Is it Enough That Your Children Know That You Are A Good Member of the Church?

This was originally published on March 11, 2022, under the title Is It Enough That Your Children Know You Are a Good Ministering Teacher? Take some time to click on the five links in this post. They may be of some benefit to you and others.

 

What is it that you want your children and grandchildren to know about you? I was in an Elder's Quorum meeting a few years ago, and the topic was on teaching our children, or what do we want our children to know. There was a reference to D&C 68:25, but there was no discussion or instruction concerning what D&C 68:25 commands us to teach, and no reference was made to Moses 6:57-60, or to D&C 93:40 on what the Lord has commanded that we are to teach our children. 

But the idea of being a good example was discussed, and immediately I thought about what Alma wanted his three sons to know about him. Of all the things he could have told them such as being the Chief Judge and/or being the High Priest over the church, he instead recounted to them how he had murdered many of God's children, or rather how he had led them away unto destruction (Alma 36:14), and how he and the Sons of Mosiah were "the very vilest of sinners" (Mosiah 28:4). He told them of the angel who visited him and then in detail what he experienced thereafter.

He described how he was racked with the pains of a damned soul and was racked with torment and harrowed up by the memory of his many sins. He describes this as hell, and gives us a glimpse of what hell must be like for those of us who do not repent. He wanted his sons to know that he had sinned, and that he had repented of his sins and was redeemed by the Lord. He described to his sons that he had cried within his heart and said: "O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death."  

He then described the marvelous light that he beheld and told them that his soul was filled with joy. There was, he said, nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were his pains, but on the other hand there could be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was his joy. He said: "I stood upon my feet, and did manifest unto the people that I had been born of God." 

Alma told and retold his story to his sons so that they would know that their father had rejected his Redeemer, and most importantly he wanted them to know that after his soul had been racked with eternal torment, he was "snatched" and his "soul was pained no more." He was teaching them the Gospel of Jesus Christ through his own experiences, how he had been born of God and how everyone of us "must be born of God...changed from (our) carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming His sons and daughters. And thus become new creatures; and unless (we) do this (we) can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God" (Mosiah 27:25-26 emphasis added). 

Of all the things Alma could have taught His sons about himself, he chose to teach them that: "I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit." 

Alma also taught his son Shiblon what our relationship should be to God and to each other. He taught him to not be lifted up in pride or to boast of his own wisdom and strength, or to think of himself as better than his brethren; "but rather say: O Lord, forgive my unworthiness, and remember (our) brethren in mercy--yea, acknowledge your unworthiness before God at all times" (Alma 38:11-14 emphasis added).

Alma's emphasis in teaching his sons was on the goodness and mercy of our Savior, not his own 'good example, and how, notwithstanding his own sins and unworthiness, he was redeemed and born again. He wanted his Sons to know that it was not because of his goodness, but because of the goodness and righteousness of our Savior that he was redeemed. He did not just teach them that he was a good High Priest, had a testimony and fulfilled his civic and church duties. I use the metaphor of being a good member of the Church because it fits the pattern of focusing on ourselves and our religious duties rather than on our Savior.

If we examine our own lives and decide what to teach our children, we may dismiss Alma's account as a pattern because, we may say, his experience was different. But was it really? Or should it be? Do we need to have an angel tell us to repent and be aware of the justice of God, when we have been told over and over again by Book of Mormon prophet-writers, by some of our modern day prophets and apostles, and by the Lord himself? We may say that Alma's sin was more serious and does not apply to us, even though we have been told that one sin subjects us to all of God's justice. But we can't teach what we have not experienced, and that is the problem: if we have not been troubled enough by our sins to bring us down unto repentance, we cannot teach our children what Alma taught his. Instead we may focus on the fact that we may have been a good member of the Church.

Alma used his own experience with God's justice and mercy, to teach his sons about God's justice and mercy. His own experience caused him from that time forth to labor without ceasing, "that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be filled with the Holy Ghost."

In telling my story in The Many Lives of W. Clark Burt, I wanted my children to see me as I really am (a chief sinner); and how, through His goodness and mercy, He has redeemed me from hell and saved me from my sins. I can say that I am repenting and desire to endure in repentance and faith to the end, and that I am no longer under the bondage of sin, but under His grace. I can say that I have been born of the Spirit. Even though my sins continue to trouble me, I continue to repent by turning to Christ and relying wholly upon His merits (not my own) to save me. I know that through repentance and enduring to the end I will have claim upon His mercy and be found guiltless at the judgment. It is not just about my sins but also about my being carnal by nature, and about all the flaws in my character such as selfishness and impatience. 

But I also have hope in Christ that the effects of my sins (the iniquities) will be repaired by Christ. Only He has the power to turn evil into good. He has promised that repentance fixes all that was ruined.

Tom Christofferson, brother to Apostle Todd Christofferson said of his being Gay, "For me, being gay is one of the greatest blessing of my life because I came to a point where I felt I really had to know that Christ lives, that his Atonement and resurrection are realities that have impact in my life. Other people come to that knowledge in their own ways, but this caused me to seek knowledge. I am incredibly grateful for this path." I can say the same about my path (divorce and new marriage) and for the same reasons. It was the catalyst for me to really seek Christ and His atonement. 

I call this a 'Road to Damacus' experience which results in us, at some point in our journey on this earth, stopping in our tracks and 'hearing' the voice of God, telling us: "This is my Son Hear ye him!" Have you had your 'road to Damascus' experience? Have you come to experience your own lost and fallen state, and experienced the need and desire to turn (repent) to Christ and rely wholly upon His merits? Have you experienced your repentance? Are you even now experiencing your own repentance?

The Lord has revealed to us that to repent means to turn to Christ. The Latin root for repentance is to turn. The Greek root means to change one's mind. The Hebrew root means to return to God. We must desire and be willing to change our mind and our heart and be willing to turn to God and turn away from what we are. When we partake of the Sacrament we do witness unto God that we are wiling to take upon us His name, that we are willing to always remember Him, and that we are willing to keep His commandments!

We can see the fruits of our repentance (or turning to Him) by virtue of the changes He is making in us. He is beginning to take away our disposition to do evil, and is curing our tendency to turn away from Him. Fruits of our repentance include growing in the knowledge of Him and desiring to teach our children and others of His goodness and mercy. He will cause that our hearts be filled with joy and we will rejoice in Him. 

We come to know that God created us with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which has been enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated to us through His words. Our views become clearer and our enjoyments greater. We begin losing our desire for sin, and He is changing our hearts. We offer Him our broken heart, and He gives us a new heart. 

Our hope becomes in Him. It is hope because we still realize our flesh is weak and that our heart continues to desire that which is evil sometimes, but we will believe what He has revealed: that we can attain to His righteousness through putting our faith in Him and be claimed by God's mercy.

Through His atonement, mercy was introduced as the way to reclaim us from the grasp of the justice of God. Through His fruits, we now know that we need God's mercy and would not want to be judged by our works, whether they be good or evil. Our hope is that we will be found guiltless, and that we will be claimed by His mercy.

Personally. I believe all the words which he has spoken to me. I know of their surety and truth because the Spirit of God has wrought a mighty change in me, or in my heart, that my disposition to do evil is diminishing and my desire to do good (the works of Christ) is increasing.

When Lehi was teaching his son Jacob he said to him "I know that thou art redeemed, because of the righteousness of thy Redeemer..." (2 Nephi 2:3 emphasis added). It was not Jacob's righteousness which redeemed him, but the righteousness of Christ.

I know I cannot rely on my own merits and goodness. I have hurt and disappointed many, and If that had been the end of the story, then I would agree that I deserved to die in my sins and be consigned to a state of misery. But because of the goodness of God and the greatness of His Plan of Redemption, it was not the end of the story, but only the beginning of another path that led me to my Savior, to understand through His words and my experience, the doctrine of repentance and faith. The walk that I have walked, and the one I want my children and others to know, is that of a sinner being redeemed, which is the walk that all of us must walk. But it is not really my story that I want them to hear. It is the story of my Savior, of His goodness and mercy! It is His words that I want them to hear, not mine! It is His words, and when they hear them they will begin to understand the doctrine of repentance, to be troubled by their own sins, and the need and the desire to avoid the justice of God and through His words be driven into the arms of His Mercy!

 

Fortunately Alma's sons, including Corianton, did listen to what he had to say about his own repentance and about his being born again, for they then became the teachers of the gospel of repentance to their children, and to others (why) so that the great plan of mercy might have claim upon those that they taught. 

While still troubled, I am no longer harrowed up in my sins, but have beheld the marvelous light, and my soul has been filled with joy. I now know like Paul that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief" (1 Timothy 1:15).

If all you want your children to know is that you were a faithful church member; or that you faithfully fulfilled all your callings, went to or worked in the temple regularly, had a 'testimony,' did your family history, served a mission or multiple missions, and that you were by all accounts a good person (LDS obituary), you will undoubtedly miss the mark, and therefore probably cause your children to miss the mark as well. I say miss the mark in the sense that Jacob said it--the Jews were blinded by their own self righteousness, "which blindness came by looking beyond the mark" (Jacob 4:14), the mark being their Savior and His goodness and mercy, not their own. 

This scripture illustrates the difference. "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, (Why?) that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. We speak concerning the law (why?) that our children may know the deadness of the law, that they, by knowing the deadness of the law, may look forward unto life which is in Christ" (2 Nephi 25:26-27 emphasis added).

You may be part of the ninety and nine that need no repentance. But if you think that, be mindful of who Christ was speaking to and why He told them the parable of the lost sheep. It was to the Pharisees and scribes that Christ was speaking, and His reference to the ninety and nine was to those Pharisees and scribes, just persons, who thought they needed no repentance. His reference to joy in heaven over the one sinner that repenteth is contrasted with the sorrow over those who think they do not need to repent.

A brief look at D&C 68:25 and Moses 6:57-60 will help us understand not only what we are to teach our children but why it is so critical that they know we have experienced what we are

asked by the Lord to teach them. 

Parents with children in Zion must teach their children to understand the doctrine of repentance, to understand faith in Christ, to understand the need for baptism, and to understand the gift of the Holy Ghost. Note that it is not enough to teach them about, but to understand. 

This is not possible if we do not understand. It is not enough to just know about these doctrines, and we can only understand if we have experienced them! An example of this is Alma teaching his son Corianton. He could teach Corianton to understand the doctrine of repentance because he understood it, not just intellectually, but because he had experienced it!

Now look at Moses 6:57-60. Enoch has just explained that since we are all born in sin, including our children, that sin conceiveth in our hearts that we may know to taste the bitter (why?) so that we can choose the good. Because of this, and having become carnal, sensual and devilish by nature, we are agents unto ourselves with two choices--good or evil, and we cannot act for ourselves without being enticed by the one or the other. 

Because of this we are commanded to teach our children that all men everywhere must repent, and of course all men everywhere includes you. If you have taught your children to understand the doctrine of repentance (using the Lord's definition of repentance which is to turn to Him and rely wholly upon His merits), your children will want to know if you have and are repenting. If they understand that without repentance we cannot dwell in the presence of God, they will want to know where you will be. 

He gets more specific when he says: "Teach these things freely unto your children, saying: 

That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch

as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye (you) must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye (you) might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory." 

Teaching 'about' being born again is not the same as actually being born again, and what better example can you be to your children and grandchildren than the "example of a believer (in Christ), in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12 emphasis added). If you be a good minister of Jesus Christ, you shall be "nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou has attained" (2 Timothy 4:6). "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine, continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee" (2 Timothy 4:16).

Leave First Principles and Go On Unto Perfection

I have often wondered what Paul meant when he said ​"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection..." (Hebrew 6:1). I just could not wrap my mind around why we would be encouraged to leave the "principles of the doctrine of Christ." Most attempts to explain why, just did not seem reason enough for me. Especially when Christ defined His doctrine as baptism and repentance, and said anything more or less was not of Him, but of the devil (3 Nephi 11:39-40).

This raises a question:

Q. What is beyond repentance and baptism? Or more accurately asked: who are those leaving behind the first principles and going on to perfection?

A. Those who are no longer under the law, but are under Grace, and desire to go on to perfection. There is both the condition, i.e., under grace and the desire to receive all that the Father desires to give us, to receive ever more grace. 

This was a new dimension for me. It was as if I had crossed over into another state of reality. Could we actually begin the process of being exalted during our earthly life? Could we experience receiving grace for grace as opposed to just being under grace? Could the process of being perfected by Christ actually begin now? Are there exalted states we could be born into before death, beyond being born of the water and of the spirit? Could we be further along the very lengthy process of becoming perfected when we leave this temporal existence? And if we refuse His grace will we be de-created and become less?

But didn't that process begin when we were born and then again being born of the water, and then again when we were born of the spirit? A scripture I have quoted many times has now become significantly more enlightening and meaningful to me. 

"And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;

"And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God" (Mosiah 27:25-26 emphasis added).

I wrote a post about becoming His sons and daughters, which I discovered is an exalted state, a state whereby we are re-created by Christ as new creatures, just as Alma said. 

But Paul adds even more: 

"For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ..." (Ephesians 4:12-15 emphasis added).

Let's break this down and examine more closely what Paul is telling us.

The first verse could be read as saying that the work of the ministry is the perfecting of the saints, as in this is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality of man. Christ described His saints as those who are desiring to move away from Babylon to begin the process of becoming perfected in Him. He tells us that we are in the process of being re-created by Christ, "for the edifying of the body of Christ," which is another way of saying we become the fruits of Christ. See Tim Merrill's personal Vision of The Tree of Life which adds even another dimension to becoming new creatures in Christ, His fruits, which adorn the Tree of Life.

We then see Christ as the perfect man and that we can become like Him, experiencing several of our own re-births through Him, which, Paul tells us, can begin now. His fulness can become our fulness, begotten by Him, being partakers of His glory (D&C 93:20-22). We grow up "into Him in all things."

An amazing fruit of repentance and partaking of His grace is that we are no longer children being tossed to and fro, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men. When we become so, we are no longer deceived. We know the doctrine, are repenting, but are now moving on to perfection, becoming perfected by Him.

I gave examples of this in the Sons and Daughters post. Those who have gone beyond just believing to actually repenting, and then to being exalted to Sons and Daughters of God, and are now moving toward perfection. They are becoming more like God, acquiring, through Grace, the attributes of God. And I want to emphasize that it is not by trying or striving to become like Christ! Only Christ, through His Grace, recreates us. 

A quote from this post will help you see more clearly what it means to become a Son or Daughter of God:

"Persons who receive grace for grace to ascend to the Sons-Daughters /Servants level, are primarily concerned with things beyond the forgiveness of their sins. By tending to the spiritual and material needs of others, they follow God's example, developing His attributes and character traits as they receive more grace.

They become examples of righteousness by serving as God's agents of 'deliverance' and 'salvation' to those who are still in need of deliverance. They are willing to be in the world to bring others out of the world. They are in the process of 'sanctifying' their lives in the service of God. God's will is becoming their will. God's Sons-Daughters/Servants, both now and in the endtime, are those who do/will fulfill the role of deliverers and saviors to God's people. These include all those who thrust in their sickles and reap, being concerned for the welfare of the soul for all mankind, and especially for the souls of their friends and family.

Those who make this transition in their lives completely change their thought processes. As they open themselves to the influence of God’s Spirit, God enlightens them to his truth, to things as they really are, different from their former, imperfect perception of the truth. They become aware of, and discard, fixed beliefs about themselves and others that have bound them to patterns of living below their potential. The gap between their beliefs and the truth is being eliminated."

Some may say it can't be that simple. But it is! However, it is also more difficult work, more worry, more sadness, but also more joy, just as you would expect the Lord's work to be. But we cannot pretend that the casual believer can perceive the things of God just as well as one who diligently searches God’s Word and lives it until it permeates his whole being.

I can see that as we begin to develop His attributes, everyone becomes our brother and sister. We want for them His mercy, more than for ourselves. We mourn for those who can't see and hear what we can see and hear. We rejoice with those who do! Like Enos, Alma, Amulek, the Sons of Mosiah, and many others, the rest of our lives are spent teaching His words, trying to bring others to Him. We are doing His work, that which we have seen Him do! But it is the hardest work there is. One reason is that we see and understand what happens to our brothers and sisters, our family, our friends, if they do not repent. 

As we move through this process we cannot stand the thought that someone may have to suffer even as He suffered if they do not repent. Because we have the Spirit of Revelation, we know. And because we have the Spirit of Prophecy, we can see clearly what is ahead for those who do not repent. And so we invite them, warn them, we nudge and even push them; we give them historical examples, we plead with them and rejoice with them. We implore them, encourage them and caution them. We rejoice and mourn for them. We love them. 

"And thus we see the great call of diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord; and thus we see the great reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing—sorrow because of death and destruction among men, and joy because of the light of Christ unto life" (Alma 28:14 emphasis added).

As Alma said, "I stood upon my feet, and did manifest unto the people that I had been born of God.

Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be filled with the Holy Ghost" (Alma 37:23-24 emphasis added).

The divine powers and attributes God manifests through someone who has been sanctified, come from his growing assimilation of what are liberating and empowering truths--His words. It is an integral part of becoming, as His words become our words. His words are manifested in us.

If you want the easy way continue with your religious activities. Faith is the hardest of work according to Joseph Smith. It is pure mental exertion. "What are we to understand by a man’s working by faith? We answer–we understand that when a man works by faith he works by mental exertion instead of physical force. It is by words, instead of exerting his physical powers, with which every being works when he works by faith" (Lectures on Faith, Lecture 7, Verse 3).

And so I work using words. Not mine, but His, because I have obtained His words, and because I know that His words are more effective than anything else. But sometimes I feel like a major league baseball player trying to explain the intricacies of baseball to five year old T-Ball players. But the amazing thing is, a few of these T-Ballers really want to know. And because His Gospel is so simple, I can, as commanded, teach them to understand the doctrines of baptism and repentance, even before they reach the age of eight years!

I can relate to how the Sons of Mosiah felt: "Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble" (Mosiah 28:3 emphasis added).

But being perfected by Christ is not often taught to us from the pulpit. Instead we are encouraged  to 'strive' to be like him, to 'follow' His example, to 'love' as He loved, to 'keep' our covenants, and even though we make mention of His name, the emphasis is primarily on us. And we remain under the bondage of sin, in Babylon,  becoming less. It is only through Him and His grace that we go on to perfection! And in this we deny the power of God to change us, we rely on our own puny efforts to try to become like Him. We are like the Pharisee, and we can even use the same list as the Pharisee did, as we 'strive' to justify ourselves before God.

What needs to be changed is us, not our actions or our behaviors. We can, for example, quit doing a particular sinful deed, but what is not changed is our capacity to continue to commit that sinful deed. And only God can do that!

"To save a man from his sins, or from his awful, sinful and polluted state is the reason Christ was sent by His Father, sent to do the will of the Father. Christ did not come to just deliver us from the consequences of our sinful deeds, while yet our sinful nature remained. But men, loving their sins, pervert the word of God by saying that He came to save us from the punishment of our sins. This teaching has perverted and corrupted the teaching of His gospel. He did not come to just pay the price of our sinful deeds, but to pay the price of our awful, sinful and polluted state--to save us from our sins, from ourselves" (Saved From Our Sins).

For him, the eternal order is a perpetual-motion machine: it can tolerate no friction at all. Even one grain of sand - one lurking vice in one of the redeemed - given long enough, will find somewhere to lodge and something to rub on. And that damaged something, given another of the infinite eternities ties within eternity itself, will go off center and shake the next part loose. And then the next; and so straight on into what can only be the beginning of the end: the very limitlessness of the opportunity for mischief will eventually bring the whole works to a grinding halt. In other words to be in His presence there can be no grains of sand, only perfection, and only He can perfect us! 

The last words Moroni chose to write before His death were these:

• "Yea, come unto Christ, 
• and be perfected in him,
• and deny yourselves 
• of all ungodliness; 
• and if ye shall deny yourselves
• of all ungodliness, 
• and love God with all your
• might, mind and strength, 
• then is his grace 
• sufficient for you, 
• that by his grace 
• ye may be perfect in Christ; 
• and if by the grace of God 
• ye are perfect in Christ, 
• ye can in nowise 
• deny the power of God.
• And again, if ye 
• by the grace of God 
• are perfect in Christ, 
• and deny not his power, 
• then are ye sanctified 
• in Christ by the grace of God,
• through the shedding 
• of the blood of Christ, 
• which is in the covenant 
• of the Father unto 
• the remission of your sins, 
• that ye become holy, 
• without spot" (Moroni 10:32-33 emphasis  added).

But what other implications might there be, for example, for my friends and family, and especially for Annie? This is where we can become, again through Him, as one. When our wills are aligned with His, i.e., when we want for ourselves and others what He wants for us and them, then we can be perfected in Him as one. We can become His Sons and Daughters, new creatures together, and so much more as He re-creates us together. Isaiah’s covenant theology shows that male–female unions of God’s “sons” and “daughters” and levels higher endure into eternity, sealed by God’s “everlasting covenant” (Isaiah 59:21; 60:1–4, 19–22; 61:6–10; 65:13–23).

But I can also see that there may be some of my family who may not yet desire the same, because they do not yet understand how we move together unto perfection in Him. My hope and my faith is that through His words they will desire the same, because male–female unions and family unions on levels lower than God’s elect, on the other hand, possess no such assurance.

I know what Timothy said is true. I am "nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto [I have] attained" (2 Timothy 4:6 emphasis added). 

And know I want to move on to the process of being perfected by Christ. I "take heed unto [my]self, and unto the doctrine, and continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee" (2 Timothy 4:16 emphasis added).

There is so much in me that needs to be changed, but now I see a way that all the ugly, the terrible, the evil, even the human goodness, can be replaced with His Goodness. And in this I rejoice! It is like He has opened to my view the pathway to His presence. I can now understand why Paul said we should leave the principles of the doctrine of Christ, and move onto perfection. Let us take His hand and hang on, while we spend our lives bringing as many as we possibly can, to Him.

Paul also taught us that to repent of transgression and receive a remission of sins through the atonement Jesus wrought on behalf of God’s children isn’t the same as going “from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18), to be “conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29) until one comes “unto a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Messiah” (Ephesians 4:13; Colossians 1:28). Hopefully you can also see the difference and the pathway to becoming like Him.

As “there is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars” (1 Corinthians 15:41), so the higher a person ascends, the greater the degree of glory.

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 how do we know? We can uncover many heavenly mysteries embedded in the scriptures we currently possess. Theological concepts such as higher and lower categories of souls, ascending and descending spiritual levels both in heaven and on earth, relationships before and beyond this life, multiple mortal states or eternal lives, the interconnectedness of time and eternity—all form implicit truths embedded in the scriptures. 

And think of the wonderous implications of ministering to those with less, and being ministered to by those with more--forever--all in the name of, and with the love of God! 

Dialogue With God

This dialogue between us and God was written by Hugh Nibley. I have taken the liberty to make a few changes. 

We: Dear Father, whenever the end is scheduled to be, can't you give us an extension of time? 

He: Willingly. But tell me first, what will you do with it?

We: Well...ah...we will go on doing pretty much what we have been doing; after all, isn't that why we are asking for an extension?

He: And isn't that exactly why I want to end it soon--because you show no inclination to change? Why should I reverse the order of things so that you can go on doing the very things I want to put an end to?

We: But is what we are doing so terribly wrong? The church is growing. We spend time with our families. We attend our meetings and fulfill our religious duties. We are pursuing our careers and becoming self-reliant. Why shouldn't we go on doing the things our parents and grandparents did?

He: Haven't I made it clear enough to you what kind of greatness I expect of my offspring? Forget the statistics; you are capable of better things--your religious and daily activities don't impress me in the least.

We: But why should we quit when all we are doing is what each considers to be the best for himself and his family?

He: Because it is not you but I who decides what that shall be, and I have told you a hundred times what is best for you individually and collectively--and that is repentance, not matter who you are.

We: We find your inference objectionable, Sir -- quite unacceptable.

He: I know

But We Have The Book! - Impact of His Words!

For he who is unwilling to know how he may attain to life, and prefers to be in ignorance lest he thereby be made guilty, from this very fact is judged as if he knew and had knowledge. For he knew what it was that he was unwilling to hear; and the cunning obtained by the artifice of the serpent will avail him nothing for an excuse... (Clement of Rome, Chapter 18 emphasis added).

I have quoted D&C 10:67-70 several times in this blog to emphasize that only those who are repenting are of His church. When I wrote that President Benson also quoted these same verses to emphasize that being a member of His church is different than being a member of record of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a person asked for a citation, which I provided. I was struck with the thought that more often than not, we just don't take the Lord’s words at face value. Are we reluctant to believe unless we hear it from the pulpit? Are His words not enough to convince us? Isn’t this the definition of treating His words lightly? Is this an example of "...but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it" (Hebrews 4:2)?

Another way of treating His words lightly is by ignoring His 'more' or 'nothing' rule. It is never static. You are either receiving a greater portion of His words, or you have hardened your heart, in which case you are "given the lesser portion of the word until (you) know nothing concerning his mysteries..." (Alma 12:10). Are you are passing or failing the test?

But why? What is it about the word 

of God that is so important? This is a recurring theme in this blog and it cannot be said or written too often--the word of God is truth, light, spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ!

Consider the source of His words:

They come from "He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth; Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made" (D&C 88:6-7 emphasis added).

I've quoted Hugh Nibley before saying that the Book of Mormon was not given to us to convince us, but to convict us. But convict us of what, I ask? Just being ignorant or being willfully ignorant?

Having been given the Book of Mormon can we ever have an excuse? Can we hold this precious book in our hands and yet remain clueless of its message to us--to you?

Consider this summary, all from God, keeping in mind that Christ taught only His Father's words (John 12:49-50).

1. What the word of God is.

His words are truth (D&C 84:45).

His words are light (ibid).

His words are His Spirit (ibid).

His words are Him!

He is the word!

His words are treasures.

The word of God is a two-edged sword.

Sword of truth is the word of God.

Word of God is intelligence or in other words, light and truth 

He is the word, is in the word and the word is in Christ. 

2. What the word of God does.

One word from the mouth of God strikes everything else as insignificant. 

We are judged by His words.

Without His words we abide in darkness.

His words divide us.

His words cut the chains of hell.

His words anger some and please others. 

His words take us beyond this vale of sorrow.

The word or rod of iron, is the weapon God uses to judge and make war.

His words unite us.

His words enlighten and awaken us.

His words reclaim us.

His words shine His light on us.

His words test us.

His words convey His anger, wrath and judgment. 

His words convey His love, mercy and joy.

His words are brought to our remembrance through the Holy Ghost.

His words lift us.

Nothing is more effective than the word of God.

His words lead us to the Tree of Life.

His words tell us all that we must do.

His words can become our words.

His words can be found in us.

Through His words we receive more or less.

Faith comes by hearing His words.

We are humbled because of His words.

Enoch spake forth the words of God and the people trembled.

We can hear His voice in His words.

The word of God nourishes us.

The desire to repent comes from hearing the word of God.

Without His words we remain ignorant and unaware.

One word from the mouth of God strikes everything else as insignificant.

We can only tell whether one is a true messenger of God by the message.

His words condemn us.

3. What are we to do with, or how do we respond to, the word of God.

Get in the way by His words.

Stay in the way through His words.

We either believe or do not believe His words.

We hear His words.

We hear His voice in His words.

We see by His words.

Understand His words with our hearts.

Humble ourselves because of His words.

We are to treasure up continually the words of life.

Feast upon the words of Christ.

First seek to obtain my word, then shall your tongue be loosed.

Hold fast to His words.

Search His words.

Enjoy His words of eternal life in this world.

Angels speak the words of Christ.

We can speak with tongue of angels.

We write His words.

We teach His words.

We expound upon His words.

Whoso read let him understand.

He who denies God's revelations has not read the scriptures.

Give heed unto the word of God.

Hearken unto my voice and believe.

Study His words.

And now, remember the words of him who is the life and light of the world, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God.

We plant His words in our hearts.

His words properly nourished, grow into a tree of knowledge, a tree of Life  whose fruit is most desirable.

Through His words we know our condition here and what is expedient for us.

His words are found in us.

His words are not to be treated lightly.

Those who speak with the tongue of angels speak the word of God.

If we believe the words of God, we believe Christ.

We are more likely to believe God's words if we are not compelled to believe, but just desire to know and believe.

If we truly humble ourselves because of the word, we will repent and find mercy.

God is merciful to those who believe on His name, and this is why He desires that we believe, "yea, even on his word."

We can come to know that they are true by experimenting on his words. 

More

The idea that we do not have to believe anything that is not true, and that we can know the truth for ourselves through God's word, is unique in world religions today.

We either believe Christ or we don't, and if we believe Christ, we will believe in Christ and repent and find mercy. 

Certainly by being enticed by one or the other (good or evil), we are putting ourselves in a better position to choose good, and the word is the catalyst to do so.

Alma asks. "I would ask if ye have read the scriptures? If ye have, how can ye disbelieve on the Son of God?"

And if they do plant and nourish the word by their faith "it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life."

"And it came to pass that after they had found out the minds of all the people, those who were in favor of the words which had been spoken by Alma and his brethren were cast out of the land."

"For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it."

Live by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

We don't just ignore but we rebel against the word of God.

We should not leave the word of God and serve tables.

Word of God does not abide in you.

The words of God shall be fulfilled.

Some are slain for the word of God.

All but those armed with His words will be deceived.

"How great the importance to make these things known to the inhabitants of the earth" (why?) "that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah...." 

Can you say that you know good from evil because you have been instructed sufficiently? 

To those that hear the word of God and believe the word of God, they are to also teach the word of God. 

The word of God is the instrument used by the Lord to cause men to repent and turn to Him. 

It is the exactness of His words that is sharper than a two-edged that will divide the righteous from the wicked.

Another way of saying the above is that God's words must be used, like musical notes, with exactness, not watered down, not transfigured, not mingled with the precepts of men, or as Ammon said God answered their prayers "and that he had also verified his word unto them in every particular" (Alma 25:17 emphasis added).

Read the following words and ask that He verify these words unto you in every detail:

"And the whole world lieth in sin, and groaneth under darkness and under the bondage of sin. 

And by this you may know they are under the bondage of sin, because they come not unto me. 

For whoso cometh not unto me is under the bondage of sin. 

And whoso receiveth not my voice is not acquainted with my voice, and is not of me. 

And by this you may know the righteous from the wicked, and that the whole world groaneth under sin and darkness even now.

Verily, verily, I say unto you who now hear my words, which are my voice, blessed are ye inasmuch as you receive these things..." (D&C 84:49-53; 60).

When Nephi prophecies that there will be a great division among the people, it will be because of His words, those that believe them on one hand, and those who do not, on the other, which is the precise meaning of the parable of the 10 virgins: "For they that are wise and have received the truth (His words), and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived--verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day." (D&C 45:56-57 emphasis added). 

"And I know that they will be preserved; for there are great things written upon them, out of which my people and their brethren shall be judged at the great and last day, according to the word of God which is written" (Words of Mormon 1:11 emphasis added).

Yes, we have the Book!

"What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants,* it is the same" (D&C 1:38 emphasis added).

*Anyone who teaches His words including those who have thrust in their sickles to reap, those armed with the word of God because they have obtained His words.