I ever take credit for these gifts. But they also know that gifts of the Spirit enable those with these gifts not just to say, but to show by the power of God.

It doesn't mean I haven't utilized these gifts because I have and do every chance I get. I rejoice in these gifts to me, and the gifts He has given to others that I know. I rejoice in Him who has, through personal revelation, given these gifts to me, and led me to many others with multiple gifts of the Spirit. For me or others to deny these gifts is to deny the power of God.

My experience with lessons on the Gifts of the Spirit have always consisted of 'talking about' but never really understanding how denying the Gifts of God is also denying the power of God, and directly correlates to our lack of faith and our unbelief. Other than occasionally identifying a few of the gifts in Moroni 10, D&C 46 and 1 Corinthians 12 in lessons, I have never been instructed in family or church, nor did I instruct my children, on the importance of spiritual gifts in our pursuit to do good, and to recognize how He defines His gifts.

Before I continue, let me write something about what 'good' is and how it is tied to the use of the Gifts of the Spirit. Moroni teaches us that "in Christ there should come every good thing" and "all things which are good cometh of Christ" (Moroni 7:22;24 emphasis added). He also tells us that only by faith can we lay hold upon every good thing (Moroni 7:25). So if we are to be the means of doing 'good' we can only do 'good' through Christ. Our own goodness just does not cut it and no amount of human goodness amounts to doing the type of 'good' Moroni is writing of.

No one has ever taught me, as far as I can remember, except God through Moroni and other Book of Mormon prophet writers, that we can only do 'good' through the gifts and power of God. This blog is one of my attempts to teach my children what I failed to teach them. I did not, when they were young, follow the Lord's instructions in the D&C 68 and 93, and Moses 6 on teaching our children.

And how does He define good? 

"For behold, my brethern, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night. ...I will show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ.... But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil..." (Moroni 7:15-17 emphasis added).

Could we say this another way: everything which is sent forth by the power and gifts of God, persuadeth to believe in Christ?

In other words this doesn't mean just giving lip service to our belief in Christ, as in they draw near me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Why are our hearts far from Him? Because, while we cry unto God, our hearts are set upon the things of the world.

Moroni warns us that if the gifts of God are done way among us because of unbelief--

"there shall be none 

that doeth good among you, 

no not one" 

(Moroni 10:25 emphasis added).

None! No not one! Incredible how clear this is! Incredible how it is ignored! 

This connection between good and the gifts of God is of critical importance, and lays at our feet the warning given to us by Moroni, and begs the question: how much 'good' are we really doing if we are not doing good through the power and gifts of God?  According to Moroni, NONE. To me this is staggering.

And he makes this crystal clear when he says:  

"For if there be one 

among you

that doeth good, 

he shall work 

by the power 

and gifts of God" 

(Moroni 10:25 emphasis added).

Doing good = 

Persuading others 

To believe in Christ 

By power and gifts of God.

For emphasis Moroni warns that 

"I speak it according 

to the words of Christ 

and I lie not" 

(Moroni 10:26).

And he doesn't leave it at that!  He says: 

"I exhort you 

to remember these things; 

for the time speedily cometh 

that ye shall know that I lie not, 

for ye shall see me 

at the bar of God; 

and the Lord God 

will say unto you:  

Did I not declare 

my words unto you, 

which were written by this man...

I declare these things unto 

the fulfilling of the prophesies" 

(Moroni 10:27-28 emphasis added)?

Is Moroni prophesying that we will deny the power and gifts of God? The answer is yes.  We don't have to look far (ourselves) to see that we have denied the gifts and power of God, and continue to do so. I certainly did when I was ignorant of God's words. Maybe we don't deny all the gifts, such as the gift of healing, but we do deny most of them and do not seek out those who have gifts, so that the gifts of God can be used to benefit the whole. I am sure the Church uses people with the gift of tongues to translate Books of Mormon and other Church publications. But how about you?

Let me illustrate by asking you the following questions. 

Who do you know in your family, your ward, your stake, or beyond, that has the gift to teach God's wisdom, or to teach the word of God?

Do you know anyone among you who has the gift of healing, the gift of great faith, or the gift of prophecy? 

And if you do, have you ever asked them to use their gifts for your benefit? Your family's benefit? Your class's benefit? Your ward's benefit? Your stake's benefit?

Is there more of an emphasis on talents than on the gifts of God? 

Have you ever sought out someone with the gift of knowledge to teach you and your family? 

How can you do 'good' if you do not know what 'good' means and do not work by the power and gifts of God?

I know many who have gifts of the Spirit, and I have benefited from God's gifts to them because I have desired the benefit and He has led me to them.

My plea to whomever reads this, is to become aware of Moroni's exhortation, seek out gifts and encourage others to ask for gifts. Rejoice in the gifts and He who is the giver of the gifts. This is especially critical concerning the gifts of wisdom and knowledge and the gift to teach wisdom and/or knowledge; or the gift of prophecy, and others, or what I call the forgotten gifts. By doing so we can tap into His power and do what He defines as good.

I would like to illustrate one way that we deny the power and gifts of God while being deluded into thinking that we are doing good. We seek to counsel in our own ways and rely on human wisdom and talents to solve problems. We seek 'not the Lord's counsel," and we ignore God's word and the power it has in getting people in the way and keeping them there (D&C 1:19; 56:14; 2 Nephi 31).

Think about a typical ward council meeting where the Bishopric, quorum and auxiliary leaders gather to counsel. Someone may be assigned a 'spiritual thought' and then an agenda is followed where ward issues are discussed. More often than not (in fact in my experience with ward councils--never) the welfare of the soul is not considered. The welfare of the person is, but the solutions are a result of handbooks, traditions, talents, and members of the council conversing among themselves.

We deny the power of God in these councils because we ignore those with gifts of the spirit. We treat lightly both the gifts of God and the word of God which as Alma says, if used (and if used by someone with the gift of knowledge) will do more good than anything else. As a result no good is done even though we pretend it is.

We are also warned to "Deny not the spirit of revelation, nor the spirit of prophecy, for wo unto him that denieth these things" (D&C 11:25).

It does not need to be this way and shouldn't be. The sword of truth (the word of God) should be foremost in our councils, and if it isn't then we may help a few members with some problems, but we won't bring them to Christ. See Ten Reasons Why for an example of what happens when we don't use His words.

We must remember that our work is to teach His words. [why?] To bring others to repentance? [why?] So that they may obtain the mercy of God (Alma 42:31). And we must use the gifts of the Spirit. "Verily I say unto you, he that is ordained of me and sent forth to preach the word of truth by the Comforter, in the Spirit of truth, doth he preach it by the Spirit of truth or some other way? And if it be by some other way it is not of God" (D&C 50:17-18 emphasis added). 

Otherwise we deny the gifts and power of God and will not do Good, which is to use His gifts to persuade others to believe in Christ.

From Clement of Rome* On Truth & Ignorance

Clement reporting on his association with Peter and identifying Peter as the source of these teachings (emphasis added).

From all these things, therefore, it is concluded that all evil springs from ignorance; and ignorance herself, the mother of all evils, is sprung from carelessness and sloth, and is nourished, and increased, and rooted in the senses of men by negligence.

He, therefore, whose aid is needed for the house filled with the darkness of ignorance is He, we say, who is called the true Prophet, who alone can enlighten the souls of men, so that with their eyes they may plainly see the way of safety. For otherwise it is impossible to get knowledge of divine and eternal things, unless one learns of that true Prophet.

The true Prophet is Christ, and only Christ can enlighten us with truth, and we must get the truth directly from Him. For to remain ignorant offers no excuse. The light and knowledge is there, and to remain ignorant is a willful choice of darkness rather than light. We choose to avoid the light.

For when He came, He was not at all acknowledged by those who seemed to expect Him, in consequence of the tradition of their ancestors; whereas those who had heard nothing at all of Him, both believe that He has come, and hope that He is to come.

The Jews expected Christ, but because of their traditions, they rejected Him when He did come, and continue to hear nothing of Him. After the Jews rejected Christ, His gospel was taken to the Gentiles, who at first received it and brought forth good fruit. Likening this to ourselves, will our traditions cause us to reject the Lord's prophecies concerning His second coming, including rejecting the Lord's servant, as the Jews did John the Baptist? 

But this happened by the providence of God, that the knowledge of this good One should be handed over to the Gentiles, and those who had never heard of Him, nor had learned from the prophets, should acknowledge Him, while those who had acknowledged Him in their daily meditations should not know Him. 

But the first shall be last, and the last shall be first. It is now reversing where we, the Ephraimite Gentiles, who, after being grafted into the mother tree, and who, at first, brought forth good fruit, will not know Him, notwithstanding our claims otherwise. At that time, many persons who are “of the covenant”—the Latter-day Saints—who will “not hear” his words and “not believe” the true nature of the Lord’s great and marvelous work, but instead “mar” the messenger, will be “cut off” from among God’s people.

For, behold, by you who are now present, and desire to hear the doctrine of His faith, and to know what, and how, and of what sort is His coming, the prophetic truth is fulfilled.

As will be fulfilled the prophetic truth that the Gentiles (us) will reject the fulness of His gospel.

For when one at the outset the truth of the Prophet is established on examination, the rest is to be heard and held on the ground of the faith by which it is already established that he is a teacher of truth. And as it is certain that all things which pertain to divine knowledge ought to be held according to the rule of truth, so it is beyond doubt that from one but Himself alone can it be known what is true.

The qualifier is to hear and hold fast to His words. Through His words we exercise faith in Him, that He is the sole source of truth.

Then Peter: "You have answered rightly, O Clement; for as no one can see without eyes, nor hear without ears, nor smell without nostrils, nor taste without a tongue, nor handle anything without hands, so it is impossible, without the true Prophet, to know what is pleasing to God."

Brilliant! "For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people" (Acts 3:22-23 emphasis added).

And therefore we must labour for a little, that we may search out the presumptions of ignorance, and cut them off by means of knowledge, especially in those who are preoccupied with some erroneous opinions, by means of which ignorance is the more firmly rooted in them, as under the appearance of a certain kind of knowledge; for nothing is worse than for one to believe that he knows what he is ignorant of, and to maintain that to be true which is false. This is as if a drunk man should think himself to be sober, and should act indeed in all respects as a drunk man, and yet think himself to be sober, and should wish to be called so by others. 

Ignorance can only be eliminated by the knowledge of truth. How many erroneous opinions do we hold fast? And yet we claim to know! As Benoit Blanc said "It's a dangerous thing to mistake speaking without thought for speaking the truth.” 

Thus, therefore, are those also who do not know what is true, yet hold some appearance of knowledge, and do many evil things as if they were good, and hasten destruction as if it were to salvation. 

By our traditions we make His truth of none effect, but still hold to the appearance of knowledge, and the appearance that we are somehow righteous. And yet we remain ignorant. 

Since, indeed, as land neglected by the cultivator necessarily produces thorns and thistles, so your sense, by long neglect, has produced a plentiful crop of noxious opinions of things and dogmas of false science; there is need now of much care in cultivating the field of your mind, that the word of truth, which is the true and diligent husbandman of the heart, may cultivate it with continual instructions. 

Where is the urgency to cultivate our minds with His words, His truth? Where is the hunger and thirst after knowledge? Is it disguised as following the prophet, but not The Prophet?

It is therefore your part to render obedience to it, and to lop off superfluous occupations and anxieties, lest a noxious growth choke the good seed of the word. 

The parable of the Sower is everyone's story.

For it may be that a short and earnest diligence may repair a long time's neglect; for the time of everyone's life is uncertain, and therefore we must hasten to salvation, lest haply sudden death seize upon him who delays. 

Here is the remedy prescribed for us in language we all can understand--hasten! We can repair the neglect, but we must hurry. 

Our Lord, when He sent us apostles to preach, enjoined us to teach all nations the things which were committed to us. We cannot therefore speak those things as they were spoken by Himself. For our commission is not to speak, but to teach those things, and from them to show how every one of them rests upon truth. 

And yet our prescribed subject matter is conference talks, compiled in the Gospel Library on the same level as the Scriptures. I leave it to you to decide whether modern-day apostles give talks or teach only what Christ taught. 

Nor, again, are we permitted to speak anything of our own. For we are sent; and of necessity he who is sent delivers the message as he has been ordered, and sets forth the will of the sender. 

And it is up to us to know the difference! 

For if I should speak anything different from what He who sent me enjoined me, I should be a false apostle, not saying what I was commanded to say, but what seems good to myself. For we apostles are sent to expound the sayings and affirm the judgments of Him who has sent us; but we are not commissioned to say anything of our own, but to unfold the truth, as I have said, of His words. 

Do you need anymore clarification? If so, here it is:

For there is one true Prophet, whose words we twelve apostles preach.

The will and counsel of God has for many reasons been concealed from men; first, indeed, through bad instruction, wicked associations, evil habits, unprofitable conversation, and unrighteous presumptions. On account of these, I say, first error, then contempt, then infidelity and malice, covetousness also, and vain boasting, and other such like evils, have filled the whole house of this world, like some enormous smoke, and preventing those who dwell in it from seeing its Founder aright, and from perceiving what things are pleasing to Him. 

Similar to what the Lord told Joseph Smith. "...upheld by the influence of that spirit which hath so strongly riveted the creeds of the fathers, who have inherited lies, upon the hearts of the children, and filled the world with confusion, and has been growing stronger and stronger, and is now the very mainspring of all corruption, and the whole earth groans under the weight of its iniquity. It is an iron yoke, it is a strong band; they are the very handcuffs, and chains, and shackles, and fetters of hell" (D&C 123:7-8 emphasis added).

The teaching of all doctrine has a certain order, and there are some things which must be delivered first, others in the second place, and others in the third, and so all in their order; and if these things be delivered in their order, they become plain; but if they be brought forward out of order, they will seem to be spoken against reason. 

This order is given to us in the Book of Mormon in the accounts to Ammon and Aaron teaching King Lamoni and His Father.

Do not think that we say that these things are only to be received by faith but also that they are to be asserted by reason. For indeed it is not safe to commit these things to bare faith without reason, since assuredly truth cannot be without reason. 

Why is the mind washed and anointed? The Holy Ghost communicates light and truth to our minds and intellect.

All were made equal by Him, and to all He has given equally to be receptive of truth. But that none of those who are born, are born with education, but education is subsequent to birth, no one can doubt. Since, therefore, the birth of men holds equity in this respect, that all are equally capable of receiving discipline, the difference is not in nature, but in education. 

Another reason why Alma and other Book of Mormon writers describe inequality as evil.

Who does not know that the things which any one learns, he was ignorant of before he learned them? If then in those arts which are in common use, one first learns and then teaches, how much more ought those who profess to be the educators of souls, first to learn, and so to teach, that they may not expose themselves to ridicule, if they promise to afford knowledge to others, when they themselves are unskillful? 

Like parents teaching (or not) their children to understand the doctrine of repentance? Or like bringing (or not) their children up in light and truth? 

You also pardon me (Peter speaking to Simon) this one thing, because I cannot do otherwise than the Prophet of truth has instructed me. First of all, then, he is evil, in the judgment of God, who will not inquire what is advantageous to himself. For how can any one love another, if he does not love himself? Or to whom will that man not be an enemy, who cannot be a friend to himself. 

I would have never thought that not inquiring what is best for me would be considered evil. Could it be that what is best for each of us has already been taught, the seeds sown, and to ignore it is evil?

In order, therefore, that there might be a distinction between those who choose good and those who choose evil, God has concealed that which is profitable to men, i.e., the possession of the kingdom of heaven, and has laid it up as a secret treasure, so that no one can easily attain it by his own power or knowledge. 

Oh how I love treasures! Especially secret treasures! And possession of the kingdom of Heaven is a priceless treasure. "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:1-2).

Yet He has brought the report of it, under various names and opinions, through successive generations, to the hearing of all: so that whosoever should be lovers of good, hearing it, might inquire and discover what is profitable and salutary to them; but that they should ask it, not from themselves, but from Him who has hidden it, and should pray that access and the way of knowledge might be given to them: which way is opened to those only who love it and above all the good things of this world; and on no other condition can any one even understand it. 

Again the parable of the Sower. The sowing of His words throughout the world beginning with Adam. No one can claim ignorance. "That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:2-3).

It behooves, therefore, the good to love that way above all things, that is, above riches, glory, rest, parents, relatives, friends and everything in the world. But he who perfectly loves this possession of the kingdom of heaven, will undoubtedly cast away all practice of evil habit, negligence, sloth, malice, anger, and such like. For if you prefer any of these to it, as loving the vices of your own more than God, you shall not attain to the possession of the heavenly kingdom; for truly it is foolish to love anything more than God. 

His love works in us to more fully love the possession of this secret treasure--the kingdom of Heaven.

He, therefore, who will not seek after that which is profitable to himself, is evil, to such an extent that his wickedness exceeds the very prince of impiety. For he abuses the goodness of God to the purpose of his own wickedness. 

When we want for ourselves what God wants for us, then are wills are aligned. If we don't want for ourselves what He wants for us, then we ignore His goodness, and to ignore it, is to abuse His goodness.

Wherefore we must, above all things, hasten to the knowledge of the truth, that, as with a light kindled thereat, we may be able to dispel the darkness of errors; for ignorance, as we have said, is a great evil; but because it has no substance, it is easily dispelled by those who are; in earnest. For ignorance is nothing else than not knowing what is good for us; once know this, and ignorance perishes. Therefore the knowledge of truth ought to be eagerly sought after; and no one can confer it except the True Prophet. 

Amen! Again that word hasten. For us the time is short on this earth and to not hasten for the knowledge of His truth is the worst kind of ignorance for we never learn what is best for ourselves. Eager implies enthusiasm and thirst for His knowledge. Those who are uninterested, indifferent or apathetic make a choice to choose darkness. 

Then Peter began to say: Those who speak the word of truth, and who enlighten the souls of men, seem to me, to be like the rays of the sun, which, when once they have come forth and appeared to the world, can no longer be concealed or hidden, while they are so much seen by men, as they afford sight to all.

I love this comparison. Rays of the sun bring light. I remember driving across Kansas just before the sun started to rise. The rays of light shown over the horizon, and then with no mountains or hills to hide behind, the sun was there in all its beauty and glory. 

For it very frequently happens that he who defends the truth does not gain the victory, since the hearers are either prejudiced, or have no great interest in the better cause.

This doesn't mean that we give up or give in, but that we brighten His rays in us and sharpen His sword of truth to shed more light wherever we may be. Christ exercises patience because He is merciful, and He can foresee that many of the ungodly can become godly.

Peter rose up, and began to speak to the following effect: To me it is exceedingly wonderful, that things which can easily be found out men make difficult by recondite thoughts and words; and those especially who think themselves wise, and who, wishing to comprehend the will of God, treat God as if He were a man, yea, as if He were something less than a man: for no one can know the purpose or mind of a man unless he himself reveal his thoughts; and neither can any one learn a profession unless he be for a long time instructed by a master. 

Worship the creature rather than the Creator. I am so grateful to have been instructed by the Master, who continually allows me to find new hidden treasures. I love my treasure chest, and go there often to hold and cherish them and give thanks to Him in whom are hidden all treasures.

How much more must it be, that no one can know the mind or the work of the invisible and incomprehensible God, unless He himself send a prophet (Christ) to declare His purpose, and expound the way of His creation, so far as it is lawful for men to learn it! 

I can only shout for joy that He has revealed Himself to me. He alone enlightens the souls of men, so that with their eyes they may plainly see the way of safety. But they must look.

For you ought not to seek a foreign and extraneous sense, which you have brought from without, which you may confirm from the authority of the Scriptures, but to take the sense of truth from the Scriptures themselves; and therefore it behooves you to learn the meaning of the Scriptures from him who keeps it according to the truth handed down to him from his father, so that he can authoritatively declare what he has rightly received. 

I can think of many, but Alma springs to mind. He believed the words of Abinadi, wrote them all down, and taught others the words of God, which became His words. Among us what do the fathers teach their children? 

But when one has received an entire and firm rule of truth from the Scriptures, it will not be improper if he contribute to the establishment of true doctrine anything from common education and from liberal studies.

But if one's source is the truth of His words, then like this post, one can contribute to His true doctrine from any source whereby it is found.

But he who, hearing those things, willingly receives them, and is thankful that the teaching of good things has been brought to him, inquires more eagerly, and does not cease to learn, until he ascertains whether there be truly another world, in which rewards are prepared for the good. And when he is assured of this, he gives thanks to God because He has shown him the light of truth; and for the future directs his actions in all good works, for which he is assured that there is a reward prepared in the world to come; while he constantly wonders and is astonished at the errors of other men, and that no one sees the truth which is placed before his eyes.

Liken all scriptures unto ourselves. Ignorance is in itself a most deadly poison, which is sufficient to ruin the soul without any aid from another. There is no one who is ignorant who shall escape through ignorance. Be careful not to laugh at the absurdities of others, while through long custom and tradition, you do not see your own.

*Clement of Rome is dated at approximately 100 AD. It was available in 400 AD to the Nicene Council, but was discarded as heresy because it did not conform to their creeds. More on Clement.

But We Have The Book! - Obstacles To Belief

 And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good. (2 Nephi 33:10)

Sometimes I feel it is necessary to plead with you to wake up! I want you to be awakened by the light of His everlasting words. I want you to choose mercy, and not suffer His justice. Other times I am content to let you sleep, not because you are resting, but because sometimes I am not filled with His love for you, and if you refuse to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, it is your choice and why should I care? I tried, but you were thinking of other things.

But then I think of some of Mormon's last words. He had made an oath that he would no longer assist his people, for they repented not of their iniquities. He was without hope, for he knew the judgments of the Lord would come upon them. But notwithstanding the hardness of their hearts, Mormon "did repent of the oath which" he had made (Mormon 5:1), having hope that his written words would help the "seed of this people (to) more fully believe his gospel, which shall go forth unto them from the Gentiles" (Mormon 5:15). And what specifically did Mormon teach them? "Know ye that ye must come unto repentance, or ye cannot be saved" (Mormon 7:2 emphasis added).

I always come back to finding the hope for others as I am fed with His words. I know my words reach very few people. I do wish more would receive them, because in them they may hear the words of Christ. And when I think of the judgments of God which are about to come upon us, I can't just turn away and put my head in the sand. When I desired of the Lord to say nothing but repentance unto this generation, He called me to do so, and I do so through His words

I can magnify that calling by taking upon me the responsibility, answering your sins upon my own head, if I do not teach you the word of God with all diligence. It is only by laboring with my might, that your blood might not come upon my garments, otherwise your blood would come upon my garments, and I would not be found spotless at the last day.

My motivation is two-fold--I want to be found spotless, and I want you to be found spotless. And after tasting of His mercy and love for me, I can't stay silent for long, because at those times when I feel His love for you, I really do want you to choose His mercy and not His justice. I experience you as my brother or sister, as my children and grandchildren. I would rather that you heed His words in this life, than wait to be taught by me in the spirit world after you die.

When Oliver Cowdrey said that one word from the mouth of God strikes everything else into insignificance, he zeroes in on the source of the words--from the mouth of God. One word from the mouth of God! Can you imagine as you circle the sun once a year, in a cosmos so vast and never ending that it is impossible for us to grasp, that God has spoken? 

His words matter. He uses His words to manifest Himself to us. He calls His words the sword of truth. He offers this sword of truth to all who desire it, to be used as a weapon against the falsehoods and the fiction that encompasses us. 

His words accompanied by the spirit of revelation and the spirit of prophecy--are His words coming from someone who has received from Him the revelation of the truthfulness of His words. It is not enough to study, read, ponder or even search and feast. Words spoken by the spirit of revelation and the spirit of prophecy are felt and seen, and the response is either to believe them, or not believe them by letting them fall by the wayside.

We should follow the pattern given by the sons of Mosiah, "...they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; ...for they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God. But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fastings; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation..." (Alma 17:3 emphasis added).

And what was the result: "...when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God" (Alma 17:3 emphasis added). Alma said the same after the truth of God's words were "made known unto (him) by the Holy Spirit of God" (Alma 5:46). He too, fasted and prayed many days that he might know of himself. "And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me" (Alma 5:46 emphasis added).

Alma had certainly, for years, heard the words taught by his father Alma and others, but it was not until the truthfulness of the words spoken and written by his father was revealed to him personally, that he could teach with power and authority, and not only with the spirit of revelation, but also with the spirit of prophecy (Alma 5:47). He is not speaking of ecclesiastical authority, but the power and authority that comes from a personal revelation from God that all His words are truth, light, spirit, even His spirit (D&C 84:45).

Alma emphasized the importance of having the spirit of revelation and the spirit of prophecy when he said "therefore they do know of these things of which I have spoken, as I do know; the the knowledge I have is of God" (Alma 36:26 emphasis added).

Just reading the scriptures is not enough. It explains why we can sit through talks and lessons that quote the scriptures and yet are still lifeless. It is only when God's words become our words, because they have been revealed to us, that we become witnesses with first hand knowledge and can testify that we know! It is only then that we speak with power and authority! 

Tim Merrill said that the "scriptures come alive with the Spirit when someone uses them to express what they have received from the Lord already! This is the best definition of 'the spirit of revelation' I have ever read." 

Too often we limit ourselves by reading, trying to understand, or by studying or pondering, or by feasting, or even searching. And while we may know what others have said and can quote them, we stop short of desiring, asking and receiving the revelation directly from our Father in Heaven, and therefore do not have the spirit of revelation and the spirit of prophecy, and do not teach the word of God. We may say the words, but cannot witness that the knowledge we have is from God. Otherwise we would teach with power and authority (Alma 5:45-47; Alma 17:24; Isaiah 28:9).

Enoch is an example, a type of the Lord's latter-day servant, who will speak "forth the words of God" and the people will tremble and will not be able to stand in his presence (Moses 6:47). "And the Lord said unto me: Go to this people, and say unto them--Repent, lest I come out and smite them with a curse, and they die" (Moses 7:10).

"And so great was the faith of Enoch that he led the people of God, and their enemies came to battle against them; and he spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even according to his command; and the rivers of water were turned out of their course; and the roar to lions was heard out of the wilderness; and all the nations feared greatly, so powerful was the word of Enoch, and so great was the power of the language which God had given him" (Moses 7:13 emphasis added).

As for me I am just one of many preachers of His righteousness, who speaks and prophecies in these last days, and teaches all who will hear, to repent, in order to help you avoid the two-headed monster.

But there are many that harden their hearts against the words of God, so that they have no place in them. As a result they ignore, or worse, arrogantly esteem His written words as nothing. I have written His words, and I esteem them of great worth, especially for my friends and family. I pray for them, and I worry about them, but I cry unto God in faith, for I know He will hear my pleas.

I know that at some point, God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my friends and family. And the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto them, for I know that His words will persuade them to believe in Christ and turn them to Him and His goodness. His words speak harshly against turning away from Him and putting our trust in men and in the things of the world. They speak plainly of the truth and no one will be angry at the words I have written, except he shall have the spirit of the devil.

I love the glory of His words and how they have brought me to my Savior, for He has redeemed my soul from hell. I have great faith in Christ, and know that I will meet many spotless souls at His judgment-seat. 

I know that He will again remember His covenant with the House of Israel, and many will be gathered to their lands of inheritance. I worry, however, about the Gentiles, of which we are numbered, for none can I hope except they repent, enter into the narrow gate and walk in the strait path which leads to eternal life until the end of the day of probation.

My prayer for you is that you will hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words, believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ, ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and He has given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good.

And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye--for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are His words!

And now I prophesy that all things which Christ and others taught concerning the house of Israel, in which Zenos likened to a tame olive tree, must surely come to pass. When He shall set His hand the second time to recover His People, is the day, even the last time, that the servants of the Lord shall go forth in His power to nourish His vineyard with the word of God; and after that the end soon cometh.

They who have labored diligently in His vineyard by teaching His words, are blessed. But those who have not labored diligently in His vineyard,  notwithstanding all their religious observances, are cursed, and shall be cast out into their own place! And the world shall be burned with fire.

How merciful is our God unto us, for He remembers the house of Israel, both roots and branches; He has hope that some Gentiles will repent; and He stretches forth His hands unto them all the day long; but they are a stiff-necked people; but as many as will not harden their hearts shall be saved in the kingdom of God.

What we can do is repent, and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as He cleaves unto us. And while His arm of mercy is extended towards us in the light of day, hear His voice in His words, and let's not harden our hearts; for why should we die?

For after we have been nourished by the good word of God all the day long, will we bring forth evil fruit, and be hewn down and cast into the fire?

Will we reject His words? Will we be found on the wrong side of His words? For it is by His words that we will be judged. Will we reject the words of the prophets; and will we reject all the words which have been spoken concerning Christ, after so many have spoken concerning Him; and deny the good word of Christ, and the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and mock the great plan of redemption which has been laid for us in His words?

Avoid being brought to stand before God with shame and awful guilt. Remember that Justice cannot be denied, and for those who bring forth evil fruit, there awaits that lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable, and whose smoke ascends up forever and ever.

So to all that hear and read these words, repent--turn to Christ with faith in Him, relying alone upon His merits! Those who have entered into the gate, but have not continued in the way, grab and hold fast to His words. The same for those who have not yet entered into the gate.

Oh be wise; what more can I say?

As the Lord said to Enoch "Say unto this people choose ye day, to serve the Lord God who made you" (Moses 6:33). And then He said to Enoch, "Behold my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify..." (Moses 6:34 emphasis added).

The main obstacle to receiving His words is a lack of desire. We are not hungry or thirsty enough to want to feast upon His words. Unless you are seeking for something, like knowledge, truth or some validation of your life, no matter how much of the word of God is available, it will be meaningless without some desire on your part to want to know it. Without this desire you will not seek it. But don't think that being ignorant will excuse you. The question for you then would be: what would it take to arouse in you a desire to seek for truth? More on what it would take.

Next: But We Have the Book! - America

This is a series of posts on the Book of Mormon. You can read the Introductory Post here.