After the manner of C.S. Lewis' Anthology of George MacDonald, or Of All Things, Quotations of Hugh Nibley, I present my own quotations of Timothy Merrill from his Owl Of The Desert Blog.
I must confess that some of these quotations might be hard to hear. You may have selected others, but these are some of the many that need to be said. We don't like to think that this time we are the ones who need to be called to repentance, but we are.
I may have only selected a single quote from each blog post, but the one I think best captured Tim's gift of the Spirit.
Tim is not only a gifted writer of the words of God, an inspired poet, but he can also sing!
This is Volume II
JANUARY 2021
Why would Christians put up with this, when Christ is their anchor, and when Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever? Why do Christians permit a revolving political correctness when the gospel has not changed, and yet what was "safe" yesterday may lead to our shunning today?
So instead of becoming of "one heart" with each other, we have chosen to give our hearts to "one leader" (despite the fact that we already have One Leader, Jesus).
Oddly, we seem to be going decidedly in the opposite direction, which has created some big problems for us:
(a) we are divided by status;
(b) leaders' authority is treated above the Holy Ghost's; and
(c) obedience to leaders has substituted for the law of the gospel.
FEBUARY 2021
In fact, the only Royal Law we should be concerned with is this one:
according to the scripture,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour
as thyself,
ye do well:
An "adhesion contract" is a contract drafted by one party (the one with the power), and signed by another party in a weak bargaining position, who is unable to change the terms of the agreement.
That's the whole point: the weaker party can't negotiate a better deal because they're stuck with "take it or leave it."
How can "obedience" be the first law of heaven?
Can someone explain that to me? Because how can we know whether we should obey, in the first place, unless we know we are doing God's will?
Have we made "keys" into an idol, worshipping those that hold them, claiming they can never lead us astray (as through the creature were greater than God)?
If the membership of the Church believes our agency is merely to do what the leaders tell us, then what about our accountability to God? Sometimes leaders give us inspired counsel; sometimes they do not. Isn't our accountability on being able to discern between the two?
So the problem we face is expecting "celestial blessings" from living a "telestial law." I mean, isn't that Lucifer's plan? To convince us we're progressing along the straight and narrow path when in fact we're knee-deep in the quicksand of a hollow religion, living on the scraps of a dead (i.e. lesser) law?
MARCH 2021
The Disciple Mormon taught:
to the commands of God
that there should be a law
which should bring men
on to unequal grounds.
There was no law
(Alma 30:7, 11)
But as we go through life, does there come a point where we become, ourselves, guilty? Do we reach a time when we stop being pilgrims in a strange land and become proud owners of a beachside condo?
Jesus had no desire to play king. He did not want the status that Babylon confers to its children. So He conspicuously avoided being "made a king." After all, his kingdom was not of this world.
Wouldn't it be wise to follow His example, rather than creating a spiritual kingdom where we elevate those with "keys" and require obsequious obedience?
But the important point is that Jesus refused to be made a king so that He might make us into kings and queens.
APRIL 2021
Anyone who seeks to impose external controls upon Zion is misguided because they do not understand the fundamental, essential nature (or order) of Zion, which is common consent through love.
"When I (Robert Rees) spoke at the Berkeley Institute of Religion several years ago, I asked the students, “Whose church is this?” They responded, “It’s the Church of Jesus Christ.” I replied, “There are two possessives in the name of the Church: it is the Church of Jesus Christ, certainly, but it is also the Church of the Latter-day Saints. It isn’t the Church of the First Presidency or the Quorum of the Twelve or the General Authorities, it isn’t the Church of conservatives or liberals or of any particular group, but rather the Church of all those who are or can be called saints. Thus, the Church is our joint stewardship. Ultimately, it will be no better or no worse than we ourselves choose to make it, than we ourselves choose to be."
Problem No. 1: "Melchizedek" is used as a nickname for the Priesthood of God itself.
The use of nicknames in this dispensation is well established. As we all know, the "correct" name of the priesthood is "The Holy Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God" (D&C 107:3).
Isn't using the name "Mormon" for the Church analogous to using the name "Melchizedek" for the priesthood? (And Mormon is easier to spell, too!)
But if we apply President Nelson's logic, would it be a "victory for Satan" to remove the Savior's name (or in this case, title) from the priesthood?
I mean, the priesthood is greater than the Church. We can have the priesthood without a church, but we can't have a church without a priesthood.
The priesthood is without beginning of days, whereas the Church is a recent creation. The priesthood endures into eternity, whereas the Church is a product of this earth-time.
So, should we stop saying "Melchizedek" Priesthood, too?
Most disagreements are over petty issues and do not elicit much emotion.
But when we disagree over something like politics, religion, or money (notice: things that deal with power and control) then our voices can get heated.
When there is a conflict between the scriptures and Handbook, why do we choose to enforce the Handbook over the word of God?
Why have we trampled upon the word of God with hundreds of pages of pseudepigrapha?
MAY 2021
On the other hand, if we mean we are "worthy" because of our righteousness, then we might have missed the entire point of the gospel.
Question: Can a person whose spirit is filled with contention, pride, envy and lust go to the temple?
Answer: Sure! As long as they don't drink coffee.
Our checklist of temple worthiness questions include "carnal commandments" (i.e., the requirements we associate with the lesser law).
Are we surprised? The recommend questions appeal to our Pharisee-mindedness because they focus on the "outside" ― on the performances and obligations that are Old School (by which I mean, Levitical).
I think the point Isaiah was making is that people were going to the temple and just "going through the motions" ― comparing them to the dumb animals they brought for sacrifice.
JUNE 2021
In the year 70 A.D. the Roman general Titus destroyed the Jewish temple as Christ had prophesied (and remember, this was already the 2nd Temple since the previous one (Solomon's) had been destroyed by Babylon ― so we're seeing a pattern of temples getting destroyed by the wicked when the Lord's people turn away).
What is the purpose of temple recommend interviews to determine our worthiness when none of us is "worthy" (except the Lamb)?
It seems like we've lost a lot in this dispensation already. (And here I thought we were doing better than the Nephites, spinning along on their hamster wheel of pride.)
The devil knows. All the worst sins, the devil knows, are gilt with gold. They shimmer like silver. They repose on scarlet cushions in the image of respectability and religiosity.
Who has heard something like, "I love being in the temple, where everyone is dressed in white and all of our differences disappear!"
Does the temple produce a feeling of unity merely by requiring everyone to wear the same attire?
Is conformity of dress the closest we're going to get to equality in the Church?
JULY 2021
"It's time we stop thinking of Babylon as a drunk john lying in a pool of vomit in some back alley in Amsterdam strewn with dirty needles and STDs. Because Babylon is beautiful."
The devil loves religion and all its trappings; he styles himself as our "great" high priest; he craves to have people "fall down and worship [him]" (Matthew 4:9).
Which is why, if you want your religion to survive, the best way is to make the members dependent upon your authority before they jump ship and chase authority elsewhere.
And who perfected this practice and made it an art form? The Great and Abominable Church, of course. History shows that the most enduring religion of all time is the Church of the devil.
He earned our loyalty ― not because He was the Firstborn (there are plenty of examples where "firstborns" got passed over, like Cain, Esau, and Judah) ― not because of His status as the Son of God (Satan makes the same claim) ― but because He showed us how much He loves us through His condescension and sacrifice.
So tell me, why would we think the sign of authority is a person's rank rather than their love, when Christ is the Great Exemplar?
I can imagine Nicodemus patting Christ's shoulder. "Ah, come now, Master. Things aren't so bad, are they? We've got a temple, a priesthood, prosperity, a covenant with God . . . . We're doing okay."
And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength. (Alma 1:26)
How can we to be equal in earthly and heavenly things in a hierarchy?
So I hope you're excited for this field trip. Come aboard the Good Bus Zion, and let's get started.
I know, I know, it used to be the Good Ship Zion, but the rowdy sailors tossed the kids overboard. So now we're on a magic school bus like little children. And remember, there are no seatbelts on school buses! But don't worry, we have an awesome bus Driver.
We know we're ripe for destruction when we reject and persecute those whom God has sent to warn us (example: the city of Ammonihah). Can I have an Amen(!) from Abinadi, Samuel the Lamanite, and Ether?
AUGUST 2021
Joseph Smith did not teach temple work for the dead other than baptism ― which will really be the work of the Millennium. (He did allude to a time when we would do anointings and other ordinances for the dead in Zion, but didn't live long enough to restore what he had in mind.)
Personally, I am not sure why we interpret scriptural prophecy in the most narcissistic way possible. But it might come as a big surprise to learn that we are not up for Best Actor, but instead are nominated only for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
Sometimes as I sit in Church, or as I read press releases from the Church Newsroom, seeing all of the attention given to authority and to power and money and to the praise of men, I wonder:
When did we stop being freemen and become king-men?
When the Church has advocated so fiercely (historically) for independence ― for self-determination and self-government ― why does the Church deprive its members of the privileges that it has fought to retain for itself as an institution?
SEPTEMBER 2021
In Zion, the Lord dwells among His people. Whereas in a theocracy you've got to burn incense and hold fast to your rosary beads.
But I've noticed that the ugliest contention comes when we try to defend what we believe to be right with righteous indignation (read: anger) ― when we think we are standing up for truth in our persecution of those who are "wicked."
So by appealing to authority, we're actually (ironically) creating more contention as we escalate the disagreement up the food chain, invoking others' names in defense of our position in a "Battle of the Experts" (or as I like to play, Battle of the Prophets).
You know, the one about Christ and His death and resurrections? Rather than carrying on ad nauseum about who gets to wear His Letterman Jackets while preaching "All is well in Zion, yea, Zion prospereth."
See, the problem is we use language from scripture as if we meant it, when our institution/hierarchy demonstrates we're only giving it lip-service.
So I am not giving up. I am not going to stop declaring those things that God has placed in me like fire shut up in my bones.
While our ethnic and national identities contribute to who we are, they shouldn't contribute to division among the body of believers when God Himself is "no respecter of persons," as Peter taught (Acts 10:34).
Discontinue the curriculum which requires us to rehash a General Authority's conference talk during sacrament meetings, priesthood and relief society. Does no one in this Church have the gift of the Holy Ghost? Why is God the Ghost benched while we play the second string of the junior varsity? It makes no sense. Our meetings are boring because people are not speaking by the power of the Holy Ghost: they're reading from a correlated message that was assigned. I don't understand why the leaders do not trust the members enough to let them be . . . themselves.
Do we deny the gifts of God when we defer to priesthood authority rather than to the urgings of the Spirit to us?
OCTOBER 2021
The old bottles and wine represent the status quo. The old law. The old way of doing things. In other words, pretty much everything we're used to.
We've seen all the good a temple did the Jews when they rejected the Lord. A physical temple is nothing without a Holy House to fill it.
Among those that have bought into carnal security, into gold and silver, into religious pride and piety but who never knew the Lord and who took His name in vain while practicing priestcraft . . . what are they doing?
I want to remind everyone that the Book of Mormon doesn't say anything about priesthood keys ― yes, that's right: the Most Correct Book on Earth which contains, according to the Lord, "the fulness of my everlasting gospel" (D&C 27:5), is utterly blank about keys.
Does He mean the Church was meant to be a place of fellowship, where we gather as a family, and not a place for leaders to exercise authority: controlling who speaks and on what topics; dictating how funds are spent; ordering members into callings without counseling with them . . . .
NOVEMBER 2021
I did not realize until much later who the most dangerous "enemies" to the Lord's people are. Now I know that the greatest threat to the Lord's people comes not from without, but from within.
The "wrong way" is to gullibly swallow up anything and everything an authority figure tells us without proving (testing) it by the Spirit within us.
I am filled with hope in the Holy One of Israel. I have hope to be numbered among the remnant of Jacob and I hold onto hope that we may yet become precious to each other as brothers and sisters, as equals, in order to preserve the Lord's fruit at the End HaHarvest.
You see, during my youth and my missionary years, I had been told that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was going to build Zion.
. . . I had been taught that the Church was the "stone cut out of the mountain" and that "no unhallowed hand" could stop the work from progressing.
. . . People said we'd follow the Prophet's call when it was time to return to Jackson County.
. . . I understood that the early saints had missed their chance to see the New Jerusalem, but maybe this generation of members would succeed where our ancestors had not.
Well, guess what?
That's all wrong.
Oh, how I wish we would learn this valuable truth:
("No Other Way," Blogpost, Given by the Finger of God, October 17, 2021, https://fingerofgod.blogspot.com/2021/10/no-other-way.html)
DECEMBER 2021
The coming calamity, according to Joseph Smith, shall result in the "sweep[ing of] the wicked of this generation from off the face of the land, to open and prepare the way for the return of the lost tribes of Israel from the north country." ("Letter to Noah C. Saxton, 4 January 1833," p. 17-18, The Joseph Smith Papers). This shall occur on the land of America when its peoples are "fully ripe."
Here Enos has got the Lord on the other end of the line and he asks for . . . some records to be preserved?
Now, I've saved the my most important question for last. Here it is: Is it possible to come unto Christ through a mediator or regent or prophet, such as a pope or president? Isn't it true that following our spiritual leaders is the same as following Jesus?
You see? We take the purity of the gospel and then we mix it with all of our worldliness, with the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches, with our insurance liability concerns, our tax deductions, our false traditions, our cultural prejudices . . . and then what are we left with?
I want to suggest that "coming unto Christ" does not mean adding Christ to our religious and spiritual baggage; no, coming unto Christ means we set aside all our religious and spiritual baggage and just embrace Him.
Him alone.
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